Yuletide Letter 2011
Nov. 20th, 2011 11:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
miramiraHello Yuletide Writer!
I'm so very happy you're willing to write a fic for me. You can check the Yuletide tag on this journal for my past letters and requests (some of which I've recycled this year), but here's a summary of my likes and dislikes: plot and humor are always welcome; stories without even a ray of hope to offer the protagonists are not my kink; and while I've gone over specific shipping preferences (if any) for each fandom, when it comes to romance and sex, it's generally better to err on the side of too little rather than too much.
I'm not sure there's much left to say about my requests apart from some tiny clarifications, but I'm reposting them here along with a few notes about their respective fandoms and helpful links in case it'll provide further guidance or inspire you to check out something new.
Thank you again, and I'm sure I'll love whatever you end up writing!
Fandom #1: Narbonic
What is it? A completed webcomic which ran from 2000-2006.
What's it about? Dave Davenport was just your average computer nerd/job seeker. Now he's the henchman of mad scientist Helen B. Narbon (the B stands for "Beta"), whose preferred attire involves a lab coat and a T-shirt that reads "evil" with a little pink heart over the "i." Together with homicidal intern Mell Kelly and Artie, a gerbil as intelligent as 1.17 Stephen Hawkings, he alternates between carrying out and unsuccessfully trying to talk his boss out of her zany schemes, all the while struggling to understand the strange turns his life has taken.
Reference links: The full archive is available starting here, and creator Shaenon Garrity is running ongoing commentary starting here. You can also check out ongoing demi-sequel Skin Horse here - but beware, it does feature some spoilery guest appearances.
My request:
- Characters: Helen "Beta" Narbon, Dave Davenport*, Mell Kelly, Artie (Narbonic)
- Prompt: I would love a wacky adventure (or the lead-up to or follow-up from one, if you're strapped for time and/or inspiration) involving the gang. Can be set either during or after the series. Don't feel obligated to use everyone equally (though if you're having a hard time with Mell, please let her blow something up before sending her off if you can), and feel free to include other characters not listed here. If you're up for including crossover elements, Skin Horse canon and characters are fair game, as are other webcomics and/or mad scientist properties (Girl Genius, Gunnerkrigg Court, Questionable Content, and Dr. Horrible spring to mind**). Whatever you do, have fun with it!
*Want to focus on Helen/Dave? Go for it!
**I might not have made this clear enough in the request, but by no means do you have to do a crossover. I love these characters just fine on their own. (Also, yes, I spend way too much time reading webcomics. Why do you ask?)
Fandom #2: Cats of Grand Central - Diane Duane
What is it? A series of urban fantasy novels consisting of two titles: The Book of Night with Moon and To Visit the Queen (US)/On Her Majesty's Wizardly Service (UK). (There's also a third book available online, The Big Meow, which I've included in the reference links.) Alternately known as Feline Wizards since it takes place in the same universe as Duane's Young Wizards series, a young adult series which consists of nine books so far (starting with So You Want to Be a Wizard) and features human protagonists who make cameo appearances in this series.
What's it about? Rhiow is the leader of a team of wizards with a very important job: making sure that the gates at Grand Central Station that connect New York City to other worlds and realities function smoothly and are kept safe from incursions by malevolent forces such as the Lone Power (the incarnation of entropy, who Rhiow would call Sa'Rraah and we know by many names). Not that you'd know it by looking at her. In fact, you'd probably lean over and start cooing "Oo's a cute widdle black kitty?" (It's all right. She understands. At least, she's got more important things to do than correct you.)
Reference links: As mentioned, you can find The Big Meow at Duane's website here, as well as general information about the books.
My request:
- Characters: Rhiow, Urruah
- Prompt: I'd like a fic that explores the team's dynamics. Could be a fight to the death with the Lone Power; could be dealing with a local troublemaker of some kind; could just be figuring out what to have for lunch or Urruah trying to talk Rhiow into going to the o'hra. I haven't listed other characters because I wanted to leave the time frame open-ended for you, but that doesn't mean you can't use them. (You can also use Young Wizards characters, but bear in mind I'm still catching up on that series.) All I really ask is that you throw in a bit of humor and keep things gen*.
*Apparently "gen" doesn't mean the same thing to everyone, but just to be clear, I use it the same way A03 does to mean no romance - and definitely no sex for this particular fandom. Sorry, Urruah!
Fandom #3: Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson
What is it? A high fantasy trilogy consisting of Mistborn: The Final Empire (more commonly known just as Mistborn), The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages. There's also The Alloy of Law, a brand-new book set well after the events of the original trilogy, but I haven't gotten to it just yet. (I'll update this letter if that changes before the end of Yuletide, but you're probably best off assuming that it won't.)
