Trick or Treat Letter 2022

[majorr]

Dear Author,

I love Halloween! Halloween-themed fic would be great, but it’s definitely not necessary. Thank you so much for writing something for me! I love surprises, so don’t worry if you get an idea that deviates from some of the thoughts I throw out. If you think a trick prompt could be written as a treat or the other way around, go for it. I’m excited to see what you come up with!

AO3: Major

Treats are welcome!

General Likes: Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers, Slow Build, UST, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Misunderstandings, Jealousy, Vulnerability, Possessiveness, Codependency, Loyalty, Get-Together or Established Relationship, 5 + 1, Storms, Canon Divergence, Outsider POV, Stranded, Adventure, Wilderness Survival, Camping, Bed Sharing, Murder Mystery, Twenty-Four Hours to Live, Horror, Humor, Fluff, Apocalypse, First Kiss, Hand Holding, Flirting, Trains, Bonding

Do Not Want: PWP, Mpreg, Incest, Weddings/Babies/Pregnancies, Genderswap, Non-Con, Unrequited Love, De-aging, AUs (Except Canon Divergent or When Prompted), Animal Harm/Death, Fishing/Hunting, Second Person POV

Horror/Trick Likes:

• The emotional side of dealing with something horrific: panic, fear, desperation, freezing up, hyper protectiveness, self-sacrifice to protect a loved one, having to compartmentalize grief, fighting through pain/injuries, determination, resolve, pushing through and finding the strength to survive.


• Isolation, abandoned places, no way to call for help


• A cabin in the woods


• The Final Girl, or for the purposes of this exchange, The Final OTP is fun too


• Fusions with horror movies. (Horror movies I love: Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Psycho, Child’s Play, Friday the 13th, Scream, Jaws, Escape Room, Predator, Alien, Final Destination, The Blair Witch Project, World War Z.)


• Violence, Graphic Violence, Injuries


• Hiding from danger/killer/monster, those tense moments of terror at the threat of getting found


• Parking lots/garages at night


• Moving through a tight space: cave, tunnel, vent, etc. With or without throwing in time sensitivity: filling up with water, hunted by animal/killer/creature, running out of air/light


• Heavy storms


• A weapon is just out of reach


• Getting followed on foot or in a car


• Home alone


• Babysitting gone wrong


• Plane/Train/Ship/Bus/Car Crash with or without injuries/casualties, unable to find someone in the wreck or they’re unresponsive


• Electricity goes out, lights flickering, flashlights, candles


• Everybody lives, nobody lives (except requested characters), a body count with survivors


• Happy Endings, Ambiguous Endings


• Giant Monsters like in Cloverfield and the absolute disbelief, chaos, and destruction that comes with trying to survive that


• Serial Killers


• Stalkers


• Cults


• Camping gone wrong (Killer, Monster, Wildlife, Witch, Getting Lost), Tents, Sleeping Bags, Campfires, Nature Sounds


• Home Invasions


• Clowns


• Knives, Chainsaws, Machetes, Unnatural Strength, Improvised or Creative Weapons


• Drowning, Burning, Hanging


• Urban Legends


• Attacked by a lion, tiger, bear (oh my), shark, or alligator. I really enjoy movies like Backcountry, Burning Bright, Black Water, Jaws, etc. I love the terror of trying to survive something that you can’t if it gets to you and that sick horror of characters seeing their loved ones attacked or eaten. Don’t kill the animals, though. They can just get away to terrorize people another day like Michael Myers. With full bellies.

Alien vs Predator (2004)
Alexa Woods/Scar
Trick or Treat
Fic

This is such a fun movie, and I love the unexpected partnership between these two. I wish he’d lived! I like how he seemed to respect her hunting with him, how they protected each other, and how she found the courage to fight the aliens despite being terrified. I love communication issues, how he explained ‘bomb’ to her, and would have loved to have seen them put the work in to understand each other better if they’d spent more time together. I’d love canon divergence where he lived, post-canon fic that’s either more horror/thriller or sci-fi/adventure if you have an idea in that direction. I’d also love humor since, scary stuff aside, there’s always room for that when there are cultural misunderstandings or struggles to understand or be understood between them personally. I want to know the how of their relationship, the challenges, uncertainty, trust issues, angst, how they bond or flirt or find common ground, what affection from him looks like, or how he takes to human affection.

