#acotar gift exchange ask

[rosanna-writer]

Oh-oh-oh~ Santa's back 🎅

Sorry for being so late. Last week was CRAZY at work: my reindeers ran away and the elves and I had to run away after them. But you know, reindeers can fly. What a mess it was.🦌🦌

Anyway! In all this I'm finally here and I would like to ask you: which are your favorite tropes?☆

Thanks for your patience, have a wonderful day!!🔔

HELLO HELLO

Sounds like things are getting wild in the North Pole :D

Anyway, I guess this ask means it's time to gush about my favorite things again! This is very much not a gift wishlist, just me talking about things I like. In no particular order:

Role Reversal AUs!!!!! I love fics that flip canon on its head or remix existing iconic scenes. I LOVE LOVE LOVE being surprised when I read (I am a thriller girlie and love twists and things that play with my assumptions and expectations), so seeing something familiar in a new context in a fic just makes my brain go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Who did this to you?" gets me every time. I eat it up without fail. It just never not works. Top tier trope.

Relatedly, any time characters are tending to someone's injuries, I go insane. CHANGING BANDAGES???? PULLING OUT ARROWS??? BEING BRAVE WHILE BROKEN BONES ARE BEING RE-SET???? I love it, especially when characters are doing it in dramatic emergency situations.

Wings, like all the wing tropes. Wingplay, curling a wing around a loved one protectively, bragging about wingspan. W I N G S

Soulmate AUs. You know all those cheesy, ridiculous "first words your soulmate says to you appear on your arm on your 18th birthday"-style prompts? I love them, whether they're played for laughs with some ridiculous first word or drama with the first thing being an insult, they're another trope that always, always works.

[acourtofladydeath]

Hello, my dear giftee! ❤️

Tomorrow, I will reveal the first chapter of my gift to you. I am both nervous and very, very excited. As promised, today I have a playlist for you. Some of the songs perhaps don’t line up with your musical taste, but I hope you’ll still listen, as they are all thematically relevant. Some of the songs on the list are too revealing, so I have kept their names secret for now. I don’t want you guessing me before tomorrow!

1. Caves - CLANN

2. ???

3. Like a Prayer - from “Deadpool”

4. We Used to Wait - Arcade Fire

5. Mother & Father - BROODS

6. ???

7. ???

8. Leave It Alone - Broken Bells

9. Late Night - Foals

10. Little Talks - Of Monsters and Men

11. Dis-moi que tu m’aimes - Zaho de Sagazan

12. Hold Me While You Wait - Lewis Capaldi

13. You’re Gonna Go Far - Noah Kahan

14. Soul Meets Body - Death Cab for Cutie

15. ???

16. ???

Also, I have decided to give you the opening scene of the fic as well. I think it will still hide my identity…🤶🏻

Close your eyes. If you just do what I say, this won’t hurt.

Good.

There will be a burn when I cut into you, I think, but it should go away quickly.

No, close your eyes.

Close your eyes.

Close your eyes.

The SONGS. Staring Deadpool down with so much love - I cannot wait. Gotta say I am appreciating the last of T Swift on this playlist so much... Every single song looks SO GOOD (and match my vibes) and I'm so excited to listen.

The SNIPPET. THE FUCKING SNIPPET. I am unwell. I will remain unwell until after my exam (9am EST) after which I can receive my gift properly.

I CAN'T FUCKING WAIT, DO YOU HEAR ME?! I CAN'T FUCKING WAIT!!!

[lady-bluebird-luv]

Hello again - Santa here! I just can’t stay away. I hope you are enjoying Feysand week, spooky season, and that beautiful autumn weather surrounds you!

You did such a good job of playing the build a fic game, I think you might be sneaking ever closer to Santa’s nice list! However, now I have several ideas kicking around and I would love to hear a little more from you to lock into the best present possible.

1. What do you love about Feysand? What are some of your favorite moments?

2. Is there a certain stage of their relationship you can’t get enough of? UTM, early ACOMAF, Velaris, post mating bond? Or maybe you’re interested in what’s happening after ACOSF?

3. Do you have any favorite headcanons or things you think we missed out on in canon?

Enjoy the rest of fabulous Feysand week giftee!

Santa, all I want is to be on your nice list 🥹. Happy Feysand week!!! I could write 300+ pages on these questions, but I don't think Tumblr will let me write a post that long. I think (I hope?) these answers will still give you plenty to work with, though.

1) The short version is that I love Feysand's unconditional acceptance and support for each other. I saw something about how the appeal behind enemies-to-lovers is that it means your partner saw you at your worst before they saw you at your best, and they loved you anyways. That's very true for Feyre and Rhys. I know some people, especially post-ACOSF, talk about Feyre being naive about Rhys's asshole-ness or being brainwashed by the mate bond. IMO, she's always seen the darkness, and she simply does not give a fuck. Rhys likewise recognized a similar darkness in her before she saw it in herself. Rhys will be a monster to protect the people he loves, and Feyre loves him for it because she's the same.

