Yuletide Letter 2012
Dear lovely Yuletide writer,
Hi! I hope you're having a great Yuletide thus far!
As you can see, I've written a letter. It is a bit long and rambley, but before you read it, I want to make one thing clear: I'm easy. I've written a lot because I love these fandoms and have lots of feelings about them and I like to flail (and maybe inspire someone to try something new), but I'm honestly really, really flexible. Hopefully you'll find some of my thoughts or prompts here inspiring, but if not, please feel free to go in another direction. I'm thrilled just with the idea of getting fic in any of these fandoms!
My requests:
Being Human (UK), Thomas McNair, Hal Yorke
Being Human is a supernatural show without human characters mucking up the exploration of what it means to NOT be human. Well drawn characters, touching friendships, and a great mix of humor and drama make it infinitely enjoyable.
Why I love the show: I'm a big fan of well-developed supernatural/fantasy mythologies and characters, so I love that, because of its lack of human main characters, Being Human really delves into the ins and outs of what it means to be non-human in its world - why it's so hard to be "normal," the struggles the characters go through to retain their humanity, and the way they find strength in each other. Plus, all of the the characters are unique, well-drawn, and loveable, and the mix of big drama, angst, humor, and small moments is perfect.
What I'd love to see in fic: I requested Tom and Hal because yes, I ship them like burning and would LOVE more shippy fic for them. That said, if that's not your thing, I'm open to gen. Most of my thoughts and prompts could work either way; I've tried to separate out the clearly ship-only stuff near the end of this section.
First off, what I like about their relationship: I'm a big fan of the "enemies becoming friends/lovers" trope. While they weren't ENEMIES, it's clear Hal and Tom started out with a fundamental dislike and, more importantly, distrust for each other, and watching that evolve into a close friendship over Series 4 was fantastic. I enjoy that their power dynamics are complicated, but not lopsided. I'm interested in the idea that while Hal is much older and stronger than Tom, in many ways he needs Tom more than Tom needs him, because he relies on Tom to keep him sober while interacting with the world. I love that in the end they're stronger together, but I also wonder if/when/how their newfound trust and love will be shaken, or even broken.
On the characters individually, what I like about Tom is the contrast between his HUGE heart and his openness with the fact that he's a total badass vampire hunter who's been through a lot of devastating stuff. What I like about Hal is that he is basically the only vampire character I've seen who really puts his sobriety above almost EVERYTHING. I also like the contrast between his sweetness/manners and the dark side constantly lurking underneath.
Some more specific thoughts and prompts, if you want them:
-- Love me some hurt/comfort for these two
-- How do they react to Annie's death/sacrifice? I'm also interested in the void Annie leaves in their life. How does losing her (and/or gaining Alex) change their dynamic?
-- Missing moments from Series 4. What were some of the other tasks Tom came up with to keep Hal sober? More moments of them showing trust or friendship. Missing shippy moments. Annie's perspective on their changing relationship would also be interesting. (FWIW, I find Hal being awkward at work the funniest thing.)
-- I'm fascinated by the extended Being Human supernatural world. Example: What happens now that Annie destroyed the vamp big-wigs? Seems like there's a huge power vacuum to me...
-- I'm also fascinated by Hal's backstory, so if you're doing gen and want to skip Tom to explore this, feel free. I'd be interested in more of Hal's relationship with Pearl and especially Leo. Or his time as a baddie before that. Did he ever run into any of the other vampire characters we've met along the way?
-- Or: How does Hal's backstory affect his present relationship (of any sort) with Tom? I love the line Hal says to Tom in the finale: "You really are one of the most remarkable people I've ever met." What other remarkable people has Hal met? What sets Tom apart?
--I like basically every character on the show, so feel free/encouraged to bring any of them in, either for Hal's backstory or for a present day story. I like Alex and am really interested to see what her dynamic with the boys will end up being, so definitely don't shy away from including her if you want to.
Now, some shippy stuff:
-- I'd be happy with anything about them in a romantic and/or sexual relationship, but in terms of my number one choice, I totally adore fic focused around the beginning of their relationship - how they figure out they have feelings for each other, how they get together, etc.
-- If you want to include smutty stuff (which I would enjoy but in no way need), I would prefer the power dynamic not to be too skewed. I'm TOTALLY down with them being rough and there being power play, but I see it as more mutual - it's a werewolf and a vampire, after all. OTOH, I'm also down with them both being more tender/cautious. Just not one totally dominating the other.
Other thoughts: I want to re-emphasize that while I focused on Hal and Tom here, I really do love this whole verse and all the characters, so feel free to include anyone else you want, or explore elements of the Being Human world you find interesting. FWIW, I also loved Annie/Mitchell and enjoyed George and Nina's relationship as well (timeline means that info probably won't end up being relevant, but hey.)
