ITPE 2024 Dear Podficcer Letter
Sep. 29th, 2024 06:50 pmDear Podficcer
Hi, I’m LittleRedRobinHood on AO3 and TinyBlueBirdCloak on Tumblr, and I’m excited to hear what you make for me in this exchange!
Likes:
Team as family/found family/team ensemble dynamics, strong friendships/platonic relationships
Hurt/comfort – emotional or physical or both! - also angst with a happy ending
Fake dating, marriage of convenience, mutual pining
Humor, laughter, shenanigans and hijinks
Soulmates/soulmate identifying marks, especially when subverted/inverted
Subverted/inverted/played with tropes in general
Worldbuilding – either AUs or digging deeper into canon worldbuilding or the wider canon world
Scifi/fantasy/magic AUs, AUs that add magic/supernatural/other-canon fusion elements to the canon world, or AUs/worldbuilding with subverted/inverted/ played with tropes
AUs that are creative and thoughtful about how canon characters/relationships/elements are translated into a new settings
People trusting each other with secrets/opening up to each other – this usually works really well with the hurt/comfort (secret relationship, coming out, magic powers that are looked down on, etc) and I do definitely like that. It also works for more light hearted stuff, like super hero AUs with secret identities, You’ve Got Mail style misunderstandings, or something with hijinks and misunderstanding that are humorous rather than angsty
Canon typical casefic or character studies – missing scenes, pre or post canon adventures, first meetings/backstory of canon relationships (romantic and platonic), focus on relationships (romantic or platonic) that don’t get much focus in canon
Outsider POV, Media/Social Media/Historical Documents/True Crime Podcasts etc POV
Social media or like far outsider perspective stuff, like media or history types of things (esp made for audio) is very interesting to me, and I’ve seen it done in some fun ways. Examples I’ve liked include Buzzfeed Unsolved episodes about various canons, historians dealing with The Old Guard and their weird timeline, someone connecting the dots on Eliot Spencer’s various cover personas, and general in-universe social media/rpf about rpf fandoms
Basically, what does the general public think is going on in this canon/fic? How is it wrong about what’s actually happening? Especially fun when is supernatural/magical/not easily guessed by the public in some way.
Made for audio works/works in non-traditional formats - I like creative uses of the audio medium, like in universe podcasts or voicemails, and when sound effects/soundscaping/music are used in interesting ways that add to the story. I also like oral not!fics
Don’t Mind:
Rule 63/Genderswap – prefer no name changes though, if possible
Non famous family members as characters - tend to prefer if the real names of wives etc are used if they are widely known (ie Ryanne Giroux, Veronique Fleury)
Canon (or real life I guess) levels of violence and injury
References to past covid restrictions/lockdowns/season pauses. I’m tired of still dealing with covid irl, so I would prefer not to have fictional covid also still (or ever) a thing.
Dislikes:
Large age gaps or power imbalances, or daddy kink – such as Pekka Rinne/Juuse Saros, Mitch Marner/Matt Martin, Nolan Patrick/Claude Giroux etc
Dubcon, except if both parties have consumed alcohol but would consent otherwise
Hard drug use – anything other than alcohol, tobacco, or weed (mentions if not used by main characters are ok)
Mob/Mafia AUs – surprising popular in Hockey, but I’m not a fan (in any fandom)
DNW:
Patrick Kane, Evander Kane, Casey DeSmith, Semyon Varlamov, Tony DeAngelo, Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, anyone else accused of a sex crime/DV that I missed, as well as Tyler Bertuzzi and MacKenzie Blackwood for being anti covid vaccine
Focus on any Blackhawks players playing on the Hawks in the fic (current Hawks players on previous teams/national teams/passingly mentioned (like for the All Star game or something) or in AUs are ok (except PKane, as noted above) and mentions of the team existing is also ok)
GM/player, coach/player, student/teacher, or similar ships
Infidelity (in any configuration - between the main couple or the main couple cheating with each other etc) (mentions of Sandra Lynn's canon cheating is ok if not the focus of the fic)
Incest of any kind
Rape/non con
age play or pet play, sexual or not
Smut/PWP – I don’t mind limited sex scenes, including works that would be rated E on AO3, but I prefer the sex not be the focus of the work, and it not be especially long or detailed. I don’t mind works where sex as a concept is prominent in the work, such as works where sex occurs briefly (or off screen) and is referred back to often, or sex is the goal (as in getting together) and is frequently referenced, or stuff like that – I just don’t want extended graphic sex scenes or works that are primarily sex scenes, and prefer that if sex occurs, it's secondary to the plot
Also, I don’t want BDSM, kink, xeno, gang bangs/group sex, or a/b/o
I tried to make this more specific and less of a judgment call, but I know this does depend on the person and the fic – I’m sorry
Audio DNWs
Audio of any real person featured in an RPF story as themselves (interview clips, social media audio, podcast appearances, etc). In-character dialogue from actors as their characters in fic about those characters would be ok, but people featured as themselves would not.
