firebatvillain

Dear Candy Hearts Exchange Creator,

Thanks for writing or drawing for me - I’m really excited for this exchange. Candy Hearts is one of my favorite exchanges, and I'm glad it's back for another year, hehe! I hope you’re excited as well! I’m FireBatVillain on Ao3 and Tumblr.

Aside from my DNWs, I hope you consider the prompts and likes in this letter as you work, and that they inspire you to make something you enjoy creating and that tickles my fancy! These prompts are meant to inspire, not restrain/restrict, so feel free to go beyond these prompts and create what you like!

In addition to this letter, I also maintain a longer, general letter about likes and dislikes if that's useful for you:

https://firebatvillain.dreamwidth.org/7347.html

I am open to treats in unrequested format (fic/art/podfic etc).

Things I like in writing:

Happy stories, bittersweet stories, and stories that end with a spark of hope even if they are angry or sad. I like good communication, wordplay, honor, pointless heroism or love even if it won’t succeed. Probably one of my favorite ideas in fiction is the idea of heroism in the face of hopelessness, and love even if things seem sad.

A little mini scene or interaction, an ending or a beginning, that could be a canon-compliant off-screen scene or interaction - sounds fun! I also like AUs and alternate imaginings.

I like explicit content and smut. I am okay with darkfic. I do not mind any of the archive warnings aside from what's listed in my DNWs.

Things I like in art:

Characters hugging, cute animal companions, manifestations of magic or the supernatural, characters looking fierce holding a weapon, item, or tool. Characters floating against abstract backgrounds with aquatic or space-ey feels. I'm happy with all art media, from digital to watercolor to mixed media to others.

In terms of mood: I like moods that are cozy, happy, fierce, or exciting, but I don't like moods in art that are dismaying, horrifying, or depressing.

In terms of how to depict the characters, feel free to diverge from straightforward direct physical depiction / canonical elements if you'd like! I'm comfortable with and enjoy all levels of explicitness/maturity in fics and art.

Anyway - on to the important DNWs and prompts!

Things I don’t like / DNWs:

In fic, my DNWs are authorial monarchist apologia, vivid descriptions of needles, pregnancy, and extreme underage.

In art, my DNWs are authorial monarchist apologia, depictions of needles breaking skin, pregnancy, and extreme underage.

Regarding the monarchism thing: I’m okay with characters in a feudal or monarchist setting, and even protags who are monarchs, and even these characters triumphing as monarchs as long as the story itself isn’t apologia for monarchism. Characters who like monarchism, who think of themselves as good kings, who want to restore the throne, etc - all good by me. Rider in Fate/Zero, or Moriarty in A Study in Emerald, etc are excellent characters and enjoy works about them. I just would prefer not to read a work where the final moral of the story is that democracy is bad and we should all be ruled by a single person with absolute unchecked power, as presented by the author.

Requested Fandoms:

Request 1: Baldur's Gate 3 - Fic or Art - The Dark Urge/Enver Gortash

I love these two! Durgetash is my OTP. Or, my new OTP at least. Rotating them in my mind constantly.... they're so evil, so awful, so depraved, so willing to destroy anything, except, maybe, each other? Gortash is collected, he's brilliant, he has an evil plan and will betray everyone and tyrannically crush everyone, except for The Dark Urge, in whom he sees an equal. But he's so awful! He's not like "oh, I'm secretly a good guy for you" or anything. He's just bad and ready to be bad with Durge. And The Dark Urge! That letter, before he lost his memory. "Forgive me, Father..." forgive him... for loving Gortash back! Even though he wants to turn the world into a slaughterhouse, with Gortash, things are different! Woudl he defy his father, a god, for Gortash? Would he descend into the revelry of killing to hide his feelings? Oh yes, anything is possible. As for depictions of Durge, I've often enjoyed fanart and fics in which he is the "semi-canonical" White Dragonborn, but whatever custom Durge you imagine is also fine (I know he is often a Drow in fics and playthroughs).
 

What I love is for The Dark Urge and Enver Gortash to be willing to set aside everything for each other, to rule for each other, to even defy their gods for each other. All of course while being as evil as you please.

Here's a few prompts if you're looking for something to inspire you.

Art Prompts:

• Gortash holding The Dark Urge's chin with his semi-gauntleted hand, pulling his face in close, faces in profile. Mood: Intense.
• Gortash lying back, reclined and half-naked or naked on a recliner, bench, sofa, or similar, head thrown back in relaxed pleasure as The Dark Urge pleasures him. Mood: Very sexy.
• The Dark Urge holding a knife to Gortash's throat, leaning over him and smiling seductively. Maybe dripping blood? Mood: Alluring.
• The couple leaning together in a moment of relaxation, framed by a heart of evil-looking flame or some other magical effect. Mood: Cute. But also maybe evil?
• The Dark Urge and Gortash talking to each other. Speech bubble from Gortash with a tadpole or a gear or something serious, thought bubble from Durge with a knife or something violent. Mood: Silly.

