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Enemies to Lovers 2024
Turns out half my ships are enemies to lovers, so here I am, lmao. My username is ![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
forsworn and I requested fic or art in four fandoms. Thank you for creating something for me! Treats are welcome.
Navigation: DNWs | General Likes | Art Likes | Art DNWs | Hurt/Comfort Likes | Smut Likes
Don't Worry Darling: Alice/Frank
DNDHAT: Dralas/Xenk | Edgin/Forge | Edgin/Xenk
Princess Diaries: Mia/Nicholas
This Means War: FDR/Tuck
DNWs:
General Likes:
Art Likes:
Art DNWs:
Hurt/Comfort Likes:
Smut Likes:
Alice Chambers/Frank Carlson
I loved the mindfuckery aspects of this film, and Frank was so compellingly creepy that I both wanted to run away and couldn't take my eyes off him. Their intellectual rivalry and mind games, with Frank daring Alice to work out what's really going on, sparked such good chemistry between them, and I'd love to see more in that vein - or maybe Frank alters Alice's memory to keep her unknowing and compliant. If you want to do smut, I'm happy for it to be anywhere from noncon to dubcon to fully consensual (if maybe conflicted and/or filled with shame).
I'm fine with a missing scene, with canon divergence (Frank lives and Alice gets caught; Shelley escapes instead of Alice; Alice goes for a final showdown with Frank; etc) or with setting change AUs (it's the 1950s for real and Victory is developing a mind serum; Victory is a cult; Frank and Alice are teacher/student in the modern area, or at a magic academy, or in space; etc).
Considering the nature of the relationships in this canon, I have no problem with either Alice or Frank "cheating" on their partners. Also happy for Alice/Jack and Frank/Shelley to be happening in the background. Jack can be alive or dead (or you can kill him off again, if you're doing an AU) but if Shelley exists I want her to survive.
Accidental Soulbond Between Enemies A glitch in Victory maybe? But now there's a tie between them, and they can hear each other's thoughts/feel each other's feelings/can't be too far apart/any of the above.
Altering Enemy's Memories to Make Them Believe They Are Lovers Frank plays with Alice's mind. Does she live in oblivious bliss, have a sneaking suspicion something is wrong - or eventually remember everything again?
Forced Marriage Shelley escapes instead of Alice, so Frank claims Alice as his wife - regardless of what Alice wants.
Hate Sex Their sexual tension explodes into fucking - whether it's rough and frantic, unexpectedly tender and passionate, kinky or vanilla.
Mating Cycles/In Heat - Character in Heat is Fucked by Enemy Alice goes into heat, either because she's an omega or due to some weirdness with Victory. Frank fucks her through it - either because he's the only alpha available and she agrees, or because she's too desperate to refuse him.
Mating Hunt - dubcon - Told Will Be Killed When Caught; Is Fucked Instead Basically the end of the film, now with added fucking?
Noncon - Comfortable Captive Scenario Alice fails to escape, Frank wins, and he keeps her locked up in luxury - with frequent visits to have his way with her.
Reluctant attraction - sexual attraction to someone they (should) dislike Alice hates Frank and everything he stands for... but she can't help the desire he ignites in her.
Sex Pollen - Enemies Mutually Afflicted A glitch in Victory maybe? But they both get hit while alone together, and it's the push they need to resolve their sexual tension.
Stockholm Syndrome From Being Captured by Enemy Frank wins and keeps Alice captive - and despite herself, she finds her attraction only grows. Does he noncon her and she reluctantly grows to enjoy it, or does he hold off and wait until she falls for him, smirking in triumph?
Dralas/Xenk Yendar
For this ship, I'm fine with conflicted feelings, hatesex, dubcon, or Dralas nonconning Xenk. Breakups are okay, as they are clearly not together at the time of the movie.
Their dialogue makes it clear that these two have a history, but what kind of history is that? Were they always enemies? We don't really get a sense of Dralas's past or how they met but, in contrast to the compassion and encouragement Xenk shows everyone else, Dralas is the one person that Xenk calls "loathsome"... Is Xenk conflicted about treating Dralas so negatively, or does he feel it's justified? Dralas seems almost teasing during their conversation. Does he enjoy getting a rise out of the stoic paladin?
Unlike the Red Wizards, Dralas bears the same mark on his forehead that Xenk does. Was he a victim of the Beckoning Death, like those "honourable men" Xenk saw turned into monsters? Trained as an assassin, with no memory of his mortal life? Or did he willingly submit to undeath, choosing to serve Szass Tam? Maybe he had been an assassin for years - or maybe he was a child at the time of the Beckoning Death, who survived the spell but was ripped from his family anyway, and brainwashed as they trained him to serve in the future? Maybe he was even Xenk's childhood friend! (Whichever you choose, I'd prefer child Xenk not to have met an adult Dralas, or vice versa.)
