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Dear Yuletide Writer Letter 2021
Dear Yuletide Writer,
Thank you for writing for me, or for looking at my letter. My AO3 account is![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
hisen, and I'm looking forward to seeing what you create! All the prompts and ideas I've listed are just suggestions and you can use them or not as you wish. The length of the prompts does not reflect that I want that fandom more - it's just I'm requesting more characters in one fandom than in the rest. I would love to read something for any of the fandoms I've requested.
• Denial of feelings
• Getting together
• Canon divergence AUs
• Missing scenes from canon
• 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
• Fixing a canon typical problem/situation while falling in love.
• Fixing a canon typical problem/situation while already being in a relationship!
• 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
• Accidentally fucking up reality somehow and needing to fix it.
• They thought nobody was coming but they were.
• On-screen switch from a formal name basis to informal basis, possibly in a meaningful moment but also just casually happening too.
• Fake-out make-outs
• Bed sharing
• Slow burn
• Hot Springs episode (if canon has one: why not more? If it doesn't, it should have one!)
• 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
• Unintentionally turning their partner on
• Sex so enthusiastic that it's kind of clumsy and messy
• Dirty talk
• Praise kink
• Bickering during sex (with couples who already bicker all the time)
• Semi-public sex
• Semi or fully clothed sex, or just one piece of clothing stays on
• Solo masturbation
• Mutual masturbation
• Denial of feelings even in the middle of sex
• Fingering
• Frottage
• Oral sex
• Anal sex
• Come play
• Sexting/phone sex
• Reading dirty books (or outright porn) that leads to sex (either out loud to their partner or by themselves and it gets them in the mood)
• Sharing a bed together turns into sex (doesn't have to be penetrative!)
• Death of canon characters
• Unrequested non-canon pairings
• Current events
• Any reference to COVID-19
• Serious injuries, violence, sickness and torture
• Body horror
• Cannibalism/vore
• Bodily fluids apart from sexual fluids and blood (including canon-typical bodily fluids)
• Sexual content with characters under 16
• Intentional violence in sex (rough sex is okay)
• Non-con
• Age play
• D/s
• Omegaverse
• Breath play/choking
Medium: manga
Length: 8 volumes
Estimated reading time: 16 hours
Sources: The manga is licensed in English by Viz and is available through the Shounen Jump app, as well as digitally and in print.
Further information: Blue Flag
Taichi, a guy with a serious inferiority complex and a defeatist attitude, enters his third year of high school and finds he's in the same class as his popular childhood friend (who he no longer considers a friend) and a timid girl with self-esteem issues who annoys him. This ends up changing the trajectory of their last year at high school significantly, and eventually, for the better.
Blue Flag is a series focused, to me, on two questions: "how do you relate to others and to society?" and "is it possible to change?" (the answer is yes! But it's hard work). Noteably, it's a high school romance where the characters actually talk to each other! But this doesn't necessarily fix every problem, either. It also has a love quad that features same-sex attraction and several LGBT+ characters.
Blue Flag is all about its characters. The mangaka even notes that there's no big, unusual events because that's not what it's about, and that's part of what I enjoy about it. It's remarkably fair to all the characters throughout, even when they're behaving in ways that are hurtful or unreasonable - while some characters are worse behaved than others, there's no villains in this story. Character development is really important throughout, most clearly shown in the characters of Taichi and Futaba, but everyone gets their moments!
The art's also very good throughout, both with comedic moments and more serious moments. The way the art shifts when we're viewing a character through another character's POV is really well done, too. It conveys a lot about the state of mind of both characters, and it was subtle enough that I admittedly didn't notice it first time and only saw it on a re-read.
I find how they made it down the long road together to being friends again, with Touma finally able to take action to make it happen and Taichi being receptive to changing for the better, a really interesting part of the manga. Old friends who have broken apart and are trying to fix it, with varying success, is something I always find interesting. I also like that Taichi didn't immediately reject his confession, even as ill-timed as it was, and instead managed to find a way to try to negotiate the changes instead of giving up at the first sign of trouble, because yes, Touma mattered that much to him. And the fact Touma did that as part of a commitment to start living his own life with freedom instead of just as other people wanted.
It's also very nice that they're happily and openly living together as a couple in the distant finale, both from a 'yay they made it!' perspective but also in the overall theme of trying to live your own life and make the right choices.
I didn't request Futuba and Masumi as I don't have specific ideas for them this time, but if you'd like to include them, please do!
Most of my ideas are for post high school graduation, but if you wanted to write something set earlier on in the series, I would be interested in that!
• Their very first argument as a couple. An unusual request, but I am interested in how they would navigate it, based on their prior history. With caution? Or would it encourage them to make it up faster?
• Cooking together. I'm inspired by the bonus story in the final volume of the manga, with Taichi complaining (hah) about Touma sneakily buying eggs and oh no, they'll have to make madeleines. It doesn't have to be for that, just the two of them cooking anything together, and possibly with Touma making fun of Taichi for bolting his food.
• I love that scene with Taichi holding onto Touma on the train a lot. Expansion on that? History repeating itself? Another similar situation? Yes please!
• I would love to see how their proposal happened. Did it go relatively smoothly? Were there grand plans? Were there grand plans, but actually it couldn't wait and one of them just went for it instead?
• Taichi travels back in time to his final year at middle school. With his prior knowledge, does he try to change then instead of later on? How difficult is it to change, even with such a chance to? How does he navigate his relationship with Touma this time around? He knows he's in love with him at this point now...
• It's not that kind of manga, but hear me out (because that's what fanworks are for): there was a childhood marriage promise. Even better if it wasn't Touma who suggested it, but Taichi in his very straightforward way and Touma never forgot, even if Taichi has.
• Anything based on my general and/or smut likes is great too!
Medium: manga
Length: 5 volumes in English (on-going)
Estimated reading time: 9-10 hours.
Sources: The manga is licensed in English by Viz in its SuBLime imprint, it's available digitally and in print.
