redsnake05: You are what you create (Creative: you are what you create)
Leitmotif ([personal profile] redsnake05) wrote2021-10-19 09:21 pm
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Yuletide letter 2021

I'm so excited about yuletide this year, and have been looking forward to it immensely. I'm glad we have matched on at least one of these things.

I have lots of likes. I love worldbuilding, especially little facts and habits and the everyday rituals of living. I love a strong sense of place and setting, and I'malways down for random facts about flora, fauna, geology and architecture. I love minor characters and OCs. I love backstories. People being good at things is great, and also people working hard to be good or be better. I love character exploration and internal conflict just as much as external conflict.

I like both gen and relationships, and am open to all sorts of structures and styles, including epistolary.

I do not want violence outside canon norms, character death, or rape. I do not want AUs (canon forks are absolutely fine, though) or crack. I would prefer a fic that isn't exclusively sex or porn, though sex and sexual relationships can definitely be present and I do love romantic and sexual relationships, just not a PWP. I do not want a fic focused exclusively on children or pregnancy. I would prefer not to receive incest, unless noted in the fandom-specific section below.

Drenai Saga - David Gemmell (Druss, Waylander)

I do mean any for this, in the widest sense of 'any'! Druss the Legend and Waylander the Slayer are the nominated characters and I would love a fic featuring one of them (or even both, if you have an idea). I am particularly interested in long journeys and campfires in remote lands, an unknown adventure one of them has, a tale of another battle they were involved in, or a time of peace and content that they enjoyed. We know Druss spends his afterlife looking over the road and protecting those who travel it, and I'd love to know more about that, or what he thinks of the Source, when he finally meets it/gets there. I'd love to know what happened when Waylander was saved by Kai, or if they meet again, in real life or the afterlife. I'd love to see a story about how Waylander developed his crossbow, or how he discovered his talent for fighting and warfare. I'd love to hear about how Druss and Rowena grew together again after their separation, or a moment from their life together, which must have been filled with many farewells and reunions.

I would also be more than happy to get a fic with neither of them, that focuses instead on some of the other, more minor characters (my apologies for not being current with the worldbuilding tag, but I would totally have nominated it if I'd been a bit more on to it). I have read all the books in the saga more than once, so if you want to tell me a story about Hewla's youth, or a tale of the Thirty that we've never seen, or how Niobe adjusted to life in the Drenai lands, or what Keeva and Kysumu did next, after Waylander died, then please do so. Tell me how Rabbalyn grew up to be exceptional, or how Kebras and the children made a little family when they got back to Drenai.

There is so much in these books that I'd love to know more about. If you're interested in the Earl of Bronze, I'd love to hear how the armour was made and how it ended up in that damnable cave. I'm really interested in the parallels between Jiana, when she realises that the culmination of all her years of power is killing Skilgannon, and Tenaka Khan, when he inhabits Kiall's body and all he does is kill his son. I am fascinated by the idea of demons inhabiting weapons, so tell me all about how Snaga was forged or your take on the Swords of Night and Day.

For this fandom, I'm happy to receive canon-typical violence, though I would like a happy or hopeful ending. If you're interested in writing a relationship, I believe Druss never looked at any other woman than Rowena, but have no other favourite ships and can be persuaded to believe in anything. I have no religious hang ups, so feel free to take on the vexed question of the Source.

Basically, if you have an idea you've always wanted to explore, I will love it. It will definitely not be too obscure or weird. Go hard.

God of War Video Games (Kratos, Mimir)

While I've asked for two of the nominated characters, I do not need both of them in your story. If you want to concentrate on one, feel free Also, I love worldbuilding, and I'd be delighted with a story that concentrates on that and brings in other characters as well or instead.

