Gen Freeform Exchange 2021

[wafflelate]

Hello, thank you for reading my letter! I'm wafflelate on AO3. I'm requesting fanfiction only for all requests except for my second Person of Interest request.

DNWs

• Suicide, suicidal ideation, mentions of suicide, implied suicide, the word suicide
  • You may find yourself in a situation where you're writing, say, one character staying behind to fight so that their teammates can escape. Please focus on their determination to save their comrades, live as long as possible, and maybe just maybe succeed without dying no matter how slim the chances are.
  • Or, since I've requested time loops, you might find yourself writing a character who seeks/experiences temporary death to achieve some goal. Temporary character death is fine, but please have them killed by other people rather than killing themselves.
• dissociation/depersonalization from the POV of the person experiencing it, including Nara being in the black
  • examples include characters not feeling real, not feeling connected to their body, feeling like they're viewing a scene from the third person while someone else moves their body.
  • Exceptions to the above:
    • obviously there are canon characters who can do that kind of thing to themselves/other people because of their cool powers.
    • characters having a literal out-of-body experience because of magic ninja bullshit is fine.
    • characters literally not being in control of their bodies because of magic ninja bullshit is fine.
  • What I DNW is dissociation and the like as a reaction to stress/trauma. If it's enemy action to be resisted and fought against, go for it.
  • I know being in the black is some magic ninja bullshit but I DNW it because it's still like, a character's internal stress response. Showing Nara in the black from an outside POV is fine.
• people being sexually attracted to minors (under 18) unless it's background details for bad guys/casefic reasons
• requested characters or canon good guys as rapists
• first person POV
• characters meeting other versions of themselves on-screen
• Unrequested AUs that change the setting, replace the magic system, or significantly change the society the characters live in.
  • So, no to: mundane AUs, IN SPACE AUs, fantasy AUs, soulmate AUs, etc, unless directly requested.
  • But yes to: canon divergence, alternate timelines, For Want Of A Nail
• car crashes or people being hit by cars (a fender-bender or airplane crash would be fine though)
• permanent death of requested characters
• references to modern politics or current events
• DoS-specific DNWs:
  • Nara Shikako having her reincarnation status revealed
  • Nara Shikako being pregnant, married, or having sex even off screen.
  • anything written from the POV of a character who's in the black.
  • Incorporating significant chunks of Boruto stuff.
    • I won't notice if it's a jutsu here or there, but I'm not interested in any of the worldbuilding or characters in Boruto.

Likes

• casefic, mission fic, murder mysteries — I love intricately plotted examples but I ALSO don't mind simple plots or just having canon-typical events happening vaguely in the background
• minor characters — do you have a weird rare fave? please give them a cameo!
• worldbuilding — why and how do things work the way they do? what systems and social structures are in place?
• fake and fantasy politics — International (eg, concerning the threat of war or the import of stuff) or domestic, inter- and intraclan politics, small local politics, even stuff like city planning and zoning boards or school boards or HOAs! (Or fantasy equivalent.)
• unlikely friendships (friendship in general!)
• enemies to friends, enemies to allies, enemies to since-you've-had-a-rough-day-already-I-won't-try-to-stab-you-this-times
• characters who don't like each other being forced into doing something together, like solving a problem, escaping from prison, being handcuffed together, helping some third party that they both like, etc
• angst — especially over not belonging or not being use if a friendship/other emotional bond is real/reciprocated, and especially when everything turns out okay in the end!
• hurt/comfort — I like a broad range of emotional hurt/comfort, whatever you think fits the character! for physical, I like non-permanent injuries unless canonical. for sick fic, magically induced or poison-related are good, stress headaches or migraines, fevers/chills/hypothermia.
• protectiveness/loyalty — especially unexpected! also tied into something like being rescued when they thought they'd be on their own, or someone refusing to leave them behind.
• time travel — I like mental time travel the most if the character is traveling back to when they were about 8 or older, but physical time travel is also really fun!
• time loops — I like when time loops have a solid reason for existing and end because the characters do something, but if the canon worldbuilding makes the "you can't escape unless you confess your feelings" etc type of timeloop work then that's great too! I am not very picky about what exactly causes it, though: even in a canon like Person of Interest, feel free to throw in a random artifact that Just Does That and then the character has to find and break it to escape ot whatever.
• canon divergence — I like fix its, For Want Of A Nail, and pretty much any kind of canon divergence that could have happened because someone made different choices but doesn't remove the fantastic/non-mundane aspects of canon.
• dimension travel — like from canon to a wild canon divergence!
• garbage-tier magical items
• detailed setting description
• gentle spooks and horror — you can find more specifics in my Trick or Treat letter!
• committing treasons or other serious crimes for the benefit of loved ones/against a corrupt authority

Podfic likes

• However you usually read your podfic is probably perfectly fine, first of all! Fic read out loud and delivered to my ears while I'm doing something boring = yes good, you've succeded. This section is more for opt-ins?
• I don't require you do voices or anything but if you usually do, I'm into it!
• I've listened to a few podfics that had music or other sound effects worked into them, which I also liked!
• If you want to experiment in a different way then please go for it.

