Pine4Pine Exchange 2021 Letter
Wednesday, July 21st, 2021 19:30![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
staylooseHi! Thank you for writing for me, or just for looking at this letter! My AO3 username is ![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
hisen.
I've listed all the freeforms I've requested for ease of reference, because AO3 can be awkward to read, and provided further detail on some of them, which you can use as you wish. Pining is one of my favourite tropes, and I got a little wild with the number of freeforms.
I have requested several of these pairings in other exchanges before and my past letters are on this journal, if you'd like to take a look! Please only use the DNWs from this letter though.
Table of Contents:
Likes
DNWs
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Gintama
Naruto
No Touching at All
Samurai Flamenco
Unripe Expression
*Getting together
*Canon divergence AUs
*Angst
*Miscommunication, mixed messages, reasonable misunderstandings
*First impressions that turn out to be wrong or misleading (positively), e.g. someone comes across as very cold but actually feels deeply, they just doesn't express their emotions much.
*Accidental physical contact, hands touching unexpectedly
*Communication without using words
*Characters who are very good at what they do with their powers, smarts etc., but bad at social interaction/emotional stuff etc.
*Time loops/time travel
*That moment when someone realises their feelings have changed
*Bed sharing
*Slow burn
*Nature
*Changes in seasons, weather and the passing of time
*Sharing an umbrella
*Kabedon, particularly when played for laughs because of genre savvy characters, character is not actually cool enough to make it work, the other character immediately reverses it and does it much better etc.
*Tsunderes
*Characters being forced to work together in difficult circumstances
*Hurt/comfort
*Canon smokers smoking
*Taking comfort together in desperate situations
*Nightmares, unusual dreams, visions
*Non-canon death of canon characters
*Unrequested non-canon pairings
*For Naruto: Boruto content (Kakashi being Sixth Hokage/general post-canon setting is okay)
*Current events
*Any reference to COVID-19
*Graphic description of serious injuries/violence/sickness/torture
*For Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, No Touching at All and Unripe Expression: serious injuries, violence, sickness and torture
*Body horror
*Cannibalism/vore
*Bodily fluids apart from sexual fluids and blood
*Sexual content with characters under 16 (ageing up requested younger characters to be over 16 is okay)
*Violence in sex
*Non-con
*Age play
*D/s
*Omegaverse
*Breath play/choking
Medium: manga/anime
Length: 118 manga chapters (in English) (ongoing), 12 anime episodes (complete).
Estimated reading/watching time: 40 hours for all the manga, 6 hours for the anime.
Sources: The anime is on Crunchyroll, and the manga is published in English by Yen Press (currently up to Volume 12).
Further information: Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun in English) is a 4koma romantic comedy manga about a male high schooler who writes and draws shojou manga under a female pen name, and the whacky people around him. There is an anime adaption that covers the first five volumes.
You can write Ken/Nozaki after just watching the anime. The manga adds more detail to their relationship, but the anime has the essentials of it. Mayu, however, wasn't in the anime, so you would need to read the manga for Mayu/Mikoshiba. I have posted a list of the manga chapters that focus on Mayu here!
eventually requited, never requited
Oh, Nozaki's feelings towards Ken. He gushes about him all the time! Ken is amazing! He's the best guy ever. He's just so interesting, and brilliant, and Nozaki wants to impress him and keep him around forever. Nozaki saves all his texts even when they're just one word replies. It's completely understandable after having the horror show of Maeno as his editor and Maeno being replaced by a decent human being like Ken, but it's still a lot. Nozaki really wants a closer relationship between them. He's by far Chiyo's most serious love rival for Nozaki's heart.
So what if that ends up developing into a more romantic interest? Or it's already there and Nozaki is oblivious because, well, it's Nozaki. He's oblivious to love. What triggers him realising it's more? The threat of a new editor? Ken accidentally revealing more details about his personal life? Ken being keen to see him (maybe to fix something that's wrong with his latest drafts that he should have caught before and he needs to do it ASAP before anyone realises)? Does Nozaki end up being really cool and impressing Ken enough that his own feelings start to change?
This could be comic, but a serious take could be really interesting too. Nozaki comes across as never having had a serious romantic interest in anyone, despite writing a shoujo manga. It could really throw him for a loop, and angst about it would be right up my street.
Character A pines while pressed up against B in a crowded situation
(Particularly on a crowded train, but any other crowded public situation would be really nice. For the angst and conflicted emotions.)
Character A suddenly realizes that they've been pining for B and didn't know it
Character B knows A is pining but pretends to be oblivious
Character expects to be hurt because their pining was revealed
Character silently pines for someone due to fear of ruining their existing relationship
Character(s) cannot find adequate words to express love
Desperately Wants to Be Considered a Friend by Their Crush
Everything reminds Character A of Character B
Hoping Crush Will Notice Them
Love spell/potion prompts feelings reveal
(It could be real, it could be fake but it does what's needed anyway.)
A makes creative works inspired by their pining for B and B doesn't notice
A makes creative works inspired by their pining for B and B notices
B vanishes from existence and only pining A remembers them
(Even with his pining, Nozaki would still realise that this would make Maeno his editor again and fight through space and time to find this legendary editor who will save him from that, as well as his feelings towards Ken.)
A only realizes feelings for B when B starts dating someone else
(I'd prefer this to be an OC, not another member of the cast and definitely not Maeno.)
Pining character doesn't act because they are indebted to the object of their pining
Pining Character Awkwardly Trying To Show Affection Through Small Gestures
Pining because character believes age gap is too big
A thinks B is out of their league
(Ken seems well-adjusted, sensible, and is also a lot older, so I don't think this is an unreasonable assumption at all.)
Trying to Ignore Feelings While Forced to Work in Close Quarters With Person of Their Affection
eventually requited
One of the things I enjoy about this pairing is how they contrast each other. Mikoshiba tries to be cool but is far too shy and easily to fluster to actually be cool. He really is the pure-hearted maiden of the cast, even as a tsundere. Mayu, on the other hand, is a laconic, lazy guy who's prone to drawing some weird conclusions sometimes, but he's very honest and is passionate about judo (and naps). Perhaps he might become enthusiastic about maybe other things, if he summons up the effort.
Oh, and the ongoing thing where the two of them are talking to each other online while mistakenly thinking the other is a girl. And the time Mayu declared himself to be Mikoshiba's boyfriend when he ran into trouble.
I think this contrast would continue in how each of them pines. I think Mikoshiba's pining would be very noticeable once he's realised he's pining, while Mayu's pining would be nearly impossible for anyone who's not a Mayu whisperer (so one of his siblings, possible some of his judo teammates and maaaybe Mikoshiba) to recognise.
being forced into faking a relationship with your crush
Character A doesn't realise they're pining
Character A has never been in love before and so doesn't immediately recognize the feeling
Character A pines for disguised B without realising it's B
Character A pines while pressed up against B in a crowded situation
Character A pours heart out to B in anonymous love notes
(Maybe they got the idea from shojou manga? Or they were foolish enough to ask Umetarou for advice.)