Note: The ‘hunting’ DNW is specific to animals. You could pack this fic with hunting aliens, and that would be totally fine.

Trick Prompts:

• Lex is badly hurt during a future attack, and Scar goes to great lengths to save her.


• Halloween decorations, music, people in costumes, Lex in a costume (how does she explain Halloween to Scar? Lmao), trick or treaters on the street, pumpkin carving, keeping the curtains drawn so no one wonders about Scar’s ‘costume.’ A happy seasonal visit that takes a bad turn when aliens attack.


• Another Yautja grabs Lex by the throat in front of Scar. Scar reacts. It turns out Lex had never seen him truly angry before this.


• A morning after fic where things go bad but not for the reasons Lex worried about (awkwardness or possible regret from Scar in the light of day). Nope. Turns out sleeping with a human gets them both banished from the ship. The pod they’re shot out in lands in a very dangerous planet. Could be creatures/aliens or the elements they need to survive. Or maybe it’s the actual banishment that’s the real danger. I don’t imagine they’d be gentle about it.

Treat Prompts:

• Canon Divergence — Scar lives and takes Lex with him on the spaceship at the end of the movie. Where do they go? What is life like for her? Is she in constant danger from those that don’t accept her? What kind of comfort does he offer if his instincts tell him she needs it?


• I’m super into the mark he put on her. I can’t imagine the Predators not being territorial. How does that extend to their mates if he claims her as his?


• Scar leaves at the end of the movie but continues keeping track of Lex/visiting Earth, but really, visiting her.


• Lex thinks she’ll miss kissing if she acts on her feelings for Scar. Scar shows her something the Yautja do with their mates that is just as good.

Criminal Minds (US TV)
Jason Gideon/David Rossi
Trick or Treat
Fic

My love of this ship came from the flashbacks in 10x13 “Nelson’s Sparrow.” I loved the setting and the atmosphere of that time period, the feeling of trying to start something important, their struggle to be taken seriously, and their friendship through it all. Any fic set during that time period would be awesome, as would dual timeline fic, which I really enjoy, canon divergent fic that takes their lives in slightly or wildly different directions, or missing scenes from any point in their careers. You can set it between their marriages or handwave them.

Trick Prompts:

• They’re taken hostage by an unsub. Maybe Gideon is hurt, and Rossi gets Big Mad.


• Angst - Gideon spiraling and Rossi diffusing the spiral.


• Someone dies because of a mistake one or both of them made. Guilt and emotional hurt/comfort.


• An unsub sends Gideon obsessive stalker love letters. Rossi figures he should stay at his house until he’s caught/Gideon’s safe. Moody creepiness would be fun, but it can definitely lean more towards a treat if you want to take it that route.

Treat Prompts:

• “He loved watching the seasons change from here. Couldn’t wait to get snowed in.” - Rossi; 10x13. Gideon and Rossi get snowed in at Gideon’s cabin.


• I love the sled story at the end of 10x13! Another moment like that. The in-between grim case stuff that keeps them sane.


• Android AU - Is one of them an android? Are unsubs androids? Do they investigate crimes against androids? Any kind of sci-fi twist on the BSU when they started it.


• Retirement. Peace and contentment. They’re both alive and as satisfied as they can be that they helped people and did good with their lives.

Lost (TV 2004)
Hugo “Hurley” Reyes/Miles Straume
Treat
Fic

Hurley is one of my favorite characters in anything ever. I just love his kind heart and how he gets along with pretty much everyone. He’s a sweet, lovable teddy bear who always tries to help and makes me laugh and smile no matter how many times I’ve rewatched the show. And Miles makes me lmao from the entirely opposite end of that spectrum with his grumpy, acerbic nature. The two of them have such a personality clash, and I love it. The contrast works well with how Hurley could soften Miles and Miles could keep Hurley focused and see things for what they really are. They have the shared experience of communicating with dead people but handled it in totally different ways, and being lost in time together is a great foundation for friendship/trust/loyalty/love. Angst with a happy ending is definitely okay. I just want them to be happy, have some laughs, find some comfort and camaraderie together.