They're the ultimate ride-or-dies for each other. In ACOTAR, Rhys was ready to damn the world to protect Feyre. When he tried to scare her into leaving Prythian, he wasn't just condemning himself to Amarantha, but potentially damning everyone else to an eternity UTM, too. No cursebreaker, no freedom, right? Similarly, when Rhys dies in ACOWAR, Feyre is ready to daemati the other courts into bringing him back - a diplomatic nightmare in the long run, but she doesn't care. There's something undeniably selfish about their devotion to each other, but for me... it just scratches an itch that no other ship does.

I also adore the mentor/mentee dynamic in their relationship. Maybe it's the daddy kink in me, IDK. Growing up, Feyre hasn't really had someone who will not only be on her side, but also provide for her - she got parentified at 11. Both with Tam and Rhys, we see that she wants a partner who will provide for her if she needs it - the reason Feylin doesn't work and Feysand does is because Tamlin imposes that provision, and Rhys doesn't. Feyre wants room to do her own thing, but she wants to know that, when she needs it, she has someone who she can lean on. I'm obsessed with Rhys both wanting to be that person and with him wanting her to (literally) grow her own wings. He never holds things she doesn't know against her, and I think their personalities are endearing together in part because of their age/experience difference.

One of the songs that reminds me the most of them is Hozier's NFWMB, if that helps. I actually have a whole Feysand playlist here (the order is kinda important but only a little).

2) As far as favorite stages go (and favorite moments, to carry that over from your first question), I'm obsessed with ACOMAF and early ACOWAR. I've talked a little here about how I think Feyre is angry at Rhys in ACOMAF partially because she doesn't know what to do with her attraction to him, and here about how ACOMAF is about Feyre accepting and loving herself, not just accepting and loving Rhys. Both of these threads are a big part of why I love Feysand. IRL, People are messy, flawed, complicated, and almost always still loveable. I think ACOMAF Feysand embodies that perfectly.

I love the moment at the beginning of ACOMAF when Feyre overhears Ianthe suggesting they assassinate Rhys and she's horrified, because it shows how in denial she is. I love the confrontation with Lucien in the mountains because Feyre realizes she's willing to do something that she would have once considered unthinkable (hurt Lucien) to protect Rhys, and she's not upset by it. I love when they pretend the mating bond broke, because their ability to play off of each other shows how they really are birds of a feather.

That's also why I adore Feyre at the beginning of ACOWAR - she's being so wicked, but it's all her. Rhys isn't giving her input on her strategy. Her deception in the Spring Court also shows how much she's learned from Rhys.

3) I really wish we saw more of Feyre being a politician. E.g. Feyre holding court alone in the Hewn City, putting Keir in his place like in the beginning of this fic I'm currently slobbering over from @rosanna-writer. In general, I'm obsessed CoN/dark!Feysand, and I wish SJM leaned into their dark sides more.

I also think we got robbed of a Helion/Rhys/Feyre threesome in canon. (I'm generally intrigued by Rhys and Helion's definitely-not-totally-platonic history, but this post is already pretty long, so that's for another time). Sometimes, I also wish that we saw Feyre and Tamlin sitting down to talk about everything that happened. I'm kinda of two minds about that, though - I don't think Feyre is the one who needs that conversation in order to find closure, and I don't want her to talk to Tam just because he needs her to.

I don't know if we'll ever see adult Nyx in canon, but I would love to eventually see teen/young adult Nyx, especially during his HL training. I want to know how he reconciles the tender, loving parents he has behind closed doors with their sometimes-brutal public personas. I want to know what he thinks of the mythos surrounding his family and how he navigates intercourt relations (especially relations with the Spring Court?) as he takes on more and more responsibility. I want to know what he thinks of Eris: they're both princes, but where Nyx would do anything to protect his parents, Eris is willing to take a blade to his father.

UMMMM I'm trying to think if there's anything else. I think there is, but that's all that comes to mind right now.

Santa, I'm so sorry for the late response! I hope you're as excited to catch up on all the Feysand week fics as I am :).

[praetorqueenreyna]

*Distant jingling*

Helloo, your secret santa has returned once more. I’m glad you love paperwork, because I have more for you!!

Thank you for your last responses! They were very helpful with planning and outlining, so now I would like to go into more detail so I can fit this fic to your tastes. 

What are some of your favourite things about Tamlin and Lucien as individual characters? What do you like to see when reading about them in fics? 

Do you prefer fics with just Lucien’s POV, just Tamlin’s or switching between both? 

What are your personal headcanons when it comes to their family relationships? Do you headcanon Lucien getting along with some of his brothers, or hating all of them? Same questions for Tamlin’s brothers. What do you think their relationships are like with their parents? 

What headcanons do you have for Tamlin and Lucien’s taste in food and drink? Do you think either Tamlin or Lucien are more drawn to sweet, savoury or spicy? How would they take their coffee order if you think they’d like coffee? 

