Yuletide Letter 2023
Oct. 18th, 2023 12:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vaznettiHello Yuletide author!
First of all, thank you so much for writing a story for me! You can find in this letter some information on my likes and dislikes, and some prompts for the fandoms I requested this year. But the prompts are just ideas, and if you have a particular story in mind for these characters and fandoms, go ahead and write it! I'm sure I will enjoy it, because I love every fandom/character combination I requested.
And if you're not my author, and you're reading this, I also welcome treats. Joyfully!
General information:
Things I like include: enemies being forced to work together; competent characters doing what they're good at OR being forced outside their comfort zone; relationships between equal partners; happy or hopeful endings; canon-divergence AUs; character-driven stories and plots; adventures, quests and other hijinks; crossovers.
What I do not want: omegaverse, D/s and related dynamics; harm to children within the story; PWP or NC-17 rated fic; humiliation; non-canon-setting AUs; non-canonical incest. Please note that I have an additional DNW for my request in the 12th Century CE Mediterranean Basin RPF Fandom.
Requests
Fandom: The Lantern Bearers - Sutcliffe
Characters: Ness, Flavia
Neither Flavia nor Ness are the focus of The Lantern Bearers -- for Flavia in particular her entire story happens off the page, although I think we know more about Ness and what she thinks of the world (and of Aquila). I would love a story that centers their narratives, though. You do not need to include both women, and in fact I think it would be difficult to do so; I would rather have a story focused on one or the other of the two if them. It strikes me that insofar as stories about Subroman Britain (and especially Subroman Arthur) are very much about "making Britain," both of these women are doing quite a lot of the literal labor involved in that process.
In particular, here are some things I'd be interested in. Flavia in her captivity: what really happened to make her decide not to leave with Aquila when he gave her the chance to escape? What happened after that? Any scene from her life would be wonderful. And for Ness, what about something in that first year of her marriage, perhaps when she is pregnant with Minnow, when Flavian is away? Or later on, how does she see Ambrosius and his court and his cause? Is she really content with her choices? Really, I would appreciate anything that digs into the interiority of one or the other of these women.
It does occur to me that this request would be an excellent place for my "enemies or rivals forced to work together" like, if you were willing to take on such an ambitious request. Flavia and Ness save the day, or Britain, or maybe just Aquila!
Fandom: 12th Century CE Mediterranean Basin RPF
Character: Moses Maimonides | Rambam
From Moses to Moses! This was an unexpected delight to find in the tagset -- I have never considered that I could have fic about Rambam, so I don't entirely know what I want. I'm sure I'd love anything: a character study, casefic, a travelogue, something religious or political or philosophical or medical... I will take my lead from the fandom and say that I would love something that reflects the multicultural richness of the Mediterranean world in this period. Another idea that strikes me is that Maimonides has so many responsibilities, and so many interests, which must have conflicted with each other -- what happens when he has both political and medical emergencies to deal with? Or perhaps, if you'd rather not engage with the larger world, something about his family life, or his relationship with (and grief for) his brother?
Obviously Maimonides' life was shaped in many ways by the background (and less background) antisemitism of the region and the period -- from his initial exile from Spain, to his interactions with the Crusaders, etc. But I DO NOT WANT a story which has "Moses Maimonides encounters antisemitism" as its sole focus. You don't need to ignore that it existed, I would just prefer that it not be the focus of the story.
Fandom: The Raven Tower - Ann Leckie
Characters: Worldbuilding, The Strength and Patience of the Hill
I read this book last year and loved it, and the two things about it I loved the most were the worldbuilding, and the narrative voice of The Strength and Patience of the Hill. Who could have imagined that a rock would be so engaging, and have so much to say for itself? And I loved the richness of the world, and the many different ways in which the gods interact with each other and with the humans around them.