For Kratos, I'm interested in the vexed question of godhead and how he sees the inevitability or otherwise of battle, death and the killing of family. I'm interested in his relationship with Mimir and how he has a very functional view on life, as opposed to Mimir - does he ever hear anything worth listening to in Mimir's stories? Do any of them ever remind him of something, or set his feet on a different path? Does he ever tell a story of his own, either when Atreus is a baby and too little to remember, or after the events of God of War 2018? I'd be interested in hearing about a time Kratos showed his love through actions or appreciation, or him telling Atreus something important about Faye, with words or with actions. A story of his time with Faye, and how they met, would be fascinating.

For Mimir, I'm interested in his origins as a messenger and jester, so if you want to take a folkloric approach to him and explore his origins in faerie, feel free. How did he acquire all that knowledge, though, and is he actually a god of wisdom or just a god of facts? What motivated him to go with Kratos and Atreus (aside from escaping from Odin's torture, of course). How did he end up in the north anyway? What things might he teach Atreus, perhaps from his original culture?

I think there is a lot to explore in Freya's relationship with either Kratos or Mimir. I know she's not nominated, but if you would like to include her, I would be down for that. I'd love to see something with Mimir and Freya - maybe he knows a way to break Odin's prohibitions and Kratos and Freya and Atreus undertake it (or even just Kratos and Atreus, depending on how you want to break with canon). Maybe she knows a way to give him a body again, and he has to find a way to be worth it. I kind of ship Freya and Kratos, though I can't quite imagine how it could work. If you can, run with it!

Aside from these suggestions, if you have an idea about a further quest, or another realm they can explore, or Mimir teaching languages to Atreus (he should really learn the language of the giants somewhere!), or some work they get done with Brok and Sindri - anything and everything is welcome here!

I'm happy with canon-typical violence, preferably with a happy or hopeful ending.

The Quiet Gentleman (Drusilla Morville)

I have requested Drusilla many times, but I don't think I will ever get enough of fics with her at their charmingly practical centre. I have only requested Drusilla, but feel free to bring in whatever characters you want, from this canon, other Heyer canons (I have read all the regency romances), or contemporary real people (her parents' literary friends, omg!)

In particular, I love Drusilla and Gervase together. I love how well they complement each other and I can see them being quietly in love forever. I'd be happy with a scene from their engagement, a significant milestone, a disastrous occasion or another (preferably less lethal!) mystery to solve. I'd love to know more about how Martin grows up and the role he plays in Stanyon (and, if he remains a bachelor or perhaps forms a long-term attachment to a male companion, or wishes to marry someone quite ineligible in his mother's eyes, Drusilla is an important part of helping him navigate those treacherous waters).

I also love how calm, practical and decisive Drusilla is compared to Marianne, and I would love to read some Drusilla/Marianne that perhaps explores this further. Like, perhaps Marianne doesn't necessarily find sex with Lucius good at first and Drusilla helps her learn what she likes? Or Marianne really likes to have her hair brushed and be looked after (with a side of spanking, perhaps?).

I would be happy with sexual content for Drusilla/Gervase, or Drusilla/Marianne (or Drusilla/Gervase/Lucius/Marianne in whatever configuration), but would like a story with my sex, please! I have no particular sexual squicks, and, if you do wish to write something explicit, I rather like such things as restraint, spanking, bathing, mild D/s, cunnillingus, anal play and role play.

Ancient Egyptian Religion (Sekhmet)

Sekhmet is my favourite. I'm interested in her many titles (She who Mauls is particularly fetching), and the stories of how she gained them, how she embodies the hot breath of the desert, and the great festival of intoxication held in her honour. I'd love to hear about any of her relationships, particularly with Bastet, but also with Ptah - and how her fierce, destructive, warlike aspect complements his role as the creative craftsman and builder. I would love to know about how she relates to Sobek, who is responsible for the discipline of the army and that aspect of warfare, and I can imagine some competition there.

Anything about Sekhmet will thrill me. A story of pilgrimage of one of her devotees, or a time she roamed the desert and found beauty there, perhaps in the blue lotus flowers that gave rise to the name of her son. Tell me about her role in the forming of the desert and the river valleys, or a time she helped restore Ma'at.
I know this section is short, but please don't think it means I want this less! I will be super excited for any story that explores Sekhmet further.