Yuletide 2014
Dear Yuletide writer,
We matched on one of the following fandoms, so clearly, you’re awesome. This letter is here to be helpful for you, but I want to preface it with this: Despite rambling a bit, I'm easy. Anything you do about these fandoms/characters will make me incredibly happy. If you have your own idea, please, feel free to go off in whatever direction you want!
(Also, a lot of these are less prompts and more just thoughts I have about canon that might spark something. Hopefully you find that useful.)
Onwards to the requests!
Looking, Dom
"Maybe you should stop giving a shit what your mom thinks. Actually, stop giving a shit what anyone thinks."
What it is: Lovely half-hour dramedy about gay men living life and struggling to find and keep love in San Francisco. Slice of life based, with beautiful visuals and really interesting characters.
What I like about the canon: I fell head over heels for this show when it came out, because the emotionality of it rang so true to life for me. The ways the characters struggle with being adults - and what that even means - and trying to have adult relationships hits home for me. I also really like that the characters feel real; flawed but like people you could meet in the world, and I really appreciate that their friendships are clearly meaningful. Plus, I love how much the character of San Francisco comes through.
What I like about Dom: Dom is definitely my favorite character (though I really like the others, too). I like that he is older than many of the other characters, and how he struggles with his fading youth and trying to finally live out his dreams. LOVE watching him try to open the restaurant. I’m interested by how gun-shy he is about relationships. I adore how much he seems to value his friends.
What I want from fic: More Dom! This show for me is so much less about the plot and more about spending time with these lovely characters, so I just want that to extend.
OK, that was easy. But really, here are some prompts:
-- I ship Dom and Lynn like burning. If you do, too, please feel encouraged to write fic about them. How do they go from that kiss in the finale to more? Anything from plotty relationship fic where they really learn to love and trust each other to slice of life to PWP would make me happy with these two.
-- We know Patrick and Dom met as a hookup. Tell me that story! How did they end up transitioning to friendship? Did they ever hook up again?
-- I’m also really interested in Patrick’s love triangle (both as a triangle and the conflict that creates for Patrick, and the two sides as individual relationships), and love Dom’s friendship with Patrick, so something where Patrick is freaking out about what to do and Dom helps advise him would be loved. Or I could see Dom confronting Kevin if Kevin continues to string Patrick along, which would be cool. Or Dom bonding with Richie! I think they might get along.
-- Backstory exploring Dom's past romantic relationships in general would also be wonderful. We've gotten some sense of the major relationship in his life, but were there other people who were more than just hookups? How has his approach to relationships and sex changed over time?
-- Dom and Doris’s friendship is everything to me. I’d be happy with a fic that’s just the two of them sitting there shooting the shit. Or: How did they meet? What was their early relationship like?
-- As I said, I’m really invested in the restaurant plotline, so a fic focused on Dom trying to get his restaurant off the ground, or tracking how it does over the years as Dom continues to grow would be lovely.
True Detective, Rust Cohle
"If the only thing keeping a person decent is the expectation of divine reward then, brother, that person is a piece of shit."
What it is: Atmospheric, haunting, philosophical, character-driven buddy cop murder mystery spanning 20 years. Complex and beautiful, there’s a reason it’s all a certain type of anyone could talk about for months.
What I like about the canon: I love how this canon skirted the line of realism and mysticism. I loved the atmosphere, I loved the complexity of the mystery. But most of all I loved the characters, and the way their story was told, unfolding bits and pieces over time. They were was much a mystery as the plot, and, honestly, the character resolution was the most satisfying part of the finale. I could go on for years about intensity and wonderfulness of Marty and Rust’s relationship.
What I like about Rust: Yes, I’m all about the cynicism and philosophical rantings. But I’m also interested in all of the feelings he clearly has buried under there. His caring for Marty. His moments of honesty with Maggie. Whatever it was that drove him to keep pursuing this case for years and years. This man has so many layers left to explore.
What I want from fic: Give me more Rust, and I’m happy. But I’m especially interested in the holes left by canon - before, during, and after.
-- What does Rust do after the show ends? He seems to have come around to more optimism, but does that stick? There was clearly a broader conspiracy to cover the crimes that had yet to be fully uncovered; can he really let that go? If he doesn't, will Marty help him continue to investigate? If he does, what does he do now? Are he and Marty BFFs forever? (Please yes!) What’s he like as an old man? I do ship Marty/Rust, so if you want to have them end up happily together, I’d be thrilled. Or happily ever after besties!
-- I also ship Rust/Maggie. Do they ever reconnect later in life? I’d love to see them interact again down the line, either as lovers or just as two people who knew each other in a complicated time in their lives, reflecting. (How would she react if Rust and Marty did end up together? That would be interesting).
-- What was going on during those years between Marty and Rust’s fight and Rust’s return? Was he really in Alaska? Was he pursuing the case the whole time? Did he have relationships? Make other friendships? What was his life, in short, like?
-- Backstory! Oh, the tantalizing backstory. There are so many parts of Rust’s pre-True Detective life I want to know about. What was he like as a father? What his relationships with his wife like; how exactly did they fall in love? What about before that? What was he like as a kid, a teen, a young adult? I’d also love Rust’s Adventures as a Depressed Undercover Druggie.
-- I know this is out of left field from the rest of my prompts, but what the heck: Rust is one of those characters I’d love to see as the Doctor’s companion. So if that idea intrigues you, feel free to run with it.