Further information: Candy Color Paradox
At a weekly magazine, eager beaver journalist Onoe gets unexpectedly thrown onto the stake-outs team and paired up with photographer Kaburagi, who Onoe considers his rival and also happened to steal his girlfriend away the previous week. Sparks immediately fly as they bicker and drive each other up the wall, before finding a grudging respect and perhaps...love?
It's a BL manga, of course it's love. It doesn't stop the bickering through.
I enjoy how this manga has romance but also, the characters' jobs are really important to the plot. Onoe being a bit naive in a profession that's prone to pessisism is quite fascinating!
I'm a big fan of 'two people who appear to have nothing in common actually share common ground' and also 'I love you but we are destined to bicker a lot too', and these two deliver on that. I also appreciate how over the course of the series, they both increasingly appreciate each other's qualities and value them a lot (especially Kaburagi of Onoe's less obvious qualities!). Even if they still argue a lot because that's just how they are and they're both equally stubborn in their own ways.
So! These two are very different people, particularly in their outlook in life with Onoe's being relentlessness optimistic (and just a little naive) and Kaburagi's real self being an apathetic realist (although he starts to change, just a little, over time in the series). I also like how people usually end up telling Kaburagi he's the lucky one once they get to know Onoe, and that he agrees too. The contrast between Kaburagi being superficially charming (on purpose) and Onoe being charming once you get to know him is something I enjoy a lot. The gap between first impressions and what's actually going on is something I find fascinating in general, which is a big theme throughout this manga and also with the characters.
I'm happy with fic set at any point of the manga, from when they're both still get used to each other and fighting a lot, to when they've mellowed out a little later on (okay, Kaburagi has. Onoe's actually an inmovable object of optimism but I like that about him). If you'd like to include any of the supporting cast, please do! I like all of them.
• Having to go undercover as a couple, while being an actual couple already. The potential here! Onoe would be so terrible at it, somehow, despite the fact they are actually dating. Kaburagi could be so weirdly out of character (for Onoe) that it actually creeps him out and ruins their chance of being convincing. Or perhaps it turns out to be the best undercover operation they've done together (unless Onoe blows it at the last minute).
• Two words: fake-out make-out. This FINALLY happened in one of the extra chapters for Volume 5, but it is a classic and I would like to see more. As a feint on a real stake-out? In a situation where there was a clearly better alternative? Or perhaps, they get caught when they are just getting handsy together in semi-public (again) and the person who catches them thinks it's a distraction and they end up in trouble for it? Wherever you think, I am interested.
• Related, the two of them have a thing for semi-public sex in canon and I would be happy to see more of it. They still haven't done it in Kaburagi's car on-screen in canon, by the way. You could correct this oversight.
• Anything dealing with the fact that sometimes they do good in their jobs, but they also spent a lot of time following people around purely because they have a new partner and they're famous. It's ethically questionable stuff, and I like that canon doesn't shy away from that.
• I love Kaburagi going "I'm tired so I'm crashing at your place (and have a key)", and Onoe going to see him when he's feeling vulnerable too so, more, more!!!
• Usually it's Onoe getting into trouble and Kaburagi has to pull him out of it, so a situation where that's reversed would be fun. Either with Onoe being unexpectedly competent, or just making it significantly worse than it was before.
• The two of them end up trapped in a dangerous situation, and someone gets hurt. It could be Kaburagi going ape-shit because Onoe got hurt (it's happened in canon!) or Onoe protecting and doing his mostest for a hurt Kaburagi. Or maybe they're both hurt but they're both trying to put a brave face on it because they're so worried about the other. I eat this stuff up. Go for it, as long as they do eventually get out at the end.
• Onoe's family and background. We know a bit about Kaburagi's past (Vol. 2 and 5), including a high school flashback, but we've seen none of Onoe's. I'd be really interested in finding out about him too! I feel that he probably grew up in a loving envirnoment, with how open and optimistic he is, but I could see it not being the 'normal' nuclear family of two parents and their kid(s). Maybe he was raised by a single parent, or his grandparents raised him, or other relatives, or maybe a family friend? I'd be really interested in your take!
• They finally move into a place together. I really enjoyed the bonus chapter about moving in together in Volume 4, and seeing that finally happen would be great! Moving is one of those things that can test a couple who don't fight normally, so I imagine these two would inevitably end up arguing a lot. I could see it starting over something stupid, too, like Kaburagi laughing at Onoe's basic tastes in A/Vs again.
• They finally switch to being on a first name basis! It's supposed to be only at home and then Onoe calls him Motoharu at work and everyone goes 👀.
• Anything based on my general and/or smut likes is great too!
Medium: webtoon
Length: 85 chapters (complete)
Estimated reading time: 40 hours.
Sources: This is licensed in English as 'The Shape of Your Love' by Pocket Comics and is available through its app, which you can get here.
Further information: For Your Love
It starts out simply enough: Yohan, who saw his older brother get rejected by another man as a child, thinks unrequited love is pointless. When he sees his club senior, Park Moogyeong, has a crush on Lee Junseo, the only other member of the club, he decides to step in and help him avoid the same fate.
Naturally, none of this goes to plan.
I love this series for its slow burn romance (and it really is a slow burn), how heavily character focused it is, the excellent pining and longing, the central relationship having difficulties and false starts without spilling over into ridiculous melodrama, and for the character development of its two leads. There's also Yuri, Yohan's best friend, whose entertaining rudeness, shit-stirring and foul mouth makes Yohan look like a fine, outstanding citizen. (He's also got his own issues but that's for the spin-off...)
The art is really great too, it's simple and the flat colouring gives a different atmosphere to a lot of other webtoons. While it's not 'shiny', it's very expressive, and also has drawn backgrounds – no 3D backgrounds here! Yohan also has hilarious facial expressions. So do the other characters (particularly Yuri) but nobody can beat Yohan.
I am reading Form of Sympathy too, so if you want to use anything from that as well, I'm open to it.
I love how these two struggle to get to the point they are at the end, where they are properly together and starting to really understand each other, from their deeply inauspicious start. They both grow so much as people over the course of the series and it wouldn't have happened if they hadn't met each other. Like Yohan says at the end, if he had to do it over, he'd still tactlessly out Moogyeong and take that punch so they'd end up together again. I am an absolute sucker for that.