If you go for a post-film setting, it's fine to mention that Dralas survived being eaten by Themberchaud and that it wasn't pleasant, but I don't want any further details!
Accidental Soulbond Between Enemies Maybe caused by a magical artifact or maybe by their shared curse. But the two of them are bonded together, and they can hear each other's thoughts/feel each other's feelings/can't be too far apart/any of the above.
Being tied up by Enemy causes Surprise Arousal Dralas ties Xenk up, maybe intending to haul him back to Thay. Xenk never expected the situation would give him an erection. Maybe Xenk escapes after some sexual tension and unsettlingly intimate touches, or maybe Dralas laughs and promises to let him go if Xenk satisfies him?
Character Feels Self-Hatred for Having Feelings for Enemy Xenk hates himself for feeling such a pull to Dralas, who's always been a test to his belief that there's good in everyone.
Hate Sex Maybe they get trapped together and the forced proximity prompts it, or maybe the adrenaline of a fight that turns to wrestling then turns again to sex - but they end up fucking, frantic and desperate and full of guilt. (At least on Xenk's part. Maybe Dralas just gleefully banters.)
Noncon - After Losing a Fight Dralas beats Xenk for once, and takes what he wants in the aftermath.
Noncon - Comfortable Captive Scenario Instead of hauling Xenk back to Thay, Dralas keeps Xenk for himself - taunting him, spoiling him, nonconning him.
Noncon - Deflowered by Enemy Xenk is a virgin. Maybe Dralas knows, and that's why he does it. Maybe he has no idea, it just happens to be Xenk's first time. Maybe Dralas finds out halfway through and is utterly delighted. Just show me poor Xenk being unwillingly deflowered.
Noncon - Forced to Submit to Hated Rival Whether literally forced to kneel or more metaphorically forced to let Dralas have his way with him, Xenk has to submit his body to Dralas.
Weapon to the Throat Whose weapon, whose throat? Don't care, but it's far more sexually charged than either of them expected.
Edgin Darvis/Forge Fitzwilliam
I love that Forge genuinely cares about Edgin, wants good things for him, enjoys spending time with him... and yet will quite happily ruin Edgin's life if it enriches his own. And he doesn't see any contradiction in that! That's so deliciously complicated.
Meanwhile Edgin seems to have trusted Forge, not only enough to ask him to look after Kira, but to be surprised when Forge later reveals his betrayal at Korinn's Keep. All that time he had to think while spending two years in Revel's End, and Edgin never considered that the con man could have been a traitor? Is Forge that good? Is Edgin actually a bit naive? Or has Edgin always been suspicious of Forge - but thought that his own criminal talents were enough that he would spot any betrayal before it happened? And, as he didn't see it, obviously Forge hadn't betrayed him...
Feel free to have Forge manipulating Edgin, or Edgin not being sure if he's being manipulated or not. Maybe they had a friends-with-benefits arrangement before Korinn's Keep, or had a guilty one night stand - or maybe they don't fuck until they're already enemies. I usually assume Forge tops, but maybe he likes bottoming - or maybe the situation requires it.
Accidental Soulbond Between Enemies Caused by a magical artifact maybe? But the two of them are bonded together, and they can hear each other's thoughts/feel each other's feelings/can't be too far apart/any of the above.
Forced Submission Leads to Kink Discovery Forge forces Edgin to submit... and Edgin is surprised by the intensity of his own physical reaction.
Hate Sex Turns Unexpectedly Tender A frantic, guilty fuck turns tender, prompted by the affection that used to exist between them.
Hero in desperate situation uses sex with the enemy as bargaining chip Maybe Forge captures Edgin as part of a post-canon plot... and Edgin offers what he knows Forge has always wanted: a night in bed with him.
Mating Cycles/In Heat - Character in Heat is Fucked by Enemy Whether he's an omega or it's caused by magic, Edgin goes into heat - and Forge helps (or "helps") him through it.
Noncon - Comfortable Captive Scenario Forge's new plan succeeds, and he has Edgin in his power - and decides to keep his old friend in luxury. And to noncon him repeatedly.
Noncon - Exchanging Sex for Freedom in Captivity Forge captures Edgin, and offers him a bargain: he can go free... but only if Edgin lets Forge fuck him. (Or maybe Edgin reluctantly offers because he needs to escape?)
Noncon - Using Knowledge from Previous Consensual Relationship They used to fool around, and that comes back to haunt Edgin when Forge uses all his knowledge of Edgin's kinks and preferences to force some pleasure from him.