Fic Prompts:

• The Dark Urge and Enver Gortash do a heist together. They're HEIST buddies. Something focused on the POV of one of them as they begin to realize they love the other and have to change their plans to betray/murder the other. And then they FUCK.
• At the culmination of their plan, when they have all the power and everything has succeeded, Durge and Gortash have to reckon with their love for each other. Maybe they fuck?
• Post-canon, Gortash is alive, and The Dark Urge is getting his memories back, and realizes his love.
• During Act 1 and 2, The Dark Urge finds himself afflicted with strange, sexy dreams of a lover he can't remember (it's Enver Gortash!)
• Pre-canon, they meet for the first time, or maybe they are young kids on the streets, rogues in the underworld coming into their abilities?

Request 2: Warhammer 40k - Art : Asurmen/Jain Zar

Omg, where do I start with these two. I'm a big fan of Jain Zar and her interactions with Asurmen, ever since reading Jain Zar: The Storm of Silence. They found each other in the wake of the Fall, and built a new future for the Aeldari together. And through many lives, they've fought by each other's side (when not alone) since. They're fated to be together, maybe, in life or in death, in this life or the next! Whether it's during the Fall, as the two of them and the remnants of the Aeldari civilization strive to create a new, better way, or during current times, as crises befall Aeldari and the Phoenix lords live again and again to fight for the future, or meet their doom in the Rhana Dandra, these two have their fates intertwined. Will they meet next on the battlefield, or of it? If you offered this, I'm sure you have some ideas, but here are a few art prompts I have in mind to inspire you. In terms of appearance, I have a preference for the old-school style of Jain Zar with the black/gray/white coloring with red accents, rather than the current one with red hair.

Art Prompts:

• Jain Zar and Asurmen, masks off, embracing, against a field of stars. Mood: Romantic, cuddly.
• Jain Zar and Asurmen testing their blades against each other in a practice spar. Mood: Friendly, competitive.
• Jain Zar and Asurmen reading books while sunbathing on the beach (or under a parasol) It's vacation time!. Mood: Relaxed.
• Jain Zar and Asurmen in combat armor, back to back, as darkness, shadows, or threatening shapes swirls around them. Mood: Tense.
• Jain Zar with her banshee mask off, looking concerned, with Asurmen hugging her from behind. Mood: Pensive, comforting.

Request 3: 聖剣伝説３ | Seiken Densetsu 3 | Trials of Mana (Video Game) - Fic - Hawkeye/Riesz

This ship is just full of sparks and chemistry, and I love the way Hawkeye and Riesz' personality play off of each other. Hawkeye is of course naturally flirtatious, whereas Riesz is very serious, and grew up living a courtly life and doesn't know much of the ways of the world. She can of course handle herself on the battlefield (and is the stronger in terms of raw strength between the two of them), but her life experience has been sheltered. On top of that, it seems at first like there's no way they can be together! A thief from Navarre, a princess of Rolante... how could be possible? Surely... no, it can't be! I love pining-related tropes in this ship, as well as their relationship being inhibited by circumstance, whether it's a matter of social station, or needing to save the world together first.

Fic Prompts:

• Post-canon, Hawkeye and Riesz pine for each other from their respective countries, until another threat to the world causes the team to come together again.
• During a fight against one of their various tough foes, Hawkeye gets injured and comes down with a fever. Then, Riesz tends to his wounds while he recovers.
• Post-canon, Rolante and Navarre arrange a political marriage, and it's Hawkeye and Riesz, who both secretly have feelings for each other, and don't know about the other.
• While out on their adventures, the rest of the party (6-member party AU anyone?) does some shenanigans to make Hawkeye and Riesz get together, since it's obvious they're crushing on each other. 
• Post-canon, Hawkeye and Riesz cross paths at some kind of formal event, like a ball or a treaty signing or someone else's wedding, and sparks fly as they pine for each other and maybe realize their hearts' desires.

–

Thanks for reading this!

Hopefully this gives you some ideas. I am sure I will like whatever you create.

Thank you.

Dear Candy Hearts Exchange Creator,

Thanks for writing - I’m really excited for this exchange. I hope you’re excited as well! I’m FireBatVillain on Ao3 and Tumblr.

The stuff I’m including in this letter is optional, but I hope you consider them as you work. Whatever you make, I’ll appreciate it regardless, and I look forward to whatever comes. Prompts are just suggestions.