Sound effects that will concern me while I am driving - buzzing, clunking, beeping, traffic noises, sirens, etc - if a fic is fully soundscaped, it should be okay (but please include a note), but if it's a one off or sudden, I will likely be alarmed that something is wrong with my car
Hockey RPF
Hockey RPF is my main fandom, so most of my likes come from that, although they also apply to my other fandoms. I am not super tied to a specific pairing or team, but I do have some preferences:
Top Teams/Pairings:
For basically all of these, I am cool with team ensemble stuff as well as/in addition to pairings. Also, these are just my top pairings – other pairings (on these or other teams) are usually also fine
Flyers
Travis Konecny/Nolan Patrick
Team ensemble of the same era (Kevin Hayes, Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, etc)
Special shoutout to Joel Farabee - what a funky little guy. I especially like him with Morgan Frost
Feels weird to put Jamie Drysdale in here now, but…
Ducks
For as much as we can call Trevor Zegras/Jamie Drysdale Ducks now
These two have been on such a roller coaster - national team rivals to domestic BFFs to injured together to separated by trade in like 3 seasons
Fics set any time in that timeline are all great
Avalanche
Another team where many of my guys are gone - team ensemble from like 2017 to now
Tyson Barrie, Gabe Landeskog, Erik Johnson, Nate MacKinnon in various combinations
JT Compher/Tyson Jost/Alexander Kerfoot
Avs Cup!
Nate MacKinnon/Jonathan Drouin
Canucks
Brock Boeser/Elias Pettersson
Quinn Hughes
Hughes brothers
Platonic brother content is awesome in addition to individual ships
Quinn
Not a huge Tkachuk fan, but preference for pairing him with Brady over Matthew
Jack
Nico Hischier
Trevor Zegras, Cole Caufield,
general USNTDP19/lakehouse ensemble
Luke
Dylan Duke
University of Michigan ensemble
2015 draft class
Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Dylan Strome, Mitch Marner in various combinations
University of Michigan
Many recent players have gone pro, so fics with them at school or after are both great
My favorite pairings are Kent Johnson/Owen Power, Brendan Brisson/Matty Beniers(/Thomas Bordeleau), Luke Hughes/Dylan Duke, Seamus Casey/Gavin Brindley,
There is /so/ /little/ Women's Hockey fic out there but I would love Women's Hockey fic! I still miss the PHF (go Pride!) but maybe the PWHL has inspired more fics? Would love lesbian USA/Canada national team rivals to wives content!
Also interested in rare pairs (especially on less popular teams), and OT3s
I have written a handful of fics very short fics in the fandom, but you are welcome to podfic them for me for this exchange
Least Favorite Teams/Pairings:
Penguins
Bruins
Jets
Knights
Leon Draistaitl/Matthew Tkachuk
Vince Dunn/Adam Larsson
Again, I’m totally into OT3s/polyamory, gen, friendship, women’s players, or your rare pair of choice – if something matches my likes, I probably won’t mind what pairing or team.
I like both hockey fic and AUs. I don’t mind non hockey AUs, but I prefer AUs where they still play hockey, such as soulmates or magic existing as part of the NHL. My favorite non-hockey AUs are sci fi/fantasy.
Dimension 20
I am almost done making my way through all the seasons, but D20 is definitely one of my top shows of the year. One of my favorite things about all the seasons is the Adventuring Party As Family trope. I love seeing the party (or sub-groupings within it) have a nice time together, or an intense action-y time together, or a soft hurt/comfort time together, or all of the above. I also love when the humor from the series carries over into the fic.
Preferences for the seasons I have seen (prefer no spoilers from other seasons if possible):
Fantasy High Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Years
I just love the Bad Kids and their friendships so much!
Truly every combination of these characters is great. I love their individual and group dynamics and just how much they care about each other overall
everyone’s complicated relationships with their families
the most emotional I got in this show is the pentultimate episode of season 1 and the Riz-centric episode in season 2, so
also the crazy background parent soap opera in season 1 – I think Gorgug is the only one who Fig’s not potentially step siblings with at a certain point?
Gilear! Just everything about Gilear
Fig/Ayda is a top tier canon ship, but all the canon ships are cool
Junior year
the Bad Kids are kicking ass, but are sooo stressed - let them rest! Let them get help from their family/friends instead of doing everything themselves!
