yuletide letter 2017
So hi!
First of all, sorry about the late letter, I signed up last-minute and the days after were quite busy... Thank you for your patience!
In general, you shouldn't be afraid to go dark, depressing, or anywhere on the decidedly wrong side of the moral spectrum, if that's where the story takes you. Not that it's absolutely necessary, and I do also enjoy a bit of fluffier stuff now and then, but for a couple of the pairings and fandoms below, there's almost no way to write them fluffy. So you definitely don't have to worry about that sort of thing; I don't really gritty-for-gritty's-sake but I'm pretty hard to squick or shock.
Rating-wise, I'm in no way opposed to explicit sex, but don't feel like you're obliged to write it when you don't feel comfortable with. Most kinks are a go, dubious consent is definitely okay if it's handled sensitively, noncon is a general no.
As for the rest, I like unspoken trust between people, people being very competent in their given field, old comfortable relationships, twisty power dynamics, sarcasm, insubordination, justified arrogance/confidence, and characterised talky sex, just to name a few. If you want to know more, feel free to check out my tumblr.
Fandom: Always Crashing in the Same Car (2007)
I love this twisted little thing a whole lot, and I would just love to see more of it. I hardly think I need to specify what I like about it, short as it is. Paul Mcgann's Bill is a shameless, brutal, sadistic utter bastard who relishes it, and Jim's floundering reluctant submission was as painful as it was gorgeous, to me. So, like I said, more of that, if you please. What happens after? Do things escalate? I especially like the contrast of Jim seeming to be in charge in public and then behind closed doors, being forced to let go.
(I did say no to noncon, but I realise the line between noncon and dubious consent is fluid. Still, I'd like to see at least some interest from Jim, even if it is conflicted and shameful, rather than one party just being forced, if that's make sense.)
Fandom:The Borgias (2011)
The Borgias delighted me, even with the occasional silliness and the last season going completely off its rails. I loved Cesare's ice-cold competence, I cheered when he finally got out of his priest's robes, loved every scene with Macchiavelli with him carefully listening and learning, and seal-clapped every time he got to be in charge. Meanwhile for Lucrezia, I'm really impressed with the way they portrayed her character growth. Her evolution from clever, sweet, innocent girl to ruthless scheming seductive woman felt very believable to me, especially because she still had that sweet side. And of course I loved the relationship between those two, the protective big brother and the devoted little sister, and the way that relationship got damaged when Cesare couldn't protect her anymore, and they both somehow ended up being the only person left who could be trusted to each other. The incest angle was very well handled, in my opinion, with Lucrezia being scared and alone and seeking comfort with the only person who loves her unconditionally, for who she is, and Cesare desperately trying to still show her love and protection.
Meanwhile Micheletto hits all my devoted-right-hand-to-genius buttons. Right from the first scene they shared they caught my interest, Micheletto's immediate devotion and complete lack of fear, and Cesare's grinning bloodthirstiness and his fascination with Micheletto, and those things sort of stay throughout their relationship. I really enjoyed the two of them in Florence as well, and the way they work together there. The gay angle was unexpected to me, and gave the subtext that much more edge, and it's endlessly frustrating to me that it never really got resolved.
So. Anything with either Micheletto/Cesare or Lucrezia/Cesare (or the three of them together) would be great. Doesn't have to be sex, but I would like to see the intensity of feeling between them acknowledged, at the least.
Fandom:Mr. Robot (TV)
This can be all summarised by that one scene during the break-in, in the bathroom, with Tyrell calling Elliot exceptional. Although the first one, with Tyrell standing out from the other higher-ups to Elliot kinda says it too. Basically I really like the idea of Tyrell picking up on Elliot's brilliance and wanting to nurture (and/or own) that, and Elliot letting it happen, because Tyrell does understand him on some level that maybe others don't. The series teased at the draw between the two of them more than once, and of course the S2 finale basically confirmed it in big shouty text, but I'd still like to see more of it. AU where he does take up Tyrell on his offer? Or where they cross paths somewhere else?
On Tyrell, though: I do read him as bisexual and although I like his ruthless side, I would still like to see him portrayed at least a little sympathetically. The line between "too much of a bastard to empathise" and " too nice/normal so out of character" is pretty thin here, so good luck with that.
(caveat: the new season is coming out right now, I think, but I probably won't be able to watch yet. So avoidance of spoilers after the S2 finale would be great, thanks)
Fandom:Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (TV)
I LOVED TV!CHILDERMASS SO MUCH. So much. I just - his quiet confidence, his complete lack of shits to give about authority and class, his competence, his motives... Even his bloody accent. And his relationships. His way with Norrell fascinated me; it's obvious he does care for Norrell, and the trust between them goes deep; Norrell sees him as a servant but also goes to him for advice ("Childermass knows. Childermass understands). And Childermass and Strange was delightful as well; I already liked the scene in the book and Bertie Cavill gave such a patient, kind, slightly condescending but also kinda seductive slant to it - and Childermass amused, flattered reaction to that - that I just really wanted him to just damn well say yes.
So that's what I'd like to see. Anything exploring Childermass' and Norrell's relationship more, probably by way of moments that happens before the book or inbetween the events of the book, anything that focuses on the trust and odd power dynamics between them. As for Strange, I have a craving to seeing them together like they were in that scene. What if Childermass said yes? What if Childermass finds Strange as he gets better at magic? What if they go out of their cosy little pillar and Strange finds Childermass again? That sort of thing.
(Note: sex here is a difficult one, because on the one hand I do ship both of these things, on the other hand imagining Norrell as a sexual creature kinda makes my imagination balk. Strange and CHildermass I can sort of see happen, but there's still the whole historically-accurate-gay-sex angle that wouldn't be easy to work in there. So go with what feels right to you, I'd say).
So, that's it. Good luck with it! And above all, have fun with it.
(and feel free to send me an anon ask on tumblr, if you feel like having some more input)