Roundup: Trick-or-Treat exchange 2023

[firecat]

trickortreatex is a large exchange for stories that are tricks (horror, occult, supernatural, scary, etc) or treats (sweet, sexy, fluffy, etc.). The minimum is 300 words or a "nice sketch". It's been running since 2014.

Over 700 works were posted. This year there was a community challenge to write at least 250 “trick” and 250 “treat” works. We beat the challenge and won the badge that I used for this post’s icon.

This is the third year I've participated. I wrote a Halloween story based on Constantine TV.

I received two cakes! That is, two people wrote the same prompt from my requests — Jones the Cat from the Alien series of movies has kittens to protect. One was a treat, set post-canon, and one was a trick, set in the first movie (which carefully threaded my “cat harm” DNWs)! I love it when that happens.

What I wrote:

A Moment Before the Maelstrom (1632 words) by firecat
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Constantine (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Chas Chandler & John Constantine & Mary "Zed" Martin, John Constantine/Mary "Zed" Martin
Characters: Chas Chandler, John Constantine, Mary "Zed" Martin
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Halloween, Demons, Visions, Magic, Family, Trick or Treat: Treat, (mostly), Flirting, Developing Relationship, Ambiguous/Open Ending
Summary:

Zed Martin wants to do Halloween. A jack-o’lantern, candy, the whole works. John Constantine isn’t so sure.

Then Zed has a terrifying vision.

What I received:

Follow the Meows (383 words) by Missy
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Alien: Resurrection, Alien Quadrilogy (Movies)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Annalee Call/Ellen Ripley, Jones the Cat & Ellen Ripley
Characters: Jones the Cat (Alien Series), Ellen Ripley, Annalee Call, Original Cat Character(s)
Additional Tags: Kittens, Post-Canon, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Fluff, Trick or Treat: Treat, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Just Add Kittens, Romance
Summary:

Ripley and Call pick up Jones, but it turns out the cat's hiding a serious (and adorable) secret.

Refuge (2424 words) by Cerulean_Phoenix7
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Alien Quadrilogy (Movies)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Jones the Cat (Alien Series), Ellen Ripley, Xenomorph
Additional Tags: Horror, Suspense, Science Fiction, cats in space, Jones being a protective cat dad, Trick or Treat: Trick
Summary:

Jones pads over to the thawing chamber. He settles next to the Guardian with curly hair, and she reaches a hand out, running her fingers over his head and down his back. She’s always been his favourite.

As the box thaws, a strong scent seeps into the room. Jones sniffs the air, his nose twitching. He rises to all fours. He’s smelled this before.
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An unexpected find aboard the Nostromo leads to an altogether new experience for Jones.