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redsnake05) wrote2022-10-16 12:29 pm
redsnake05) wrote2022-10-16 12:29 pm
Entry tags:
Yuletide 2022 Letter
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'm always 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 love handcrafts and making things, and I love seeing that in fic too. I like people working together to solve a problem, even, or especially, if they're not friends or have wildly different ideas. I love canon divergences, where you imagine what might have been had something fallen out just a little differently.
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 or divergences 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, Worldbuilding)
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 either one of them (or even both, if you have an idea). I've also requested Worldbuilding, and I'm open to whatever you might fancy there.
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. 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, canon or otherwise. 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.
Circe - Madeline Miller (Circe, Penelope, Telemachus, Worldbuilding)
I read this earlier this year and loved it. The whole scope and detail of it was amazing, and I loved Circe, even as I wanted to shake some sense into her for a long time. I've requested any here, but you don't need to include all the characters. I love worldbuilding, so please go hard if this is your jam.
I'm really interested in the way witchcraft is invented or discovered in this world, and I'd be interested in hearing your take on what witchcraft is and how it works. What were Circe's first experiments like, and what things did she learn about gardening and moon phases and tools and processes? How was it different for Penelope? Penelope is an accomplished weaver, so does she include that in her craft, alongside herbs and draughts? Is witchcraft personal to each witch, or are there standard things that are true for all? I'd love to read about Circe's first experiences being human, and if anything surprised her. Seeing Circe and Penelope working together on something after her human transformation would be amazing, or tell me about how Penelope deals with all the nymphs who have been sent there.
I'd love to see a human adventure Circe and Telemachus have, by themselves or with other characters. Perhaps they meet other gods or titans on their adventures. If you would like to rescue Prometheus, I would love to read it, but I'd also love to read about Circe meeting Hecate and what that says about witchcraft, or one of the other Titans, especially Phoebe or Themis.
If you're a fan of romance, I'm interested in the love between Circe and Telemachus and how that works out between them. Show me them working together and how they express what the other means to them. I'd also be open to Circe/Penelope and how that might work, though I'd rather not have Odysseus in the mix in any way, unless just as a shadow between them that they can dismiss and move on from. If you wanted to pair Circe with someone else from her long lifetime, or from her human future, then I'd love to read that too. Since we know that most of the Greek pantheon is related, incestuous relationships are fine.
I don't really have any limits on what you might want to explore in this world, so don't feel that you have to follow any of my prompts or ideas. Go hard!
The Epic of Gilgamesh (Shamhat, Gilgamesh, Enkidu)
This is a long-time favourite of mine. I love all three characters, and would be happy to receive all three, any two together, or just one. Bring in other characters (OCs are fine!), especially Inanna and other deities.
For Gilgamesh, I'm interested in how he lives after his return home. We know he was a changed man, and did a lot of work on the city, so tell me about his life as a civil administrator and king who had learned a hard lesson about eternity. Did he need Shamhat's services to help him navigate politics or society, things I am sure he scorned before Enkidu's death? Did he eventually move on and find love in other places, just as beautiful as the love with Enkidu? I'd like to see Gilgamesh happy, and living fully, but with the recognition that his life is more complicated now.
For Enkidu, I love straight up love stories of him and Gilgamesh and how they work together. Tell me a story of a day in their joyous and carefree lives and I am there. Enkidu teaching Gilgamesh about some quiet secret of an animal he's never much thought about? Yes. Gilgamesh teaching Enkidu about brewing? Yes. Both of them doing something complicated involving irrigation systems and ponds and getting covered in mud? Oh, yes, very much so. I would be quite happy getting a sexy story for this pairing, with some plot in it as well. I love the two of them with Shamhat, and I can quite see her running the show. Just saying.
For Shamhat, I'm interested in her role in the politics of the city and civil life, especially her role as a priestess of Inanna and her relationship with the goddess. Why did she get chosen to find Enkidu, or did she volunteer? What did she teach him, sexually or about humans? Did she cut his hair and shave off his beard, and, if so, can you describe it in great and sexy detail? Does she see Gilgamesh again, after Enkidu's death, and what is that like?
