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ceruleantactician) wrote2024-01-07 10:54 pm
Candy Hearts Exchange Letter 2024
Dear Creator,
Thank you so much for creating for me. I look forward to whatever you come up with! I am CeruleanTactician on AO3 as well. All my prompts are just suggestions. If you have an idea that you think will be great, as long as it respects my DNWs, go for it. If you need any clarifications, please don’t hesitate to send a question through the exchange mods.
I have gifts enabled on my AO3 account and would be happy to receive any treats.
DCU (Comics) - Clark Kent & Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent & Lex Luthor, Clark Kent/Lois Lane
Injustice: Gods Among Us - Clark Kent/Lois Lane
Smallville (TV) - Clark Kent & Lex Luthor, Lex Luthor & Lionel Luthor
Superman & Lois (TV) - Clark Kent & Tal-Rho
The Godfather (1972 1974 1990) - Michael Corleone & Tom Hagen, Sonny Corleone & Tom Hagen, Vito Corleone & Tom Hagen
- Age-play/de-aging
- Animal abuse/death
- Bodily waste/bodily fluid mentions (Exception: blood, tears)
- Explicit sex (implied/referenced is fine)
- First person POV except for epistolary
- Infidelity involving any requested character
- Rape/non-con
- Unrequested sexual/romantic relationships involving canon characters (Exception: any canon relationships)
- Fandom-specific DNWs for Injustice: Clark intentionally causing physical harm to Lois. Lois or Clark being in a relationship with other people. (Totally okay if they break up/Lois considers their relationship over after what Clark has done.)
- Fandom-specific DNW for The Godfather: Winegardner novels material, specifically how Tom dies and the character of Nick Geraci. The Puzo and Falco novels are fine if you would like to include material from them. (Don't worry about this DNW if you aren't familiar with any of the novels, I'm 100% happy with fics that only include movie canon!)
- 5+1 Things
- Amnesia
- Angst
- Backstory
- Canon divergence AUs
- Character/relationship studies
- Complicated relationships
- Crack taken seriously
- Darkfic
- Dramatic irony
- Epistolary and unusual formats
- Family
- Fix-its
- Fluff
- Friendship
- Happy, hopeful or bittersweet endings
- Humor
- Hurt/comfort
- Identity-related shenanigans/issues, complexity and/or humor arising from secret identities
- Loyalty and trust
- Mistaken identity
- Moral dilemmas/complexity
- Mutual pining
- Outsider POV
- Reconciliation
- Redemption
- Telepathy
- Tenderness and vulnerability
- Third and second person POVs
- Time travel and time loops
- Undercover
- Whump
- Worldbuilding
Clark Kent & Bruce Wayne
I love their friendship! How they started out mistrusting and misunderstanding each other but later became the closest of allies(and best friends! I like how Clark helps to bring optimism and hope to Bruce’s life, which is sorely lacking in that department. How Clark is someone Bruce can trust and believe in, as much as that’s even possible for Bruce. And Bruce can help check and provide another perspective to Clark. I would really be happy to see anything with them!
- I would love to see something early on in their relationship, where Bruce and Clark aren’t entirely sure about each other and how they eventually came to trust one another. Feel free to play with different identities and who knows what when as much as you want.
- I also love love love hurt/comfort and I would love to see any scenario involving that! Fine with either hurt!
- Note: I know there have been a lot of takes on these two in the comics over the years, so feel free to play fast and loose with continuity here in order to tell the story you want to tell. Some stories I’ve liked with them if you want some recs/inspiration: Superman/Batman (2003-2006) by Jeph Loeb, Batman (2016) #36, their friendship in the DCAU cartoons.
Clark Kent & Lex Luthor
These two have such a fascinating relationship. I love Lex’s terrible, awful, life-ruining obsession with Superman. His warped perspective on Superman and on his own motivations- how on some level he sees (or wants to see) himself as the hero. How Lex always has the potential to be better and make a real difference in the world (and of course Clark always wants to see the best in people, so he ends up giving him another chance) but he ends up falling back into old habits. I would love a story exploring that.
