Yuletide Letter
Oct. 8th, 2024 09:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
daisyninjagirl Dear Yuletide Writer,
Thank you for picking something I like! I hope you have a lovely time in this exchange, and also that someones writes something just as wonderful for you.
Welcome to Our Village - Please Invade Carefully (Any of Uljabaan, Katrina, Richard, Margaret)
I literally found this fandom from the fandom promotion plot last year. It is a delight! So much absurdity, perfectly timed dialogue, and the inexorable pull of country village life thwarting the hostile invasion attempt. And the fact that Uljabaan, Katrina and Lucy are all Sworn Enemies (TM), but they're always in and out of each other's houses.
Would you like to go into another Enemy Plot/Foil and Thwart attempt between Uljabaan and Katrina (and if you like, Lucy)? Or go back and do a prequel of the events so efficiently summed up in the pilot episode and show what Uljabaan's arrival (as lost heir, and then alien commander) actually looked like? Perhaps you would like to write more anecdotes of village life, perhaps for the holiday season. How does Uljabaan cope with such trinkets as Christmas crackers, party hats and, and, <i>money inside a cake?</i> That's <i>on fire??</i> Does he learn any new games to pass the time? How does he cope with learning that the point of spending hours arranging the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle is to lovingly put it back in the box? That playing a game of Patience will ultimately end in the carefully sorted cards being completely randomised again?
Margaret always seems to be a little less bothered by the fact of the alien invasion then is perhaps seemly. I wonder sometimes what kind of stress this places on her marriage with Richard, when the comedy has been set aside.
Katrina is supposed to have an ex-boyfriend who's an Arsenal fan - by some convoluted turn of events does he turn up at all? Does the outside world ever figure out what's going on? They're not nominated, but I'd also love more Minions-action, with their love of cake and Jane Austen and general good humoured incompetence. Do they get infected by humanity? Does Uljabaan? Is there a point where he gets a chance to leave and just...doesn't?
A Civil Contract - Georgette Heyer (any of Adam Deveril, Jenny Chawleigh-Deveril, Lady Julia Oversley, Lydia Deveril)
This novel is the least Heyerish of all the Heyer novels, which might be why I like it so much.
I would like to see more of how Adam's and Jenny's marriage goes through the years. It seems to me that making friends with your spouse is one of the keys to marriage longevity, but you also want them to be making your toes curl as well, right? Do they ever have any future crises to get through?
Lydia is so much fun, especially in her interactions with her uncle-in-law. Does she ever get into scrapes, and who gets her out of them? Does she get an amateur acting career after all? I hope that marriage doesn't sober her up <i>too</i> much.
It's always struck me that while Julia is an Attention Queen, she tries to feed her need to feel loved by showering everybody else with affection. There are quite a lot more unpleasant ways to suck the oxygen out of the room, you know? As tiresome as she makes life for Adam, I've always wondered if it's possible for her to be redeemed. Does she get a <i>truly</i> happy ending in the fullness of time?
Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty (any of Aurora, Leo, Count Lilac)
I love this adaptation of Sleeping Beauty, which has all its characters bursting with personality, and made sure that Aurora and Leo could know and love each other before she was cursed, and especially the bit where Leo breaks the curse for the first time and... things are definitely not over. Nope, the rescue is ongoing! The first time I saw that, I practically fell out of my chair.
I would love some stories about Aurora and Leo as children - they look like best friends who teased each other until they became lovers, and I love the playfulness of their relationship. The moment where he's rescued her the second time, and is despairing because he thinks it hasn't worked, and then he's ashamed of how he's changed - and she accepts him, is so tender and beautiful. What are their lives like after the change? I'm also interested in what Leo was doing in the 100 years of the curse. Was he camping outside the gates all that time, or did he have some adventures along the way? Did Count Lilac ever turn up and assign him a little errand? Speaking of which, Lilac is a very careful dresser and Leo is always in the period equivalent of hoodie and trainer - what <i>feelings</i> does the Count have over this? When they're getting ready to go to the nightclub, is there a dressing up scene? Finally, Count Lilac really goes in to bat for Aurora and Leo. I'm curious as to how much of his motivations are using them to get close to Caradoc, and how much is genuine affection. And does Lilac even know?
Thank you for picking something I like! I hope you have a lovely time in this exchange, and also that someones writes something just as wonderful for you.
General Stuff About Me
I tend to enjoy more stories that are reasonably consistent with the original canon - so sequels and prequels and inbetween scenes and canon divergence AUs, and I love it when a minor character gets their story expanded or someone does a nifty bit of world building on some little detail and makes it all make sense. I think poetry and interactive fiction are supposed to be opt-in for this exchange - if you've got an idea that works best in these formats - go for it! Treats are lovely. Original characters are also fine, and I've seen some AUs and crossovers that have really blown me away, so please take this paragraph as an 'optional details are optional' section and write the story that will make you happy. The prompts I've given are also optional, please have fun with what you choose to write. Also, stories that pass the Bechdel Test Are Love.
