Dear Yuletide Writer 2013!
General things that I like...
- general silliness, wit and/or banter
- difficult relationships, overcoming trust issues
- continuations of canon, or explanations of pre-canon
- het/slash/femmeslash - all absolutely fine, as are combinations of the three
- generally, ratings PG13 or higher (whether that's due to sexual content, language or the nature of the plot...)
- good characterisation
- horror, if the fandom lends itself to it
- crossovers, if the fandoms make sense together
General things that I don't like:
- fluff (which isn't to say I don't like happy endings)
- unless you go the Jurassic Park route: kids, pregnancy and anything child-related, please don't!
- unwarranted angst, self-harm, suicide
- bodily fluids (with the exception of tears and blood if required!)
- open relationships - I just don't really see it in these particular fandoms, unless otherwise specified
- AUs - alternatives in terms of "fixing" canon are fine, but no high school AUs or random transportations to Middle Earth, please!
- first-person POV, or letter format
1) Monkey Island
(Requested characters: Guybrush Threepwood and Elaine Marley)
Basically, what I love in MI is the randomness and wit of Guybrush. He's totally nuts, let's face it - he's always getting himself into (and then out of) completely bizarre situations, usually involving Elaine or one of the various incarnations of LeChuck. Who else could manage to use a piano-playing monkey to turn off an artificial waterfall, get himself tarred and feathered to imitate el pollo diablo (guess where my username came from!) or save the Caribbean from a voodoo pox with a sea-sponge?
I've played all of the MI games so any timeframe is fine by me. If you want to set it before or after the games, likewise fine. Go for a crossover with Pirates of the Caribbean if you really feel that way inclined - I'd like to see how Guybrush and Jack Sparrow would get out of a LeChuck-related mess together. I do enjoy Guybrush's little chats with Murray and his frequent confusion in talking with the Voodoo Lady, so if you feel like including either of those then that would be 100% excellent. Elaine is also awesome, so Guybrush interacting with his Plunder Bunny (whether that's saving her from LeChuck, cruising around the Caribbean, settling down on Mêlée/Booty/Plunder or something else entirely is up to you!) is always appreciated.
I also really liked Morgan LeFlay in Tales, so if you fancy telling me a story about Morgan before/after Tales then that would likewise be awesome, whether that actually involves Guybrush or not. If you did happen to share my guilty Guybrush/Morgan pleasure, do feel free to take it in that direction!
2) Batgirl
(Requested characters: Stephanie Brown and Barbara Gordon)
Basically, I loved this series and how upbeat it is. Then the New 52 came along and erased it all, damnit. I love Steph coming to grips with becoming Batgirl, and I love Babs coming to terms with the idea that Steph can (and should) actually be Batgirl. Babs giving Steph the new suit (because Steph made such an astounding half-shredded mess of Cassandra's old suit), Steph's occasional geekiness and her banter with Babs (and Damian and Wendy) are some of my favourite things.
My request asked for Steph and Babs saving Gotham while the other bats are away, which would be pretty fantastic. If not casefic, I'd also very Steph and Babs out of costume (crimefighting as civilians? Event with the other bats? Steph at college and Babs teaching?), or maybe something with the two of them and Cassandra. In fact, superheroine teamups in general are brilliant: Batgirl and Supergirl? Batgirl and Wonder Girl? Batgirl and Mia-as-Speedy? All of the above?
It might be useful to know that Barbara is one of my favourite characters ever, both as Batgirl and as Oracle (so if you decided on Babs-as-Batgirl fic, I definitely wouldn't complain!). I do enjoy her odd relationship with Dick, and Steph's odd relationship with Tim, but if you're feeling inspired to femmeslash with Barbara and Steph (or Steph and Cass, or Babs and Dinah if you're feeling adventurous), then that definitely also works for me!
3) Priest
(Requested characters: Priest and Priestess)
I think it's the rather grim post-apocalypticness of Priest, with its strange glimpses of hope along the way, that I enjoy most. I enjoy the religious aspects too (and I'd like to know more about how their society is ordered by the church, and how exactly it came to be that way), and the lives of the priests, how they're basically outcasts despite the fact that their skills and training saved lives.
What I'd really like is for Priest and Priestess to find some way to be together in the aftermath of the film, whether that's a month down the line or several years. I'd like to know how the vampire threat evolves (or doesn't, thanks to the priests!), or how things move on in the cities, how the events of the film are revealed or covered up, and what part the two of them play in that. Mostly, though, I want to know how they manage to relate to each other and how their relationship with the church and with their personal faith is affected.
4) Dollhouse
(Requested characters: Alpha and Echo)
I think what I love most about Dollhouse is the post-apocalyptic end to the series, depressing as it may be, and the part that Echo and Alpha play in that. That, and pretty much anything to do with Alpha throughout the series.
