Yuletide 2023 letter

[ungefug]

1. Likes
2. DNW
3. Ring of Honor
4. Vermis 1
5. Trust (TV)

Hello lonesome wanderer, thank you for dropping by!

Have a look at my thoughts, likes and prompts for inspiration.

For all of my requests I have chosen "My gift must feature one or more of my chosen character tags (giver's choice)" and picked my favorite characters.

I am happy to receive art (in the yuletide madness collection) and have treats enabled.

I love wrestling poetry (check out Colette Arrand if you care) and am happy to receive poetry for Ring of Honor.

Please don't be discouraged if I have more to say about one fandom than another, it's simply because I'm more active in that fandom, writing and talking about it with other fans, but I love all my requests the same.

Generally I am happy to receive fic in the tone of the canon, so if the canon is dark and everyone's got trauma, or everyone's sexist and has anger issues, I don't mind if your fic reflects that. I'm fine reading all sorts of bigotry and unpleasant topics unless I DNWed them, I do however not want to read issue fic about those topics. Also if two people I ship have a messy relationship in canon I don't expect you to untangle and fix that, I probably like it exactly like that.


Likes
 

• hand holding, hand kissing, neck touches, chaste kisses, displays of fealty
• hierarchies, power dynamics and subversions of them, abuse of power
• stifling environments, coded language, uniforms
• obscene, grotesque, disgusting things
• violence, gore
• sadism, masochism, fetishism
• noncon, dubcon, fail sex, unpleasant sex
• horror, suspense, mystery
• glorifying my faves through their suffering
• established relationships
• enemies with benefits
• sexless love and loveless sex
• loyalty, codependency
• hurt/comfort, hurt/no comfort
• (unresolved) sexual tension, (edge me - believe me, I won't be disappointed if there's no payoff)
• transgression, transformation, becoming
• insects, flowers, birds
• slice of life, people just doing mundane things from baking bread to going for a swim
• observations of nature from the tinniest bugs to the tallest trees
• focus on the historical context (from the music, clothing, objects to greater societal themes)
• pouring all your niche knowledge, intellect, trivia and so on into fic
• in media res
• pastiche, archaic language, unusual form
• unreliable narrators, outsider POV
• letters, diary entries, events relayed in conversation
• my smut and kink likes

DNW

• m on f noncon/dubcon*
• terminal illness, cancer, dementia, amnesia, Alzheimer's, brain damage (for ROH concussions are fine if you don't get into the long term effects, for Vermis all of these topics are fine)
• AUs with the exception of canon divergence (or in case of wrestling adding fantasy elements e.g. wrestlers are vampires or werewolves but still wrestlers)
• mpreg, pregnancy*, kidfic
• alpha/beta/omega (and similar worldbuilding with assigned roles/biodeterminism)
• focus on formalized aspects of bdsm (formal negotiations, safewords, traffic light system, people identifying as dom/sub)
• current politics 
• Colt Cabana as a major character* (for ROH)

*mentions are fine, just don't get into details or make the story all about it


Prompts

Ring of Honor

Requested: CM Punk, Samoa Joe (giver's choice of characters)

How to get into this canon: Uff, uhm, god, follow some insane fans on tumblr and start watching the matches they post about? Sorry, this is not the kind of canon you can just quickly pick up. If you poke me (idk through a mod?) asking about specific wrestlers/ships I'll make an intro guide.

Most of my ideas here are for early ROH (especially since Punk has not been in today's ROH) but I do ship today's Joe with ZSJ and Stokely Hathaway too.

I am open to anything from full kayfabe (wrestling is real and everyone is exactly like their characters) to medium rare kayfabe (wrestling is fake, characters act more or less like they do on screen, I don't want to hear about real life partners unless they are part of the wrestling world, like e.g. Renee Paquette in AEW or AJ Lee in WWE).

I am into the latter not because of the RPF aspect (or, rather, despite it) but because wrestling is such a fascinating performance of violence with so much trust necessary between the participants, and there are so many things that tickle me and only work if wrestling is fake, such as: A wrestler is genuinely injured in the ring but wants to finish the match, their opponent is distraught and handles them most tendlerly while still trying to give the impression of trying to hurt them [x]. Or a wrestler takes liberties with another one in the ring (being stiff, making them look bad, humiliating them, sexual assault) but they can't do anything about it because they are the rookie jobber. Wrestlers having to wonder if someone is stiff with them to hurt them or it's accidental, wondering of they have to give them a receipt. Wrestlers saving each other's lives when spots go wrong and they throw their own bodies in the way of their opponent's fall. The way good friends hurt each other just a little more in the ring. Nonverbal communication, or whispering in each other's ear between spots. Or when wrestlers injure each other accidentally and feel so bad about it (and have to be consoled by the one they hurt... or get cussed out). Or just blading [x] [x] being really hot to me for some reason. Or the inherent intimacy of blading your opponent! [x]

In early ROH I like the whole grimy indie vibe of it (also btw if you set your story in a FIP or IWA-MS or Zero-1 or TNA locker room, which is all kind of around the same time that's cool too), the wrestler on constant road trips, living entirely glamourless lives, putting on these amazing stiff matches for small intimate crowds, without much of the WWE attitude era bullshit (however with other bullshit... everyone is always seconds away from using a homophobic slur), and of course the chiaroscuro aesthetics of early ROH. 

