Archive of Our Own

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THE SCHEDULE

Sign-Ups Open: MAY 8
Sign-Ups Close: JUNE 7
Exchange Assignments Sent Out: JUNE 12
Check-In: JULY 6
Creation Period: JUNE 12 - AUGUST 14
Fanworks Due:AUGUST 14
Reveals Start: AUGUST 20
Author Reveals: AUGUST 30

THE TOPIC

Dedicated to a dream he sometimes keeps alive singlehandedly, 616 Steve carries an iconography and mythos so immense that he has, more than once, Just Quit - throwing aside his mantle to brood, regroup, and reflect on a world that often doesn’t measure up to the potential he sees in it.

In this round of Niche 616 Exchange, we are celebrating 616 Steve’s many transformative periods of disillusionment and evolution. Who is the man when he is not serving as Captain America? What power does he wield when he is not wearing the flag and can he ever truly put it down? What does it mean to keep the dream alive and what does it mean to walk away from it? Does Tony love Steve or Captain America?

FANWORKS REQUIREMENTS

You will create one fanwork and receive one fanwork, centering around 616 Steve's canon periods of estrangement from his Captain America-sona.

• Artists: submit an original piece for the event (traditional, digital mediums, or fancomics), minimum of linework (one polished work on an unlined surface). You are free to do more if you so choose.
• Writers: submit a minimum of 2500 words. You are free to write more if you so choose.

SIGN-UP REQUIREMENTS

in your REQUEST section, a minimum of:

• 3 Long Prompts
• 3 Short Prompts
• 3 Art Prompts
• 5 tags from the story Tagset
• DNWS, if you have them
• *Additional Likes are highly recommended, but not required

in your OFFER section, a minimum of:

• your discord username, or an email you check regularly if you don't wish to join the server
• if you wish to volunteer to be a pinch-hitter
• 5 tags from the story Tagset
• DNWS, if you have them

If you can't fulfill your assignment, let the mod team know ASAP, so we can contact a pinch hitter.

Do I have to be a member of the YGMAH (You Gave Me A Home) Discord Server to participate in these exchanges?

You do not have to be a member, but we STRONGLY recommend it, both for your own enjoyment of comics Steve/Tony and for individual exchange communications! If you are not a member, you will be required to a.) include an email you check regularly in your sign-up and b.) respond to email from the exchange organizers to confirm that we can contact you regarding your sign up. You can join the server here. 
 

What does 18+ only mean for these exchanges?

18+ means only participants 18 years of age or older may participate in the exchange. This is a direct requirement of the YGMAH (You Gave Me A Home) Discord community, which is hosting this exchange.

Will I have to create a Mature/Explicit rated work?

No. 18+ refers to the age requirement of the participants, not the content of the created fanworks. However, unless you clearly indicate 'NO Mature/Explicit work' in your sign-up, you should be prepared to potentially receive Mature/Explicit prompts and also create for them. Given the nature of the exchange, we cannot guarantee a Teen and below rating for your gifter or giftee.

What does "Steve/Tony(+)" exclusive mean?

Steve/Tony(+) means that this exchange centers romantic relationships that include comics versions of Steve Rogers and Tony Stark. You may also create/request fanworks depicting Steve/Tony/others in a poly relationship/moresome. MCU characters are still not allowed. Examples:

Steve Rogers/Tony Stark: YES
Steve Rogers/Tony Stark/Janet Van Dyne: YES
Natasha Stark/616 Tony Stark/Ults Steve Rogers: YES
Civil Warrior/Tony Stark: YES
Gen Steve & Tony: YES
Tony/Carol Danvers: NO
Ults Steve/MCU Tony: NO

What does "comics-exclusive" mean?

Comics-exclusive for these exchanges means that fanworks must feature the specific Niche 616 Exchange topic/event/character articulation and must be set within/inspired by comics universes. This includes 616, 1610 (Ultimates), Noir, 1872, Dark Ages, etc. This does NOT include MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe).

Which comics should I read to write for this exchange?

Curated Don’t Call Me Captain tales, listed in descending order of obscurity + relevance:

• anti-establishment guy + nomad (captain america vol. 1 #172-184)
• the captain (armor wars - captain america vol. 1 #331-351, iron man vol. 1 #228)
• commander i (secret avengers vol. 1 #1-37 + itself all issues)
• commander ii (hickmanvengers - time runs out, avengers vol. 5 #37+)
• hydra (secret empire all issues, captain america: steve rogers #1-15, avengers standoff: assault on pleasant hill alpha #1) + ALT hydra (exiles #91-92)
• old man steve (avengers twilight vol. 1 #1-6)
• sheriff rogers (1872 #1-4)
• ults steve in the desert (ultimate fallout, ultimate comics ultimates #5-6, #12)
• no-serum iron man (bullet points #1-3)
• post-america man taken prisoner (dark ages #1-6)
• civil warrior (marvel’s contest of champions playthrough)
• deathlok steve (x-factor vol. 3 #231-232+241)

How do I fill out the Sign-Up?

Click the 'Sign-Up' button on the Subcollection's specific exchange Dashboard page. Your 'Request' is what you are wishing to receive as a gift. Select from the tagset: comic universes, content rating levels, relationships, and story content tags that match the content of your prompts - that is, things you like and would like to see in the fanwork you will receive. These tags and your prompts will be used to MATCH YOU TO SOMEONE WHO WILL CREATE FANWORK FOR YOU BASED ON YOUR PROMPTS (your gifter). Please make sure some of your prompts can be used to make art.

Prompt Examples:

SHORT: Civil Warrior finds 616 Steve. They battle.
LONG: Steve convinces Tony to abandon his sponsorship of the SHRA, leading to a cold war with SHIELD. They successfully lead the Avengers in hiding to victory against US govt forces.
ART: Steve as the tarot card The Hanged Man.

In the form box below the tags, place AT LEAST three long prompts, AT LEAST three short prompts and AT LEAST three art prompts. Your gifter will draw on these prompts to create a fanwork for you, so use this field to help them understand what you like. You may also include additional WANTS, DNWs, and general trope preferences not covered by the tags, but know that your gifter will write specifically for the prompts and tags listed and other wants are not guaranteed. Your gifter will not be allowed to make content that is in your DNWs.

Your 'Offer' is what you are willing to create. Select from the tagsets: indicate comic universes, content rating levels, relationships, and story content tags that you feel comfortable creating for. These tags will be used to MATCH YOU WITH YOUR DRAWING/WRITING ASSIGNMENT (your giftee). Place additional DNW tags/conditions in the form box below. You may not request to be paired or not be paired with a specific other participant.

Hit submit! You are done! Message the mods with any further questions.

I have a question about my giftee or my assignment.

DO NOT contact your giftee directly to maintain the sacred mystery. Please contact the mods at [email protected] or Discord (@kiyaar, @dinostarus, @annthonystark) and we will contact them for you so anonymity is maintained.

What are the fanworks requirements/I have a question about dates!

See the INTRODUCTION section on each's Subcollection's specific exchange dashboard for a complete exchange timeline and the RULES section below for complete requirements.

Can I be a pinch-hitter without signing up for the events?

Yes, and we love you for asking. Please contact one of the mods via discord or email [email protected] to let us know.

Do not use generative AI tools or LLM-based models to make your fanworks. You will be banned from future events and your creative endeavors cursed for three generations.