Hurt/Comfort Bingo

[osprey_archer]

Because nothing says "This is a super time to begin a fic challenge!" like starting grad school...I got a card for hurt/comfort bingo. I've always liked the bingo part of kink bingo, without being interesting in writing almost any of the kinks...but hurt/comfort bingo! I am all over that.

unexpected pregnancy	torture	body image issues	hospital stay	prostitution
amnesia	bruises	blackmail	Stockholm syndrome	learning to be loved
therapy	arrest	WILD CARD	parting ways	medication
alien abduction	substance addiction	orphans	forced to rely on enemy / rival	surgery
septicemia / infected wounds	self-harm	head trauma	attacked by a creature	depression

So many ideas! So much difficulty getting them to line up into something that will form a bingo! (So much temptation to write All the Sutcliff Fic. Does anyone wish to aid and abet me in this questionable endeavor? I'm already working on a Marcus/Esca/Cottia fic. Working title: In Which Esca Heroically Represses His Feelings All the Time, Because It's Not Like Anyone Would Like Him Back. Oh Esca.)

I also more or less immediately flung myself into a Branson/Sybil story based on the prompt "bruises," but 1) I'd forgotten what a pain it is to write in TV fandoms - there's so much flailing about trying to find the right voice; and 2) I'm not sure it's in character for Sir Richard Carlisle to physically hurt a servant, even for something as vexing as a car breakdown that makes him miss his train.

I mean, personally I'm willing to believe any evil of Sir Richard Carlisle. But is that just my anti-Richard bias talking? I'm thinking more along the line of grabbing Branson's wrist and shaking him, not striking him in the face. Though I suppose striking Branson in the face would play up Sir Richard's absolute caddishness...

And you just know Branson would resent the hell out of it, too. Even more than most people would, I mean. This could spawn an alarming series of fics: In Which Sir Richard Abuses the Chauffeur...

Or! Or! I could write an Ethel fic for the "unexpected pregnancy" square! Maybe Anna could find out about her plight and help her somehow in her time of need? SO MANY POSSIBILITIES.

Comments

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

I totally think you should write ALL THE SUTCLIFF and will encourage you in every way!

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I may pick your brain about this! I think Sutcliff would be a great fandom for a good Stockholm syndrome fic. Could you spin Esca falling for Marcus as a Stockholm syndrome situation? Or do there need to be literal hostages and captors for it to count as Stockholm syndrome? I feel like being someone's slave would cause a similar psychological situation.

Not that there's a shortage of literal captives in Sutcliff.

I also think it would be kind of ace to write a Sutcliff hero with amnesia, but I can't decide which one.

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

Haha, I was TOTALLY going to suggest Stockholm Syndrome for Esca/Marcus. Although that would work better with movie than with bookverse.

Have you read Outcast? The slavefic to end all slavefics.

Amnesia, hmm. Frontier Wolf might be fun, if you want to play it for laughs. All the other amnesia possibilities suggest rather dire stories to me. Although they could be good stories! Just not particularly happy ones.

Also, I just realized, re-reading your post - okay, this is my thought process: Carlisle, yeah, he's Ser Jorah in Game of Thrones, crossover time - oh, wait, she mentioned Branson THAT IS WHY AGRIPPA IN ROME LOOKED FAMILIAR HE IS BRANSON!!! I have been trying to figure out why I have been noticing him so much.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD YOU'RE RIGHT. Now I need to rewatch Rome and ogle Branson in a toga! (Rome in general would be a good fandom for hurt/comfort. At least the hurting part.)

Oh, here's a Rome fic idea: Vorenus gets amnesia and then Marc Antony could take advantage of poor confused Vorenus and Pullo tries to explain to him all that's been going on in the last few years, and Vorenus is all WHO IS THIS CRAZY CENTURION AND WHY IS HE TELLING ME ALL THESE RIDICULOUS LIES.

I'm not sure that's actually got a whole fic in it, but it would be kind of entertaining.

