paleomnesis | Dear Fic in a Box Creator,

I'm looking forward to seeing whatever you create for me - I've put in some prompts for specific media, but I'd be thrilled with fic or for a few fandoms, your choice of media too! (in the case of my AU requests, I'd be perfectly fine with media that reflect if you've changed that setting over as long as it's cohesive). There are three common tags for all requests: 750 minimum words per fic, Web Weaves, and Symmetrina.

The Time Master Series - Louise Cooper

Tarod/Yandros (Time Master)

I read this series when I was about 12 or so and it did some very formative things to my brain. I mean, the protagonist, Tarod, is this tall, dark, and handsome man who is just so tortured about the fact that he's an insanely powerful sorcerer who can't figure out why he keeps having these strange dreams. And then Yandros, the capricious, shapeshifting lead god of Chaos shows up and is like, oh, I know why, and I'm going to reveal to you as dramatically as possible that you're my twin brother and we have this whole master plan going to defeat Order and rule once more. Also, they have five other brothers, but it's so damn clear who Yandros's favorite is and part of the joy of this series is just watching Yandros becoming increasingly frustrated over the fact that his brother keeps rejecting him because he doesn't remember him and maybe it wasn't the best plan to put your brother's “soul gem” into a ring, dude.

Tarod seems to get himself into a lot of trouble and he has an equally hard time extricating himself without help from someone else (seriously, you have to wonder if Yandros spontaneously grew gray hairs on seeing how close he came to destruction more than once). What were some of the times - either human or God - that Tarod got himself into a situation and needed Yandros's help in saving and comforting him after it was over. Or I'd also like something with just the two of them finally reconnecting after the end – they were separated for quite some time and there was a lot of angst to it. I mean, with Tarod that's a given because if he wasn't the God of Time, he'd be the God of Brooding and Moodiness, but Yandros definitely missed his brother and it was pretty telling how touchy-feely he was when Tarod finally returned to his side. And really, what did everyone think of all of it - suddenly, Chaos is back in town and you know the gossip was probably running rampant.

Note: I have read both the Star Shadow (prequel) and Chaos Gate (sequel) trilogies, but I'm perfectly fine with just using canon from the original Time Master Trilogy.

DNWs: No animal harm, extreme underage, body fluids (blood is fine), focus on unrequested pairings involving nominated characters (mentions of past canon relationships are fine), permanent nominated character death (transformations/resurrections are fine).

Opt In Medium Prompts:

Medium Opt-In: Art - Adaptation Concept Art

Medium Opt-In: Art - Book Cover

Medium Opt-In: Art - Costume Design

Medium Opt-In: Art - Storyboard of Canon Scene(s)

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Screenplay

The covers for these books as well as the artwork runs the gamut from more abstract to actual cover models being used, and it's fascinating to see the different interpretations. How might one adapt this series to a more visual medium – there's definitely a medieval aesthetic in the book, but it doesn't have to be that way necessarily, especially given the implications of how long the series spans.

Medium Opt-In: Art - Stained Glass

Medium Opt-In: Art - Tapestry

Medium Opt-In: Art - Tarot Card

Seriously, there's some very cool imagery to work with here in regards to the symbols and trappings both orders use to promote themselves.

Medium Opt-In: Audio - FST (Fan Soundtrack)

I have no preconceptions about what I'd like here – if you think a song or piece works for them, I'd love to hear it!

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Exhibition Catalogue

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Religious Text

Medium Opt-In: Instructions - In-Universe Spell or Ritual Instructions

Medium Opt-In: Poetry - In-Universe Prayer

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Mythology

There's a wide swathe of time that can be covered here since they're both gods – how were they first worshiped and what were they seen as? How does that change as time progresses and the battle between Order and Chaos becomes fiercer? And what might happen once that uneasy equilibrium is reached, even after the series ends?

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - A Softer World style panels

“When you kiss me, I feel like I can live forever, but a better version of forever that never gets boring.”

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Epistolary

What sort of correspondence might Yandros write to his wayward brother to tempt him back to their plan, or afterwards, when all is said and done and memories are restored, what might he send to remind him when Tarod is out among the humans to come home?

