Yuletide Letter 2014
Oct. 20th, 2014 02:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
andrasteVast swathes of this letter are copy-pasted from last year, if anyone is struck by an overwhelming sense of deja vu.
Dear Yulegoat,
First of all, thank you for offering to write in one of my fandoms! I hope you have fun.
I'm pretty easy-going as far as content goes. I like gen, slash, femslash, het and whatever other genre or combination of genres you care to come up with. I love all of the fandoms and the characters I requested. The only thing I really don't want to see in your story is animal harm.
I am equally comfortable with any rating from G to NC-17. I don't mind angst and/or unhappy endings. Fluff is fine. Character death is fine. Violence is fine. Sex is fine. Christmas stories are fine. I love crossovers and dig AUs.
You can ignore everything here and just write me anything you want with the characters I requested. Optional details are optional, but I know most people like to have prompts to bounce off. Feel free to combine prompts.
James Asher Vampire Series - Barbara Hambly
Characters: James Asher, Lydia Asher, Simon Ysidro
Anything you want to write about the World's Most Sensible Vampire Love Triangle or any of its components would be fabulous. You don't have to put all three of them in the story, although I certainly do love watching them bounce off of each other. They have been my OT3 since long before I knew what an OT3 was. Some ideas, if you need them:
1) Backstory for any of the characters would be lovely. Obviously Simon has a lot of time to have backstory in, both as a mortal and a vampire. What did he get up to during all those centuries? I'd also love to hear more about James' spy adventures or Lydia's time at Oxford.
2) Futurefic would also be great, especially if it takes the end of Kindred of Darkness into account. Is James really going to follow through on his threats - or at least try to? How would Simon respond if he did? And what does Lydia think about all this?
3) Lydia's scientific interest in vampirism is one I share. I'd love to see her finding out more about how their biology works.
The two things I love most about this series are the attention to the scientific and socio-political implications of vampirism, and how reasonable everyone is about aforementioned Vampire Love Triangle. I love that Simon writes sonnets about Lydia, and Lydia gets her heart broken by Simon, but when there's a plot to be getting on with they damn well get on with it. I love that James' reaction to his wife falling in love with Simon is to feel awful for both of them. I love that there is no suggestion of Lydia running off with Simon, and nobody wastes their energy on jealousy.
The end of Kindred of Darkness left me all wibbly, and I'd certainly love to see fall out from that - whether James continues to regard Simon as an actual enemy, or relents for some reason. If James actually killed (or tried to kill) Simon, how would Lydia react? Could James and Lydia manage future vampire-related incidents without a vampire ally? Would Lydia still ask Simon for help? Would Simon just lurk about in the background helping without being asked?
If you can find a way to make James/Lydia/Simon work, I would love to see it, but I also love the fragile balance of their relationship in the books. I'd rather not see James/Simon or Lydia/Simon that breaks up Lydia and James. (James/Lydia with Simon left out is fine, it being the state of the canon.) I think the reasons Simon doesn't want to turn one or both of them are detailed thoroughly in the book, but at the same time it would certainly be interesting to see what would happen if he did ...
Jago & Litefoot
Characters: Henry Gordon Jago, George Litefoot
I love these two characters, and I love to watch them interact. If they're both in the story, that's all I really need. If you want ideas:
1) Jago and Litefoot have done some time-and-space travelling in canon - to Roanoke, Venus and the sixties - but I'd love to see more. How would they manage with getting stuck in the Jurassic era? Or the Middle Ages? 2013? The year five billion? (Given their usual activities, falling into a time portal practically seems like a normal day.)
2) ... and on the other hand, pseudo-historicals are my favourite thing in this universe, so I'd be equally pleased if you keep them in their natural environment. Especially if you involve things from the wider Victorian era, or its Doctor Who universe equivalent.
3) So, it's been implied that Litefoot, uh, prefers the company of gentlemen. Is Jago as oblivious to this as it appears, or is he just showing a rare capacity for tact? Are they ever going to have an awkward conversation on the subject?