I can also see a really sad amnesia fic for Frontier Wolf. Alexios would be all, "I'm going to go hunting with my buddy Cunorix!" and Hilarion would be like, "Um, sir, I'm not sure how to break this to you..."

That's also not really a plot idea, though. Amnesia fic is hard. :(

I haven't read Outcast. I haven't found a copy of it yet, though clearly I need to get on that.

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

I would totally read Rome fic. TOTALLY. I think I've read every bit that's on AO3 that isn't spoilery for S2. And if you ever want to write Brutus/Cassius, I will cheer you on madly.

Yeah, the problem with Sutcliff is that it's kind of hard to write happy cheery fic for sources where most of her characters die. I was thinking for FW something silly with Hilarion and Alexios in Belgica (what if Alexios thinks for whatever reason he is back at Abusina?). Or something horribly depressing for The Shining Company where Prosper comes back to find Conn and Luned married in Eire and Conn has had some horrible smithy accident and doesn't remember anybody, and Luned is taking care of him but is sad because he doesn't remember her any more either.

There is an excellent amnesia wip at the_eagle_kink (by one of my very favorite authors, although she's posting it anonymously). Alas she is super-busy until the end of September so I doubt it will be updated for some time.

If you can handle epub format, you might find some interesting things at http://isiscolo.livejournal.com/521852.html *whistle*

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Right now I'm running with amnesia!Vorenus (clearly he gets hit on the head in the final episode by those soldiers who try to off Caesarion. I need to rewatch this episode.) Pullo is trying to take care of him, and Vorenus is all "OH SWEET VENUS IT'S TITUS PULLO, MY LEAST FAVORITE SOLDIER. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME, YOU MUTINOUS SCOUNDREL?"

...do you think anyone will object if the soldiers succeed in killing Caesarion? Because I really don't want to try and work him into the story.

But you never know, Brutus/Cassius might happen someday in the future.

As if The Shining Company wasn't depressing enough! *sadface* There's always room for more Frontier Wolf fic, though...but not with the amnesia prompt, as I'm using that already. Hmmm.

I have a Kindle, so if I can figure out how to put the books on there I'll be all set. The bigger problem is finding time to read non-schoolwork!

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

The thing about Stockholm Syndrome as it is in real life is that it's basically the way abusers keep a hold on their victims: leaven the cruelty with kindness so that the captive is always trying to rationalize to themselves that no, it's okay, they actually do care, and if I just do x, they will be kind all the time! It seems to be a survival mechanism in the human brain to cope with otherwise untenable situations, less about hostages and captors specifically.

So a) it requires the captor to be cruel, or at least indifferent (which Marcus really isn't, in the book) part of the time, and b) I'm not sure it's really hurt/comfort, exactly? I mean, I wouldn't call a domestic abuser putting a bandaid on his victim's injuries h/c, personally.

I could potentially see some really creepy Stockholm Syndrome potential in Outcast, and Blood Feud can kind of be read that way (less creepily) for the one chapter in which the protagonist is actually a thrall. I think Randal in Knight's Fee has some of that "OMG a person is being nice to meeeee I must serve them foreverrrrrrr" going on, although in his case the people who are nice to him are (thankfully, IMO) not the ones who were cruel to him before. He's quite aware of this by the end of the book, too. Beric also has this going on in Outcast, with different characters from the one I'm thinking of who might creepily have Stockholm Syndromed him in an AU.

I am not sure how people mean Stockholm Syndrome in the fannish sense, and perhaps that's different. Certainly I'm sure slavery can fuck with the head even if the owner isn't abusive, and there are so many accounts of Romans freeing and marrying their slave girls, apparently relatively happily, that it seems quite plausible as a dynamic.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I don't think there's a special fannish sense of Stockholm Syndrome, though as with all things fannish it tends to be sexier than the real thing.

