Fun with the H/C Exchange tag set

[sholio]

I just need to mention that rachelmanija and I have been having IMMENSE fun with the freeform tags in the hurtcomfortex tag set.

Part of our delight is coming from the way the tagset window lists freeforms. You get them in sets of 30 or so, and the top-level listing is the tag range indicating what tags are in the group. For example:

"Anaphylaxis → Blindness"

This is leading to some absolutely delightful tag pairings, suggesting stories which are variously wonderful, appropriate, and/or plausible:

Character voluntarily takes job that will shorten lifespan → coughing up blood
Comforter Rains Down Retribution On Hurt Character's Behalf → Defenestration
Blaming Themself for the Other Being Injured → Character crying in their sleep
Bar Room Brawl → Canon-Typical Violence
Keeping the hurt secret → Miscommunication
Terminal Illnesses → Withdrawal
Injury Due to Other Character's Incompetence → Loss of Trust
Magic Curses → Non-Consensual Bondage
Stuck in a Trap → Treating wounds with unconventional materials

... suggest a story I would dearly love to write ...
Mistakenly Believes the Other is Dead → Physically Injured Character Comforting Emotionally Distressed Character
unexpected tenderness → Withdrawal
Collapsing from exhaustion → De-Powered
Hurt in enemy territory → Loss of Identity
Healer Directing Operation On Self → Impaled by Debris
Self-Loathing → Substance Abuse (hi Ward)
Character being protected isn't used to being cared about → Cold bath to bring down fever
Suicide Attempt → unexpected tenderness
Drowning → Fever

... not sure I would write but would absolutely read ...
Monstrous/Powered Character Frightens Partner But They Love Them Anyway → Orphans
Other Character Tries To Help But Can't → Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD
Electrocution → Feeding someone hot soup
Publicly repudiated by family → Self-Hatred

... plausible as something you might see in hurt/comfort and yet hilarious ...
Common Cold → Drinking to Cope
Spanking → Torture Victim Comforts Distressed Friend/Loved One Who Was Forced to Watch
Childbirth → coughing up blood
Corporal Punishment → Drinking to Cope

... or just suggest one of those stories where the author is clearly marching to the beat of their own id.
Drowning → Forced Prostitution
Sex to Distract Character Who's Afraid of the Dark → Swordfighting
Child Loss → Corporal Punishment
Hate Crimes → Hyper-sensitive skin
Soulmate Separation → Tattoo Gun Accident

Check out the full tag set here!

I am currently at Rachel's (we both have brightly dyed hair at present, and have now had two different people ask us if we were sisters - see visual evidence here), and last night we came up with the idea of putting all the H/C Exchange prompts in a text file, printing it out, cutting them up, and pulling random prompts out of a hat to generate our own combinations, then writing them. We put the entire prompt list on a text file and took it to a 24-hour Kinko's ... only to run into problems trying to get it to print on the copy machine, so we had to take it to the attendant and have her print it. This was followed by a conversation which went something like this:

Attendant: Which file is it?
Us: ummmmmm. The Word file?
Attendant: Could you be more specific?
Us: .... *contemplating how to describe it in the most non-specific way possible*

On the one hand, I think Kinko's attendants probably have seen FAR weirder things than two women with technicolor hair trying to print out a document containing things like "Alternate Universe - Prostitution" and "Being a hyperspace pilot shortens your lifespan and addicts you to a drug". On the other hand, I feel that there is a distinct likelihood of us featuring in some anecdote about Those Weirdos at the Late-Night Kinko's.

Comments

[philomytha]

I am going to have to do this exchange, I think. I was feeling a bit shy about it, but there’s no way I can resist these prompts, and people other than me want all my favourite fandoms. Figuring out what to offer and request is going to be a job and a half, but the tag set is sufficiently entertaining all on its own that I don’t think I’ll mind :-D

[sholio]

Whee! My nefarious plan is working.

[teaforlupin]

This is DELIGHTFUL

[sholio]

We have been having way too much fun with this. :D

[sheron]

putting all the H/C Exchange prompts in a text file, printing it out, cutting them up, and pulling random prompts out of a hat to generate our own combinations, then writing them.

Jesus this is like my nirvana, too bad we are only fandom-adjacent right now but I hope you write these anyway, omg. lol

[sholio]

I KNOW RIGHT?? Once nominations close so there aren't new things being added to the tagset, I should make a final version and put it up so everyone can play too if they like. :D

[booksarelife]

Yes, please do!! Also, I'd love to see you write some of these!!

[edenfalling]

I laughed so hard at some of these combos that it physically hurt. :DDD

[sholio]

This comment was so delightful I had to read it out loud to Rachel. XDD The tag juxtapositions have been WAY too much fun.

[lunabee34]

Love the hair on you both. Sounds like a fun time!

[sholio]

Thank you! :D We went to La Brea Tar Pits today and learned things about sloths. We're having an amazing time.

[copperfyre]

These are delightful combinations!

[sholio]

Aren't they?? :D

[frith_in_thorns]

Common Cold → Drinking to Cope

You definitely wrote a White Collar fic with both these elements. Neal was ill and Peter was drinking.

[frith_in_thorns]

P.S. Can I have a copy of the text file? :D

[sholio]

Sure! :D I could send it to you now, or wait 'til nominations close when I'll have the final version. In fact, once I have the finished tag list, I think I might put it up on DW for everyone to download and make their own copies! It is wonderfully inspiring.

[magistrate]

...once you have the finished tag list, turn it into a comma-separated value and it can be fed into the bingo generator. <_<

[sholio]

... that is a very excellent point. :D *notes*

[sholio]

Drinking is the only possible response to Neal with a cold.

[scioscribe]

I briefly thought I could live without doing this exchange, but I was wrong. Let me just start dreaming up scenarios where hot soup is fed to characters who have just been electrocuted.

[rachelmanija]

Yes, yes you need this exchange in your life. You have two more days to make nominations and add freeform tags!

[sholio]

YES DO. :D My nefarious plan is working.

The tag set is IMMENSELY inspiring. I will be writing fic for years just from ideas I've gotten from it.

[umadoshi]

That is AMAZING. *^^*

Also, your hair is fantastic.

[sholio]

Thank you so much! <333

[cupidsbow]

This made me laugh a lot, but I'd also read most of those fics, so thanks for those plotbunnies I guess.

[sholio]

I'm plotbunnied to hell and gone, so I might as well share. >__>

[rydra_wong]

I really like Belligerent Pining --> Caffeine Withdrawal (though in my personal experience it's generally the latter that causes the former).

[lokifan]

Us: .... *contemplating how to describe it in the most non-specific way possible*

*cackles*

I'm reminded of some friends at a con's manga stall saying "do you have anything... um, dubious? Maybe, um, with an unhappy character..." and the guy saying brightly, "yep, the kidnapping and rape is over there."

[sebenikela]

"Comforter Rains Down Retribution On Hurt Character's Behalf → Defenestration"

for some reason my brain went straight to "taking the comforter off your bed and throwing it out the window where it lands on someone's head, turning them into an amusing lumpy ghost-thing"

which. sure is something.

[booksarelife]

This post made me decide to sign up (probably) for the exchange!

[alessandriana]

On the one hand, I think Kinko's attendants probably have seen FAR weirder things than two women with technicolor hair trying to print out a document containing things like "Alternate Universe - Prostitution" and "Being a hyperspace pilot shortens your lifespan and addicts you to a drug". On the other hand, I feel that there is a distinct likelihood of us featuring in some anecdote about Those Weirdos at the Late-Night Kinko's.

ahahahahah I love you guys so much. This is fantastic.