#wanted ideas

[treacherycuphq]

I’m really interested in taking a star player / exploring a “fame monster” dynamic but I don’t want to step on a moderator’s toes - can you guys give some ideas as to how we can explore that without feeling like we’re stealing plots?

FIRST OFF - WE WANT TO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR THIS QUESTION. IT WAS VERY COURTEOUS OF YOU TO REACH OUT WITH THIS, BECAUSE IT SHOWS YOU'VE READ OVER THE SAMPLE APP AND ENOUGH SKELES TO GET A GENERAL LAYOUT OF CHARACTER TRAJECTORIES & WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY AN OVERLYING CONNECTION. WE APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF CRITICAL THINKING THAT OCCURRED FOR THIS QUESTION. I'M ( MOD S ) GOING TO ASSUME THIS IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH MY CHARACTER, MARLENE, SO I'M GOING TO FINISH ANSWERING IT.

WE'VE MADE SEVERAL "STAR PLAYER" SKELES FOR THE PURPOSE OF "FAME MONSTER" EXPLORATION PLOTS, SO I WOULDN'T BE CONCERNED WITH "STEALING" ANYTHING FROM ME ! I PERSONALLY SEE THE CONCEPT OF FAME AS A MULTI-HEADED BEAST, AND DIFFERENT ASPECTS / SCENARIOS THAT ARE BORN FROM IT WOULD AFFECT CHARACTERS IN DIFFERENT WAYS. OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I KNOW AUGUSTUS ROOKWOOD, LUDOVIC BAGMAN, LUCINDA TALKALOT, AND EMMA VANITY ARE PRETTY CODED TOWARD "FAME MONSTER" PLOTS OUT OF THE QUIDDITCH PLAYERS. UNDER THE READ MORE CUT, I'M GOING TO LIST SPECIFIC PLOTS I'D LOVE TO SEE !

( SINCE THIS QUESTION SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED 'STAR PLAYERS,' I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON THEM, BUT I 100% SUPPORT THE FAME MONSTER PLOTS APPLYING TO OTHER CHARACTERS, OUTSIDE OF QUIDDITCH, AS WELL ! )

First, you need to address some key "Fame" thematics, before you tap into the monster portion:

Who was your character before they became famous, and who have they become because of the spotlight?

Does your character put on a facade for their public personality, or do they present themselves authentically for public consumption?

If they use a fake public personality, what do they do with the emotional dissonance of pretending to be somebody they're not? Does it affect their private relationships? How do they cope?

If they present themselves authentically, do they maintain healthy boundaries with the public? Can they separate their inner perspective versus the public perception of them? What happens when these two versions don't match up?

Do they have an ability to change back to who they were before fame, or has the appeal of the spotlight changed them, for better or for worse?

The "monster" portion of the fame monster trope really rests in your character responding to a slew of these circumstances negatively - similarly to a "bridezilla," the definition doesn't fit if it's not born of antagonism, y'know?

With all of that in mind, here's a non-exhaustive list of everything I could come up with re: alternate "fame monster" plots / dynamics that don't have any effect whatsoever over me & my current musings.

PLOTS:

BEST OF THE BEST OF THE BEST OF THE...: No one can be flawless forever. No one can be the best until they die. The best is the best until... what? Typically, we see the end of powerful reigns because something else begins to matter more: love, money, power, friendship, self-preservation, addiction, and anonymity are all well-known and valid reasons to finally break ties with the fame monster. Maybe your character did, and is dealing with the fallout from the limelight; maybe your character is about to, but is still trying to figure out what's worth leaving the fame monster behind.

THE LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH & FAMOUS: saying your character has adjusted to their celebrity status would be an understatement; they've flourished beneath the limelight, and now have a personal assistant, an agent, and a public relations manager to help offset even the barest inkling of a bad image. Heck, they've been famous for so long, they barely remember what life was like before - they've become someone that's lost their connection to their roots. However, that's all about to change... because where's the fun in not fracturing everything a person knows, for the sake of conflict?

ICARUS' LANDING: oh how high we fly! oh how far we fall ! your character has found themselves in a typical Icarian tragedy - their fame is hinged on the exploitation of their worst hubris, and they won't stop trying to succeed until it's far too late. Try as they damnedest to touch the sun and dazzle in its spotlight, so too will they find their end and burn beneath its brilliance; whatever your character is using to find fame, they will overindulge and find themselves plummeting toward normality far sooner than they'd ever think.