Missing Night Yorb summer break content
Gorgug and his barbificier-ing
generally not into non-canon ships, but they’re fine if I would otherwise really love the fic. Ragh/Gorgug(/Zelda) is the one I’m most into though
The Unsleeping City 1 & 2
team friendships! - in basically any combo or full team
What people are up to in the downtime and the 3 year break
Ricky goes to the Islanders game (with Pete?) (I can’t help it, I’m a hockey fan)
Kugrash as Pete or Sofia or Cody’s warlock patron/ghost buddy AUs
Esther/Ricky and Sofia/Dale are probably my favorite D20 canon ships
My biggest non canon ship is FWB/casual dating Esther/Sofie during season 1, but that is basically non-existent. Esther/Ricky/Sofia(/Dale?) is also great though!
Escape from the Bloodkeep
The evil version of the power of friendship
Whatever evil child-raising/babysitting looks like
Leiland vs Hamhead
Efink/Lilith and/or Markus/Leiland
Misfits and Magic
additional cultural exchange between the magic and non-magic worlds
more scuppers content
pre canon – creepy Evan backstory, Sam & K friendship backstory
Evan/K is great, but also Evan/Jammer?
Very pumped for season 2!
A Court of Fae and Flowers
This season was awesome! All of the characters were great honestly
Definitely into all of the canon ships (Rue/Hob!! BINX/Andhera! Chirp/Esme!)
Would love to see more Lords of the Wings chaos or the Court of Craft rebuilding
Mentopolis
I loved that this season was a super tense mystery and also had all sorts of funny, off the wall character moments
Another season where pretty any pair of characters is a great time together! Special shoutouts to The Fix & Conrad and Imelda & Anatasia but honestly I keeping thinking of more I want to put on the list
The Seven
This season was awesome but it was too short! I would watch so many more hours of this cast. I would love to see missing scenes or closer looks at which individual characters were thinking/feeling during the quest
I don’t have specific ships in mind but I am open to any options
I would also love to see the party on more adventures, both post canon and when they were getting to know each other after Freshman Year
A Starstruck Odyssey
The ball is rolling up! Somehow this ragtag team of weirdos made it to the top of the hill through the power of friendship, shenanigans, and email
I would love to see more of their space adventures across the galaxy
Also what happens with Skip-slash-Norman post canon
No strong ships, but am interested in the potential of Barry/Sidney and Barry/Gunnie
Have seen these but not specifically interested in fics (still an option if you find something good though)
Mice & Murder
Shriek Week
Coffin Run
Dungeons and Drag Queens
Burrow’s End
Never Stop Blowing Up
Also anything from the Time Quangle shows, or other original Quangles/crossovers
Leverage
Leverage is one of my feel-good canons, and I would be super happy to receive podfic for both the original or Redemption! I especially love the team as family and super competent people being good at their jobs aspects, as well as the humor.
Definitely here for Hardison/Parker/Eliot. I like their romantic relationship but it’s mainly that they are the most important people to each other and they always have each other’s backs that’s important to me. So I also love team as family for this team (also potentially including Nate and Sophie (and Harry and Breanna)). I like hurt/comfort for these guys, but I feel like a majority of it is hurt!Eliot (for good reason), and I would love to see hurt!Hardison or Parker instead. Or just the team comforting/supporting each other in general.
I don’t mind AUs, but would prefer AUs where they still do jobs (or equivalent) rather than full “non powered” AUs. I also like case/job fic and outsider POV. There are some really fun outsider POV casefics, and stuff featuring the brewpub staff
I really am really liking Leverage: Redemption as well so far! I would love anything about the new team getting (back) into working together and becoming a family (again). I liked the team as family situation in the original, and now we get to see how the new guys fit in, and how the OT3 and Sophie adjust to the new roles. I am also here for any and all Hardison & Breanna content, but especially in the present. Any missing scenes from the break between series based on what we hear about in Redemption would be cool as well. I loved how gay it was and the team reuniting and kicking ass in the finale. I'm interested in seeing more about some of one off characters, like Sarah the lawyer, Emily the hot aeronautical engineer, the Jackal, Emma the grad student, Jenna and Keith from the outsider POV episode, or Harry's daughter Becky. Super not interested in anything to do with Maria Shipp though. I would also be interested to see what Harry was up to between the last two episodes of season 1 from his POV, and see more about the Harry & Hardison relationship in that time. I also liked seeing more of Sophie and Eliot’s backstories in season 2, and Harry getting more comfortable with being part of the team. I generally would be interested in a deeper dive into any & pairing or subset of the team, since all the dynamics are still developing in interesting ways.
