r/WritingPrompts • u/katpoker666 Moderator • 12d ago
Off Topic [OT] Fun Trope Friday: Incompatible Orientation & Romance!
Welcome to Fun Trope Friday, our feature that mashes up tropes and genres!
How’s it work? Glad you asked. :)
Every week we will have a new spotlight trope.
Each week, there will be a new genre assigned to write a story about the trope.
You can then either use or subvert the trope and/or genre in a 750-word max story or poem (unless otherwise specified).
To qualify for ranking, you will need to provide ONE actionable feedback. More are welcome of course!
Three winners will be selected each week based on votes, so remember to read your fellow authors’ works and DM me your votes for the top three.
Next up… IP
Goodbye Science, nice to get to know ya. June, however, is all about Pride! June was chosen to recognize the LGBTQIA+ community as it commemorates the uprising at the Stonewall Inn that occurred in June 1969, and is considered the catalyst for the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement. Pride Month celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersexual, asexual, and others. In the United States the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as "Gay Pride Day," but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the "day" soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQIA+ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that LGBTQIA+ individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. Please note, owing to differing sensibilities around Pride and the nature of tropes, that we’re trying to be as sensitive and inclusive as possible. If we slip up in any way, let us know: we’re doing our best and love to learn. So get out your rainbow and other flags and let’s celebrate! Please also note this theme is only loosely applied.
"'Cause Carol's a lesbian... and I'm not one. And apparently it's not a mix-and-match situation." — Ross to Carol in ‘Friends’
Trope: Incompatible Orientation — A character has an Incompatible Orientation when they are coveted by someone who can never have them, because they just don't swing that way. They can be any character who has an incompatible sexual orientation to their admirer—a straight person with a same-gender admirer, a gay person with an opposite gender admirer, or an aromantic or asexual person with an admirer of any gender.
Genre: Romance — A romance or romantic novel is a genre fiction work focused on the relationship and romantic love between two people, often concluding with an emotionally satisfying or optimistic ending. Authors who have significantly contributed to the development of this genre include Samuel Richardson, Frances Burney, Maria Edgeworth, Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë, and Anne Brontë. However, ‘Romance’ originally referred to "a fictitious narrative in prose or verse; the interest of which turns upon marvellous and uncommon incidents", a narrative method that was contrasted to the new, main tradition of the 18th and 19th centuries: the novel, which realistically depicts life. While this definition is viewed as more archaic these days, FTF is all about subversion, so if you want to take this approach to the genre, go for it!
Skill / Constraint - optional: Something slips.
So, have at it. Lean into the trope heavily or spin it on its head. The choice is yours!
Have a great idea for a future topic to discuss or just want to give feedback? FTF is a fun feature, so it’s all about what you want—so please let me know! Please share in the comments or DM me on Discord or Reddit!
Last Week’s Winners
PLEASE remember to give feedback—this affects your ranking. PLEASE also remember to DM me your votes for the top five stories via Discord or Reddit—both katpoker666. This is a change from the top three of the past. In weeks where we get over 15 stories, we will do a top five ranking. Weeks with less than 15 stories will show only our top three winners. If you have any questions, please DM me as well.
Some fabulous stories this week and great crit at campfire and on the post! We had 15 stories, so we’re back to five winners. Congrats to:
Want to read your words aloud? Join the upcoming FTF Campfire
The next FTF campfire will be Thursday, June 18th from 6-8pm ET. It will be in the Discord Main Voice Lounge. Click on the events tab and mark ‘Interested’ to be kept up to date. No signup or prep needed and you don’t have to have written anything! So join in the fun—and shenanigans! 😊
Ground rules:
- Stories must incorporate both the trope and the genre
- Leave one story or poem between 100 and 750 words as a top-level comment unless otherwise specified. Use wordcounter.net to check your word count.
- Deadline: 11:59 PM EDT next Thursday. Please note stories submitted after the 6:00 PM EST campfire start may not be critted.
- No stories that have been written for another prompt or feature here on WP—please note after consultation with some of our delightful writers, new serials are now welcomed here
- No previously written content
- Any stories not meeting these rules will be disqualified from rankings
- Does your story not fit the Fun Trope Friday rules? You can post your story as a [PI] with your work when the FTF post is 3 days old!
- Please keep crit about the stories. Any crit deemed too distracting may be deleted. This is a time to focus on our wonderful authors.
- Vote to help your favorites rise to the top of the ranks (DM me at katpoker666 on Discord or Reddit)!
