Jukebox 2020 Letter
Apr. 7th, 2020 12:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kiralyDear Jukebox Creator,
Hello! Welcome to my music library (or, well, a tiny portion of it). I’m excited to see what you come up with, and I’m pretty easy to please. The prompts in this letter are to help get you started, but if you have an idea already, feel free to run with it! I’m sure I’ll love whatever it is, as long as you steer clear of my DNWs.
If you want to know more about me, feel free to poke around here (it’s mostly exchange letters, haha). You can also find me on Tumblr:![[tumblr.com profile]](https://www.tumblr.com/favicon.ico)
worldsentwined or check out my AO3: ![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
Kiraly
General Likes:
In general I’m a huge fan of any kind of sci-fi or fantasy setting, especially if there’s adventure and romance. A (non-exhaustive) list of character tropes I enjoy:
* knights * princesses * ladies with swords * librarians * sailors * mermaids * cyborgs * artificial intelligence * bards/musicians * space pirates/crews * witches * magical creatures hiding in human form * dragons * fair folk * mothman
I also enjoy stories set on ships (sailing ships, airships, spaceships - take your pick!), post-apocalyptic settings*, fairy tales (especially with a twist) and quest-type adventures. Or quiet moments in between the action when characters can decompress together, regardless of the wider setting. I also have a weakness for domestic fluff and modern settings like coffee shops/universities (with or without a supernatural twist!)
*although I like post-apocalyptic stuff, I’d prefer to avoid anything that touches too closely on our current situation. Far-future post-apocalypse is preferred, or people coping with some disaster other than a pandemic.
I really love character-driven stories with a lot of emotion. I’m all about the fluff, but I also enjoy angst with a happy ending - and a lot of these songs probably lend themselves to angst more than fluff. For gen fics, I love to see characters building friendships, working together, going on adventures, getting into (and out of) trouble. Found family and loyalty are always welcome.
For shippy fics, I have a huge weakness for cuddling, (mild) hurt/comfort, and, uh...characters getting soaked and having to snuggle to warm up, haha. Kisses are good (awkward or sweet or steamy). I’m also totally down for things like “characters have to share a bed for some reason” or other situations where the characters kind of get thrown together and then develop feelings for each other. Mutual pining is great, though I prefer it to end happily. And for a lot of these songs, I think a “characters meet, are separated by circumstances, and later reunite” scenario could be really great. (Or “lovers to enemies to lovers” maybe). Most of my ships in other fandoms can be summarized as “idiots to lovers” so feel free to make use of that dynamic.
I don’t really care if you keep the genders of the characters the same as listed in the song - I welcome characters of any genders and in any romantic combo (including trans and nonbinary characters). That said, I do have a particular love for femslash and for female protagonists in general, so I will be extra excited if you create something featuring the ladies. ^_^
I’ve requested art or fic for all of these, so do whichever you prefer! For art, I really enjoy a wide variety of styles, from sketches to watercolors to digital pieces. I love bright, saturated colors if you decide to work in color, but I also love greyscale and black and white. I think most of my fic prompts will work for art too, but if you don’t see anything you like, feel free to do your own thing. :)
Dislikes (Do Not Want):
Character death or maiming, including characters getting infected with some terminal disease. Some background violence is okay, but nothing too graphic (and no torture!) Abusive relationships. Incest. Sexual violence of any kind. Explicit sex (allusions to sex or situations that get kind of steamy are okay, just...keep it teen rated or lower, please). I’d prefer to steer away from homophobia or transphobia too. If possible, I’d prefer nothing with a completely hopeless ending.
Anyway, on to the songs!
A Bar in Amsterdam - Katzenjammer (Song)
Link Lyrics
I get a very strong apocalypse feeling from this song - clearly something has gone down, people are hiding out, and they’re just waiting for the next storm to break over them. When I listen to this I get images of people huddling in abandoned houses, trying to stretch their supplies and plan their next move. Maybe the singer and “Mary” have formed a connection during all of this, and will have to band together to get through...whatever is about to happen.