I couldn't be more pleased that, thirty years after the fact, these two finally have their own show! I am convinced that I could be entertained listening to Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter read the phone book to each other, but I'd much rather hear them play Jago and Litefoot. I just get a ridiculous grin on my face every time I put one of the CDs into the player.
I love the relationship between these characters, and how in a society with so many distinctions they manage to overcome the barriers of class and background and be Best Friends Forever. I love even more that those distinctions don't get ignored in the series - they still exist, but they're not as powerful as the bond between these two. If Litefoot's sexuality does get brought up, I'd prefer that it be handled in a similar way. I tend to read their relationship as asexual (if not necessarily aromantic) but if you want to write me slash I certainly wouldn't object. As long as they're together, I don't mind if they're having sex or a drink in the pub or fighting Ogrons in the 51st century.
Moebius: Empire Rising
I am going to level with you, writer: for this particular fandom, I would like slash. It doesn't have to be explicit - keeping the subtext at its canon level (with the soulbonding and putting each other to bed, etc.) would be just fine! But I would sooner not get a story where Malachai and David are Terribly Heterosexual and/or involved with other people. Anything with the two of them would be fine. If you would like some prompts:
1) SOULBONDING! Tell me all about the soulbond.
2) ... and, given the canonical presence of soulbonding, one wonders what other ridiculous - and by ridiculous I mean awesome - fanfic clichés might happen to these two. Are aliens going to unexpectedly show up and make them have sex? Will someone nefariously replace Malachi's Xanax with an aphrodisiac? Will they somehow get stranded in a Canadian shack?
3) Presumably it's not that easy to get out of your destiny, even if you just told the head of FITA where he can shove his job (and his flag.) What further adventures are they going to have?
I feel sort of bad about the 'slash, please!' tone of these prompts, but given the canon ... yeah. I really mean it when I say that I will be perfectly happy with anything that maintains the tone of the game in that regard, though. (Of course, if you want to write about all the soulbonded sex they have about ten minutes after the credits roll, that would also be great.)
I really enjoyed the Slashiest Point-And-Click Adventure of 2014 (Or Any Other Year) and was sorry it didn't get a more positive reception. (Sure, the graphics are a little wonky, but apparently I will forgive a lot of poor 3D models for a story about soulbonding, antiques and terrible jokes.)
One of the other things I liked about the game was the historical investigation aspect - it would be interesting to see Malachi look into his various historical counterparts over the centuries.
The Mysterious Cities of Gold
Characters: Mendoza
As long as your story has Mendoza in it, I will be happy! Things you could write about include but are not limited to:
1) Gen interaction with any or all of the kids would be great. They all have different reactions to their kidnapper/navigator/bodyguard/token competent adult, and anything that explores those relationships would be interesting.
2) Backstory! Where is Mendoza from? How did he come to sail with Magellan in the first place? What other adventures did he have while Esteban was busy growing up?
The reason there are fewer prompts for this fandom is that what I really want to write is 'JUST GIVE ME ALL THE MENDOZA!!!' Which I realise is not the most helpful prompt in the world *g*. (Unless it is, for you. In which case: just give me all the Mendoza, yule writer.)
I adored this show as a child, and was thrilled to discover I loved it just as much as an adult when I rewatched it a few years ago. I'm delighted that it's back and enjoyed Season Two. I do not expect you to have seen Season Two in order to write for me. If you want to include stuff from it that would be great, but sticking with the original broadcast episodes is just fine.
Mendoza is my favourite, although I love the kids as well. He fascinated me as a child, and he still does - I love his moral ambiguity, and the way the kids change him for the better as the story goes on.
I'm also intrigued by the worldbuilding. Ancient technology! Lost civilisations! Gold-plated everything! Bonus points for including the Golden Condor. (Obviously I don't expect it to show up if you go with the backstory angle, but I really do love that thing. And also the airship from Season Two, if you've got that far. If not: there's an airship! It's really cool! You should look forward to it.)
