Dear Yuletider 2019

[elegantstupidity]

Dear Yuletider,

It's that time of year again! I'm so excited for another round of Yuletide, and can't wait to see what you come up with for any of these requests. If none of the prompts I've left are your cup of tea, or you already had an idea, that's great! These are all canons and characters near and dear to my heart, and I'm easy to please; I will appreciate pretty much any fic you write so much.

If you do want more information, you can find more letters with prompts for most of these canons here on dreamwidth. Or I'm on tumblr (megaphonemonday) and of course AO3 (elegantstupidity). Thanks in advance and see you in December!

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Navigation
Yes, Please! and No, Thanks!
Requests: Crown Duel - Sherwood Smith, Good Behavior, The Invisible Library - Genevieve Cogman, A League of Their Own, Letterkenny, Pitch

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Yes, Please!
genres and styles

• adventures (both big and small), angst (preferably with a bittersweet or happy ending), canon-typical plots, character studies, fantasy and sci-fi, fluff, hurt/comfort, mysteries and casefic, romance, slice of life
• AUs
  • especially canon-divergences, canon+ (basically, the canon setting + some fantastical/magical element, ie: body swaps, unexpected telepathic connections, time loops, etc.), or fusions and genre shifts (ie: daemon AUs, Pacific Rim, Hogwarts—or something more Yuletide appropriate—in space!, epic fantasy, sitcom or rom-com setups, etc.)
  • exceptions I’m not particularly into: A/B/O, de-aging, and soulmate/soulmark AUs
• character- and relationship-driven plots
• epistolary elements
  • both letters and texts/emails/digital communication
• missing scenes
• parallels and canon callbacks
• x + 1 times

details

• competence/characters in their element
  • alternatively, I do love a good fish out of water scenario
• food, baking and/or cooking; please make me hungry!
• worldbuilding
  • Even for canons that ostensibly take place in the real world, I love getting a taste of all the little details that add color and texture to these character’s lives.
    • Stuff like: politics/local government, what’s on their TBR list, what’s in their fridge/closet/bag/car, what kind of celebrity gossip exists in their world
• lots of descriptions: of the setting or circumstances, the characters' emotions/sensations, etc.

gen relationships

• loyalty and ride or die friendships
• complex friendship dynamics
  • I prefer when conflicts are resolved at least semi-happily, but angst on the way is excellent!
• found families and/or family feels and/or complex family situations
• team bonding/group dynamics
  • eg: road trips, pranks, inside jokes, friendship building, nights out, games/game nights, betting pools, roughhousing/physical affection, celebrations/parties, etc.
• mutual admiration societies/positive partnerships
  • I love snark and teasing and even outright antagonism, too, they just have to end up liking each other—even grudgingly

romantic relationships

• anything from above
  • I really love romances that are built on friendships/trust/loyalty/etc. etc.
• pre-relationship and/or getting together plots
  • slow burns, UST, mutual pining, denial, flirting, lingering touches, veiled confessions
  • [enemies/rivals to] friends to lovers
    • I’m all about snarky antagonism/belligerence/teasing as flirting
  • FWBs catching feelings
  • breaking the seal
    • i.e. “We just kissed/slept together/did something unmistakably romantic, but we’re definitely not gonna do it again,” and then they absolutely do it again.
• enforced proximity tropes
  • bed sharing, handcuffed together, locked in a closet, deserted together, curses/spells tethering them, sharing body heat, etc.
• secret and/or "forbidden" relationships
• basically any rom com trope you could possibly throw in; I will eat all that up with a spoon
• HEAs or HFNs

smut/porn

• feelings
  • basically anything that shows how into each other the characters are
  • romance, trust, enthusiasm, intensity, tenderness, vulnerability, desperation, neediness [to please], intimacy, hand holding, eye contact
  • laughing/having fun with it
  • alternatively, I can definitely get behind some hate/grudge sex
    • I do like when it eventually evolves into or hints at something (even slightly) friendlier, though
• firsts
  • first time together or the first time trying something new or sexual awakenings/kink discovery, shy or desperate or a little awkward, etc. etc. and on and on and on
  • resolving UST to "get it out of their systems" or other transparently thin reasons to bang it out
• rough sex
  • hair pulling, holding each other down, losing control, marking, not making it to the bed, spanking, etc.
  • use of athleticism/strength/endurance/stamina/flexibility/focus on character’s physique
• foreplay and teasing
  • banter/dirty talk, body worship, grinding/frottage, hand/mouth stuff, solo action, etc.
• positions
  • cuddling/close contact, from behind/bent over something, lap sex, riding, wall sex

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No, Thanks!