A straight up villain Lex story is always welcome too, however! Maybe something where Superman and Lex are forced to work together for the greater good. Or maybe where reporter Clark Kent is forced to work with Lex and gains a new perspective on his arch nemesis.
Smallville is where I fell in love with Lex, so I will always appreciate a more nuanced and sympathetic Lex. Also, feel free to include the “Lex spent some time in Smallville and he and Clark knew each other as children” backstory, but I realize that making that work with Lex’s usual backstory can be tricky, so don’t feel at all pressured to use it if it doesn’t work for your story.
I know there have been a lot of takes on these two in the comics over the years, so feel free to play fast and loose with continuity here in order to tell the story you want to tell. Some comics stories I’ve liked with them if you want some recs/inspiration: Superman: Birthright, Superman: The Death of Lex Luthor (ongoing), Superman (2023) by Joshua Williamson (ongoing).
Clark Kent/Lois Lane
I’ve recently gotten back into Superman and it’s reignited my love for these two! Lois is so smart and tough and cynical and compassionate. She deserves someone as kind, sincere and loving as Clark. I’m open to a wide variety of stories with these two- fluff, angst, drama, dramatic irony, H/C, AUs, (mutual) pining, wherever your inspiration takes you.
- The secret identity aspect and the eventual identity reveal are such a fun part of their early relationship. I would love to see something that contrasts Lois’s perspective on Clark versus Superman and maybe even versus what happens when she finds out that they’re one in the same.
- Something mostly focused on Lois and Clark as journalists working together to uncover a story, maybe with Superman as a more minor element would be great as well.
- Something focused on Clark’s Kryptonian heritage. Perhaps an AU where he comes to Earth as an adult and has to learn about Earth culture would be great as well.
I know there have been a lot of takes on these two in the comics over the years, so feel free to play fast and loose with continuity here in order to tell the story you want to tell.
Clark Kent/Lois Lane
Ah, the evil!Superman AU. I recently devoured the Injustice prequel comics and I find this universe to be fascinating. And also great fodder for angst! I would love some more angsty Clark/Lois, please!
So this is a little bit of a strange request, considering this version of Lois is fridged about five minutes into the first year of Injustice. I would love a fic that explores what would happen if she came back. After all, resurrections are a dime a dozen in the DC universe. How would she react to the person her husband has become? To deal with the trauma of remembering what it was like to die at her own husband’s hands, even if he wasn’t in his right mind at the time? To the loss of her and Clark’s unborn child, assuming she’s resurrected without her pregnancy? To the loss of her home city, the Daily Planet, to her friends and family members and coworkers? What an unimaginably painful set of losses. Feel free to go in as dark and angsty a direction as you’d like, as long as you respect my DNWs.
But Lois has a spine of steel and an unwavering dedication to truth and fairness. Once the initial shock and despair wore off, I can’t imagine a world where Lois wouldn’t do everything in her power to stop Clark from going down the path he is on. Would she try to talk to Clark? Or would she go to Bruce? But if she ended up working with Batman, how would she react to some of his allies? (I doubt she’d be all ‘forgive and forget’ regarding Harley…)
How does Clark react to Lois’s resurrection- is it enough to take him off the path he is on? Or is it too late for that? Does he try to protect her to stop himself from losing her again (even if she doesn’t want his protection)? I’m totally fine if Lois is understanding/sympathetic/conflicted about Clark, but please don’t have Lois instantly forgiving him either.
Clark Kent & Lex Luthor
I recently rewatched Smallville and it reignited my love for Lex. Smallville seasons 1 to 3 are my happy place and Clark and Lex’s friendship is one of my favorite parts of the early seasons of Smallville, and I would love to see more of that. I would also love to see any AU where that continued or where they eventually reconcile for one reason or another. Angstier/more complicated stuff from the later seasons is also good if you want to go in that direction!
