Dear Yuletide Author 2024
Oct. 17th, 2024 05:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
moemachinaDear Yuletide Author,
Hi! Thanks for participating in this exchange, which I love. This letter has some brief suggestions for possible stories, but feel free to ignore them and follow your own bliss in what you choose to write about my requested characters.
AO3 Name: moemachina.
Treats warmly accepted.
Do Not Want (DNW): Unrequested romantic relationships. However, it's totally fine to include canonical spouses or partners, like Holloway, as important and sympathetic characters. My prompts often allude to relationships between requested characters and their wider social network; if I mention an unrequested character by name in a prompt, it's okay to put them in a romantic/sexual relationship with a requested character.
Otherwise: I am not troubled by any degree of violence or sex. Feel free to write something dark, kinky, or gross. I am fine with AUs or canon divergence. Consider me opted-in to everything.
If I've requested more than one character, I'm cool with the requested characters being in a romantic relationship together. I'm also cool with the characters being in a non-romantic relationship. I like ships; I like gen.
Past Yuletide Letters:
2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2012 / 2013 / 2015 / 2016 / 2017 / 2019 / 2020 / 2022 / 2023
Below are some story ideas for my requested characters, but they are obviously optional to the max.
Alien Prequel Movies: Elizabeth Shaw, David 8
I love David's prickly, unpredictable strangeness. At times, he takes immediate offense at small slights; at other times, he endures oppression with implacable calm. He finds his human crew fascinating and repugnant; he treats Shaw with devotion and contempt. I really like the dissonance of an inhuman entity shackled in grudging servitude, mimicking humans and seeking self-actualization and agency through a selective embrace of their foibles. I love the contrast with Shaw, who is virtuous and oblivious: a paragon of humanity who captures the fickle, unintelligible interest of an android without seeing the full truth of him in turn (until it is too late).
For the purposes of this prompt, you are welcome to include or disregard Covenant as you see fit. (AUs, fix-its, or bummers are all a-okay.)
Some possible story ideas:
Dorothy and the Tin Man: During the early days on LV-223, Shaw and David go on a minor adventure together, have some laughs, get to know each other, and develop an ominous-in-retrospect connection.
Everybody Lives, Nobody Dies: The crew of the Prometheus observes sensible safety protocols on an alien planet and as a result, everyone survives -- which means that the relationship between David and Shaw develops on a much different trajectory. What happens then?
Rom-Com in SPAAAAACE: Frankenstein's monster falls in love. The object of his affection, marooned alongside him, is less than thrilled. At first. Does David slowly grow on Shaw, like a fungus? Or does Shaw have to take measures to protect herself?
Cabin Fever: After the end of Prometheus, things go wrong on the Engineers' ship, at first slowly, and then all at once. Shaw and David influence and change one another, for better or worse. What uncomfortable truths do they discover together? How do they deal with injury, madness, and/or death?
Twelfth Night: Toby
Toby Belch! Everyone's favorite disreputable uncle! He instigates all the plot shenanigans in Olivia's household; he is a chaos gremlin at every point in the play. I'd love to see more of his mischief, largesse, and/or cruelty in relationship to the people around him. Feel free to make him face the consequences of his actions (unless, of course, it would be funnier for him to get off scot-free).
Some possible story ideas:
A Plague o’ These Pickle Herring: It's a lovely morning in the village, and you are a horrible goose uncle.
All the Good Gifts of Nature: Toby is callous in his treatment of Sir Andrew Aguecheek, but maybe there's some affection there as well. What's the backstory between these two?
Here Comes the Little Villain: Despite Toby's many flaws, Maria presumably sees something in him. Does Toby have some redeeming qualities? (Does Maria have some gremlin qualities?)
And Does Not Toby Take You a Blow o’ The Lips: Toby and Malvolio hate each other, but maybe they also make out sometimes? Listen, listen, it's a classic enemies-to-lovers set-up. Whomst among us has not set up an elaborate gaslighting plot involving half a dozen people to humiliate our crush???
Jeanne d'Arc (2006): Jeanne, Gilles
This request refers to the 2006 video game. I'm very into Jeanne's toughness and focus, and I'm also into the fact that she's barely aware of the hot loyal nobleman in eyeliner who quietly and humbly assists her at every point, finds her when everyone else thinks she is dead, and gives her motivational pep talks whenever necessary. And does it ever occur to Jeanne to wonder about Gilles' ardently selfless service? Nope! Love that for her.
Note: It's up to you if you want to address or ignore the fate of the historical Gilles de Rais. I am perfectly fine with a dark take on Gilles, but it's also okay if you want to ignore his real-life analogue and focus on the fictionalized video-game version who travels with a talking purple frog.
Some possible story ideas:
Makeover Montage: On the road, Gilles tries to help Jeanne prepare to deal with nobility and/or royalty. Jeanne returns the favor by introducing him to the finer points of rustic country life.
One-Sided Pining: Gilles spends a lot of time metaphorically doodling in his journal and drawing little hearts around Jeanne's name. Jeanne spends a lot of time thinking about HOW TO SAVE FRANCE.