Yohan goes from a tactless, rude brat for who everything's too hard work to bother with, to valuing and putting in an effort with others (and also with his schoolwork) and while not as fearless as he thought he'd be, still brave. Moogyeong also grows, if not as radically as Yohan. He has so much more courage than he did at the start, he learns what it's like to have his love returned and to have something he wants beyond just studying and fulfilling the expectations everyone else has for him. As the author states in the final notes, Yohan is the physically strongest character by far, but Moogyeong is by far the strongest in the cast in terms of being a good person. It's a super charming contrast.
I really like Yuri too, I just don't have any specific ideas for him. Please feel free to include him (and Seonwoo) too if you want to! I just request that if you're writing while they're still at high school, that any relationship between Yuri and Seonwoo is purely platonic at that stage.
• Yohan gets extra motivation for his college entrance exam by getting Moogyeong to agree to do something special if he passes. Maybe a sex thing, or maybe something really minor that's still kind of difficult for him to do. (Okay, but. Yohan asking him if he can call Yohan hyung in bed and he's just. Why. And possibly does it anyway because he's weak to his pleading.)
• Finally moving in together! It's maybe a little awkward but it's really nice to be staying together like this again. Plus Moogyeong did miss his cooking.
• 'I am going to text you for three hours straight, hyung, please stop ignoring me because you're doing an assignment.'
• They take another trip together. Maybe it's more successful than their previous ones, or maybe a new, exciting disaster happens on it.
• Double date with Leo Junseo and his girlfriend. Maybe Yohan spends the whole time pulling faces, Junseo spends the time trying to sell Moogyeong on Yohan's charms because he hasn't yet realised that they're in a relationship, while Moogyeong is trying not to die of embarrassment. It is maybe a miracle that Junseo doesn't get dumped afterwards.
• Yohan crying (I fully respect Park Nodeok's goal of 'I want to write a story with a crying man' aka Yohan), either about something serious or something completely ridiculous.
• I'm so curious about why Yohan decided to pick out architecture as his college major.
• Moogyeong has to soothe the bad vibes he accidentally causes when he says that Jung Joohan is attractive again and Yohan is a little pissed off that he keeps thinking his older brother is hot.
• Yohan does the spontaneous "marriage proposal while just lying in bed together one day" thing and then immediately freaks out. Orrrr...Moogyeong does it and everyone is very surprised, especially the man himself.
• One of them (seemly?) vanishes from existence and the other is the only one who remembers them.
• The two of them just doing things together, basically.
• Anything based on my general and/or smut likes is great too!
Medium: manga
Length: 6.5 chapters (complete)
Sources: The manga is licensed in English by DMP in its June imprint, it's available digitally. There were print editions published but they've been out of print for a couple of years and so are incredibly expensive.
Estimated reading time: 1-2 hours.
Further information: No Touching at All
There is a spin-off called 'Even So, I Will Love You Tenderly', which is also one volume and about the same length. It focuses on Onoda Ryou and Deguchi Harumi, so if you're writing about those two, you probably want to read it too? You don't have to for Shima and Togawa, so feel free to use it as you wish. 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.
I really like Shima. He's been through a lot before the manga starts, enough to lead to a hard shell of non-communication, refusal and denial to protect himself and not get hurt again. He struggles a lot, and I love that he starts to finally come out of that shell for good by the end. Even if he slides back, I believe in him.
Togawa is one of those character who's charming despite his rough edges, and he's willing to adapt to Shima to the extent of quitting smoking for him, even though Shima refuses to see it out of fear of getting hurt.
Onoda's obliviousness is funny, but he's trying his best throughout, particularly for Shima even before he has a crush on him, and I loved the extra character development he got in the sequel. He's trying to be a good person, he really is, and I like that he's trying.
Deguchi is a very messy, spiky person under his easy-going, friendly mask. He's been lying so long about so many things that it's second nature to him. I really like that aspect of his character, so don't be afraid to lean into it. He's a complicated jerk (and a bit of a tsundere). He's in love with Onoda, and simultaneously contemptuous and jealous of Shima. Deguchi could also be envious that Shima is out and being his true self (both in sexuality and behaviour) when he's been faking it for so long. Maybe there's some attention in that resentment too. Deguchi is not honest about his own feelings.
I like the canon pairings for this manga a lot, and would really enjoy reading them. I'm also interested if you'd like to write a non-canon pairing (well, Onoda/Shima just isn't requited in canon) as well. I've thrown in a couple of prompts for them, but if there's any pairing you'd like to explore out of the four in the tag set I've not prompted, I'd be interested.
• Right at the end, Togawa says he wants Shima to come to Hokkaido with him and meet his family. I would love to read about how this trip goes. Does Shima find it difficult with Togawa's family? Does Togawa's family history knock him back again, when he's actually there? Scenery porn would be a plus too. I love snowy scenes. And Togawa would definitely throw snowballs at Shima if he got the chance to get him to lighten up.
• Shima's family! We don't find out anything about them in canon apart from they're in Kanagawa. What are they like? How does Togawa manage when he meets them? Does he get off on completely the wrong foot but end up charming them in the end anyway?
• Togawa takes Shima to do cliche tourist activities in Kyoto while he's visiting. Maybe Shima thinks he doesn't want to, but ends up enjoying it anyway. Maybe he doesn't.
• Togawa really wanted kids. Maybe Togawa and Shima reach a point when they decide to consider it, and realise that in fact, it could happen. Adoption, surrogacy, maybe there's a technological advance that makes it possible.
• Related to the above, accidental mpreg happens with Togawa/Shima (I'd prefer this is by magical/technological means rather than because of PiV sex, and definitely not by A/B/O which I've put as a DNW). This puts their relationship in a very strange state of flux, and maybe forces some decisions earlier than they expected. I'd like it to work out in the end, but pregnancy can be bumpy.
• Christmas Eve is a very romantic holiday in Japan, so anything about that, for any pairing you'd like. I feel some characters would be open to it (Onoda) and some most definitely not (DEGUCHI).
• Deguchi starts being a bit more honest. It could go well, it could be a mess.