For all my wrestling requests I'm happy with Rule 63, given that they are still wrestlers, you turn M/M into F/F rather than make it het, and don't use this to introduce issues (e.g. this wrestler is now a diva and facing sexism in the business). I actually really like Rule 63 to read about women engaging in the same violence as men (you construct intricate rituals which allow you to touch the skin of other women).

I ship a lot of these characters (as I will lay out) but I am also interested in them individually, their struggles in the business, their twisted relationships with veterans and the business itself. I enjoy stories that take place in the ring and actually use the medium of wrestling as much as stories that take place in the liminal space of locker rooms and motel beds. Also with a lot of these I'm fine with all sorts of relationships, friends with benefits or without, unresolved sexual tension, fuck buddies, kind of clearly in love but they haven't figured it out yet (where applicable).

 

Samoa Joe /& CM Punk

I've probably written essays about what I like about them across different exchanges, which you can check out here. To keep it brief I like them as unlikely best friends who also might or might not fuck and might or might not have feelings about that. This ROH shoot interview [x] is like a primer for that (highlight: Punk painting Joe's toe nails as he's passed out drunk in bed), which also tells you I am mostly into it when it's not full kayfabe, but blending realities is cool too!

 

I'd love hurt/comfort, Punk looking out for Joe when he's drunk or Joe saving Punk when he's about to get his ass kicked or his straight edge vow violated (or taking care of him afterwards and having to handle Punk's feelings/desire coming out when he's not in control of himself). I'd also enjoy Punk being really into Joe's weight, whether just being into cuddling or kinking on it (e.g. enjoying being smothered, thoroughly appreciating his fat ass and thighs).

 

I'm into sadomasochism with them without heavy focus on the dominance and submission, e.g. dommy brat tamer Joe topping a submissive trembling Punk is less interesting to me than Punk climbing in his lap and demanding to be choked, or Joe getting off on the way Punk fights back and bites and scratches when he holds him down.

Also when it comes to top/bottom I have no preference and love Punk getting his brains fucked out as much as Joe riding him like a dildo (well, and other vibes and configurations but you get the idea).
 

CM Punk /& Raven

I think their relationship is fascinating both in and out of kayfabe and in the space in-between. Some notes: Punk projecting his daddy (and daddy's alcoholism) issues on Raven. Smartass Raven mentoring him (digging deep into wrestling history, terminology and workings appreciated). The abusive nature of that mentoring in the wrestling business. Callbacks to the abusive (both in and out of kayfabe, really) Stevie and Raven situation. Consent issues (in the ring or in the hotel bedroom). Raven making Punk break edge. Punk taking advantage of Raven when he's drunk. Raven introducing young, self-destructive Punk to kink and saver ways to get off or attain catharsis. Punk being put in his place and loving it some kind of way. Blading and bleeding and that dog collar match!

 

Bryan Danielson /& CM Punk

Bryan Danielson following Punk around and serenading him (according to his livejournal), their shared intense respect for bathroom etiquette (what did they mean by that and was it about watersports?), the way the best technical wrestler in the world and possibly sadistic fuck and weird tantra sex freak (he loves edging, he definitely knows about the power of the prostate orgasm) Bryan might be the perfect match for the masochist supreme CM Punk. Their nerd to nerd connection. This match where they are basically fucking for 40 minutes in front of a crowd of 20.

Ace Steel /& CM Punk
For ~some reason~ I just kind of headcanon Steel like Punk's obedient guard, attack and emotional support dog. Which doesn't make a lot of sense in ROH with him being Punk's teacher, maybe, or maybe it does... Also they were room mates.

CM Punk /& Jimmy Rave
The fun thing about their feud is that Punk gets brutalized by Rave and The Embassy over and over again (like this). Those are just really great scenes with Punk suffering beautifully and if you want to indulge the urge to put Punk through the wringer or add a sprinkle of noncon on top of those scenes, be my guest. Prince Nana is very welcome here too. If you keep Jade Chung abuse to the mininum or just let her some agency that would be nice.
 
Samoa Joe/Zack Sabre Jr
Or Samoan Joseph as ZSJ calls him. They had this brief thing going on with them tagging as an unlikely pair that was really hot actually. Look at them bickering [x]! Too bad Joe rotated over from one annoying brat to the next so he could wrestle Punk and it never went anywhere. I'm actually not super interested in dommy top Joe taming the brat into submission or anything in that vein but if Zack was an incessant flirt that got him all flustered, that would be cute. If you write anal sex I'd really like Joe bottoming.