• graphic violence or gore
  
  • injuries, physical fights, etc. that have happened in canon or are canon-typical are fine to include
• incest
• infidelity
• non-canonical character death (unless prompted)
• pregnancy and non-canonical babies or kids (unless prompted)
  • children who exist in canon are fine to include
• rape, non- or dubcon

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Requests

Crown Duel - Sherwood Smith
characters: Meliara Astiar, Vidanric Renselaeus

I reread these books at least once a year, and I always love them just as much as the first time I read them. Mel is one of my favorite heroines of all time; her pluck and courage and how much she gets in her own way sometimes all make her such a fun character to root for. She grows and changes so much over the course of these books, confronting her weaknesses and becoming a better person for it. Though, it's not as if Vidanric makes it particularly easy on her. I love rooting for him for very different reasons; he's enigmatic and proud and still willing to let people—even the one he's in love with—think the worst of him in order to work for a better future. I think it can safely be said that Crown Duel instilled in me my love of enemies to friends to lovers as a trope and for that, I am truly thankful. Other things I love about it are: rebellion and guerrilla warfare against an oppressive king; all the machinations and intrigues of the court; the magical worldbuilding. Plus, of course, the scrappy resistance fighter/countess and the marquis who finds her fascinating.

I'd be more than happy with just about anything for these two: a missing scene or future fic or something completely AU. Anything that explores these characters and their relationship with one another will be amazing. Also, any other characters or ships (as long as they don't explicitly break up Mel/Vidanric or involve infidelity, I'm really not picky here) from either of these books are more than welcome. I'm not super familiar with the short stories and novellas about Remalna, but if you want to include worldbuilding from them, that's cool too.

prompts

• Some kind of historiographical view of Mel and Vidanric's rule would be really interesting, especially since the palace library plays such an important role in the development of their relationship.
• Mel's memoir/recounting of events is a way to address potential future historians, but does she ever discuss it with Vidanric? Are they worried about how they go down in history? Is their story remarkably different a century or four in the future?
• Enemies to friends to lovers is basically my shipping sweet spot, so Mel/Vidanric has a special place in my heart. Like, I know they’ve got to be king and queen or whatever, but please tell me they’re still squabbling and occasionally being assholes to one another. And then making it up to each other because that's half the fun.
• The bet they make riding from Tlanth to the capital cannot be the last one, right? I feel like they're each competitive enough to keep wagering against one another, both in public and private.
• How do they deal with one of them going on a hot streak? What's the pettiest thing they've bet on? Is it all just flirting or does at least one of them (Mel, right? It's gotta be Mel.) take it to heart?
• I am always down for canon-divergences of pretty much any stripe, especially when they lead to some kind of alternate getting together scenario. What happens if Mel escapes from Vidanric, either when he first captures her or after he's saved her from Debegri? What if she'd gone to court right away or refused to come at all? What if Vidanric claimed the kiss he won much earlier? What if his machinations were discovered and they had to go on the run together? Or, you know, something completely different?
• I'd imagine they don't get time off from ruling a country very often, but at least once, Mel must take Vidanric out to meet the Hill Folk, and I'd love to read about how that goes.

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Good Behavior
characters: Javier Pereira, Letty Raines

This show was such a wonderfully wild ride, and I'm still pretty bummed that there won't be any more of it. The fact that there won't be more of Lady Mary Crawley playing a junkie con artist is a true tragedy for the state of pop culture. (I'm only exaggerating a little bit.) Really, though, there's so much to love about this show: the writing and development of Javier and Letty's relationship; the aesthetic™ of it all (seriously, these people are possibly too beautiful); the compelling, complex characters and some of the truly fucked up way they relate to one another; all the wigs. What isn't to like? Plus, there is nothing I don’t love about bad people trying so hard—or not very hard at all as it sometimes happens—to be good, especially for one another. Both Letty and Javier give this to me in spades. Add in their codependence, the snark, and the way they try so hard to keep the other on the straight and narrow while willingly self-sabotaging if they think it’s what the other one needs—not to mention their off-the-charts chemistry—and I was always gonna be a total goner for these two.