A worldbuilding story that focused on that, and maybe particularly on the relationship between truth and power in divine speech, would be really interesting -- to what extent do human priests anywhere really understand what gods can or cannot do? Some in-universe scholarship could be very satisfying as a way of writing about this, if you want to. As for my darling, favorite rock ever, The Strength and Patience of the Hill, I would love to see something about its early time in the Raven Tower, and perhaps its early relationship with the Raven. How long did it take for the SPH to destroy the Raven? How soon did the Raven realise what it had taken into its home? Or maybe, after the events of the Raven Tower, SPH could reunite with the descendants of the people it helped escape from Ard Vusktia -- I have always hoped that they survived the attack.
Totally optional section on crossovers
I love crossovers! Although I have to admit that for Yuletide my preference is for crossovers with other Yuletide-sized fandoms. Of the fandoms I have requested here, the one with the most obvious crossover potential (to my mind) is The Raven Tower, and I would love to read a crossover for that fandom. For![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
crossworks this year I requested a crossover between it and Earthsea, because I think there are interesting connections in the worldbuilding between them, but also because I would love to see The Strength and Patience of the Hill meet a dragon, or Tenar, or Master Ogion, or Ged. I think it would also cross over with the Riddle-Master Trilogy in an interesting way. What similarities are there between gods and earth-masters? Could someone like Deth, Morgon or Raederle become a god, or be distinguished from one?
Or, because if one darling rock is good, two would be even better, what if the Strength and Patience of the Hill met Naraht from Diane Duane's Rihanssu novels?
For historical canons, the crossover potential is more complicated, but here are some thoughts. What if Maimonides lived in the same historical continuity as Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Would he have studied magic or been a magician? Along the same lines, what if Flavia or Ness met the Raven King? What if he, or Flavia and/or Ness, was translated into some other, fictional universe, or encountered time travelers? Canons with time travel which I have enjoyed include 12 Monkeys and the Oxford Time Travel Universe; I am not entirely sure how a crossover here would work, but I would be excited to read your ideas!
What I most love about crossovers are stories which bring out the parallels between characters from different canons, even if the characters themselves don't see them. If you're interested, feel free to look through the fandoms I have written in, or received gifts for, for crossover inspiration!
Again, thank you, author, for whatever you come up with! I am delighted to find out what it will be!
First of all, thank you so much for writing a story for me! You can find in this letter some information on my likes and dislikes, and some prompts for the fandoms I requested this year. But the prompts are just ideas, and if you have a particular story in mind for these characters and fandoms, go ahead and write it! I'm sure I will enjoy it, because I love every fandom/character combination I requested.
And if you're not my author, and you're reading this, I also welcome treats. Joyfully!
General information:
Things I like include: enemies being forced to work together; competent characters doing what they're good at OR being forced outside their comfort zone; relationships between equal partners; happy or hopeful endings; canon-divergence AUs; character-driven stories and plots; adventures, quests and other hijinks; crossovers.
What I do not want: omegaverse, D/s and related dynamics; harm to children within the story; PWP or NC-17 rated fic; humiliation; non-canon-setting AUs; non-canonical incest. Please note that I have an additional DNW for my request in the 12th Century CE Mediterranean Basin RPF Fandom.
Requests
Fandom: The Lantern Bearers - Sutcliffe
Characters: Ness, Flavia
Neither Flavia nor Ness are the focus of The Lantern Bearers -- for Flavia in particular her entire story happens off the page, although I think we know more about Ness and what she thinks of the world (and of Aquila). I would love a story that centers their narratives, though. You do not need to include both women, and in fact I think it would be difficult to do so; I would rather have a story focused on one or the other of the two if them. It strikes me that insofar as stories about Subroman Britain (and especially Subroman Arthur) are very much about "making Britain," both of these women are doing quite a lot of the literal labor involved in that process.
In particular, here are some things I'd be interested in. Flavia in her captivity: what really happened to make her decide not to leave with Aquila when he gave her the chance to escape? What happened after that? Any scene from her life would be wonderful. And for Ness, what about something in that first year of her marriage, perhaps when she is pregnant with Minnow, when Flavian is away? Or later on, how does she see Ambrosius and his court and his cause? Is she really content with her choices? Really, I would appreciate anything that digs into the interiority of one or the other of these women.