FAN BASE FAVOR: your character has fallen into the monotony of catering to their fan bases' every wish & whim, creating a public version of themselves that's simultaneously overly enthusiastic & underwhelming. That means that they constantly stop for pictures or autographs, to the point of near compulsion. If they're always willing & able to provide for their fans, what does that mean in terms of their public identity? Are they constantly putting on a show, in case fans are nearby? Do they feel invalidated if fans aren't screaming for their attention at all times? Do they lose hours upon hours responding to fan mail? How do the other people in their lives feel about this exhaustive fan service?

STARRING IN THE SHADOWS: your character's parent was famous, to a high enough caliber that their star power has created an everlasting shadow over your own reputation; nothing you do, nothing you say will keep them from being mentioned in the next sentence. But fame has sunk its teeth into you, and your left with two complex paths: do you cede under their spotlight, and hope it bolsters your own? Or do you try anything to break out of their typecast, and make a name for yourself, outside your family ties? More importantly, does anyone else in the world care? Do you talk about your complex relationship with your own privilege, or let sleeping dogs lie?

MY OWN WORST ENEMY: your character has a complicated relationship with hedonism; whether it be romantic entanglements, illicit substances, or general gluttony of all things sin, they compulsively indulge, with little to no discipline. Regardless of outside intervention, your character partakes time & time again, refusing help for what they don't see as a problem, just a "good time." There's only so long this lifestyle can be catered to, however, before they gain a level of notoriety that blackballs them from the famous circles they were once included in.

DANCING WITH YOUR HANDS TIED: your character has feelings for a certain someone, but is unable to act on it, thanks to their celebrity status. Maybe you're trying to exploit the pureblood/muggleborn dynamic? Maybe their interest rests on someone outside the public eye? Maybe that person has no interest in being brought into the public eye, making your celebrity status the difference between having or losing that special person? Can your character let go of the validation of many for the love of one? Do they even have a choice - stepping out of the public eye doesn't automatically free you from being a celebrity, ask any former child star !

DYNAMICS:

OBSESSIONS & CONFESSIONS: your character may be too famous, as they're currently trying to sidestep a stalker - or "obsessed fan," depending on your definition. Either way, no one enjoys invasions of your property or your privacy - does your character confront the stalker directly, in an attempt to gain their sympathy? Or do they take increasingly ludicrous measures in an attempt to ward them off? Maybe, they enjoy the newfound level of attention, and begin to build a complicated relationship with them?

CHASE YOU DOWN UNTIL YOU LOVE ME: Paparazzi, baby ! Love to hate them or hate to love them, the physical entity that is tabloid publication follows you around wherever you go. Does your character love the constant audience, or crave the solace of anonymity? Is the paparazzi better or worse than the rest of the world's consumption of you? Does one person in particular rile you up for the sake of a juicy photograph, leading to a cumbersome antagonism that's almost targeted at you? Does their presence give your character confidence or anxiety? Maybe your character gets on good terms with one of their paid stalkers, and hatches a scheme to always be on the front page in exchange for the juiciest weekly scoop? Maybe your character is trying to use the paparazzi to increase their celebrity status, which hasn't been fully realized yet?

PEOPLE I DON'T LIKE: there's nothing wrong with making famous friends for the sake of gaining more fame, but Lord, doesn't it get cumbersome constantly trying to please people you barely even like? The photographs may seem favorable enough, but behind closed doors & velvet ropes, these people are NOT your friends - but then what are they? And honestly, is anyone really your friend anymore? What defines friendship, in a world where the flashing light will always mean more than the people standing in front of it?

UPPER MANAGEMENT: all celebrities hit a streak of their pride where they become more eggheaded than egg-ceptional - whether your character is the celebrity or their support staff, the high horse of the limelight has finally caused a conflict between what you think you deserve & what you currently receive. Whether you're demanding a new agent, coach, assistant, or some other ludicrous proclamation, this sudden inflation of your ego has done nothing but piss off the people around you. Congrats ! Now it's time to deal with the fall out of your holier-than-thou expectations.

ASSIST ME: a niche dynamic of the one presented above, this deals with the relationship between star & personal assistant, and the synchrony needed to sail an exceptionally famous ship. Is the assistant good at their job? Is the star judgmental & opinionated, with unrealistic expectations? What does the personal assistant get from this dynamic? How does it further their career? Do they only do it out of contractual obligation to their client, or does their relationship with their assigned celebrity go far deeper than that?