Character A thinks B rejected advances
(I could see this going either way, with Mikoshiba going full tsun or Mayu being his usual hard to read self.)
Character A thinks Character B is interested in them due to a love charm/potion
Character(s) cannot find adequate words to express love
Conversations with double meanings due to pining
Everything reminds Character A of Character B
Identity Porn: Character A pines for Character B's alternate identity
(Mayu-Mayu!)
Mixed Signals Confuses Characters On Whether Feelings Are Requited
Other Characters Play Matchmaker
(A lot of the cast would be convinced they'd be great at this and would not be at all, so really, go for whoever you'd like for this freeform. Special mention to Kashima and Seo at this point.)
Pining after being kissed for a dare
Pining because a third party is interfering with developing relationship
(Intentionally? Unintentionally? Maybe they're trying to help out but are just making things more complicated instead.)
Realizing your feelings are mutual and it's kind of terrifying
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
Unexpectedly being kissed by the person you're pining for
Medium: manga/anime
Length: 704 chapters (manga), 367 episodes and a final movie (anime) (both complete).
Estimated reading/watching time: A couple of days at least for watching/reading them in full.
Sources: The anime is on Crunchyroll, and the manga was published by Viz in English but finshed at Volume 23. Alternate translations may be available!
Further information: Gintama
Gintama is about a samurai with naturally wavy hair and a cast of hundreds, in an alternative version of Japan where instead of the Black Fleet, it was aliens who forcibly opened the country up. Despite running in Shounen Jump, and having some really cool fight scenes, it is not a battle shounen. Nor is the protaganist an optimist, bouncy kid. Gintoki is a loser, as is most of the cast, and that's why I love it. It's a character driven comedy and also can make you cry, often within moments of that comedy.
I've only watched the anime, but since it sticks pretty closely to the manga I don't think this should be a serious issue. I would be happy with fic set early on during any point of the series, I would just ask for no spoilers for the final movie because I haven't watched it yet. Otherwise, set it whenever you'd like to!
eventually requited, never requited
Ah, rivals with occasional grudging respect for each other. I love the constant bickering, baiting each other, and how they both wind each other up but are also much more similar to each other than they'd ever willingly admit, particularly in how devoted they are, if to very different causes. Both of them have their softer sides they don't like to admit to, as well.
Basically you can make them suffer, whichever way you do the pining. I'm also open to the pining not getting requited. Requited love is a rare thing in canon, after all.
The mixture of comedy and heartfelt moments, and how it's so character-driven, is one of my favourite things about Gintama, so feel free to lean into that!
B vanishes from existence and only pining A remembers them
being forced into faking a relationship with your crush
A blackmailing B to keep them close
Both mistakenly thinks the other hates them
Character A pines for Character B who is borrowing/wearing A's clothes
(I am weak for them wearing each other's outfits)
Character A pines while pressed up against B while hiding/in small space together
Character A pining after fling while incorrectly assuming B doesn't want more
Character A thinks Character B is interested in them due to a love charm/potion
Character A would rather die than admit to having feelings for Character B
Character hides pining behind sarcasm/bratty behaviour
Character keeps picking fights with object of their pining
Character(s) can't hide their pining due to telepathic bond
("Hey, idiot! It looks like you're pining for me! Ha ha ha ha!")
Drunken Confession of Feelings
Enemy Reveals Secret by Kidnapping Pining Character and Thinking Character of Affection Cares
Hurt pined-for character turns up on pining character's doorstep (didn't know where else to go)
Hurt pining character turns up on pined-for character's doorstep (didn't know where else to go)
Pining character has to sit on their crush's lap
Pining character is too sick/hurt to hide their pining any more
Revealed Feelings While Mortally Injured/No Hope but Whoops! They Were Rescued Now It's Awkward
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
(I feel like this could be a trigger to recognising long denied feelings, and also both of them would hold the idea of escaping from reality forever like that in contempt and want to get out...but maybe after some unexpected heartache about it? Lots to think about!)
Medium: manga/anime
Length: 700 chapters (manga), 500 episodes (anime) (both complete).
Estimated reading/watching time: a couple of days to read the whole manga.
Sources: The manga is published by Viz and available on the Shounen Jump app. The anime is on Crunchyroll.
Further information: Naruto
It's a series about a big-mouthed ninja who eventually grows up and saves the world. There's also this guy called Kakashi in it. It has its flaws but it's one of my oldest fandoms and I'm very fond of the characters and also the worldbuilding. It's such a cool setting!
I am a manga-only reader. I've watched the Kakashi ANBU arc in the anime but anything else that's exclusive to the anime, I won't be familiar with. For the pairings I've requested, you could do a very limited canon review. I'm happy with fic set before canon, during and afterwards.
never requited
I love this pairing as one-sided pining on Kakashi's part. That big first crush on the person who's been there for him most consistently since his father died and who is amazing and perfect, and also not interested in him like that at all. I can't see Minato returning Kakashi's feelings without a lot of very major divergences. He cares about Kakashi, even loves him, but...not like that. His feelings are strictly platonic.
I like this pairing hopeless, and with all the first crush, first love, melodramatic but silent pining that a traumatised child soldier can have for his mentor while still grieving for his dead father who completely failed him. Minato would never! I'd like pre-bridge relentless, judgemental Kakashi in love, and also wiser and self-critical but just as in love post-bridge Kakashi.
I also like it when Minato is dead and an older, wiser Kakashi is still pining for him regardless. Whatever flavour you'd like to do, I enjoy this being angsty as hell.
(This would be a trauma conga line for Kakashi, which is exactly why I'm requesting it.)
A being taken care of during illness/injury by B whom they're pining for
Caretaking And Kind Gestures For Pining Character Who Isn't Used To Them
Character A Admits Feelings Only To Be Rejected
Character A distances themself from Character B to try and get over them
Character A has never been in love before and so doesn't immediately recognize the feeling
Character A pining silently so Character B won't feel guilty for not returning their affections
Grief/Mourning
Hurt pining character turns up on pined-for character's doorstep (didn't know where else to go)
A keeps an item of B's clothing
A pines for B while being protected by them
A pines for B while feeling responsible for B's death
A pines for B's praise or approval
A pining because B is in a relationship with someone else
A pining because they correctly think B is uninterested
Pining character A confesses feelings while feverish/semi-conscious
Pining Character A has paid attention and knows B incredibly well
Pining Character Throws Themselves Between Crush and Lethal Danger
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
(This would be good at any age, but particularly excellent with older Kakashi, who's old enough to recognise exactly what's going on but struggles to pull himself out of it because Minato is still dead in the real world. I don't want this to be part of the Infinite Tsukuyomi. It's too late in canon for my taste for this pairing and I find it more interesting if it was just happening to Kakashi.)
an undying belief that object of pining is The One even when reality contradicts that
eventually requited, never requited
I love their relationship. I love how close they are, how constantly Kakashi takes the piss and Tenzo hero-worships him anyway. How they trust each other. They have a very good understanding of each other, especially in battle and on missions. Does that extend to pining? Or is that a blind spot, where they manage to miss the other's feelings despite others noticing it?