Squicks and Do Not Wants
I'm seriously not into non-consensual or underage sex. I also don't like graphic torture scenes or incest, and I'm not much interested in reading a story about consensual BDSM, or where pregnancy or infertility is the main focus. I'm more interested in how characters' relationships work out with each other than erotica and I would rather not get an M or E rated story. I think it would be hard to link my current prompts to current world events, but please don't try, I want some escapism! (Ta :-) )
Squicks and Do Not Wants
I'm seriously not into non-consensual or underage sex. I also don't like graphic torture scenes or incest, and I'm not much interested in reading a story about consensual BDSM, or where pregnancy or infertility is the main focus. I'm more interested in how characters' relationships work out with each other than erotica and I would rather not get an M or E rated story. I think it would be hard to link my current prompts to current world events, but please don't try, I want some escapism! (Ta :-) )
Welcome to Our Village - Please Invade Carefully (Any of Uljabaan, Katrina, Richard, Margaret)
I literally found this fandom from the fandom promotion plot last year. It is a delight! So much absurdity, perfectly timed dialogue, and the inexorable pull of country village life thwarting the hostile invasion attempt. And the fact that Uljabaan, Katrina and Lucy are all Sworn Enemies (TM), but they're always in and out of each other's houses.
Would you like to go into another Enemy Plot/Foil and Thwart attempt between Uljabaan and Katrina (and if you like, Lucy)? Or go back and do a prequel of the events so efficiently summed up in the pilot episode and show what Uljabaan's arrival (as lost heir, and then alien commander) actually looked like? Perhaps you would like to write more anecdotes of village life, perhaps for the holiday season. How does Uljabaan cope with such trinkets as Christmas crackers, party hats and, and, <i>money inside a cake?</i> That's <i>on fire??</i> Does he learn any new games to pass the time? How does he cope with learning that the point of spending hours arranging the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle is to lovingly put it back in the box? That playing a game of Patience will ultimately end in the carefully sorted cards being completely randomised again?
Margaret always seems to be a little less bothered by the fact of the alien invasion then is perhaps seemly. I wonder sometimes what kind of stress this places on her marriage with Richard, when the comedy has been set aside.
Katrina is supposed to have an ex-boyfriend who's an Arsenal fan - by some convoluted turn of events does he turn up at all? Does the outside world ever figure out what's going on? They're not nominated, but I'd also love more Minions-action, with their love of cake and Jane Austen and general good humoured incompetence. Do they get infected by humanity? Does Uljabaan? Is there a point where he gets a chance to leave and just...doesn't?
Lord Peter Wimsey - Dorothy L. Sayers (any of Miss Climpson, Miss Murchison, original characters from The Cattery are welcome)
My prompts in this one are related to Lord Peter's Cattery, a fascinating and sadly underwritten group of women:
Miss Climpson mentions once that she had wanted to be a lawyer, but her father had strong opinions about education for women. Tell me about the canon divergent AU in which this terrifying creature existed. Time and place AUs are welcome, I just want to bask in the awesomeness of Kitty Climpson, KC (or QC depending on period). More casefic with Miss Climpson would also be awesome, so would her beetling about apologising through Lord Peter's and Harriet's Happily Ever After.
I'm also interested in Miss Murchison, who is very independent and efficient, likes to be able to earn her living, is up for learning how to pick locks, and goes to concerts. And then she vanishes out of the continuity to get married. Who is this Prince of Men who captures her heart? Did she save his life (or honour) through a spot of detectivising? Does she ever meet Harriet again and compare notes on married life vs having a job of one's own?
The exchange rules prevent me from nominating the Cattery as a group, but I'm very happy if you'd like to write in any of these plucky widows, determined spinsters, professional women and retired Bright Young Things into your story. Are there any interesting cases that they take care of without having to bother The Boss? What's the office gossip like about Lord Peter's extremely complicated love affair? Do they have any particularly funny work stories that they have to edit a bit at family dinners?
Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch (any of Thomas Nightingale, Augustus Berrycloth-Young, Cocoa, Worldbuilding)
Miss Climpson mentions once that she had wanted to be a lawyer, but her father had strong opinions about education for women. Tell me about the canon divergent AU in which this terrifying creature existed. Time and place AUs are welcome, I just want to bask in the awesomeness of Kitty Climpson, KC (or QC depending on period). More casefic with Miss Climpson would also be awesome, so would her beetling about apologising through Lord Peter's and Harriet's Happily Ever After.