SELL OUT YOUR HEART: your character wakes up one day to find that somebody close to them has leaked explicit information to the press about you. However, this source is left "anonymous." What does your character do? Do they root out the imposter, who sold their personal information for a quick dime? Do they want to know the identity of the perpetrator? Is it actually a betrayal in their eyes, or a product of their work? Or maybe your character picked out someone in their group who exclusively leaks these pockets of information for the sake of bolstering your reputation?

THE BOJACK HORSEMAN PLOT: your character has been playing the fame game long enough that the public has begun the enamored catcalls for a book about your life ! Your character's agent places them with a well-respected ghost writer to get things started; does your character enjoy their time with the writer, or do they find them judgmental / opinionated over your character's past? Does the writer respect your character's vision, or expect them to bend to narrative style of a story? Do they ruminate on ideas that your character finds hit a little too close to home, or maybe they won't write what your character wants at all? Does your character treat their sessions like therapy? Does it force them to confront deep personal issues & views they'd never questioned before? Or do they simply finish the endeavor & send them off, without ever thinking about their ghost writer again? Do they build a relationship with one another, or does it begin & end with work?

FAKE DATING AU: pretty self-explanatory & a fan favorite, especially for celebrity characters !

BODYGUARD AU: also self-explanatory & a personal favorite !!

[treacherycuphq]

WANTED CAREERS / PLOTS / DYNAMICS.

this is not a complete or total list of possibilities; these are just ideas from the moderators of different ideas we'd like to see. you're welcomed & encouraged to make them your own or adjust any details to tailor fit your character ! this list may be updated or edited, if we have any more ideas !

𝙲𝙰𝚁𝙴𝙴𝚁 𝙸𝙳𝙴𝙰𝚂:

BOOKIES - ILLEGAL

BOOKIES - LEGAL

COACHES

REFEREES

MINISTRY OFFICIALS - IMPROPER USE OF MAGIC OFFICE - OBLIVIATOR HEADQUARTERS - MUGGLE-WORTHY EXCUSE COMMITTEE - INVISIBILITY TASKFORCE - MUGGLE LIASON OFFICE - BROOM REGULATORY CONTROL - PORTKEY OFFICE - BRITISH & IRISH QUIDDITCH LEAGUE HEADQUARTERS - FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN SPORTS OFFICE

BUTTERBEER VENDORS

RETIREES

FANS

TEAM SPONSOR - CORPORATE

TEAM SPONSOR - PRIVATE

MEDIC - ST. MUNGO'S EMERGENCY STANDBY

MEDIC - TEAM DOCTOR

PHOTOGRAPHER

PERFORMERS ( DURING INTERMISSION )

OFFICIAL MASTER OF CEREMONIES ( AT THE PITCH )

SECONDARY ANNOUNCERS ( RADIO )

RELEVANT BUSINESSES INCLUDING... ( BUT NOT LIMITED TO ): - BROOM COMPANY ( MASS DISTRIBUTOR ) - BROOM MAKER ( CUSTOM VENDOR ) - PUB OWNERS / BARKEEPS - QUIDDITCH SUPPLY SHOPS

𝙿𝙻𝙾𝚃 𝙸𝙳𝙴𝙰𝚂:

DIRTY DIRTY - your character is involved in the BLACK MARKET TIES within teams. They are paid to leak information about their team, or to intentionally rig games for losses. This is a great plot for players, coaches, bookies, referees, and Ministry officials. Multiple characters could fill this plot.

DEADLY DEADLY - your character is involved with the DEATH EATERS spread of INSIDIO within teams. They are either also under the effect of INSIDIO, or are already aligned with the Death Eaters & are looking out for their best interests. This is a great plot for players, coaches, referees, Ministry officials, as well as stadium personnel like Butterbeer vendors. Multiple characters could fill this plot.

EXPOSITION INFORMATION - your character doesn't do anything Quidditch related (in canon), but of course, that doesn't mean they can't here. Your character will use Quidditch to move to the next chapter of their life, either as a Ministry official, a pillar of wizarding society, maybe a professor... It's a sport that builds character and experience in all realms of activity, and not a bad resume builder! Multiple characters could fill this plot.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME - Quidditch may not be your love, but it is the love of the one you chose. There's always a trial or tribulation that occurs when your partner/spouse has to put the love of the game before you; will your character rise above the inevitable antipathy, or will this be the straw that breaks your relationship's back? Multiple characters could fill this plot.