Apostle (2018)

Malcolm Howe/Thomas Richardson (Apostle 2018)

It's the story of two men struggling with issues of faith and how you can find what you've always been looking for in the strangest of places (and goriest of events). I love their interaction in the movie, but I always wished for more, especially given the ending, where it's made pretty clear that one of them is probably a god that's all primed to be worshiped by the other. Just the looks they give each other at the end - Thomas, knowing and resigned to his fate, while Malcolm has just had an epiphany and it's “oh, if I lost everything that ever mattered to me so I could get Thomas, I'm fairly sure it's going to be worth it.

So there's a lot to work with in the ending – how does the island rebuild its religion now that most of its former devotees have died or fled? Does it evolve over the years and how does do Malcolm and Thomas deal with unwanted intruders? There's also the plot hook of Jennifer and Andrea's escape – do they return to see what became of their family? I['d also love anything where somehow Malcolm benefits from being Thomas's first acolyte (and more) – perhaps the island has its own cycle of renewal and allows them both to live long past their natural lifespan.

DNWs: No animal harm, extreme underage, scat/watersports, no focus on unrequested pairings involving nominated characters (mentions of past canon relationships are fine), no permanent nominated character death (character transformation/resurrection is fine).

Opt In Medium Prompts:

Medium Opt-In: Art - Drawn - Botanical Illustration

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Page From An Herbal

Given how much the plant life of the island played a part in the story, I'd love to see the notes on what might have flourished there in the past as well as what might grow there now.

Medium Opt-In: Audio - FST (Fan Soundtrack)

I'm just saying, a lot of people covered Willow's Song from The Wicker Man and I love each and every version of it.

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Exhibition Catalogue

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Travel Literature

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Map: Drawn or CC-Licensed Map + Annotations Or Map Related Notes

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Field Report

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Transcript of Podcast or Radio Show

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Travelogue

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Reddit: In-Universe r/AskHistorians Post (Post + Replies)

So I'm very fascinated by an outside perspective on what might have happened on the island – both contemporaneous and future. How would an anthropologist view the insular nature of the cult and its legacy? What artifacts might be left behind? Would people travel there and what might they find (and could they leave unchanged?)

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Religious Text

Medium Opt-In: Instructions - In-Universe Spell or Ritual Instructions

Medium Opt-In: Poetry - In-Universe Prayer

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Mythology

There's so much left ambiguous at the end about what Thomas has become and whether or not Malcolm will be his only devotee (I will say that it's pretty damn clear that Malcolm definitely looks thrilled to find a new god to worship). How would the religion change as time passed, especially as the man Thomas was is forgotten and the god he has become is the only thing left.

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - A Softer World style panels

“I want to carve our initials in the bark of everyone who ever hurt you.”

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

Any character's perspective on what happened during the events of the film would be fantastic, as well as what came after.

Dark City (1998)

John Murdoch/Daniel Schreber (Dark City)

WB: The Creation of the City (Dark City)

Murdoch/Schreber: Any relationship that basically has one character inserting themselves into all of the other's memories just to make them the savior of humanity has got attention and adoration. I really loved how John and Daniel grew from wariness to grudging allies to pretty much the most important person in each other's lives by the end and I'd love to see something that plays with that. What must it be like, knowing someone for all your life and realizing that not only do you not really know them at all, they don't know themselves either? How do you deal after you've won and you're basically a god, capable of bending anything to your will and perhaps fearing what that sort of power will do to you?

Worldbuilding: While I do love the characters in this story, I'm deeply fascinated by how the city came to be – one doesn't just seize upon the 1940s noir style as an alien race just on a whim. What drew them to create a city like this and were there attempts made before with different styles/periods of time ? Perhaps there are other cities like this that either failed and were destroyed or still exist as ghost “towns,” abandoned like the humans that were meant to be kept there were too. And the Strangers, how did they decide who would fulfill each role at the beginning and how they would rotate both identities and relationships? It would be really fascinating to see other characters not explored in the film – the people who haven't awakened to who they are or perhaps the ones who did far too soon and paid the price. Or the Strangers, the ones that were tasked with the more mundane, minor details – did any rebel against what they were doing, either because they valued their creations more than the grand plan, or because they didn't value them at all?