Oh, I love pining for this pairing. Especially for Tenzo, who's not had much 'normal' socialisation compared to Kakashi (Tenzo is probably one of the few people that makes Kakashi look normal in this respect). He really respects Kakashi, and I can see him missing that his pining is different from the other kouhais for a while. I also like the idea of mokuton malfunctioning while he's pining because he's not dealing with his emotions properly, and that's the sort of thing that affects jutsu control, especially for something as vigorous as mokuton.
If Kakashi returns his feelings, I can see him deciding to pretend he hasn't noticed, because it's difficult and he'd rather not deal with it out of laziness, or because he feels that he's completely undeserving of any sort of love, at all, and if he acknowledges it, Tenzo will end up getting hurt and/or die like everyone else. I love angst for this, please give me angst. I'd love them to reach a happy solution, but it doesn't have to happen.
B vanishes from existence and only pining A remembers them
(This would be terrible for either of them, which is why I want it.)
A being taken care of during illness/injury by B whom they're pining for
Character A distances themself from Character B to try and get over them
Character A pines while pressed up against B while hiding/in small space together
Character B realises A is pining but is afraid of losing them if they acknowledge it
Character will follow the object of their pining into danger or towards certain death
Character's hero-worship turns to pining
(Tenzo's hero-worship of Kakashi for this one)
Guilt over enjoying friendly hugs/physical closeness too much
Mixed Signals Confuses Characters On Whether Feelings Are Requited
Pining character doused with truth serum
(During an ANBU mission? Or another kind of mission? This would work really well with either of them, but especially with Kakashi with how evasive he can be.)
Pining Character is Accidentally Stimulated by Object of Pining
Pining Touch-Starved Character A Only Wants B To Touch Them
Pining while trapped together
Pining character is too sick/hurt to hide their pining any more
Revealed Feelings While Mortally Injured/No Hope but Whoops! They Were Rescued Now It's Awkward
Rescue Mission while Pining
(Rescuing him from Root? While they're in ANBU? Post-ANBU? During canon? Does Kakashi rescue him during the Fourth War, satisfying my complaint of at least a year and a half while reading that arc in real time that Yamato was STILL stuck in a tree?)
Tiny Acts of Affection that Doom Pining Character to Ardent Love
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
(Just not due to The Infinite Tsukuyomi. I think it'd be more interesting if it was just happening to one of them, and not the entire world.)
Undercover as a Couple While Pining
Unexpectedly being kissed by the person you're pining for
Medium: manga
Length: 6.5 chapters (complete)
Estimated reading time: 1-2 hours.
Sources: Published by June Manga in English. A physical copy is very expensive as it's long out of print, but it's available digitally via Kindle and the June website.
Further information: No Touching at All
There is a spin-off called 'Even So, I Will Love You Tenderly', which is also one volume, about the same length, and focuses on Onoda Ryou and his canon relationship. You don't need to read it to write this pairing, but it does dive into Onoda's motivations and how he approaches relationships. The movie is merged with the manga on AO3 but I'm exclusively requesting the manga.
Shima, a shy guy with a lot of emotional baggage, starts his new job and finds his new boss, Togawa, completely obnoxious. Despite his rough exterior, however, Togawa is actually quite a thoughtful guy and starts to breach his defences. A relationship develops between them, but can they (both) put their pasts aside and let it grow?
I love this manga. It is a roller-coaster of emotion for me, and even though I've read it probably more times than I'd care to admit, it still gets me every single time. The angst, the communication problems, Shima's refusal to admit to anything as a form of self-protection that Togawa repeatedly smashes through.
eventually requited, never requited
The way their relationship develops in the manga really interests me. Onoda never quite fully breaches Shima's defences, doesn't get to the same point of ease as Togawa does because he's not willing to stomp over Shima's boundaries. From the start however, he takes an interest in Shima's well-being, tries to get him adjusted to the team and looks out for him, long before he realises he has a crush on him. By the end, they're definitely friends, and not because Onoda bothered him into it.
It's a contrast from the dynamic of both their canon relationships, and I'm curious about how it could have developed into more. What if Shima hadn't worked up to go to Kyoto to see Togawa again? What next? Perhaps Onoda might have found his crush less unrequited, over time.
I'm happy for major canon divergence here, and also for Shima/Togawa to be mentioned/play a major role. I'm also happy for Deguchi to show up too, and hinted one-sided feelings on his part (no resolution here though, that's what the spinoff is there for). Angst is very welcomed, and I don't necessarily need a happy ending.
Attending Object of Pining’s Wedding to Someone Else
B is oblivious to A's pining and A wants to keep it that way
Becoming ready to move on after pining
Character A distances themself from Character B to try and get over them
Character A doesn't want to ruin Character B's relationship with another character
Character A pines for Character B who pines for someone else
Character A pines while pressed up against B in a crowded situation
(Particularly on a crowded train, but any other crowded public situation would be really nice. For the angst and conflicted emotions.)
Character A tries to convince themself that a platonic relationship is enough
Character A worries about taking advantage of pining Character B
Drunken Confession of Feelings
Guilty About Sexual Attraction
Mixed Signals Confuses Characters On Whether Feelings Are Requited
Pining A thinks about B while having sex with others
(OCs would be good for this...or Deguchi. If you did pick Deguchi, I would be up for it in effect setting their relationship on fire because Deguchi thinks he'd be fine with it but turns out he is absolutely not.)
Pining A thinks about B while masturbating
Pining character has to have object of pining sit on their lap
pining characters worries about hurting the character they love if they got together
The feelings are actually reciprocated but other character(s) is/are in denial of loving them
(Shima is canonically awful at realising his own feelings after all.)
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
Trying to Ignore Feelings While Forced to Work in Close Quarters With Person of Their Affection
Medium: anime and a spin-off, not entirely canon manga
Length: 22 episodes 11 chapters (both complete)
Estimated watching/reading time: the anime is 11 hours, and the manga is 1-2 hours.
Sources: The anime was recently removed from Crunchyroll (RIP) but is available on Funimation with a subscription. The manga was never officially licensed in English but fan translations are available.
Further information: Samurai Flamenco - Another Days (manga)
Samurai Flamenco is about Hazama Masayoshi, a guy who's watched too much tokusatsu and wants to be a hero for real, while having no special abilities or physical talents. After a fateful (naked) encounter with an off-duty cop, Masayoshi starts to work towards making his dream come true, within what appears to be the bounds of reality and while working/competing against an idol singer who wants to be a magical girl to kick guys in the nuts.