• Shima doesn't go to Kyoto to see Togawa. Instead he carries on, trying to get over him. Maybe he ends up crying again. Maybe this time Onoda comforts him more directly, starting to make Shima think of the future instead of just the past.
• Pining from Onoda towards Shima, one-sided or returned. Maybe even before he realised he had a crush on Shima. This is all normal and fine! He just wants to help his teammate out. There is nothing else going on, and it's normal to think Shima is incredible cute. Who wouldn't want to kiss him? Nothing else here. Denial is very powerful.
• For some reason, they end up having to share a bed together. Before Onoda realises his feelings, and spends the whole time in denial, or after he does and spends the whole time sweating. It could be the push they need.
• Onoda accidentally steps into Togawa's shoes outside of work too. Onoda wonders if Shima is projecting, once they get to together. Is he imagining he's Togawa? I would like this to be true, or not. Maybe Shima himself isn't entirely sure. Or he calls Onoda "Togawa" in an intimate moment.
• Alternatively, it's not like that at all, but when someone else at work finds out about them, it certainly looks like it.
• Alternate timeline where Togawa ends up being as off-putting to Shima as he'd appear on paper. Instead, Shima silently falls for Onoda. Is it easier? Harder? Onoda is much less savvy about other people's emotions when they like him, after all. Does it end up being mutual pining, or a proper relationship?
• Deguchi and Shima did know each other better when they were both working at TAG than either of them admit during the manga. I can imagine it being standoffish, but maybe they did get along until Shima started dating his ex.
• Alternatively, part of the reason Deguchi doesn't like Shima is because they did, in fact, hook up before Shima fell for his ex while they were all working in TAG. Maybe Deguchi is sore that he was "rejected" even though he didn't want a relationship.
• One of them (seemly?) vanishes from existence and the other(s) is (are) the only ones) who remember(s) them.
• Anything based on my general and/or smut likes is great too!
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.
The ending left Junseo at a really dark point, particularly after his previous experiences in middle school. If you wrote something set post-canon, I would really like to see him getting out of that space and getting to enjoy life again, with or without Lee Jaewon coming back into his life. Maybe something set at college? I'm also interested in canon divergence where events play out differently from how they did in-series.
If you wanted to include Junseo dating OMCs, I am very interested in this and am requesting it. I really want to see the boy (eventually) end up happy. I haven't requested Lee Jaewon, because I'm interested in fics where he's not there too. However, if you want to include him, either as an eventual romantic partner or just eventually friends again, I'm also interested in that, both in either canon divergence or post-canon fic! I have provided a couple of ideas about that too.
• Junseo getting over his rejection and ends up making new friends, even in the pressurised environment that is 3rd year of high school. Maybe he ends up meeting a new best friend via random chance, or cram school, or somewhere else, and this time it ends up going a lot better.
• Junseo finally gets his romantic feelings requited fully and sincerely.
• Junseo being a good older brother to his younger sister. Their dynamic was really sweet from what we saw in canon, and I'd love to see more of their relationship!
• Anything based on my general and/or smut likes is great too!
(Below are ideas that feature Jaewon)
• Post high school, future fic where Karam and Jaewon eventually broke up, and Junseo and Jaewon end up running into each other again. Maybe this could be at the (inevitable) high school reunion, or maybe in a very different set of circumstances – they're both out so they end up going to the same places to hang out? They have overlapping friends but don't realise until they run into each other at a social event? Maybe they end up working at the same place and it is so, so awkward.
• I'd really like them awkwardly navigating how badly their friendship ended and trying to slowly rebuild it. It'd be great if Jaewon was the one to fall first this time around, and deal with the consequences of having rejected Junseo previously.
• Maybe they start up a FWB arrangement but it starts to get heavy and both sides are left pining but reluctant to quit, despite the pain it causes. I'd like to be eventually a happy ending, but with a lot of misunderstandings and regrets along the way to get there.
• Alternatively, Junseo and Jaewon become friends again after college, but this time Junseo is over his feelings and stays over them. It'd be interesting to see them navigating their past and rebuilding in a context where neither of them have romantic feelings for each other.
• Karam and Jaewon break up in the final year of high school and despite knowing that he should absolutely not, Junseo ends up comforting him again and helping him pick up the pieces again. This time, it leads to Jaewon falling for Junseo and it causes a lot of misunderstandings but it all works out in the end, somehow.
• This is a ridiculous AU idea but here goes: AU where it's the mid 2000s and forums are still popular, so Jaewon joins a forum to get advice there instead and Junseo is a regular poster. Maybe this time it takes longer for them to realise they go to the same school, so their relationship develops differently because it's exclusively online (more honestly, perhaps?). Friendships that start online can have a very different dynamic to ones that start in-person, and it switches early enough in canon that I feel like it's more the latter. I'd like it if Junseo comes across far too blunt in his posting and Jaewon initially thinks he's a jerk but no, just a blunt guy who does actually care a lot. Basically, I have very fond memories of this kind of online environment, even if there's drama (I would find in-forum fighting really funny if you wanted to go there, btw) particularly for those who didn't fit in great irl, and I'd love to see an AU playing on that.
• Chapter 40 AU where nobody gets hiccups and Junseo just kisses him instead.
• Anything based on my general and/or smut likes is great too!
Thank you for writing for me, or for looking at my letter. My AO3 account is
General likes:
• Pining• Denial of feelings
• Getting together
• Canon divergence AUs
• Missing scenes from canon
• 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
• Fixing a canon typical problem/situation while falling in love.
• Fixing a canon typical problem/situation while already being in a relationship!
• 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
• Accidentally fucking up reality somehow and needing to fix it.
• They thought nobody was coming but they were.
• On-screen switch from a formal name basis to informal basis, possibly in a meaningful moment but also just casually happening too.
• Fake-out make-outs
• Bed sharing
• Slow burn
• Hot Springs episode (if canon has one: why not more? If it doesn't, it should have one!)