Basically, any of these three, in any combination, with any other characters you happen to be keen on, and I will be extremely happy.
The Goblin Emperor - Katherine Addison (Deret Beshalar, Cala Athmaza, Maia Drazhar, Csethiro Ceredin, Csevet Aisava)
Okay, I will admit right up front that Deret is my favourite character. I don't need everyone else in the fic, so you can pick and choose from the rest as you see fit. If you can fit all of them in, that would be great, but I'm okay with just some. Feel free to bring in other characters too who aren't in the tagset.
I love that this is a story where good wins, in a quiet, determined, thoughtful way. We get to see Maia start to grow into who he wants to be as a person, and I'd love to see a future fic which shows how this progress is going, however long in the future you want. I'd love to see Csevet organising something which runs smoothly, and get to see Cala and Deret practicing their vigilance in less concerning times. Maybe an imperial progression to see the famous bridge, or to the steppes? Maybe the household stays at a small and unpretentious country estate, one of the ones that Maia didn't really know he had, and get to enjoy relaxing in the best way they can? Maybe Maia discovers that the apartments for the nohecharei are inconvenient and a bit dismal, and he does something about that? Perhaps Deret is a magnet for small children and cats, and we get to learn a folktale about the amazingness of both cats (or children) and Deret.
I love surprise depths, so if someone wanted to be secretly great at, say, the precise significance of a knot garden in honour of Csetheio and how to repair it, or the necessary woodworking knowledge to fix a small boat that's been left in disrepair, then that would be amazing. In the novel, Maia often seems overwhelmed by all the things, so perhaps there is a purge of the rooms and attics to put his own stamp on the Alcethmeret? Perhaps he discovers a whole suite of beautiful, light, joyous furniture from a long-forgotten emperor and brings it back into the light?
I love gen, and would be happy to read about whatever friendships and alliances might occur to you. I also love several ships, and would be delighted to see love, whether romantic or sexual or full of exaggerated courtliness. I really like Deret/Cala and Deret/Csevet, and love Csethiro/Maia, and can be persuaded about a great tender polycule as well. Please, if you go down this route, everything should be warm and sweet and joyous.
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'm always 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 love handcrafts and making things, and I love seeing that in fic too. I like people working together to solve a problem, even, or especially, if they're not friends or have wildly different ideas. I love canon divergences, where you imagine what might have been had something fallen out just a little differently.
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 or divergences 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, Worldbuilding)
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 either one of them (or even both, if you have an idea). I've also requested Worldbuilding, and I'm open to whatever you might fancy there.
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. 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, canon or otherwise. 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.
Circe - Madeline Miller (Circe, Penelope, Telemachus, Worldbuilding)
I read this earlier this year and loved it. The whole scope and detail of it was amazing, and I loved Circe, even as I wanted to shake some sense into her for a long time. I've requested any here, but you don't need to include all the characters. I love worldbuilding, so please go hard if this is your jam.
I'm really interested in the way witchcraft is invented or discovered in this world, and I'd be interested in hearing your take on what witchcraft is and how it works. What were Circe's first experiments like, and what things did she learn about gardening and moon phases and tools and processes? How was it different for Penelope? Penelope is an accomplished weaver, so does she include that in her craft, alongside herbs and draughts? Is witchcraft personal to each witch, or are there standard things that are true for all? I'd love to read about Circe's first experiences being human, and if anything surprised her. Seeing Circe and Penelope working together on something after her human transformation would be amazing, or tell me about how Penelope deals with all the nymphs who have been sent there.
I'd love to see a human adventure Circe and Telemachus have, by themselves or with other characters. Perhaps they meet other gods or titans on their adventures. If you would like to rescue Prometheus, I would love to read it, but I'd also love to read about Circe meeting Hecate and what that says about witchcraft, or one of the other Titans, especially Phoebe or Themis.
If you're a fan of romance, I'm interested in the love between Circe and Telemachus and how that works out between them. Show me them working together and how they express what the other means to them. I'd also be open to Circe/Penelope and how that might work, though I'd rather not have Odysseus in the mix in any way, unless just as a shadow between them that they can dismiss and move on from. If you wanted to pair Circe with someone else from her long lifetime, or from her human future, then I'd love to read that too. Since we know that most of the Greek pantheon is related, incestuous relationships are fine.
