2 November 2019 01:20
Dear Yulegoat 2019
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nonesensedAll hail the mighty Yulegoat! Hope you're as excited about Yuletide as I am :DDDD Welcome to my letter, I hope it will inspire. No matter which fandom you write in, I will adore you for it - I just get wordier about some of them compared to the others, though I enjoy them all equally <3
If you want to go the really advanced route, I have a very long list of favorite tropes and kinks over here. It's a list of both smut-related likes and gen-related likes. On AO3 I'm![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
Nonesensed, if you want to take a look at my own fics and/or bookmarks for inspiration :)
I'll be starting with my squicks and do-not-wants, just to get them out of the way first. If one of my squicks happens to be one of your favorite tropes or kinks, no judgement! These things just happen to not me my thing :)
Not my cup of tea & Squicks
- A/B/O aka Alpha/Beta/Omega AU:n. I absolutely think it's possible to write interesting A/B/O-stories, they just mostly don't work for me.
- Bestiality. By this I mean sex with animals, not sentient/sapient alien creatures. Xenophilia I'm down with.
- Daddy or Mommy kink. Not my thing, whether there's actual incest involved or not. Guardian/child romances or sexual situations are really not my cup of tea, be they play-pretend or not. Same goes for using "daddy" and "mommy" as pet names.
- When the main plot is a person having amnesia, characters suddenly age regressing into children and characters switching bodies, simply because I've seen those tropes done so many times before. That said, I have nothing against these tropes being delved into and explored if they're part of canon (e.g. Vang0 Bang0's amnesia).
- Character-bashing. I seldom hate characters in any of the fandoms I'm in, and if I did, I'd just prefer them to be kept out of the fic, not made even stupider/more annoying than they already are.
- High school AUs. Meaning that I'm completely fine with school-related things if they are canon.
- Underage. No explicit sex scenes or sexual situations involving children, please. This said, I will not be squicked out by it being implied or threatened (e.g. adults mentioning having had an early sexual debut, characters having had past traumatic experiences, a villain saying creepy things about someone's children, etc.)
- Vore. Don't mind it implied, but an explicit sex scene of this will be horror and squick to me, not sexy.
- Women always being the submissive partner in D/s scenarios between a man and a woman. No hate on submissive women! They just tend to be the default in fiction, and I'd love for there to be more Dominant women if there is to be a BDSM and/or D/s dynamic between a man and a woman <3 For other gender combinations I've got no particular preference.
- Watersports and scat (i.e. urine & feces involved during sex).
And that's it for Do-Not-Wants! The rest of this letter will be things I greatly enjoy. Hope they will inspire and not constrain! (And of course, feel free to ignore stuff you'd rather not write!)
Genres
Since it's the holidays I'd love for there to be hurt/comfort or a happy ending if your story takes an emotionally harsh road. This said, if you want to go horror, a happy ending is 100% optional. I enjoy all manner of genres from fluff to horror. I love creepy/eerie horror and cosmic horror, am more meh about slasher-horror and religious horror.
Ratings
Anything goes! I have no trouble reading (and enjoying) anything from the kid safest of fics to the most explicit of sex and violence. Go with whatever suits you and the story best.
Things that make me smile (SFW)
- Anticipation, tension and suspense. Be it unresolved sexual tension, a manhunt for a dangerous killer, or a race against time to save someone's life – if it keeps me on the edge of my seat, I'm happy.
- Character introspection. I adore an engaging mystery or conflict, but I also enjoy slice-of-life and stories that focus on the inner life of one or more characters. If made to pick between focus on characters I love or an intricate plot, I'll pick character focus every time <3
- Culture-clashes, where both cultures are seen as equals by the narrative (aka not "Oh, look at these poor uneducated barbarians, we must enlighten them!" but more "You flirt how??").
- Found family. People who slowly go from strangers to "I would die for you all" are a delight!
- Messing with and questioning heteronormativity and gender roles, in any way.
- Kidnappings, for any reason. It's more for the rescue part of the plot that I enjoy it, especially if it's an "unexpected" character saving a more "rescuer"-like character.
- Loyalty in all its shapes and forms! I especially love characters who are a little too loyal, maybe to people they shouldn't be loyal too, maybe too a point where they value that person/those people's life more than their own. Buuuut, I also love when loyalty is rewarded! When trusting someone and relying on someone is the best thing to do - especially when contrasted with past badly placed loyalty. Just...people being devoted to other people, it floats all my boats~
- Mysteries, be it a "who did it?", a "what is the meaning of this old text" to "who at court is gossiping about the main character?" or whatever else kind of mystery you can think up!
- Pairings or gen. I've listed pairings for most of my fandoms, and I adore all kinds of pairing-focused fics, be they couples, threesomes, moresomes, etc. This said, I also enjoy fics that have no pairings or only implied pairings. So if my ships happen to not be your ships, gen is very welcome!
- Role reversals (usual rescuer being rescued, “weaker” character saves the day, otherwise more worldly character is courted/seduces/approached by otherwise more “naive” character, etc.) Since who I consider the "usual X" might be tricky to guess, I'll elaborate on this for each fandom.
- Characters getting to show off their skills. All scenarios where a character who's really skilled at something (e.g. magic, diplomacy, detective work, medicine, etc.) getting to use that skill to solve a problem and solve it well.
- Vulnerability especially when it comes to otherwise "closed off" characters. Through being wounded, kidnapped, drugged, bested (even if the person's just pretending to lose to please someone else), being open about something meaningful to them, or in any other scenario you can think of. More info for each fandom below.
- If you like writing AUs and crossovers I'm happy to receive such fic! All AUs but high school AUs make me smile, though my favorites are fantasy/science fiction/solarpunk/cyberpunk AUs. If you choose to set canon IN SPAAAAACE I'm soooo here for that :D. Here's a list of fandoms I'm familiar with, in case you should happen to want to write a crossover with a fandom other than the ones I've requested for Yuletide.
Other things that make me smile (only relevant to smut)
- Foreplay and teasing/tempting (both verbal and otherwise). Doesn't actually have to lead to sex – the teasing is fun in itself.