• 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
Smut likes:
• Desperation• Unintentionally turning their partner on
• Sex so enthusiastic that it's kind of clumsy and messy
• Dirty talk
• Praise kink
• Bickering during sex (with couples who already bicker all the time)
• Semi-public sex
• Semi or fully clothed sex, or just one piece of clothing stays on
• Solo masturbation
• Mutual masturbation
• Denial of feelings even in the middle of sex
• Fingering
• Frottage
• Oral sex
• Anal sex
• Come play
• Sexting/phone sex
• Reading dirty books (or outright porn) that leads to sex (either out loud to their partner or by themselves and it gets them in the mood)
• Sharing a bed together turns into sex (doesn't have to be penetrative!)
DNWs:
• Unrequested AUs (canon-divergence and canon AUs requested for all canons)• Death of canon characters
• Unrequested non-canon pairings
• Current events
• Any reference to COVID-19
• Serious injuries, violence, sickness and torture
• Body horror
• Cannibalism/vore
• Bodily fluids apart from sexual fluids and blood (including canon-typical bodily fluids)
• Sexual content with characters under 16
• Intentional violence in sex (rough sex is okay)
• Non-con
• Age play
• D/s
• Omegaverse
• Breath play/choking
Fandom: 青のフラッグ | Ao no Flag | Blue Flag (Manga)
Medium: manga
Length: 8 volumes
Estimated reading time: 16 hours
Sources: The manga is licensed in English by Viz and is available through the Shounen Jump app, as well as digitally and in print.
Further information: Blue Flag
Taichi, a guy with a serious inferiority complex and a defeatist attitude, enters his third year of high school and finds he's in the same class as his popular childhood friend (who he no longer considers a friend) and a timid girl with self-esteem issues who annoys him. This ends up changing the trajectory of their last year at high school significantly, and eventually, for the better.
Blue Flag is a series focused, to me, on two questions: "how do you relate to others and to society?" and "is it possible to change?" (the answer is yes! But it's hard work). Noteably, it's a high school romance where the characters actually talk to each other! But this doesn't necessarily fix every problem, either. It also has a love quad that features same-sex attraction and several LGBT+ characters.
Blue Flag is all about its characters. The mangaka even notes that there's no big, unusual events because that's not what it's about, and that's part of what I enjoy about it. It's remarkably fair to all the characters throughout, even when they're behaving in ways that are hurtful or unreasonable - while some characters are worse behaved than others, there's no villains in this story. Character development is really important throughout, most clearly shown in the characters of Taichi and Futaba, but everyone gets their moments!
The art's also very good throughout, both with comedic moments and more serious moments. The way the art shifts when we're viewing a character through another character's POV is really well done, too. It conveys a lot about the state of mind of both characters, and it was subtle enough that I admittedly didn't notice it first time and only saw it on a re-read.
Characters: Ichinose Taichi, Mita Touma
I really love how this relationship develops over the series. The contrast between the first chapter, where Taichi is keeping Touma at a distance due to his own inferiority complex and how other people perceive both of them, and the penultimate chapter where Taichi finally, explicitly takes out everyone else's judgements out of the equation and says he likes being around Touma, is staggering, and it's such an achievement for both of them that they got there.I find how they made it down the long road together to being friends again, with Touma finally able to take action to make it happen and Taichi being receptive to changing for the better, a really interesting part of the manga. Old friends who have broken apart and are trying to fix it, with varying success, is something I always find interesting. I also like that Taichi didn't immediately reject his confession, even as ill-timed as it was, and instead managed to find a way to try to negotiate the changes instead of giving up at the first sign of trouble, because yes, Touma mattered that much to him. And the fact Touma did that as part of a commitment to start living his own life with freedom instead of just as other people wanted.
It's also very nice that they're happily and openly living together as a couple in the distant finale, both from a 'yay they made it!' perspective but also in the overall theme of trying to live your own life and make the right choices.
I didn't request Futuba and Masumi as I don't have specific ideas for them this time, but if you'd like to include them, please do!
Most of my ideas are for post high school graduation, but if you wanted to write something set earlier on in the series, I would be interested in that!
Ideas:
• How did they get together? The manga doesn't even suggest when it happened, so I am very interested. Was it not that long after Taichi and Futaba broke up? Was it before or after the meet-up between the four of them again? Was it quite dramatic, or did they just slide into it more easily than they expected?• Their very first argument as a couple. An unusual request, but I am interested in how they would navigate it, based on their prior history. With caution? Or would it encourage them to make it up faster?
• Cooking together. I'm inspired by the bonus story in the final volume of the manga, with Taichi complaining (hah) about Touma sneakily buying eggs and oh no, they'll have to make madeleines. It doesn't have to be for that, just the two of them cooking anything together, and possibly with Touma making fun of Taichi for bolting his food.
• I love that scene with Taichi holding onto Touma on the train a lot. Expansion on that? History repeating itself? Another similar situation? Yes please!
• I would love to see how their proposal happened. Did it go relatively smoothly? Were there grand plans? Were there grand plans, but actually it couldn't wait and one of them just went for it instead?
• Taichi travels back in time to his final year at middle school. With his prior knowledge, does he try to change then instead of later on? How difficult is it to change, even with such a chance to? How does he navigate his relationship with Touma this time around? He knows he's in love with him at this point now...
• It's not that kind of manga, but hear me out (because that's what fanworks are for): there was a childhood marriage promise. Even better if it wasn't Touma who suggested it, but Taichi in his very straightforward way and Touma never forgot, even if Taichi has.
• Anything based on my general and/or smut likes is great too!
Fandom: 飴色パラドックス | Ameiro Paradox | Candy Color Paradox (Manga)
Medium: manga
Length: 5 volumes in English (on-going)
Estimated reading time: 9-10 hours.
Sources: The manga is licensed in English by Viz in its SuBLime imprint, it's available digitally and in print.
Further information: Candy Color Paradox
At a weekly magazine, eager beaver journalist Onoe gets unexpectedly thrown onto the stake-outs team and paired up with photographer Kaburagi, who Onoe considers his rival and also happened to steal his girlfriend away the previous week. Sparks immediately fly as they bicker and drive each other up the wall, before finding a grudging respect and perhaps...love?
It's a BL manga, of course it's love. It doesn't stop the bickering through.