Dreaming of Sunshine - Silver Queen

What I like in this fandom: outside POVs of Shikako, ninja politics, the mundane/everyday considerations of a society full of assassins, the way Shikako knows the future sorta but can't tell anyone, picking the team above the mission, trying to find a better way but being pragmatic about the situation at hand.

Nara Shikako

I just really love Shikako and would be interested in her interacting with anyone! If you want more specific choices, anything I've previously requested is definitely on the table and you should feel free to go through my previous letters for ideas! But I would also love to get a match up I had never considered before. Please also don't feel constrained by characters who are currently alive in DoS, as time travel or dimension travel are always welcome \o/ for dimension travel I am down for the Gardens-verse trope, but also love non-Gardens dimension travel.

For this request I would also be interested in crossovers with Naruto canon if you want!

Also, I have no preferences about which side of things Shikako is on for the freeforms that call for that kind of decision — for example, for "Family Adopts Outsider Who Saved One Of Their Own" I would be equally thrilled with the Nara adopting someone for saving Shikako or with Shikako being taken in by someone for rescuing someone.

Freeforms:

• Family Adopts Outsider Who Saved One Of Their Own
• My Moral Compass Is "What Do I Need To Do To Protect You?"
• They thought no one was coming; got rescued by unexpected person
• Enemies Must Work Together/Trust Each Other To Solve Problem And/Or Prevent (Fate Worse Than?) Death
• Enemies to Allies - Character From Future Tries To Convince Current Enemy To Work Together
• Naruto: Rescued From Bloodline Thieves
• Strangers Must Cooperate/Trust Each Other To Solve Problem And/Or Prevent (Fate Worse Than?) Death
• Accidental Prisoner Acquisition
• Enemies to Friends But In A Situation Where They Must Pretend To Still Be Enemies
• Naruto: No Villages AU

Uchiha Sasuke & Creator's Choice of Canon Special Jounin (DoS)

I think about Sunshine Sidestories #12 all the time and I am begging you for something about Sasuke running patrols and doing other stuff in Konoha while Shikako was off having her adventures outside Konoha! I'd be into a fic about Sasuke's working relationship with just one of the special jōnin or with an ensemble cast — either sounds great! — and I would love something exploring the imposters, the smuggled contraband, and/or the old Orochimaru hide out. Or a new thing! Like an assassination attempt! Sasuke POV or special jōnin POV would both be neat.

Freeforms:

• 5 times this happened and 1 time something else happened
• Accidental Prisoner Acquisition
• assassination attempt
• Exploring The Questionable Life Choices That Got Character Into This Mess
• Finicky Details About What It's Like To Live In A Particular Setting
• Slice of Work Life

Crossover Fandom (Dreaming of Sunshine - Silver Queen/Naruto)

Mitarashi Anko (DoS) & Momochi Zabuza (Naruto)

Alright. Okay. Listen. Listen. We don't actually see Anko and Zabuza them interacting during the Mist arc, but they must have, right? Anko got to see Zabuza being a teacher and learn he's in charge of the Mist academy and probably shit talk him about her team being awesome. Maybe they're not friends but they're not not friends! Plus absolutely everyone probably knows all of the details about the Land of Wave mission because that was such a fuck up of mission intel.

...what I'm saying is, Anko is uniquely positioned to meet Naruto!Zabuza and be like, "Hey, it's that guy who's great with kids!", which is in my opinion a really really interesting set up for character interactions. \o/

So, okay:

• No preference for who goes in which direction or in what manner.
• Anko throws herself back in time but whoops lands in a universe without Shikako where everything is sucky — but at least she can bust Tazuna and get herself assigned to go to Wave where she can try to help their future alliance with Mist along?
• Anko needs help rescuing one or more of her kids (or her kids need help rescuing her) and Zabuza gets roped into it, maybe while being mistaken for DoS!Zabuza.
• Zabuza needs help rescuing Haku and Anko is happy to help.
• Zabuza's been contracted to assassinate someone and is undercover trying to make that happen...and for some reason this Konoha ninja is helping him.
• Anko is the one undercover and she's trying to kill Gatou; Zabuza helps.
• Anko and Zabuza are sent back in time to try and avert a terrible future, but the time travel technique is misaimed so A) Anko ends up in a universe with no Shikako and B) when she goes to make contact with Zabuza he has no clue who she is or what she wants.
• Zabuza is powerless or at Anko's mercy and she helps/spares him because she knows they could be friends and it'd be better for him to live and overhaul Mist's education system.