- Hot Spots - when a character has a spot on their body that make their knees go week; i.e. when someone bites their ear, pulls their hair, kisses their neck, etc.
- Overstimulation, as in people being overwhelmed by pleasure, especially when combined with orgasm delay <3
- People having fun, especially if it's First Time Sex we're talking and if you feel it works with the characters' personalities and situation. Just a relaxed, laughing-with-you-not-at-you, friendly mood to go with a very fun activity!
- Playful dominance/submission + bondage. Extra great when initiated by the sub. Small gestures, such as holding the other's hands still, biting, rough play, verbally dominating someone... And in pairings involving both men and women, I do like a bit of femdom, if that works with the personality of the woman in question. I'm also down for painplay and pretty much anything that is included under the BDSM-umbrella, as long as everyone involved in the sex scene are into it (or haven't tried it yet and turn out to really love it).
- Roleplaying be it super serious or super silly. I'm all for play acting in the bedroom <3
- Vanilla sex. Although kinky is wonderful, I don't require it to like a sex scene.
Fandom specifics!
Beware of spoilers for all fandoms listed below!
The Goblin Emperor - Katherine Addison
(Character: Thara Celehar)
Where you can find the canon: Goodreads can help you find where you can buy or borrow this book.
Why I love the canon: I went into The Goblin Emperor expecting grimdark Song of Ice and Fire-style intrigue. I was pleasantly surprised to find such a positive view on people instead! Yes, there are rotten people at court and outside it in this story, but Maia never has to "lower himself to their standards" to win. Staying kind and making wise choices, trusting the right allies, that's what sees Maia to victory. Because most people care about each other, and I love it when plots remember that! That's why I love this book – it's so refreshing to see that being a descent, kind person can gain you success. Thara's situation is a big part of this optimism; a man in his situation must have been expecting to fade into obscurity at best, be made a mockery and cruelly punished for just being who he is at worst. Having him gain both a respectable position and the favor of the current Emperor is wonderful and I love it.
Why I love the character:
Pairings?: I'd love to see Thara find new love! I read him as homosexual based on the text, so please don't pair him up with someone that goes against his sexuality. Don't get me wrong, I'm very pro-bisexual headcanons (I happen to be bi myself), pansexual-headcanons and so on! I just feel that if Thara had the "option" to fall in love with a more 'acceptable' person I think there would have been no tragedy for him. He's such a duty-bound person and elven society is clearly super homophobic, so if he could settle down with a woman I think he would have. This said, I've got no particular person I ship him with, only people I'd rather not see him get with, because I'm difficult like that XD. I'd be perfectly happy to see him paired up with an OC or a crossover character; would just prefer that it not be Maia (I ship him with Csethiro), Beshelar or Cala (I ship Cala & Beshelar with each other). Or, well, I'd be fine with there being some consensual threesome or moresome arrangement, if that's what floats your both. Just please don't break up my OTPs <3.
Story prompts: Is there a crime Thara is called in to investigate? Is there a conspiracy against the Emperor that Thara must reveal or fight back against? Does Maia as an Emperor make it easier for wIw and mIm people to live in the elven empire and if so, how does Thara react to that? Does Thara end up falling in love again, and if so, how does he deal with that? Does he have more encounters with the Emperor and his people, and if so, how and why?
Yuletide sign-up info: I love this world, I love all the characters, I love the conflict, I love how formal language is used to show distance/intimacy, and I love, looove how Thara's tragic situation is turned around by Maia's kindness. I want to know more about what happens to Thara after the events of the book. Being made a Witness vel ama aka for those things that cannot speak for themselves - what kind of situations does he end up in thanks to that position? What new enemies and allies does he make? What connections with the court does he keep? Does Maia ever call on his aid post-canon? Does Thara ever find love again? Will that be easier under the rule of the new Emperor? Just, more Thara!
Other reasons I love him: 1) Loyalty: Thara is dedicated to truth and justice to a point where it's clearly detrimental to him. 2) He's the "strong and silent" type in the sense that he has very few people he can honestly confide in. 3) His position as a Witness and how that involves both detective work and speaking to the dead. I'd love to see these aspects of him explored and/or challenged, or a "role reversal" situation with him comforting someone or being the victim of a crime someone else must investigate or save him from. Suggestions for this: Thara being put in another situation where justice and truth might not be the best way to go but him feeling compelled to do so anyways, or maybe he's caught between two loyalties. Or the other way around, Thara's focus on justice being a boon to him in some way. Thara feeling comfortable enough with someone to show vulnerability. Thara being the one in trouble and having to ask for help - maybe even getting aid from the dead???
Oh, and as a quick aside, should you go down the romance route, I ship Maia/Csethiro and Beshelar/Cala, so please don't "break up" those couples to ship one of them with Thara - that said, I'm up for threesomes, moresomes, and any canon character or OC that you could think up that you feel would work with Thara.
Let's Play CYBERPUNK RED - Polygon's Overboard (Webseries)
(Characters: Burger Chainz, Dapper Dasha, Vang0 Bang0)
Where you can find the canon: The whole thing is up on Youtube, 2 hours of free entertainment~! No previous knowledge of cyberpunk or tabletop rpgs needed.
Why I love the canon: I adore how ridiculous this whole story is! Fairly incompetent crime investigators bumbling their way through solving an over-the-top murder while being socially awkward, with rare moments of extreme competence. Cyberpunk settings can be so very very wonderfully ridiculous, and this take on Cyberpunk Red definitely is that. It's such a fun romp!
Why I love the characters:
Pairings?: Go wild! Keep it gen, go OT3, ship two of them, ship them with other characters, whatever floats your boat :)
Story prompts: New crime they need to investigate or a heist to pull off? One of them ends up in trouble and the other two help out? Meeting Burger Chainz huge nomad family? The trio just hanging out, bonding? The trio being their strangely competent disaster selves? A reveal as to why Vang0 Bang0 has no memory of his past before modding the forum, be it a silly or super angsty/dangerous reason? The reason Dapper Dasha (or her family) lost so much money shows up to haunt her again, and the boys help her deal with said problem? Burger Chainz ending up in trouble or having A Terrible Not Good Day and Dasha + Vang0 have to work together to help and/or comfort him?