Demon Time: Post-game, Gilles has a Dark Passenger who keeps whispering to him. He might need Jeanne's help to pull through.
Two-Sided Pining: Maybe, as a little treat, Jeanne can take the occasional break from the red-string corkboard entitled HOW TO SAVE FRANCE and develop uncomfortable and inconvenient feelings for her right-hand man.
Ogre Battle: Lanselot Hamilton, Lanselot Tartaros
The revelation in Tactics Ogre Chapter 4 down in the torture pit that LT and LH not only had history together but had real bad, eye-gouging history: what a twist! Bloody Lans H, nearly broken but still spitting defiance at Tartaros, who is contemptuous and superior but also extending his opponent a grudging respect: "They are not the soldiers we are, you know." Plus all the chiming resonance between their philosophical conversation and what's actually happening to LH in a very real, physical sense. (Ah, to "reach beneath the suppurating flesh of this world and wrench out the source of its ailment," indeed!) I would like more about that intimately intense relationship, either before, during, or after the game. I played the PSP edition of the game, but feel free to use the original SNES flavor or whatever is going on in the Reborn remaster, and you're welcome to incorporate or completely disregard material from Knight of Lodis or the CODA stuff. Obviously, all routes and endings are fair game.
Some possible story ideas:
Lovers to Enemies: Lans H, respected paladin, just loves hanging out with his new best friend visiting from a suspiciously vague country. Wait, what's that? The kingdom's magic sword is missing??? Oh no! I sure hope my new best friend isn't responsible!
Enemies to Lovers: It's AU Time, baby! Everyone lives; everyone recovers; everyone rides off into the sunset for (grudging, suspicious) happily ever after. How, um, how does that happen?
The Eternal Shriek: Let's all go hang out together in the torture chamber! What's happening down there? Bad things? Yeah, yeah, but WHAT bad things?
But You Are In That Chair, Blanche: Post-game, Tartaros pays Hamilton a visit. Maybe it's a terrible visit. Maybe it's sublime.
Hilary Tamar Mysteries: Desmond Ragwort, Michael Cantrip
I love the Hilary Tamar novels for being so funny, acidic, vicious, and queer. Feel free to lean into the series' stock elements (intricate legal references, trips to fancy places, cutting-edge '80s technology, unremarkably revolutionary sexual politics, a first-person POV from someone who reveals almost nothing significant about themselves) or tear off in a new direction: everyone is using smartphones, or one of the barristers jets off to the new Mars colony, or Tamar turns out to be an eldritch god. While I've specifically requested Ragwort and Cantrip, I'm happy to have Julia, Selena, Timothy, and/or Hilary play any kind of role in the story as well. You're also free to arrange the barristers and Hilary in absolutely any romantic or platonic permutation; I have no preferences and will be happy to read any and all groupings.
Some possible story ideas:
Postcards Home: Ragwort goes on a trip to an exotic location (or maybe just a mock-exotic location), and Cantrip receives each installment of his correspondence with increasing alarm and suspicion.
Tables, Turnt: Hilary is discomfited when Cantrip and Ragwort show up in Oxford and start poking their noses into Hilary's affairs.
Quid Bro Quo: Ragwort did Cantrip a favor regarding a case, and now he is demanding recompense. Cantrip's attempts to renegotiate this obligation keep leading back to sexual invitations, to Ragwort's intrigued consternation.
Nom de Plume: Cantrip and Julia's novel has been published. Ragwort is alarmed to discover that he appears within the novel in a lightly fictionalized form doing some very questionable things. Cantrip doesn't see the problem.
When The King Comes Home: Hail Rosamer, Ludovic Nallaneen
The best part of this book is Hail's narrating voice: obstinate, obsessive, and oblivious. I loved spending time in her company as she ran roughshod across the plot. Her relationship with Ludovic is really charming, especially when Hail obliviously (or pseudo-obliviously?) describes his not-very-subtle crush. I really love the implied detail that they were close friends throughout their lives -- friends to such a degree that, in Hail's old age, Ludovic's kids still visit her. Hail and Ludovic are amazing as platonic besties! But if you want to pair them up romantically (an AU where they end up together? a short-lived youthful fling? a disastrous decades-long romance?? one-sided pining???), I'm not opposed!
Our Matching Tattoos Read 'BFFs 4-Ever:' After the events of the novel, Hail and Ludovic advance in their careers, approach middle age, surround themselves with family and apprentices, and still enjoy each other's company.
Caravaggio in Sepia Tones: Ludovic's son comes to visit the elderly Hail, and she tells him a story he never knew about his father.
My Love Language Is A Jail Break: Hail and/or Ludovic gets in a jam and needs the other to lend some illicit assistance, followed by surprise kissing.
The Beast in the Jungle: Ludovic loves Hail, and Hail never notices. Rinse, wash, repeat through all the years of their lives.
Hi! Thanks for participating in this exchange, which I love. This letter has some brief suggestions for possible stories, but feel free to ignore them and follow your own bliss in what you choose to write about my requested characters.
AO3 Name: moemachina.
Treats warmly accepted.