And then the last ten minutes of episode 7 happen, and nothing is the same afterwards.
A show summed up by 'I want to get off Samurai Flamenco's Wild Ride', it's a mess of twists, turns, some pacing issues and an overall vibe of 'what the fuck am I watching'. It's glorious and I geninuely love it, while fully admitting that it's not the best anime ever. For me, the heart of it is a love of tonkusatsu and how Masayoshi grows and develops over the course of the series. And a big part of that growth is from his growing relationship with Goto.
(I'm aware of that sour grapes interview, and I also don't care what they said. Death of the Author, baby!)
eventually requited
I like how these two are oblivious to their own feelings and their attraction to each other for the majority of the series. I like how they are, without doubt, the most important people to each other, and deeply care about each other even if Gotou would rather die than admit it most of the time.
I also find the final scene a little more ambiguous than some, in that they still might be edging their way into a proper relationship. So feel free to set it post-series, as I don't think they necessarily got all the way yet.
I would like either them both pining, or Gotou pining. We get a little insight into how Masayoshi pines in-series in Episode 16. I would love to see it how Gotou does it, especially if he's not sure if Masayoshi returns his feelings because he's big-hearted and dedicated to justice, and he's still torn up about what happened to his girlfriend. Also, tsunderes pining is something I really enjoy.
I really want a happy ending for these two as they went through enough in canon, so this is eventually requited only. You can put them through the wringer first, but I want them to be happy at the end.
(Either way around for this one, I think it'd hit both of them hard in different ways.)
A being taken care of during illness/injury by B whom they're pining for
Character A pines for B after seeing alternate universe A/B relationship
Character A's Pining For Character B Fuels Curse Placed On Character B By a Witch
Character will follow the object of their pining into danger or towards certain death
Character(s) cannot find adequate words to express love
Hurt pining character turns up on pined-for character's doorstep (didn't know where else to go)
A pines while loaning B their coat
Pining A thinks about B while masturbating
Pining Character Awkwardly Trying To Show Affection Through Small Gestures
Pining character is too sick/hurt to hide their pining any more
pining characters worries about hurting the character they love if they got together
A pining for B while wanting them to be happy with someone else
(Gotou's girlfriend...or is Gotou trying to believe Masayoshi would be happy with someone else? Even if he's a bit stuck on who, exactly.)
pining for someone who will come home to them
(I saw this freeform and straight away thought of Gotou. After his girlfriend vanishing, I can see him wanting this so badly with Masayoshi but not yet being able to express it.)
Pining while trapped together
Realizing your feelings are mutual and it's kind of terrifying
Revealed Feelings While Mortally Injured/No Hope but Whoops! They Were Rescued Now It's Awkward
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
(I'd like this for either of them but oh, man, especially for Gotou.)
Undercover as a Couple While Pining
(It was probably not Gotou's idea, he did not want this, but now they're undercover together as a couple and oh no, it's nowhere as bad as he'd thought it'd be and he's actually enjoying it.)
Unexpectedly being kissed by the person you're pining for
Medium: webtoon
Length: 70 chapters (complete)
Estimated reading time: 40 hours.
Sources: It's not been officially licensed in English, a completed fan translation is available.
Further information: Unripe Expression
Unripe Expression is a story about a guy whose face tends to give everything away, asking the Korean equivalent of Yahoo! Answers for advice about his developing feelings for his classmate and how it leads to him making a best friend who helps him on his journey of discovery. He also gains a (male) harem, including the rude, self-absorbed jerk who rejected him back when they were kids (who I actually like a lot but is definitely a jerk).
I am very fond of Ha Junseo. He's blunt, just a little rude and can come across as intimidating, but he's also got a really kind heart, is smart, more forgiving than he looks and capable of serious self-sacrifice.
eventually requited
I won't lie, I was holding out for this pairing to come out the winner in that love triangle but alas, it wasn't to be (in canon). I really liked their relationship dynamic, where both of them mistakenly think the other is a jerk at first but after some identity shenanigans, realise that actually, the other is a nice guy and not like they thought, and how they share so much with each other that they've both been keeping inside for too long. Also, their good natured arguing is fun.
There is also so, so much pining from Junseo in canon oh my god. I love it but I'd really like to see it requited. I'm open to both fic set during canon (with canon divergence) and also for post-canon fic where they've reunited. This could be during their third year, later on at college or after college. Maybe Junseo is unwisely Jaewon's comforter again? Or they try for a FWB situation or fling and oops, lots of feelings. I'd also like Jaewon having to deal with falling for someone he's rejected in the past.
I am fine with Jaewon having existing or past romantic feelings for Karam, including having been in a relationship with him, as long as the endgame is exclusively Junseo/Jaewon.
(This is an absolute terrible idea for both of them, which is why I requested it.)
being asked out by the person you're pining for
Caretaking And Kind Gestures For Pining Character Who Isn't Used To Them
Character A pines for B who has fallen asleep on A's shoulder
Character A Pines For Character B Not Realizing It's Requited
Character A pines while pressed up against B in a crowded situation
Character A pining after fling while incorrectly assuming B doesn't want more
Guilt over enjoying friendly hugs/physical closeness too much
Hurt pined-for character turns up on pining character's doorstep (didn't know where else to go)
Mixed Signals Confuses Characters On Whether Feelings Are Requited
A only realizes feelings for B when B starts dating someone else
(I'd prefer this with an OMC as the someone else, not a canon character, and A is Jaewon.)
A pines for B while comforting them
A pining because they think B is pining for someone else
Pining because they think they're just a rebound
Pining Character A has paid attention and knows B incredibly well
Pining Character Comforts Object of Pining with Sex
realizing you have a crush on the person who asked you out a while ago and you rejected
Rejected a love confession only to fall in love with them later
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
Unexpectedly being kissed by the person you're pining for
I've listed all the freeforms I've requested for ease of reference, because AO3 can be awkward to read, and provided further detail on some of them, which you can use as you wish. Pining is one of my favourite tropes, and I got a little wild with the number of freeforms.
I have requested several of these pairings in other exchanges before and my past letters are on this journal, if you'd like to take a look! Please only use the DNWs from this letter though.
Table of Contents:
Likes
DNWs
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Gintama
Naruto
No Touching at All
Samurai Flamenco
Unripe Expression
Likes:
*Pining. Denial of feelings, pining, pining!*Getting together
*Canon divergence AUs
*Angst
*Miscommunication, mixed messages, reasonable misunderstandings
*First impressions that turn out to be wrong or misleading (positively), e.g. someone comes across as very cold but actually feels deeply, they just doesn't express their emotions much.