Edgin Darvis/Xenk Yendar
I have so many feelings about these two. I love their banter and how they spark off each other, how Edgin sees Xenk as an enemy but then grows to respect him and doesn't want him to leave, how Xenk is frustrated with Edgin's criminal tendencies but fully believes in his goodness and is determined to draw it out... Making Edgin swear on the Harper's seal, then tenderly touching his hand? In fact, all of the hand-holding, and the offers of hand-holding. I'd love to see how their relationship develops after the film, with a softer friendship blossoming into romance. (And more touching. Lots of touching. And banter.)
These two are so good for mutual pining. Maybe Xenk thinks he can't be with anyone because of his duty as a paladin, or because the Beckoning Death has left him cursed, partially undead, lacking part of his soul, etc. Maybe Edgin finds out Xenk is a virgin and assumes the guy isn't interested in sex at all. (I do headcanon Xenk as a virgin.) Or Edgin thinks Xenk's too noble and pure to want a criminal like him, or thinks Xenk wants someone more serious or more intellectual. Xenk thinking Edgin's too charming and sociable to want someone as awkward and unbending as him... I love the angsty possibilities of all this, the two of them keeping their feelings secret even as they're practically bursting with longing. Especially as both of them are so touchy-feely! They must be torturing each other.
Accidental Soulbond Between Enemies An AU where they accidentally form a soulbond, maybe when Xenk makes Edgin swear on the Harper's seal? How do things change if Edgin can now hear Xenk's thoughts - and Xenk can hear Edgin's? What if it hurts for them to be too far apart?
Ex-enemies First Time Together They're already ex-enemies, so show me their first time! How much angst and longing does it take to get them there - and how sweet is it when it finally happens?
Nicholas Devereaux/Mia Thermopolis
This is such a great example of enemies to lovers. I love that they're kind and flirty at their first meeting, because they're immediately attracted to each other, and that even once they're enemies they can't hide that sexual tension. But their enmity is based on both seeking something only one of them can have rather than ideological differences: Nicholas seems more motivated by whether Mia's going to be a good queen and whether she really knows Genovia (and by his uncle's influence), and not a personal hunger for power. So once he's convinced of her capability (and she of his sincerity) and he gives up his claim to the crown, there's no question about whether they'd be able to find common ground.
I love both the push-and-pull of Nicholas flirting and Mia trying to resist (in the closet, by the fountain, the deleted scene in the kitchen) as well as them being soft and friendly with each other: Nicholas supporting Mia by helping with her archery, and the night they spend together before her wedding where we see them opening up emotionally, dancing close, and falling asleep in each other's arms. So I'd love a post-canon continuation of that as their relationship develops, or is fully established, or a missing scene while Nicholas is still living at the palace and they keep running into each other. Or maybe an AU?
I liked Andrew as a character so no bashing of him please, and it's fine to have Mia/Andrew's unromantic engagement happening in the background or to show them amicably breaking up. Also happy for Clarisse/Joe to be in the background, or for Lilly to visit again. Or cute appearances by Fat Louie the cat or Maurice the dog!
Accidental Soulbond Between Enemies Maybe during an argument they both touch some mysterious object in the palace and then, whoops, soulbond. Is Mia quicker to believe Nicholas's sincerity when she can feel his emotions? Is Nicholas more easily convinced of Mia's suitability when he can hear her thoughts? Or does the fact that they can no longer be more than a few feet apart just drive them insane? And there's still the issue of Mabrey...
Alternate Universe - Fantasy - Rival Heirs to the Throne Basically the plot of the film, but with added Magic. Maybe the crown's magic will only accept a married queen, and Nicholas has to marry Mia. (Maybe they have to consummate it in public?) Maybe the heir has to master a certain form of magic. (Maybe Nicholas ends up tutoring Mia, like with archery?) Or maybe they're dragon riders, both competing in challenges to prove they deserve the crown. Just anything which fits this theme!
Arranged Marriage Between Enemies Must Be Publicly Consummated Mia is betrothed to Nicholas instead of Andrew - and becoming frenemies doesn't make the intimacy of consummating their marriage less daunting. Can they put aside their enmity to be kind and tender with each other?
Arranged Marriage with Secret Plan to Undermine Future Spouse Becomes Real Marriage Instead of revealing Nicholas as another heir, Mabrey only pushes for Mia's marriage - and then sets her up with Nicholas, instructing his nephew to seduce her so they can break the engagement just before the deadline. But of course Nicholas ends up falling in love. What happens when Mia discovers the truth?
Ex-enemies First Time Together They're canonically enemies-to-lovers... show me their first time! Is it fun and full of laughter, is it romantic and passionate, is Nicholas gentle with nervous virgin Mia?
Forced Proximity Between Enemies Leads to Kissing A missing scene where they get trapped in another closet? And the sexual tension grows and grows until they end up kissing.
