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Dear Yuletide Author
Dear Yuletide Author,
Wow, I can't believe it's that time again: YULETIDE! Thank you for loving one of these fandoms enough to write me a story for it ♥ If you'd like some additional information to help you do that, read on!
General Likes & Dislikes
THINGS I LOVE
competence
hurt/comfort
partnership
pining
banter, wit, & good dialogue
worldbuilding
friendship (especially complex, difficult, or between female characters)
epistolary
loyalty/fealty
teams/found families
trust issues and insecurity
amnesia
outsider POV
how-they-met backstory
cons, heists, and spy shenanigans (c.f. my competence kink)
character misjudging another character and then figuring out they were wrong
SQUICKS/DNWS
-incest: my absolute hardline no; if you write this for me, I will inevitably fail out, DNW
-amputation/maiming: while there are multiple amputee characters that I adore (Furiosa, Bucky, Luke Skywalker, Eugenides, etc etc), I've found that reading about the explicit trauma of amputation/permanently disabling injuries and their immediate aftermath is super distressing to me and would prefer to not read things through my metaphorical fingers for Yuletide
-infidelity/adultery: also something that I *can* read, but which almost always makes me loathe the betraying character, which is no fun (unless they're the villain). Please avoid!
-daddy kink: I think this one's a corollary to the incest squick? *shrugs* Not for me. I enjoy power dynamics or BDSM umbrella kink, but as soon as someone says or thinks 'daddy/mommy' in a erotic scene, my libido = killed.
-ageplay: ditto
I generally have no preference between gen and shippy stories, and love any range of (a)sexuality, kinks, and relationship types that seem in-character. If I do ship something (as mentioned in the fandom details below), please don't feel obliged to write it if you don't ship it - I will enjoy gen for any of these characters just as much, and you should get to write a story you love, too. Optional details are optional!
Fandoms & Prompts
Banlieue 13
any character
My eternal Yuletide fandom! I would be happy with literally any story about any character in this universe. I do ship Damien/Leito (how can you NOT?!? just look at them! enemies-to-lovers and dumbass integrity from opposite viewpoints and unsurpassed battle couple energy! not to mention how they LOOK! and look at each other), but I don't demand it. I love the close sibling relationship between Leito and Lola, how Leito interacts with his neighborhood community, how Damien is a very loyal character with very few intimate personal relationship due to his job and his devotion to it, the weird dystopian setting and the hope of fixing it (solarpunk fans, where are you?). If you want to tell me about, idk, Gassman's secretary going to therapy to deal with having someone drive a car through her office, or Tao's childhood, or the neighborhood kids who hero worship Leito, I would adore any of it.
This fandom is targeted directly at my competence kink (and my id) despite the problematic aspects of the canon - and speaking of problems, I understand writing any character who's law enforcement is a challenge for many people right now, even in something as loosely connected to reality as this canon, so feel free to adjust as needed. Special fondness for banter, parkour, Damien and/or Leito sparring, Leito and Lola being family, people poking holes in Damien's dignity, and Damien's ridiculous undercover adventures (god, can you *imagine* him trying to tell stories? he's A) probably terrible and skips over the good parts, but B) picture him just casually being like 'and then I flipped off the balcony to land on the casino table so I didn't get caught in the machine gun crossfire' and everyone else being like *EXTREME EYEBROW* except for Leito who is his doing-crazy-things soulmate. Though Leito'd probably be judgey just for laughs).
Ethan of Athos - Lois McMaster Bujold
Ethan Urquhart, Terrence Cee
I re-read this book earlier in the year, and while it's definitely dated in many aspects, I'm still so incredibly fond of these two guys, and there's still a lot to explore with them! I've read fic with them back on Athos after the last scene of the book, but I was struck this read by just how LONG it is between leaving Kline Station and arriving on Athos - eight months! I would love a story about their trip to Beta Colony and back to Athos, with Terrence learning how to trust Ethan and not be terrified everywhere he goes, and Ethan's crush getting worse even though he's still loyal to his dumbass boyfriend back on Athos, and probably Terrance occasionally dosing himself to telepathically check whether Ethan really is that sweet and good, for real and true.
I do ship Ethan/Terrence pretty strongly, but I think they're a lovely and interesting dynamic with or without the romance, all about trust and recovery and expanding horizons for both of them. I mean, they're planning to raise children together in the last scene, which says a lot about the growth of their relationship regardless of whether sex or romance is involved. Terrence is incredibly competent and skilled and a fuckin' telepath, but has huge traumatic gaps in his life and love experience, despite his devotion to Janine; Ethan is a brilliant doctor and grew up surrounded by familial love, but is terribly sheltered and has a dreadful relationship with Janos at the same time. They're a really fascinating balance to each other, and I think there's a lot of interesting corners (and eight whole missing months!) for fic to dig into.