*Accidental physical contact, hands touching unexpectedly
*Communication without using words
*Characters who are very good at what they do with their powers, smarts etc., but bad at social interaction/emotional stuff etc.
*Time loops/time travel
*That moment when someone realises their feelings have changed
*Bed sharing
*Slow burn
*Nature
*Changes in seasons, weather and the passing of time
*Sharing an umbrella
*Kabedon, particularly when played for laughs because of genre savvy characters, character is not actually cool enough to make it work, the other character immediately reverses it and does it much better etc.
*Tsunderes
*Characters being forced to work together in difficult circumstances
*Hurt/comfort
*Canon smokers smoking
*Taking comfort together in desperate situations
*Nightmares, unusual dreams, visions
DNWs:
*Unrequested AUs (canon divergence AUs and canon AUs are requested for all canons)*Non-canon death of canon characters
*Unrequested non-canon pairings
*For Naruto: Boruto content (Kakashi being Sixth Hokage/general post-canon setting is okay)
*Current events
*Any reference to COVID-19
*Graphic description of serious injuries/violence/sickness/torture
*For Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, No Touching at All and Unripe Expression: serious injuries, violence, sickness and torture
*Body horror
*Cannibalism/vore
*Bodily fluids apart from sexual fluids and blood
*Sexual content with characters under 16 (ageing up requested younger characters to be over 16 is okay)
*Violence in sex
*Non-con
*Age play
*D/s
*Omegaverse
*Breath play/choking
Fandom: 月刊少女野崎くん | Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Medium: manga/anime
Length: 118 manga chapters (in English) (ongoing), 12 anime episodes (complete).
Estimated reading/watching time: 40 hours for all the manga, 6 hours for the anime.
Sources: The anime is on Crunchyroll, and the manga is published in English by Yen Press (currently up to Volume 12).
Further information: Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun (Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun in English) is a 4koma romantic comedy manga about a male high schooler who writes and draws shojou manga under a female pen name, and the whacky people around him. There is an anime adaption that covers the first five volumes.
You can write Ken/Nozaki after just watching the anime. The manga adds more detail to their relationship, but the anime has the essentials of it. Mayu, however, wasn't in the anime, so you would need to read the manga for Mayu/Mikoshiba. I have posted a list of the manga chapters that focus on Mayu here!
Pairing: Ken Miyamae/Nozaki Umetarou (Nozaki pining)
eventually requited, never requited
Oh, Nozaki's feelings towards Ken. He gushes about him all the time! Ken is amazing! He's the best guy ever. He's just so interesting, and brilliant, and Nozaki wants to impress him and keep him around forever. Nozaki saves all his texts even when they're just one word replies. It's completely understandable after having the horror show of Maeno as his editor and Maeno being replaced by a decent human being like Ken, but it's still a lot. Nozaki really wants a closer relationship between them. He's by far Chiyo's most serious love rival for Nozaki's heart.
So what if that ends up developing into a more romantic interest? Or it's already there and Nozaki is oblivious because, well, it's Nozaki. He's oblivious to love. What triggers him realising it's more? The threat of a new editor? Ken accidentally revealing more details about his personal life? Ken being keen to see him (maybe to fix something that's wrong with his latest drafts that he should have caught before and he needs to do it ASAP before anyone realises)? Does Nozaki end up being really cool and impressing Ken enough that his own feelings start to change?
This could be comic, but a serious take could be really interesting too. Nozaki comes across as never having had a serious romantic interest in anyone, despite writing a shoujo manga. It could really throw him for a loop, and angst about it would be right up my street.
Freeforms:
Character A has never been in love before and so doesn't immediately recognize the feelingCharacter A pines while pressed up against B in a crowded situation
(Particularly on a crowded train, but any other crowded public situation would be really nice. For the angst and conflicted emotions.)
Character A suddenly realizes that they've been pining for B and didn't know it
Character B knows A is pining but pretends to be oblivious
Character expects to be hurt because their pining was revealed
Character silently pines for someone due to fear of ruining their existing relationship
Character(s) cannot find adequate words to express love
Desperately Wants to Be Considered a Friend by Their Crush
Everything reminds Character A of Character B
Hoping Crush Will Notice Them
Love spell/potion prompts feelings reveal
(It could be real, it could be fake but it does what's needed anyway.)
A makes creative works inspired by their pining for B and B doesn't notice
A makes creative works inspired by their pining for B and B notices
B vanishes from existence and only pining A remembers them
(Even with his pining, Nozaki would still realise that this would make Maeno his editor again and fight through space and time to find this legendary editor who will save him from that, as well as his feelings towards Ken.)
A only realizes feelings for B when B starts dating someone else
(I'd prefer this to be an OC, not another member of the cast and definitely not Maeno.)
Pining character doesn't act because they are indebted to the object of their pining
Pining Character Awkwardly Trying To Show Affection Through Small Gestures
Pining because character believes age gap is too big
A thinks B is out of their league
(Ken seems well-adjusted, sensible, and is also a lot older, so I don't think this is an unreasonable assumption at all.)
Trying to Ignore Feelings While Forced to Work in Close Quarters With Person of Their Affection
Pairing: Mikoshiba Mikoto/Nozaki Mayu (both pining, Mikoshiba pining, Mayu pining)
eventually requited
One of the things I enjoy about this pairing is how they contrast each other. Mikoshiba tries to be cool but is far too shy and easily to fluster to actually be cool. He really is the pure-hearted maiden of the cast, even as a tsundere. Mayu, on the other hand, is a laconic, lazy guy who's prone to drawing some weird conclusions sometimes, but he's very honest and is passionate about judo (and naps). Perhaps he might become enthusiastic about maybe other things, if he summons up the effort.
Oh, and the ongoing thing where the two of them are talking to each other online while mistakenly thinking the other is a girl. And the time Mayu declared himself to be Mikoshiba's boyfriend when he ran into trouble.
I think this contrast would continue in how each of them pines. I think Mikoshiba's pining would be very noticeable once he's realised he's pining, while Mayu's pining would be nearly impossible for anyone who's not a Mayu whisperer (so one of his siblings, possible some of his judo teammates and maaaybe Mikoshiba) to recognise.
Freeforms:
Accidental soulbond while piningbeing forced into faking a relationship with your crush
Character A doesn't realise they're pining
Character A has never been in love before and so doesn't immediately recognize the feeling
Character A pines for disguised B without realising it's B
Character A pines while pressed up against B in a crowded situation
Character A pours heart out to B in anonymous love notes
(Maybe they got the idea from shojou manga? Or they were foolish enough to ask Umetarou for advice.)
Character A thinks B rejected advances
(I could see this going either way, with Mikoshiba going full tsun or Mayu being his usual hard to read self.)
Character A thinks Character B is interested in them due to a love charm/potion
Character(s) cannot find adequate words to express love
Conversations with double meanings due to pining
Everything reminds Character A of Character B
Identity Porn: Character A pines for Character B's alternate identity
(Mayu-Mayu!)