The Secret World
Characters: Any
I would be delighted to read anything at all about this world. If you would like a more specific prompt, here are a few for the characters that you may have offered to write:
1) How did 'Emma' end up as 'Emma' in the first place? By the time we see her in flashback, she already looks like a young human girl. Was she born that way? Alternatively: what was Lilith planning to do with her? What is the Filth planning to do with her?
2) Richard Sonnac seems very nostalgic about his days as a young Templar in Transylvania. What adventures did he have there, or in the rest of the world's supernatural trouble spots, before he got stuck behind a desk?
3) What kind of snarky mission turn-in responses does Alex McCall get from Kristen Geary?
If you want to write about some other character or characters - other NPCs, your PC, some other original character who lives in this setting - feel free! The setting is what intrigues me the most, and anything you want to write about it would be lovely.
I got a great story in this fandom last year, and I'm requesting it again in hopes of increasing the total number of stories. (If you want to know what I like about The Secret World, reading The Wrong Place, Wrong Time Girl would give you a pretty good idea.)
I just want to reiterate that I would be happy with ANYTHING AT ALL in this fandom. I provided prompts because I know many people find it easier to have something to work with, but if you happen to have another idea you like better, please go ahead and write that.
Anything from the history of the Societies to your own player character's reaction to becoming a Bee Person is fair game. I love the setting and find both the setting and the people intriguing - I love how much of the story is buried so that you have to go looking for it. Often literally. I've been playing since beta and still haven't found all the lore fragments. Damn bees. (I also love the combat, so if you want to somehow write metafic about the awesome Chaos/Fist burst deck you made, go right ahead.)
Tiger & Bunny
Characters: Antonio Lopez, Karina Lyle, Nathan Seymour, Pao-Lin Huang.
Any of these characters (or any combination of them, with each other or the rest of the cast) is fine with me. You don't have to put all four of them into one story unless you want to. If you need some prompts:
1) Antonio has been a hero roughly as long as Tiger, and I'd love to hear more about his career. Has he always been near the bottom of the rankings, or has his star fallen over time? Either way, how does he feel about that?
2) Nathan is in charge of his own company as well as being a Hero, and unlike the rest of the crew he sponsors himself. Does everyone at Helios actually think that the fabulous Fire Emblem is the boss's bodyguard, or are they just too polite to say anything? Or is Nathan's secret identity an open secret all over Sternbild?
3) Pao-Lin became a hero before she was old enough to drive, vote, or (legally) get into a bar. How does growing up under that spotlight affect her, in good ways and bad?
4) I love pretty much anything where Kotetsu is interacting with the other heroes - his friendship with Antonio is lovely, but so are his interactions with Nathan and Pao-Lin. Or any of the others, really!
5) I am a total sucker for the whole Hero TV team being together, whether they're fighting the bad guys or celebrating a victory. Anything like that would delight me. (Especially if they're planning another wacky birthday party and everything goes hilariously wrong again ...)
... and apparently I could write Tiger & Bunny prompts all day long. Forgive the length of this set of prompts. It's not that I love this fandom more, it just has a large cast and I like to see them interacting.
I just want to say again that any one (or two, or three) of these characters is perfectly acceptable for this request. I also love everybody in thisbar show, so if what you want to write about is Pao-Lin mentoring Kaede, or Nathan and Lunatic having a firebender showdown, or that one time Origami Cyclone had to pretend to be Blue Rose on stage after she twisted her ankle, go right ahead. I also 'ship everything (EVERYTHING!) between the Hero TV crew that doesn't involve pairing the adult heroes with the teens. (So if Sky High/Rock Bison is the 'ship of your heart, go ahead and write that, but I'd prefer to see Karina and Pao-Lin only with each other or Ivan. Karina's crush on Tiger is adorable, but I don't think anything should come of it unless she's much older than she is in the show.)