Nirvana in Fire
Tingsheng
I would absolutely love some backstory about Tingsheng's childhood in the palace servants' prison, or how he met Jingyan, or his POV on the banquet fight sequence of events. I really like h/c so, uh, feel free to be mean to him? I'm also curious about how Prince Ji hid him in the first place, and how Jingyan found him, and how bad his culture shock is when he finally gets out. Sidenote: he and Fei Liu are very cute as friends, but please no shipping them. Sidenote: I have not seen NIF2, which I believe features Tingsheng in some capacity? I'm not averse to any spoilers from that, but feel free to disregard it.
Temeraire
Tenzing Tharkay
I would love to read more about Tharkay adjusting to life on his Scottish manor (now with bonus dragon!) post-series. Backstory about how he was forced to leave! Fluff about how weird it is not to travel constantly! Living in an actual house with Laurence instead of crammed into a ship or on dragonback! Reuniting with people from his childhood after decades of adventures living abroad! Does he maintain a correspondence with Jane Roland, trading stories of their respective dumbasses? Does he host aviators flying between Loch Laggan and points south? Does he end up following Temeraire to London for the Season so he can watch Tem vs. politicians with glee and metaphorical popcorn? Does he go to the opera with Laurence? Does he have entirely too much fun rebuilding his gentleman's wardrobe and persuading Laurence to cut his hair more fashionably?
I'm happy with gen or romance, but I do ship Laurence/Tharkay rather a lot so I'd prefer not to see them romantically paired with anyone else. If you DO want to write them slashy, I'm happy with many things, but I haven't yet seen anything that digs into their mutual load of trauma - Tharkay being tortured, Laurence's depression and likely PTSD after the war in Russia, their capture and Tharkay's near execution by the French. (although I suppose that can be explored in a gen way too! I'm just a h/c junkie, don't mind me)
If there's anything that's really confusing or stumping you about my prompts, or you have a thrilling plot bunny that inspires you but you're not sure I'll like it, or whatever, please feel free to get in touch with inmyriadbits (DW, Tumblr). She's my twin sister, so she knows all my preferences and all of these fandoms and can guide you - and will probably be delighted to keep the secret from me and then tell me all about it after reveals ;)
Thank you again, and good luck with your writing!
Wow, I can't believe it's that time again: YULETIDE! Thank you for loving one of these fandoms enough to write me a story for it ♥ If you'd like some additional information to help you do that, read on!
General Likes & Dislikes
THINGS I LOVE
competence
hurt/comfort
partnership
pining
banter, wit, & good dialogue
worldbuilding
friendship (especially complex, difficult, or between female characters)
epistolary
loyalty/fealty
teams/found families
trust issues and insecurity
amnesia
outsider POV
how-they-met backstory
cons, heists, and spy shenanigans (c.f. my competence kink)
character misjudging another character and then figuring out they were wrong
SQUICKS/DNWS
-incest: my absolute hardline no; if you write this for me, I will inevitably fail out, DNW
-amputation/maiming: while there are multiple amputee characters that I adore (Furiosa, Bucky, Luke Skywalker, Eugenides, etc etc), I've found that reading about the explicit trauma of amputation/permanently disabling injuries and their immediate aftermath is super distressing to me and would prefer to not read things through my metaphorical fingers for Yuletide
-infidelity/adultery: also something that I *can* read, but which almost always makes me loathe the betraying character, which is no fun (unless they're the villain). Please avoid!
-daddy kink: I think this one's a corollary to the incest squick? *shrugs* Not for me. I enjoy power dynamics or BDSM umbrella kink, but as soon as someone says or thinks 'daddy/mommy' in a erotic scene, my libido = killed.
-ageplay: ditto
I generally have no preference between gen and shippy stories, and love any range of (a)sexuality, kinks, and relationship types that seem in-character. If I do ship something (as mentioned in the fandom details below), please don't feel obliged to write it if you don't ship it - I will enjoy gen for any of these characters just as much, and you should get to write a story you love, too. Optional details are optional!
Fandoms & Prompts
Banlieue 13
any character
My eternal Yuletide fandom! I would be happy with literally any story about any character in this universe. I do ship Damien/Leito (how can you NOT?!? just look at them! enemies-to-lovers and dumbass integrity from opposite viewpoints and unsurpassed battle couple energy! not to mention how they LOOK! and look at each other), but I don't demand it. I love the close sibling relationship between Leito and Lola, how Leito interacts with his neighborhood community, how Damien is a very loyal character with very few intimate personal relationship due to his job and his devotion to it, the weird dystopian setting and the hope of fixing it (solarpunk fans, where are you?). If you want to tell me about, idk, Gassman's secretary going to therapy to deal with having someone drive a car through her office, or Tao's childhood, or the neighborhood kids who hero worship Leito, I would adore any of it.