Freeforms:

• Injured Character Can't Complete Rescue Mission Without Help From Unlikely Source
• Loyalty Kink - Person A Thought Would Inevitably Betray A Proves To Be Extremely Loyal
• Depending On Each Other To Survive
• Enemies Must Work Together/Trust Each Other To Solve Problem And/Or Prevent (Fate Worse Than?) Death
• Enemies to Allies - Character From Future Tries To Convince Current Enemy To Work Together
• They thought no one was coming; got rescued by unexpected person
• Undercover - Enemies Must Corroborate Each Other's Cover
• Unexpected Mercy

Person of Interest

What I like in this fandom: saving people, struggling with the Machine's personhood, Fusco's character development, the extreme found family feels, the NYC setting, the episodic number-of-the-week nature of early seasons and the complex scifi-y plots of the later seasons.

Lionel Fusco (fanfiction)

Fusco is my favorite character on TV ever and I would just love anything about him! His redemption arc is so wonderful and his interactions with other characters are always fantastic.

• Fusco is pretty sure he's 100% exactly perfectly the wrong member of the team to be stuck in this time loop trying to save [character of your choice], but he's not a quitter. He's going to get this right. (Or: Fusco peggy sue time travels back to an earlier point in his life. It's up to him to help change things! He has to save everyone! This is so much pressure!!!)
• Instead of falling in with HR, Fusco meets Finch or Reese some other way. Or go even more AU! He could meet Shaw or ROOT at a different time! I love canon divergence AUs so go wild.
• What's it like for Fusco to try and help numbers alone? Post-series welcome!
• We see Fusco have plenty of awkward conversations with people he tried to kill or wronged and honestly I eat them up with a spoon you can't go wrong.
• What do other people think about Fusco? What does Fusco think about other people?
• I'm really attached to the premise of the show (saving people whose deaths were deemed irrelevant, Fusco being a corrupt cop, the NYC setting, etc) but there is something just so, so delightful to me about Fusco having to deal with spooky supernatural things and/or magic. I would love something that adds a fantastical element onto canon — demons, vampires, a legitimate haunted house, that sort of thing!

Freeforms:

• Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
• Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies
• Character Who Was Presumed Dead Comes Back
• Chased by Ghosts
• Enemies Must Work Together/Trust Each Other To Solve Problem And/Or Prevent (Fate Worse Than?) Death
• Enemies to Allies - Character From Future Tries To Convince Current Enemy To Work Together
• Fix-it - Last-minute rescue for character who died in canon before they die
• Post-Canon - What sort of adventures do the character(s) go on after canon?
• Time travel - trying to change the past but hampered by lack of full knowledge of past
• Time Travel Fix-It
• Two Characters Who Don't Like Each Other Grudgingly Solve A Murder Together
• Two Characters Who Pretend They Don't Like Each Other (but actually do) Grudgingly Work Together
• Time Loop Where Character Makes Things Worse Before Making Them Better

Lionel Fusco (podfic)

I basically never browse Person of Interest fic and only read it when it's gifted to me, so that makes this fandom an ideal place to request podfic — there are so many fics out there that would be totally new to me! I've requested basically all of my freeforms from the fic request and also thrown in a bunch of canonicals/more generic tags so that you'll have a chance in hell of finding something that fits.

Fusco is unfortunately probably a background character in a lot of fics he's tagged in, but I think out of these 200-ish fics there must be something that fits the bill!

• I honestly don't mind receiving a podficed fic where Fusco isn't the main character! I would like a fic where Fusco has at least one good scene, but I love all the Person of Interest characters and would enjoy an ensemble fic or a Reese-centric fic or whatever where Fusco is just a strong supporting character.
• Any fic length is fine.
• I would prefer to recieve a fic rated G-M as I think E-rated fic will either have too much sex to be satisfyingly gen or will be too graphic in its depiction of violence.
• Fics with noncon or underage warnings are also fine as long as they don't cross my DNWs re: underage/noncon being committed by bad guys only.
• A bunch of the top fics are Christmas fics because I assume there was an event? I'm not really into holiday fic in general or specifically Christmas-y fluff (or fluff in general) but if it has hurt/comfort or plot then I'll probably like it with or without Christmas!

