opalmatrix | Dear Chocolatier (COMPLETED!)

It's done! I have added a section on the fandoms and the characters and their relationships:

Preferences

I Don't Like:

Sickly-sweet, coy, cutesy romantic stuff (anything in the "tee-hee-hee, is he looking at me?" category is definitely out)
Extensive use of epithets, or epithets that don't match the character POV (no one should think of his or her long-time lover as "the green-eyed man," for example): these will throw me right out of a story
Characters acting out of character, especially if the purpose is to force them into a relationship (doubly bad if that relationship is romantic or sexual)
By-the-numbers, every-action-described sex. Note that actual sex is fine (I love me some sexy stories) — just don't like it when the descriptions turn into a set of exact stage directions.
Mpreg, rape, forced sex (including sex pollen and fuck-or-die), hatesex. Dubcon is OK, especially the sort when the reluctant partner really wants the other person but is just not quite feeling ready yet or doesn't think se wants it in this particular way but gets off on it anyway.
Humiliation or betrayal (without a damn good plot reason) of a character by a friend or lover

I Like:

Strong characterization (including character-appropriate dialog: no earthy, uneducated characters using $50 words)
Positive emotional payoffs that are well-earned
Passions that are strong without being mushy/fluffy
Moments of realization — satori
Friendships - although I am a romantic person, not every relationship must be romantic (I do like the trope of friends becoming lovers, however)
Wry and even dark humor in the course of a more serious story
And I like any of the following "cool bits":
- hurt-comfort
- someone's profile silhouetted against the light
- warm and oversized bathrobes/dressing gowns or sweaters/jerseys
- licking honey or something similar off fingers
- sudden realization of one's feelings for another
- family-of-choice, nakama, or True Companions
- cynics with secretly soft hearts
- impulsive acts of valor (especially on behalf of the weak or an underdog)
- the little spots of light that sift through a thick canopy of trees onto the ground beneath
- water running over pebbles or stones
- senses of smell and touch and memories attached to them
- food descriptions: "food porn"
- an autumn leaf or item of clothing as the only bit of color in a bleak landscape
- an open-air market or seaside boardwalk or other place filled with joyful bustle and the smell of good things to eat
- a study or library as a refuge against the outside world
- places where arts or martial arts are studied or where master crafters are at work

I'm quite content with both straight and gay relationships. I do tend to ship the canon relationships, unless it's a character who has had no clear relationships shown in the story. I'm not comfortable with sexual relationships shown in children under the age of, say, 14 or so, and even then it's better in context (teens with other teens or in a societal setting where girls expect to marry by 16-18 anyway).

The Fandoms, Charcters, and Relationships

Saiyuki

Cho Hakkai/Sha Gojyo (or Gojyo/Hakkai ... 585) is my bulletproof ship, at all ratings. I identify with both characters: Hakkai's constant obfuscation of his underlying anger by being mannerly and harmless-looking, his constant pursuit of expertise in skills, his passive-aggressive means of getting his way, the way Gojyo is the only person who can predictably make him feel anything; and Gojyo's "wounded at the core" nature, brought on by his relationship with his stepmother, his earthy kindness, his simultaneous vulgarity and chivalry, his persistence and endurance. Some prompts you might use: I never learned nothing from playing it safe -or- Don't mind if I fall apart / There's more room in a broken heart
Cho Hakkai & Genjo Sanzo & Sha Gojyo & Son Goku: I enjoy the ikkou when they interact just among themselves, bouncing off each other or coming together. Have some one-word starting points: winter -or- overindulge -or- perfection.
Cho Hakkai & Genjo Sanzo: I don't ship these two, but they do have in common a more intellectual way of regarding the world. And of course, Sanzo is the one who made it possible for Hakkai to rejoin the world, and Gojyo. Tell me about a conversation or interaction that Sanzo had with #8 when he was making Gonou into Hakkai, or a conversation they had when Hakkai was putting Sanzo back together after the fight with Ukoku at the end of Reload.
Dokugakuji & Sha Gojyo: This should be more correctly Jien and Gojyo, as half-brothers growing up together. Some one-word starting points: lunch -or- profanity -or- hidden.