Yuletide sign-up info: Maaaaan, this short over-the-top cyberpunk murder mystery is such a delight! I love the bumbling yet strangely competent trio of Vang0 Bang0, Burger Chainz and Dapper Dasha. Their dynamic is just hilarious, I love how they play off each other and how they're on the start of this kinda-sorta close friendship (except for Burger Chainz, of course - Burger Chainz likely thinks they're BFFs all three <3). I also enjoy the cyberpunk setting and how fertile it is for things to be soooo extra - more of that please :D
That said, I'm for all kinds of moods in this fandom. Be it a complete slapstick comedy or a story that takes a turn for the darker side of things, I'm here for it. Dasha clearly has some angst in her backstory, having fallen on hard times. Maybe she's had to take on some dreary jobs to make ends meet - as calculating as she can seem, I get the sense that she's a decent person, just pragmatic, so she could likely need help/emotional support if she ends up having to do shitty work for shitty people against decent people. Burger Chainz, though 100% able to hold his own in a fight, could definitely be tricked into difficult situations by a good liar, and be in need of rescue/help. And what's up with Vang0 Bang0's amnesia? Was it caused by some mundane or silly accident, or is there a sinister reason behind it?
Also, since Burger Chainz is what brings Vang0 Bang0 and Dapper Dasha together, I'd love any scenario where Burger Chainz is in trouble and his two friends have to work together to save him, despite not always getting along. The image of Dasha and Vang0 utterly confused and/or infuriated by each other at first, then slowly working to get along to save Burger Chainz, warms my heart. Most of all, I want these three strangely skilled disaster people to keep growing closer to each other as well as have whacky or dramatic adventures together <3
PS. Gen-fic as well as all pairings welcome! I have no preference in this fandom. And please let the trio survive to the end of the story, whatever you put them through <3
Much Ado About Nothing (2011)
(Characters: Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing 2011), Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing 2011))
Where you can find the canon: Available for rent on Digital Theatre or you can just look around Youtube ;)
Why I love the canon: I wrote a fairly long fandom promo post over here, but to sum up why this is my favorite version of Much Ado About Nothing it's: 1) The modern setting and its slapstick, 2) How they chose to interpret the dialogue, and 3) The PINING. I'm always curious about the overall world-building when Shakespeare's original text gets used in a modern-looking setting. What kind of world does this Beatrice and Benedick live in? How does it differ from our present time, if at all? I also adore how many of the poorer decision in the play can be excuse as Ideas Thought Up While Super Drunk + how clear it is that Beatrice and Benedick are pining for each other before their friends and family decide to reverse-psychology matchmake them (my favorite line in the play is Benedick going: "And her hair shall be re- WHATEVER COLOR IT PLEASE GOD!!!" XD Poor pining idiot).
Why I love the characters:
Pairings?: Beatrice/Benedick all the way! I'm fine with them having an open relationship or if more people should end up joining them, if that's your thing, but please don't break them up. I adore the way this version of the play handled their relationship - the very strong hint that they had something casual going pre-canon that Benedick broke off in some clumsy way, and that they've both been low-key pining for each other ever since. I've seen many versions of Much Ado where the Benedick/Beatrice pairing feels a little out of left field or even forced, but not here! I just adore them and how happy they are when they finally get together <3<3<3 (Side note: I am extra down for NSFW fic in this fandom~ Especially if there's femdom involved :D)
Story prompts: As fun as pre-canon flashbacks can be, I'd love a look at Beatrice and Benedick's post-canon (though explorations of how their past maybe-casual-fling affects their current relationship would be A+). What are their lives like as a married couple? How does society work in this strange amalgamation of past-Shakespearian-society and modern day? Do they ever end up in a situation where it's Benedick (or his family) in trouble and Beatrice helping him out? Would especially adore protective+competent!Beatrice coming to Benedick's rescue in whatever fashion he needs it. Would also be 100% fine with a pure PWP for this couple, because their love and attraction fuels me <3 Oh, and as much as I'd love an exploration of the world-building in this take on Much Ado, I'd also love an AU setting for it! Not going back to the original setting, no, but anything that makes it even less "original canon" is ever so welcome - Beatrice and Benedick in SPAAAAACE! Beatrice and Benedick in a setting with magic being part of every day life! Beatrice and Benedick murder mystery solving psychics or superheroes! The more outlandish the better XD
Yuletide sign-up info: As much as I enjoy the 1993 film version, this take on "Much Ado About Nothing" is my new absolute favorite, mainly for three reasons: 1) THE PINING! 2) The modern setting, and 3) The take on the dialogue. It's so clear here that Beatrice and Benedick are ever so into each other long before the ridiculous matchmaking efforts of their friends and family. There are many takes on this play where these two clearly enjoy messing with each other and/or where they've Had A Past, but this was the first version I've seen that makes it clear they're both crazy into each other. Both of them go along with the ridiculous reverse psychology matchmaking they're exposed to because they're so clearly waiting for any sign at all that the other is interested - they'd just never dare say that to the other's face, for fear of being mocked.
Also, this said, I adore the interpretation that's been floating around Tumblr that this version of Benedick and Beatrice are same-sex-leaning bisexuals who generally tend to be attracted to their own sex and are both so surprised and frustrated (and later happy) that they've gotten stuck on each other. Also, also, I adore the causal way the dialogue is delivered, backed up by the acting; one example being Don Pedro and Beatrice's exchange about how Benedick once used her heart ill + Beatrice's utter panic at Don Pendro's proposal; another being Benedick's delivery of the line: "And her hair shall be re- WHATEVER COLOR IT PLEASE GOD!!!"