Fighter - Joseph (Song)
Link Lyrics
I can see a lot of possibilities with this one - a warrior and the person they’re sworn to protect, on a quest for something that isn’t going the way they hoped. Or a secret crush that’s starting to affect a friendship, with one party trying to find out why the other is acting so weird. Or some other kind of secret, one the person is keeping to protect the one they love - but in the end, the loved one finds out anyway and has to save the person who was protecting them. The darkness could be metaphorical or literal, maybe they’re in a cave or abandoned building and have to decide how to proceed when one person is injured and there’s only one light. Maybe someone keeps having nightmares about being left in the dark, and their partner comforts them when they wake.
Also, if you’re at all familiar with the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, I feel like this song has some strong Eurydice vibes. Do with that what you will.
Flares - The Script (Song)
Link Lyrics
This song gives me such a feeling of hope in dark times. I get a strong mental image of a huge, empty plain, with someone trying to figure out where to go, and suddenly lights flare up in the distance. Whether it’s a lonely adventurer finally finding companionship, or separated friends/lovers finally reuniting, there’s a lot of room for a happy ending here. The other elements of the song - smoke, losing something, breaking, crying - give plenty of opportunities for a sad setup. This song also has lots of references to light in the darkness, and again whether you choose to take that literally or metaphorically is up to you.
The Moss - Cosmo Sheldrake (Song)
Link Lyrics
From the first time I heard this song, I’ve always been fascinated by the stories referenced within the song. Some connect directly to nursery rhymes I remember (the cow jumping over the moon, the old woman in the shoe) and others are more obscure. I’d love to read a story that reimagines one or more of these, or one about the storyteller who tells all these stories. Where do they get their ideas? What if it turns out there is some truth in them? It would also be delightful if the more mundane elements (moss growing on the north side of trees, plants eating sunbeams with their leaves) were written to be just as fantastical as the other stories.
If you’re doing art, your mental image of any of the stories referenced in the song would be lovely!
Power Over Me - Dermot Kennedy (Song)
Link Lyrics
This song has great potential for like...twisty magic stuff, or fair folk, or simply someone who’s pining so hard after someone else that they can’t think about anything else. Maybe a magic user, in an attempt to reveal their true love, has accidentally cast a spell that makes them constantly think about the person they love but unable to admit their feelings unless the other person speaks first. Maybe a fae monarch wants to win over a human without using magic to seduce them and tries increasingly ridiculous methods. Or, a darker twist, a human learns their true name and the fae has to do their bidding or suffer...but the human has no idea, and ends up asking for something that puts them both in danger. There’s also an element of urgency to the song, so possibly the person under the spell will face consequences if their love isn’t returned within a certain amount of time.
I really like the “remember that lake in the moonlight” verse, so something involving that imagery would be amazing!
Saucy Sailor - The Wailin’ Jennys (Song)
Link Lyrics
This song has a pretty clear narrative with it already, but I think it’d be cool to explore some of the aftermath of this incident. I love the idea of the person who spurns the sailor getting to tell the story from their side - in the song it feels like they just want to marry for money, but on taking a closer look at the lyrics I feel like there may be more going on. Maybe the “fair one” has been propositioned by some Random Guy (I’d turn him down too!) and the parts that come afterwards are his way of making the story sound better from his perspective. Or maybe the sailor and the “fair one” are actually in love, but are driven apart by society’s expectations - the “fair one” is supposed to marry for money and doesn’t want to disappoint their family. It’d be cool to see this scenario played out where the “fair one” runs off to sea/space in the end, either to reunite with the sailor or to find their own way as a sailor. Or maybe the sailor, having been rejected, goes back to their ship and finds comfort in the arms of a crewmate. Basically this is what I think of as the “nautical soap opera shenanigans” prompt, haha.
You - Pearl and the Beard (Song)
Link Lyrics
This song has SUCH “I have a GIANT crush on you” vibes, I love it! This would be a great candidate for a fluffy modern setting, though I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to something more magical. The video is actually really cute so feel free to use it for inspiration, though also feel free to ignore it if you have your own ideas. Classic coffee shop romance where two idiots moon over each other, in a way that’s obvious to everyone else? Someone trying to tell their best friend that they love them in that way, not solely as friends, and their meaning keeps getting misinterpreted? The travel references in here also make me think it could be a sudden realization someone has after coming home from a long time away, discovering that the person who’s always been there for them is the one they love. Or a love that makes two people cross the (world/galaxy/cul-de-sac) for each other.