I enjoy how this manga has romance but also, the characters' jobs are really important to the plot. Onoe being a bit naive in a profession that's prone to pessisism is quite fascinating!
Characters: Kaburagi Motoharu, Onoe Satoshi
I'm a big fan of 'two people who appear to have nothing in common actually share common ground' and also 'I love you but we are destined to bicker a lot too', and these two deliver on that. I also appreciate how over the course of the series, they both increasingly appreciate each other's qualities and value them a lot (especially Kaburagi of Onoe's less obvious qualities!). Even if they still argue a lot because that's just how they are and they're both equally stubborn in their own ways.
So! These two are very different people, particularly in their outlook in life with Onoe's being relentlessness optimistic (and just a little naive) and Kaburagi's real self being an apathetic realist (although he starts to change, just a little, over time in the series). I also like how people usually end up telling Kaburagi he's the lucky one once they get to know Onoe, and that he agrees too. The contrast between Kaburagi being superficially charming (on purpose) and Onoe being charming once you get to know him is something I enjoy a lot. The gap between first impressions and what's actually going on is something I find fascinating in general, which is a big theme throughout this manga and also with the characters.
I'm happy with fic set at any point of the manga, from when they're both still get used to each other and fighting a lot, to when they've mellowed out a little later on (okay, Kaburagi has. Onoe's actually an inmovable object of optimism but I like that about him). If you'd like to include any of the supporting cast, please do! I like all of them.
Ideas:
• Case fic. I lik how dedicated they are to their jobs, even if they started out for different reasons, and how it's an important part of their relationship that they're journalists. The hunting down of scoops is always fun! I would be interested in the silly, gossip rag style ones and also in more serious scoops as well. They don't have to work out, either, not every lead does for them.• Having to go undercover as a couple, while being an actual couple already. The potential here! Onoe would be so terrible at it, somehow, despite the fact they are actually dating. Kaburagi could be so weirdly out of character (for Onoe) that it actually creeps him out and ruins their chance of being convincing. Or perhaps it turns out to be the best undercover operation they've done together (unless Onoe blows it at the last minute).
• Two words: fake-out make-out. This FINALLY happened in one of the extra chapters for Volume 5, but it is a classic and I would like to see more. As a feint on a real stake-out? In a situation where there was a clearly better alternative? Or perhaps, they get caught when they are just getting handsy together in semi-public (again) and the person who catches them thinks it's a distraction and they end up in trouble for it? Wherever you think, I am interested.
• Related, the two of them have a thing for semi-public sex in canon and I would be happy to see more of it. They still haven't done it in Kaburagi's car on-screen in canon, by the way. You could correct this oversight.
• Anything dealing with the fact that sometimes they do good in their jobs, but they also spent a lot of time following people around purely because they have a new partner and they're famous. It's ethically questionable stuff, and I like that canon doesn't shy away from that.
• I love Kaburagi going "I'm tired so I'm crashing at your place (and have a key)", and Onoe going to see him when he's feeling vulnerable too so, more, more!!!
• Usually it's Onoe getting into trouble and Kaburagi has to pull him out of it, so a situation where that's reversed would be fun. Either with Onoe being unexpectedly competent, or just making it significantly worse than it was before.
• The two of them end up trapped in a dangerous situation, and someone gets hurt. It could be Kaburagi going ape-shit because Onoe got hurt (it's happened in canon!) or Onoe protecting and doing his mostest for a hurt Kaburagi. Or maybe they're both hurt but they're both trying to put a brave face on it because they're so worried about the other. I eat this stuff up. Go for it, as long as they do eventually get out at the end.
• Onoe's family and background. We know a bit about Kaburagi's past (Vol. 2 and 5), including a high school flashback, but we've seen none of Onoe's. I'd be really interested in finding out about him too! I feel that he probably grew up in a loving envirnoment, with how open and optimistic he is, but I could see it not being the 'normal' nuclear family of two parents and their kid(s). Maybe he was raised by a single parent, or his grandparents raised him, or other relatives, or maybe a family friend? I'd be really interested in your take!
• They finally move into a place together. I really enjoyed the bonus chapter about moving in together in Volume 4, and seeing that finally happen would be great! Moving is one of those things that can test a couple who don't fight normally, so I imagine these two would inevitably end up arguing a lot. I could see it starting over something stupid, too, like Kaburagi laughing at Onoe's basic tastes in A/Vs again.
• They finally switch to being on a first name basis! It's supposed to be only at home and then Onoe calls him Motoharu at work and everyone goes 👀.
• Anything based on my general and/or smut likes is great too!
Fandom: 너의 사랑에 대하여 | For Your Love (Webcomic)
Medium: webtoon
Length: 85 chapters (complete)
Estimated reading time: 40 hours.
Sources: This is licensed in English as 'The Shape of Your Love' by Pocket Comics and is available through its app, which you can get here.
Further information: For Your Love
It starts out simply enough: Yohan, who saw his older brother get rejected by another man as a child, thinks unrequited love is pointless. When he sees his club senior, Park Moogyeong, has a crush on Lee Junseo, the only other member of the club, he decides to step in and help him avoid the same fate.
Naturally, none of this goes to plan.
I love this series for its slow burn romance (and it really is a slow burn), how heavily character focused it is, the excellent pining and longing, the central relationship having difficulties and false starts without spilling over into ridiculous melodrama, and for the character development of its two leads. There's also Yuri, Yohan's best friend, whose entertaining rudeness, shit-stirring and foul mouth makes Yohan look like a fine, outstanding citizen. (He's also got his own issues but that's for the spin-off...)
The art is really great too, it's simple and the flat colouring gives a different atmosphere to a lot of other webtoons. While it's not 'shiny', it's very expressive, and also has drawn backgrounds – no 3D backgrounds here! Yohan also has hilarious facial expressions. So do the other characters (particularly Yuri) but nobody can beat Yohan.
I am reading Form of Sympathy too, so if you want to use anything from that as well, I'm open to it.