Some fandoms have Stockholm Syndrome-y relationships that have a huge following. They're not literal captive situations, but situations were there's an awful, biting, sarcastic, and inescapable boss, who occasionally tosses out crumbs of approval that lead to his approval-craving subordinates following him around like puppies, rather than complaining about their poor treatment.

I'm thinking of the popularity of Cox/JD in Scrubs, or Gibbs/Dinozzo in NCIS. I find the appeal of this dynamic inexplicable, but clearly tons of people love to read it.

At any rate, that dynamic clearly doesn't fit book!Marcus and Esca at all.

And of course there's always the possibility of Stockholm syndrome!Flavia, but there's plenty of Flavia fic just now, and also that would be an incredible depressing and sad story.

But the beauty of a two-word prompt is that you can take it in odd directions. There's always the h/c possibilities of person B saying, "You know, A, your relationship with X is really quite messed up," and A begins to extricate themselves emotionally from it...which works better in a non-literal captive situation, obviously.

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of the popularity of Cox/JD in Scrubs, or Gibbs/Dinozzo in NCIS. I find the appeal of this dynamic inexplicable, but clearly tons of people love to read it.

Oh, yeah. I'm not sure I'd call that SS, but it's on some kind of continuum with it, probably (this is why Drem and Blai in Warrior Scarlet bug me). I used to like Cox/JD, but I am not sure I would now.

There's definitely potential in a number of Sutcliff novels for SS as the hurt and a separate comfort with a different character. Knight's Fee and Outcast in particular....

SS!Flavia...would be incredibly depressing, although I'm actually not sure that what little we see in canon of her Saxon husband would even fit that.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Stockholm Syndrome continuum should definitely be a thing.

And yeah, Flavia's kind of a borderline case. She seems pretty sure that her husband isn't going to beat her for losing the bride present he gave her. (Of course, she's trying to chivvy Aquila out of the settlement just then, so even if she wasn't sure she'd say that she'd be fine. No good activating his protective brotherly instincts.)

Also, in classic, captive/hostage situation Stockholm syndrome, I don't think it's necessary for the captor to be cruel beyond the inherent cruelty of keeping someone prisoner. Falling for a captor who is nice, aside from the whole taking-you-captive thing, still counts as Stockholm syndrome, I think.

It's just that absent literal captive-taking, Stockholm-syndrome-like situations generally do involve one party being at least borderline abusive.

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

Also, in classic, captive/hostage situation Stockholm syndrome, I don't think it's necessary for the captor to be cruel beyond the inherent cruelty of keeping someone prisoner. Falling for a captor who is nice, aside from the whole taking-you-captive thing, still counts as Stockholm syndrome, I think.

Yeah, probably. And no matter how you slice it, Flavia's situation is one of inherently dubious consent and lack of agency--but I think we still want to see her find a way to get some happiness out of it, agency be damned? I do, anyway. I'd rather see her Stockholm Syndromed than miserable, basically.

It's just that absent literal captive-taking, Stockholm-syndrome-like situations generally do involve one party being at least borderline abusive.

Right.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

So many possibilities! I was going for wrist-grab in my actual novel, so that one gets love from me, but either/any of your fics sound good.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Can you see Richard Carlisle doing that? I can, but then I have strong anti-Richard feelings, and I don't want to strain plausibility.

I also have a splendid idea wherein Sybil gets arrested and Branson totally rides to her rescue (sort of), but sadly that's in a different line than the others so I'll have to put it on the backburner for a while.

I also think Downton Abbey would be the best fandom for a blackmail fic - the only problem is deciding whose going to be blackmailed about what, because so many characters are blackmailable! (I would prefer something where the blackmailer gets totally shot down in the end. Not a big fan of blackmail fic.)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

The way he threatened Mary? I totally can see him doing a wrist grab.

(But Sybil being arrested has real potential too! I'm such a sucker for that type of storyline.)