I'm also interested in Miss Murchison, who is very independent and efficient, likes to be able to earn her living, is up for learning how to pick locks, and goes to concerts. And then she vanishes out of the continuity to get married. Who is this Prince of Men who captures her heart? Did she save his life (or honour) through a spot of detectivising? Does she ever meet Harriet again and compare notes on married life vs having a job of one's own?
The exchange rules prevent me from nominating the Cattery as a group, but I'm very happy if you'd like to write in any of these plucky widows, determined spinsters, professional women and retired Bright Young Things into your story. Are there any interesting cases that they take care of without having to bother The Boss? What's the office gossip like about Lord Peter's extremely complicated love affair? Do they have any particularly funny work stories that they have to edit a bit at family dinners?
Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch (any of Thomas Nightingale, Augustus Berrycloth-Young, Cocoa, Worldbuilding)
I've been thoroughly enjoying revisiting this series since I discovered the excellent series of audiobooks narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, who brings a great deal of nuance into the world. Any guest appearances by other canon characters are welcome. Thinking about it - one of the things I really appreciate about this series is the sense of hope. Despite all the muckiness the characters go through, they are winning and bringing the Queen's Peace into a bit more of the world. Peter's humanist sensibilities are transforming the way that the Folly does its business. Drug addicts find a way to quit their habit, struggling people reform their lives, supporting characters find love, and there's just about always a new ally for Peter/Abigail/Kimberley/Tobias/Augustus by the end of the story. We could all do with a bit of a blessing sometimes, you know?
Worldbuilding: This is such a rich and enticing world that Aaronovitch has to keep resorting to Pratchett-style monologues to get his exposition in. Tell me more about it! The main narrative is very much embedded in how a modern police force behaves, and that means <i>paperwork</i>. What do the briefings to incoming ministers look like? How do funding appropriations get past auditors and austerity campaigns? Will no one think of the poor communication advisors, accountants and office administrators who are dealing with superiors who keep talking in weird euphemisms, when they're <i>just trying to justify a budget variance or get out a press release that won't cause them more trouble.</i> I'm also interested in the different groups of practitioners that we've heard of - would you like to pick one that you like the look of and delve into its history and modern day doings. Or invent a new one? Are there any groups arising from organised labour coming out of Manchester? Or in Edinburgh from the Scottish Enlightenment? Would you like to detail the Rake's Progress of characters like Walid and Kumar and OCs of your choice as they progress from being a regular person to their organisation's designated Dealer With Funny Stuff? I'm also interested in the interactions between European wizards with their formal Newtonian synthesis, and the different systems that indigenous peoples would have around the world.
Nightingale: He's a fascinating character, and I really enjoyed the <i>Masquerades of Spring</i> for showing us what he was like as a young man, with boyish good looks and slightly wild hair on top, and no hesitation in dressing up in drag if that would get the job done. More interludes throughout the years are always fun. That complicated network of Arrangements that Nightingale has with various Rivers, government organisations and members of the Demimonde - how did he develop them? I'm particularly interested in his relationship with Molly - his upstairs/downstairs friendship with her must have been frowned on in the early years, but it was also strong enough that he, a very dutiful man, would light out across the Atlantic at no notice to the Folly to make her happy. And from Moment 1 that his obligation to her was pretty much the only thing keeping him going post-War. How did their friendship start, and how did it change over time?
Masquerades of Spring: And finally, I thought the latest installment was an absolute delight. I would love to see more of Augustus and his mates, more of his adventures, more of his love affair with Lucy (what are the traits of Augustus that Lucy finds particularly loveable?), more of Beauregard's proto-Jeeves tendencies (was his good naturedness about Lucy moving in the start of a subtle campaign to revise the man's wardrobe?), more of what life in New York is like in the Roaring 20s. Cocoa and her patroness never <i>outright</i> say that they're practitioners, but they're definitely not surprised by any of what Augustus and Nightingale do, and it'd be fun to see more of their projects - does their group survive into the 21st century? Are any of this New York contingent going to have encounters with the Hudson River or the Public Library Service? On another note, Augustus is such a happy person who sees the lighter side of life - until the darker side smashes into him like a brick between the eyes. How does he manage this, psychologically? Does Lucy ever have to stage an intervention to stop him becoming depressed and cynical?