Omegaverse - accidentally scenting/being scented by the enemy No preference whether it's alpha Nicholas scenting an oblivious omega Mia, or alpha Mia accidentally scenting omega Nicholas!
Omegaverse - unexpected/induced heat causes character to rely on enemy to help through it Prefer omega Mia for this. Maybe they get trapped in a closet, then her heat starts and she's desperately trying to ignore it - until it gets too strong, and alpha Nicholas gently offers to hold her and let her inhale his scent, helping her through it without taking advantage? (Or maybe it happens before Mia gets engaged, and they do end up fucking?)
Franklin "FDR" Foster/Tuck Hansen
I love these two and the dynamic they have: working smoothly together, protecting each other in danger, happily declaring their love for each other, bantering, hanging out... oh, and that time they had a punchup, smashing up a restaurant. They're deeply competitive but deeply loyal, though there's also a fragility to their friendship - and an emotional tension to their rivalry.
They're such different people - smooth, flirty FDR who hides his angsty past, and earnest, romantic Tuck who's longing for love but doesn't know how to find it - but they have such an easy rapport and genuinely like each other. (Except when they don't.) They also do a lot of terrible things - for their jobs, but also socially - and I'm fine with that being acknowledged, in a "they're the same kind of terrible, and therefore perfect for each other" sort of way.
Best Friends to Angry Fistfighting to Lovers Either that punchup in the restaurant turning to passionate kissing on the floor, or an AU where a previous argument about something led to them getting together in the adrenaline-fuelled aftermath of a fight?
Forgiveness/Makeup Sex After all the sabotage and harsh words of fighting over Lauren (or something else) they reaffirm their love for each other - and express that mutual forgiveness through sex.
Former Romantic Rivals Fall For Each Other Instead There's an alternate ending where FDR and Tuck choose each other as the car's rolling towards them. So, like... that? But explicitly slashy, lmao.
Navigation: DNWs | General Likes | Art Likes | Art DNWs | Hurt/Comfort Likes | Smut Likes
Don't Worry Darling: Alice/Frank
DNDHAT: Dralas/Xenk | Edgin/Forge | Edgin/Xenk
Princess Diaries: Mia/Nicholas
This Means War: FDR/Tuck
DNWs:
- 1st or 2nd person POV
- Cheating
- Breakups
- Noncon
- Major character death
- Gore
- Vore
- Bestiality, sex while in animal form
- Scat, watersports, vomit in a sexual context (non-sexual vomiting is fine)
- Underage (18+ only)
- Requested characters explicitly depicted as aromantic or asexual
- For Don't Worry Darling: waiving DNWs for cheating, breakups and noncon. Jack dying also fine.
- For DNDHAT: Edgin/Holga, Kira/anyone. Waiving noncon and breakup DNWs for Forge/Edgin and Dralas/Xenk.
- For Princess Diaries: Mia and Nicholas kissing while she's engaged to Andrew is fine, as is Mia/Andrew breaking up.
General Likes:
- Fluff. Domestic fluff. Hopeful spring vibes. Cosy autumn or winter vibes. Rainy evenings in. Lazy sunny mornings. Cooking together, eating together. The daily routines of travelling together longterm.
- Banter. Getting together. Established relationship. Found family. Characters showing affection in their own way. Groups amusing themselves with jokes and stories while spending every day together. Characters trusting in each other's skills. Competence kink.
- Holding hands. Cheek touches. Hand on the back of the neck. Hugs and cuddling. Kisses described in loving detail. Cheek kisses. Forehead kisses. Brushing fingers over lips.
- Angst. Hurt/comfort. Mutual pining. Repression and self-denial. Intense sense of duty or loyalty. Complicated family legacies.
- Dreams and nightmares. Truth spells. Telepathic bonds. Soulbonds, accidental or deliberate. Magical tattoos that show connections: soulmate marks, pistilverse, etc.
- Forced proximity: stuck in a prison cell together, only one bed, trapped by a cave-in, hiding in a closet, handcuffed together, magic spell, etc.
- Sparring and combat tutoring. Character A defending character B with character B's weapon.
Art Likes:
- I enjoy a wide variety of styles: fully rendered paintings, clean lineart, loose sketchy lines, Disney, American comics, anime, chibi, art nouveau, stained glass...
- Also enjoy most mediums: digital, pencil, ink, markers, watercolours, gouache, charcoal...
- And lots of colour palettes: realistic colours, bright colours, pastel colours, monochrome, monochrome plus a splash of colour, earthy tones...
- Any rating, from G to Explicit...
- All of which amounts to: show me your style! Create what you're inspired to create, in the style that feels natural to you.
Art DNWs:
- This is technically already covered by the "sex while in animal form" DNW above, but to be specific about how it applies to art: no furry/anthro porn please. (But non-porn furry/anthro is welcome!)