A note about the youtube links: They should all work in the U.S., but in the event that you’re located elsewhere and something is region-locked for you, feel free to leave me an anonymous comment and I’ll try to find a better version.
Hello! Welcome to my music library (or, well, a tiny portion of it). I’m excited to see what you come up with, and I’m pretty easy to please. The prompts in this letter are to help get you started, but if you have an idea already, feel free to run with it! I’m sure I’ll love whatever it is, as long as you steer clear of my DNWs.
If you want to know more about me, feel free to poke around here (it’s mostly exchange letters, haha). You can also find me on Tumblr:
General Likes:
In general I’m a huge fan of any kind of sci-fi or fantasy setting, especially if there’s adventure and romance. A (non-exhaustive) list of character tropes I enjoy:
* knights * princesses * ladies with swords * librarians * sailors * mermaids * cyborgs * artificial intelligence * bards/musicians * space pirates/crews * witches * magical creatures hiding in human form * dragons * fair folk * mothman
I also enjoy stories set on ships (sailing ships, airships, spaceships - take your pick!), post-apocalyptic settings*, fairy tales (especially with a twist) and quest-type adventures. Or quiet moments in between the action when characters can decompress together, regardless of the wider setting. I also have a weakness for domestic fluff and modern settings like coffee shops/universities (with or without a supernatural twist!)
*although I like post-apocalyptic stuff, I’d prefer to avoid anything that touches too closely on our current situation. Far-future post-apocalypse is preferred, or people coping with some disaster other than a pandemic.
I really love character-driven stories with a lot of emotion. I’m all about the fluff, but I also enjoy angst with a happy ending - and a lot of these songs probably lend themselves to angst more than fluff. For gen fics, I love to see characters building friendships, working together, going on adventures, getting into (and out of) trouble. Found family and loyalty are always welcome.
For shippy fics, I have a huge weakness for cuddling, (mild) hurt/comfort, and, uh...characters getting soaked and having to snuggle to warm up, haha. Kisses are good (awkward or sweet or steamy). I’m also totally down for things like “characters have to share a bed for some reason” or other situations where the characters kind of get thrown together and then develop feelings for each other. Mutual pining is great, though I prefer it to end happily. And for a lot of these songs, I think a “characters meet, are separated by circumstances, and later reunite” scenario could be really great. (Or “lovers to enemies to lovers” maybe). Most of my ships in other fandoms can be summarized as “idiots to lovers” so feel free to make use of that dynamic.
I don’t really care if you keep the genders of the characters the same as listed in the song - I welcome characters of any genders and in any romantic combo (including trans and nonbinary characters). That said, I do have a particular love for femslash and for female protagonists in general, so I will be extra excited if you create something featuring the ladies. ^_^
I’ve requested art or fic for all of these, so do whichever you prefer! For art, I really enjoy a wide variety of styles, from sketches to watercolors to digital pieces. I love bright, saturated colors if you decide to work in color, but I also love greyscale and black and white. I think most of my fic prompts will work for art too, but if you don’t see anything you like, feel free to do your own thing. :)
Dislikes (Do Not Want):
Character death or maiming, including characters getting infected with some terminal disease. Some background violence is okay, but nothing too graphic (and no torture!) Abusive relationships. Incest. Sexual violence of any kind. Explicit sex (allusions to sex or situations that get kind of steamy are okay, just...keep it teen rated or lower, please). I’d prefer to steer away from homophobia or transphobia too. If possible, I’d prefer nothing with a completely hopeless ending.
Anyway, on to the songs!
A Bar in Amsterdam - Katzenjammer (Song)
Link Lyrics
I get a very strong apocalypse feeling from this song - clearly something has gone down, people are hiding out, and they’re just waiting for the next storm to break over them. When I listen to this I get images of people huddling in abandoned houses, trying to stretch their supplies and plan their next move. Maybe the singer and “Mary” have formed a connection during all of this, and will have to band together to get through...whatever is about to happen.
Fighter - Joseph (Song)
Link Lyrics
I can see a lot of possibilities with this one - a warrior and the person they’re sworn to protect, on a quest for something that isn’t going the way they hoped. Or a secret crush that’s starting to affect a friendship, with one party trying to find out why the other is acting so weird. Or some other kind of secret, one the person is keeping to protect the one they love - but in the end, the loved one finds out anyway and has to save the person who was protecting them. The darkness could be metaphorical or literal, maybe they’re in a cave or abandoned building and have to decide how to proceed when one person is injured and there’s only one light. Maybe someone keeps having nightmares about being left in the dark, and their partner comforts them when they wake.