Treat Prompts:

• Time Loop! I don’t care what’s going on, if it’s high stakes or just Miles being driven nuts because he can’t break out of a mundane day, but I love the idea of him repeatedly turning to Hurley for help. First, because Hurley is the only one who ever believes him about being in a loop and then because he wants to.


• Wisdom from Rose that leads to feelings realization.


• Playing with Vincent.


• Miles is great with sarcasm. His flirting needs work, though.


• Hurley gets hurt, and Jack realizes Miles’ feelings before he does when he’s more surly than ever while hovering.


• An accidental double date with Sawyer and Juliet.


• Canon Divergent - Everyone is rescued from the island. Miles comes around to visit Hurley and kind of sticks around. Hurley doesn’t mind.


• Sleeping on the beach.

Marvel Cinematic Universe
Ned Leeds
Stephen Strange/Wong
Trick or Treat
Fic

Ned Leeds

Ned is hysterical. I adore his friendship with Peter, their handshake, and the goofiness along with the heartfelt bond they have. The trio they make with MJ is hilarious and loyal and supportive, I love all of their scenes together, whether it’s funny or full of angst. I like that Ned’s instinct is to cover for Peter, and he accidentally did magic! He can say silly things and be youthfully selfish, but when May died, he hurt and he hurt for Peter because he truly does care. He and MJ as the best sidekick duo going to MIT together is amazing. I really want some happiness or laughter or fluff or love for my dude Ned, but angst or horror with a happy ending is super welcome!

Ships/Gen I like: Ned/Peter/MJ, Ned & Peter & MJ, Ned/Peter, Ned & Peter, Ned & Peter & May, Ned & MJ, Ned & Stephen Strange, Ned & Stephen Strange & Wong

Prompts:

• Reverse Amnesia - Ned gets a head injury and starts to remember flashes of Peter and what he forgot in No Way Home.


• Ned and Peter (and MJ?) go to a costume party for Halloween. What are they wearing?


• Getting together fic of any flavor. Fluffy humor and romance? Awesome. Angst with a happy ending? Cool.


• Flash mocking all three of them for holding hands, and how deeply they do not care because they’re happy.


• Post-No Way Home - MJ sets Peter up with Ned when he comes back to the diner, thinking that lingering look at him when he first came in was because he had a crush. He only goes along with it because he misses hanging out with him so much, but then Ned kisses him at the end of their “date” and whoops! Turns out there were feelings there? Because his heart does a funny thing in his chest.


• Ned as a newbie wizard! Clumsy? Sometimes. Awesome? Always.


• Unavoidable Apocalypse - Where and how does Ned watch the world end? Bittersweet endings are totally fine here. Even if the whole world ends, I consider it a happy-adjacent ending if he’s at peace/content and gets to be with a person or people he loves and who love him.


• Ned and MJ living together in Boston and being best buds.

Stephen Strange/Wong

These two give me such married vibes. Haha I love how they rib each other and how funny their dynamic is but also really love that it’s heartfelt too. There’s true respect between them, a supportive nature. They understand each other and work fantastically well together. I like that they’re both competent but still admire the other’s own abilities. I adore that it’s Wong that is the Sorcerer Supreme in their universe and that despite all of Strange’s harrumphing about it, he knows that Wong is deserving. I want these two to be in love, fill each other’s lonely gaps, and be awesome wizard dudes together.

Trick Prompts:

• An accident in the Multiverse turns Stephen into a vampire. He almost kills any character of your choice until Wong gets in front of him because even feral and starving, he can’t hurt Wong. (Feel free to use the vampire treat prompt below if you want to combine them somehow.)


• Time Loop - Wong keeps dying. Stephen keeps not saving him, and he grows more desperate with every reset.


• Wong is buried alive. His magic isn’t working, but he can communicate with Stephen. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know where he is and he keeps almost passing out because he’s running out of air.