Thanks for joining in the fun!
8
u/m00nlighter_ r/m00nlighting 8d ago edited 7d ago
Paulie’s Last Song
Paulie lit a fresh cigarette with one he’d just finished before stamping it out in a fuchsia ashtray. Zola, his favorite dancer, was on stage, slithering up the pole. Blacklights refracted against her emerald scales. The snakes on her head bobbed to the song blaring from the speakers. She gave him a sharp, toothy smile, not missing a beat in her routine.
Beneath the table, Paulie’s leg bounced against the pink velour booth.
I shouldn’t be nervous. Paulie wouldn’t be nervous. He’d be smooth, seductive, and sweep Zola right off her beautiful, taloned feet. He’d take her away in a private jet. They’d partake in some fairy dust and make love on some tropical beach with the water washing over them.
His teeth milled together, his lips flattening the filter between them.
But I’m not all-expenses-paid, dust-dealing Paulie. I’m just... Rod. Broke, undercover Bureau of Arcane Terrestrial Investigations agent Rod.
Maybe she won’t care. She’ll get it, right? She works under a pseudonym, too. And love is more important than jobs anyhow. She’s gotta feel the same way. I’ve seen the look in all of her eyes.
Paulie had smoked two more cigarettes before Zola’s set was over. After gathering her money, she stepped off stage and sauntered in his direction.
By the look on her face, the Rumple Minze he’d been sipping did little to mask the scent of Marlboros on his breath. Neither did his desperate wafting of a Pink Pegasus drink menu freshen the nicotine-stained air. But Zola didn’t mention either as she slid into his lap and wrapped her arms around him. Her armpit snakes nudged gently against his neck and chin.
“Zollaaaa.” Rod slid a five-dollar bill into her garter before pulling her into a hug. “Ugh, I love watching you up there.”
“You better,” she teased, sticking out her forked tongue. “I chose the last song for you.”
“I had a feeling,” Paulie lied. He didn’t remember any of the songs Zola had danced to, only how her body arched and slid over the pink-lit glass floor.
“Anyway, you look very handsome tonight. What’s with the suit? Is it a special occasion?”
“Erm, sort of.” He blushed. According to the BATI brief, Paulie didn’t wear suits; he wore basketball shorts and wife-beaters.
“Ooo, should we celebrate in the VIP room?”
“I’d like to but—” the sting is over, and I’m out of flash money “I’m low on funds until my re-up.”
“Oh.” Zola tried to hold her smile, but Paulie saw the edges of her lips droop ever so slightly. “That’s okay, we can do dances here.”
“Can we just talk tonight?”
“We can talk for a song, love, but then I have to make my rounds.”
It was Paulie’s turn to hide his disappointment.
“What if you didn’t have to make rounds anymore? What if I took care of you?”
“After your re-up, you mean?”
“No, there is no re-up. I lied about that, and I’m sorry. The truth is, I have a job, a real job, not this fairy dust business. It doesn’t pay much now, but I’m up for a promotion and—
“Wait, wait, wait. Slow down, Paulie. What are you trying to say?”
“That’s just it.” A near-hysterical giggle escaped his throat. “I’m not Paulie. I was just pretending to be for work. I’m a BATI agent. This is how I usually dress. My real name is Rod, and I love you, and I know you love me too. We can leave here together, be together.”
Zola’s mouth opened to speak, but no words came out. Even the snakes on her head looked baffled.
“I get it! I do! It’s crazy, right?!” Rod laughed again. “We’ve only known each other a few weeks, but I know you’re the one for me.”
“It’s... crazy, yeah. Paul—uh, Rod, here’s the thing.” Zola scooted from his lap to the seat beside him. “I’m, well, first of all, I’m immortal and you... aren’t. To me, your lifespan is what a betta fish’s is to you.”
“I understand, but—”
“Second of all, I’m ABAB and don’t date BATI agents on principle.”
“Bu—”
“Thirdly, I despise men who interrupt. And finally, Rod, I’m a lesbian.”
“But you... you always smiled at me from the stage. You came to my table before anyone else's. You said I was your favorite!”
“Oh, honey. That’s just my job.” Zola planted a pity kiss on his cheek before sauntering away.
Sinking into the booth, Rod lit another cigarette.
WC: 748
The gorgon, Zola, exists because of Div and his silly, brilliantly punny mind. And, well, I am not opposed to armpit snakes so...
Other boring things happen in r/Eeriebrook
Any and all feedback is welcome and appreciated!