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Hello, Yuletide! Wow, two years in a row for me. Thank you for doing this, and being matched with me - I'm looking forwards to enjoying what you write. You can also find me at my tumblr here, if you want to see what nonsense I put out there.
Anyway, starting with the "things I really don't like," which is mostly copy-pasted from last year. I put them in the signup, but I'll reiterate here. I don't want or like incest, a/b/o (omegaverse) fic, or lifestyle D/s kind of stuff. No rape or non/dub-con either. Those are the hard boundaries for me, and I don't want them in my story. Basically, I don't like heavy power imbalances (teacher/student, coach/athlete, age gaps of over 20 years, etc)- just not my thing.
Other DNW: death, dismemberment, or serious injury on anyone. Blood in general, really. I'm just not up for darkfic this year, I guess. Humiliation. Scat or watersports. I also think I forgot to put it in there, but no mpreg, please! I'm also not particularly into hooker AUs or high-school or college AUs (but I like other kinds!) Also, as all my requests are RPF, and most of these people have actual wives/girlfriends, I don't want any bashing of them. I don't mind if you pretend they don't exist, that's always fine with me, but don't make them evil/unsympethetic/what-have-you.
What do I like? Opposites-but-equals attracting, in various forms - rivals, people made to work together for some greater cause, relucant (or not-so-reluctant) allies, etc. Resolving sexual tension. A buttoned-up character becoming less buttoned-up and more comfortable with himself. I like romance stories, and I'd like a slash story because that is what I like, especially with these fandoms. But I also like seeing the character's lives outisde of the relationship- their friends, their interests, even their exes (there's something about knowing that they have exes that I like). I like (non-hooker/HS/college) AUs, but also dealing with the issues in the canon, or diverence from canon (what if this had happened instead of that).
And I'll always appreciate some porn if you're so inclined. Which I guess is a thing this year, hi Yuleporn, so things I like: eagerness (in the sense of can't-wait-for-the-bed, got-to-have-you-now, that kind of thing), frottage, lots of touching, teasing one/each other in public/semi-public until they can't take it any more, riding/bottom on top (especially with Philipp), and sex again the morning after. :D
And now, the requests! In no particular order.
Bayern Munich RPF: Philipp Lahm/Xabi Alonso
There is so much potential in this relationship, particularly as Xabi seems to have adapted well to Bayern. They're both determined and intelligent, sometimes deceptively so, and accustomed to doing what it takes to get what they want. Both of them make things work despite what others might think, but while still remaining essentially likeable figures to the world at large. They've both been around, won a lot, and are thinking about the next step. There's a maturity (potentially) in their relationship that isn't common in football, considering it's filled with youngsters. And Xabi has fit in well in a club that is essentially Philipp's.
Philipp is one of my favorite football RPF player/characters, I just find him completely fascinating. His combination of adorable charm and steely reserve, his intelligence, his ability to maneuver himself into the best possible position, his hints of vulnerability. So I'd love to see a lot of Philipp.
And I've been around this fandom long enough to remember Philipp/Timo Hildebrand and Xabi/Steven Gerrard. How do you recover from Epic Love Stories like that? Not that that's required or anything- I would love anything with this pairing- but if you're looking for ideas...
German National Football Team RPF: Philipp Lahm/Michael Ballack
What can I say? I like Philipp. And this is just such a complex, fascinating relationship to work with - Ballack the captain, Philipp the usurper. Teammates and also rivals. Philipp winning the World Cup while Micha watches. Micha dealing with being the constant runner-up, Philipp learning to be a leader. Michael relaxed in retirement and Philipp still caught up in the pressure. Them having known each other for so long, and their relationship changing throughout the years. There's potential for some real hate-sex, but also for more than that. I'd love to see anything.
Football Commentator RPF: Thierry Henry, Michael Ballack, Jamie Carragher
Er, I like Micha? Well, actually, what I like is Thierry Henry, dapper in his retirement, interacting with other retired players of his era while wearing nice suits and being charming in the media. I mean, we all saw the Vine, right? For this, as I mentioned, it doesn't have to include all of them - although I would in no way object to that, because it would be awesome - but I'd like a Thierry-centric story however that plays out.
Arsenal RPF: Olivier Giroud, Mathieu Debuchy, Per Mertesacker, Calum Chambers
How do you pick just a few players of your favorite team? Well, you fudge a bit and pick the two pairings that you really want, hoping that the rest of Arsenal fandom will pick up a few of the others. XD With this one, it doesn't have to include everyone - but can, of course! - and I'm particularly interested in Olivier/Mathieu or Per/Calum.
For the first - well, Olivier/Mathieu is an interesting relationship I'd like to see more of. Olivier is so charming and handsome, but has a bit of a self-depricating, insecure streak, while Mathieu is quieter but seems pretty ruthless. They seem to have been paired up for a while, even if Arsenal is only starting to see it. I'd just love to see something with them.
As far as Per/Calum...weeeelll, normally I don't really like age differences, but there's something there I just like. Maybe it's because Calum seems to be doing the pursuing, which makes it seem less skeevy to me. In my head Calum is the one with the crush on Per, and Per is somewhat charmed by it, and knows it might be a bad idea, but...
Galatasary SK RPF: Kevin Großkreutz/Lukas Podolski
Look, I've been around here for a while, and of course I like Schwenski as much as anyone else, but there is so much potential in Kevin/Lukas. Bros navigating a new city! Being in ~exile~! They're both fun-loving guys, and seem to get along really well, but there's an undercurrent of sadness there. They're both kids from the same region, with deep attachments to their home cities, but they can't be there for reasons that probably hurt. I'd love to see some explorations of this.