What's it about? For over a thousand years, the despotic Lord Ruler has held sway over a harsh, dying land where mists can kill. Allomancy - special abilities conferred upon those who are able to burn certain metals after ingesting them - belongs exclusively to the nobility, and any skaa (peasants) found to possess those abilities are hunted down by the merciless Steel Inquisitors. But a street urchin named Vin has somehow escaped their notice - and she may hold the key to not only ending the Lord Ruler's reign but saving the world.*
Reference links: Sanderson's webpage features sample chapters, deleted scenes, and annotations. The TV Tropes page is also pretty thorough.
My request:
- Characters: Vin/Elend Venture
- Prompt: I love the dynamic between these two and really want to see them working on something together: training, strategy, their relationship, whatever. Ideally, I'd like something set after the first book, but don't let that stop you if a plot bunny's pulling you in a different direction. I'd rather not have sex without any plot whatsoever, but you can let things get explicit if you want; if not, that's fine. Feel free to give the rest of the crew** things to do as well.
*That's the first book, at least. After that, it gets a bit complicated...
**One teeny-tiny and probably irrelevant note about Breeze if you use him: this is one of those instances in which I disagree with the author when it comes to shipping. I am sorry, dear boy, but I have trouble envisioning him romantically involved with a woman.
Fandom #4: Tangled (2010)
What is it? Disney's feature-length 3-D animated take on Rapunzel.
What's it about? In this version, Rapunzel is lost royalty, the rampion is a golden flower with magical healing properties, the witch (a.k.a. Mother Gothel) hoards its power by keeping Rapunzel under her "loving" care, and the "prince" is a charming if slightly conceited rogue who finds his way to Rapunzel's tower while trying to hide his ill-gotten gains.* Wacky adventures and self-discovery ensue.
Reference links: ...Other people requesting this fandom may disagree with me, but I honestly don't think there's much to reference if you've seen it, which you can do through Netflix or your preferred movie-watching source.
My request:
- Characters: Flynn Rider, Eugene
- Prompt: I've listed both Flynn and Eugene because I'd really like a fic that explores where one ends and the other begins. It could be set in the orphanage, or during his early days as a rogue, or focus on his adjustment to palace life and/or royal responsibilities. (If you choose that last option and want to have him meet up with a certain other Disney street rat turned prince**, I wouldn't object, but obviously that's not a must.) Please feel free to use any characters not listed.
*There's also Pascal the chameleon and Maximus the wonder horse, who were only left out of the original fairy tale because previous generations couldn't handle their awesomeness.
**The one with the monkey and the genie. Just in case that wasn't clear.
I'm so very happy you're willing to write a fic for me. You can check the Yuletide tag on this journal for my past letters and requests (some of which I've recycled this year), but here's a summary of my likes and dislikes: plot and humor are always welcome; stories without even a ray of hope to offer the protagonists are not my kink; and while I've gone over specific shipping preferences (if any) for each fandom, when it comes to romance and sex, it's generally better to err on the side of too little rather than too much.
I'm not sure there's much left to say about my requests apart from some tiny clarifications, but I'm reposting them here along with a few notes about their respective fandoms and helpful links in case it'll provide further guidance or inspire you to check out something new.
Thank you again, and I'm sure I'll love whatever you end up writing!
Fandom #1: Narbonic
What is it? A completed webcomic which ran from 2000-2006.
What's it about? Dave Davenport was just your average computer nerd/job seeker. Now he's the henchman of mad scientist Helen B. Narbon (the B stands for "Beta"), whose preferred attire involves a lab coat and a T-shirt that reads "evil" with a little pink heart over the "i." Together with homicidal intern Mell Kelly and Artie, a gerbil as intelligent as 1.17 Stephen Hawkings, he alternates between carrying out and unsuccessfully trying to talk his boss out of her zany schemes, all the while struggling to understand the strange turns his life has taken.
Reference links: The full archive is available starting here, and creator Shaenon Garrity is running ongoing commentary starting here. You can also check out ongoing demi-sequel Skin Horse here - but beware, it does feature some spoilery guest appearances.
My request:
- Characters: Helen "Beta" Narbon, Dave Davenport*, Mell Kelly, Artie (Narbonic)
- Prompt: I would love a wacky adventure (or the lead-up to or follow-up from one, if you're strapped for time and/or inspiration) involving the gang. Can be set either during or after the series. Don't feel obligated to use everyone equally (though if you're having a hard time with Mell, please let her blow something up before sending her off if you can), and feel free to include other characters not listed here. If you're up for including crossover elements, Skin Horse canon and characters are fair game, as are other webcomics and/or mad scientist properties (Girl Genius, Gunnerkrigg Court, Questionable Content, and Dr. Horrible spring to mind**). Whatever you do, have fun with it!
*Want to focus on Helen/Dave? Go for it!
**I might not have made this clear enough in the request, but by no means do you have to do a crossover. I love these characters just fine on their own. (Also, yes, I spend way too much time reading webcomics. Why do you ask?)