I also love the world-building in this series, and anything that explores that would be lovely, whether it's the history of Sternbild or the nature of NEXT powers or the ins and outs of Hero TV.
I have not managed to see the movie yet, but I should have by Christmas, so don't worry about spoilers. (I only mention in it case it somehow explored something I mentioned in my prompts in such a way as to make them obsolete.)
Dear Yulegoat,
First of all, thank you for offering to write in one of my fandoms! I hope you have fun.
I'm pretty easy-going as far as content goes. I like gen, slash, femslash, het and whatever other genre or combination of genres you care to come up with. I love all of the fandoms and the characters I requested. The only thing I really don't want to see in your story is animal harm.
I am equally comfortable with any rating from G to NC-17. I don't mind angst and/or unhappy endings. Fluff is fine. Character death is fine. Violence is fine. Sex is fine. Christmas stories are fine. I love crossovers and dig AUs.
You can ignore everything here and just write me anything you want with the characters I requested. Optional details are optional, but I know most people like to have prompts to bounce off. Feel free to combine prompts.
James Asher Vampire Series - Barbara Hambly
Characters: James Asher, Lydia Asher, Simon Ysidro
Anything you want to write about the World's Most Sensible Vampire Love Triangle or any of its components would be fabulous. You don't have to put all three of them in the story, although I certainly do love watching them bounce off of each other. They have been my OT3 since long before I knew what an OT3 was. Some ideas, if you need them:
1) Backstory for any of the characters would be lovely. Obviously Simon has a lot of time to have backstory in, both as a mortal and a vampire. What did he get up to during all those centuries? I'd also love to hear more about James' spy adventures or Lydia's time at Oxford.
2) Futurefic would also be great, especially if it takes the end of Kindred of Darkness into account. Is James really going to follow through on his threats - or at least try to? How would Simon respond if he did? And what does Lydia think about all this?
3) Lydia's scientific interest in vampirism is one I share. I'd love to see her finding out more about how their biology works.
The two things I love most about this series are the attention to the scientific and socio-political implications of vampirism, and how reasonable everyone is about aforementioned Vampire Love Triangle. I love that Simon writes sonnets about Lydia, and Lydia gets her heart broken by Simon, but when there's a plot to be getting on with they damn well get on with it. I love that James' reaction to his wife falling in love with Simon is to feel awful for both of them. I love that there is no suggestion of Lydia running off with Simon, and nobody wastes their energy on jealousy.
The end of Kindred of Darkness left me all wibbly, and I'd certainly love to see fall out from that - whether James continues to regard Simon as an actual enemy, or relents for some reason. If James actually killed (or tried to kill) Simon, how would Lydia react? Could James and Lydia manage future vampire-related incidents without a vampire ally? Would Lydia still ask Simon for help? Would Simon just lurk about in the background helping without being asked?
If you can find a way to make James/Lydia/Simon work, I would love to see it, but I also love the fragile balance of their relationship in the books. I'd rather not see James/Simon or Lydia/Simon that breaks up Lydia and James. (James/Lydia with Simon left out is fine, it being the state of the canon.) I think the reasons Simon doesn't want to turn one or both of them are detailed thoroughly in the book, but at the same time it would certainly be interesting to see what would happen if he did ...
Jago & Litefoot
Characters: Henry Gordon Jago, George Litefoot
I love these two characters, and I love to watch them interact. If they're both in the story, that's all I really need. If you want ideas:
1) Jago and Litefoot have done some time-and-space travelling in canon - to Roanoke, Venus and the sixties - but I'd love to see more. How would they manage with getting stuck in the Jurassic era? Or the Middle Ages? 2013? The year five billion? (Given their usual activities, falling into a time portal practically seems like a normal day.)
2) ... and on the other hand, pseudo-historicals are my favourite thing in this universe, so I'd be equally pleased if you keep them in their natural environment. Especially if you involve things from the wider Victorian era, or its Doctor Who universe equivalent.