I'd love a happy and optimistic fic in this fandom, be it completely SFW or very NSFW. As long as Beatrice and Benedick remain a happy couple, I'm down for pretty much any setting or plot or smut you wish to bring. Explore the world-building of this strange modern-yet-old-fashioned setting! Take it to some over-the-top AU place - in SPAAAAACE!! Superheroes! Setting where magic is common place! Or focus on Benedick and Beatrice's relationship and how marriage changes or doesn't change their interplay. Would also love any scenario where Beatrice gets to be BAMF and come to Benedick's rescue somehow! And/or a scenario where we ge to see more of Benedick's serious side, like he shows near the end of the play when challenging Claudio to a duel - though I adore his silly and sarcastic side, so it's more the contrast I'm after, rather than making him All Serious All The Time.
If you're going the NSFW route, please don't make Beatrice submissive in bed. No hate on women who love being submissive when it comes to D/s! I'd just love for there to be some more femdom in the world - or if D/s isn't your thing but you'd like to write some lovely smut, I'm also 100% here for non-kinky sex with no D/s dynamics involved.
Sapphire and Steel
(Characters: Lead, Sapphire, Steel)
Where you can find the canon: There are 6 "Assignments" in this series, and you can find them all on Youtube. Here's a link to one of the Assignment 1 compilations out there. Not so sure where you can find the audio recordings though, sorry.
Why I love the canon: I have a deep love for non-humans who actually seem like they aren't human, and the Elements in this show hit that mark square in the center! I love how they interact with the humans they encounter, I love how they reason and make decisions based on their own logic and needs. Also, I love the Things That Are Trying To Get In – they are so wonderfully creepy!
Why I love the characters:
Pairings?: Open to pretty much anything between the Elements. If you want to include an Element I didn't pick (like Silver) in a pairing I'd be fine with that. The only request I have is that Steel be part of the pairing, whatever it turns out to be, and that Element-relationships be different from humans – I love how alien yet relate-able the Elements are :)
Story prompts: Would love a case fic! Or if that's not your thing, maybe a slice-of-life fic with the Elements trying to fit in with humans/other sentient creatures during down-time – or just trying to exist together wherever there "home" is (which could be wonderfully trippy depending on what you think the Elements are when not taking human form). Oh, and I'm always a sucker for kidnapping fic, so if anything happens to kidnap Steel, and Sapphire calls in Lead to back her up in saving him, that would make me a very happy camper. Whether Steel is in any actual danger or he's just accidentally gotten himself trapped by a group of very confused and very ineffective human (or non-human) scientists I don't care; both scenarios could be thrilling or funny! If you'd rather go the creepy and/or horror route with your story, this sure is one canon tailored for it! Bring me all the eldritch abominations, cosmic horror and just general weirdness you feel like adding in~ :D I'm all for Outsider POV in this fandom, and while I'd actually like the Elements to survive the story, feel free to kill off (or worse) as many human characters as you please.
Yuletide sign-up info: The creepy, alien atmosphere is so great here. I love how Sapphire and Steel are clearly not human. I love how the 'cases' they go on are a mix of cosmic horror and detective work. A 'case fic' would be great, but I'd also love to see what their lives are like when they're not on Earth. Is there life on other planets they also help? What is their own home like? Do they have a 'home'? Also, I love how Sapphire and Steel's interaction is affected by the presence of other Elements, Lead most of all. I'd love for Steel's relationship with Lead to be explored more, since we only got to see them interact during one of the six original assignments. Lead seems to be the person Sapphire calls in when Steel is being unreasonable (at least when he's unreasonable about his own personal safety), but are there other moments Lead is helpful? And are there situations that lead to Lead calling Sapphire and Steel for help? Oh, and if you want to go pure horror with this one, I'd be super happy with that too! All I ask is that none of the Elements are dead (can they even die??) by the end of the story, otherwise feel free to add in as many fates worse than death as you please <3
If you like writing crossovers I think this is a series that lends itself well to that. If you ship Sapphire and Steel or other Elements, I'm down with that, but if so I'd love that to be combined with their "not human" qualities; i.e. I don't think Elements do romance exactly like alloromantic humans do it. With all of them being so not-human, does the Elements' culture have such things as romance and friendship? Or something akin to it? And do they reproduce at all?
I've seen the TV episodes, not listened to any of the audio stories, so feel free to go completely AU after that, but I don't mind spoilers (I might just not understand them). Also, my favorite character is Steel, because I'm a sucker for grumpy characters who're secretly super devoted to their work and companions.
If you want to go the really advanced route, I have a very long list of favorite tropes and kinks over here. It's a list of both smut-related likes and gen-related likes. On AO3 I'm
I'll be starting with my squicks and do-not-wants, just to get them out of the way first. If one of my squicks happens to be one of your favorite tropes or kinks, no judgement! These things just happen to not me my thing :)
Not my cup of tea & Squicks
- A/B/O aka Alpha/Beta/Omega AU:n. I absolutely think it's possible to write interesting A/B/O-stories, they just mostly don't work for me.
- Bestiality. By this I mean sex with animals, not sentient/sapient alien creatures. Xenophilia I'm down with.
- Daddy or Mommy kink. Not my thing, whether there's actual incest involved or not. Guardian/child romances or sexual situations are really not my cup of tea, be they play-pretend or not. Same goes for using "daddy" and "mommy" as pet names.
- When the main plot is a person having amnesia, characters suddenly age regressing into children and characters switching bodies, simply because I've seen those tropes done so many times before. That said, I have nothing against these tropes being delved into and explored if they're part of canon (e.g. Vang0 Bang0's amnesia).
- Character-bashing. I seldom hate characters in any of the fandoms I'm in, and if I did, I'd just prefer them to be kept out of the fic, not made even stupider/more annoying than they already are.
- High school AUs. Meaning that I'm completely fine with school-related things if they are canon.
- Underage. No explicit sex scenes or sexual situations involving children, please. This said, I will not be squicked out by it being implied or threatened (e.g. adults mentioning having had an early sexual debut, characters having had past traumatic experiences, a villain saying creepy things about someone's children, etc.)
- Vore. Don't mind it implied, but an explicit sex scene of this will be horror and squick to me, not sexy.