One note: I know Tom's accent is a tricky thing for people to deal with. While I love writers who can capture his speech pattern/word choice (though I realize it's super hard to get right!) I honestly prefer it if you DON'T try to write out the accent itself, because I generally find phonetically written accents distracting.
TL;DR: Tom/Hal is love, but gen is good too. Trust issues, unlikely friendships, finding strength in each other, Hal backstory are all things I like. I also love the other characters and whole verse.
Homeland, Any
Homeland is a tense, complex spy thriller with dazzling writing, but what really sets it apart is its unique, deep, broken, gorgeous characters.
Why I love the show: The characters are SO rich. Every single one of them is so psychologically layered, so complicated, so sympathetic even in their worst moments. And the relationships (of all sorts) are so nuanced, so painful, and so beautiful. And then on top of that the plot is tight, thrilling, and sharp. It's one of the most exciting things on TV right now.
What I'd love to see in fic: I chose any, and I mean it. I love every character and want to know more about all of them, so if you have an idea already, go for it! But if you want more info, here are some things I find especially interesting:
-- Dana is my homegirl, and fic involving her would be my very top choice for this fandom (though only if you're interested! I'm excited about everyone else too!). She is such a good portrayal of a strong, willful, hurting teen. I love her relationship with Brody. I'm really interested in how being his daughter affects her. Anything exploring her would be great, from a story about her present day life to a look at who she is 10, 20, 30 years down the line (and how would that be different if she does/doesn't ever learn the truth about her dad?).
I also really ship Dana with Finn, so would adore some fic about them. I like the way they bond over being the children of famous parents, and all the problems that come with that. I love their mix of young love and deep jadedness. One idea of many: What happens between them if the truth about Brody comes out?
-- Carrie and Brody: I LOVE this relationship, both the romantic/sexual side, and the enmity. I'd really enjoy shippy fic (including smutty), as long as you keep the complexity. I think they can potentially bring each other some weird form of happiness, and would be thrilled to see tender moments between them in fic, but this ain't a functional, fluffy relationship. I'd also be totally down for darker shippy stuff (manipulation, hate!sex, etc). I'd enjoy a non-shippy exploration of them as well.
-- I adore the Carrie-Saul friendship. What were they like when they first met? Saul taking care of Carrie warms my heart. Or what happens if Carrie has to take care of Saul for some reason?
-- Brody's relationship to his religion fascinates me, as does his family's relationship to it. Anything involving that from his, Jessica, or Dana's POV would be awesome.
-- Jessica learning the truth about Brody. How does it happen? How does she react? How does she put her life back together down the line?
-- Jessica and Carrie interacting more. How is the dynamic different if Jessica thinks Carrie is Brody's CIA handler? What about if she finds out the truth about Brody, and Carrie's whole complicated history with him? What if he goes missing and they have to team up to find him? Or just something where they run into each other and are super awkward...
-- Brody and his army buddies before everything went to hell.
Other thoughts: Homeland is a psychologically grounded, realist show, and I'd like fic to reflect that - I'd prefer no crack or fantasy element or AU's of the "they're all in high school" variety. Also, I like the thriller elements of the show, so if that's in your wheelhouse I'd enjoy something plotty. But, as you can probably tell, the characters are my number one priority, so don't feel like you need to include thriller/spy/plotty stuff if it's not something you want to do. I'd be more than thrilled with a totally plotless character piece, (or anything in between)!
Speaking of the characters, I'm open to many interpretations of them, but something that's important to me is that I find them ALL sympathetic even with their flaws, and that includes Brody, who is one of my favorite characters on the show. I don't condone his choices and actions, but if you include him I'd prefer not to see him painted as a purely terrible monstrous villain unless it makes sense for your POV character to think of him that way.
Oh, and one exception to the "realist" request: If you happen to be a Doctor Who fan and are inspired by the idea of Dana being The Doctor's companion, go for it! Because that would be freaking sweet. I know it's out of left field with everything else I've talked about, but come ON. How interesting would that be?
TL;DR: Keep the characters complicated, explore their relationships, I'll be happy!
Revenge, Emily Thorne, Nolan Ross
The story of one woman's quest for revenge against the people who destroyed her family, Revenge is prime time soap at its best, with all the twisty plots, manipulative characters, and juicy drama you could want.
Why I love the show: Revenge would be my guilty pleasure show, but it's so good at what it does I don't think there's anything to be guilty about. As a fan of moral ambiguity and manipulation I love that almost every character has many layers of complicated motivations, and almost every scene involves at least one person not saying what they really mean. It's twisty and delicious.