(Also I was hoping Harry's daughter would be older (like college aged?) so I could ship her with Breanna, so if anyone wrote Breanna/OC!Harry's daughter fic that's compelling before season 1 part two dropped, I would potentially be into that)
Check Please
The majority of my fic reading for this fandom was during or after Year 2, so I read a lot of fics where either The Kiss at the end of Year 2 didn’t happen or Jack/Bitty are much more closeted in Year 3. Basically Jack is Sad. I do love that angstier, more “realistic” stuff, and the alternate get togethers. However, I also love the team as family and general hijinks of the Samwell Crew, and would love that kind of more lighthearted fic as well. There are so many fun options for gen/ensemble humor fic that I would love to listen to
I went to (and still cheer for) an ECAC hockey school, so I would also love stuff about the team’s relationship to the student body/campus/fans, causing weird trouble on campus, actually attending class, or some kind of student outsider perspective. Unfortunately, this also means I know when there are college hockey realism mistakes, but I can overlook those for the sake of fic :)
I am pretty strongly here for Jack/Bitty (Jack Zimmermann/Eric “Bitty” Bittle), and don’t want to see them shipped with other characters. But otherwise, I am not too set on ships. Any combo of the frogs (Chris “Chowder” Chow, Derek “Nursey” Nurse, William “Dex” Poindexter) and/or Farmer (Caitlin Farmer) is cool, as well as Shitty/Lardo (B. “Shitty” Knight/Larissa “Lardo” Duan). I do like Ransom/Holster (Justin “Ransom” Oluransi/Adam “Holster” Birkholtz), but I would absolutely /love/ to see bros forever, platonic life partners Ransom&Holster. Also Jack&Shitty friendship, especially freshman!Jack and Shitty
While I like Kent Parson as a character, I do see him as an antagonist and don’t want fic where he is a main character or part of a main ship. (past Jack/Kent is ok, but not present day stuff)
The Murderbot Diaries
I love Murderbot and how much it pretends not to care while secretly and begrudgingly caring very much. I liked seeing its friendships with the various humans and both it and the Preservation humans learning to work together and help each other. I liked seeing ART’s relationship with its crew as well, with how protective it was of them and how fond they were of ART.
I also really like ART and Murderbot’s friendship, and how its unconventional but still important to them. They do regular friend stuff like watch soap operas and bicker, and special bot stuff like jointly impersonate 1 human security expert and program sentient virus replicas of themselves.
The Adventure Zone
I like The Adventure Zone Balance, but have not read a ton of fic. I would enjoy canon-adjacent team fic – missing scenes/Stolen Century arcs, looks into relationships we don’t see as much of in the show, or post canon/pre epilogue adventures. Canon pairings are fine.
The Expanse
There are so many interesting characters with interesting relationships in this show! I like seeing all of the main groups cross paths with each other and swap around. So many things are happening all the time, but there are still plenty of moments where gaps could be filled, we could see things from other character’s perspectives, or people could spend time together in different combinations. My favorite seasons were 2 and 3, when there was more of mystery and intrigue and less straight up war, but overall I liked the worldbuilding and characters and how it felt grounded and realistic even across such a large cast of characters and planets/cultures.
As far as ships go, I like Drummer/Naomi, Amos/Prax, and Amos/Clarissa (although there are slim pickings for the last one on AO3). I don’t mind Naomi/Holden in Roci crew centric fic or canon compliant stuff, but am not super interested in it as the central feature of a fic. I also don’t mind if Holden/Naomi is mentioned in Drummer/Naomi fic, but equally don’t mind if it’s handwaved/ignored and prefer it to be background (and don’t want any Drummer/Holden). I also would love to see more about Amos & Naomi, especially pre canon; Roci crew, adventure fic or just spending time together while travelling; Drummer, either generally being amazing or her relationship with other belters, especially Ashford; Bobbie & Chrisjen (& Cotyar) going on more adventures (I loved their sections of series 2/3 but don’t ship them).
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
This movie was very fun and I'm glad people are still making stuff for it! I really like Ed, Holga, and Kira's unconventional family and how much they care about each other. I would love to see more about them reconnecting after the movie or going on adventures together. I also ship Ed/Xenk, and would love to see Xenk becoming part of the family as well. Their grudging friendship on screen was very funny, so getting together while grumbling and bickering (at least on Ed's side) would be fun as well. I don't mind Doric/Simon featuring, but don't want them as the main focus.
I also liked that the movie felt like an actual D&D campaign, with real lore and spells and also plans that only kind of work and mgical items used in ways that they were probably not intended to be to ruin the DM's puzzles. I really like it when the D&D mechanics are referenced, explicitly or not, in fics.