Fandom #2: Cats of Grand Central - Diane Duane
What is it? A series of urban fantasy novels consisting of two titles: The Book of Night with Moon and To Visit the Queen (US)/On Her Majesty's Wizardly Service (UK). (There's also a third book available online, The Big Meow, which I've included in the reference links.) Alternately known as Feline Wizards since it takes place in the same universe as Duane's Young Wizards series, a young adult series which consists of nine books so far (starting with So You Want to Be a Wizard) and features human protagonists who make cameo appearances in this series.
What's it about? Rhiow is the leader of a team of wizards with a very important job: making sure that the gates at Grand Central Station that connect New York City to other worlds and realities function smoothly and are kept safe from incursions by malevolent forces such as the Lone Power (the incarnation of entropy, who Rhiow would call Sa'Rraah and we know by many names). Not that you'd know it by looking at her. In fact, you'd probably lean over and start cooing "Oo's a cute widdle black kitty?" (It's all right. She understands. At least, she's got more important things to do than correct you.)
Reference links: As mentioned, you can find The Big Meow at Duane's website here, as well as general information about the books.
My request:
- Characters: Rhiow, Urruah
- Prompt: I'd like a fic that explores the team's dynamics. Could be a fight to the death with the Lone Power; could be dealing with a local troublemaker of some kind; could just be figuring out what to have for lunch or Urruah trying to talk Rhiow into going to the o'hra. I haven't listed other characters because I wanted to leave the time frame open-ended for you, but that doesn't mean you can't use them. (You can also use Young Wizards characters, but bear in mind I'm still catching up on that series.) All I really ask is that you throw in a bit of humor and keep things gen*.
*Apparently "gen" doesn't mean the same thing to everyone, but just to be clear, I use it the same way A03 does to mean no romance - and definitely no sex for this particular fandom. Sorry, Urruah!
Fandom #3: Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson
What is it? A high fantasy trilogy consisting of Mistborn: The Final Empire (more commonly known just as Mistborn), The Well of Ascension, and The Hero of Ages. There's also The Alloy of Law, a brand-new book set well after the events of the original trilogy, but I haven't gotten to it just yet. (I'll update this letter if that changes before the end of Yuletide, but you're probably best off assuming that it won't.)
What's it about? For over a thousand years, the despotic Lord Ruler has held sway over a harsh, dying land where mists can kill. Allomancy - special abilities conferred upon those who are able to burn certain metals after ingesting them - belongs exclusively to the nobility, and any skaa (peasants) found to possess those abilities are hunted down by the merciless Steel Inquisitors. But a street urchin named Vin has somehow escaped their notice - and she may hold the key to not only ending the Lord Ruler's reign but saving the world.*
Reference links: Sanderson's webpage features sample chapters, deleted scenes, and annotations. The TV Tropes page is also pretty thorough.
My request:
- Characters: Vin/Elend Venture
- Prompt: I love the dynamic between these two and really want to see them working on something together: training, strategy, their relationship, whatever. Ideally, I'd like something set after the first book, but don't let that stop you if a plot bunny's pulling you in a different direction. I'd rather not have sex without any plot whatsoever, but you can let things get explicit if you want; if not, that's fine. Feel free to give the rest of the crew** things to do as well.
*That's the first book, at least. After that, it gets a bit complicated...
**One teeny-tiny and probably irrelevant note about Breeze if you use him: this is one of those instances in which I disagree with the author when it comes to shipping. I am sorry, dear boy, but I have trouble envisioning him romantically involved with a woman.
Fandom #4: Tangled (2010)
What is it? Disney's feature-length 3-D animated take on Rapunzel.
What's it about? In this version, Rapunzel is lost royalty, the rampion is a golden flower with magical healing properties, the witch (a.k.a. Mother Gothel) hoards its power by keeping Rapunzel under her "loving" care, and the "prince" is a charming if slightly conceited rogue who finds his way to Rapunzel's tower while trying to hide his ill-gotten gains.* Wacky adventures and self-discovery ensue.
Reference links: ...Other people requesting this fandom may disagree with me, but I honestly don't think there's much to reference if you've seen it, which you can do through Netflix or your preferred movie-watching source.
My request:
- Characters: Flynn Rider, Eugene
- Prompt: I've listed both Flynn and Eugene because I'd really like a fic that explores where one ends and the other begins. It could be set in the orphanage, or during his early days as a rogue, or focus on his adjustment to palace life and/or royal responsibilities. (If you choose that last option and want to have him meet up with a certain other Disney street rat turned prince**, I wouldn't object, but obviously that's not a must.) Please feel free to use any characters not listed.
*There's also Pascal the chameleon and Maximus the wonder horse, who were only left out of the original fairy tale because previous generations couldn't handle their awesomeness.
**The one with the monkey and the genie. Just in case that wasn't clear.