Characters: Jung Yohan, Park Moogyeong
I love how these two struggle to get to the point they are at the end, where they are properly together and starting to really understand each other, from their deeply inauspicious start. They both grow so much as people over the course of the series and it wouldn't have happened if they hadn't met each other. Like Yohan says at the end, if he had to do it over, he'd still tactlessly out Moogyeong and take that punch so they'd end up together again. I am an absolute sucker for that.
Yohan goes from a tactless, rude brat for who everything's too hard work to bother with, to valuing and putting in an effort with others (and also with his schoolwork) and while not as fearless as he thought he'd be, still brave. Moogyeong also grows, if not as radically as Yohan. He has so much more courage than he did at the start, he learns what it's like to have his love returned and to have something he wants beyond just studying and fulfilling the expectations everyone else has for him. As the author states in the final notes, Yohan is the physically strongest character by far, but Moogyeong is by far the strongest in the cast in terms of being a good person. It's a super charming contrast.
I really like Yuri too, I just don't have any specific ideas for him. Please feel free to include him (and Seonwoo) too if you want to! I just request that if you're writing while they're still at high school, that any relationship between Yuri and Seonwoo is purely platonic at that stage.
Ideas:
• How they manage that year when Moogyeong is at college and Yohan is supposed to be studying for his college entrance exam. I feel that there might be some jealousy and insecurity again but it works out okay in the end.• Yohan gets extra motivation for his college entrance exam by getting Moogyeong to agree to do something special if he passes. Maybe a sex thing, or maybe something really minor that's still kind of difficult for him to do. (Okay, but. Yohan asking him if he can call Yohan hyung in bed and he's just. Why. And possibly does it anyway because he's weak to his pleading.)
• Finally moving in together! It's maybe a little awkward but it's really nice to be staying together like this again. Plus Moogyeong did miss his cooking.
• 'I am going to text you for three hours straight, hyung, please stop ignoring me because you're doing an assignment.'
• They take another trip together. Maybe it's more successful than their previous ones, or maybe a new, exciting disaster happens on it.
• Double date with Leo Junseo and his girlfriend. Maybe Yohan spends the whole time pulling faces, Junseo spends the time trying to sell Moogyeong on Yohan's charms because he hasn't yet realised that they're in a relationship, while Moogyeong is trying not to die of embarrassment. It is maybe a miracle that Junseo doesn't get dumped afterwards.
• Yohan crying (I fully respect Park Nodeok's goal of 'I want to write a story with a crying man' aka Yohan), either about something serious or something completely ridiculous.
• I'm so curious about why Yohan decided to pick out architecture as his college major.
• Moogyeong has to soothe the bad vibes he accidentally causes when he says that Jung Joohan is attractive again and Yohan is a little pissed off that he keeps thinking his older brother is hot.
• Yohan does the spontaneous "marriage proposal while just lying in bed together one day" thing and then immediately freaks out. Orrrr...Moogyeong does it and everyone is very surprised, especially the man himself.
• One of them (seemly?) vanishes from existence and the other is the only one who remembers them.
• The two of them just doing things together, basically.
• Anything based on my general and/or smut likes is great too!
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)
Sources: The manga is licensed in English by DMP in its June imprint, it's available digitally. There were print editions published but they've been out of print for a couple of years and so are incredibly expensive.
Estimated reading time: 1-2 hours.
Further information: No Touching at All
There is a spin-off called 'Even So, I Will Love You Tenderly', which is also one volume and about the same length. It focuses on Onoda Ryou and Deguchi Harumi, so if you're writing about those two, you probably want to read it too? You don't have to for Shima and Togawa, so feel free to use it as you wish. 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.
Characters: any (Shima Toshiaki, Togawa Yousuke, Onoda Ryo, Deguchi Harumi
I really like Shima. He's been through a lot before the manga starts, enough to lead to a hard shell of non-communication, refusal and denial to protect himself and not get hurt again. He struggles a lot, and I love that he starts to finally come out of that shell for good by the end. Even if he slides back, I believe in him.
Togawa is one of those character who's charming despite his rough edges, and he's willing to adapt to Shima to the extent of quitting smoking for him, even though Shima refuses to see it out of fear of getting hurt.
Onoda's obliviousness is funny, but he's trying his best throughout, particularly for Shima even before he has a crush on him, and I loved the extra character development he got in the sequel. He's trying to be a good person, he really is, and I like that he's trying.
Deguchi is a very messy, spiky person under his easy-going, friendly mask. He's been lying so long about so many things that it's second nature to him. I really like that aspect of his character, so don't be afraid to lean into it. He's a complicated jerk (and a bit of a tsundere). He's in love with Onoda, and simultaneously contemptuous and jealous of Shima. Deguchi could also be envious that Shima is out and being his true self (both in sexuality and behaviour) when he's been faking it for so long. Maybe there's some attention in that resentment too. Deguchi is not honest about his own feelings.
I like the canon pairings for this manga a lot, and would really enjoy reading them. I'm also interested if you'd like to write a non-canon pairing (well, Onoda/Shima just isn't requited in canon) as well. I've thrown in a couple of prompts for them, but if there's any pairing you'd like to explore out of the four in the tag set I've not prompted, I'd be interested.
Ideas:
• Togawa canonically is obsessed with Shima's beauty mark, so feel free to throw that in about anywhere you want.• Right at the end, Togawa says he wants Shima to come to Hokkaido with him and meet his family. I would love to read about how this trip goes. Does Shima find it difficult with Togawa's family? Does Togawa's family history knock him back again, when he's actually there? Scenery porn would be a plus too. I love snowy scenes. And Togawa would definitely throw snowballs at Shima if he got the chance to get him to lighten up.
• Shima's family! We don't find out anything about them in canon apart from they're in Kanagawa. What are they like? How does Togawa manage when he meets them? Does he get off on completely the wrong foot but end up charming them in the end anyway?
• Togawa takes Shima to do cliche tourist activities in Kyoto while he's visiting. Maybe Shima thinks he doesn't want to, but ends up enjoying it anyway. Maybe he doesn't.
• Togawa really wanted kids. Maybe Togawa and Shima reach a point when they decide to consider it, and realise that in fact, it could happen. Adoption, surrogacy, maybe there's a technological advance that makes it possible.