- Women always being the submissive partner in D/s scenarios between a man and a woman. No hate on submissive women! They just tend to be the default in fiction, and I'd love for there to be more Dominant women if there is to be a BDSM and/or D/s dynamic between a man and a woman <3 For other gender combinations I've got no particular preference.
- Watersports and scat (i.e. urine & feces involved during sex).
And that's it for Do-Not-Wants! The rest of this letter will be things I greatly enjoy. Hope they will inspire and not constrain! (And of course, feel free to ignore stuff you'd rather not write!)
Genres
Since it's the holidays I'd love for there to be hurt/comfort or a happy ending if your story takes an emotionally harsh road. This said, if you want to go horror, a happy ending is 100% optional. I enjoy all manner of genres from fluff to horror. I love creepy/eerie horror and cosmic horror, am more meh about slasher-horror and religious horror.
Ratings
Anything goes! I have no trouble reading (and enjoying) anything from the kid safest of fics to the most explicit of sex and violence. Go with whatever suits you and the story best.
Things that make me smile (SFW)
- Anticipation, tension and suspense. Be it unresolved sexual tension, a manhunt for a dangerous killer, or a race against time to save someone's life – if it keeps me on the edge of my seat, I'm happy.
- Character introspection. I adore an engaging mystery or conflict, but I also enjoy slice-of-life and stories that focus on the inner life of one or more characters. If made to pick between focus on characters I love or an intricate plot, I'll pick character focus every time <3
- Culture-clashes, where both cultures are seen as equals by the narrative (aka not "Oh, look at these poor uneducated barbarians, we must enlighten them!" but more "You flirt how??").
- Found family. People who slowly go from strangers to "I would die for you all" are a delight!
- Messing with and questioning heteronormativity and gender roles, in any way.
- Kidnappings, for any reason. It's more for the rescue part of the plot that I enjoy it, especially if it's an "unexpected" character saving a more "rescuer"-like character.
- Loyalty in all its shapes and forms! I especially love characters who are a little too loyal, maybe to people they shouldn't be loyal too, maybe too a point where they value that person/those people's life more than their own. Buuuut, I also love when loyalty is rewarded! When trusting someone and relying on someone is the best thing to do - especially when contrasted with past badly placed loyalty. Just...people being devoted to other people, it floats all my boats~
- Mysteries, be it a "who did it?", a "what is the meaning of this old text" to "who at court is gossiping about the main character?" or whatever else kind of mystery you can think up!
- Pairings or gen. I've listed pairings for most of my fandoms, and I adore all kinds of pairing-focused fics, be they couples, threesomes, moresomes, etc. This said, I also enjoy fics that have no pairings or only implied pairings. So if my ships happen to not be your ships, gen is very welcome!
- Role reversals (usual rescuer being rescued, “weaker” character saves the day, otherwise more worldly character is courted/seduces/approached by otherwise more “naive” character, etc.) Since who I consider the "usual X" might be tricky to guess, I'll elaborate on this for each fandom.
- Characters getting to show off their skills. All scenarios where a character who's really skilled at something (e.g. magic, diplomacy, detective work, medicine, etc.) getting to use that skill to solve a problem and solve it well.
- Vulnerability especially when it comes to otherwise "closed off" characters. Through being wounded, kidnapped, drugged, bested (even if the person's just pretending to lose to please someone else), being open about something meaningful to them, or in any other scenario you can think of. More info for each fandom below.
- If you like writing AUs and crossovers I'm happy to receive such fic! All AUs but high school AUs make me smile, though my favorites are fantasy/science fiction/solarpunk/cyberpunk AUs. If you choose to set canon IN SPAAAAACE I'm soooo here for that :D. Here's a list of fandoms I'm familiar with, in case you should happen to want to write a crossover with a fandom other than the ones I've requested for Yuletide.
Other things that make me smile (only relevant to smut)
- Foreplay and teasing/tempting (both verbal and otherwise). Doesn't actually have to lead to sex – the teasing is fun in itself.
- Hot Spots - when a character has a spot on their body that make their knees go week; i.e. when someone bites their ear, pulls their hair, kisses their neck, etc.
- Overstimulation, as in people being overwhelmed by pleasure, especially when combined with orgasm delay <3
- People having fun, especially if it's First Time Sex we're talking and if you feel it works with the characters' personalities and situation. Just a relaxed, laughing-with-you-not-at-you, friendly mood to go with a very fun activity!
- Playful dominance/submission + bondage. Extra great when initiated by the sub. Small gestures, such as holding the other's hands still, biting, rough play, verbally dominating someone... And in pairings involving both men and women, I do like a bit of femdom, if that works with the personality of the woman in question. I'm also down for painplay and pretty much anything that is included under the BDSM-umbrella, as long as everyone involved in the sex scene are into it (or haven't tried it yet and turn out to really love it).
- Roleplaying be it super serious or super silly. I'm all for play acting in the bedroom <3
- Vanilla sex. Although kinky is wonderful, I don't require it to like a sex scene.
Fandom specifics!
Beware of spoilers for all fandoms listed below!
The Goblin Emperor - Katherine Addison
(Character: Thara Celehar)
Where you can find the canon: Goodreads can help you find where you can buy or borrow this book.
Why I love the canon: I went into The Goblin Emperor expecting grimdark Song of Ice and Fire-style intrigue. I was pleasantly surprised to find such a positive view on people instead! Yes, there are rotten people at court and outside it in this story, but Maia never has to "lower himself to their standards" to win. Staying kind and making wise choices, trusting the right allies, that's what sees Maia to victory. Because most people care about each other, and I love it when plots remember that! That's why I love this book – it's so refreshing to see that being a descent, kind person can gain you success. Thara's situation is a big part of this optimism; a man in his situation must have been expecting to fade into obscurity at best, be made a mockery and cruelly punished for just being who he is at worst. Having him gain both a respectable position and the favor of the current Emperor is wonderful and I love it.