Do Not Want (DNW): Unrequested romantic relationships. However, it's totally fine to include canonical spouses or partners, like Holloway, as important and sympathetic characters. My prompts often allude to relationships between requested characters and their wider social network; if I mention an unrequested character by name in a prompt, it's okay to put them in a romantic/sexual relationship with a requested character.
Otherwise: I am not troubled by any degree of violence or sex. Feel free to write something dark, kinky, or gross. I am fine with AUs or canon divergence. Consider me opted-in to everything.
If I've requested more than one character, I'm cool with the requested characters being in a romantic relationship together. I'm also cool with the characters being in a non-romantic relationship. I like ships; I like gen.
Past Yuletide Letters:
2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2012 / 2013 / 2015 / 2016 / 2017 / 2019 / 2020 / 2022 / 2023
Below are some story ideas for my requested characters, but they are obviously optional to the max.
Alien Prequel Movies: Elizabeth Shaw, David 8
I love David's prickly, unpredictable strangeness. At times, he takes immediate offense at small slights; at other times, he endures oppression with implacable calm. He finds his human crew fascinating and repugnant; he treats Shaw with devotion and contempt. I really like the dissonance of an inhuman entity shackled in grudging servitude, mimicking humans and seeking self-actualization and agency through a selective embrace of their foibles. I love the contrast with Shaw, who is virtuous and oblivious: a paragon of humanity who captures the fickle, unintelligible interest of an android without seeing the full truth of him in turn (until it is too late).
For the purposes of this prompt, you are welcome to include or disregard Covenant as you see fit. (AUs, fix-its, or bummers are all a-okay.)
Some possible story ideas:
Twelfth Night: Toby
Toby Belch! Everyone's favorite disreputable uncle! He instigates all the plot shenanigans in Olivia's household; he is a chaos gremlin at every point in the play. I'd love to see more of his mischief, largesse, and/or cruelty in relationship to the people around him. Feel free to make him face the consequences of his actions (unless, of course, it would be funnier for him to get off scot-free).
Some possible story ideas:
Jeanne d'Arc (2006): Jeanne, Gilles
This request refers to the 2006 video game. I'm very into Jeanne's toughness and focus, and I'm also into the fact that she's barely aware of the hot loyal nobleman in eyeliner who quietly and humbly assists her at every point, finds her when everyone else thinks she is dead, and gives her motivational pep talks whenever necessary. And does it ever occur to Jeanne to wonder about Gilles' ardently selfless service? Nope! Love that for her.
Note: It's up to you if you want to address or ignore the fate of the historical Gilles de Rais. I am perfectly fine with a dark take on Gilles, but it's also okay if you want to ignore his real-life analogue and focus on the fictionalized video-game version who travels with a talking purple frog.
Some possible story ideas:
Ogre Battle: Lanselot Hamilton, Lanselot Tartaros
The revelation in Tactics Ogre Chapter 4 down in the torture pit that LT and LH not only had history together but had real bad, eye-gouging history: what a twist! Bloody Lans H, nearly broken but still spitting defiance at Tartaros, who is contemptuous and superior but also extending his opponent a grudging respect: "They are not the soldiers we are, you know." Plus all the chiming resonance between their philosophical conversation and what's actually happening to LH in a very real, physical sense. (Ah, to "reach beneath the suppurating flesh of this world and wrench out the source of its ailment," indeed!) I would like more about that intimately intense relationship, either before, during, or after the game. I played the PSP edition of the game, but feel free to use the original SNES flavor or whatever is going on in the Reborn remaster, and you're welcome to incorporate or completely disregard material from Knight of Lodis or the CODA stuff. Obviously, all routes and endings are fair game.
Some possible story ideas:
Hilary Tamar Mysteries: Desmond Ragwort, Michael Cantrip
I love the Hilary Tamar novels for being so funny, acidic, vicious, and queer. Feel free to lean into the series' stock elements (intricate legal references, trips to fancy places, cutting-edge '80s technology, unremarkably revolutionary sexual politics, a first-person POV from someone who reveals almost nothing significant about themselves) or tear off in a new direction: everyone is using smartphones, or one of the barristers jets off to the new Mars colony, or Tamar turns out to be an eldritch god. While I've specifically requested Ragwort and Cantrip, I'm happy to have Julia, Selena, Timothy, and/or Hilary play any kind of role in the story as well. You're also free to arrange the barristers and Hilary in absolutely any romantic or platonic permutation; I have no preferences and will be happy to read any and all groupings.
Some possible story ideas:
When The King Comes Home: Hail Rosamer, Ludovic Nallaneen
The best part of this book is Hail's narrating voice: obstinate, obsessive, and oblivious. I loved spending time in her company as she ran roughshod across the plot. Her relationship with Ludovic is really charming, especially when Hail obliviously (or pseudo-obliviously?) describes his not-very-subtle crush. I really love the implied detail that they were close friends throughout their lives -- friends to such a degree that, in Hail's old age, Ludovic's kids still visit her. Hail and Ludovic are amazing as platonic besties! But if you want to pair them up romantically (an AU where they end up together? a short-lived youthful fling? a disastrous decades-long romance?? one-sided pining???), I'm not opposed!