Additionally, I’m more than happy to see any of Javier or Letty's family or Christian and Agent Lashever if you’d also like to include them. Canon levels of violence/darkness are also fine to include—I'm definitely not expecting pure fluff considering the general tone of the show—but I'd prefer it remain off-screen. IE: mentions of Letty's past use or references to/discussion of Javier's profession are fair game; a graphic depiction of Letty shooting up or Javier executing a job isn't. I am totally down with any and all theft/scamming you want them to commit, though.

prompts

• Anything that involves more of Letty doing what she's best at: stealing expensive shit and pulling one over on terrible rich people. Bonus points if you include Letty assuming a new identity (plus a new wig to go with it, of course). Extra bonus points if you include Javier stepping up his con game. He's a terrible liar, but Letty has to rub off on him at some point, right?
• Hurt/comfort is such a sweet spot for me when it comes to this ship. These may be some objectively awful people, but they care about each other so much. Even if their ways of showing that are dysfunctional, they'd do anything for one another.
• Hurt/comfort is such a sweet spot for me when it comes to this ship. These may be some objectively awful people, but they care about each other so much. Even if their ways of showing that are dysfunctional, they'd do anything for one another. This was definitely supposed to be a more specific prompt, but I cannot remember what it was. Sorry! Any hurt/comfort scenario with these two would be appreciated!
• I'd love to see either of these two as the targets of another con. Maybe they play their covers too well, so someone thinks they've hit paydirt, or it's a frame-up gone badly. No matter what, I'm sure it would make for a great story.
• Tell me in as much detail as you can stand all about the string of shitty motel rooms (and the shittier beds) they had to share at the beginning of their acquaintance.
• I really loved the belligerent sexual tension (or just pure belligerence) between Letty and Javier early on. Combined with forced proximity and bed sharing and the gradual establishment of trust, that's a fic I'd read in a heartbeat.
• What the hell are they up to in California? What made them decide to head west in the first place? Was there a scheme already in motion or are they playing it by ear? Either way, Hollywood won't know what hit it.

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The Invisible Library - Genevieve Cogman
characters: Irene, Kai, Peregrine Vale

I've torn through these books and now eagerly await their next installment because they are so, so fun. I mean, a secret library hidden between worlds dedicated to preserving the stories of the universe and staffed by librarian-spies? Give me all of it, please! Plus, there's the unending AU and genre-shift potentials the worldbuilding opens up, the complex web of supporting characters, and the mix of sci-fi/fantasy and mystery tropes. Irene's POV is what really sells this series for me, though. She's almost absurdly competent, even when she's despairing how she'll get out of her latest life-and-death situation, and she never loses her sense of humor about it all. I'm also absurdly into her relationship with Kai and Vale. Kai's unswerving loyalty and Vale's shrewd intellect make for excellent supplements to Irene's own talents, but I love that it's not just the balance of skill that makes them such a good team. They all genuinely respect and enjoy each other (and should all make out/fall into bed when convenient).

I like Irene/Kai/Vale in pretty much any configuration (plus each component pairing as long as they're all still fond of each other) and love their platonic working relationships with one another too. The worlds they inhabit is so fascinating, and I will enjoy anything that explores these characters and their universe, be it a missing scene from one of the books or what the future holds for them all or a divergence or some other kind of AU. Also, if you want to include any other characters, whether they're in the tagset or not, absolutely go for it.

prompts

• I would love to see them at work somewhere that isn't semi-historical Europe/U.S.A. Maybe a case of Vale's takes them to Africa or the Middle East. Maybe one of Irene's missions is on a world with highly evolved tech or one that doesn't so closely resemble the one we know. Maybe Kai has to take them to some high-order realm to deal with dragon business.
• Any which way, I'd love to see these three working together to solve whatever problem they're facing. Anything that highlights how good they are at their various roles would be a huge bonus.
• They're not really people who seem to enjoy slowing down and relaxing, not when there's work to be done at least, but it must happen sometime, right? Who forces the issue and makes them all take a vacation? Do they actually get any downtime in, or does Library business, like life, find a way?
• I really like how vocal/obvious Kai is about his admiration of both Irene and Vale, not to mention encouraging Irene to put the moves on Vale, and I don't see him contenting himself with just one or the other.
• So how does he manage to get both of them on the same page as he is? What do Vale and Irene think about his attempts? How sweet is the payoff when he finally manages it?
• The architecture and infrastructure of the Library itself is so interesting to me, and I'd love to see some kind of mystery or story that takes place within its walls. Does Vale have to come in to ferret out the location of disappearing books? Does one of Kai's former classmates ask for help when they feel they're being set up to take the fall for an error they didn't make?
• What's up with Vale's family? There've been all these hints dropped about them, and I'm curious to read your take on the situation, however speculative.