- Clark and/or Lex find themselves in their own future and are displeased by the way things have gone, especially in regards to their friendship. Or perhaps a future version of Clark and/or Lex find themselves in their past bodies and decide to use their future knowledge to try to fix what went wrong.
- For whatever reason, Lex finds out the truth about Clark’s powers and doesn’t magically forget it. Or Clark decides to tell Lex the truth. Either way, the world is much better for it.
- The Clark and Lionel bodyswap episode was a lot of fun. I would love to see an AU where Clark and Lex find themselves bodyswapped for some reason. That would certainly be a way for Lex to find out about Clark’s powers!
- A later season AU - After Jonathan’s death, Lionel and Martha get together. Clark and Lex find themselves reconciling just to complain about how much they both Hate It.
Lex Luthor & Lionel Luthor
Their relationship is so awful and tragic and compelling and I want more of it! Lionel’s abuse is a huge part of the reason why Smallville Lex turns out the way he did. And it’s so heartbreaking how a part of Lex always wants his father’s love and approval so badly, even knowing what kind of a man his father is.
- Lionel doing terrible things to Lex and justifying it from his own twisted POV. Maybe something from Lex’s younger years.
- Lex’s changing perspective on his father over the years, leading up to how it ends- I would honestly love something that’s just Lex’s perspective on him deciding to murder his father. Or maybe him looking back on their relationship after the events of the show.
- Maybe an AU where Lionel is, like, a slightly less awful parent and they actually have a chance of repairing their relationship. Or something changes in the early seasons of Smallville in a way that leads to a real reconciliation between the two of them.
- I find Lionel’s “redemption arc” in later seasons of Smallville to be super fascinating. I like the intentional ambiguity of it, where you’re never totally sure what side he’s really on, or how much of his reform is genuine. And despite his alleged reform, Lionel never really comes to terms with the effect his actions had on his son’s life and he gives up pretty quickly on his attempts to turn Lex away from the dark side.
Tal-Rho & Clark Kent
I loved Tal’s character development in Season 2 and how much he cares about Clark/Kal and how despite everything he genuinely wants to be a family with him. And it’s not one-sided either- Clark clearly cares deeply for Tal too and really wants to have a brother, despite everything that Tal has done. I would love to see something exploring their relationship more. And I’m always up for seeing more fun “Uncle Morgan” moments and bonding with the twins.
- An AU Tal and Clark meet earlier on, before Tal had done so much damage both to the world and to their relationship. What if they met earlier as children and Martha and Jonathan were able to take him in and help with his trauma and eventually even prove that not all humans are bad? Or what if Tal never escaped after his capture and Clark first met him as a mistreated prisoner? Or what if Tal confronted Clark about their heritage soon after Clark went public as Superman?
- Tal gets a second chance and finds himself back in time at some point before the events of Season 1. Can he forge a new relationship with his brother and avoid making the same mistakes a second time around?
- An AU Season 1 where Tal realizes that Clark = Superman = his brother Kal-El earlier on and has more substantial interactions with Clark and maybe Lois and the twins too. Maybe he reveals the truth earlier? Maybe this convinces him to stop his plans?
- An AU of Season 2 where Tal doesn’t leave for the Bizarro world and instead has to learn to face the consequences of what he did in this world. Repairing his relationship with Clark and his family, dealing with the government and trying to find a place for himself in the world.
The Godfather (1972 1974 1990)
Michael Corleone & Tom Hagen
Tom, you’re my brother. / I always wanted to be thought of as a brother by you, Mikey, a real brother. - The Godfather Part II
Michael and Tom’s relationship is so interesting and complicated. They have very similar personalities, but Michael has that edge of ruthlessness that Tom can’t totally match. Still, even as Michael goes down a darker path in Part II, he always has Tom to count on for absolute loyalty, even if Michael isn’t always appreciative of that loyalty.
