Yuletide Letter

[peroxidepirate]

Dear Yuletide Author,

Whoever you may be, thank you! I'm really excited that we're both part of this project. By now you've probably read my requests, but I'm pasting them in at the end for easy reference, and providing more detailed thoughts on the fandoms in question.

In general, I pick my fandoms based on characters first, world building second, readability/watchability third, and plot a fairly distant fourth. So for a gift exchange fic, I don't really care about plot at all: I certainly don't mind if you want to stick one in, but I'd be equally happy with a little vignette of some kind.

I'm a feminist – that's probably obvious from my fandom requests. With very few exceptions, it's hard for me stay interested in stories that are about guys only. I believe femslash makes everything better, but it's certainly not required for me to enjoy a story. I'm a fan of action narrative (fight scenes, romance/sex scenes, 'how things work' scenes, whatever) and snappy dialogue. I'm less excited about character introspection or stream-of-consciousness type narrative. I don't like poetry.

I have a list of things I'd prefer not to receive: character death, torture, death or torture of animal characters, extremely graphic violence (PG-13 violence is fine), and anything super dark – Real Life is dark enough, thanks. Also incest, non-con, and all out BDSM – getting these in a fic exchange would be like getting underclothes from a Real Life secret santa: what works for me and what doesn't can be pretty close together, and you don't know me well enough to know which is which.

Um, otherwise, I'm really pretty easy to please. I'm a fanfic junky, which means Yuletide is one of my favorite things ever. Thanks again, and happy writing!



Fandom: L A Meyer - Bloody Jack series

There are now, I believe, seven books in this series. I've read the first five. I like them for Jacky's constant adventures, the sense of historical time and place they convey so well, and the revolving cast of characters. You'll see in my requests that I'm not particularly interested in reading about Jacky's “true love,” Jaimy. It's not that I dislike him. In fact, in the first book, I think their romance is kind of sweet. But I don't think he and Jacky are a good match, and I'm bored with the way they are always kept apart by plot device fate.

Request #1

Characters: Chloe Cantrell/Clementine Jukes/Katy Deere/Mary Faber aka Jacky

Info: Mississippi Jack is my favorite of the series, so something during or just after would be great. I would love something about the girls of the Belle: any two or three of them, or all four; getting in and out of trouble or sweet friendship or naughty femslash or anything in between. Bonus points for including at least a passing reference to either Higgins/Yancy or Higgins/Solomon, because Higgins deserves some love, too (but that's optional). Please don't include Jaimy, or Jacky pining for Jaimy. Oh, and I haven't read anything after Mississippi Jack, so though I don't mind spoilers, I don't know any characters introduced later.

Mississippi Jack is the fifth book in the series. If you happen to be pinch hitting or something, know that it can be read independantly of the others (although even by itself, it's a long book). It's my favorite for two reasons: the American wilderness setting, and the superb ensemble cast. I'm fascinated by every character on Jacky's boat, but most especially by the four I listed above. I think they're a great combination: Jacky's impulsiveness, Katy's steadfastness, Clementine's sheer joy in being out in the world, and Chloe's good sense. Chloe and Jacky are kind of a match in their ability to pass as anyone and fit in anywhere, but Chloe's much better at keeping (relatively) out of trouble. Katy and Clementine come from similar backgrounds, but Katy's been through a lot more since leaving home, and gained a maturity from it. Clementine retains a simple, happy nature through everything. I love the differences between them, and the fact that they each make their own way in the world.

Request #2

Characters: Clarissa Worthington-Howe/Joseph Jared/Mary Faber aka Jacky

Info: It's a crying shame that canon!Jacky never quite manages to get some. I'd love to read Jacky/Jared or Jacky/Clarissa (or, if you want, Jared/Jacky/Clarissa). The more heat, the better – smut is great, if you're comfortable writing it. If not, I'd be happy with a “discretion cut” at the appropriate time, or just a “morning after” scene. Please don't include Jaimy, or Jacky pining for Jaimy. Also, I haven't read anything after Mississippi Jack, so though I don't mind spoilers, I don't know any characters introduced later.

This is actually my “4^th request” – same fandom, different grouping of characters. For pinch hitters, Jared appears in the third book, Under the Jolly Roger. Clarissa is in book 2, Curse of the Blue Tattoo, where she is Jacky's nemesis. She's a more sympathetic character in book 4, In the Belly of the Bloodhound. It might be a little weird that I'm essentially requesting a story where the main character finally gets to have sex, but... there it is. I like gen!fic just fine, and I'm ok with PG romance. But Jacky makes out with people all the time, and nearly every book in this series has a “close call” where she comes this close to losing her virginity. Teasing can stop nao, pls. Jared is my favorite of the guys that Jacky messes around with, and Clarissa is hot bitchiness personified, but if you'd rather write her with someone else, that's ok too. Please note that I'm not necessarily requesting a “first time” story – a snapshot of a continuing relationship or the first (or only) time with a particular partner would be great.

Request #3: Fandom: Across the Universe

Characters: Jude/Lucy Carrigan/Max Carrigan/Prudence

Info: I love this movie for the characters, especially Prudence. Anything Prudence-centric will make me happy, as long as it's femslash or gen. I also like Lucy (and Lucy/Prudence would be the ultimate win), and I have a soft spot for ambiguous Max/Jude, so I'd be happy to read any of them (but they don't all have to appear). Please no het!Prudence (reference to het encounters is fine, but I see her as fundamentally gay) and no explicit guy-slash (nothing against it, but it's not what I'm looking for here).

First off, I'm not a huge Beatles fan (although I like their music) so obscure Beatles references will be lost on me. I do know a bit about the history of the 1960s, and one of the things I loved about the movie is the attention to historical detail. Almost the only thing I didn't like is the way Prudence kind of disappeared after she (literally) came out of the closet. I don't fault Julie Taymor for it – she told an ambitious story and I think it's fabulous that Prudence was part of it in the first place – but I'd love to see fic that fills in some of the gaps: how she got involved with the circus, how she met Rita, if they stayed together. Did she ever tell Sadie how she felt? Did she break Max's heart? Do her folks know where she is? Do they know she's gay? Or, I'd love to read something addressing her experience as an Asian-American in the 1960s counterculture. If you go with Prudence/Lucy, it can be AU or after the end of the film or just something that happened between what we saw on screen.

Request #4: Fandom: Caroline Stevermer - College of Magics series

Characters: Faris Nallaneen/Jane Brailsford/Tyrian

Info: I love Faris, so I'd prefer something Faris-focused, set any time after she assumes her wardency. Options include her friendship with Jane, the complicated possibilities of her relationship with the King/Tyrian (which could be het or gen), or something else entirely. I also like Eve-Marie (although I forgot her on my nomination. Oops). I have no caveats or gripes here – I loved both books completely, so anything based on them would make me happy.

The first book, A College of Magics, captured my attention more than the second, A Scholar of Magics. I love, love, love Faris's growth through A College of Magics, as she develops more confidence and comes into her abilities as a leader, a magic worker, and a warden. I want to know what happens to her next! The second book, though fascinating, barely touches on that. I'd love to see Faris at work, as the Warden of the North. Does she continue to operate out of the castle in Aravis? Does she ever have the heart to return to Galazon – and if so, does she come to love it again, or is it simply a place? What about her neice, who is the heir to both Galazon and Aravis – does this mean the two countries will unite? And what about the bodyguard who is sudddenly a king – how long can he keep that up? With both of the king's daughters gone, is there anyone else who will know the difference? Is Faris still in love with him? Is Eve-Marie jealous because Faris is a warden? These are just some of the questions raised by A College of Magics. I'd love to see any one of them answered.