Dear Yuletide Author, 2014 Edition

[aegistheia]

Dear Yuletide Author,

THANK YOU FOR WRITING OMG. YOU’RE THE BESTEST. It’s my first Yuletide, so here’s to hope I’ll be making the process as frictionless as possible for you from my end.

Please behold this four-part letter for you! It’s archived on both Livejournal and Dreamwidth.

1. ABOUT ME
2. PREFERENCES
3. FANDOM-SPECIFIC TALK
  i. Mulan
  ii. Clover
  iii. Kamen Rider Kabuto
  iv. 7 Seeds
  v. Saiyuki Gaiden
4. HELPFUL STUFF MAYBE

---


1. ABOUT ME

Here are some general items of note about my fandom and fic reading approach, in no particular order:

• I LOVE READING FIC. I am so excited! You are going to do so well. I love you already. I love what you are going to write already. You are going to be okay. THANK YOU.


• I’m in fandom for relationships. That said, I’m primarily not a shipper. I love relationships of all sorts, be it romantic, familial, platonic, physical, aromantic pansexual, polyamorous, complicated, destined soul bond ~*beyond all time*~, etc. THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIPS. So while I do read romantic and erotic fanfiction, it’s not my primary fare in most fandoms because I read everything that twigs my interest regardless of how the pairings/ moresomes/lack thereof/gen cast pan out. I also tend to prefer open relationships and/or polyamory when I do select shipfic to read, but that’s kind of like saying I prefer crimson to blood red. When I mention “relationship” in this letter, assume the broadest interpretation (i.e. characters interacting) unless I specify.


• Treasured fics that I reread all the time tend to be predominantly gen and/or plot/theme-focused. Massive epics are my poison because they often are slow burns and complex multidimensional meanders and I am down for that like the ocean floor.


• That said, my first love in fanfics have been the introspections. Part of why I like relationship fic so much is because it shows character development or exploration. Introspective fic can be a super lovely format to showcase prose and narrative, too. If these previous three points don’t help much, consider my next point:


• As long as a story portrays its characters and/or plot with coherent development throughout its run with intact internal logic, I can almost always be convinced to read it, even if it contains viewpoints and interpretations at vast odds with canon or general fanon or my own. This is also what’s getting me in trouble with my exponentially growing to-read list. So while I’ve given some guidelines/suggestions/prompts, please feel free to deviate without compunction. The caveat is, I do have some things I prefer not to read right now. You will find them listed in the PREFERENCES section below, and some specific details in the relevant fandom section.


• I like seeing implications that characters have lives and relationships beyond the ones in focus in the story.


• I read crossovers and AUs like it’s my life-long career.


• I love fics that show respect for their characters. I also prefer to read fics where characters respect, or grow to respect, each other.

2. PREFERENCES

My cup of tea: FIC. Okay, seriously no but fic with character interactions? Recall that bit about relationships. Give me respect, developed or developing! Conflict! No conflict! Crack! Odd happenings! I like seeing characters bounce off each other with snappy dialogue and/or sarcastic epistolary narrative. I also like meditative fic filled with lyrical introspection. Family (especially families by choice) and platonic relationships make me squirm with delight. So do developing romance and sexual tension. Blatant respect makes me so happy. I’d love it if you shove them out the door on an adventure or lock them in their towns to putter about for the day! Hurt/comfort makes up a significant part of my id vortex’s event horizon.

NSFW: CONSENT!! Sensory descriptions, sensual, loving, gentle, rough, descriptive, fade to black.

Not my cup of tea for this challenge: Infidelity or betrayals unless directly relevant to story theme/development. Lack of communication in supposedly healthy relationships.

NSFW: Dubcon is okay only if the negotiations beforehand are also included and consent is at least clearly implied. The word “cum”.


3. FANDOM-SPECIFIC TALK

1. Mulan (1998) (NOT MULAN II)
   
   Requested characters: Fa Mulan, Li Shang
   Keywords: Hijinks, Respect, Character Exploration/Development, Relationship Exploration/Development
   
   I’m here for two themes: the love, and the family. I ship Fa Mulan and Li Shang together as a romantic couple the same way the Emperor throws shade at them (THEIR COURTSHIP WOULD BE EPIC), but honestly I love best their mutual, fundamental respect for each other’s person, and oftentimes that translates to love that transcends labels in my head. If nothing else, this Valentine from Shang basically sums up everything I want/headcanon out of Mulan and Shang’s relationship:
   
   Though, putting Mulan or Shang in separate relationships apart from each other is just as fine as long as they remain in super soulmate love with each other, you feel me? They may not be romantic or marriage matches for each other, but I prefer them remaining important in each other’s lives in some overwhelming capacity.
   
   Following that, I’m here for family feels. I really, really want to read some of that, even if it’s just subtle hints dropped in the background noise. Family is important to them all; they can be thinking about it all day or taking it so for granted that it doesn’t so much show up in conscious thought as carry through in their actions.
   
   Extending from that, I would also not object to MILITARY HIJINKS OUT THE WAZOO where Shang and Ping interact and develop respect for each other under the benevolent popcorn gallery eyes of basically the entire battalion gOD FOUND FAMILIES FORGED IN FIRE WHY HELLO MY WEAKNESS.
   