Opt In Medium Prompts:

Medium Opt-In: Art - Location Interior Design

There's a lot of places we see in the city – what might one of the ones we don't see explored look like?

Medium Opt-In: Art - Minimalist Poster

This movie is filled with striking visuals and a lot of detail, but why might it look like stripped to its most bare essentials?

Medium Opt-In: Audio - FST (Fan Soundtrack)

Medium Opt-In: Instructions - Cocktail Recipes

The soundtrack itself is a delectable and curious blend of torch songs, gothic/industrial, and sweeping orchestrations, which means the sky's the limit (or is it?) when it comes to what would work here. The same holds true for any recipes, which could be anything from an old-style cocktail out of a dusty book to some strange new concoction.

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook Page(s)

Medium Opt-In: Writing – In-Universe Scientific Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

Schreber is one of the few to actually keep his memory while the city shifts around him – what might he choose to preserve above all else? How does he document what experiments work and which ones fail?

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Advertisement

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Advice Column

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Transcript of Podcast or Radio Show

I'm just fascinated by what living in a city that constantly changes might be like. Are there any things that stay permanent or is memory a constantly fallible thing? Does the advice change when the partner or the advice-giver does? How do you get something to stick in someone's brain when everything resets all the time?

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Travel Literature

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Map: City

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Travelogue

“Arriving at each new city, the traveler finds again a past of his that he did not know he had: the foreignness of what you no longer are or no longer possess lies in wait for you in foreign, unpossessed places.” – Italo Calvino

Medium Opt-In: Poetry - Theatre Libretto - Musical

I have no idea how this would work, but I am deeply intrigued by what might come of it.

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Mythology

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Screenplay

If The Strangers are gone, what sort of story is told about the man who replaced them?

Phantom of the Paradise (1974)

Winslow Leach | The Phantom/Swan (Phantom of the Paradise)

This is just such a sleazy movie and I mean it in all the best ways! You've got Paul Williams as the creepy producer, Swan and to reconcile that this is the same man who the Rainbow Connection and the lyrics to The Love Boat theme is to be delighted by his multitudes. And Finley as Leach is just a treat, alternating between sad woobie and crazed murderer, as all the best Phantoms do. Then you've just got their scenes together, in which Swan is all but telling Winslow that yes, I'm the worst person in the world and hey, did I mention that you can totally trust me to help you out? I mean, I knew I couldn't trust Swan just looking at his haircut, but Winslow is the type of person that keeps believing the snake when it tells him it won't bite him again, even as its eyes flicker with hunger and something more...

Maybe Swan realizes that it's all well and good to steal some music from Winslow, but the real treasure is in stealing the man himself. I really love how you can tell Swan respects that Leach is a musical genius and also knows that he will have to plunder every bit of that, not just because of the whole deal with the devil, but also because it's the record industry and that's just how it goes. Or maybe Swan spares Phoenix on one condition – that Winslow abide by the terms of the contract completely. Winslow resigns himself, perhaps, to living a life of eternal pain and torment, but he hadn't really counted on the worst part of it all: the pleasure and growing to enjoy it (Swan totally had). And It's pretty clear that Swan's attraction to someone is not defined not by gender or sexuality, but by beauty. What if there was a way that he could get the best of both worlds with Winslow – a pretty young thing with talent that's forever bound to him?

DNWs: No animal harm, extreme underage (15+ fine), scat/watersports, focus on unrequested pairings involving nominated characters (mentions of past canon relationships are fine), permanent nominated character death (transformations/resurrections are fine).

Opt In Medium Prompts:

Medium Opt-In: Art - Costume Design

This is such a gorgeously visual movie that I'd really love to see what other kinds of fabulously over the top costumes you could think of (you know Swan would watch Eurovision and just be utterly inspired...)