3) So, it's been implied that Litefoot, uh, prefers the company of gentlemen. Is Jago as oblivious to this as it appears, or is he just showing a rare capacity for tact? Are they ever going to have an awkward conversation on the subject?
I couldn't be more pleased that, thirty years after the fact, these two finally have their own show! I am convinced that I could be entertained listening to Christopher Benjamin and Trevor Baxter read the phone book to each other, but I'd much rather hear them play Jago and Litefoot. I just get a ridiculous grin on my face every time I put one of the CDs into the player.
I love the relationship between these characters, and how in a society with so many distinctions they manage to overcome the barriers of class and background and be Best Friends Forever. I love even more that those distinctions don't get ignored in the series - they still exist, but they're not as powerful as the bond between these two. If Litefoot's sexuality does get brought up, I'd prefer that it be handled in a similar way. I tend to read their relationship as asexual (if not necessarily aromantic) but if you want to write me slash I certainly wouldn't object. As long as they're together, I don't mind if they're having sex or a drink in the pub or fighting Ogrons in the 51st century.
Moebius: Empire Rising
I am going to level with you, writer: for this particular fandom, I would like slash. It doesn't have to be explicit - keeping the subtext at its canon level (with the soulbonding and putting each other to bed, etc.) would be just fine! But I would sooner not get a story where Malachai and David are Terribly Heterosexual and/or involved with other people. Anything with the two of them would be fine. If you would like some prompts:
1) SOULBONDING! Tell me all about the soulbond.
2) ... and, given the canonical presence of soulbonding, one wonders what other ridiculous - and by ridiculous I mean awesome - fanfic clichés might happen to these two. Are aliens going to unexpectedly show up and make them have sex? Will someone nefariously replace Malachi's Xanax with an aphrodisiac? Will they somehow get stranded in a Canadian shack?
3) Presumably it's not that easy to get out of your destiny, even if you just told the head of FITA where he can shove his job (and his flag.) What further adventures are they going to have?
I feel sort of bad about the 'slash, please!' tone of these prompts, but given the canon ... yeah. I really mean it when I say that I will be perfectly happy with anything that maintains the tone of the game in that regard, though. (Of course, if you want to write about all the soulbonded sex they have about ten minutes after the credits roll, that would also be great.)
I really enjoyed the Slashiest Point-And-Click Adventure of 2014 (Or Any Other Year) and was sorry it didn't get a more positive reception. (Sure, the graphics are a little wonky, but apparently I will forgive a lot of poor 3D models for a story about soulbonding, antiques and terrible jokes.)
One of the other things I liked about the game was the historical investigation aspect - it would be interesting to see Malachi look into his various historical counterparts over the centuries.
The Mysterious Cities of Gold
Characters: Mendoza
As long as your story has Mendoza in it, I will be happy! Things you could write about include but are not limited to:
1) Gen interaction with any or all of the kids would be great. They all have different reactions to their kidnapper/navigator/bodyguard/token competent adult, and anything that explores those relationships would be interesting.
2) Backstory! Where is Mendoza from? How did he come to sail with Magellan in the first place? What other adventures did he have while Esteban was busy growing up?
The reason there are fewer prompts for this fandom is that what I really want to write is 'JUST GIVE ME ALL THE MENDOZA!!!' Which I realise is not the most helpful prompt in the world *g*. (Unless it is, for you. In which case: just give me all the Mendoza, yule writer.)
I adored this show as a child, and was thrilled to discover I loved it just as much as an adult when I rewatched it a few years ago. I'm delighted that it's back and enjoyed Season Two. I do not expect you to have seen Season Two in order to write for me. If you want to include stuff from it that would be great, but sticking with the original broadcast episodes is just fine.
Mendoza is my favourite, although I love the kids as well. He fascinated me as a child, and he still does - I love his moral ambiguity, and the way the kids change him for the better as the story goes on.