What I'd love to see in fic: I requested Emily (the main character/formerly Amanda) and Nolan because they are one of my biggest OTPs, but if that's not your thing gen works too. Most of my thoughts and prompts could go either way; I've separated out the ship-only stuff near the end.
First, why I love these characters: I'm a sucker for a good anti-hero, and there are never enough female ones, so Emily is great for me. I like that she's legitimately completely broken, shut off, dangerous, and morally dark grey, but still has moments where her heart shines through. Nolan I adore for his loyalty to the people who show him affection, his gung-ho-ness when it comes to Emily's plans, and for being something of a moral compass for her. He's far from a white hat himself, but he knows where the line is most of the time.
What I love about this relationship: In a show where all the relationships (especially the romantic ones) are built on lies and distrust, this is the only one where the two people know the truth about each other, rely on each other, and, yes, trust each other. It's a tentative, cold trust on Emily's part, but it's there. Their friendship isn't easy and a romantic relationship would be even harder, but they give each other something they both need: Emily makes Nolan feel included and (sometimes) wanted; Nolan knows who Emily is - ALL sides of her - and loves her (romantically or not) anyway.
Some more specific prompts I think would be cool (though feel free to do your own thing! These are just for inspiration if you want them):
-- We've seen Emily pissed at Nolan, but she always forgives him very quickly. What would it take for him to actually destroy her trust in him? Could he ever win it back?
-- What happens after Emily finally completes her revenge?
-- I just love watching them work as a team, so anything around them as the Awesome Revenge Duo.
-- I love both Conrad and Victoria as villains, so including them is great. I'd especially love to see Nolan interact with either of them more. In fact, if you you want to do a gen story about Nolan vs. one or both of them that doesn't include Emily, go for it!
-- Outside POV: What does the rest of the Hamptons social scene make of Emily and Nolan's friendship or relationship? It must seem weird, given what they think of Nolan and who they think Emily is.
-- I don't ship Jack/Emily because I don't believe he could accept who she really is, but I do like the idea of Nolan having a one-sided crush on Jack, and even if you don't see that, obviously he's very important to both Nolan and Emily. Them teaming up to protect him (either as friends or as a couple) and dealing with their complicated relationship to him would be interesting, especially because Nolan and Emily definitely don't always see eye-to-eye about what's best for Jack.
-- Relatedly, I actually really like Amanda (formally Emily). Her complex (and now shaken) devotion to Emily and her semi-antagonistic relationship with Nolan both interest me, so if you want to incorporate her in some way, please do. (Random thought: I could totally see she and Nolan sharing a drink and bonding over how hard it is to be devoted to Emily Thorne.) FWIW I'm down with the idea that Amanda is (or was) in love with Emily, and that they may have had a sexual relationship at one point.
-- I also LOVE Emily's relationship to Charlotte, especially because it's one of the few other places you can see her really caring about someone, so incorporating that would be great if you want. In fact, if you're doing gen and using both Emily and Nolan isn't working out, I'd be down with a story focusing on Emily and Charlotte instead.
-- I'm super interested in the way the Nolan relates to his various public personas -- the genius tech maverick, the awkward Hampton's misfit, etc. I'd love fic exploring that, either involving Emily or not.
Shippy stuff:
Some more thoughts on the romantic version of this relationship: As I think I've made clear, I do think a romantic relationship between these two could work out. But I also think it would be difficult, and certainly not a fluffy romance. You don't have to go angsty (though feel free to), but I'm not interested in seeing Nolan and Emily being all gushy and romantic, you know? It's not really their style. In the same vein, I don't see them as some Big! Epic! Romance! To me, their relationship is a (complicated) partnership, and I don't think that dynamic would change even if they get together. I'd also like Emily to remain Emily: She's never going to be someone who expresses love easily, or who finds genuine romantic relationships intuitive.
Also, if you happen to want to include smutty stuff, you can generally just see my likes/dislikes below. The only thing I'd add is I don't really want to see Nolan dominating Emily (but vica versa is fine.)
Other thoughts: I love basically everything about this show, so please feel free to pull in any characters you like, even if I didn't mention them. I love the plotty, revenge-y stuff, so if that's your thing, great! But if not, character-focused, less plotty fic is fantastic too.
TL;DR: Emily/Nolan is an OTP of my heart, but gen is good too. Any focus on their partnership and their complicated and potentially broken trust is love. Other characters and revenge-y stuff are great too!
The Wire, Any
Far more than just another cop show, The Wire takes TV realism to a new level with its grounded sense of place, deeply complicated characters, sprawling plots, and bleakly realist look at the way the system works - or, for the most part, doesn't - in inner city America. It's not just one of the greatest TV show of all time, it's one of the best stories in any medium.