Medium Opt-In: Audio - FST (Fan Soundtrack)

Medium Opt-In: Poetry - Theatre Libretto - Musical

Yes, it already has a terrific soundtrack, but I'd love to see another take on it. What would their story be like in another time or genre?

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Album Liner Notes

Medium Opt-In: Typographic Design - Album Liner Notes

This was tailor-made for this fandom.

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Gifset & Writing) - In-Universe Tabloid Article

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Fan letters

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Internet Forum Posts

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Interview

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Magazine Article

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe RPF

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Transcript of Podcast or Radio Show

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Reddit: In-Universe r/HobbyDrama Post (Post + Replies)

How would this whole drama play out from an outside point of view? How would the fans react at the time to what they thought they saw (you could also go AU and show the difference through their eyes)? Or fast-forward a bit and what would the legacy be of Swan and Leach?

Medium Opt-In: Instructions - In-Universe Spell or Ritual Instructions

Medium Opt-In: Writing – Creepypasta

You just know that over time, someone would have the bright idea of summoning one of them back and where one is, the other will follow.

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - A Softer World style panels

“Your eyes are not windows, and your soul is long gone. But I'm still down to fuck.”

Saw (Movies)

Lawrence Gordon & Amanda Young (Saw)

Lawrence Gordon & Jill Tuck (Saw)

Lawrence Gordon & John Kramer (Saw)

Lawrence Gordon & Mark Hoffman & Amanda Young (Saw)

Lawrence Gordon/John Kramer (Saw)

I have to confess that I really love the mindfuck that Saw 3D gave us with Gordon turning out to be working with Jigsaw, because yeah, it was foreshadowed if you looked for it, but also, what the hell? Sure, Stockholm Syndrome and traumatic breakdowns and all of that, but he doesn't seem to have fallen down the serial killer rabbit hole (even if he is sewing people's eyes shut) so there is a conscious choice he's making about what he's willing to do and I'd love to see anything that addresses how he got to the point that skulking around in a black robe seemed like a legitimate career choice.

I do ship him with a variety of people, especially Kramer because that scene where he's nursing him back to health is a whole lot of very twisted hurt/comfort and that's fun, but really I love him paired with anyone in Jigsaw's orbit. I would also adore gen for this, just Gordon hanging out with anyone and bonding over what led them down the path towards intricate plots, schemes, and Chekhov's bear traps. If Amanda and/or Jill end up living, that'd be great too because I really am fond of them and think they deserved better than dying thanks to Hoffman. Also, feel free to go as off-kilter as you'd like – I have nominated a few tags that are definitely WTF here and if you want to have Jigsaw deciding that the only way to stop everyone from murdering each other is to play D&D, I'd just to like to say that Hoffman is a total powergamer.

DNWs: No animal harm, extreme underage, scat/watersports, no focus on unrequested pairings involving nominated characters (I am fine with implications for John and any of his other apprentices, requited or not, and mentions of canonical relationships are fine too), no death of Gordon.

Opt In Medium Prompts:

Medium Opt-In: Art - Murder Tableaux

No explanation needed.

Medium Opt-In: Audio - FST (Fan Soundtrack)

Legitimately intrigued to see what might be featured here – I can think of a number of murder songs off the top of my head, which probably isn't a good thing...

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Instant Messaging

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - In-Universe Spreadsheet - Expense Report

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Complaint Form

Every job has its paperwork. just as every job has the co-workers that you get along with and the ones you can't stand. It's just that with this particular profession, human resources doesn't immediately dismiss bloody murder as a possibility.

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Newspaper Article

Medium Opt-In: Writing – Creepypasta

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Internet Forum Posts

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Screenplay

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe True Crime Podcast Transcript

The films do a great job of showing how the Jigsaw murders affect not just the people involved in them, but those that hear and whisper about them. I'd love to see your own take on that.

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - A Softer World style panels

“All anyone talks about are the elaborately staged psycho-sexual murders. I also have a dog walking company.”

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - In-Universe AO3 Based Fanfic Exchange & Related Posts/Messages

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe TTRPG Campaign

Yes, this is the crack part of the sign-up. I would just like to say that Hoffman is a total power gamer, Amanda has definitely LARPed before, and Lawrence likely has a dozen socks that have never been found out.