What are your fic icks? What makes you click off a fic IMMEDIANTLY

And finally, for the reason that I created an account, so I could spam you with moodboards. How do you like this general vibe?

That is all for now, I shall return!!

OMG MORE PAPERWORK! BRING IT ON!!!!

What are some of your favourite things about Tamlin and Lucien as individual characters? What do you like to see when reading about them in fics? 

My favorite things about Tamlin are that he's kind of awkward and doesn't always express himself well, but is charming when he never means to be. He's very protective to the point of jealousy and doesn't always manage his anger well.

Favorite things about Lucien are that he's a sassy rude boi but very loyal. He fits in nicely with Tamlin because Tamlin is a warrior and Lucien is a politician. Lucien isn't afraid to speak his mind, even if other people won't like it.

SO YEAH I guess I enjoy reading about them both being flawed but fitting together well!! Like Tamlin can be overprotective, but Lucien has grown up not having anyone to protect him and so he loves that SO MUCH!

Do you prefer fics with just Lucien’s POV, just Tamlin’s or switching between both? 

I HAVE NO PREFERENCE whatever works best for the story being told!

What are your personal headcanons when it comes to their family relationships? Do you headcanon Lucien getting along with some of his brothers, or hating all of them? Same questions for Tamlin’s brothers. What do you think their relationships are like with their parents? 

I'm VERY BASIC and kinda take the first ACOTAR book at face value when it comes to Lucien and Tamlin's familial relations, especially for fics in the canon universe. Which is that both had very cruel fathers who encouraged competition and bloodlust among their sons, and therefore had disdain for their youngest sons. So I really don't see Lucien getting along with ANY of his brothers, and same with Tamlin. I also imagine that their mothers were very kind and genuinely loved them, but were ultimately powerless to do anything to protect them.

I'm not OPPOSED to there being more complex relationships in both families, but I do find it annoying that SJM always has to walk back her character's villainous actions in order to write them. Like for example, in the first book Tamlin explicitly states that Lucien's two oldest brothers held him down when Jesminda was being murdered, then later on when Eris is more of a sympathetic character suddenly he wasn't involved at all AND he was secretly helping and told Tamlin that Lucien was coming. Eris can have done a bad thing and still be interesting!

OKAY UNRELATED RANT OVER

What headcanons do you have for Tamlin and Lucien’s taste in food and drink? Do you think either Tamlin or Lucien are more drawn to sweet, savoury or spicy? How would they take their coffee order if you think they’d like coffee? 

OOOH SUCH A GOOD QUESTION! Since Tamlin was in a warband I imagine he isn't picky AT ALL and is one of those people that will eat ANYTHING. and he eats a LOT. Meanwhile Lucien is a little more refined and particular when it comes to food. Kind of basic to say that Lucien would like spicy food but THERE YOU HAVE IT!!

Tamlin actually has a MAJOR sweet tooth and, while he will drink black coffee, when he goes to a coffee shop he has a ridiculous order with a hundred add ons that basically turn it into a milkshake. Lucien is a coffee snob and only buys THE BEST BEANS and has lots of opinions about coffee roasting and probably has one of those fancy espresso machines.

What are your fic icks? What makes you click off a fic IMMEDIANTLY

FIRST PERSON POV!!! PLEASE DON'T DO THAT TO ME I DON'T LIKE IT!!! Also ACOTAR fics with a title that is "A Court of [Blank] And [Blank]" bc it's uncreative and never tells me anything about the contents of the fic.

OTHERWISE there is very little that will turn me off a Tamcien fic, I just love Tamlin stans so much that even if I don't agree with EVERYTHING in the fic, I just love that they are writing and making something for my favorite ship!!

And finally, for the reason that I created an account, so I could spam you with moodboards. How do you like this general vibe?

PLEASE MORE MOODBOARDS I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! HOLY SHIT THESE ARE AMAZING!! PERFECTION STUNNING ICONIC BEAUTIFUL FABULOUS 10000/10!!!! I am speechless, everything about them fics tamcien PERFECTLY and i could not be happier!!!

[kataraavatara]

oh no, i hope you feel better soon! i BITE MY THUMB AT SICK SEASON

but now tell me... which other characters and ships do you love? which ones do you despiiiiseee? other than (deservedly) cassian of course.

and do you prefer an in-universe piece or an AU?

get well soon!

xo santa

Thank you! My favorites are absolutely Nesta, Lucien, Emerie, Gwyn, and Eris. Feyre can get on my nerves but I’m still rooting for her. Despised characters and ships? I’m an Inner Circle anti for sure, but I think Rhysand and Cassian have unexplored yaoi potential. I love queer ships- Nesta x Bryce, Azris, Tamsand, (I’ll read Valkyries ships but I think they’re better off as friends). For straight ships I like Neris, Nezriel and have even read Nesta x Lucien fics that I really like. I’m not super invested in the Elucien vs Elriel debate but I would pick Elucien. I don’t really have a preference for in universe or AU, I’m happy with both!

[sajirah]

Hi, new best friend!