Mixed Signals Confuses Characters On Whether Feelings Are Requited
Other Characters Play Matchmaker
(A lot of the cast would be convinced they'd be great at this and would not be at all, so really, go for whoever you'd like for this freeform. Special mention to Kashima and Seo at this point.)
Pining after being kissed for a dare
Pining because a third party is interfering with developing relationship
(Intentionally? Unintentionally? Maybe they're trying to help out but are just making things more complicated instead.)
Realizing your feelings are mutual and it's kind of terrifying
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
Unexpectedly being kissed by the person you're pining for
Fandom: Gintama
Medium: manga/anime
Length: 704 chapters (manga), 367 episodes and a final movie (anime) (both complete).
Estimated reading/watching time: A couple of days at least for watching/reading them in full.
Sources: The anime is on Crunchyroll, and the manga was published by Viz in English but finshed at Volume 23. Alternate translations may be available!
Further information: Gintama
Gintama is about a samurai with naturally wavy hair and a cast of hundreds, in an alternative version of Japan where instead of the Black Fleet, it was aliens who forcibly opened the country up. Despite running in Shounen Jump, and having some really cool fight scenes, it is not a battle shounen. Nor is the protaganist an optimist, bouncy kid. Gintoki is a loser, as is most of the cast, and that's why I love it. It's a character driven comedy and also can make you cry, often within moments of that comedy.
I've only watched the anime, but since it sticks pretty closely to the manga I don't think this should be a serious issue. I would be happy with fic set early on during any point of the series, I would just ask for no spoilers for the final movie because I haven't watched it yet. Otherwise, set it whenever you'd like to!
Pairing: Hijikata Toshirou/Sakata Gintoki (both pining, Hijikata pining, Gintoki pining)
eventually requited, never requited
Ah, rivals with occasional grudging respect for each other. I love the constant bickering, baiting each other, and how they both wind each other up but are also much more similar to each other than they'd ever willingly admit, particularly in how devoted they are, if to very different causes. Both of them have their softer sides they don't like to admit to, as well.
Basically you can make them suffer, whichever way you do the pining. I'm also open to the pining not getting requited. Requited love is a rare thing in canon, after all.
The mixture of comedy and heartfelt moments, and how it's so character-driven, is one of my favourite things about Gintama, so feel free to lean into that!
Freeforms:
B is oblivious to A's pining and A wants to keep it that wayB vanishes from existence and only pining A remembers them
being forced into faking a relationship with your crush
A blackmailing B to keep them close
Both mistakenly thinks the other hates them
Character A pines for Character B who is borrowing/wearing A's clothes
(I am weak for them wearing each other's outfits)
Character A pines while pressed up against B while hiding/in small space together
Character A pining after fling while incorrectly assuming B doesn't want more
Character A thinks Character B is interested in them due to a love charm/potion
Character A would rather die than admit to having feelings for Character B
Character hides pining behind sarcasm/bratty behaviour
Character keeps picking fights with object of their pining
Character(s) can't hide their pining due to telepathic bond
("Hey, idiot! It looks like you're pining for me! Ha ha ha ha!")
Drunken Confession of Feelings
Enemy Reveals Secret by Kidnapping Pining Character and Thinking Character of Affection Cares
Hurt pined-for character turns up on pining character's doorstep (didn't know where else to go)
Hurt pining character turns up on pined-for character's doorstep (didn't know where else to go)
Pining character has to sit on their crush's lap
Pining character is too sick/hurt to hide their pining any more
Revealed Feelings While Mortally Injured/No Hope but Whoops! They Were Rescued Now It's Awkward
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
(I feel like this could be a trigger to recognising long denied feelings, and also both of them would hold the idea of escaping from reality forever like that in contempt and want to get out...but maybe after some unexpected heartache about it? Lots to think about!)
Fandom: Naruto
Medium: manga/anime
Length: 700 chapters (manga), 500 episodes (anime) (both complete).
Estimated reading/watching time: a couple of days to read the whole manga.
Sources: The manga is published by Viz and available on the Shounen Jump app. The anime is on Crunchyroll.
Further information: Naruto
It's a series about a big-mouthed ninja who eventually grows up and saves the world. There's also this guy called Kakashi in it. It has its flaws but it's one of my oldest fandoms and I'm very fond of the characters and also the worldbuilding. It's such a cool setting!
I am a manga-only reader. I've watched the Kakashi ANBU arc in the anime but anything else that's exclusive to the anime, I won't be familiar with. For the pairings I've requested, you could do a very limited canon review. I'm happy with fic set before canon, during and afterwards.
Pairing: Hatake Kakashi/Namikaze Minato (Kakashi pining)
never requited
I love this pairing as one-sided pining on Kakashi's part. That big first crush on the person who's been there for him most consistently since his father died and who is amazing and perfect, and also not interested in him like that at all. I can't see Minato returning Kakashi's feelings without a lot of very major divergences. He cares about Kakashi, even loves him, but...not like that. His feelings are strictly platonic.
I like this pairing hopeless, and with all the first crush, first love, melodramatic but silent pining that a traumatised child soldier can have for his mentor while still grieving for his dead father who completely failed him. Minato would never! I'd like pre-bridge relentless, judgemental Kakashi in love, and also wiser and self-critical but just as in love post-bridge Kakashi.
I also like it when Minato is dead and an older, wiser Kakashi is still pining for him regardless. Whatever flavour you'd like to do, I enjoy this being angsty as hell.
Freeforms:
B vanishes from existence and only pining A remembers them(This would be a trauma conga line for Kakashi, which is exactly why I'm requesting it.)
A being taken care of during illness/injury by B whom they're pining for
Caretaking And Kind Gestures For Pining Character Who Isn't Used To Them
Character A Admits Feelings Only To Be Rejected
Character A distances themself from Character B to try and get over them
Character A has never been in love before and so doesn't immediately recognize the feeling
Character A pining silently so Character B won't feel guilty for not returning their affections
Grief/Mourning
Hurt pining character turns up on pined-for character's doorstep (didn't know where else to go)
A keeps an item of B's clothing
A pines for B while being protected by them
A pines for B while feeling responsible for B's death
A pines for B's praise or approval
A pining because B is in a relationship with someone else
A pining because they correctly think B is uninterested
Pining character A confesses feelings while feverish/semi-conscious
Pining Character A has paid attention and knows B incredibly well
Pining Character Throws Themselves Between Crush and Lethal Danger
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
(This would be good at any age, but particularly excellent with older Kakashi, who's old enough to recognise exactly what's going on but struggles to pull himself out of it because Minato is still dead in the real world. I don't want this to be part of the Infinite Tsukuyomi. It's too late in canon for my taste for this pairing and I find it more interesting if it was just happening to Kakashi.)
an undying belief that object of pining is The One even when reality contradicts that
Pairing: Hatake Kakashi/Tenzou | Yamato (Both pining) (Tenzou pining)
eventually requited, never requited
I love their relationship. I love how close they are, how constantly Kakashi takes the piss and Tenzo hero-worships him anyway. How they trust each other. They have a very good understanding of each other, especially in battle and on missions. Does that extend to pining? Or is that a blind spot, where they manage to miss the other's feelings despite others noticing it?