Why I love the character:
- Thara Celehar: This poor man - lover dead and Thara the one to find him guilty, left at the mercy of an uncaring and powerful patron, and then charged with solving the murder of an Emperor. Him being so focused on justice and the truth is both heartbreaking and impressive. I'd love to see how he develops now that he has a kind benefactor (aka Maia) and a position he (hopefully) enjoys. Also, will he find love again?
Pairings?: I'd love to see Thara find new love! I read him as homosexual based on the text, so please don't pair him up with someone that goes against his sexuality. Don't get me wrong, I'm very pro-bisexual headcanons (I happen to be bi myself), pansexual-headcanons and so on! I just feel that if Thara had the "option" to fall in love with a more 'acceptable' person I think there would have been no tragedy for him. He's such a duty-bound person and elven society is clearly super homophobic, so if he could settle down with a woman I think he would have. This said, I've got no particular person I ship him with, only people I'd rather not see him get with, because I'm difficult like that XD. I'd be perfectly happy to see him paired up with an OC or a crossover character; would just prefer that it not be Maia (I ship him with Csethiro), Beshelar or Cala (I ship Cala & Beshelar with each other). Or, well, I'd be fine with there being some consensual threesome or moresome arrangement, if that's what floats your both. Just please don't break up my OTPs <3.
Story prompts: Is there a crime Thara is called in to investigate? Is there a conspiracy against the Emperor that Thara must reveal or fight back against? Does Maia as an Emperor make it easier for wIw and mIm people to live in the elven empire and if so, how does Thara react to that? Does Thara end up falling in love again, and if so, how does he deal with that? Does he have more encounters with the Emperor and his people, and if so, how and why?
Yuletide sign-up info: I love this world, I love all the characters, I love the conflict, I love how formal language is used to show distance/intimacy, and I love, looove how Thara's tragic situation is turned around by Maia's kindness. I want to know more about what happens to Thara after the events of the book. Being made a Witness vel ama aka for those things that cannot speak for themselves - what kind of situations does he end up in thanks to that position? What new enemies and allies does he make? What connections with the court does he keep? Does Maia ever call on his aid post-canon? Does Thara ever find love again? Will that be easier under the rule of the new Emperor? Just, more Thara!
Other reasons I love him: 1) Loyalty: Thara is dedicated to truth and justice to a point where it's clearly detrimental to him. 2) He's the "strong and silent" type in the sense that he has very few people he can honestly confide in. 3) His position as a Witness and how that involves both detective work and speaking to the dead. I'd love to see these aspects of him explored and/or challenged, or a "role reversal" situation with him comforting someone or being the victim of a crime someone else must investigate or save him from. Suggestions for this: Thara being put in another situation where justice and truth might not be the best way to go but him feeling compelled to do so anyways, or maybe he's caught between two loyalties. Or the other way around, Thara's focus on justice being a boon to him in some way. Thara feeling comfortable enough with someone to show vulnerability. Thara being the one in trouble and having to ask for help - maybe even getting aid from the dead???
Oh, and as a quick aside, should you go down the romance route, I ship Maia/Csethiro and Beshelar/Cala, so please don't "break up" those couples to ship one of them with Thara - that said, I'm up for threesomes, moresomes, and any canon character or OC that you could think up that you feel would work with Thara.
Let's Play CYBERPUNK RED - Polygon's Overboard (Webseries)
(Characters: Burger Chainz, Dapper Dasha, Vang0 Bang0)
Where you can find the canon: The whole thing is up on Youtube, 2 hours of free entertainment~! No previous knowledge of cyberpunk or tabletop rpgs needed.
Why I love the canon: I adore how ridiculous this whole story is! Fairly incompetent crime investigators bumbling their way through solving an over-the-top murder while being socially awkward, with rare moments of extreme competence. Cyberpunk settings can be so very very wonderfully ridiculous, and this take on Cyberpunk Red definitely is that. It's such a fun romp!
Why I love the characters:
- Burger Chainz: Burger Chainz is love! I adore how well-meaning and kind he is, combined with his insane strength and straightforward way to solving problems (i.e. if talking doesn't work, we smash). Would love to see more of his past (aka his Huge Family) show up in some aspect, and I love that his goodhearted directness often works. He is a cinnamon roll and he deserves all the love! That said, because I'm evil, I also want to see what would upset or enrage Burger Chainz...
- Dapper Dasha: This poor woman XD I love how she's been saddled with being the "adult" of this unlikely trio, desperately trying to cover for the socially awkward Vang0 Bang0 and the far too honest Burger Chainz. That said, I do think she likes her two companions and I do think there's a less serious side to her than what she's trying to project to the world. Also, what happened in her past to leave her locked out of higher society? What caused her money trouble??? So curious!
- Vang0 Bang0: Ah, this disaster man, he is wonderful~! I enjoy how he's so specialized in One Area i.e. being very good at tech and some areas of logical thinking, that he's too busy with to fully register what's happening around him, outside of what he's chosen to focus on. It's clear he's not a complete asshole, just not up to speed with the rest of the world. He might just be my favorite of the three, though they're all pretty neck-to-neck in that regard.
Pairings?: Go wild! Keep it gen, go OT3, ship two of them, ship them with other characters, whatever floats your boat :)
Story prompts: New crime they need to investigate or a heist to pull off? One of them ends up in trouble and the other two help out? Meeting Burger Chainz huge nomad family? The trio just hanging out, bonding? The trio being their strangely competent disaster selves? A reveal as to why Vang0 Bang0 has no memory of his past before modding the forum, be it a silly or super angsty/dangerous reason? The reason Dapper Dasha (or her family) lost so much money shows up to haunt her again, and the boys help her deal with said problem? Burger Chainz ending up in trouble or having A Terrible Not Good Day and Dasha + Vang0 have to work together to help and/or comfort him?