   I do ask that some sensitivity for actual Chinese practices being referred to, and that they are treated with respect if they’re to be included in the fic (i.e. not denigrated through a 21st century North American/European lens). Following that, PLEASE IGNORE MULAN II. THIS IS IMPORTANT.


2. Clover
   
   Requested characters: Ran, Gingetsu, Suu, Oruha
   Keywords: Worldbuilding, Angst, Dystopia
   
   So let me tell you about the eternal flame that is my enduring love for Clover in less than 10 words: it’s my most beloved CLAMP work for its potential. I fell for the series first as a purely visual medium: the experimental cinematic narrative CLAMP chose to tell their story was impeccably designed and entirely too stunning to bear, and then the dystopic cyberpunk setting pulled me in deeper. I loved Suu the moment I set eyes on her. Then I finished the last volume, and had to sit back for a minute to process Gingetsu and Ran and everything they have and could have, in juxtaposition to Suu and Kazuhiko.
   
   I’m pining for some - any - development of Clover’s dystopic world, because CLAMP likes to discontinue all the stuff I actually like from them. I am also a flagrant Gingetsu/Ran shipper, and want all Clovers to be happy (hence both Suu and Oruha as suggestions), so if you go any of those routes you will not steer astray on my account. Philosophical meanderings will be very welcome; this is a dark world, I can take the angst.


3. Kamen Rider Kabuto
   
   Requested characters: Tendou Souji, Kagami Arata, Misaki Yuzuki, Takayama Yuriko (Gon)
   Keywords: Character Exploration/Development, Relationship Exploration/Development
   
   I’d once wrote a rec post on Kabuto where I flailed incoherently and in great disorder on why I liked this series so much, and though it’s not very comprehensive, it should give you an idea. In summary: FOUND FAMILIES. Adopted families! Chosen families! Families made through weathering lies and secrets and protection in the dark and heartbreak! All the families! ALL OF THEM.
   
   Anything that develops Tendou and Kagami’s partnership would be cool in my books, and if it edges into a significant-other relationship between them then it would be VERY cool. I’m also an especial fan of the ladies, few enough as they are, but I ran out of slots to include Juka and Hiyori, but assume they’re just as welcome as Misaki-san and Gon if neither inspires you and you want to replace them. (Though I don’t know if Yuletide’s rules will allow for that...)
   
   Of course, not forgetting that this is tokusatsu and therefore automatically ridiculous is also welcome, but not necessary. Kabuto had some well-developed serious themes, too, if you want to delve into those.


4. 7 Seeds
   
   Requested characters: Suguruno Hana, Shishigaki Ran, Ayu
   Keywords: Mostly Gen, Worldbuilding, Coming of Age, Character Exploration/Development
   
   I adore 7 Seeds for its varied cast, well-researched environments, and ridiculously detailed worldbuilding! SO MUCH SCIENCE. And the characters! I especially love the equal balance of genders across the characters, and how unrepentantly competent they are.
   
   So I’d love to read about the ladies and the various (mis)adventures they might get into. Their developing relationships with each other as they grow into themselves would also be super cool to read about, given how vastly different their personalities and backgrounds are.
   
   I’ve read up to chapter 139, so feel free to explore as you wish through the entire course of the published series, or to extrapolate beyond.


5. Saiyuki Gaiden
   
   Requested characters: Kanzeon Bosatsu
   Keywords: Mostly Gen, Angst, Humour, Wisdom, the way Minekura-sensei weaves between wisdom and hijinks in all her series
   
   First of all, know that I basically worship Minekura-sensei’s ability to write mood and genre whiplash and make the entire thing just work in the context of Saiyuki’s universe as a whole. I have never read any other mangaka who juxtaposes angst and wisdom and ridiculousness with such grace.
   
   Regarding Saiyuki Gaiden: I really, really want to read about the background behind the epic misadventures that Kanzeon Bosatsu specializes in orchestrating. I love the way se dispenses hard-hitting wisdom and whipcrack humour with equal deftness. Se is not the Bodhisattva of Mercy and Compassion for nothing. Angst and humour is going to make my day! Mentions of hir heavenly nephew and the three companions he keeps close would be very, very welcome (and of course optional).
   
   I’ve read every published series and chapter in the metaverse up to Reload Blast’s Shot 4.7 and the entirety of Ibun’s volume 1, so if you want to incorporate anything from those ranges then please feel free. However, I’ve never watched the anime, so if you are to include details from the other titles, so I ask that you adhere to manga canon.
   
   Note that I headcanon Kanzeon Bosatsu as a hermaphroditic being who uses ungendered pronouns, and would very much prefer to read hir portrayed as such. However, as with all interpretations, it’s personal, so incorporating this into your writing is optional.

4. HELPFUL STUFF MAYBE

I keep accounts open on Tumblr (current primary), Livejournal, Dreamwidth, and AO3. I explore different fandoms in each account (except for DW, which is a backup of LJ), so feel free to explore with impunity.

If nothing inspires, here are some things to get you started:

“When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

“If everybody loves you, something is wrong. Find at least one enemy to keep you alert.” - Paulo Coelho

Parade by Hirosawa Susumu, from the movie Paprika.

---

I hope this was helpful! I’M SO EXCITED. Thanks again! Happy writing! I’ll see you come December!

Aegis