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Advice Column

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Reddit: In-Universe r/AmITheAsshole Post (Post + Replies)

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Reddit: In-Universe r/Legaladvice Post (Post + Replies)

Oh, pity the person that has to give advice to anyone here, especially because you know that the mods are playing whack a mole with the new commenters that keep popping up.

The Fall of the House of Usher (TV 2023)

Arthur Pym/Verna (Fall of the House of Usher 2023)

So I binged through this entire series about a family that really should have made some different choices in life and there was so much to enjoy, but without getting into spoilers, the thing that made me really love this show was the scene between Arthur Pym and Verna. Just the way they connected, the quiet nature of it after so much Grand Guignol and gore. There's a line in a Vulture article about “a look of melancholic ecstasy” as Pym recognizes perhaps the only person who understands him. Coupled with Verna's own respect, perhaps even mournfulness, for a man who's done terrible things and knows the exact cost of it all and I just wanted hours of the two of them, sitting and talking. Alas, 'twas not meant to be, but I cherish what I got.

I'd really love more of their relationship and their mutual recognition of each other as worthy opponents that understand far more than the ones making the deal. There's so much hinted at – the first meeting they had on the expedition has always fascinated me because what did they see in each other (cosmic horror in the ice is a terrific trope), but also what happens after their final meeting? There's so much we don't really know about Pym or Verna, and I'd love to explore more possible meetings they may have had.

DNWs: No animal harm, extreme underage, body fluids (blood is fine), focus on unrequested pairings involving nominated characters (mentions of past canon relationships are fine)). Also no graphic depictions of sexual assault during the Transglobe Expedition (you don't need to gloss over it, just please don't dwell on it either).

Opt In Medium Prompts:

Medium Opt-In: Art - Tarot Card

I'd love any style here – I've owned a few and while I think my favorite is Leilah Wendell's Gothic Tarot deck (sadly out of print), I'm fond with any you think would work for this.

Medium Opt-In: Audio - FST (Fan Soundtrack)

“There are those who say beneath his coat there are wings”

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Book or Movie Review

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Creepypasta

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Book or Movie Review

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Internet Forum Posts

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Legal Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Screenplay

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe True Crime Podcast Transcript

Oh, there's so much to explore with the outside reaction to what happened with the Usher family and Pym's whole role in it. I could see someone realizing that hey, this woman pops up a lot in the background and just who is she, and like that, a new creepypasta is born. Or how would the trial be seen and portrayed – what might they get uncomfortably right and what would be laughably wrong?

Medium Opt-In: Instructions - Cocktail Recipes

You know Verna can mix a mean drink and bonus points if it'll make you forget for some time the exact terms of the deal you just made.

Medium Opt-In: Poetry - Theatre Script – Shakespearean-style

It does lends itself quite well to a grand tragedy and if you wanted to go more Marlowe, I wouldn't be upset.

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - A Softer World style panels

“I love power outages, the house itself is dead and yet somehow we still live.”

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Epistolary

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Interview

There's so much that's only glimpsed or hinted of about Pym and I'd love to see anything that explores his life further – any time before, during, or after canon is fine with me. Does he exchange letters with Verna? Is there an interview he does only to go absolutely cryptic during it all? What did he remember seeing on the ice and what does he choose to forget?

Squid Game (TV 2021)

Hwang Inho | Front Man/Hwang Junho (Squid Game)

This show hits all the right things for me - the reveal that the enemy you've been fighting all this time is your brother? And he's trying to get you to join him? And he's messed-up and kind of evil and damn it, played by Lee Byong-hun? Well, that's just going to hit all the right buttons. I like Jun-ho, too. In any other show, he'd be the hero, but instead, he's the side plot that sort of just... well, falls off a cliff. But before that, we get to him basically do anything to find his brother and that level of devotion (obsession) is both admirable and in the world of Squid Game, really unfortunate.

