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Comments

very minor crossovers

[(Anonymous)]

where do we stand on including minor (unrequested) crossovers in gift fics. it wouldn't be plot wise, more like a single character from the other canon appearing, and it's something my recip would almost 100% be aware of but I can't figure out if they've watched it/how they feel about it.

Re: very minor crossovers

[(Anonymous)]

Very high-risk move IMO. Personally, even as someone who will read and enjoy full-on crossover fics, I dislike these kinds of minor crossover cameos and find it throws me out of the story to have some rando from a different canon show up when it's not part of the main premise of the story I signed up for. (There's also a lower but non-zero risk of having picked a crossover fandom/character that the recipient will be more specifically annoyed by, especially if it's a well-known fandom where they're likely to have formed at least some opinion if only, "Ugh, can everyone please stop talking about X?") OTOH, some people do actively enjoy and get a kick out of Easter egg-type references and cameo characters! But I wouldn't risk it in a gift fic without at least a clear indication they're into and up for crossovers in general.

Re: very minor crossovers

[(Anonymous)]

just don't do it unless recip explicitly asks. end of.

Re: very minor crossovers

[(Anonymous)]

Absolutely not. Save that crap for your own fics.

Re: very minor crossovers

[(Anonymous)]

No. Do not do this. Do not.

Re: very minor crossovers

[(Anonymous)]

Be honest with yourself:

1) why do you want to do this?

2) would you be happy to request Harry Potter and have brief appearances from Elsa from Frozen, Spiderman, Matilda Wormwood, Susan Pevensie, Mary Poppins or Shrek? Having given no indication that you've seen/read any of these and more to the point, wanted fic for them?

Re: very minor crossovers

[(Anonymous)]

but I can't figure out if they've watched it/how they feel about it

That right there is enough reason not to do this. Absolutely not. If they're unrelated canons and not part of the same universe/franchise/whatever, do not do this.

There are specific situations where I might do an unrequested crossover of the actual fandoms the recip is requesting if their sign-up makes it clear that they're open to unexpected stuff like that... but only then.

Re: very minor crossovers

[(Anonymous)]

For most people it wouldn't actually ruin the fic, but consider:

-If it's so tiny a part that it doesn't really affect the plot, do you actually need it?

-If it's a larger part, does it risk taking focus away from what your recipient asked for?

I'm not as strong a "no" as some of the other replies because there needs to be freedom to include shit just because it would make you happy, but I wouldn't include it unless your recipient at least likes crossovers in general.

Re: very minor crossovers

[(Anonymous)]

I would say that most crossovers are opt in. If the canon has crossovers in it, then I think doing things in line with that would be fine (e.g. Abed from Community appearing in the background in a Cougar Town fic). If the person didn’t request the second fandom, I probably wouldn’t do it.