I think I'm basically asking for Alpha/Echo here, though I'm definitely not asking for a fluffy fix-it. Still, if that doesn't sound like your idea of fun then something about the two of them as operatives working together, as enemies, as colleagues at the end, would be good.
Other things I like: Adele and Topher at the end, Whiskey and her past, and Victor/Sierra before the end.
5) Jurassic Park
(Requested characters: Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler)
Alan Grant is wonderful. I love that he's grumpy and not a big fan of kids in general, that he loves his work, is very good at his work, and is actually a bit of a hero when times call for it.
Ellie, likewise, is wonderful. I love that she's so enthusiastic and optimistic and brilliant in her work, and how she's willing to do what it takes to survive, even when that means trekking around an island filled with things that want to eat her.
It always seemed to me that what came between the two of them was Alan's lack of desire to procreate rather than Alan's grumpy disposition - they seem to still be friends during JP3, so I'd like to think they just decided that they wanted different things. I'd prefer that there not be bucketfuls of unnecessary angst here, and likewise not a heap of fluff, but how they got together in the first place would be an interesting one. That or how they dealt with coming home after the events of JP1, or how Alan reacts after the events of JP3, and if Ellie plays any part in that.
If you prefer gen, I'm totally fine with friendship with a past relationship here. Likewise, if what you like is slash, past mentions of Alan/Ellie in the context of Alan/Billy pre- or post-JP3 would be good. Really, though, I'm looking for hopeful even if it's not completely happy.
6) Olympus Has Fallen
(Requested characters: Mike Banning and Benjamin Asher)
This is very much a completely unashamed preference for slash. However, if you're not feeling it then pre-movie Banning and what he got up to before signing on to protect President Asher is A-OK!
Pre- or post-movie both work for me here, as long as it's not a woeful unrequited angstfest. Feel free to acknowledge the angsty aspects, of course - pre-movie would involve Asher cheating on his wife, of course (unless you feel like convincing me with a threesome!), and Banning has a partner, there'd always need to be complete secrecy, and I suspect neither of them would be absolutely fine after the First Lady's death or indeed after the events of the film. I'd just prefer that this be a reciprocated attraction that doesn't only involve brooding over booze because it Can Never Happen OMG.
Complicated and dark and hot is really what I'm asking for here.
- general silliness, wit and/or banter
- difficult relationships, overcoming trust issues
- continuations of canon, or explanations of pre-canon
- het/slash/femmeslash - all absolutely fine, as are combinations of the three
- generally, ratings PG13 or higher (whether that's due to sexual content, language or the nature of the plot...)
- good characterisation
- horror, if the fandom lends itself to it
- crossovers, if the fandoms make sense together
General things that I don't like:
- fluff (which isn't to say I don't like happy endings)
- unless you go the Jurassic Park route: kids, pregnancy and anything child-related, please don't!
- unwarranted angst, self-harm, suicide
- bodily fluids (with the exception of tears and blood if required!)
- open relationships - I just don't really see it in these particular fandoms, unless otherwise specified
- AUs - alternatives in terms of "fixing" canon are fine, but no high school AUs or random transportations to Middle Earth, please!
- first-person POV, or letter format
1) Monkey Island
(Requested characters: Guybrush Threepwood and Elaine Marley)
Basically, what I love in MI is the randomness and wit of Guybrush. He's totally nuts, let's face it - he's always getting himself into (and then out of) completely bizarre situations, usually involving Elaine or one of the various incarnations of LeChuck. Who else could manage to use a piano-playing monkey to turn off an artificial waterfall, get himself tarred and feathered to imitate el pollo diablo (guess where my username came from!) or save the Caribbean from a voodoo pox with a sea-sponge?
I've played all of the MI games so any timeframe is fine by me. If you want to set it before or after the games, likewise fine. Go for a crossover with Pirates of the Caribbean if you really feel that way inclined - I'd like to see how Guybrush and Jack Sparrow would get out of a LeChuck-related mess together. I do enjoy Guybrush's little chats with Murray and his frequent confusion in talking with the Voodoo Lady, so if you feel like including either of those then that would be 100% excellent. Elaine is also awesome, so Guybrush interacting with his Plunder Bunny (whether that's saving her from LeChuck, cruising around the Caribbean, settling down on Mêlée/Booty/Plunder or something else entirely is up to you!) is always appreciated.
I also really liked Morgan LeFlay in Tales, so if you fancy telling me a story about Morgan before/after Tales then that would likewise be awesome, whether that actually involves Guybrush or not. If you did happen to share my guilty Guybrush/Morgan pleasure, do feel free to take it in that direction!