Why I love the show: The Wire is one of my favorite shows ever. Ever ever ever. Things I love about it: Its commitment to realism. Its complex characters who are almost never all good or bad, each with fully realized lives, emotions, and motivations. Its grounded sense of place. Its vast, sprawling plots and its true-to-life small character moments. The fact that it is both heartbreaking and hopeful - it doesn't gloss over anything, but also knows there is good in life. (See also this mini pimp post I did while trying to back Omar in this year's Fandom March Madness.)
What I'd love to see in fic: In some ways, The Wire is already a perfect as is - but at the same time, there are so many elements, characters, plots, etc. left to explore. I'd be happy with basically everything that you can come up with, but here are some things I'd especially love to see:
-- Stringer and Avon's relationship is as incredible and touching as it is heartbreaking and destructive, so anything exploring the Stringer-Avon OR Stringer/Avon relationship would be fantastic. In fact, it's probably my very top choice for The Wire fic (though if it's not your thing, that's totally fine). I ship it a LOT and would die for some shippy fic, but I'm also really into the friendship - the depth of love that eventually isn't enough. I'd love backstory on their relationship. I'd also be interested in what went through Avon's mind after he realized Stringer betrayed him. If you do want to do shippy, I'd be more than fine with higher rated stuff.
-- Stringer Bell is one of my favorite characters of all time. I find him fascinating - the man of the streets trying to become respectable, and failing despite his obvious intelligence. Any sort of Stringer character piece or plotty story around him would be great. Or: What did the politicians see when they looked at him? Obviously they weren't afraid to screw him over, so they must not see the same deadly gangster we see.
-- Omar, Omar, Omar. I love Omar. Omar being a badass. Omar having hot sex. Omar as a kid. Omar reflecting on his life. Anything.
-- Anything with any of the Season 4-5 kids. Where are they in 10, 20, 50 years?
-- I adore Bubbles, and especially his friendship with Kima. How did they meet? What's their interaction like after he's been sober for a while?
-- McNulty and Bunk's friendships is great. So is McNulty and Kima's. Really, any of the friendships between the cops make me happy.
-- Love love LOVE Snoop, Shardene, Ziggy, Bodie. So anything exploring their lives.
-- What happens to or between the characters who are in prison when the show ends?
-- There are so many awesome characters on this show, I could list names all day. There is literally not a single character I don't find interesting. If there is someone you're really interested in exploring, go for it, even if they aren't one of the people listed for Yuletide - I'm sure I'd love to see your take.
Other thoughts: I'm actually from Baltimore, and I love the little details that remind me of home. DON'T let that freak you out - I'm not at all nit-picky, and honestly the Baltimore most of these characters live in is not my Baltimore. But if you're the kind of person who likes to research details like brands/street names/slang/etc, your efforts will definitely be noticed and appreciated.
Also, as with Homeland, the realism of the show is something that really matters to me. No random fantasy/AUs/crack (unless we're talking the actual drug), please! On the flip side of that, I know what this canon is. Don't feel the need to shy away from un-PC dialogue, violence, depressing endings, etc.
TL;DR: Realism, character/friendship moments or character-centric plots. Stringer/Avon, Stringer & Avon, Omar, Bubbles & Kima, the kids, friendships - these are things I really like.
General likes and dislikes:
Some final thoughts:
-- Characters are the most important part of fan-fic for me. Don't get me wrong, I love a good plot! But seeing more of the characters I love is the number one thing I'm here for.
-- In my fandom section I mostly focused on dynamics I already like from the shows. But one thing I think is great about fic is that you can have characters who barely interact in canon bounce off each other. I love to be surprised, so PLEASE feel free to go off in your own direction if the inspiration strikes.
-- I'm open to all kinds of tones and genres! Angst, humor, thrillers, character pieces - whatever works for the story you want to tell.
-- I don't tend to like AUs of the "the characters are all in a different situation" variety, but I am down with "What If" AUs that explore what would happen if one aspect of canon was different.
-- I'm not in anyway tied to the idea of explicit sex, but I'm open to it. Some more details on that:
+ I'm not into non-sex related body fluids
+ I'm not so interested in well-thought out, established and healthy BDSM relationships.
+ I AM interested in D/s dynamics in bed that just develop. For instance, I could totally see Emily just dominating the shit out of Nolan, or Omar being a boss in the sack. Ropes, some pain, etc. could be part of that.
Other Likes: Strong character voices, first times, characters realizing how much someone else means to them, H/C, morally ambiguous characters, small moments that have significance for the people involved, twisty plots, romantic moments that are very individualized, dysfunctional relationships that somehow work anyway, unexpected alliances and friendships, friends who always have each others' backs, complex relationships of all sorts.
Other dislikes: I'm not big on cracky fics. I'm also not that into schmoop. I'm not big on fantasy added into non-fantastical worlds, mpreg, or anything else that diverges from canon TOO much in terms of tone.