Oh, I love pining for this pairing. Especially for Tenzo, who's not had much 'normal' socialisation compared to Kakashi (Tenzo is probably one of the few people that makes Kakashi look normal in this respect). He really respects Kakashi, and I can see him missing that his pining is different from the other kouhais for a while. I also like the idea of mokuton malfunctioning while he's pining because he's not dealing with his emotions properly, and that's the sort of thing that affects jutsu control, especially for something as vigorous as mokuton.
If Kakashi returns his feelings, I can see him deciding to pretend he hasn't noticed, because it's difficult and he'd rather not deal with it out of laziness, or because he feels that he's completely undeserving of any sort of love, at all, and if he acknowledges it, Tenzo will end up getting hurt and/or die like everyone else. I love angst for this, please give me angst. I'd love them to reach a happy solution, but it doesn't have to happen.
Freeforms:
"Casual" Sex Ends up Being Much More Intense and Full of Pining than ExpectedB vanishes from existence and only pining A remembers them
(This would be terrible for either of them, which is why I want it.)
A being taken care of during illness/injury by B whom they're pining for
Character A distances themself from Character B to try and get over them
Character A pines while pressed up against B while hiding/in small space together
Character B realises A is pining but is afraid of losing them if they acknowledge it
Character will follow the object of their pining into danger or towards certain death
Character's hero-worship turns to pining
(Tenzo's hero-worship of Kakashi for this one)
Guilt over enjoying friendly hugs/physical closeness too much
Mixed Signals Confuses Characters On Whether Feelings Are Requited
Pining character doused with truth serum
(During an ANBU mission? Or another kind of mission? This would work really well with either of them, but especially with Kakashi with how evasive he can be.)
Pining Character is Accidentally Stimulated by Object of Pining
Pining Touch-Starved Character A Only Wants B To Touch Them
Pining while trapped together
Pining character is too sick/hurt to hide their pining any more
Revealed Feelings While Mortally Injured/No Hope but Whoops! They Were Rescued Now It's Awkward
Rescue Mission while Pining
(Rescuing him from Root? While they're in ANBU? Post-ANBU? During canon? Does Kakashi rescue him during the Fourth War, satisfying my complaint of at least a year and a half while reading that arc in real time that Yamato was STILL stuck in a tree?)
Tiny Acts of Affection that Doom Pining Character to Ardent Love
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
(Just not due to The Infinite Tsukuyomi. I think it'd be more interesting if it was just happening to one of them, and not the entire world.)
Undercover as a Couple While Pining
Unexpectedly being kissed by the person you're pining for
Fandom: どうしても触れたくない - ヨネダコウ | Doushitemo Furetakunai | No Touching at All - Yoneda Kou
Medium: manga
Length: 6.5 chapters (complete)
Estimated reading time: 1-2 hours.
Sources: Published by June Manga in English. A physical copy is very expensive as it's long out of print, but it's available digitally via Kindle and the June website.
Further information: No Touching at All
There is a spin-off called 'Even So, I Will Love You Tenderly', which is also one volume, about the same length, and focuses on Onoda Ryou and his canon relationship. You don't need to read it to write this pairing, but it does dive into Onoda's motivations and how he approaches relationships. The movie is merged with the manga on AO3 but I'm exclusively requesting the manga.
Shima, a shy guy with a lot of emotional baggage, starts his new job and finds his new boss, Togawa, completely obnoxious. Despite his rough exterior, however, Togawa is actually quite a thoughtful guy and starts to breach his defences. A relationship develops between them, but can they (both) put their pasts aside and let it grow?
I love this manga. It is a roller-coaster of emotion for me, and even though I've read it probably more times than I'd care to admit, it still gets me every single time. The angst, the communication problems, Shima's refusal to admit to anything as a form of self-protection that Togawa repeatedly smashes through.
Pairing: Onoda Ryo/Shima Toshiaki (both pining) (Onoda pining)
eventually requited, never requited
The way their relationship develops in the manga really interests me. Onoda never quite fully breaches Shima's defences, doesn't get to the same point of ease as Togawa does because he's not willing to stomp over Shima's boundaries. From the start however, he takes an interest in Shima's well-being, tries to get him adjusted to the team and looks out for him, long before he realises he has a crush on him. By the end, they're definitely friends, and not because Onoda bothered him into it.
It's a contrast from the dynamic of both their canon relationships, and I'm curious about how it could have developed into more. What if Shima hadn't worked up to go to Kyoto to see Togawa again? What next? Perhaps Onoda might have found his crush less unrequited, over time.
I'm happy for major canon divergence here, and also for Shima/Togawa to be mentioned/play a major role. I'm also happy for Deguchi to show up too, and hinted one-sided feelings on his part (no resolution here though, that's what the spinoff is there for). Angst is very welcomed, and I don't necessarily need a happy ending.
Freeforms:
"Casual" Sex Ends up Being Much More Intense and Full of Pining than ExpectedAttending Object of Pining’s Wedding to Someone Else
B is oblivious to A's pining and A wants to keep it that way
Becoming ready to move on after pining
Character A distances themself from Character B to try and get over them
Character A doesn't want to ruin Character B's relationship with another character
Character A pines for Character B who pines for someone else
Character A pines while pressed up against B in a crowded situation
(Particularly on a crowded train, but any other crowded public situation would be really nice. For the angst and conflicted emotions.)
Character A tries to convince themself that a platonic relationship is enough
Character A worries about taking advantage of pining Character B
Drunken Confession of Feelings
Guilty About Sexual Attraction
Mixed Signals Confuses Characters On Whether Feelings Are Requited
Pining A thinks about B while having sex with others
(OCs would be good for this...or Deguchi. If you did pick Deguchi, I would be up for it in effect setting their relationship on fire because Deguchi thinks he'd be fine with it but turns out he is absolutely not.)
Pining A thinks about B while masturbating
Pining character has to have object of pining sit on their lap
pining characters worries about hurting the character they love if they got together
The feelings are actually reciprocated but other character(s) is/are in denial of loving them
(Shima is canonically awful at realising his own feelings after all.)
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
Trying to Ignore Feelings While Forced to Work in Close Quarters With Person of Their Affection
Fandom: サムライフラメンコ | Samurai Flamenco
Medium: anime and a spin-off, not entirely canon manga
Length: 22 episodes 11 chapters (both complete)
Estimated watching/reading time: the anime is 11 hours, and the manga is 1-2 hours.