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A League of Their Own
characters: Jimmy Dugan, Dottie Hinson

This is one of my absolute favorite movies, and it pretty much always has been. Between the setting (homefront America is right in my history wheelhouse, and I'd adore any details you throw in on that end) and the writing (from the poignant to the ridiculous) and the baseball (it's basically the only sport I both like and understand), there's nothing not to love about it. Plus, Jimmy and Dottie were my OTP before I even knew what shipping was. They're opposites, in where they are in their lives and careers, and equals, in their talent and love of the game, all at once. The progression of their dynamic throughout the course of the movie—from the outright hostility and disappointment to the grudging respect to friendship and intimacy—also makes for great fic fodder. I remain convinced that Jimmy was fully in love with her by the end of the season, and Dottie was at least well on her way if not already there and denying it.

While I do love Jimmy/Dottie, their friendship and ability to work together for the team is the basis of that, so I'd be really happy with a gen fic for them too. As far as Bob Hinson goes, you can ignore my non-canonical character death DNW, if it's to get Jimmy and Dottie together. Maybe he dies/already died in the war, maybe he and Dottie never got married to begin with, or don't bother to mention Bob at all; however you decide to deal with him is up to you. Also, there's no need to idealize the 1940s; mentions of period-typical sexism, homophobia, racism, etc. are fine to include, but I'd rather they don't become the point of the fic. I'd be more than happy if any other canon characters or relationships (or any femslash ships between the other Peaches) make appearances.

prompts

• So, what happens the first time Dottie suffers an injury more serious than a scrape or a bruise? Does Jimmy take it well? Actively goad her into an argument? Or does he just act like enough of an asshole that Dottie picks one herself?
• What if Dottie was more reluctant to hand over the reins of the team once Jimmy had dried out a bit? How would he have taken to having to talk strategy with her from the get-go? Basically, I'd love to see how a bit more of a power struggle would've affected their blossoming respect for one another.
• I can't get enough of The Big Damn Kiss™ after winning the big game. Or maybe they're celebrating something else—Jimmy's election into the Baseball Hall of Fame or maybe the Peaches making the playoffs at all (which could set the we-did-something-we-shouldn't-have dance into motion until they're both ready to face it) or any number of everyday victories.
• Any kind of missing scene would be greatly appreciated. Here are some ideas:
• What did Jimmy or Dottie think about the filming of that newsreel? Did they get to see a preview of it, or did they have to go to the theater to see it with the rest of the world?
• Apparently there's a deleted scene (#5) in which, “Dottie isn’t sure if going ‘all the way’ is something married women ‘get to’ or ‘have to’ do.” Um, please expand on how Jimmy Dugan convinces her, theoretically or practically, otherwise.
• Aside from sneaking out to roadhouses and breaking into local ballparks, what did Dottie and Jimmy do in their downtime? How hard and how long did they hold out on regularly joining the team in their league-unsanctioned exploits or did they establish their own routine?
• I love the idea of Dottie coming back to the League after a season or two (or even just a winter) away. How does her reappearance affect her team, and more importantly, her manager? Is it a surprise to Jimmy or did he get some kind of warning? Is it easy to fall back into their usual rapport, or do they go back to bickering and have to work their way to where they'd been?

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Letterkenny
characters: Daryl, Katy, Squirrelly Dan, Wayne

This show is such a strange, specific, little delight. At this point, I've rewatched it so many times, it's bordering on ridiculous. But each time, I've found some new and hilarious detail to overthink and obsess over. Between the high (and so, so low) drama of small town life, the rhythm and (pitter) patter of the dialogue, and are just a few of the things that I can't get enough of. Everything is so insanely specific, but, at the same time, even a person who's never been to rural Ontario (AKA: me) can relate to these weirdos' lives. (Not that much, though; thankfully, degens from upcountry don't figure that much into my everyday problems.) The best part of it for me is the way these four characters fit together. They've all got such a rich history with one another as family and friends and neighbors, traditions and inside jokes and petty grievances, I could watch (or read!) hours of them just hanging out at the farmstand, spitballing and riffing off one another.