So, we’re looking at just Feysand, heavy on the fluff, NSFW, and set in the canonverse (or close to it). A good start, I’d say. A few more questions before I run off to brainstorm further.

Your favorite fic recs and/or artists in fandom you admire

A few personal interests, niche or otherwise

Favorite songs, films, or books

And of course, tell me what you love most about Feysand in canon and when you write about them.

I'll see you soon, friend!

Hello again mysterious new best friend!

Favorite Artist

Merwild is still one of my favorite artists in the fandom! Her rendition of Rhys is still the closest to the version I see in my head. 

Favorite Fics

I’m a whore for canon-divergent fix-it fics (especially those where Feyre is human for a decent chunk of them) so it should come to the surprise of no one that some of my favorites are…

A Court of Faded Dreams by @the-lonelybarricade

we said hello and your eyes look like coming home by @rosanna-writer

Your Eyes Whisper Have We Met by @climbthemountain2020

Favorite Films

Pan’s Labyrinth

The Mummy

Spirited Away

Favorite Books

I have so many but a few are:

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

Wild Seed by Octavia Butler

Honey Cut by Sierra Simone

Favorite Songs

This changes a lot but some of the ones I always come back to are:

Blue Ridge Mountains by Fleet Foxes

American Pie by Don McClean

Manhattan by Ella Fitzgerald

Personal Interests

I'm a big fan of spooky stories, monsters, and space!

Feysand

I love that they're willing to do horribly morally questionable things for each other without a second thought. They won't just die for each other (something seen in a lot of fictional couples), but they're also ready and willing to cross boundaries few other people would if it means keeping the other safe/happy. I love exploring that aspect of their relationship in my own writing, though admittedly I will often take it to extremes (because that's just more fun 😂).

I look forward to seeing what you come up with Santa! ❤️

[ofduskanddreams]

HO HO HO SANTA'S HERE AGAIN!

What headcanons do you have for Azriel and Eris, like, for one and the other, not as a couple?

What do you not want to see, like, a no-go?

Happy week

Hi Santa!! Always so happy to hear from you :)

I hope you're ready for another long response lol. None of these replies are comprehensive, just the things that first come to mind ( I've barely touched my coffee yet so bear with me.)

Eris headcanons:

-Eris has short hair!! Even when I first read the series and didn't particularly like his character, I never could picture him with long hair the way he's canonically described. Idk why that is but my brain made a choice and I stand by it.

-Eris is protective of his mother and [some of] his brothers but he can't always act on it. (An aside, but I feel like there's at least one or two of his brothers who are fully loyal to Beron.) Canonically Eris's motivations for taking power are layered, many of them veiled; with the context of him subtly shielding his mother at the High Lord's meeting, I believe that one of the reasons he's so eager to become High Lord is because it will ensure his mother's safety.

-Eris was close to Lucien when Lucien was a child. I also headcanon that Eris knows who Lucien's bio father actually is. Lucien is easily one of my favorite characters in the series and he's been through so much shit that I like to imagine there were a few happy brotherly moments in his childhood. Eris obviously cared enough for Lucien that he tried to stand up to Beron to stop him from harming Jesminda, he took a risk by reaching out to Tamlin to meet Lucien on the border too. This ties in with the previous headcanon.

-I headcanon that Eris smells like wood smoke and warm spices (think cinnamon, cardamom, cloves.)

-Cassian was correct in chapter 79 of acosf when he said that Eris 'wasn't a monster,' he 'might even be a good male' but I don't agree with how simply Cassian wrote it off as he's 'too much of a coward to act like it.' I think the situation in Autumn is a lot more complicated than that. Yes fear likely (and understandably) factors into how Eris conducts himself, it's also likely that it's not safe for him or for those he cares about to act any other way.

-ALSO--while I do believe that Eris, at his core, is a far better male than his father I don't think he's like a golden retriever marshmallow either. I like nuanced and flawed characters. I think Eris can still be a "good male" without having to be a Nice Person--the male is no saint and I wouldn't want him to be.

-Last one for Eris, I swear. I headcanon that he's a person who craves control, especially since his entire lived experience has been spent knowing that Beron has the final word on everything and could ruin him whenever he chooses to. One of the ways Eris's desire for control expresses itself is in the bedroom ;)

Azriel headcanons:

-Azriel is a mess, and I say that affectionately. Canonically he has trust issues, authority issues, and self-worth issues; he's emotionally immature at times, and healthy communication is a stranger to him. Azriel is also a dark character: he's angry, he's violent, and there's who knows how much blood on his hands. I realize none of that was a headcanon lol but you also asked what I don't want to see: I don't want Azriel's edges smoothed out, and I don't want that messiness erased--similar to what I mentioned earlier about nuance.

-I headcanon that Azriel's shadows are sentient and that they can be annoying little shits at times sticking their figurative noses where they don't belong.