Sources: The anime was recently removed from Crunchyroll (RIP) but is available on Funimation with a subscription. The manga was never officially licensed in English but fan translations are available.
Further information: Samurai Flamenco - Another Days (manga)
Samurai Flamenco is about Hazama Masayoshi, a guy who's watched too much tokusatsu and wants to be a hero for real, while having no special abilities or physical talents. After a fateful (naked) encounter with an off-duty cop, Masayoshi starts to work towards making his dream come true, within what appears to be the bounds of reality and while working/competing against an idol singer who wants to be a magical girl to kick guys in the nuts.
And then the last ten minutes of episode 7 happen, and nothing is the same afterwards.
A show summed up by 'I want to get off Samurai Flamenco's Wild Ride', it's a mess of twists, turns, some pacing issues and an overall vibe of 'what the fuck am I watching'. It's glorious and I geninuely love it, while fully admitting that it's not the best anime ever. For me, the heart of it is a love of tonkusatsu and how Masayoshi grows and develops over the course of the series. And a big part of that growth is from his growing relationship with Goto.
(I'm aware of that sour grapes interview, and I also don't care what they said. Death of the Author, baby!)
Pairing: Gotou Hidenori/Hazama Masayoshi (both pining) (Gotou pining)
eventually requited
I like how these two are oblivious to their own feelings and their attraction to each other for the majority of the series. I like how they are, without doubt, the most important people to each other, and deeply care about each other even if Gotou would rather die than admit it most of the time.
I also find the final scene a little more ambiguous than some, in that they still might be edging their way into a proper relationship. So feel free to set it post-series, as I don't think they necessarily got all the way yet.
I would like either them both pining, or Gotou pining. We get a little insight into how Masayoshi pines in-series in Episode 16. I would love to see it how Gotou does it, especially if he's not sure if Masayoshi returns his feelings because he's big-hearted and dedicated to justice, and he's still torn up about what happened to his girlfriend. Also, tsunderes pining is something I really enjoy.
I really want a happy ending for these two as they went through enough in canon, so this is eventually requited only. You can put them through the wringer first, but I want them to be happy at the end.
Freeforms:
B vanishes from existence and only pining A remembers them(Either way around for this one, I think it'd hit both of them hard in different ways.)
A being taken care of during illness/injury by B whom they're pining for
Character A pines for B after seeing alternate universe A/B relationship
Character A's Pining For Character B Fuels Curse Placed On Character B By a Witch
Character will follow the object of their pining into danger or towards certain death
Character(s) cannot find adequate words to express love
Hurt pining character turns up on pined-for character's doorstep (didn't know where else to go)
A pines while loaning B their coat
Pining A thinks about B while masturbating
Pining Character Awkwardly Trying To Show Affection Through Small Gestures
Pining character is too sick/hurt to hide their pining any more
pining characters worries about hurting the character they love if they got together
A pining for B while wanting them to be happy with someone else
(Gotou's girlfriend...or is Gotou trying to believe Masayoshi would be happy with someone else? Even if he's a bit stuck on who, exactly.)
pining for someone who will come home to them
(I saw this freeform and straight away thought of Gotou. After his girlfriend vanishing, I can see him wanting this so badly with Masayoshi but not yet being able to express it.)
Pining while trapped together
Realizing your feelings are mutual and it's kind of terrifying
Revealed Feelings While Mortally Injured/No Hope but Whoops! They Were Rescued Now It's Awkward
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
(I'd like this for either of them but oh, man, especially for Gotou.)
Undercover as a Couple While Pining
(It was probably not Gotou's idea, he did not want this, but now they're undercover together as a couple and oh no, it's nowhere as bad as he'd thought it'd be and he's actually enjoying it.)
Unexpectedly being kissed by the person you're pining for
Fandom: 미숙한 표현 | Unripe Expression
Medium: webtoon
Length: 70 chapters (complete)
Estimated reading time: 40 hours.
Sources: It's not been officially licensed in English, a completed fan translation is available.
Further information: Unripe Expression
Unripe Expression is a story about a guy whose face tends to give everything away, asking the Korean equivalent of Yahoo! Answers for advice about his developing feelings for his classmate and how it leads to him making a best friend who helps him on his journey of discovery. He also gains a (male) harem, including the rude, self-absorbed jerk who rejected him back when they were kids (who I actually like a lot but is definitely a jerk).
I am very fond of Ha Junseo. He's blunt, just a little rude and can come across as intimidating, but he's also got a really kind heart, is smart, more forgiving than he looks and capable of serious self-sacrifice.
Pairing: Ha Junseo/Lee Jaewon (both pining) (Junseo pining)
eventually requited
I won't lie, I was holding out for this pairing to come out the winner in that love triangle but alas, it wasn't to be (in canon). I really liked their relationship dynamic, where both of them mistakenly think the other is a jerk at first but after some identity shenanigans, realise that actually, the other is a nice guy and not like they thought, and how they share so much with each other that they've both been keeping inside for too long. Also, their good natured arguing is fun.
There is also so, so much pining from Junseo in canon oh my god. I love it but I'd really like to see it requited. I'm open to both fic set during canon (with canon divergence) and also for post-canon fic where they've reunited. This could be during their third year, later on at college or after college. Maybe Junseo is unwisely Jaewon's comforter again? Or they try for a FWB situation or fling and oops, lots of feelings. I'd also like Jaewon having to deal with falling for someone he's rejected in the past.
I am fine with Jaewon having existing or past romantic feelings for Karam, including having been in a relationship with him, as long as the endgame is exclusively Junseo/Jaewon.
Freeforms:
"Platonic" sex tutoring while pining(This is an absolute terrible idea for both of them, which is why I requested it.)
being asked out by the person you're pining for
Caretaking And Kind Gestures For Pining Character Who Isn't Used To Them
Character A pines for B who has fallen asleep on A's shoulder
Character A Pines For Character B Not Realizing It's Requited
Character A pines while pressed up against B in a crowded situation
Character A pining after fling while incorrectly assuming B doesn't want more
Guilt over enjoying friendly hugs/physical closeness too much
Hurt pined-for character turns up on pining character's doorstep (didn't know where else to go)
Mixed Signals Confuses Characters On Whether Feelings Are Requited
A only realizes feelings for B when B starts dating someone else
(I'd prefer this with an OMC as the someone else, not a canon character, and A is Jaewon.)
A pines for B while comforting them
A pining because they think B is pining for someone else
Pining because they think they're just a rebound
Pining Character A has paid attention and knows B incredibly well
Pining Character Comforts Object of Pining with Sex
realizing you have a crush on the person who asked you out a while ago and you rejected
Rejected a love confession only to fall in love with them later
Trapped in Fake Perfect World that includes relationship with object of pining
Unexpectedly being kissed by the person you're pining for
