Dear Yuletide Writer

 

Dear Yuletide Writer,

  

Since this journal is new, I guess you won’t have much idea of my preferences, so here are some general guidelines. They aren’t necessarily applicable to my requests, but just in case:

  

I love no-relationship gen, friendship, bromance/womance, ambiguity and UST just as much as romance or sex. I’m a bit of a traditionalist as far as characterisation goes, so canonically stoic character suddenly going fluffy or dorky is not my cup of tea, even in crackfic. That said, I like alternative interpretations of gender and sexuality, as long as they don’t contradict the canon too much. (For example, a character shown enjoying heterosexual relationships in canon being not bi but fully gay.) I’d also prefer if such headcanons were only a feature and not the focus of the fic.

 

I’m alright with most styles, including character studies, stream of consciousness, epistolary fic and even dialogue-only fic if you think you can pull it off, but I think I must draw the line at interactive fic this time. I’m okay with all POVs, including second person. 

 

I love ambiguity, be it of endings, morality, or difference between dreams and reality. I like missing scenes and interaction between characters that shows off their personalities; but I like plot-driven fic just as much, as long as it's not too formulaic. I don’t mind divergent AUs, pre- or post-canon fics. I’m very picky about fusions (HDM, HP etc.) and total AUs (wings, coffeeshops etc.), so maybe it’s best to leave them out. Same with issuefic or any other form of fic with a message. I added crossover prompts for two of my fandoms, and while I don't have to know canon to enjoy a crossover, writing the crossover element so it's understandable to someone who knows nothing about it, without references and in-jokes, helps. Also, please, no crossovers with still-active-over-10k-of-fic-on-AO3 megafandoms.

 

I’m not picky about the rating, though I prefer plot over porn and don’t kink on noncon. I don’t mind appearance of noncon situations (including child abuse) as long as they are not too elaborate. Tropes and kinks I'm not fond of include soulmates, sexual acts that cause heavy bruising and drawing blood, anything with bodily waste, whump, biological imperative (one-time potent aphrodisiac is okay, just no determinism), casting love rival as a villain. 

  

As you probably already know, optional details are optional. Also, I decided to sign up at the last minute, so this letter was a bit rushed. Because of that, some descriptions came out longer than the others, but they don’t reflect how much I like or dislike a certain canon. I’d be equally happy to get a fic in any of these.

 
 

Blake’s 7

Kerr Avon

  

If you are familiar with this fandom, I probably don’t have to explain why this is my pick. If you aren’t and are interested in it, or need a reminder, you can find a lot on YouTube.  If you’re okay with low-budget production, I recommend that you check it out even if not for this Yuletide. It’s not your average space opera. Avon is one of the most developed characters on genre shows ever, to the point he basically overtakes the show from the titular “hero”.

I’m also familiar with The Liberator Chronicles and The Early Years, so feel free to include the material from there.

 

Okay, I’ll be honest: I’m not that into ships in this fandom that go beyond UST. I particularly lost the will to ship Avon with other characters after Anna’s story was revealed, except maybe with No. 14 from audio dramas. I see his interaction with Servalan as more of a powerplay than attraction, though I guess some hatesex could happen. To me, he doesn’t look like the type to heal via initiating another relationship or just sex, or the type to get over it easily. Not that it would be entirely impossible, but it would probably take time and work to overcome all the trauma and trust issues and denial.

 

As for the story, I don’t have much specific in mind, but here are some ideas. Introspection after big events like deaths or Countdown. Maybe not a fic from Avon’s or neutral POV, but another character(s) thinking or talking about Avon, e.g. new and old crew members in S3 comparing experiences or post-Rumours of Death fallout. In early episodes, I had ideas about divergent AU where Avon persuades Jenna to take off and leave Blake on that prison colony. Any other divergent AU and post-Gauda Prime fic is okay too. And I find Avon’s sense of style fascinating. Why those choices? Do changes reflect the things that are happening in the plot? If you’re familiar with The Early Years, how does Avon feel about Ensor during S1 finale?

  

 

Trinity Blood 

 Tres Iqus

  

I adore Turing Test-passing machines of any kind, and Tres is one of my earliest acquaintances. I’m familiar with anime, manga and novels, and don’t have particular preference so go with what you know the best. I like how Tres looks almost fragile in manga while weighing 200 kg, but his Terminator-like appearance in anime and novel illustrations is compelling too. 

  

Again, no specific ideas here. I didn’t request other characters, but feel free to include them and crackship if you want and maybe angst about how it cannot work out because incorrect anatomy. Or have him interact with other killing dolls. Or Garibaldi. Or go on a buddy road trip mission. For more serious side, it has been noted he had developed an attachment to Cardinal Caterina, but did he manage to develop something for his travelling companions? If you’re going with the plot of novels, what does he think about the change of allegiances? Or are his “feelings” a simple matter of programming? Is there a more sinister plot going on? Intelligent machine/human gap is basically my catnip, and here we have vampires and Crusniks added into the mix too.

 

Sengoku Avengers

(Any)

 

This is one of those that looks easy, but isn't. While I'm not asking of you to be a Japanese history and culture buff, some research would help, even if it's just wiki. I'm not asking of you to use terms like "fusuma" and I'm not picky about romanisation, but I'll raise my eyebrow at a shawarma place. 

 

I think the artist that drew them made great character concepts. It's up to you how much of their original canon characterisation would survive culture change, but keeping out memetic stuff like Pop Tarts and air vents might be a good idea. Marvel 1602 might be a good source of inspiration for this, though it doesn't have to have that level of dissociation from the original canon.

 

As for the story ideas...First off, you're welcome to pick any of the nominated characters and ignore others, or not focus on any particular character and do worldbuilding instead. I like team fics. Mystery might fit this setting as well, and so would horror. You're welcome to adapt a Marvel villain into Sengoku setting, but you can also include a historical character from that period, or maybe a mythical creature. I'm also okay with setting-appropriate crossover character as long as the focus is on Sengoku Avengers. I'm an equal-opportunity shipper for this fandom.

 

 

Blood Ties (TV)

(Any)

 

I requested "any" characters, but you can pick only one or any combination of nominated characters. Ship-wise, I'll only say that I'd prefer Henry/Mike only as a part of threesome with Victoria, unless there is a complex post-canon story as a background. I think any of the pairings with Coreen might also need some serious background development. Or maybe a spell gone wrong.

 

Now, I think the show ended prematurely, so of course continuation is welcome. Since the show is basically supernatural procedural, casefic would be great. If this area interests you, how about a story extending to the court proceedings? Pre-canon fic is also welcome, and so are the missing scenes - perhaps any combination of Mike, Henry and Coreen meeting each other in situations Vicki never gets to learn about? Most of the show is from Vicki's POV, so how does Mike or Henry feel about their respective relationships? Did Mike ever try to make it serious, if not - why and does he regret it? For someone attempting to seduce, Henry has no qualms about parading his conquests in front of the object of seduction - how does his mind work anyway? What's Coreen's perspective? She interrupted a kiss setup once - is she jealous and how much? 

 

Creatures from any mythology (urban legends included) or your imagination are welcome, and so are crossover characters or monsters, as long as the focus is on Blood Ties characters and you aren't using a megafandom.

 

I read the novels as well, but I see TV show as being very loosely based on them, so I don't think they are interchangeable. That said, elements from the novels that don't contradict show's canon or characterisation are okay, and so is reimagining of books' events in show-verse.

 

 

Once again, optional details are optional and my ideas are just random prompts that came up, not the fic I must have or else. 

ETA: Need plot ideas? Try this! Refresh for more.