As previously mentioned I would really love to get a fic I haven't read yet! However, in the event it turns out that you really can't find anything else, I have received two excellent fics that are long enough for the minimum and which I would be happy to re-experience in audio format:

• Choosing My Confessions by st_aurafina (does not have a permission statement)
• Seeing Things by ArgylePirateWD (gives blanket permission to podfic)

Freeforms:

• 5 times this happened and 1 time something else happened
• Action/Adventure
• Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
• Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies
• Case Fic
• Character Who Was Presumed Dead Comes Back
• Chased by Ghosts
• Emotional Hurt/Comfort
• Enemies Must Work Together/Trust Each Other To Solve Problem And/Or Prevent (Fate Worse Than?) Death
• Enemies to Allies - Character From Future Tries To Convince Current Enemy To Work Together
• Families of Choice
• Fix-it - Last-minute rescue for character who died in canon before they die
• Found Family
• Hurt/Comfort
• Post-Canon - What sort of adventures do the character(s) go on after canon?
• Time travel - trying to change the past but hampered by lack of full knowledge of past
• Time Travel Fix-It
• Two Characters Who Don't Like Each Other Grudgingly Solve A Murder Together
• Two Characters Who Pretend They Don't Like Each Other (but actually do) Grudgingly Work Together
• Time Loop Where Character Makes Things Worse Before Making Them Better

Yu Yu Hakusho

What I like in this fandom: ensemble fics, fights/action, ghosts, seeing the female characters do things and talk to each other, loyalty, team-building, worldbuilding, demon culture speculation

Hiei & Yukimura Keiko (YYH)

Hiei and Keiko are probably tied for my favorite characters and although I think it's reasonable that YYH doesn't really spend any time on them interacting, it's also super disappointing! Being kidnapped was probably really scary for Keiko and it would be really great to see some emotional fallout of that — especially because Hiei is so different in all his subsequent appearances in the show, and taking a hostage honestly seems a little out of character for the proud, principled person that later arcs reveal him to be. Was he under the influence of the Shadow Sword? Was Keiko being human a factor? Was meeting Yukina a significant factor in his changed behavior, or maybe being trusted so completely by Yusuke in the Saint Beasts arc? I'd love something that explores how Hiei and Keiko both feel about each other, and/or something where they have to work together, and/or something that explores how their relationship might have gone in a significant canon divergence!

Freeforms:

• Character is forced to work with someone who scares them
• 5 times this happened and 1 time something else happened
• Awkward Conversations with People You Tried to Kill
• YYH: AU where Keiko is the spirit detective instead
• YYH: AU where Keiko is permanently changed by the Shadow Sword

Kuwabara Shizuru & Yukimura Keiko (YYH)

GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS!!! Shizuru is older and super cool and has the ability to sense ghosts! Keiko is younger and straight-laced but not afraid to break the rules when it's important! Together they could have cool adventures! Maybe there are ghosts, or a minor demon, or one of them rescues the other. Maybe Shizuru figures out how to do some spirit sword-y stuff. Maybe Keiko benefits from having an older, female, nearly unflappable human around for advice or support!

Freeforms:

• Characters Team Up To Investigate Something Paranormal/Supernatural
• They thought no one was coming; got rescued by unexpected person
• 5 times this happened and 1 time something else happened
• Chased by Ghosts
• YYH: AU where Keiko is the spirit detective instead
• YYH: AU where Keiko is permanently changed by the Shadow Sword

Hiei & Kuwabara Kazuma (YYH)

Hands down the best gen relationship in canon, sorry to all other gen relationships. They snipe at each other so much and honestly don't really like each other but they are SO LOYAL and I love them.

I was considering the Dark Tournament arc the other day and Hiei is always saying rude shit that Kuwabara 100% takes as disparaging his skills and calling him weak and, okay, he's not totally wrong, but under that I think Hiei has a genuine, deep concern that Kuwabara is going to beef it right in front of him losing a fight that Hiei could have won with his hands tied? And telling him that he's embarrassing and weak and should go home is lowkey Hiei being like "Fuck, you idiot, do NOT make me watch you die." And meanwhile Kuwabara just feels like Hiei is challenging him to get stronger and prove himself (which is pretty much exactly the relationship he had with Yusuke for ages!) and also Kuwabara is way too noble to not genuinely support Hiei when the chips are down even really early in the series when Kuwabara doesn't trust or like him at all.