Hi! I hope you're having a great Yuletide thus far!
As you can see, I've written a letter. It is a bit long and rambley, but before you read it, I want to make one thing clear: I'm easy. I've written a lot because I love these fandoms and have lots of feelings about them and I like to flail (and maybe inspire someone to try something new), but I'm honestly really, really flexible. Hopefully you'll find some of my thoughts or prompts here inspiring, but if not, please feel free to go in another direction. I'm thrilled just with the idea of getting fic in any of these fandoms!
My requests:
Being Human (UK), Thomas McNair, Hal Yorke
Being Human is a supernatural show without human characters mucking up the exploration of what it means to NOT be human. Well drawn characters, touching friendships, and a great mix of humor and drama make it infinitely enjoyable.
Why I love the show: I'm a big fan of well-developed supernatural/fantasy mythologies and characters, so I love that, because of its lack of human main characters, Being Human really delves into the ins and outs of what it means to be non-human in its world - why it's so hard to be "normal," the struggles the characters go through to retain their humanity, and the way they find strength in each other. Plus, all of the the characters are unique, well-drawn, and loveable, and the mix of big drama, angst, humor, and small moments is perfect.
What I'd love to see in fic: I requested Tom and Hal because yes, I ship them like burning and would LOVE more shippy fic for them. That said, if that's not your thing, I'm open to gen. Most of my thoughts and prompts could work either way; I've tried to separate out the clearly ship-only stuff near the end of this section.
First off, what I like about their relationship: I'm a big fan of the "enemies becoming friends/lovers" trope. While they weren't ENEMIES, it's clear Hal and Tom started out with a fundamental dislike and, more importantly, distrust for each other, and watching that evolve into a close friendship over Series 4 was fantastic. I enjoy that their power dynamics are complicated, but not lopsided. I'm interested in the idea that while Hal is much older and stronger than Tom, in many ways he needs Tom more than Tom needs him, because he relies on Tom to keep him sober while interacting with the world. I love that in the end they're stronger together, but I also wonder if/when/how their newfound trust and love will be shaken, or even broken.
On the characters individually, what I like about Tom is the contrast between his HUGE heart and his openness with the fact that he's a total badass vampire hunter who's been through a lot of devastating stuff. What I like about Hal is that he is basically the only vampire character I've seen who really puts his sobriety above almost EVERYTHING. I also like the contrast between his sweetness/manners and the dark side constantly lurking underneath.
Some more specific thoughts and prompts, if you want them:
-- Love me some hurt/comfort for these two
-- How do they react to Annie's death/sacrifice? I'm also interested in the void Annie leaves in their life. How does losing her (and/or gaining Alex) change their dynamic?
-- Missing moments from Series 4. What were some of the other tasks Tom came up with to keep Hal sober? More moments of them showing trust or friendship. Missing shippy moments. Annie's perspective on their changing relationship would also be interesting. (FWIW, I find Hal being awkward at work the funniest thing.)
-- I'm fascinated by the extended Being Human supernatural world. Example: What happens now that Annie destroyed the vamp big-wigs? Seems like there's a huge power vacuum to me...
-- I'm also fascinated by Hal's backstory, so if you're doing gen and want to skip Tom to explore this, feel free. I'd be interested in more of Hal's relationship with Pearl and especially Leo. Or his time as a baddie before that. Did he ever run into any of the other vampire characters we've met along the way?
-- Or: How does Hal's backstory affect his present relationship (of any sort) with Tom? I love the line Hal says to Tom in the finale: "You really are one of the most remarkable people I've ever met." What other remarkable people has Hal met? What sets Tom apart?
--I like basically every character on the show, so feel free/encouraged to bring any of them in, either for Hal's backstory or for a present day story. I like Alex and am really interested to see what her dynamic with the boys will end up being, so definitely don't shy away from including her if you want to.
Now, some shippy stuff:
-- I'd be happy with anything about them in a romantic and/or sexual relationship, but in terms of my number one choice, I totally adore fic focused around the beginning of their relationship - how they figure out they have feelings for each other, how they get together, etc.
-- If you want to include smutty stuff (which I would enjoy but in no way need), I would prefer the power dynamic not to be too skewed. I'm TOTALLY down with them being rough and there being power play, but I see it as more mutual - it's a werewolf and a vampire, after all. OTOH, I'm also down with them both being more tender/cautious. Just not one totally dominating the other.
Other thoughts: I want to re-emphasize that while I focused on Hal and Tom here, I really do love this whole verse and all the characters, so feel free to include anyone else you want, or explore elements of the Being Human world you find interesting. FWIW, I also loved Annie/Mitchell and enjoyed George and Nina's relationship as well (timeline means that info probably won't end up being relevant, but hey.)