Hurt/Comfort Likes:
- Emotional hurt/comfort. Physical hurt/comfort. Whump. Mild hurt/comfort.
- Nightmares. Flashbacks. Crying. Staying with character B as they fall asleep.
- Impact bruises. Being manually choked. Twisted ankles.
- Stab wounds. Arrow wounds. Pulling the arrow out. Nosebleeds as fight injury. Grazes and abrasions.
- Seasickness. Vomiting (not sexualised, not onto anyone). "Oh no, that thing you just ate was poisoned."
- Magical torture, psychic torture, and other kinds of pain inflicted without harming the body.
- Bedside vigils. Holding injured character close. Carrying or supporting someone who can't walk. Character A catching character B as they collapse (even if character A isn't strong enough to hold them up and just helps slow their descent to the floor). Helping injured character undress, remove armour, etc.
- Struggling through sex pollen/an omegaverse heat/etc without having sex, only giving non-sexual comfort for the symptoms.
- The awkward vulnerability of comfort requiring a new level of intimacy.
- Stern/gruff characters making tiny gestures as a comforter and the comfortee understanding that significance. A comforter understanding when the comfortee only wants tiny gestures, and the comfortee being grateful for that understanding. People who are comfortable with each other giving and accepting large amounts of comfort.
- Stoic hurt characters refusing to break down. Stoic hurt characters letting it all out.
- I love both the hurt and comfort parts of the equation! Go heavy on one part and less on the other, or have an equal mix of both.
Smut Likes:
- Positions: Missionary, riding and other face-to-face positions, for eye contact and/or lots of kissing. But spooning pairs well with gentle sex, and oral fingering's probably more easily done from behind.
- Locations: In bed, in a chair, against a wall, on the floor... In the bedroom, in the living room, in an alley, in a forest, in a dungeon, on a ship, on the victorious battlefield... Basically anywhere? Yeah.
- Acts: Anal sex, including het anal. Vaginal sex. Loss of virginity. First time bottoming. Pegging. Strap-ons. Deepthroating. Oral fingering. Kissing during sex. Breastplay (fondling, gently squeezing, kissing). Nippleplay (pinching, kissing, licking).
- Moods: Gentle sex. Tender sex. Fluffy sex. Hurt/comfort sex. Sex with lots of feelings. Vulnerability and trust.
- BDSM: Dom/sub. Bondage. Pinned down. Kneeling. Collaring. Orgasm delay/edging. BDSM AUs.
- Dubcon: Sex pollen. Fuck or die. Sex caused by magic or to perform magic. Pining during dubcon. (Whether they admit their feelings during, after, or not at all.) Having to trust each other with the unexpected intimacy. Worrying about being so vulnerable but being kind to each other and coming out stronger on the other side.
- Size kink and stretching: Big cocks. Painful penetration. Lots of foreplay/prep, slow and gentle penetration so it isn't painful. Large object insertions. Sounding.
- Omegaverse: Alpha/Omega. Painfully big alpha dicks. Knotting. Sexy pheromones. Pheromones that communicate fear, or anger, or other emotions. Alpha pheromones that make the omega feel safe, or protected, or calm.
- An undercover situation requires them to fuck while being watched, but they successfully fake it - except the kisses, the touches, the proximity, and the "is it okay if I..." questions whispered right in each other's ears were all very real. And some of those moans didn't sound fake. Either they're so wound up they fuck for real once they're no longer being watched, or the feelings keep simmering until they boil over later.
Alice Chambers/Frank Carlson
I loved the mindfuckery aspects of this film, and Frank was so compellingly creepy that I both wanted to run away and couldn't take my eyes off him. Their intellectual rivalry and mind games, with Frank daring Alice to work out what's really going on, sparked such good chemistry between them, and I'd love to see more in that vein - or maybe Frank alters Alice's memory to keep her unknowing and compliant. If you want to do smut, I'm happy for it to be anywhere from noncon to dubcon to fully consensual (if maybe conflicted and/or filled with shame).
I'm fine with a missing scene, with canon divergence (Frank lives and Alice gets caught; Shelley escapes instead of Alice; Alice goes for a final showdown with Frank; etc) or with setting change AUs (it's the 1950s for real and Victory is developing a mind serum; Victory is a cult; Frank and Alice are teacher/student in the modern area, or at a magic academy, or in space; etc).
Considering the nature of the relationships in this canon, I have no problem with either Alice or Frank "cheating" on their partners. Also happy for Alice/Jack and Frank/Shelley to be happening in the background. Jack can be alive or dead (or you can kill him off again, if you're doing an AU) but if Shelley exists I want her to survive.