I'd love something about the two of them and their close relationship – how their connection seems to be their greatest weakness and yet neither one of them really can give it up because it's all tied up in love and loyalty and what you owe to the other person and when murder games get involved, it does tend to mean that people make terrible decisions that are still, often the least terrible of what they can do. Canon divergence is great here – maybe a Junho who entered the games as a participant or Inho just took him along before he could even cause any problems in the first place? Also, vampires.

Opt In Medium Prompts:

Medium Opt-In: Art - Costume Design

Medium Opt-In: Art - Murder Tableaux

Everything is an aesthetic there, even murder and I wonder how it would change from game to game, or in the off-time, when the games are not being run..

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Gifset & Writing) - In-Universe Blog Post

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Gifset & Writing) - In-Universe Instant Messaging

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Creepypasta

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe True Crime Podcast Transcript

I could picture a world where Junho decides to float the idea out about what might have happened to his brother and the responses he gets are your usual ones – completely wrong conspiracy theories, people calling fake, even a few kernels of possible truth sprinkled in – and then... well, that would be telling.

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Official Workplace Documentation

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - In-Universe Spreadsheet - Expense Report

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In Universe Classified Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Bureaucratic Paperwork

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Legal Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Medical Report

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Psychological Evaluation Report

Oh, you know the paperwork here is so very specialized and stylish and utterly horrible and I'd love to see how Inho bringing Junho in would be handled.

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook Page(s)

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Epistolary

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook

I think there's a lot of unexplored history between when Inho played the game and when Junho showed up undercover and it would be interesting to explore that and/or something post-game.

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - A Softer World style panels

“I know that love isn't about possession. I'm just saying, maybe we could pretend it is? In bed?”

Far Cry 4

Ajay Ghale/Pagan Min (Far Cry 4)

Look, one of my things is that I have a horrible tendency to fall in love with the charismatic villain and want to defect to his side, no matter how shitty a
person he is, because he often has pretty compelling arguments (and eyes). And in Far Cry 4, they made it even worse by being like “oh, everyone's morally gray and any choice you make will be terrible for someone,” so I think, can I stay with the guy who gives me free crab Rangoon, a helicopter ride, and basically cuts through all the bullshit to tell me how much of a dick my dad was? No? Damn it.

So I'd definitely love something where Ajay's on Pagan's side – he stuck around for the food? He realized that ruling Kyrat was going to be a shit-ton of work and enlisted Pagan? Pagan won and kept Ajay as a reluctant, but pampered hostage/captive. Or an even further back AU in which he met Pagan under different circumstances, ones that probably still ended up with Ajay running around getting almost murdered by honey badgers and eagles. Also, I'm deeply fond of the tag “If I Must Solve A Dozen Geopolitical Problems Just To Have Sex With You Then I Will,” so you know, there's that too. In regards to Pagan's relationship with Ishwari, I'm fine with it being referenced or even a source of mild angst/pining, but I don't want it to be “I loved her and now I will never move on from her and/or I will use you as a replacement and never love you” to Ajay.

DNWs: No animal harm (references to canon-level violence are fine), extreme underage, scat/watersports, no focus on unrequested pairings involving nominated characters (mentions of past canon relationships are fine), no permanent nominated character death (transformation/resurrections are fine).

Opt In Medium Prompts:

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Action Figure Packaging Bio

Medium Opt-In: Art - Propaganda Poster

Yeah, these would be something – I think Ajay would probably squint at his and then recoil in horror.

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Interview

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Mythology

How would Ajay become mythologized over the years as he rules Kyrat? Would there be stories about Pagan that also change over the years and how would the two of them be seen decades from when the game took place?

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - In-Universe Travel Literature

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Travelogue

I think most guides to Kyrat are pretty much “don't fucking do it unless you have a death wish and even then, it has to be a very specific wish (read: kink).”

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - In-Universe Spreadsheet - Expense Report

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Complaint Form

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Official Workplace Documentation

Well, at least we know for sure that Pagan's budget is NOT going to candles, so there's that, but the leather pants line item and the random wild animals are definitely eating up the budget (and someone should really try to get that paper away from the tiger).