Treat Prompts:

• An accident in the Multiverse turns Stephen into a vampire. Wong volunteers to let him feed on him until they figure out how to reverse it. Mutual pining complicated by all the sudden neck sucking, whoops. (Feel free to use the vampire trick prompt above if you want to combine them somehow.)


• Handing out candy to trick-or-treaters at the New York Sanctum with a magic twist.


• Pre-Relationship - Peter Parker mistakenly introduces Wong to Ned as Stephen’s husband. His shock that they’re not married only makes the misunderstanding more awkward. It’s harder for Stephen to hide all the secret pining from Wong (and himself) after that flub.


• Bickering/banter/annoyance followed by a stern demand that Wong be careful. A humorous balance of eye rolling and concern when there’s danger.


• Wong has to be in a fake/pretend relationship with Bruce Banner for an Avengers mission, and Stephen struggles to pretend that it isn’t driving him crazy. Bruce and Wong getting along like a house on fire doesn’t help. Jealousy/pining/humor.

Mission: Impossible (Movies)
Benji Dunn/Ethan Hunt
Trick or Treat
Fic

These guys give me such fun Nerd/Jock vibes, and it gives me life. Haha Benji accidentally driving Ethan nuts. Ethan basically being a superhero. I love it. They’re so funny and loyal and super awesome at what they do. I’d love any kind of slice-of-life, humorous moment, angst with a happy ending, missing scene, resolved or unresolved romantic tension.

Trick Prompts:

• Benji losing too much blood in the backseat of a car while Ethan tries to get them to help.


• Staying in a safe house that Benji is convinced is haunted. Maybe it is. Or maybe they’re being hunted by someone or something else.


• An agent dies because of a mistake Benji makes. Guilt and emotional hurt/comfort.


• A bad guy buries Benji alive. He can talk to Ethan on an untraceable phone, but he doesn’t know where he is and he’s running out of air.

Treat Prompts:

• Banter over an earpiece.


• Fake/Pretend relationship for a mission after a breakup. Ethan wants to get back together. Benji is playing hard to get, which makes Ethan lay it on extra thick.


• Benji and William Brandt have to be in a fake/pretend relationship for a mission, and Ethan is surprised by how very much he does not like it. He’s a professional. He shouldn’t care. Yet….


• Four agents, three rooms/beds. Ethan volunteers him and Benji to share.


• Benji decides the solution to realizing that he’s in love with Ethan is to pull away until he gets over it. It’s a difficult plan to execute because Ethan notices his attempt to distance himself and… doesn’t allow it.

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller
Achilles/Patroclus
Trick or Treat
Fic

Their development is everything I love in friends to lovers ships. From Achilles' very early curiosity and Patroclus' animosity to their friendship to being fused at the hip to being the most loyal boyfriends ever. Their strengths and weaknesses complemented each other so well. I loved the no lying policy between them even when the subject was difficult, awkward or painful. The trust and loyalty and protectiveness, Patroclus following Achilles to the end of the earth when separated, and their determination to be together no matter what was all perfect. I'll love fic set at any point during the book if you want to do a missing scene or canon divergence fic where they both live.

Trick Prompts:

• Zombie AU - Achilles vs. Zombies sounds awesome. Protectiveness, close calls, a bite leading to Patroclus needing an emergency amputation to stop the infection from spreading/turning him, hurt/comfort, facing a horde, action/suspense or the emotional toll of survival horror, the start of an outbreak or throw them in the thick of it, anything.


• Thetis grabs Patroclus by the throat in front of Achilles.


• Patroclus is bleeding too much after getting hurt on the battlefield, and Achilles borders on panic as he tries to get him past the carnage to help.


• A flood. I love storm imagery and trying to survive the elements. Patroclus getting swept off. Achilles protecting him from something he can’t fight.

Treat Prompts:

• AU - Achilles is a merman. Patroclus is the disappointing prince of a seaside castle.


• Any quiet moment during the war where Patroclus is anxious about getting hurt, and Achilles comforts/reassures him.


• Patroclus wakes Achilles up with a kiss.


• Patroclus tackles Achilles, teasing him about beating him in a fight. Achilles plays along.