Accidental Soulbond Between Enemies A glitch in Victory maybe? But now there's a tie between them, and they can hear each other's thoughts/feel each other's feelings/can't be too far apart/any of the above.
Altering Enemy's Memories to Make Them Believe They Are Lovers Frank plays with Alice's mind. Does she live in oblivious bliss, have a sneaking suspicion something is wrong - or eventually remember everything again?
Forced Marriage Shelley escapes instead of Alice, so Frank claims Alice as his wife - regardless of what Alice wants.
Hate Sex Their sexual tension explodes into fucking - whether it's rough and frantic, unexpectedly tender and passionate, kinky or vanilla.
Mating Cycles/In Heat - Character in Heat is Fucked by Enemy Alice goes into heat, either because she's an omega or due to some weirdness with Victory. Frank fucks her through it - either because he's the only alpha available and she agrees, or because she's too desperate to refuse him.
Mating Hunt - dubcon - Told Will Be Killed When Caught; Is Fucked Instead Basically the end of the film, now with added fucking?
Noncon - Comfortable Captive Scenario Alice fails to escape, Frank wins, and he keeps her locked up in luxury - with frequent visits to have his way with her.
Reluctant attraction - sexual attraction to someone they (should) dislike Alice hates Frank and everything he stands for... but she can't help the desire he ignites in her.
Sex Pollen - Enemies Mutually Afflicted A glitch in Victory maybe? But they both get hit while alone together, and it's the push they need to resolve their sexual tension.
Stockholm Syndrome From Being Captured by Enemy Frank wins and keeps Alice captive - and despite herself, she finds her attraction only grows. Does he noncon her and she reluctantly grows to enjoy it, or does he hold off and wait until she falls for him, smirking in triumph?
Dralas/Xenk Yendar
For this ship, I'm fine with conflicted feelings, hatesex, dubcon, or Dralas nonconning Xenk. Breakups are okay, as they are clearly not together at the time of the movie.
Their dialogue makes it clear that these two have a history, but what kind of history is that? Were they always enemies? We don't really get a sense of Dralas's past or how they met but, in contrast to the compassion and encouragement Xenk shows everyone else, Dralas is the one person that Xenk calls "loathsome"... Is Xenk conflicted about treating Dralas so negatively, or does he feel it's justified? Dralas seems almost teasing during their conversation. Does he enjoy getting a rise out of the stoic paladin?
Unlike the Red Wizards, Dralas bears the same mark on his forehead that Xenk does. Was he a victim of the Beckoning Death, like those "honourable men" Xenk saw turned into monsters? Trained as an assassin, with no memory of his mortal life? Or did he willingly submit to undeath, choosing to serve Szass Tam? Maybe he had been an assassin for years - or maybe he was a child at the time of the Beckoning Death, who survived the spell but was ripped from his family anyway, and brainwashed as they trained him to serve in the future? Maybe he was even Xenk's childhood friend! (Whichever you choose, I'd prefer child Xenk not to have met an adult Dralas, or vice versa.)
If you go for a post-film setting, it's fine to mention that Dralas survived being eaten by Themberchaud and that it wasn't pleasant, but I don't want any further details!
Accidental Soulbond Between Enemies Maybe caused by a magical artifact or maybe by their shared curse. But the two of them are bonded together, and they can hear each other's thoughts/feel each other's feelings/can't be too far apart/any of the above.
Being tied up by Enemy causes Surprise Arousal Dralas ties Xenk up, maybe intending to haul him back to Thay. Xenk never expected the situation would give him an erection. Maybe Xenk escapes after some sexual tension and unsettlingly intimate touches, or maybe Dralas laughs and promises to let him go if Xenk satisfies him?
Character Feels Self-Hatred for Having Feelings for Enemy Xenk hates himself for feeling such a pull to Dralas, who's always been a test to his belief that there's good in everyone.
Hate Sex Maybe they get trapped together and the forced proximity prompts it, or maybe the adrenaline of a fight that turns to wrestling then turns again to sex - but they end up fucking, frantic and desperate and full of guilt. (At least on Xenk's part. Maybe Dralas just gleefully banters.)
Noncon - After Losing a Fight Dralas beats Xenk for once, and takes what he wants in the aftermath.
Noncon - Comfortable Captive Scenario Instead of hauling Xenk back to Thay, Dralas keeps Xenk for himself - taunting him, spoiling him, nonconning him.
Noncon - Deflowered by Enemy Xenk is a virgin. Maybe Dralas knows, and that's why he does it. Maybe he has no idea, it just happens to be Xenk's first time. Maybe Dralas finds out halfway through and is utterly delighted. Just show me poor Xenk being unwillingly deflowered.