You're the Worst, Any
"Dishonesty to spare someone's feelings belittles everyone involved. Dishonesty to get free stuff is just smart economics."
What it is: Hilarious, biting, dark but in many ways ultimately hopeful romcom-ish sitcom about two people who could reasonably be described as “the worst” but are a very likeable anyway, plus the awesome cast of characters who fill out their lives.
What I like about the canon: I love this show’s edgy humor. I love the way it plays with the standard romcom beats, subverting them or using them in ways that are fresh and specific to the characters (That “let’s be exclusive” scene is a perfect example - every romcom couple has it, but it still felt so right for Jimmy and Gretchen). I love that it doesn’t pull punches about how shitty and selfish these characters can be, yet also makes them sympathetic and understandable. Most of all, I love the way it deals with romance and relationships in a nuanced way. No one person is ever totally right or totally wrong; everyone has their POV and their understandable motivations.
What I want from fic: I requested Any, and I mean it. The five nommed characters are Jimmy, Gretchen, Edgar, Lindsay, and Sam, and I love them all, and in any combination. Here’s a mix of thoughts and prompts about the characters and their various relationships that will hopefully help inspire you:
-- Yes, I ship Jimmy/Gretchen like burning, and would be thrilled with anything about them. Their chemistry kills me, and the way they push each other to grow despite all their fears about “relationship stuff.” What drives them crazy about each other once they move in together? (And what do they secretly love about living together?) Slice of life, plotty fic where they resolve some issue (or even break up if you want to go that direction), porn (I love the way emotional and sexual intimacy has been interwoven from the beginning with them) - I’ll take anything.
-- I’m really interested in the way Jimmy and Gretchen’s growing relationship impacts their friends. How does Lindsay deal with Gretchen moving in with Jimmy right when her life is falling apart? Is she jealous? How does Edgar deal with Gretchen moving in? (I love that he ships Jimmy and Gretchen like whoa, but how will he feel about Gretchen being in the house full time? Do he and Gretchen bond hanging out at the house while Jimmy is out?) Lindsay seems to have come around to Jimmy as a person who makes Gretchen happy, but she's still not really his biggest fan. Does she ever warm up to him? It would be fun to see them forced to spend some one on one time for whatever reason.
-- I totally ship Edgar/Lindsay, and also love their odd-couple friendship if you prefer them platonic. Love to see him helping her in the aftermath of her breakup. Or more of them bonding over not wanting to be sidekicks. How do they try to stand out? Do they start going on their own adventures without Gretchen and Jimmy? He’s such a sweetheart, but he also has deep issues - would she be able to help him? (I really like how the show subtly makes a point about how much this country screws over our vets, so if you want to work that in don’t shy away - but also don’t feel like you need to address it if you don’t want to!)
-- Sam is just the best. I adore how smart he is, and the way he expresses that intelligence with a mix of keen observations, varied interests, and extreme profanity. I like how he defies (stereotyped) expectations. He’s more peripheral to the core four, but I’m really curious about how he views them. What’s his POV on Gretchen and Jimmy’s relationship? I loved his scenes with Jimmy; maybe he dispenses more advice to one of them? Or to Lindsay? I also really wonder why he decided to read Jimmy’s book.
-- I’m so into the idea of Sam having some sort of wacky adventure with any combo of the other characters. (Maybe they go to some big party through him? Maybe something drug related? Love me some crazy drug stories. Or not! Anything you can think of!) I think he’d play off them all in interesting ways and would love to see that. (I also think him meeting Becca would be hilarious). Also, he’s totally my fandom bicycle, so if you want to ship him with any of the nommed characters (or that cute newspaper editor for that matter) please do. (Note: I also love Shitstain and Honey Nutz so please feel free to incorporate them as you see fit. This is true even in fic without Sam, but I figure it’s most likely to come up if he’s around)
-- I’d also love backstory on any of the characters, and especially any of the sets of friendships. What was Edgar like before the war? What was it like having him as a drug dealer? How did Lindsay and Gretchen’s friendship develop? Backstory Lindsay/Gretchen or Edgar/Jimmy welcome.
Other backstory questions I have: How did Lindsay end up in a marriage that was so clearly wrong for her? What was her wedding like? What was Gretchen or Jimmy’s childhood like (we have some hints, but I’d love to see more)? What about Sam, what was his upbringing like? When/how did he decide to become a rapper? How long has he been friends with Shitstain and Honey Nutz? What was his early working relationship with Gretchen like (how long did it take her to go from slacker party girl to slightly more competent PR person)?
General Likes and Dislikes
-- Characters are the most important part of fan-fic for me. I love a good plot, don't get me wrong, but seeing more of the characters I love is the number one thing I'm here for.
-- I'm open to all kinds of tones and genres! Angst, humor, thriller, character pieces - whatever works for the story you want to tell. This year I picked all canons that lean in various degrees towards the melancholically and cynical, and I’m fine with fic matching those tones. (Though happier is also good!)
-- I don't like AUs of the "the characters are all in high school together" 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 (but in a consensual way)
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, dysfunctional relationships that somehow work anyway, dysfunctional relationship that fall apart gloriously, UST, snark, banter, intense friendships, characters who don’t like each other working together, tentative beginnings (romantic or otherwise).
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.
Note: I know my You’re the Worst prompt section is like twice as long as the other two, but don’t worry: That’s just because I requested Any and wanted to talk about all the nominated characters in that section. I’d be equally thrilled to receive any of these fandoms!