Samoa Joe/Stokely Hathaway
Yeah, uhm, size difference? First off Stokely is hilarious and I love his video about what his day is like being extorted by Samoa Joe. Just more of that, all with a bit of humour would be appreciated. Love that Joe calls him big boss sarcastically with his big terrifying hand on Stokely's shoulder and that Stokely can't help but call him sir [x]. I'm also rotating Stokely's sexual servitude to Joe in my head at all time. And here too, if you write anal sex I'd really like Joe bottoming.


Vermis 1

Requested: Worldbuilding, The Dying Knight, The Lonely Knight, The Princess (giver's choice of characters)

How to get into this canon: the book can currently be purchased here. Shipping I believe from Italy. To my knowledge there is no digital copy.

I adore this book! A guide for a game that never was with all the beauty, tragedy and environmental storytelling of a Souls game. I picked some of the characters that intrigue me and could be explored further, their mysteries unveiled or more mysteries piled on top, but in the end what I want is simply more like the canon (not interested in ship fic fluff here for example). More worldbuilding, more exploration, more terrifying, unnerving, beautiful sad little scenes.

If you can do interactive fiction (of any level from actually making it a clickable adventure to simply a pastiche of the book where it writes out the choices and what they do) I'd be super into that. Any level of mixed media (as far as yuletide allows, I frankly don't know) would be nice too. Like if you want to include a map for this new dungeon you're describing, that sort oft thing. And I should mention, I like the game guide format and any pastiche of it, but I'd also enjoy more prose heavy fic.

Some of the things I like, aside from the characters obviously: "avoid looking up", the ending of the book, the Dubious Friend, what's in the box?, the room without shadows, the flutewood trees, Aspect of the Dream, that image with the knight hugging the corpse, the Known Gods, in particular Dorvus, the Wandering Angels. 

Should go without saying that I am perfectly happy to receive Second Person POV here.

(I've read Vermis 2 now but if you haven't I don't mind! Don't worry about contradicting the second book.)


Trust (TV)

Requested: Primo Nizzuto, Jahangir Khan (giver's choice of characters)

How to get into this canon: It's a ten episode mini series (Primo only shows up starting episode three but I'd really watch all of it to get it and also because it is a good show) with about an hour each per episode, available at a variety of streaming services.

Okay, first of I don't need these two characters in one fic. I mean it's not impossible, but what I want is fic either about Primo or about Jahangir because those are my favs.

Primo Nizzuto
If you care I've written a lot about Primo which would give you some idea what I'm interested in.

I've also been to Calabria because of the show. I like it a normal amount. If you feel confident lovingly describing the show's Italian locations, I'd enjoy this a lot. When I was writing Trust fic I watched a lot of films and documentaries about Rome, Southern Italy and Italian films set around the time, so here's a selection of them (this is not a required watching list, just if you're curious): Martin Eden (2019), San Babila-8 P.M. (1976), Amarcord (1973), Roma (1972), The Belly of an Architect (1987), Conversation Piece (1974), Theorem (1968) and Dario Argento's films.

Some ideas about Primo Nizzuto: casual sex, Calabria, Rome, alienation and transgression, hurray for capitalism (not really but you know how he is), his tight pants, his manchildism, his anger management issues, the 70s! (the late 60s!), drugs, Italian history (ww2, fascism, the American landing, the young moving North for labour, revolts, communists, and so on), "terr*ne", arrogance, (tested and shattered), his tense relationship to Regina (I wrote a ship/smut fic and would not mind receiving one like that), crack with Chace, fucked up relations with his underlings, unpleasant sexual encounters with Paul - Angelo, what's suck my cock in English?

 
Jahangir Khan

Butlers and valets fascinate me. The are like priests to me in a way they embody service, dressed in black with their white gloves and straight backs, neat and tidy and without a hint of their own wants and desires. I enjoy stories that explore these people and reveal their complex interior lives, I enjoy when they are put in situations where they suffer and endure, physically (working too hard, working through illness, perhaps taking masochistic pride in their aching bodies ) or mentally (enduring classist humiliation and their master's whims with dignity).

About Jahangir I like his tenderness and that it's a story about him breaking free from both a life of service to a horrible man and his own sexual repression. It would be interesting to explore how these are linked, why he chose a profession that similar to sailors and monks removed him from society and, if you want, the link between the concept of uncleanliness as it relates to homosexuality, and his profession.

I'd be happy to read about his relationship with Dennis too. The flirting, the getting together (again), the first kiss, the first sex. I'd be curious about Jahangir experiencing the gay culture of the 70s, perhaps going to a club for the first time, being exposed to casual sex and I don't mind if this is an experience that's overwhelming or scary to him rather than just an euphoric good time, and this goes also for his relationship with Dennis and the whole quitting his job and living a totally different life.

Other thoughts: the language of flowers, his ethnicity and relation to it, cricket.