Noncon - Forced to Submit to Hated Rival Whether literally forced to kneel or more metaphorically forced to let Dralas have his way with him, Xenk has to submit his body to Dralas.
Weapon to the Throat Whose weapon, whose throat? Don't care, but it's far more sexually charged than either of them expected.
Edgin Darvis/Forge Fitzwilliam
I love that Forge genuinely cares about Edgin, wants good things for him, enjoys spending time with him... and yet will quite happily ruin Edgin's life if it enriches his own. And he doesn't see any contradiction in that! That's so deliciously complicated.
Meanwhile Edgin seems to have trusted Forge, not only enough to ask him to look after Kira, but to be surprised when Forge later reveals his betrayal at Korinn's Keep. All that time he had to think while spending two years in Revel's End, and Edgin never considered that the con man could have been a traitor? Is Forge that good? Is Edgin actually a bit naive? Or has Edgin always been suspicious of Forge - but thought that his own criminal talents were enough that he would spot any betrayal before it happened? And, as he didn't see it, obviously Forge hadn't betrayed him...
Feel free to have Forge manipulating Edgin, or Edgin not being sure if he's being manipulated or not. Maybe they had a friends-with-benefits arrangement before Korinn's Keep, or had a guilty one night stand - or maybe they don't fuck until they're already enemies. I usually assume Forge tops, but maybe he likes bottoming - or maybe the situation requires it.
Accidental Soulbond Between Enemies Caused by a magical artifact maybe? But the two of them are bonded together, and they can hear each other's thoughts/feel each other's feelings/can't be too far apart/any of the above.
Forced Submission Leads to Kink Discovery Forge forces Edgin to submit... and Edgin is surprised by the intensity of his own physical reaction.
Hate Sex Turns Unexpectedly Tender A frantic, guilty fuck turns tender, prompted by the affection that used to exist between them.
Hero in desperate situation uses sex with the enemy as bargaining chip Maybe Forge captures Edgin as part of a post-canon plot... and Edgin offers what he knows Forge has always wanted: a night in bed with him.
Mating Cycles/In Heat - Character in Heat is Fucked by Enemy Whether he's an omega or it's caused by magic, Edgin goes into heat - and Forge helps (or "helps") him through it.
Noncon - Comfortable Captive Scenario Forge's new plan succeeds, and he has Edgin in his power - and decides to keep his old friend in luxury. And to noncon him repeatedly.
Noncon - Exchanging Sex for Freedom in Captivity Forge captures Edgin, and offers him a bargain: he can go free... but only if Edgin lets Forge fuck him. (Or maybe Edgin reluctantly offers because he needs to escape?)
Noncon - Using Knowledge from Previous Consensual Relationship They used to fool around, and that comes back to haunt Edgin when Forge uses all his knowledge of Edgin's kinks and preferences to force some pleasure from him.
Edgin Darvis/Xenk Yendar
I have so many feelings about these two. I love their banter and how they spark off each other, how Edgin sees Xenk as an enemy but then grows to respect him and doesn't want him to leave, how Xenk is frustrated with Edgin's criminal tendencies but fully believes in his goodness and is determined to draw it out... Making Edgin swear on the Harper's seal, then tenderly touching his hand? In fact, all of the hand-holding, and the offers of hand-holding. I'd love to see how their relationship develops after the film, with a softer friendship blossoming into romance. (And more touching. Lots of touching. And banter.)
These two are so good for mutual pining. Maybe Xenk thinks he can't be with anyone because of his duty as a paladin, or because the Beckoning Death has left him cursed, partially undead, lacking part of his soul, etc. Maybe Edgin finds out Xenk is a virgin and assumes the guy isn't interested in sex at all. (I do headcanon Xenk as a virgin.) Or Edgin thinks Xenk's too noble and pure to want a criminal like him, or thinks Xenk wants someone more serious or more intellectual. Xenk thinking Edgin's too charming and sociable to want someone as awkward and unbending as him... I love the angsty possibilities of all this, the two of them keeping their feelings secret even as they're practically bursting with longing. Especially as both of them are so touchy-feely! They must be torturing each other.
Accidental Soulbond Between Enemies An AU where they accidentally form a soulbond, maybe when Xenk makes Edgin swear on the Harper's seal? How do things change if Edgin can now hear Xenk's thoughts - and Xenk can hear Edgin's? What if it hurts for them to be too far apart?
Ex-enemies First Time Together They're already ex-enemies, so show me their first time! How much angst and longing does it take to get them there - and how sweet is it when it finally happens?
Nicholas Devereaux/Mia Thermopolis
This is such a great example of enemies to lovers. I love that they're kind and flirty at their first meeting, because they're immediately attracted to each other, and that even once they're enemies they can't hide that sexual tension. But their enmity is based on both seeking something only one of them can have rather than ideological differences: Nicholas seems more motivated by whether Mia's going to be a good queen and whether she really knows Genovia (and by his uncle's influence), and not a personal hunger for power. So once he's convinced of her capability (and she of his sincerity) and he gives up his claim to the crown, there's no question about whether they'd be able to find common ground.