- Tom and Michael always seemed to understand each other better than the other brothers because of their similar personalities. I imagine that was true even when they were younger. What does Michael think of Tom after Sonny brings him home?
- Hurt/comfort after Michael gets his jaw broken by McCluskey in Part I. Or after Tom’s kidnapping. Or another H/C scenario of your choosing!
- Part II - Tom’s reaction to the attempted assassination on Michael.
- Why does Tom choose to stay with the Family despite Michael’s increasing paranoia and poor treatment of him towards the end of Part II? And what is his reaction to finding out that Michael had Fredo killed? How is their relationship rebuilt as Michael becomes more and more isolated (or how do they drift further apart)?
Sonny Corleone & Tom Hagen
“When Hagen had entered the room Sonny had come rushing to embrace him. Michael realized with a faint twinge of jealousy that in many ways Sonny and Tom Hagen were closer than he himself could ever be to his own brother.” - The Godfather novel.
I love that Sonny just found an orphan boy living on the streets and decided to take him home and ask his dad if he could keep him. And Tom responded, okay, I am going to be loyal to you for the rest of my life. They have one of, if not the closest bond in the Corleone family and I just love their relationship and have so many feelings about it.
- Any look at their childhood. How did the household react when the family first took Tom in? How did Tom get used to being a part of the family? How did Vito’s business affect their childhood? Did Sonny and Tom know at a young age that they wanted to be a part of it? Do they ever learn about why Vito came to America, his history with the murder of his family by the Mafia in Sicily?
- A look at Sonny and Tom’s early careers in the Family and how that shaped their relationship. For Sonny - How did he begin working for his father? What did Tom think of it (presumably he was still at university/law school at the time)? How did Sonny gain his reputation for having a short fuse and for violence? For Tom- how and why did he approach Vito to start working for the Family? How was he treated by other members of the Family - were some reluctant to trust him because of Tom’s non-Italian heritage? Did Sonny ever have to defend him? What legal work, shady or otherwise, did Tom do for the Family? How did he start to be considered for the consigliere position?
- As teens or young adults, Tom and Sonny go on a trip together. Can be a “business”-related or not. (Perhaps to Sicily?) How do the two interact when away from their family? What kind of trouble would they run into?
- Outsider POV on Sonny and Tom. Maybe from one of the Corleone button men, maybe from a civilian outsider. Maybe from a member of another Family, wondering about the history between the Don Corleone’s firstborn son and heir apparent and an Irish kid?
- Sonny comforting Tom after his kidnapping in Part I—maybe an AU where it got physical and Tom was tortured? Other hurt/comfort scenarios are welcome as well. I am always here whump and/or H/C.
- An AU where Sonny and Tom help Connie “deal with” her abusive husband. Interpret “deal with” as you like.
- An AU where Sonny avoids his death on the tollway. How do Sonny and Tom’s lives change?
- Tom mourning Sonny after his death. They were so close so I always imagine that Sonny’s death strongly affected him, even years later. I do like ghosts/stories with supernatural elements, so feel free to go in that direction if you’d like.
Vito Corleone & Tom Hagen
“Your boss is dead,” Sollozzo said. He paused, surprised at the tears that sprang to Hagen’s eyes. - The Godfather novel.
Vito is the closest thing Tom has to a father, even if he never takes on the role officially. I’d love something that focused on their relationship.
- So after Sonny brought Tom home, why did Vito agree to take him in? What was Vito’s thought process there?
- More on Tom’s perspective on Vito. It’s clear that he respects and loves him and thinks of him as a father. How and why did he approach Vito to start working for the Family instead of pursuing a career as a legitimate lawyer? How was he treated by other members of the Family - were some reluctant to trust him because of Tom’s non-Italian heritage? What legal work, shady or otherwise, did Tom do for the Family? How did he start to be considered for the consigliere position?
- As the Corleones’ lawyer and later consigliere, what kind of things did Vito ask Tom to do? What was a typical day like?
- Post-Sonny’s death. Mourning together.