Things I like:

Happy stories, bittersweet stories, and stories that end with a spark of hope even if they are angry or sad. I like good communication, wordplay, honor, pointless heroism or love even if it won’t succeed. Probably one of my favorite ideas in fiction is the idea of heroism in the face of hopelessness, and love even if things seem sad.

I'm a fan of explorations of fandom meta, and I've often enjoyed canon-compliant off-screen fics that explore things are great! Some of my favorite stories of all time fit into the category of "AU - Canon Divergence" and I would say I am a common fan of "what if things were different in X way" type AUs. I do not usually enjoy modern or mundane AUs that much, but I've liked a few.

I like fics that have a lot of frantic energy about them, or with a focus on change. I am a fan of fics that are about characters being ruthless in pursuit of an ideal, and giving something up or even becoming worse as a result, because of how much they value their goal.

Things I don’t like / DNWs:

My DNWs in writing are mpreg, authorial monarchist apologia, vivid descriptions of needles, and extreme underage.

My DNWs in art are mpreg, needles, and underage.

Regarding the monarchism thing: I’m okay with characters in a feudal or monarchist setting, and even protags who are monarchs, and even these characters triumphing as monarchs as long as the story itself isn’t apologia for monarchism. Characters who like monarchism, who think of themselves as good kings, who want to restore the throne, etc - all good by me. Saber or Iskandar in Fate/Zero, Reinhard von Lohengramm from LoGH, etc is excellent. I just would prefer not to read a work where the final moral of the story is that democracy is bad and we should all be ruled by a single person with absolute unchecked power, as presented by the author.

Some other notes:

Unrequested characters, ships, and ideas are A-OK with me, as is explicit content. Please feel free to use whatever prompts you like and don’t feel constrained by my suggestions here. I do not mind darkfic.

Requested Fandoms:

Chainsaw Man (Anime & Manga) - Denji & Power

I love these two! There's so much... gremlin energy! They are so awful and also are so there for each other in their immature ways. They're a ton of fun and I always enjoy reading about them. I know some people ship it and I don't mind that, but for me the way their personalities bounce off of each other and the way they get into shenanigans (and serious things) together, and the small moments where they're even there for each other is excellent. Oxford's 2022 word of the year was "Goblin Mode" so feel free to let that guide the energy of these two,

Here's a few prompts if you're looking for something to inspire you.

• Denji and Power find themselves saddled with a serious responsibility - looking after a team member's young child for the day.
• Denji has a date coming up! He needs advice and a makeover, and to his dismay he is relying on Power for that.
• Nyako has gone missing, and Power is looking for her! Denji is doing his best to help and they get into all kinds of hijinks as a result. 

 

Request 2: Fate/Zero - Irisviel/Saber

These two really deserved a chance, didn't they? I think of all the various tragedies of Fate/Zero, the fact that the best couple never got together and only really had that one date on the first day in Japan makes me sad. I'd like to see them happy! I'm sure you've got ideas if you've offered this, but if you'd like some inspiration, here are a few prompts. 

• They get another date! Fuyuki city is a big town and they go to some interesting places, like the not-yet-destroyed bridge or the totally innocent temple. 
• Somehow, it's after the war, and they're both around. Maybe reconstituted by cursed mud, or maybe things go wrong and Irisviel transforms back into her body and they're just waiting for the next war somehow. With each other!
• A "pre-canon" type scene (or missing scene before Ep 2 would be a better way to put it) of them having a nice time together on the Einzbern estate before travelling to Japan.

Request 3: The Masquerade Series - Seth Dickinson - Xate Yawa & Xate Olake 

A lot of what happens between these two twins happens off screen, so to speak. An entire adult lifetime under Masquerade rule, plotting and planning, one visible, the other like a ghost, trying to push their plans forward, for themselves and for Aurdwynn. I think you could go for anything here and I'd enjoy it, and if you offered this you probably have some ideas in mind. Here are a few prompts if you'd like:

• Xate Yawa hears of Baru's betrayal at Sieroch, and fears for her brother's life. She tries to save him, and her own position. Once she's a Cryptarch, everything can be repaid.
• A scene from the Fools' Rebellion - Xata Yawa and Xate Olake consider the Traitor's Qualm and make their own moves to survive, and for Aurdwynn to survive.
• Soon after Baru arrives in Aurdwynn for the first time, and Xate Olake has taken her measure, he meets with his sister to discuss their plans.

–

Thanks for reading this!

Hopefully this gives you some ideas. Aside from the DNWs, these are all just suggestions that will hopefully inspire you. I am sure I will like whatever you write. 

Thank you.