I love both the push-and-pull of Nicholas flirting and Mia trying to resist (in the closet, by the fountain, the deleted scene in the kitchen) as well as them being soft and friendly with each other: Nicholas supporting Mia by helping with her archery, and the night they spend together before her wedding where we see them opening up emotionally, dancing close, and falling asleep in each other's arms. So I'd love a post-canon continuation of that as their relationship develops, or is fully established, or a missing scene while Nicholas is still living at the palace and they keep running into each other. Or maybe an AU?
I liked Andrew as a character so no bashing of him please, and it's fine to have Mia/Andrew's unromantic engagement happening in the background or to show them amicably breaking up. Also happy for Clarisse/Joe to be in the background, or for Lilly to visit again. Or cute appearances by Fat Louie the cat or Maurice the dog!
Accidental Soulbond Between Enemies Maybe during an argument they both touch some mysterious object in the palace and then, whoops, soulbond. Is Mia quicker to believe Nicholas's sincerity when she can feel his emotions? Is Nicholas more easily convinced of Mia's suitability when he can hear her thoughts? Or does the fact that they can no longer be more than a few feet apart just drive them insane? And there's still the issue of Mabrey...
Alternate Universe - Fantasy - Rival Heirs to the Throne Basically the plot of the film, but with added Magic. Maybe the crown's magic will only accept a married queen, and Nicholas has to marry Mia. (Maybe they have to consummate it in public?) Maybe the heir has to master a certain form of magic. (Maybe Nicholas ends up tutoring Mia, like with archery?) Or maybe they're dragon riders, both competing in challenges to prove they deserve the crown. Just anything which fits this theme!
Arranged Marriage Between Enemies Must Be Publicly Consummated Mia is betrothed to Nicholas instead of Andrew - and becoming frenemies doesn't make the intimacy of consummating their marriage less daunting. Can they put aside their enmity to be kind and tender with each other?
Arranged Marriage with Secret Plan to Undermine Future Spouse Becomes Real Marriage Instead of revealing Nicholas as another heir, Mabrey only pushes for Mia's marriage - and then sets her up with Nicholas, instructing his nephew to seduce her so they can break the engagement just before the deadline. But of course Nicholas ends up falling in love. What happens when Mia discovers the truth?
Ex-enemies First Time Together They're canonically enemies-to-lovers... show me their first time! Is it fun and full of laughter, is it romantic and passionate, is Nicholas gentle with nervous virgin Mia?
Forced Proximity Between Enemies Leads to Kissing A missing scene where they get trapped in another closet? And the sexual tension grows and grows until they end up kissing.
Omegaverse - accidentally scenting/being scented by the enemy No preference whether it's alpha Nicholas scenting an oblivious omega Mia, or alpha Mia accidentally scenting omega Nicholas!
Omegaverse - unexpected/induced heat causes character to rely on enemy to help through it Prefer omega Mia for this. Maybe they get trapped in a closet, then her heat starts and she's desperately trying to ignore it - until it gets too strong, and alpha Nicholas gently offers to hold her and let her inhale his scent, helping her through it without taking advantage? (Or maybe it happens before Mia gets engaged, and they do end up fucking?)
Franklin "FDR" Foster/Tuck Hansen
I love these two and the dynamic they have: working smoothly together, protecting each other in danger, happily declaring their love for each other, bantering, hanging out... oh, and that time they had a punchup, smashing up a restaurant. They're deeply competitive but deeply loyal, though there's also a fragility to their friendship - and an emotional tension to their rivalry.
They're such different people - smooth, flirty FDR who hides his angsty past, and earnest, romantic Tuck who's longing for love but doesn't know how to find it - but they have such an easy rapport and genuinely like each other. (Except when they don't.) They also do a lot of terrible things - for their jobs, but also socially - and I'm fine with that being acknowledged, in a "they're the same kind of terrible, and therefore perfect for each other" sort of way.
Best Friends to Angry Fistfighting to Lovers Either that punchup in the restaurant turning to passionate kissing on the floor, or an AU where a previous argument about something led to them getting together in the adrenaline-fuelled aftermath of a fight?
Forgiveness/Makeup Sex After all the sabotage and harsh words of fighting over Lauren (or something else) they reaffirm their love for each other - and express that mutual forgiveness through sex.
Former Romantic Rivals Fall For Each Other Instead There's an alternate ending where FDR and Tuck choose each other as the car's rolling towards them. So, like... that? But explicitly slashy, lmao.