-Azriel has anxiety. This is a headcanon present in all of my fics. It's never stated outright in canon but given what we do know, especially when combined with these lines from Azriel's acosf bonus chapter (to me, a person with anxiety not in any way qualified to diagnose it,) it rings true: "Too many razor-sharp thoughts sliced him any time he grew still long enough for them to strike. Too many wants and needs left his skin overheated and pulling taut across his bones. So he slept only when his body gave out, and even then only for a few hours."

-Azriel is a momma's boy. Everyone who writes Azriel has different takes on his mother and what her situation looks like now. I like to think that she's happy with whatever form her life has taken on and that Azriel loves her a lot, but he often feels guilty when he spends time with her (that she wouldn't have suffered so much if it weren't for him, that he should have gotten her out sooner, insert deprecating thought here, etc) so he doesn't visit her nearly as often as she would like him to.

-I firmly believe that Azriel is a switch who almost exclusively stays on the dominant side of things because it's what people expect from him and he perceives it as being the less vulnerable option, therefore it's easier for him. However, I don't think he enjoys it that much because, in his daily life, he's constantly in control or at least trying to be. But, because Azriel has many misconceptions about himself and others, it's hard for him to give control over to someone else because he thinks it's a weakness (it's the opposite) so he only allows himself to give up control when he perceives the other party as being equal to or more powerful/better than himself.

my no-go-s:

-The thing I really hate to see (and this goes for many fandoms and pairings, not just Azris) is heteronormativity in queer relationship dynamics. What I mean by this is when heteronormative roles are imposed upon a pairing and it warps one or more of the characterizations. In many cases, this is unconsciously done, but that's all the more reason to discuss it. In the case of Azris, the reason I was drawn to it in the first place was that, personality-wise especially, both Azriel and Eris are portrayed as the traditionally masculine alpha-holes that SJM fills her books with and that meant their dynamic was an interesting detour from the canon pairings in the series so far :)

I know this was likely more than you asked for Santa, but thank you for reading my ramblings <3 I hope you have a good week as well!

[shedoessoshedoes]

Hello! It's me 👋🏻

I finally got to listen to your playlist and oh my goodness it's so so good!! So Elriel coded! The only song I already knew was Luminary but omg they were all so good!

Also, I'm on my Hozier discovery journey at the moment and I hadn't heard Shrike yet, so thank you for that too! Such a nice playlist, I loved it 🫶🏻

Best Secret Santa I could have hoped for. Huge huge thank you for all the work you've put into the fic and the playlist and for putting up with my yapping while answering your questions. I had so much fun and you made my Christmas better! ❤️❤️

HI, bestie!! I did my best to put all sorts of songs on there, so I'm kind of glad????? that you only knew a few because I love love love getting playlists that help me to find new music. When I was a freshman in high school, I took a Buzzfeed quiz that told me the Hozier song that most represents me is Shrike so...do with that what you will, but it's been my favorite ever since. It means so much to me that you liked my gifts, because I was the tiniest (read: SUPER) nervous about them! Your following is so much bigger than mine and all your stories and fics are so incredible. I loved every answer to my questions, and I'm so grateful that we're friends now (can I say that? are we friends? at the very least, catch me commenting on allllllllll your fics now). I had so so much fun with you!

[starfall-spirit]

Ho ho ho! The time is near!

What’s something you’ve done for yourself this week?

- Santa

Hi, Santa!!!

So excited to finally see what you’ve been up to.

Let’s see, something I’ve done for myself, I guess would just be taking things easy on the weekend. As much as one can while dealing with kids, of course.

What about you?

[huntquinlan]

Lucien gestured to the table, knowing his mate loved the surprise of trying a dish she’d never had. “After you?” 

Elain took small portions of everything in front of them before helping herself. Lucien did the same, watching her take her first bite before lifting the sea urchin to his own lips. He’d had some in dishes along the coast, but only this region served it cold, with these exact touches, salt and cream and unmistakable ocean on the back of his tongue. 

Elain shut her eyes and gave a small moan at the taste, the sound immediately stoking a spark low in Lucien’s belly. “This is incredible,” Elain said. “I want a spoonful and I want to eat it after every meal, like ice cream.”

“I thought you’d like it,” Lucien said. “We should tell Tarquin - he’s got other varieties and he loves when guests appreciate it.” 

Elain licked up the last bit, the sight of her tongue once again snapping Lucien to attention like a young male who’d never so much as touched a female. She was finally relaxing and he was, in turn, growing more than a little aroused watching her. “So you’d use me to flatter his court, then negotiate the floor out from under him,” she said with a teasing smile. “You really are learning that Day Court charm.” 

Lucien scoffed. “I was plenty charming before all this, as I think you know.”

Across the table, his mate was helping herself to the delicate pieces of fish, each seasoned so lightly only the flavor of the flesh itself burst upon your tongue. Her heart-shaped mouth curved into a smile. “I didn’t think we’d eat so much raw,” Elain said. 

“If you don’t like it, I’ll have your share.” Lucien grinned back at her. 