I'm also intrigued by the worldbuilding. Ancient technology! Lost civilisations! Gold-plated everything! Bonus points for including the Golden Condor. (Obviously I don't expect it to show up if you go with the backstory angle, but I really do love that thing. And also the airship from Season Two, if you've got that far. If not: there's an airship! It's really cool! You should look forward to it.)
The Secret World
Characters: Any
I would be delighted to read anything at all about this world. If you would like a more specific prompt, here are a few for the characters that you may have offered to write:
1) How did 'Emma' end up as 'Emma' in the first place? By the time we see her in flashback, she already looks like a young human girl. Was she born that way? Alternatively: what was Lilith planning to do with her? What is the Filth planning to do with her?
2) Richard Sonnac seems very nostalgic about his days as a young Templar in Transylvania. What adventures did he have there, or in the rest of the world's supernatural trouble spots, before he got stuck behind a desk?
3) What kind of snarky mission turn-in responses does Alex McCall get from Kristen Geary?
If you want to write about some other character or characters - other NPCs, your PC, some other original character who lives in this setting - feel free! The setting is what intrigues me the most, and anything you want to write about it would be lovely.
I got a great story in this fandom last year, and I'm requesting it again in hopes of increasing the total number of stories. (If you want to know what I like about The Secret World, reading The Wrong Place, Wrong Time Girl would give you a pretty good idea.)
I just want to reiterate that I would be happy with ANYTHING AT ALL in this fandom. I provided prompts because I know many people find it easier to have something to work with, but if you happen to have another idea you like better, please go ahead and write that.
Anything from the history of the Societies to your own player character's reaction to becoming a Bee Person is fair game. I love the setting and find both the setting and the people intriguing - I love how much of the story is buried so that you have to go looking for it. Often literally. I've been playing since beta and still haven't found all the lore fragments. Damn bees. (I also love the combat, so if you want to somehow write metafic about the awesome Chaos/Fist burst deck you made, go right ahead.)
Tiger & Bunny
Characters: Antonio Lopez, Karina Lyle, Nathan Seymour, Pao-Lin Huang.
Any of these characters (or any combination of them, with each other or the rest of the cast) is fine with me. You don't have to put all four of them into one story unless you want to. If you need some prompts:
1) Antonio has been a hero roughly as long as Tiger, and I'd love to hear more about his career. Has he always been near the bottom of the rankings, or has his star fallen over time? Either way, how does he feel about that?
2) Nathan is in charge of his own company as well as being a Hero, and unlike the rest of the crew he sponsors himself. Does everyone at Helios actually think that the fabulous Fire Emblem is the boss's bodyguard, or are they just too polite to say anything? Or is Nathan's secret identity an open secret all over Sternbild?
3) Pao-Lin became a hero before she was old enough to drive, vote, or (legally) get into a bar. How does growing up under that spotlight affect her, in good ways and bad?
4) I love pretty much anything where Kotetsu is interacting with the other heroes - his friendship with Antonio is lovely, but so are his interactions with Nathan and Pao-Lin. Or any of the others, really!
5) I am a total sucker for the whole Hero TV team being together, whether they're fighting the bad guys or celebrating a victory. Anything like that would delight me. (Especially if they're planning another wacky birthday party and everything goes hilariously wrong again ...)
... and apparently I could write Tiger & Bunny prompts all day long. Forgive the length of this set of prompts. It's not that I love this fandom more, it just has a large cast and I like to see them interacting.
I just want to say again that any one (or two, or three) of these characters is perfectly acceptable for this request. I also love everybody in this
I also love the world-building in this series, and anything that explores that would be lovely, whether it's the history of Sternbild or the nature of NEXT powers or the ins and outs of Hero TV.
I have not managed to see the movie yet, but I should have by Christmas, so don't worry about spoilers. (I only mention in it case it somehow explored something I mentioned in my prompts in such a way as to make them obsolete.)