Anyway basically I picked the freeforms below because I would love something that explores their relationship — competent teamwork despite constant bickering! Supporting each other despite constant bickering! Successfully stealing something they need for Reasons™ despite constant bickering! You get the idea. Missing scenes from canon are welcome (for example, that point before the Dark Tournament when Hiei and Kurama were training Kuwabara up!) or post canon or big canon divergences or whatever. I would especially love something that explores Hiei's expectations given his life before Team Urameshi (like, betrayal is probably super common in the demon realm!) versus his experiences working with someone as noble and transparent as Kuwabara.

Freeforms:

• A assumes that B will abandon them; B reaffirms their loyalty to A in A's time of need
• Competence - highly effective teamwork
• Characters Teaching Each Other New Skills
• Heist
• Mutually Distrustful Acquaintances to Friends
• Unexpectedly Meeting People From One's Past While With New Companions

Creator's Choice of Team Urameshi Member(s) & Koto (YYH)
Jorge Saotome & Koto (YYH)
Botan & Koto (YYH)

I love Koto, she's so fun!!! She really comes to be on Team Urameshi's side over the course of the Dark Tournament and I was delighted to see her come back during the Demon World tournament, but I really really want more of her. I'd love something that explores her position as a minor celebrity, something that highlights how smart she is (she has the rulebook memorized!!!), and/or something where she gets to make better friends with one or more members of Team Urameshi after the Dark Tournament. I also think she had really interesting interactions with Botan and Jorge!!

As far as her dub vs sub characterization, I grew up watching the dub version of the anime but I don't mind the sub characterization, so whatever you want is fine.

Freeforms:

• 5 times this happened and 1 time something else happened
• Canon Events From Perspectives Not Given In Canon
• Competence Kink (nonsexual)
• A Day in the Life of Requested Character
• Unexpected Friendship
• Character loses everything and can only turn to stranger/acquaintance for help

Crossover Fandom: Natsume's Book of Friends/Yu Yu Hakusho

Why I'm begging for this crossover: I think the worldbuilding could go really well together and I am OBSESSED with thinking about it. More details in the sections for the two relationships I've gone with, but both characters have a relatively mundane public word and main characters who know about the secret supernatural world full of demons! I would prefer a crossover where these series are set in the same universe, rather than dimension travel.

Natsume Takashi (Natsume Yuujinchou) & Kuwabara Kuzuma (YYH)
Natsume Takashi (Natsume Yuujinchou) & Urameshi Yusuke (YYH)

While I was watching Natsume Yuujinchou all I could really think during the sad flashback scenes about everyone being terrible to Natsume for seeing things no one else can is that I really, really, REALLY want Natsume and Kuwabara to meet. Like, so desperately!!! Or Natsume and Yusuke! Or both!

• They could be the same age or the YYH character could be older, I am not worried about making the timelines match, so do what feels right!
• Kuwabara has all those very supportive friends!!!! And a supportive older sister! Natsume should meet them too and also feel supported.
• They could run into each other in some really mundane way — Natsume transfers all the way to Sarayashiki Jr. High, the Kuwabara family is on vacation near where Natsume is living, whatever — or they could run into each other when there's some spirit detecting to do! Or maybe some kind of exorcist-related thing! I bet the Matoba clan hates Genkai so much...
• For the parent/mentor/guardian tags, I definitely want Natsume to be the kid in that scenario but any parental/mentor figure is cool — like, Natsume could make friends with Kuwabara and then accidentally acquire Shizuru as a parent, or he could have Genkai as a mentor who believes in him but he's processing how that feels while hanging with Yusuke in the fic.
• I requested the "First Meetings" tag because hell yeah, but I also requested lots of tags that would maybe work best if your fic just drops into a 'verse where they've known each other for awhile. Either option is good!
• I am really just chucking freeforms down in hopes you will pick one up and love it.

Freeforms:

• Characters Team Up To Investigate Something Paranormal/Supernatural
• Abused Child Grows To Trust New Authority Figures/Guardians
• Strangers Must Cooperate/Trust Each Other To Solve Problem And/Or Prevent (Fate Worse Than?) Death
• 5 times this happened and 1 time something else happened
• accidental parent acquisition
• Action/Adventure
• Case Fic
• Character A Is Possessed And Character B Was The Only One To Notice
• Character draws negative attention onto themself to protect another
• Character Hides/Doesn't Mention Special Abilities; Later Must Reveal Abilities Due to Necessity
• Character thinks friendship is one sided; finds out is isn't
• Characters Teaching Each Other New Skills
• Chased by Ghosts
• Emotional Hurt/Comfort
• First Meetings
• Hurt/Comfort - Character thinks no one cares about them but they're wrong
• Loneliness
• Mentor is the First Person to Believe in Them
• Natsume: Dog's Circle expands until Natsume is accidentally running a small local youkai government
• Natsume: Who sealed Madara away?