Yuletide sign-up info: Maaaaan, this short over-the-top cyberpunk murder mystery is such a delight! I love the bumbling yet strangely competent trio of Vang0 Bang0, Burger Chainz and Dapper Dasha. Their dynamic is just hilarious, I love how they play off each other and how they're on the start of this kinda-sorta close friendship (except for Burger Chainz, of course - Burger Chainz likely thinks they're BFFs all three <3). I also enjoy the cyberpunk setting and how fertile it is for things to be soooo extra - more of that please :D
That said, I'm for all kinds of moods in this fandom. Be it a complete slapstick comedy or a story that takes a turn for the darker side of things, I'm here for it. Dasha clearly has some angst in her backstory, having fallen on hard times. Maybe she's had to take on some dreary jobs to make ends meet - as calculating as she can seem, I get the sense that she's a decent person, just pragmatic, so she could likely need help/emotional support if she ends up having to do shitty work for shitty people against decent people. Burger Chainz, though 100% able to hold his own in a fight, could definitely be tricked into difficult situations by a good liar, and be in need of rescue/help. And what's up with Vang0 Bang0's amnesia? Was it caused by some mundane or silly accident, or is there a sinister reason behind it?
Also, since Burger Chainz is what brings Vang0 Bang0 and Dapper Dasha together, I'd love any scenario where Burger Chainz is in trouble and his two friends have to work together to save him, despite not always getting along. The image of Dasha and Vang0 utterly confused and/or infuriated by each other at first, then slowly working to get along to save Burger Chainz, warms my heart. Most of all, I want these three strangely skilled disaster people to keep growing closer to each other as well as have whacky or dramatic adventures together <3
PS. Gen-fic as well as all pairings welcome! I have no preference in this fandom. And please let the trio survive to the end of the story, whatever you put them through <3
Much Ado About Nothing (2011)
(Characters: Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing 2011), Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing 2011))
Where you can find the canon: Available for rent on Digital Theatre or you can just look around Youtube ;)
Why I love the canon: I wrote a fairly long fandom promo post over here, but to sum up why this is my favorite version of Much Ado About Nothing it's: 1) The modern setting and its slapstick, 2) How they chose to interpret the dialogue, and 3) The PINING. I'm always curious about the overall world-building when Shakespeare's original text gets used in a modern-looking setting. What kind of world does this Beatrice and Benedick live in? How does it differ from our present time, if at all? I also adore how many of the poorer decision in the play can be excuse as Ideas Thought Up While Super Drunk + how clear it is that Beatrice and Benedick are pining for each other before their friends and family decide to reverse-psychology matchmake them (my favorite line in the play is Benedick going: "And her hair shall be re- WHATEVER COLOR IT PLEASE GOD!!!" XD Poor pining idiot).
Why I love the characters:
- Beatrice: I adore how Done she is with everything and her quick wit. As sarcastic as she can be, especially towards people who deserve getting taken down a peg or two, she's clearly also a very kind and caring person. She wants what's best for her family and she will take crap from no one, I 100% respect that in a person <3 Also, her "I would eat his heart in the marketplace!" line is soooo epic it gives me chills. I'd love for her to get the opportunity to come to the defense of someone full-on like that, out in the open, be it through words or in a setting where she's learned to duel in some way.
- Benedick: Aaaah, Benedick, you lovable idiot! Though that said, what I like most about him is that there's more to him than the front he puts up around other people. It's clear that he can be quite silly some times, but I adore how self-deprecating he can be and how he plays up his devil-may-care attitude to not have to be confront serious topics or emotions. Other than his relationship with Beatrice, I very much like that (unlike most of the male characters) he immediately believes Hero is innocent and sides with her against Don Pedro and Claudio. It's clear he does this not simply because he's in love with Beatrice but because he thinks Don Pedro and Claudio are wrong and cruel for doing what they've done to Hero. As much as I adore silly!Benedick, him going ice-cold serious when the chips are down is such a wonderful flip-side to get to see; both are clearly part of his personality, and that makes him ever so human <3
Pairings?: Beatrice/Benedick all the way! I'm fine with them having an open relationship or if more people should end up joining them, if that's your thing, but please don't break them up. I adore the way this version of the play handled their relationship - the very strong hint that they had something casual going pre-canon that Benedick broke off in some clumsy way, and that they've both been low-key pining for each other ever since. I've seen many versions of Much Ado where the Benedick/Beatrice pairing feels a little out of left field or even forced, but not here! I just adore them and how happy they are when they finally get together <3<3<3 (Side note: I am extra down for NSFW fic in this fandom~ Especially if there's femdom involved :D)
Story prompts: As fun as pre-canon flashbacks can be, I'd love a look at Beatrice and Benedick's post-canon (though explorations of how their past maybe-casual-fling affects their current relationship would be A+). What are their lives like as a married couple? How does society work in this strange amalgamation of past-Shakespearian-society and modern day? Do they ever end up in a situation where it's Benedick (or his family) in trouble and Beatrice helping him out? Would especially adore protective+competent!Beatrice coming to Benedick's rescue in whatever fashion he needs it. Would also be 100% fine with a pure PWP for this couple, because their love and attraction fuels me <3 Oh, and as much as I'd love an exploration of the world-building in this take on Much Ado, I'd also love an AU setting for it! Not going back to the original setting, no, but anything that makes it even less "original canon" is ever so welcome - Beatrice and Benedick in SPAAAAACE! Beatrice and Benedick in a setting with magic being part of every day life! Beatrice and Benedick murder mystery solving psychics or superheroes! The more outlandish the better XD
Yuletide sign-up info: As much as I enjoy the 1993 film version, this take on "Much Ado About Nothing" is my new absolute favorite, mainly for three reasons: 1) THE PINING! 2) The modern setting, and 3) The take on the dialogue. It's so clear here that Beatrice and Benedick are ever so into each other long before the ridiculous matchmaking efforts of their friends and family. There are many takes on this play where these two clearly enjoy messing with each other and/or where they've Had A Past, but this was the first version I've seen that makes it clear they're both crazy into each other. Both of them go along with the ridiculous reverse psychology matchmaking they're exposed to because they're so clearly waiting for any sign at all that the other is interested - they'd just never dare say that to the other's face, for fear of being mocked.