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Fan letters

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe RPF

Pagan would be the sort to not only read the RPF, but come up with his own, because if they're going to do this, they're going to do it right. (Also, his arguments about the problematic “age gap” would be legendary).

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Book or Movie Review

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Screenplay

They definitely give Pagan a British accent, because how else are you supposed to know that he's EVIL! Ajay's still trying to figure out why “Ajay” has a sex scene every five minutes.

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Reddit: In-Universe r/AskHistorians Post (Post + Replies)

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Reddit: In-Universe r/IAmA AMA (Post + Questions + Replies)

You know Pagan would spend half his time arguing with teenagers and asking Paul if it's possible that they can track them down and have them fed to tigers.

XCOM (2012 Reboot Series)

John "Central" Bradford/Male Commander (XCOM)

I really do love these two and their utter devotion to each other. I mean, Bradford's loyalty is so obvious it could be seen from space – you don't spend that many years looking for your commander, shrug off a bullet to your shoulder, and then promptly abdicate the leadership of your organization to a guy basically out of brain surgery without having deep faith and complete trust in him. But I like to think the Commander sticks around, not just because the message of “save humanity and destroy ADVENT and win the day” is so strong, but also because Bradford is believing in him, willing to sacrifice everything to save him, and how could he not live up to what Bradford thinks he is?

There is so much I would love to see about the two of them and their relationship. Maybe something where they use a more subtle conditioning on the Commander and Bradford has to break through his brainwashing to save him? Or maybe ADVENT takes Bradford because they know what he means to the Commander and now the Commander is torn between doing what Bradford would want him to do (ignore him, go kill aliens) or do what his heart wants him to do instead (kill aliens, rescue Bradford, kill more aliens for daring to take him in the first place). Or ooh, they're captured together and have to escape and it's made slightly more difficult by the fact that they both keep trying to take the bullet for the other one (you know Geist is sensing this and mentally rolling his eyes deeply before he dispatches his Templars).

Opt In Medium Prompts:

Medium Opt-In: Art - In-Universe Propaganda Poster

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Action Figure Packaging Bio

Right, so these posters are canon, and yet we have no bonded posters featuring the Commander and Bradford making out over an alien? Sacrilege! Also, can you imagine if XCOM decided to release a line of action figures to help pay the bills? Bradford wonders where his is until someone coughs uncomfortably and points out he's sold as an accessory to the Commander because well, you know...

Medium Opt-In: Illustrated Text (Art & Writing) - Mission Report

Oh, no, most of them would involve “and then someone shot at one of the fuel tanks and now everything's on fire.”

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - A Softer World style panels

“There are some secrets I will take to my grave. But I don't want loving you to be one of them.”

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - In-Universe Spreadsheet - Expense Report

I really want to know how XCOM funds itself, because there seem to be unlimited grenades for the taking and I have no idea how the Resistance drops pay for that.

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Interview

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Memoir

Bradford's would be 95% about the Commander and 5% telling utter bullshit lies.

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Mythology

Of course, the recruits have their own stories about the Commander, but what's even more interesting is that ADVENT does as well.

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In Universe Classified Documents

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Complaint Form

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Medical Report

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Psychological Evaluation Report

The Commander's return brought with it quite a bit of evaluations and reports before he would be released, contrary to that really quick cutscene where you get to be in charge because Bradford waves his hand and says it's okay.

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Fan letters

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe RPF

Medium Opt-In: Writing - Reddit: In-Universe r/IAmA AMA (Post + Questions + Replies)

They really should have seen it coming when they started recruiting all those specialists, but how were they to know that they'd set up such a thriving intranet with such posts as “Stop Eating My Food, You Dick!” and “Which One of Them Tops: Poll!”

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe Screenplay

The story of XCOM, now on the big screen! Except the Commander doesn't remember Bradford being so young, or blonde, or having—well, the sweater does show off the cleavage now.

Medium Opt-In: Writing - In-Universe TTRPG Campaign

D&D is probably the most obvious analogue, but can you imagine them playing Call of Cthulhu... or Paranoia? The mind reels with the possibilities.