2) Batgirl
(Requested characters: Stephanie Brown and Barbara Gordon)
Basically, I loved this series and how upbeat it is. Then the New 52 came along and erased it all, damnit. I love Steph coming to grips with becoming Batgirl, and I love Babs coming to terms with the idea that Steph can (and should) actually be Batgirl. Babs giving Steph the new suit (because Steph made such an astounding half-shredded mess of Cassandra's old suit), Steph's occasional geekiness and her banter with Babs (and Damian and Wendy) are some of my favourite things.
My request asked for Steph and Babs saving Gotham while the other bats are away, which would be pretty fantastic. If not casefic, I'd also very Steph and Babs out of costume (crimefighting as civilians? Event with the other bats? Steph at college and Babs teaching?), or maybe something with the two of them and Cassandra. In fact, superheroine teamups in general are brilliant: Batgirl and Supergirl? Batgirl and Wonder Girl? Batgirl and Mia-as-Speedy? All of the above?
It might be useful to know that Barbara is one of my favourite characters ever, both as Batgirl and as Oracle (so if you decided on Babs-as-Batgirl fic, I definitely wouldn't complain!). I do enjoy her odd relationship with Dick, and Steph's odd relationship with Tim, but if you're feeling inspired to femmeslash with Barbara and Steph (or Steph and Cass, or Babs and Dinah if you're feeling adventurous), then that definitely also works for me!
3) Priest
(Requested characters: Priest and Priestess)
I think it's the rather grim post-apocalypticness of Priest, with its strange glimpses of hope along the way, that I enjoy most. I enjoy the religious aspects too (and I'd like to know more about how their society is ordered by the church, and how exactly it came to be that way), and the lives of the priests, how they're basically outcasts despite the fact that their skills and training saved lives.
What I'd really like is for Priest and Priestess to find some way to be together in the aftermath of the film, whether that's a month down the line or several years. I'd like to know how the vampire threat evolves (or doesn't, thanks to the priests!), or how things move on in the cities, how the events of the film are revealed or covered up, and what part the two of them play in that. Mostly, though, I want to know how they manage to relate to each other and how their relationship with the church and with their personal faith is affected.
4) Dollhouse
(Requested characters: Alpha and Echo)
I think what I love most about Dollhouse is the post-apocalyptic end to the series, depressing as it may be, and the part that Echo and Alpha play in that. That, and pretty much anything to do with Alpha throughout the series.
I think I'm basically asking for Alpha/Echo here, though I'm definitely not asking for a fluffy fix-it. Still, if that doesn't sound like your idea of fun then something about the two of them as operatives working together, as enemies, as colleagues at the end, would be good.
Other things I like: Adele and Topher at the end, Whiskey and her past, and Victor/Sierra before the end.
5) Jurassic Park
(Requested characters: Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler)
Alan Grant is wonderful. I love that he's grumpy and not a big fan of kids in general, that he loves his work, is very good at his work, and is actually a bit of a hero when times call for it.
Ellie, likewise, is wonderful. I love that she's so enthusiastic and optimistic and brilliant in her work, and how she's willing to do what it takes to survive, even when that means trekking around an island filled with things that want to eat her.
It always seemed to me that what came between the two of them was Alan's lack of desire to procreate rather than Alan's grumpy disposition - they seem to still be friends during JP3, so I'd like to think they just decided that they wanted different things. I'd prefer that there not be bucketfuls of unnecessary angst here, and likewise not a heap of fluff, but how they got together in the first place would be an interesting one. That or how they dealt with coming home after the events of JP1, or how Alan reacts after the events of JP3, and if Ellie plays any part in that.
If you prefer gen, I'm totally fine with friendship with a past relationship here. Likewise, if what you like is slash, past mentions of Alan/Ellie in the context of Alan/Billy pre- or post-JP3 would be good. Really, though, I'm looking for hopeful even if it's not completely happy.
6) Olympus Has Fallen
(Requested characters: Mike Banning and Benjamin Asher)
This is very much a completely unashamed preference for slash. However, if you're not feeling it then pre-movie Banning and what he got up to before signing on to protect President Asher is A-OK!
Pre- or post-movie both work for me here, as long as it's not a woeful unrequited angstfest. Feel free to acknowledge the angsty aspects, of course - pre-movie would involve Asher cheating on his wife, of course (unless you feel like convincing me with a threesome!), and Banning has a partner, there'd always need to be complete secrecy, and I suspect neither of them would be absolutely fine after the First Lady's death or indeed after the events of the film. I'd just prefer that this be a reciprocated attraction that doesn't only involve brooding over booze because it Can Never Happen OMG.
Complicated and dark and hot is really what I'm asking for here.