Also, this said, I adore the interpretation that's been floating around Tumblr that this version of Benedick and Beatrice are same-sex-leaning bisexuals who generally tend to be attracted to their own sex and are both so surprised and frustrated (and later happy) that they've gotten stuck on each other. Also, also, I adore the causal way the dialogue is delivered, backed up by the acting; one example being Don Pedro and Beatrice's exchange about how Benedick once used her heart ill + Beatrice's utter panic at Don Pendro's proposal; another being Benedick's delivery of the line: "And her hair shall be re- WHATEVER COLOR IT PLEASE GOD!!!"
I'd love a happy and optimistic fic in this fandom, be it completely SFW or very NSFW. As long as Beatrice and Benedick remain a happy couple, I'm down for pretty much any setting or plot or smut you wish to bring. Explore the world-building of this strange modern-yet-old-fashioned setting! Take it to some over-the-top AU place - in SPAAAAACE!! Superheroes! Setting where magic is common place! Or focus on Benedick and Beatrice's relationship and how marriage changes or doesn't change their interplay. Would also love any scenario where Beatrice gets to be BAMF and come to Benedick's rescue somehow! And/or a scenario where we ge to see more of Benedick's serious side, like he shows near the end of the play when challenging Claudio to a duel - though I adore his silly and sarcastic side, so it's more the contrast I'm after, rather than making him All Serious All The Time.
If you're going the NSFW route, please don't make Beatrice submissive in bed. No hate on women who love being submissive when it comes to D/s! I'd just love for there to be some more femdom in the world - or if D/s isn't your thing but you'd like to write some lovely smut, I'm also 100% here for non-kinky sex with no D/s dynamics involved.
Sapphire and Steel
(Characters: Lead, Sapphire, Steel)
Where you can find the canon: There are 6 "Assignments" in this series, and you can find them all on Youtube. Here's a link to one of the Assignment 1 compilations out there. Not so sure where you can find the audio recordings though, sorry.
Why I love the canon: I have a deep love for non-humans who actually seem like they aren't human, and the Elements in this show hit that mark square in the center! I love how they interact with the humans they encounter, I love how they reason and make decisions based on their own logic and needs. Also, I love the Things That Are Trying To Get In – they are so wonderfully creepy!
Why I love the characters:
- Lead: His first and only appearance in Assignment 1 made me want to know more about him! He's so cheerful, but seems to have this grim/wise-old-man side to him, and he's clearly the go-to-person if Steel needs some sense knocked into him. What does Lead do when he's not answering distress calls from Steel and Sapphire? Does he ever need their help in his turn? Do they ever spend time together without anyone's life being in danger?
- Sapphire: I like her kindness tempered by "alien-ness". Sure, she'll try to bond with and calm down any victims of the cases she and Steel accept, but she's still very much an Element and not human. This said, I'd love to see her react to a human (or other sentient creature) that isn't a threat but that she still really, really doesn't get on with.
- Steel: My love for grumpy-with-a-heart-of-gold characters is showing. Steel is easily my favorite character because he will grumble and moan about having to fix things, but will lay down his life to protect others (especially Sapphire it seems). Though I like that his view of time and space not always leaves him thinking of other sentient creatures' death as the worst tragedy that ever could happen – it's clear there are worse things than death out there in this universe.
Pairings?: Open to pretty much anything between the Elements. If you want to include an Element I didn't pick (like Silver) in a pairing I'd be fine with that. The only request I have is that Steel be part of the pairing, whatever it turns out to be, and that Element-relationships be different from humans – I love how alien yet relate-able the Elements are :)
Story prompts: Would love a case fic! Or if that's not your thing, maybe a slice-of-life fic with the Elements trying to fit in with humans/other sentient creatures during down-time – or just trying to exist together wherever there "home" is (which could be wonderfully trippy depending on what you think the Elements are when not taking human form). Oh, and I'm always a sucker for kidnapping fic, so if anything happens to kidnap Steel, and Sapphire calls in Lead to back her up in saving him, that would make me a very happy camper. Whether Steel is in any actual danger or he's just accidentally gotten himself trapped by a group of very confused and very ineffective human (or non-human) scientists I don't care; both scenarios could be thrilling or funny! If you'd rather go the creepy and/or horror route with your story, this sure is one canon tailored for it! Bring me all the eldritch abominations, cosmic horror and just general weirdness you feel like adding in~ :D I'm all for Outsider POV in this fandom, and while I'd actually like the Elements to survive the story, feel free to kill off (or worse) as many human characters as you please.
Yuletide sign-up info: The creepy, alien atmosphere is so great here. I love how Sapphire and Steel are clearly not human. I love how the 'cases' they go on are a mix of cosmic horror and detective work. A 'case fic' would be great, but I'd also love to see what their lives are like when they're not on Earth. Is there life on other planets they also help? What is their own home like? Do they have a 'home'? Also, I love how Sapphire and Steel's interaction is affected by the presence of other Elements, Lead most of all. I'd love for Steel's relationship with Lead to be explored more, since we only got to see them interact during one of the six original assignments. Lead seems to be the person Sapphire calls in when Steel is being unreasonable (at least when he's unreasonable about his own personal safety), but are there other moments Lead is helpful? And are there situations that lead to Lead calling Sapphire and Steel for help? Oh, and if you want to go pure horror with this one, I'd be super happy with that too! All I ask is that none of the Elements are dead (can they even die??) by the end of the story, otherwise feel free to add in as many fates worse than death as you please <3
If you like writing crossovers I think this is a series that lends itself well to that. If you ship Sapphire and Steel or other Elements, I'm down with that, but if so I'd love that to be combined with their "not human" qualities; i.e. I don't think Elements do romance exactly like alloromantic humans do it. With all of them being so not-human, does the Elements' culture have such things as romance and friendship? Or something akin to it? And do they reproduce at all?
I've seen the TV episodes, not listened to any of the audio stories, so feel free to go completely AU after that, but I don't mind spoilers (I might just not understand them). Also, my favorite character is Steel, because I'm a sucker for grumpy characters who're secretly super devoted to their work and companions.