• Related to the above, accidental mpreg happens with Togawa/Shima (I'd prefer this is by magical/technological means rather than because of PiV sex, and definitely not by A/B/O which I've put as a DNW). This puts their relationship in a very strange state of flux, and maybe forces some decisions earlier than they expected. I'd like it to work out in the end, but pregnancy can be bumpy.
• Christmas Eve is a very romantic holiday in Japan, so anything about that, for any pairing you'd like. I feel some characters would be open to it (Onoda) and some most definitely not (DEGUCHI).
• Deguchi starts being a bit more honest. It could go well, it could be a mess.
• Shima doesn't go to Kyoto to see Togawa. Instead he carries on, trying to get over him. Maybe he ends up crying again. Maybe this time Onoda comforts him more directly, starting to make Shima think of the future instead of just the past.
• Pining from Onoda towards Shima, one-sided or returned. Maybe even before he realised he had a crush on Shima. This is all normal and fine! He just wants to help his teammate out. There is nothing else going on, and it's normal to think Shima is incredible cute. Who wouldn't want to kiss him? Nothing else here. Denial is very powerful.
• For some reason, they end up having to share a bed together. Before Onoda realises his feelings, and spends the whole time in denial, or after he does and spends the whole time sweating. It could be the push they need.
• Onoda accidentally steps into Togawa's shoes outside of work too. Onoda wonders if Shima is projecting, once they get to together. Is he imagining he's Togawa? I would like this to be true, or not. Maybe Shima himself isn't entirely sure. Or he calls Onoda "Togawa" in an intimate moment.
• Alternatively, it's not like that at all, but when someone else at work finds out about them, it certainly looks like it.
• Alternate timeline where Togawa ends up being as off-putting to Shima as he'd appear on paper. Instead, Shima silently falls for Onoda. Is it easier? Harder? Onoda is much less savvy about other people's emotions when they like him, after all. Does it end up being mutual pining, or a proper relationship?
• Deguchi and Shima did know each other better when they were both working at TAG than either of them admit during the manga. I can imagine it being standoffish, but maybe they did get along until Shima started dating his ex.
• Alternatively, part of the reason Deguchi doesn't like Shima is because they did, in fact, hook up before Shima fell for his ex while they were all working in TAG. Maybe Deguchi is sore that he was "rejected" even though he didn't want a relationship.
• One of them (seemly?) vanishes from existence and the other(s) is (are) the only ones) who remember(s) them.
• Anything based on my general and/or smut likes is great too!
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.
Character: Ha Junseo
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.The ending left Junseo at a really dark point, particularly after his previous experiences in middle school. If you wrote something set post-canon, I would really like to see him getting out of that space and getting to enjoy life again, with or without Lee Jaewon coming back into his life. Maybe something set at college? I'm also interested in canon divergence where events play out differently from how they did in-series.
If you wanted to include Junseo dating OMCs, I am very interested in this and am requesting it. I really want to see the boy (eventually) end up happy. I haven't requested Lee Jaewon, because I'm interested in fics where he's not there too. However, if you want to include him, either as an eventual romantic partner or just eventually friends again, I'm also interested in that, both in either canon divergence or post-canon fic! I have provided a couple of ideas about that too.
Ideas:
• College turns out to be a really good environment for Junseo and he ends up being really happy at it, even if the workload is a lot. I'd love it if he was able to come out and make LGBT+ friends, he's been out on his own with that for far too long.• Junseo getting over his rejection and ends up making new friends, even in the pressurised environment that is 3rd year of high school. Maybe he ends up meeting a new best friend via random chance, or cram school, or somewhere else, and this time it ends up going a lot better.
• Junseo finally gets his romantic feelings requited fully and sincerely.
• Junseo being a good older brother to his younger sister. Their dynamic was really sweet from what we saw in canon, and I'd love to see more of their relationship!
• Anything based on my general and/or smut likes is great too!
(Below are ideas that feature Jaewon)
• Post high school, future fic where Karam and Jaewon eventually broke up, and Junseo and Jaewon end up running into each other again. Maybe this could be at the (inevitable) high school reunion, or maybe in a very different set of circumstances – they're both out so they end up going to the same places to hang out? They have overlapping friends but don't realise until they run into each other at a social event? Maybe they end up working at the same place and it is so, so awkward.
• I'd really like them awkwardly navigating how badly their friendship ended and trying to slowly rebuild it. It'd be great if Jaewon was the one to fall first this time around, and deal with the consequences of having rejected Junseo previously.
• Maybe they start up a FWB arrangement but it starts to get heavy and both sides are left pining but reluctant to quit, despite the pain it causes. I'd like to be eventually a happy ending, but with a lot of misunderstandings and regrets along the way to get there.
• Alternatively, Junseo and Jaewon become friends again after college, but this time Junseo is over his feelings and stays over them. It'd be interesting to see them navigating their past and rebuilding in a context where neither of them have romantic feelings for each other.
• Karam and Jaewon break up in the final year of high school and despite knowing that he should absolutely not, Junseo ends up comforting him again and helping him pick up the pieces again. This time, it leads to Jaewon falling for Junseo and it causes a lot of misunderstandings but it all works out in the end, somehow.
• This is a ridiculous AU idea but here goes: AU where it's the mid 2000s and forums are still popular, so Jaewon joins a forum to get advice there instead and Junseo is a regular poster. Maybe this time it takes longer for them to realise they go to the same school, so their relationship develops differently because it's exclusively online (more honestly, perhaps?). Friendships that start online can have a very different dynamic to ones that start in-person, and it switches early enough in canon that I feel like it's more the latter. I'd like it if Junseo comes across far too blunt in his posting and Jaewon initially thinks he's a jerk but no, just a blunt guy who does actually care a lot. Basically, I have very fond memories of this kind of online environment, even if there's drama (I would find in-forum fighting really funny if you wanted to go there, btw) particularly for those who didn't fit in great irl, and I'd love to see an AU playing on that.
• Chapter 40 AU where nobody gets hiccups and Junseo just kisses him instead.
• Anything based on my general and/or smut likes is great too!