“Nice try, mate, but I’ll be coming after yours.” She paused to take a sip of the tea, eyelids fluttering shut as she took a breath of the steam. “I’ll tell you what,” she said suddenly, Lucien still chewing but nodding for her to go on. “I will try my best to keep my mind off my sisters--” 

“And your nephew.” 

“Off my family’s… business,” Elain agreed, “if you try your best to spend some time with Helion this winter. Not as emissary, or as student,” she added, as Lucien opened his mouth to protest. “Just… go to dinner, or go out on his boat.” She shrugged. “You know… talk to him.” 

Lucien put a piece of fish in his mouth and let it melt into his tongue before replying. “You drive a hard bargain, my love.” 

“I learn from the best,” Elain said politely. “They say he’s one of the most cunning, savvy courtiers around.” 

“Ah, that rake,” Lucien said. “Does he live up to the rumors?” 

Elain’s eyes met his over the rim of her cup, dark and deep, and suddenly Lucien was fully hard; something about her legs tucked neatly to the side, her quiet poise, the exposed nape of her neck inexplicably, deeply arousing to him. 

“Oh yes,” Elain said lightly. “Every single one, I’m afraid.”

----------

Hope you like your (late) snippet, bestie - not very long to wait now, but I still wanted to give you something to say happy Friday! <3

OH MY GOODNESS!! what a delectable friday treat 😋😋😋

thank you santa bestie!!! i am so excited for next week—very eagerly awaiting the reveal! ❤️

[zenkindoflove]

I ho-ho-hope you’re having a wonderful day 🧑‍🎄 I can’t believe it’s already so close to the gift exchange!!! I am on the final stages of my little fic, and i was hoping you could help me pick a title 🤗 if you could please pick 3 of your favourite love songs, it would be a really big help for me to go through the lyrics and see what fits best 🩷❄️

Secret Santa 🧑‍🎄

Omg Santa!!! I've missed you! 🫂 I'm so so excited to see what you've written. I've been thinking a lot about the snippet you shared. I can't believe it's so close too. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning 😍.

I love this idea 🥺. I thought a lot about my favorite three love songs and here they are:

One and Only - Adele

Fall For Me - Sleep Token

Shake the Frost - Tyler Childers

Anything that you pull from these, even the song titles, I know I will adore. ❤️ And I hope you enjoy listening to these songs too.

[rosanna-writer]

🎅 Oh-oh-oh~! Santa's here! I would like to ask you some questions in the upcoming weeks, if I may.

I know you would like a Feysand fanfic as your gift. That's really nice as I love Feysand too!

Today's questions are:

A) Do you mainly read Modern AUs or (mostly) in-canon fics?

B) Taking into account the whole saga, which Feysand quotes or scenes do you enjoy the most?

Thanks and take your time to answer 🎅 ☆☆

HELLO YES HI PLEASE COME TO MY INBOX AND ASK ME ALL THE QUESTIONS I LOVE TO TALK <3

A. mainly read canon or canon-adjacent fics for sure. I'll fully admit I'm a fussy diva when it comes to my preferences for modern AUs, so I don't end up reading them nearly as often.

B. OH MAN TIME TO TALK ABOUT MY LOVE FOR FEYSAND

In no particular order:

Rhys perching on the throne while Feyre sits on it during the Court of Nightmares visit in ACOWAR. One of the things I love most about Feysand is what a true power couple they are, and you really felt it in that scene.

"You are my salvation, Feyre." The fact that she's like...barely tolerating him at that point and he STILL gets down on his knees and admits it outright???? He's so down bad for her; I love when Rhys is just straight up unable to hide his constant heart eyes for her.

Calanmai. On re-reads it's such a OH SHIT HERE WE GO moment <3 and UGH the drums and the magic in the air giving it that SOMETHING BIG IS HAPPENING atmosphere, to!!!!!!

[acourtofladydeath]

Hello, my dear giftee! It is almost time for the reveal. I’ve been so excited to see other people get their fics or art, and I am nearly painfully excited to reveal to you on 20 December. I have held off on posting a snippet because I think I have a distinctive writing style, but I can let you know how many letters are in the title: eight. I will also send you my playlist the day before I reveal!

My fic will have multiple parts - do you have a preference for how often I should post the chapters? I know from a little bird that you are going to be studying throughout your break, so I don’t want to overwhelm you by posting every day. I want this to be a nice experience, not more homework.

Love, Santa.

oH rEaLlY?!?!?!?!?! A distinctive writing style you say... EIGHT LETTER TITLE YOU SAY...🕵🏽‍♀️

Thank you for being patient with my schedule - it's a real mess out here but I'M SO EXCITED. I know I'm a complicated giftee so I apologize in advance... I will be free from 12/20 at 10am EST - 12/22. I'll have limited availability 12/23-25 because I'm with family, but not completely booked. Then I'll be totally free again afternoon of 12/26-12/27. The 28th and 29th I'm in a wedding so partially busy both days, and then I'm studying lite™ until 1/6. So PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST AS MUCH AS YOU NEED DURING THAT PERIOD.