FADED FROM SPOTLIGHT - your character is a retired Quidditch star turned head coach. they struggle with their new role; despite being well out of their prime or Quidditch playing years, it's difficult to transition your talent from the present to the past tense. A single character could fill this plot.

STARRING IN THE SHADOWS - the child of a famous parent, your character seems to be fighting an uphill battle to be noticed for their own accomplishments, rather than the continued accolades of their parent. will they be able to prove themselves, or will they wash out of the limelight before they've felt its dazzling rays? A single character could fill this plot.

THE STEP LADDER - your character is a writer first, a Quidditch fan... last. Although their column keeps their name in the papers & helps them gain experience in journalism, they can't stand the subject matter they cover. A single character could fill this plot.

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED... - your character has what it takes, but when it came to scouting matches and try-outs, something was always getting in the way. For whatever reason, they choked, and now they're at every match. There are rumors that they're only there to scoff at how poorly the teams are playing, but other whispers suggest a motive of improvement. After all, there will always be another season. A single character could fill this plot.

NO COMEBACKS, KID - not everybody succeeds in the world of Quidditch, and your character cracked under the pressure before their prime was done. Maybe they dropped out mid-season, maybe a career-altering injury changed their path, but no matter what you decide, your character has a complicated history with their once beloved past time. A single character could fill this plot.

𝙳𝚈𝙽𝙰𝙼𝙸𝙲 𝙸𝙳𝙴𝙰𝚂:

OBSESSED FANS / STAR PLAYERS

PAPARAZZI / JOURNALIST

PERSONAL ASSISTANT / STAR PLAYER

MINISTRY OFFICIAL / BOOKIE

ROOKIE / MENTOR

[brucietales]

you know what i wanna write about in wanted?

damian's first day in school. 

like. maybe he's 12 or something, and has learned enough social skills to go to school. maybe he disagrees at first and says bruce can continue homeschooling him, but bruce wants him to learn how to make friends, and spend time with those friends, and have fun at PE and stuff.

so damian reluctantly agrees and goes to Gotham Academy. tim is a senior high school student so damian won't be able to see him much.

it's his first day of school and he's not having luck with making friends. he'd rather be at home reading in the library he doesn't like the uniform and he feels like his tie is strangling him. he feels like the teachers (especially the principal) are being especially nice to him because they know who his mother is.

he gets through the first two periods without talking to anyone, and when the bell rings, he shuffles out the classroom to the lunchroom like everybody else. he's eating his lunch (alfred made him a salad dressed with vinigrette with grilled chicken breast), when he hears someone from behind him, an alpha, call Bruce a whore.

damian sees red, turns around, and punches the fifteen year old in the face. blood drips from the boy’s nose. he entirely forgets about pretending to be a defenseless 12 year old with no assassin training, with no qualms about killing a fellow human being, and lands a few good punches as the older boy tries to dodge him, before tim pulls him off.

"TAKE IT BACK!" he yells at the boy.

it's his first day but he gets sent to the principal. bruce can't come out of work, so clark comes in, and sees blood on damian's hands and uniform.

the principal says something about regulations that don't allow anyone who isn't family to pick up the children, but damian cuts the principal off, "Mr. Kent is my stepfather, Madam, and I would very much like to leave the premises go home with him,"

damian storms off and runs to the parking lot and looks for clark's car, while clark speaks with the principal. the boy damian attacked has been rushed to the hospital, with a split lip, a black eye, and a broken nose. clark assures the principal that he and bruce will shoulder costs and will personally apologize to the boy's parents. the principal doesn't like that clark rushes out on her, but he has to go check on damian, who's found his car, sitting on the roof with this tie and jacket on the hood.

they go home, and damian hopes clark won't say anything, but clark says. "what you did was wrong, damian--"

"he called mother a--!!"

"i know what he called your mother. it's a word we hear and read every day. on the tabloids, trash tv and radio, on the internet, during bruce's parties. i hear it every day damian. i hear all of it. bruce doesn't like engaging them. but i'm glad that you showed them you won't tolerate it, because i can't do that. but the next time you do it, don't send the insulting party to the hospital,"

when they get home, damian locks himself up in his room, and doesn't greet bruce home when he arrives, and doesn't come down for dinner. bruce knocks on his door, enters, and just gathers damian into his arms. dick and jason have done this before. tim had a different and a lot less bloody approach with it.

bruce presses a kiss to damian's hair. his poor boys.

damian says nothing and clings onto him.