Alliance-Union - C. J. Cherryh

I'm a huge CJC fan, and Alliance-Union is my favorite of her settings.

Paul Dekker/Meg Kady (see below)
Sal Aboujib/Ben Pollard (see below)
Sal Aboujib & Meg Kady (see below)
Sal Aboujib/Meg Kady: Hellburner is my single most favorite book of the set. The foursome of Dek, Ben, Meg, and Sal push all my found-family buttons, with the added spice of the physical relationships. I also like the possibility that Meg and Sal were more than just pilot/navigator and buddies during the thin times in the Belt, but they're good as friends too. If you like sexytimes, write me a hot, intimate scene between any of the couples, or a slice-of-life for any of the combinations shown.
Jurgen Graff/Signy Mallory (see below)
Di Janz/Signy Mallory (see below)
Jurgen Graff/Signy Mallory/Di Janz: On the other hand, Jurgen Graff is the single character with whom I most identify: the way he has to hold all the crewmembers together in the high-tension Hellburner project, and the fact that he comes to realize that he can't trust his superiors. I'm thrilled that he ended up on Norway (it's canon!), and an offhand observation that Mallory spends her nights with Graff or Di Janz (or any other crew that struck her fancy) has suggestion an entire open relationship between the fearsome starship commander, her executive officer, and her Commander of Marines. Again, your choice of a sexy interaction or a slice of life that shows how these relationships work. You might want to read my own stories about Graff, or Sevenall's, on AO3. (We have traded stories back and forth for several years now.)
Signy Mallory & Bet Yeager: not canon, bit I would love to have these two very very tough women meet and interact. Maybe Signy involves the Loki crew in some sort of action against Union? Or Bet has to rescue Signy for some reason?
Catlin AC-7892 II & Ariane Emory II & Florian AF-9979 II: I love the weird growing-up years of this trio. Have some one-word prompts as starting points: homework -or- -or- space -or- book
Justin Warrick/Grant ALX-972: these two are just love. I have heard that, Word of God, Grant regards them as two parts of the same organism. A warm, gentle intimate would be wonderful; so would an opportunity for some minor hurt/comfort. Some prompts: unravel me -or- There's nothing here to hold on to / Could I hold on to you?
Jordan Warrick/Paul AP: I'd love to hear about their earliest days together. What did Jordan intend when he selected Paul? Was Paul meant to be a sexual partner from the beginning, or did that happen after he started working as Jordan's assistant? Did Jordan confide in Paul about his decision to have a clone child? What is Paul's view of Grant and Justin?

魔法使いの嫁 | Mahou Tsukai no Yome | The Ancient Magus Bride

This is a new fandom for me. I enjoy these characters, but I don't have strong feelings about them yet…except Ruth. Although I love cats, my own personality is far more dog-like. I sympathize with Ruth a great deal…not least because I share his name IRL!

Hatori Chise & Ruth: Something from Ruth's POV would be nice, even a scene from the series from his POV.
Elias Ainsworth & Hatori Chise: I love the slightly out-of-kilter household they keep. Some slightly warped domesticity would be warped. Perhaps Elias decides Chise's non-magical education is being neglected, or Chise misses some food(s) from home, or something else you devise.
Hatori Chise & Alice: some sort of bonding activity - Chise takes Alice on a picnic, maybe, or Alice takes Chise to a used bookstore, and they bond over classic girls series books, or something else?
Elias Ainsworth & Lindenbaum: backstory of some sort
Michael Renfred & Alice: a little personal moment early in Alice's apprenticeship. Maybe Alice hoards food? Maybe Alice's street smarts help Michael somehow?