It'll be easiest for me to read the fic if it's all posted before my semester starts on the 6th, so final chapter on or before the 5th of January is best for me. If this is some 30 chapter thing and needs longer posting, once a week during the semester is easy for me to keep up with. But please don't feel rushed if it's not done!!! I cannot WAIT to meet you, Santa!

[lady-bluebird-luv]

Hello Luv, Santa is back! Just in time for a little Halloween celebration. Are you doing anything especially frightening for 31st?

I will always read 300 pages of your Feysand takes, so bring them on. And did you somehow introduce me to a new Hozier song? Wasteland Baby is my favorite album but I had never listened to the special edition.

I did a lot of evil cackling, maybe even steepled my fingers, when I read your responses to my questions. There were two or three fic ideas I had kicking around in my head, and I think I've chosen the one that will be a feast of favorites! I can promise at least that someone will be covered with blood.

Would you be interested in some teasers and other little gifts between now and the official release date? I can certainly light a few candles and try to build some anticipation.

In the meantime I have a few questions for you:

What are some of your favorite books?

Tell me a little bit about your other fandom and what drew you to write for it!

And: what's your favorite scary movie?

Until next time! 🎅

Santa, I would be beyond happy to get a stocking stuffer! I hope you're enjoying spooky season :) I'm so excited to see what you come up with, and I hope you're having fun plotting! I'm also absolutely thrilled to introduce you to more Hozier, and I don't suppose you've heard Ethel Cain's new song, too?

As far as choosing favorite books goes... WOOO-WEE I don't know where to begin. I love books that are kinda weird and/or surreal. It doesn't need to be fantasy or sci-fi to scratch the itch, but it often is. I also love fictional worlds that just... feel really lush and vibrant, which I know sounds really vague, but I don't know how to describe it much better than that. :/ I guess a good example would be Marlon James's Dark Star Trilogy, which I adore.

Some of my other favorites right now are the Aye, and Gomorrah collection by Samuel Delany, anything by Toni Morrison or Yoko Tawada, and The Overstory by Richard Powers. Stuff by Emily St. John Mandel (think Station Eleven) and Lydia Millet (especially A Children's Bible) are also up there. Dark academia also hits the spot for me, so I love work by Maggie Stiefvater and Laini Taylor, although it's been a long time since I reread their books. I used to be obsessed with The Mortal Instruments. I'll still always have a soft spot for them and the Infernal Devices.

I don't consider myself a huge poetry person, but the book that I keep coming back to more than anything else is actually my anthology of Louise Glück's poems. She writes a lot about the loss, failure, shortcomings, etc. that are inevitable in life. A lot of her material is pretty depressing (if not straight-up dark), but she weaves painful experiences into extraordinarily beautiful poems. I admire that a lot, and it's... comforting, in a way? Catharsis doesn't quite capture what I mean. She's not going to tell you that it will all be OK in the end, but that's alright, because that's how life is sometimes. I like that she rips the band-aid off AND shows you how to grit your teeth while she does it. Ocean Vuong's poetry is also some of my favorite writing.

I don't know how familiar you are with my other fandom, Attack on Titan, but it was a HUGE part of my life for a long, long time. It still is near and dear to my heart, although ACOTAR has taken some brainspace from it for sure.

I've always read a lot, and when I was... 13? 14? somewhere in there. I got bored to death with a lot of the YA novels I was reading. I got into anime/manga to try something new, and since AoT was one of the big shows at the time, I watched it first.

It was a hell of a first anime, but I really liked the action and how deceptively simple the premise is. In case you aren't familiar, I won't spring any spoilers on you. But basically, the premise is very easy to grasp until you realize that a lot of characters are lying through their teeth about themselves and the world around them. AoT was also one of the few major animes at the time that had basically zero fanservice, which I appreciated, and the characters were really appealing. AoT has a strong anti-war message, and the story is partially about how governments can prey on young, idealistic, hurt people by turning them into war machines. There are no heroes in AoT. If you think otherwise, wait a few episodes.

I love morally grey characters (if you couldn't tell) and angst that seems to have no good solution, so that drew me in. Hange might be my favorite character.

I'd already written a little fanfic before AoT. It was for a really trashy fallen angel romance called Hush, Hush. It's definitely still out there on fanfiction.net LMFAO. I don't remember my username or the name of the story, which might be for the best. In any case, when I found the AoT fandom, I was so excited to find a huge and incredibly talented fandom. AoT is what introduced me to AO3 (for better and for worse) and where I learned to channel my writing itch into projects that I could stay passionate about for, in some of my fics' cases, years. Looking back, some of what I wrote was definitely cringey. Nevertheless, I'm also really proud of how well some of it has held up and performed. I learned a lot from writing AoT fic, and writing for AoT undeniably boosted my confidence as an artist.

Also, Santa, I LOVE horror movies. I'm not gustsy enough to try to write horror, but I think it's one of, if not THE hardest genre to execute well, and I admire a good horror film. My favorite has to be Hereditary.