It does occur to me that this request would be an excellent place for my "enemies or rivals forced to work together" like, if you were willing to take on such an ambitious request. Flavia and Ness save the day, or Britain, or maybe just Aquila!
Fandom: 12th Century CE Mediterranean Basin RPF
Character: Moses Maimonides | Rambam
From Moses to Moses! This was an unexpected delight to find in the tagset -- I have never considered that I could have fic about Rambam, so I don't entirely know what I want. I'm sure I'd love anything: a character study, casefic, a travelogue, something religious or political or philosophical or medical... I will take my lead from the fandom and say that I would love something that reflects the multicultural richness of the Mediterranean world in this period. Another idea that strikes me is that Maimonides has so many responsibilities, and so many interests, which must have conflicted with each other -- what happens when he has both political and medical emergencies to deal with? Or perhaps, if you'd rather not engage with the larger world, something about his family life, or his relationship with (and grief for) his brother?
Obviously Maimonides' life was shaped in many ways by the background (and less background) antisemitism of the region and the period -- from his initial exile from Spain, to his interactions with the Crusaders, etc. But I DO NOT WANT a story which has "Moses Maimonides encounters antisemitism" as its sole focus. You don't need to ignore that it existed, I would just prefer that it not be the focus of the story.
Fandom: The Raven Tower - Ann Leckie
Characters: Worldbuilding, The Strength and Patience of the Hill
I read this book last year and loved it, and the two things about it I loved the most were the worldbuilding, and the narrative voice of The Strength and Patience of the Hill. Who could have imagined that a rock would be so engaging, and have so much to say for itself? And I loved the richness of the world, and the many different ways in which the gods interact with each other and with the humans around them.
A worldbuilding story that focused on that, and maybe particularly on the relationship between truth and power in divine speech, would be really interesting -- to what extent do human priests anywhere really understand what gods can or cannot do? Some in-universe scholarship could be very satisfying as a way of writing about this, if you want to. As for my darling, favorite rock ever, The Strength and Patience of the Hill, I would love to see something about its early time in the Raven Tower, and perhaps its early relationship with the Raven. How long did it take for the SPH to destroy the Raven? How soon did the Raven realise what it had taken into its home? Or maybe, after the events of the Raven Tower, SPH could reunite with the descendants of the people it helped escape from Ard Vusktia -- I have always hoped that they survived the attack.
Totally optional section on crossovers
I love crossovers! Although I have to admit that for Yuletide my preference is for crossovers with other Yuletide-sized fandoms. Of the fandoms I have requested here, the one with the most obvious crossover potential (to my mind) is The Raven Tower, and I would love to read a crossover for that fandom. For
crossworks this year I requested a crossover between it and Earthsea, because I think there are interesting connections in the worldbuilding between them, but also because I would love to see The Strength and Patience of the Hill meet a dragon, or Tenar, or Master Ogion, or Ged. I think it would also cross over with the Riddle-Master Trilogy in an interesting way. What similarities are there between gods and earth-masters? Could someone like Deth, Morgon or Raederle become a god, or be distinguished from one? Or, because if one darling rock is good, two would be even better, what if the Strength and Patience of the Hill met Naraht from Diane Duane's Rihanssu novels?
For historical canons, the crossover potential is more complicated, but here are some thoughts. What if Maimonides lived in the same historical continuity as Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Would he have studied magic or been a magician? Along the same lines, what if Flavia or Ness met the Raven King? What if he, or Flavia and/or Ness, was translated into some other, fictional universe, or encountered time travelers? Canons with time travel which I have enjoyed include 12 Monkeys and the Oxford Time Travel Universe; I am not entirely sure how a crossover here would work, but I would be excited to read your ideas!
What I most love about crossovers are stories which bring out the parallels between characters from different canons, even if the characters themselves don't see them. If you're interested, feel free to look through the fandoms I have written in, or received gifts for, for crossover inspiration!
Again, thank you, author, for whatever you come up with! I am delighted to find out what it will be!