Also, if you’re at all familiar with the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, I feel like this song has some strong Eurydice vibes. Do with that what you will.
Flares - The Script (Song)
Link Lyrics
This song gives me such a feeling of hope in dark times. I get a strong mental image of a huge, empty plain, with someone trying to figure out where to go, and suddenly lights flare up in the distance. Whether it’s a lonely adventurer finally finding companionship, or separated friends/lovers finally reuniting, there’s a lot of room for a happy ending here. The other elements of the song - smoke, losing something, breaking, crying - give plenty of opportunities for a sad setup. This song also has lots of references to light in the darkness, and again whether you choose to take that literally or metaphorically is up to you.
The Moss - Cosmo Sheldrake (Song)
Link Lyrics
From the first time I heard this song, I’ve always been fascinated by the stories referenced within the song. Some connect directly to nursery rhymes I remember (the cow jumping over the moon, the old woman in the shoe) and others are more obscure. I’d love to read a story that reimagines one or more of these, or one about the storyteller who tells all these stories. Where do they get their ideas? What if it turns out there is some truth in them? It would also be delightful if the more mundane elements (moss growing on the north side of trees, plants eating sunbeams with their leaves) were written to be just as fantastical as the other stories.
If you’re doing art, your mental image of any of the stories referenced in the song would be lovely!
Power Over Me - Dermot Kennedy (Song)
Link Lyrics
This song has great potential for like...twisty magic stuff, or fair folk, or simply someone who’s pining so hard after someone else that they can’t think about anything else. Maybe a magic user, in an attempt to reveal their true love, has accidentally cast a spell that makes them constantly think about the person they love but unable to admit their feelings unless the other person speaks first. Maybe a fae monarch wants to win over a human without using magic to seduce them and tries increasingly ridiculous methods. Or, a darker twist, a human learns their true name and the fae has to do their bidding or suffer...but the human has no idea, and ends up asking for something that puts them both in danger. There’s also an element of urgency to the song, so possibly the person under the spell will face consequences if their love isn’t returned within a certain amount of time.
I really like the “remember that lake in the moonlight” verse, so something involving that imagery would be amazing!
Saucy Sailor - The Wailin’ Jennys (Song)
Link Lyrics
This song has a pretty clear narrative with it already, but I think it’d be cool to explore some of the aftermath of this incident. I love the idea of the person who spurns the sailor getting to tell the story from their side - in the song it feels like they just want to marry for money, but on taking a closer look at the lyrics I feel like there may be more going on. Maybe the “fair one” has been propositioned by some Random Guy (I’d turn him down too!) and the parts that come afterwards are his way of making the story sound better from his perspective. Or maybe the sailor and the “fair one” are actually in love, but are driven apart by society’s expectations - the “fair one” is supposed to marry for money and doesn’t want to disappoint their family. It’d be cool to see this scenario played out where the “fair one” runs off to sea/space in the end, either to reunite with the sailor or to find their own way as a sailor. Or maybe the sailor, having been rejected, goes back to their ship and finds comfort in the arms of a crewmate. Basically this is what I think of as the “nautical soap opera shenanigans” prompt, haha.
You - Pearl and the Beard (Song)
Link Lyrics
This song has SUCH “I have a GIANT crush on you” vibes, I love it! This would be a great candidate for a fluffy modern setting, though I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to something more magical. The video is actually really cute so feel free to use it for inspiration, though also feel free to ignore it if you have your own ideas. Classic coffee shop romance where two idiots moon over each other, in a way that’s obvious to everyone else? Someone trying to tell their best friend that they love them in that way, not solely as friends, and their meaning keeps getting misinterpreted? The travel references in here also make me think it could be a sudden realization someone has after coming home from a long time away, discovering that the person who’s always been there for them is the one they love. Or a love that makes two people cross the (world/galaxy/cul-de-sac) for each other.
A note about the youtube links: They should all work in the U.S., but in the event that you’re located elsewhere and something is region-locked for you, feel free to leave me an anonymous comment and I’ll try to find a better version.