One note: I know Tom's accent is a tricky thing for people to deal with. While I love writers who can capture his speech pattern/word choice (though I realize it's super hard to get right!) I honestly prefer it if you DON'T try to write out the accent itself, because I generally find phonetically written accents distracting.
TL;DR: Tom/Hal is love, but gen is good too. Trust issues, unlikely friendships, finding strength in each other, Hal backstory are all things I like. I also love the other characters and whole verse.
Homeland, Any
Homeland is a tense, complex spy thriller with dazzling writing, but what really sets it apart is its unique, deep, broken, gorgeous characters.
Why I love the show: The characters are SO rich. Every single one of them is so psychologically layered, so complicated, so sympathetic even in their worst moments. And the relationships (of all sorts) are so nuanced, so painful, and so beautiful. And then on top of that the plot is tight, thrilling, and sharp. It's one of the most exciting things on TV right now.
What I'd love to see in fic: I chose any, and I mean it. I love every character and want to know more about all of them, so if you have an idea already, go for it! But if you want more info, here are some things I find especially interesting:
-- Dana is my homegirl, and fic involving her would be my very top choice for this fandom (though only if you're interested! I'm excited about everyone else too!). She is such a good portrayal of a strong, willful, hurting teen. I love her relationship with Brody. I'm really interested in how being his daughter affects her. Anything exploring her would be great, from a story about her present day life to a look at who she is 10, 20, 30 years down the line (and how would that be different if she does/doesn't ever learn the truth about her dad?).
I also really ship Dana with Finn, so would adore some fic about them. I like the way they bond over being the children of famous parents, and all the problems that come with that. I love their mix of young love and deep jadedness. One idea of many: What happens between them if the truth about Brody comes out?
-- Carrie and Brody: I LOVE this relationship, both the romantic/sexual side, and the enmity. I'd really enjoy shippy fic (including smutty), as long as you keep the complexity. I think they can potentially bring each other some weird form of happiness, and would be thrilled to see tender moments between them in fic, but this ain't a functional, fluffy relationship. I'd also be totally down for darker shippy stuff (manipulation, hate!sex, etc). I'd enjoy a non-shippy exploration of them as well.
-- I adore the Carrie-Saul friendship. What were they like when they first met? Saul taking care of Carrie warms my heart. Or what happens if Carrie has to take care of Saul for some reason?
-- Brody's relationship to his religion fascinates me, as does his family's relationship to it. Anything involving that from his, Jessica, or Dana's POV would be awesome.
-- Jessica learning the truth about Brody. How does it happen? How does she react? How does she put her life back together down the line?
-- Jessica and Carrie interacting more. How is the dynamic different if Jessica thinks Carrie is Brody's CIA handler? What about if she finds out the truth about Brody, and Carrie's whole complicated history with him? What if he goes missing and they have to team up to find him? Or just something where they run into each other and are super awkward...
-- Brody and his army buddies before everything went to hell.
Other thoughts: Homeland is a psychologically grounded, realist show, and I'd like fic to reflect that - I'd prefer no crack or fantasy element or AU's of the "they're all in high school" variety. Also, I like the thriller elements of the show, so if that's in your wheelhouse I'd enjoy something plotty. But, as you can probably tell, the characters are my number one priority, so don't feel like you need to include thriller/spy/plotty stuff if it's not something you want to do. I'd be more than thrilled with a totally plotless character piece, (or anything in between)!
Speaking of the characters, I'm open to many interpretations of them, but something that's important to me is that I find them ALL sympathetic even with their flaws, and that includes Brody, who is one of my favorite characters on the show. I don't condone his choices and actions, but if you include him I'd prefer not to see him painted as a purely terrible monstrous villain unless it makes sense for your POV character to think of him that way.
Oh, and one exception to the "realist" request: If you happen to be a Doctor Who fan and are inspired by the idea of Dana being The Doctor's companion, go for it! Because that would be freaking sweet. I know it's out of left field with everything else I've talked about, but come ON. How interesting would that be?
TL;DR: Keep the characters complicated, explore their relationships, I'll be happy!
Revenge, Emily Thorne, Nolan Ross
The story of one woman's quest for revenge against the people who destroyed her family, Revenge is prime time soap at its best, with all the twisty plots, manipulative characters, and juicy drama you could want.
Why I love the show: Revenge would be my guilty pleasure show, but it's so good at what it does I don't think there's anything to be guilty about. As a fan of moral ambiguity and manipulation I love that almost every character has many layers of complicated motivations, and almost every scene involves at least one person not saying what they really mean. It's twisty and delicious.
What I'd love to see in fic: I requested Emily (the main character/formerly Amanda) and Nolan because they are one of my biggest OTPs, but if that's not your thing gen works too. Most of my thoughts and prompts could go either way; I've separated out the ship-only stuff near the end.