Anyway, starting with the "things I really don't like," which is mostly copy-pasted from last year. I put them in the signup, but I'll reiterate here. I don't want or like incest, a/b/o (omegaverse) fic, or lifestyle D/s kind of stuff. No rape or non/dub-con either. Those are the hard boundaries for me, and I don't want them in my story. Basically, I don't like heavy power imbalances (teacher/student, coach/athlete, age gaps of over 20 years, etc)- just not my thing.
Other DNW: death, dismemberment, or serious injury on anyone. Blood in general, really. I'm just not up for darkfic this year, I guess. Humiliation. Scat or watersports. I also think I forgot to put it in there, but no mpreg, please! I'm also not particularly into hooker AUs or high-school or college AUs (but I like other kinds!) Also, as all my requests are RPF, and most of these people have actual wives/girlfriends, I don't want any bashing of them. I don't mind if you pretend they don't exist, that's always fine with me, but don't make them evil/unsympethetic/what-have-you.
What do I like? Opposites-but-equals attracting, in various forms - rivals, people made to work together for some greater cause, relucant (or not-so-reluctant) allies, etc. Resolving sexual tension. A buttoned-up character becoming less buttoned-up and more comfortable with himself. I like romance stories, and I'd like a slash story because that is what I like, especially with these fandoms. But I also like seeing the character's lives outisde of the relationship- their friends, their interests, even their exes (there's something about knowing that they have exes that I like). I like (non-hooker/HS/college) AUs, but also dealing with the issues in the canon, or diverence from canon (what if this had happened instead of that).
And I'll always appreciate some porn if you're so inclined. Which I guess is a thing this year, hi Yuleporn, so things I like: eagerness (in the sense of can't-wait-for-the-bed, got-to-have-you-now, that kind of thing), frottage, lots of touching, teasing one/each other in public/semi-public until they can't take it any more, riding/bottom on top (especially with Philipp), and sex again the morning after. :D
And now, the requests! In no particular order.
Bayern Munich RPF: Philipp Lahm/Xabi Alonso
There is so much potential in this relationship, particularly as Xabi seems to have adapted well to Bayern. They're both determined and intelligent, sometimes deceptively so, and accustomed to doing what it takes to get what they want. Both of them make things work despite what others might think, but while still remaining essentially likeable figures to the world at large. They've both been around, won a lot, and are thinking about the next step. There's a maturity (potentially) in their relationship that isn't common in football, considering it's filled with youngsters. And Xabi has fit in well in a club that is essentially Philipp's.
Philipp is one of my favorite football RPF player/characters, I just find him completely fascinating. His combination of adorable charm and steely reserve, his intelligence, his ability to maneuver himself into the best possible position, his hints of vulnerability. So I'd love to see a lot of Philipp.
And I've been around this fandom long enough to remember Philipp/Timo Hildebrand and Xabi/Steven Gerrard. How do you recover from Epic Love Stories like that? Not that that's required or anything- I would love anything with this pairing- but if you're looking for ideas...
German National Football Team RPF: Philipp Lahm/Michael Ballack
What can I say? I like Philipp. And this is just such a complex, fascinating relationship to work with - Ballack the captain, Philipp the usurper. Teammates and also rivals. Philipp winning the World Cup while Micha watches. Micha dealing with being the constant runner-up, Philipp learning to be a leader. Michael relaxed in retirement and Philipp still caught up in the pressure. Them having known each other for so long, and their relationship changing throughout the years. There's potential for some real hate-sex, but also for more than that. I'd love to see anything.
Football Commentator RPF: Thierry Henry, Michael Ballack, Jamie Carragher
Er, I like Micha? Well, actually, what I like is Thierry Henry, dapper in his retirement, interacting with other retired players of his era while wearing nice suits and being charming in the media. I mean, we all saw the Vine, right? For this, as I mentioned, it doesn't have to include all of them - although I would in no way object to that, because it would be awesome - but I'd like a Thierry-centric story however that plays out.
Arsenal RPF: Olivier Giroud, Mathieu Debuchy, Per Mertesacker, Calum Chambers
How do you pick just a few players of your favorite team? Well, you fudge a bit and pick the two pairings that you really want, hoping that the rest of Arsenal fandom will pick up a few of the others. XD With this one, it doesn't have to include everyone - but can, of course! - and I'm particularly interested in Olivier/Mathieu or Per/Calum.
For the first - well, Olivier/Mathieu is an interesting relationship I'd like to see more of. Olivier is so charming and handsome, but has a bit of a self-depricating, insecure streak, while Mathieu is quieter but seems pretty ruthless. They seem to have been paired up for a while, even if Arsenal is only starting to see it. I'd just love to see something with them.
As far as Per/Calum...weeeelll, normally I don't really like age differences, but there's something there I just like. Maybe it's because Calum seems to be doing the pursuing, which makes it seem less skeevy to me. In my head Calum is the one with the crush on Per, and Per is somewhat charmed by it, and knows it might be a bad idea, but...
Galatasary SK RPF: Kevin Großkreutz/Lukas Podolski
Look, I've been around here for a while, and of course I like Schwenski as much as anyone else, but there is so much potential in Kevin/Lukas. Bros navigating a new city! Being in ~exile~! They're both fun-loving guys, and seem to get along really well, but there's an undercurrent of sadness there. They're both kids from the same region, with deep attachments to their home cities, but they can't be there for reasons that probably hurt. I'd love to see some explorations of this.