For these characters, I'd love a fic that delves into their group dynamic, no matter what the setting. I love and want to see all four of them, but don't feel like you have to focus equally on each of them in a fic. Also, I'm happy to see Daryl/Wayne and/or any canon ships/crushes/friendships/whatever (from the past or present) or other Letterkennyans (Letterkennyites?) in the background too. While I absolutely love the way everyone talks in Letterkenny, I understand that it's not the easiest thing to replicate; I'd love something that captures the tone of the show, but don't feel like whatever you write needs to imitate it exactly.

prompts

• Honestly, I would love to see how the Hicks deal with a (preferably very temporary) accidental baby acquisition. Who gets put in charge of the baby vs who should it be? What kind of scrapes do they get into looking for the kid's parents? Who tries to rename the baby after about an hour? How annoyed does Wayne get about the whole situation?
• As they say, when a friend asks for help, you help 'em. So, what is the furthest these guys have gone for one another? Either the things they'd admit to freely or the things that make 'em softer than 10-ply.
• Truly, I could read mountains of fic about these four, plus whoever else happens to be around, spitballing back and forth. Stick 'em at the farmstand or the Ag Hall or Modean's 3 or the rink or, or, or (you get the idea
• They could be talking about the most pedestrian—Is it okay to jaywalk? Do you have to finish crossing at a jog if there's a car coming?—or fantastical—Would owning a pegasus be more trouble than it's worth? If the Loch Ness Monster's real, why haven't more of them been found?—or whatever of things in that quickfire rhythm of theirs, and I'd be happy.
• What happens when Katy's softball team is down a couple of players? Does she ask her brother and friends to fill in or are they annoyed when she doesn't?
• All the weird traditions in Letterkenny—adult spelling bee, Wayne and Katy's penny drive, the Century Club, Daryl's super soft birthday, etc. etc.—are part of what make it both surreal and relatable all at once. I'd love to read about an original.
• Maybe some kind of town festival or a family custom from Daryl or Dan? Or even the gang hating on some other town's weird tradition that they just can't wrap their head around.

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Pitch
characters: Any; Ginny Baker, Cara, Livan Duarte, Eliot, Mike Lawson, Blip Sanders, Evelyn Sanders, Amelia Slater

I don't know if there's enough I could say, at least within the confines of an exchange letter, that would properly convey how much I love and adore this show and these characters. Everything from the premise to the writing to the execution pretty much guaranteed that I was going to fall for it fast and hard. I mean, it's both a girl-power narrative and all about baseball? Of course I was a goner before I ever saw an episode. And then it was actually good, too, creating a complex heroine with lots of great, supportive relationships with the rest of the, equally complex, cast. It was all so well-written, letting the characters drive the story and become the heartbeat of this show. I also love that the underlying principle of it all was so optimistic while leaving room for realism. The two aren't mutually exclusive, and I really liked the interplay between this idealism—that a woman can make it in MLB—and the realities of the kind of struggles she'd face.

I truly would love fic about any of these characters in pretty much any kind of ship or platonic configuration. I've requested Ginny/Mike, Ginny/Mike/Livan, and Blip/Evelyn in the past, and still love those ships, but consider this blanket permission to take as many or as few of these characters—or unnominated ones if you like—and write them in pretty much any platonic/romantic/adversarial/etc. configuration you want. I will be delighted by basically anything that explores one or a few or all of these characters because, like I said, I love them all.

prompts

• I am still very interested in the drunk dialing/texting antics of any and everyone. Basically, anything that involves any combo of these characters (and/or whoever else you'd like to add) being tipsy and affectionate or argumentative or lonely and needy is something I'd love to hear about.
• Honestly, any kind of future fic or continuation of where the show left off would be awesome.
• What's going on with everyone's careers? (Did Amelia and Ginny and Eliot work it out? Is Evelyn still working on a restaurant? How's the struggle between Mike and Livan going?) What about their living situations? (Ginny and Livan at the Omni still? Mike's weird, glass house and the possibility of lending that pool house out back to a friend/teammate in need? Cara still in LA?) How about their love lives? (Please tell me Blip and Ev worked it out. Or that Ginny's working it out with Mike and/or Livan and/or Cara and/or someone who's good to her. Or that Amelia's possibly turning cougar.)
• Anything that explores the nitty-gritty of life as a baseball player—all that time on the road, the physical toll, the press and PR obligations—and how it balances against the realized dream of being a pro athlete would be awesome. How does that tradeoff affect the people in their lives? What do they do to decompress? How do they lean on one another? What makes it all worth it?
• I'm a huge sucker for celebrations and parties, especially when other big, emotional moments are coming to a head at the same time. So tell me all about a champagne shower after the Padres clinch a postseason berth. Or what kind of graduation party Ev throws for herself (or Blip plans as a surprise). Or how Eliot or Cara ring in the new job of their dreams.
• Tell me about a bodyswap! I don't need an explanation, I just want it to happen. (Full disclosure, I've thought about a Ginny/Mike/Livan situation the most and would love that, but I'd be delighted by any kind of fic with this trope and a couple or more of these characters.) What kind of headache does it create for everyone involved before they switch back? How close do they come to being found out, and by whom?

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Last updated on October 30