Dear Yulegoat: 2012 edition
First of all, thank you so much for writing for me! This is my third year doing Yuletide, and each time I've loved both writing and receiving Yuletide gifts. I'm Jewish, so Christmas is usually a quiet day for me. That being said, getting a Yuletide gift in my mailbox makes the day a little more special.
Some general requests:
- Nothing that ends on an overly angsty note, please. I'm not a fan of fan-fiction that leaves me feeling more depressed than when I opened up my computer for some good ole fashioned escapism :) It certainly doesn't all have to be all fluff, I'd just rather not have 100% angst. Similarly, no character death, please.
- I enjoy smut, and smut could be a part of some of of these prompts. It's also 100% okay if you decide to write a G-rated fic!
- No incest, killing puppies, etc :P
Fandom #1: Scout (Takarazuka)
Characters: Sean Finlay, Sasha
Optional details: I love Takarazuka's Scout. The direction is so stylish, and Ranju Tomu is one of my favorite actresses. What I particularly like about her portrayal of Sean is the combination of vulnerability and passion she puts into the character.
Really, I'd be happy with just about anything you wanted to write in this universe! (Spoilers) Maybe something showing how Sean is adjusting to his new life at the end of the show? What's going on in his head during the show? Similarly, given what we find out about Sasha at the end, seeing some scenes or background from her perspective would be a lot of fun. After all, she ends up falling in love with the newbie she's supposed to be testing!
Fandom #2: Casablanca
Characters: Rick Blaine, Louis Renault
Optional details: I've always loved the Rick/Louis dynamic. They don't trust each other, and yet they do have a bond. So I'm requesting anything about Rick and Louis' "beautiful friendship." I think the key to writing Louis well is to balance both his casual ruthlessness and his humanity. Neither should completely overwhelm the other. It's the way these two blend together that make him such a fascinating character. (Although I will admit though I've always loved Louis's redemption at the end of the movie ^_~)
Either slash or gen is fine. If you do go the slash route, I prefer for it to be understated. Casablanca was a movie made before the emergence of slash fan fiction, after all. This fic from the 2004 Yuletide is how I think Rick/Louis slash can be done really, really well: http://yuletidetreasure.org/archive/9/nomde.html
Fandom #3: Final Fantasy IV
Characters: Kain Highwind, Cecil Harvey
Optional details: Kain Highwind is one of my absolute favorite Final Fantasy characters. I love the tension between his darkness/jealousy and his nobility/love for his friends. Similarly, Kain and Cecil have an interesting dynamic in that they are simultaneously best friends and rivals.
Kain and Cecil never *really* reconciled after his second possession in Final Fantasy IV. Even in Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, we don't get an explicit scene like this. I'd love to see a scene in which Kain and Cecil finally make peace with each other. It's up to you if want to follow the After Years storyline or not...feel free to disregard it completely if you wish! (If you *really* want to make my heart flutter, you could have Kain comforting Cecil when he's in a near catatonic state in The After Years. I always thought there were some really interesting parallels to Kain's experiences in the original game and Cecil's in The After Years...)
I would prefer something non-sappy, as Kain strikes me as a guy who isn't good at talking about his emotions. Feel free to incorporate some slash, but if you do please respect Rosa!