First, why I love these characters: I'm a sucker for a good anti-hero, and there are never enough female ones, so Emily is great for me. I like that she's legitimately completely broken, shut off, dangerous, and morally dark grey, but still has moments where her heart shines through. Nolan I adore for his loyalty to the people who show him affection, his gung-ho-ness when it comes to Emily's plans, and for being something of a moral compass for her. He's far from a white hat himself, but he knows where the line is most of the time.
What I love about this relationship: In a show where all the relationships (especially the romantic ones) are built on lies and distrust, this is the only one where the two people know the truth about each other, rely on each other, and, yes, trust each other. It's a tentative, cold trust on Emily's part, but it's there. Their friendship isn't easy and a romantic relationship would be even harder, but they give each other something they both need: Emily makes Nolan feel included and (sometimes) wanted; Nolan knows who Emily is - ALL sides of her - and loves her (romantically or not) anyway.
Some more specific prompts I think would be cool (though feel free to do your own thing! These are just for inspiration if you want them):
-- We've seen Emily pissed at Nolan, but she always forgives him very quickly. What would it take for him to actually destroy her trust in him? Could he ever win it back?
-- What happens after Emily finally completes her revenge?
-- I just love watching them work as a team, so anything around them as the Awesome Revenge Duo.
-- I love both Conrad and Victoria as villains, so including them is great. I'd especially love to see Nolan interact with either of them more. In fact, if you you want to do a gen story about Nolan vs. one or both of them that doesn't include Emily, go for it!
-- Outside POV: What does the rest of the Hamptons social scene make of Emily and Nolan's friendship or relationship? It must seem weird, given what they think of Nolan and who they think Emily is.
-- I don't ship Jack/Emily because I don't believe he could accept who she really is, but I do like the idea of Nolan having a one-sided crush on Jack, and even if you don't see that, obviously he's very important to both Nolan and Emily. Them teaming up to protect him (either as friends or as a couple) and dealing with their complicated relationship to him would be interesting, especially because Nolan and Emily definitely don't always see eye-to-eye about what's best for Jack.
-- Relatedly, I actually really like Amanda (formally Emily). Her complex (and now shaken) devotion to Emily and her semi-antagonistic relationship with Nolan both interest me, so if you want to incorporate her in some way, please do. (Random thought: I could totally see she and Nolan sharing a drink and bonding over how hard it is to be devoted to Emily Thorne.) FWIW I'm down with the idea that Amanda is (or was) in love with Emily, and that they may have had a sexual relationship at one point.
-- I also LOVE Emily's relationship to Charlotte, especially because it's one of the few other places you can see her really caring about someone, so incorporating that would be great if you want. In fact, if you're doing gen and using both Emily and Nolan isn't working out, I'd be down with a story focusing on Emily and Charlotte instead.
-- I'm super interested in the way the Nolan relates to his various public personas -- the genius tech maverick, the awkward Hampton's misfit, etc. I'd love fic exploring that, either involving Emily or not.
Shippy stuff:
Some more thoughts on the romantic version of this relationship: As I think I've made clear, I do think a romantic relationship between these two could work out. But I also think it would be difficult, and certainly not a fluffy romance. You don't have to go angsty (though feel free to), but I'm not interested in seeing Nolan and Emily being all gushy and romantic, you know? It's not really their style. In the same vein, I don't see them as some Big! Epic! Romance! To me, their relationship is a (complicated) partnership, and I don't think that dynamic would change even if they get together. I'd also like Emily to remain Emily: She's never going to be someone who expresses love easily, or who finds genuine romantic relationships intuitive.
Also, if you happen to want to include smutty stuff, you can generally just see my likes/dislikes below. The only thing I'd add is I don't really want to see Nolan dominating Emily (but vica versa is fine.)
Other thoughts: I love basically everything about this show, so please feel free to pull in any characters you like, even if I didn't mention them. I love the plotty, revenge-y stuff, so if that's your thing, great! But if not, character-focused, less plotty fic is fantastic too.
TL;DR: Emily/Nolan is an OTP of my heart, but gen is good too. Any focus on their partnership and their complicated and potentially broken trust is love. Other characters and revenge-y stuff are great too!
The Wire, Any
Far more than just another cop show, The Wire takes TV realism to a new level with its grounded sense of place, deeply complicated characters, sprawling plots, and bleakly realist look at the way the system works - or, for the most part, doesn't - in inner city America. It's not just one of the greatest TV show of all time, it's one of the best stories in any medium.