This fandom is targeted directly at my competence kink (and my id) despite the problematic aspects of the canon - and speaking of problems, I understand writing any character who's law enforcement is a challenge for many people right now, even in something as loosely connected to reality as this canon, so feel free to adjust as needed. Special fondness for banter, parkour, Damien and/or Leito sparring, Leito and Lola being family, people poking holes in Damien's dignity, and Damien's ridiculous undercover adventures (god, can you *imagine* him trying to tell stories? he's A) probably terrible and skips over the good parts, but B) picture him just casually being like 'and then I flipped off the balcony to land on the casino table so I didn't get caught in the machine gun crossfire' and everyone else being like *EXTREME EYEBROW* except for Leito who is his doing-crazy-things soulmate. Though Leito'd probably be judgey just for laughs).
Ethan of Athos - Lois McMaster Bujold
Ethan Urquhart, Terrence Cee
I re-read this book earlier in the year, and while it's definitely dated in many aspects, I'm still so incredibly fond of these two guys, and there's still a lot to explore with them! I've read fic with them back on Athos after the last scene of the book, but I was struck this read by just how LONG it is between leaving Kline Station and arriving on Athos - eight months! I would love a story about their trip to Beta Colony and back to Athos, with Terrence learning how to trust Ethan and not be terrified everywhere he goes, and Ethan's crush getting worse even though he's still loyal to his dumbass boyfriend back on Athos, and probably Terrance occasionally dosing himself to telepathically check whether Ethan really is that sweet and good, for real and true.
I do ship Ethan/Terrence pretty strongly, but I think they're a lovely and interesting dynamic with or without the romance, all about trust and recovery and expanding horizons for both of them. I mean, they're planning to raise children together in the last scene, which says a lot about the growth of their relationship regardless of whether sex or romance is involved. Terrence is incredibly competent and skilled and a fuckin' telepath, but has huge traumatic gaps in his life and love experience, despite his devotion to Janine; Ethan is a brilliant doctor and grew up surrounded by familial love, but is terribly sheltered and has a dreadful relationship with Janos at the same time. They're a really fascinating balance to each other, and I think there's a lot of interesting corners (and eight whole missing months!) for fic to dig into.
Nirvana in Fire
Tingsheng
I would absolutely love some backstory about Tingsheng's childhood in the palace servants' prison, or how he met Jingyan, or his POV on the banquet fight sequence of events. I really like h/c so, uh, feel free to be mean to him? I'm also curious about how Prince Ji hid him in the first place, and how Jingyan found him, and how bad his culture shock is when he finally gets out. Sidenote: he and Fei Liu are very cute as friends, but please no shipping them. Sidenote: I have not seen NIF2, which I believe features Tingsheng in some capacity? I'm not averse to any spoilers from that, but feel free to disregard it.
Temeraire
Tenzing Tharkay
I would love to read more about Tharkay adjusting to life on his Scottish manor (now with bonus dragon!) post-series. Backstory about how he was forced to leave! Fluff about how weird it is not to travel constantly! Living in an actual house with Laurence instead of crammed into a ship or on dragonback! Reuniting with people from his childhood after decades of adventures living abroad! Does he maintain a correspondence with Jane Roland, trading stories of their respective dumbasses? Does he host aviators flying between Loch Laggan and points south? Does he end up following Temeraire to London for the Season so he can watch Tem vs. politicians with glee and metaphorical popcorn? Does he go to the opera with Laurence? Does he have entirely too much fun rebuilding his gentleman's wardrobe and persuading Laurence to cut his hair more fashionably?
I'm happy with gen or romance, but I do ship Laurence/Tharkay rather a lot so I'd prefer not to see them romantically paired with anyone else. If you DO want to write them slashy, I'm happy with many things, but I haven't yet seen anything that digs into their mutual load of trauma - Tharkay being tortured, Laurence's depression and likely PTSD after the war in Russia, their capture and Tharkay's near execution by the French. (although I suppose that can be explored in a gen way too! I'm just a h/c junkie, don't mind me)
If there's anything that's really confusing or stumping you about my prompts, or you have a thrilling plot bunny that inspires you but you're not sure I'll like it, or whatever, please feel free to get in touch with inmyriadbits (DW, Tumblr). She's my twin sister, so she knows all my preferences and all of these fandoms and can guide you - and will probably be delighted to keep the secret from me and then tell me all about it after reveals ;)
Thank you again, and good luck with your writing!