Dear Trick or Treat Author 2024

[opalmatrix]

Thank you so much for writing me a Treat (or even a Trick)! Here are a lot of optional details about what I like and don't like in a story, plus my thoughts on the fandoms and some prompts for them.

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 (for more about epithets, see this)
• 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 (a/k/a Ikea Erotica - link goes to TVTropes). 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
• A/B/O and related kinks/tropes, incest (unless canon), scat/watersports/emetophilia, tentacles, non-human genitalia.

I Like:

• Strong characterization (including character-appropriate dialog: no earthy, uneducated characters using $100 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
  • senses of smell and touch and memories attached to them
  • warm and oversized bathrobes/dressing gowns or sweaters/jerseys
  • someone's profile silhouetted against the light
  • being cozy indoors when it's rainy or snowing
  • an autumn leaf or item of clothing as the only bit of color in a bleak landscape
  • drops of water clinging to hair and/or skin
  • leaning comfortably against a friend or lover; feeling them chuckle or speak
  • cabinets or cases full of odd curios
  • romantic partners who are both competent
  • an open-air market or seaside boardwalk or other place filled with joyful bustle and the smell of good things to eat
  • whispered admissions of love or forgiveness
  • finding in a fight that one's ally feels like a protective wall
  • water sounds: rain, a brook, waves
  • family-of-choice, nakama, or True Companions
  • cynics with secretly soft hearts
  • In-jokes among family members or close friends
  • the moon seen through wind-blown branches

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).

Fandoms and Prompts

Saiyuki

Hakkai and Gojyo are my bulletproof OTP: anything with them rescuing each other, or one rescuing the other form some horrible situation. Sanzo investigating something with his master, or with Goku in the pre-Journey days, would be excellent.

Natsume Yuujinchou | Natsume's Book of Friends

So many possibilities with the various spooky youkai in Japanese tradition and folklore! An encounter for our core cast of young friends plus Madara. Madara often comes to the rescue, but maybe he's the one in trouble this time? Guest appearance by any other canon character is welcome: I have a special fondness for Hinoe and Hiiragi.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi - Shannon Chakrabort

I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Early trouble/adventure for Amina with her partners-in-crime, Raksh as either her lover or just a companion, Dalila providing the key to solving the challenge problem. Otherwise, go nuts. There's lots of spooky middle eastern traditional lore to mine.

Chalion Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold

Just a typical Penric & Desdemona outing, because more is better with these two. I really like the "ecosystem" of the sorcerers, gods, priests, etc. in the canon.

The Goblin Emperor Series - Katherine Addison

Dire doings in Amalo! Celehar and Velhiro on the case, and Celehar coming home to Iäna increasingly messed up and beat up.