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes - and he likes Mary, supposedly. I suspect he's the kind of person who sees servants as human-shaped machines; I could see him smacking/wrist-grabbing Branson, not in anger exactly, but rather after the manner that one kicks a coffee machine that isn't working.

Sybil's arrest story would be beautiful. There would be great and circuitous attempts to ensure her father didn't hear a thing about it. The Crawley girls do spend a lot time making sure Papa doesn't know.

[entwashian.livejournal.com]

Unexpected pregnancy is h/c? O___o

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

...apparently? I mean, if someone is in a bad place to have a child, then an unexpected pregnancy would be extremely upsetting. And then clearly they would need comfort.

I do not pick the prompts. They are given to me from on high.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Am looking forward to angsty nobody-wants-me Esca already!

(I feel that Kevin MacDonald did the 'forced to rely on an enemy' hurt/comfort Eagle of the Ninth fanfic in his movie... :-D)

Head trauma is very Sutcliff. People seem to get knocked on the head all the time. Or surgery - something Sword at Sunset with Gwalchmai, or Blood Feud with Jestyn, perhaps?

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Angsty Esca is so angsty. I just want to give him a hug. Also, Marcus is kind of awkward at dealing with other people's feelings. Also, Cottia is so shouty and dignified and I just want to hug her toooo.

I have not read either of those books! But in any case, people get injured all over all of her books, so if nothing else I can doubtless fill every single wound/surgery/attacked by a creature/other physical injury prompt with her characters.

I could make a little spinner with all the characters from books I've read. "Who's going to get head trauma today? Randal! And infected wounds goes to...Alexios!" (Could the Romans treat infection? Maybe I should inflict infection on a modern characters.)

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I'm sure Sutcliff has some sort of firey whisky-like spirit poured into a wound at some point, but possibly that is more a preventative than a cure. Maybe the cure would involve requesting the help of some minor god or other?

Head wounds for all! Head wounds in Sutcliff are never fatal and never seem to do permanent damage, for some mysterious reason. :-D

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

If I wanted to write the Most Depressing Fic in the World, I could write a story where septicemia leads to amputation...but really, there is not enough comfort in the world to make up for the hurt part of that.

Head wounds, now. Head wounds are always fun! Right now I'm working on the line with amnesia, bruises, etc. so head wounds would pretty clearly fit.

Also, I'm pretty sure the Stockholm syndrome prompt was made for Sutcliff.

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

There's always mysterious women of the Little Dark People and their mysterious herbs!

My mind immediately went to Blood Feud with head wounds, and Thormod's utterly pants Viking comfort. Vikings are not good at the comfort part.

Dammit, now I want to sign up.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Temptation! Temptation, temptation...

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

So much temptation to write All the Sutcliff Fic. Does anyone wish to aid and abet me in this questionable endeavor? I'm already working on a Marcus/Esca/Cottia fic. Working title: In Which Esca Heroically Represses His Feelings All the Time, Because It's Not Like Anyone Would Like Him Back. Oh Esca.

YES ALWAYS. I will enable/encourage/brainstorm/beta in any way that would be helpful! Also if you have any time, you should come hang out in IRC with us. :D

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Do you have time to beta the Marcus/Esca/Cottia fic? It's a little over three thousand words right now, and I think it's getting close to wrapping up. I'm not sure whether it fills the prompt "learning to be loved" or not...but then that's a pretty broad prompt, really.

I have yet to be initiated into the mysteries of the IRC. Is there a specific website I should go to?

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

When do you need it by? I am SUPER jet-lagged and probably won't be able to get to it for a couple days, unless I end up staying home sick tomorrow, which I might (stupid travel germs).

I shall PM you about IRC, when I am awake enough to give you coherent instructions!

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

The bingo goes till December 31st, so there's no time pressure at all. In any case I probably won't send it for a couple of days, as it's not quite done yet (and, as per usual, needs a better title).

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

Sure, then! Although I make no promises about being able to help with a title.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Titles are simply one of those crosses which one must bear alone, I think.