Why I love the show: The Wire is one of my favorite shows ever. Ever ever ever. Things I love about it: Its commitment to realism. Its complex characters who are almost never all good or bad, each with fully realized lives, emotions, and motivations. Its grounded sense of place. Its vast, sprawling plots and its true-to-life small character moments. The fact that it is both heartbreaking and hopeful - it doesn't gloss over anything, but also knows there is good in life. (See also this mini pimp post I did while trying to back Omar in this year's Fandom March Madness.)
What I'd love to see in fic: In some ways, The Wire is already a perfect as is - but at the same time, there are so many elements, characters, plots, etc. left to explore. I'd be happy with basically everything that you can come up with, but here are some things I'd especially love to see:
-- Stringer and Avon's relationship is as incredible and touching as it is heartbreaking and destructive, so anything exploring the Stringer-Avon OR Stringer/Avon relationship would be fantastic. In fact, it's probably my very top choice for The Wire fic (though if it's not your thing, that's totally fine). I ship it a LOT and would die for some shippy fic, but I'm also really into the friendship - the depth of love that eventually isn't enough. I'd love backstory on their relationship. I'd also be interested in what went through Avon's mind after he realized Stringer betrayed him. If you do want to do shippy, I'd be more than fine with higher rated stuff.
-- Stringer Bell is one of my favorite characters of all time. I find him fascinating - the man of the streets trying to become respectable, and failing despite his obvious intelligence. Any sort of Stringer character piece or plotty story around him would be great. Or: What did the politicians see when they looked at him? Obviously they weren't afraid to screw him over, so they must not see the same deadly gangster we see.
-- Omar, Omar, Omar. I love Omar. Omar being a badass. Omar having hot sex. Omar as a kid. Omar reflecting on his life. Anything.
-- Anything with any of the Season 4-5 kids. Where are they in 10, 20, 50 years?
-- I adore Bubbles, and especially his friendship with Kima. How did they meet? What's their interaction like after he's been sober for a while?
-- McNulty and Bunk's friendships is great. So is McNulty and Kima's. Really, any of the friendships between the cops make me happy.
-- Love love LOVE Snoop, Shardene, Ziggy, Bodie. So anything exploring their lives.
-- What happens to or between the characters who are in prison when the show ends?
-- There are so many awesome characters on this show, I could list names all day. There is literally not a single character I don't find interesting. If there is someone you're really interested in exploring, go for it, even if they aren't one of the people listed for Yuletide - I'm sure I'd love to see your take.
Other thoughts: I'm actually from Baltimore, and I love the little details that remind me of home. DON'T let that freak you out - I'm not at all nit-picky, and honestly the Baltimore most of these characters live in is not my Baltimore. But if you're the kind of person who likes to research details like brands/street names/slang/etc, your efforts will definitely be noticed and appreciated.
Also, as with Homeland, the realism of the show is something that really matters to me. No random fantasy/AUs/crack (unless we're talking the actual drug), please! On the flip side of that, I know what this canon is. Don't feel the need to shy away from un-PC dialogue, violence, depressing endings, etc.
TL;DR: Realism, character/friendship moments or character-centric plots. Stringer/Avon, Stringer & Avon, Omar, Bubbles & Kima, the kids, friendships - these are things I really like.
General likes and dislikes:
Some final thoughts:
-- Characters are the most important part of fan-fic for me. Don't get me wrong, I love a good plot! But seeing more of the characters I love is the number one thing I'm here for.
-- In my fandom section I mostly focused on dynamics I already like from the shows. But one thing I think is great about fic is that you can have characters who barely interact in canon bounce off each other. I love to be surprised, so PLEASE feel free to go off in your own direction if the inspiration strikes.
-- I'm open to all kinds of tones and genres! Angst, humor, thrillers, character pieces - whatever works for the story you want to tell.
-- I don't tend to like AUs of the "the characters are all in a different situation" variety, but I am down with "What If" AUs that explore what would happen if one aspect of canon was different.
-- I'm not in anyway tied to the idea of explicit sex, but I'm open to it. Some more details on that:
+ I'm not into non-sex related body fluids
+ I'm not so interested in well-thought out, established and healthy BDSM relationships.
+ I AM interested in D/s dynamics in bed that just develop. For instance, I could totally see Emily just dominating the shit out of Nolan, or Omar being a boss in the sack. Ropes, some pain, etc. could be part of that.
Other Likes: Strong character voices, first times, characters realizing how much someone else means to them, H/C, morally ambiguous characters, small moments that have significance for the people involved, twisty plots, romantic moments that are very individualized, dysfunctional relationships that somehow work anyway, unexpected alliances and friendships, friends who always have each others' backs, complex relationships of all sorts.
Other dislikes: I'm not big on cracky fics. I'm also not that into schmoop. I'm not big on fantasy added into non-fantastical worlds, mpreg, or anything else that diverges from canon TOO much in terms of tone.