This video essay is a great breakdown of what makes the film awesome. It's a way better explanation than what I could do, but it's also almost five hours long. So, the TLDR is that the film subverts and reworks a lot of tropes while having insane acting, cinematography, effects, etc. When I saw it, it was the first genuinely frightening movie I'd seen in a while. I'm not super into the torture porn/pure shock value style horror movies, and I think this one strikes a good balance between disturbing gore and psychological horror.

I moved to Central Europe recently, so I celebrated Halloween in a very foggy ex-Yugoslavian city with lots of bridges over canals. The spooky vibes were indeed spooking. I hope you had fun :).

[praetorqueenreyna]

Helloooo!!! I have returned for what will more than likely be the last time before I give you your gift!!! (Wow time is flying)

Thoughts on Alis x Andras?

Also, would you like snippet or would you prefer a surprise?

I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!

AAAAHHHHH LAST SECRET MESSAGE! I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE REVEAL!!!!

I am VERY into Alis/Andras!!! Especially if u maintain the age gap and Alis is older 👀

PLEASE GIVE ME A SNIPPET PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!

[goforth-ladymidnight]

☃️ Your secret santa is here to inform you your gift is currently in the works ☃️!!

Some fun questions of the day:

-Share with me some of your favorite Tamlin/ Lucien/ Tamcien headcanons? Any one of the three!

-Who do you think would make the first move out of the two 🤭?

-Fav tamcien fics? For research purposes 😇.

Excited to be back in your inbox! Hope you have a lovely week!!

-🎅🎄

Hi Santa! I'm so excited!! 💖 Please forgive your poor giftee for taking so long to respond. Her (my) brain has been absolute mush these last couple of days 🥲 but your lovely ask has nonetheless been in her (my) thoughts!

Tamlin/Lucien/Tamcien headcanons?? Let's see!

Despite SJM's best efforts to describe Lucien as a beefcake (I guess Sam Heughan from Outlander was one such inspiration?), I have always pictured Lucien as more trim and slender. The sword that he carries around sounds like it's supposed to be a classic two-handed fantasy epic-type sword (since Tamlin uses it to pin Amarantha to the wall), but I imagine it to be more of a rapier. Lucien has a fencer's build, and all the bulky beefcake-y Lucien fanart you throw at me cannot change my mind. (Even though I don't mind looking at it anyway. 💕)

Speaking of inspiration... Almost no one mentions that Henry Cavill was mentioned next to Sam Heughan in the acknowledgments in Book 1, and something tells me it didn't have anything to do with Rhys. It's almost a meme at this point to make fun of ACOTAR fancasts that suggest Henry Cavill, but honestly? Henry Cavill in his Witcher era is such a vibe. That grumpiness, that long hair, and his physique scream Tamlin to me, more than any other fancast I've come across. Even though my preference would be to see ACOTAR animated, *if* it ever gets made. Castlevania style, please and thank you.

Random rant, but I wish that ages in the ACOTAR universe were more realistic/consistent. It's implied that Lucien is much younger than Tamlin, while Tamlin and Rhysand are much closer in age. It may not fit canon (hence the headcanon part, haha), but I always thought it made sense for Tamlin and Lucien to be introduced when they were young, then, when Tamlin was older, he met Rhysand at the camps. So he and Rhysand were more like rivals to lovers to enemies, whereas he and Lucien would be acquaintances to friends to lovers, but never enemies. NEVER. Not in my headcanon!!

Who would make the first move, Tamlin or Lucien?

Lucien, most definitely. Tamlin has always struck me as more of an introvert. Lucien is bold, snarky, and isn't afraid to say what's on his mind. Lucien is more likely to regret saying something spiteful in the moment, compared to Tamlin thinking up a clever comeback later in the bathtub. And this has nothing to do with intelligence. Just because Tamlin is blond doesn't make him an idiot! (I hate reddit comments that say otherwise, grumble, grumble)

Favorite Tamcien fics? This is so hard to answer!! 😭

I owe the credit to @praetorqueenreyna for introducing me to the concept of Tamcien in the first place! While her ACOTAR prequel is heartbreaking and beautiful and sad, they don't really become a couple until later on, so this spot is going to go to: you can see my heartbeat tonight. It's perfect for when I'm in the mood for both sugar and spice. Honorable mention to her: cingulomania, when I'm in the mood for whump and angst!

I know next to nothing about the Omegaverse, but this short Tamcien fic crossed my dash during one such fandom event, and I could not get over how cute it was: Lightwork by @highlordofkrypton. Snark and cuddling?? Yes, please!

While searching on AO3 for some ideas, I stumbled across a bridge between us by @yaralulu and OH MY is it lovely. My heart almost shattered halfway through.

I'm sure there's more but my brain has threatened to turn to mush again. Thank you for asking though! I got to revisit some old favorites, and now I've added more to my TBR! ❤️

Thank you for checking in, Santa Dear! Have a lovely week yourself!