YULETIDE 2024 LETTER

 

Dear Yuletide Writer,

 

 

 

Thank you so much for writing something for me! This is my fourth Yuletide, and I love doing them so much! Hopefully I've got good prompts, and I hope you have a happy time writing.

 

Likes: I love stories with

• angst
• yearning
• unrequited pining
• earned happy ending
• unhealthy relationships (with or without growing into healthy ones)
• dubious consent
• power imbalances
• selfish and determined female characters
• characters who are too selfless for their own well-being
• enemies to lovers
• character studies
• 5 + 1
• angsty smut along the lines of that one tumblr post that goes, “the plot of this smut fic is that character A believes himself abandoned by God."
• fairy tale retellings
• animal metaphors
• soulmate aus
• timeloop aus
• historical accuracy
• loss of innocence
• corruption
• loyalty
• tender face touches
• hand kisses
• arranged marriage
• marriage of convenience
• unreliable narrators
• people having to make hard choices
• and any relationship that could be categorized as "fucked up tender."
  

DNWs: Voluntary, self-inflicted amputation, miscarriages, anal sex, character bashing, and modern aus.

 

I created promo fandom posts for my most obscure fandoms, so hopefully they are helpful if you're unfamiliar with them!

Fandom: The Warrender Saga - Mary Burchell

Characters Requested: Any (Gail Rostall, Oliver Bannister, Kate Grayson | Katherine Gray, Carlo Etlinger)

Fandom Promo Post: https://yuletide.dreamwidth.org/326270.html?thread=4993150#cmt4993150

Prompts: I'd really love to see endgame Gail/Oliver or Kate/Carlo!! I think Gail and Oliver have such chemistry, and I adore their banter; I'd really love to see them work together more? I'd love to see Gail make the switch to musical theater -- musical theater is my first love, and I think she could really shine there. I'd love to see Oliver perhaps work on a book musical too, not just a revue? I can see him getting into more experimental musicals as well.

Suddenly they were all three talking together and, with Oliver playing on the piano and Tom striking out words and substituting others on his battered piece of paper, they then and there worked out the song which was to capture all London in less than a year’s time.

It was late when Oliver took her home, and they walked hand in hand through the cool autumn night, while the stars seemed to lean out of heaven. And inevitably he kissed her goodnight when he left her.

They're just darling, and I'd love to see them interact more.

For Kate/Carlo, I'm very interested in her actually going on that tour with him!!! I really do think both of them could grow so much; both as artists and human beings. They're both so young and passionate, but Kate is willing to work for her goals, and I think she could teach Carlo to be industrious too. The strange, sexual tension between them is so intriguing, and rare for Burchell -- if you want to explore that as well, I shall not mind. :PI also think something even just post-canon could be interesting -- if you have Kate realize what an ass Van is, I will be very happy. XD

He laughed and, getting up from his chair, came to stand beside her at the piano. For her part, Kate was suddenly strangely excited and very faintly scared, though she was not sure why. She picked out a note or two on the piano and said, ‘I’m just trying to remember how it goes——’ ‘Take it from here.’ He leaned across her so that he was unexpectedly close, and sketched a phrase or two. ‘Yes, I’ve got it!’ She began to play, and all at once that warm, seductive baritone voice was addressing her personally in a melody which had captured the world long before she was born. Good musical discipline made her join in accurately at the right point. But then something she had never before experienced warmed and coloured her voice with a sort of sensuous excitement that was totally alien to Kate Grayson, and entirely in keeping with the infatuated Nedda. She had to respond, she had to let Silvio know that she loved him and, casting all her humdrum life aside, would go with him. The beautifully blended voices soared to a triumphant peak and came to a stop. And at that point Carlo picked her right up in his arms and kissed her several times—laughing, breathless and in some curious way exultant. ‘You see?’ he said, still holding her close against him. ‘That’s how it should be done! You’re learning, my little Kate—you’re learning!’ And, as she disentangled herself from his embrace, she was nearly sure that he was referring to something other than just singing.

Basically -- I love both these pairings very much, so if you write for them, I shall be so pleased!!!

Fandom: Tea and Sympathy - Anderson

 

 

Characters Requested: Tom Lee (Tea and Sympathy - Anderson),  Laura Reynolds
 

Fandom Promo Post: https://yuletide.dreamwidth.org/326270.html?thread=4994174#cmt4994174

Prompts: I really want to see them interact again post-canon!! I think their relationship could develop into something deeper outside of the school environment -- maybe if they meet again after Tom is done with college? What does Laura do after her divorce? How would they connect after years apart? I really think they could make it -- they have such chemistry, and I'd love to see them more. Also the Candida references in the original play -- if you find a way to keep that going, I would love that. I'd really love to see a happy ending for them!

Alternatively, if you want to write what happened immediately after "Years from now, when you speak of this, and you will, be kind," I would most certainly not be opposed to that at all. I think them sleeping together would be so achingly tender and satisfying after so much build up.

Fandom: A New Leaf (1971)

 

 

Characters Requested: Henrietta Lowell | Graham, Henry Graham

 

Fandom Promo Post: https://yuletide.dreamwidth.org/326270.html?thread=5260158#cmt5260158

Prompts: I really want something focused around Henry and Henrietta's marriage post-canon. I want to see them working at the university together! Or just domestic life! Anything with them honestly. I adore them, and I want more! I'd also love Henrietta POV of when she realizes that Henry planned to kill her, and why she does what she does. Basically anything involving them I'd be super happy with.

I'm also super obsessed with how Henry continually caretakes her appearance, cutting off tags, brushing off lint, sorting out which way a garment is gone. I think it's both sweet and also makes me go!!! I'd love to see that explored in a smut context, especially with lingerie. I may be the first person to ever want smut for this movie, but I'm valid.


Fandom: Mairelon The Magician (Patricia Wrede)

Characters Requested: Richard Merrill, Kim Merrill, Elizabeth Wendall

Prompts: I read this book series for the first time this year, and I absolutely fell in love with the characters and the world. I really just want something that explores that, in whatever way you feel is best!

I'd love to see the first few months of Mairelon's guardianship of Kim. How does that shake out? 
How do they settle into a groove? How do they adjust to this shift? I'd especially love it if we explored this from Mairelon's perspective as he realizes he has Feelings towards his ward.

I'd love to see Mairelon's perspective in general, from any point in the series. Kim reads him so well, but there's still things she doesn't know, and I'd love to see his take on what's happening!

I also LOVE Mairelon's mother, and I think her as an outsider pov on Mairelon/Kim could be hilarious.


Fandom: Fire and Hemlock - Diana Wynne Jones

Characters Requested: Seb Leroy, Polly Whittacker

I've read this book several times throughout my life, but it was only with the last read that I found my heart aching for Seb. He is the awful older boyfriend in Polly's life, and he sucks real bad--but he's also a kid trapped in a terrible situation doing what he can to survive. Even if that means hurting her. He's a mirror to Tom in a way, except Tom gets to escape and Seb does not. I've been haunted by the quote "Seeing Seb's jeering face, it came to her that Seb had always loved her the way most people bear a grudge," for some months now.

I want something exploring Seb and Polly's relationship, be that as them starting a real romantic relationship or just as ships passing through the night. There's so much horrible and complicated there--I want more. I'd be intrigued if it was an au where Seb does not get trapped the way he does, but I'd also be interested by something canon compliant.

DNWs: No Tom bashing please. It's okay if in the pov of Seb or Polly they hate or don't like him, but no authorial bashing, if that makes sense.