Worldbuilding: This is such a rich and enticing world that Aaronovitch has to keep resorting to Pratchett-style monologues to get his exposition in. Tell me more about it! The main narrative is very much embedded in how a modern police force behaves, and that means <i>paperwork</i>. What do the briefings to incoming ministers look like? How do funding appropriations get past auditors and austerity campaigns? Will no one think of the poor communication advisors, accountants and office administrators who are dealing with superiors who keep talking in weird euphemisms, when they're <i>just trying to justify a budget variance or get out a press release that won't cause them more trouble.</i> I'm also interested in the different groups of practitioners that we've heard of - would you like to pick one that you like the look of and delve into its history and modern day doings. Or invent a new one? Are there any groups arising from organised labour coming out of Manchester? Or in Edinburgh from the Scottish Enlightenment? Would you like to detail the Rake's Progress of characters like Walid and Kumar and OCs of your choice as they progress from being a regular person to their organisation's designated Dealer With Funny Stuff? I'm also interested in the interactions between European wizards with their formal Newtonian synthesis, and the different systems that indigenous peoples would have around the world.
Nightingale: He's a fascinating character, and I really enjoyed the <i>Masquerades of Spring</i> for showing us what he was like as a young man, with boyish good looks and slightly wild hair on top, and no hesitation in dressing up in drag if that would get the job done. More interludes throughout the years are always fun. That complicated network of Arrangements that Nightingale has with various Rivers, government organisations and members of the Demimonde - how did he develop them? I'm particularly interested in his relationship with Molly - his upstairs/downstairs friendship with her must have been frowned on in the early years, but it was also strong enough that he, a very dutiful man, would light out across the Atlantic at no notice to the Folly to make her happy. And from Moment 1 that his obligation to her was pretty much the only thing keeping him going post-War. How did their friendship start, and how did it change over time?
Masquerades of Spring: And finally, I thought the latest installment was an absolute delight. I would love to see more of Augustus and his mates, more of his adventures, more of his love affair with Lucy (what are the traits of Augustus that Lucy finds particularly loveable?), more of Beauregard's proto-Jeeves tendencies (was his good naturedness about Lucy moving in the start of a subtle campaign to revise the man's wardrobe?), more of what life in New York is like in the Roaring 20s. Cocoa and her patroness never <i>outright</i> say that they're practitioners, but they're definitely not surprised by any of what Augustus and Nightingale do, and it'd be fun to see more of their projects - does their group survive into the 21st century? Are any of this New York contingent going to have encounters with the Hudson River or the Public Library Service? On another note, Augustus is such a happy person who sees the lighter side of life - until the darker side smashes into him like a brick between the eyes. How does he manage this, psychologically? Does Lucy ever have to stage an intervention to stop him becoming depressed and cynical?
A Civil Contract - Georgette Heyer (any of Adam Deveril, Jenny Chawleigh-Deveril, Lady Julia Oversley, Lydia Deveril)
This novel is the least Heyerish of all the Heyer novels, which might be why I like it so much.
I would like to see more of how Adam's and Jenny's marriage goes through the years. It seems to me that making friends with your spouse is one of the keys to marriage longevity, but you also want them to be making your toes curl as well, right? Do they ever have any future crises to get through?
Lydia is so much fun, especially in her interactions with her uncle-in-law. Does she ever get into scrapes, and who gets her out of them? Does she get an amateur acting career after all? I hope that marriage doesn't sober her up <i>too</i> much.
It's always struck me that while Julia is an Attention Queen, she tries to feed her need to feel loved by showering everybody else with affection. There are quite a lot more unpleasant ways to suck the oxygen out of the room, you know? As tiresome as she makes life for Adam, I've always wondered if it's possible for her to be redeemed. Does she get a <i>truly</i> happy ending in the fullness of time?
Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty (any of Aurora, Leo, Count Lilac)
I love this adaptation of Sleeping Beauty, which has all its characters bursting with personality, and made sure that Aurora and Leo could know and love each other before she was cursed, and especially the bit where Leo breaks the curse for the first time and... things are definitely not over. Nope, the rescue is ongoing! The first time I saw that, I practically fell out of my chair.
I would love some stories about Aurora and Leo as children - they look like best friends who teased each other until they became lovers, and I love the playfulness of their relationship. The moment where he's rescued her the second time, and is despairing because he thinks it hasn't worked, and then he's ashamed of how he's changed - and she accepts him, is so tender and beautiful. What are their lives like after the change? I'm also interested in what Leo was doing in the 100 years of the curse. Was he camping outside the gates all that time, or did he have some adventures along the way? Did Count Lilac ever turn up and assign him a little errand? Speaking of which, Lilac is a very careful dresser and Leo is always in the period equivalent of hoodie and trainer - what <i>feelings</i> does the Count have over this? When they're getting ready to go to the nightclub, is there a dressing up scene? Finally, Count Lilac really goes in to bat for Aurora and Leo. I'm curious as to how much of his motivations are using them to get close to Caradoc, and how much is genuine affection. And does Lilac even know?
