Dear Yuletide Letter
Dear Yuletide Writer,
Thank you for taking the time to write a story for me. I admit that I haven't really been much involved regarding fanfic in 2017 but I hope to remedy that with yuletide. I don't like giving too much restriction as I'd rather let the writer let the muses fly.
GENERAL
Things I Like:
The more people involved in a story, the better. I like subplots and side pairings but I get if that’s not possible in a thousand words. “A Day in the Life” kind of story. Friends to lovers. Complications. I do not require happy endings.
Things I Don’t Like:
If you're filling a Sports RPF request, please be mindful of the fact these are real people who could have real life issues. For instance, having a current athlete engaging in recreational drugs (non-AU) without any consequences is going to throw me out of an otherwise wonderful tale so fast.
While I don’t mind violence, spare me the gory details of blood and mutilation.
A/B/O, Mpreg - Just no. Too complicated to explain.
Onto the requests…
Tennis RPF
Andy Murray, Alexander Zverev
I realize that we may have matched because you listed a bunch of tennis players and now may be freaking out regarding thinking about this as a pairing. While I have no problem with Andy/Sascha slash, no, that's not why I requested both of them. In fact, if you want to leave one of the requested characters out, I am okay with that. I have requested Andy in some way every year (he's my favorite player) I've done yuletide and I'm not breaking that streak.
I'm thinking about the Teacher/Student dynamic between the generations. Andy has seemed to take on the Big Brother role when it comes to the next generation of players, specifically Sascha and Nick Kyrgios. Maybe Andy is thinking of his own dynamic with someone he grew up with and how the years of the tour have altered their dynamic.
Sascha has grown up around the tour, hanging around his big brother Mischa (he is the same age as Andy and Novak), so there is this element of so many players literally knowing him as a little boy. He's tired of his image and maybe wishes he could be as carefree as Nick. Conversely, Sascha lets emotion get to him and that plays out around the more quiet Dominic Thiem. I would be fine with Sascha paired with either or even both, that could be an awesome triangle.
I would even be okay if you play up the flirtateous dynamic between he and Kristina Mladenovic (there's rumor she's dating Dominic, so you could run with that if you wish) or his countrywoman Andrea Petkovic (see: anything from Hopman Cup). I just like the idea of him soaking in information.
If Andy is more your cup of tea and you don't really care regarding Sascha, I am never one to argue with more Murray fic in the world. Due to various health reasons, he didn't really get the chance to enjoy his reign at #1. Maybe he utilized that power regarding another player, maybe even regarding a player who usually is the one in control over him.
Askewniverse RPF
Kevin Smith, Ben Affleck
To be honest, the reason I requested this is because, for some reason, the fandom on AO3 is filled mostly with stuff that isn't View Askew in any way.
I'm going to make this one a lot simpler. If you picked this fandom because of the early days of their friendship, when Ben was just a struggling actor who ended up in Mallrats, that's fine. If you prefer to see how messed up Kevin got to see Ben playing a superhero (while everyone knows he's Batman, Ben portrayed Superman actor George Reeves in "Hollywoodland"), go with it. I am a "Comic Book Men" fan so you want to use any of those resources - whether Kevin's friends/staff or just the comic book knowledge - to help out Ben study for a role, that could be fun.
If you're more of a Ben Affleck/Matt Damon person, they did do a few Kevin Smith movies together (Dogma, that Good Will Hunting 2 bit in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back) so that would work fine within the prompt. Kevin having to watch their incessant flirting would be awesome.
The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room - Greg Sestero & Tom Bissell
Greg Sestero, Tommy Wiseau
The fact that Tommy Wiseau may legitimately be part of awards season (and NOT the Razzies) is the coolest movie story ever.
I am throwing a few ideas out to you, author. If you want to go in a different direction, that's fine as well. Their bizarre friendship (or more) is what I'm looking for. If you would prefer to use the dynamic as portrayed in the movie adaptation coming out in December, go with it but that would be rather close to the deadline.
1. This is actually a segment of a fic I attempted but left abandoned. If it inspires you, run with it.
While Greg is honored that James Franco wanted to turn their story into a movie, he admits to feeling a bit of trepidation once finding out Seth Rogen is also on board. He remembers that parody of "Bound 2" with them making out on the motorcycle and, if James was seeing their friendship as something else, that could get dicey.
It's so much easier when he discovers James' brother Dave is portraying Greg. After all, slashiness is okay but incest is a clear no-go. Greg should feel relieved, right? Right?
2. Tommy has been talking about a follow-up to The Room. What pieces of real life would be used this time? How far is too far?
3. If The Room is Tommy's "secret" love letter to Greg but Greg already figured it out, then maybe this book was meant to be Greg's answer to the love letter.