Stand Still Stay Silent

Ensi Hotakainen & Tuuri Hotakainen (SSSS): Her one non-magical grandchild! Is there anything special Ensi likes about this bubbly, extraverted child? Perhaps a special littlemoment between the two of them, where Ensi realizes that Tuuri is good for something too?
Tuuri Hotakainen & The Cat-Tank (SSSS): the Cat-Tank may not be all that Tuuri expected, but she falls in love with it anyway. Tell me about how Tuuri feels about it, day by day.
Lalli Hotakainen & Tuuri Hotakainen (SSSS): backstory fic from their mutual childhood
Kitty & Lalli Hotakainen: The cat-boy and the kitten. Some poignant or revealing little moment between them?
Onni Hotakainen & Tuuri Hotakainen (SSSS): Backstory. When did Onni first realize that Tuuri's yearning to escape the safe confines of their little community was the real thing? Or some other scene from their mutual lives as Tuuri grows out of childhood,
Tuuri Hotakainen/Sigrun Eide (SSSS) : I was a huge huge Sigrun/Tuuri shipper, and then Minna broke our hearts. I've already had a couple of fix-it fics, but if you have a new twist?

Saiyuki Gaiden

Kenren Taishou/Tenpou Gensui (Saiyuki Gaiden): They're Gojyo and Hakkai without the deprived childhoods and tragedy. I love the mutuality of their relationship. Some prompts: You can take me anytime you like/I'll be around if you think you might -or - I undress my mind and dare you to follow -or- There is so much joy within them, they can even share our sorrow

Books of the Raksura - Martha Wells

Consolation & Malachite: Consolation seeks advice from Malachite on running her court -or- Malachite has to see how Consolation is doing…it's like a sore she can't stop worrying.
Jade/Moon (Raksura): so I love them being sexy? But actual Raksura sex bothers me because it's always shown as just like human sex. And also, they are fun when they bicker. And then Moon soothing Jade during her pregnancy is good too.
Chime/Moon (Raksura): Chime and Moon, the woobie brothers. Who also happen to have happy hot sex. Which, again, I don't need in detail, because having them just like humans doesn't work for me. And again, hurt/comfort is good.
Chime/Jade/Moon (Raksura): sleepy puppy piles, bonding with the hatchlings, silly bickering that ends on a happy note. Moon has a better sense of the ridiculous than the other two.
Ember & Shade (Raksura): Ember, pampered but politically wise; Shade, also pampered, but conscious of his differences. What do they have in common? What differences make them fascinating to each other? What can they learn from each otjer?
Moon (Raksura) & Stone (Books of the Raksura): This is probably my favorite relationship in the whole series. Moon is pretty clearly the son Stone wishes he had (not that he didn't have others—I'm sure he did—but Moon seems to be very special to him). The arguments, the comfortable grumbling. The way they try to take care of each other. And have we had a scene with Moon and Stone and Moon's first hatchlings?
Frost & Lithe (Raksura): Lithe, so wise and patient. Frost, so imperious and impatient. They bond, Tell me how.
Ember & Moon (Books of the Raksura): Ember helopng Moon when he's tearing his hair out over points of Raksura protocol is endlessly interesting and amusing to me.
Malachite & Moon (Books of the Raksura): Is she *ever* going to act motherly toward him? Will they ever spend a quiet evening with her telling him about her own youth, or anything like that?

Chanur Series - C. J. Cherryh

Pyanfar Chanur/Khym Mahn: I love these two. I really identify with Py, who's been landed with so very much, and with the way Khym has learned to have her back now, in space, the way he used to make a place to which she wanted to return on planet. Show them being kind to each other in the gruff, taciturn Hani way.
Pyanfar Chanur & Jik | Keia Nomesteturjai: "I love you like kin," they said to each other, across the boundary of being different species, when they were gambling with their lives. Bring them back together one more time.
Jik | Keia Nomesteturjai & Goldtooth | Ana Ismehanin-min: they worked both together and against each other. Give me a scene either from the timeline of the stories or after it's all over, and Ana has lost.
Haral Araun & Tirun Araun: the tough, gruff sisters. Show them to me before they became Pyanfar's left and right hands, either as younglings back on-planet or in the early days of their spacing careers.
Chur Anify & Geran Anify: another pair of sisters, more complicated than their Araun cousins. Show me their first voyage, or conversely, when Chur starts to feel ready to go back into space again at the end of Homecoming.
Chur Anify & Tully: I love Chur, especially when she starts getting weird during Homecoming. Hilfy thinks Chur had sex with Tully. I'm not so sure, but I'm willing to entertain the idea. Show me a slice of their interactions when Chur is well again and they're back in space.