I don't really have any limits on what you might want to explore in this world, so don't feel that you have to follow any of my prompts or ideas. Go hard!
The Epic of Gilgamesh (Shamhat, Gilgamesh, Enkidu)
This is a long-time favourite of mine. I love all three characters, and would be happy to receive all three, any two together, or just one. Bring in other characters (OCs are fine!), especially Inanna and other deities.
For Gilgamesh, I'm interested in how he lives after his return home. We know he was a changed man, and did a lot of work on the city, so tell me about his life as a civil administrator and king who had learned a hard lesson about eternity. Did he need Shamhat's services to help him navigate politics or society, things I am sure he scorned before Enkidu's death? Did he eventually move on and find love in other places, just as beautiful as the love with Enkidu? I'd like to see Gilgamesh happy, and living fully, but with the recognition that his life is more complicated now.
For Enkidu, I love straight up love stories of him and Gilgamesh and how they work together. Tell me a story of a day in their joyous and carefree lives and I am there. Enkidu teaching Gilgamesh about some quiet secret of an animal he's never much thought about? Yes. Gilgamesh teaching Enkidu about brewing? Yes. Both of them doing something complicated involving irrigation systems and ponds and getting covered in mud? Oh, yes, very much so. I would be quite happy getting a sexy story for this pairing, with some plot in it as well. I love the two of them with Shamhat, and I can quite see her running the show. Just saying.
For Shamhat, I'm interested in her role in the politics of the city and civil life, especially her role as a priestess of Inanna and her relationship with the goddess. Why did she get chosen to find Enkidu, or did she volunteer? What did she teach him, sexually or about humans? Did she cut his hair and shave off his beard, and, if so, can you describe it in great and sexy detail? Does she see Gilgamesh again, after Enkidu's death, and what is that like?
Basically, any of these three, in any combination, with any other characters you happen to be keen on, and I will be extremely happy.
The Goblin Emperor - Katherine Addison (Deret Beshalar, Cala Athmaza, Maia Drazhar, Csethiro Ceredin, Csevet Aisava)
Okay, I will admit right up front that Deret is my favourite character. I don't need everyone else in the fic, so you can pick and choose from the rest as you see fit. If you can fit all of them in, that would be great, but I'm okay with just some. Feel free to bring in other characters too who aren't in the tagset.
I love that this is a story where good wins, in a quiet, determined, thoughtful way. We get to see Maia start to grow into who he wants to be as a person, and I'd love to see a future fic which shows how this progress is going, however long in the future you want. I'd love to see Csevet organising something which runs smoothly, and get to see Cala and Deret practicing their vigilance in less concerning times. Maybe an imperial progression to see the famous bridge, or to the steppes? Maybe the household stays at a small and unpretentious country estate, one of the ones that Maia didn't really know he had, and get to enjoy relaxing in the best way they can? Maybe Maia discovers that the apartments for the nohecharei are inconvenient and a bit dismal, and he does something about that? Perhaps Deret is a magnet for small children and cats, and we get to learn a folktale about the amazingness of both cats (or children) and Deret.
I love surprise depths, so if someone wanted to be secretly great at, say, the precise significance of a knot garden in honour of Csetheio and how to repair it, or the necessary woodworking knowledge to fix a small boat that's been left in disrepair, then that would be amazing. In the novel, Maia often seems overwhelmed by all the things, so perhaps there is a purge of the rooms and attics to put his own stamp on the Alcethmeret? Perhaps he discovers a whole suite of beautiful, light, joyous furniture from a long-forgotten emperor and brings it back into the light?
I love gen, and would be happy to read about whatever friendships and alliances might occur to you. I also love several ships, and would be delighted to see love, whether romantic or sexual or full of exaggerated courtliness. I really like Deret/Cala and Deret/Csevet, and love Csethiro/Maia, and can be persuaded about a great tender polycule as well. Please, if you go down this route, everything should be warm and sweet and joyous.