yuletide!
Dear yuletide writer,
Thanks so much for offering one of these fandoms!
As always, optional details are optional, and this letter even more so.
But if you'd like more details, here goes.
General likes/dislikes:
I'd love fic of any (mix of) mood(s) and length; it doesn't have to keep to the mood of canon. Slice-of-life fic, casefic, character studies, vignettes, plotty fic -- it's all cool. I do enjoy short fic or fic in which nothing much actually happens, if that helps.
I'm interested mainly in gen, but pairingfic is fine too, though I'm not interested in sex.
Here are some themes that interest me, if it helps, but feel free to ignore this list entirely: freedom versus responsibility; journeying even if (or perhaps precisely) without a destination; obligations as both burden and anchor; philosophical differences; how differently immortals/those with non-human lifespans perceive things; having a place where one belongs.
---
Individual fandoms
罗小黑战记 | Luó Xiǎo Hēi Zhàn Jì | The Legend of Luo Xiaohei
Character: Any
Nominated characters: Luo Xiaohei, Feng Xi, Wu Xian, Lao Jun
Something exploring the movie's dynamics and conflicts would be great: the philosophical conflict between Fengxi and Wuxian, and/or how Xiaohei fits into that; what Xiaohei means to each of them respectively. Xiaohei's own journey is compelling, too, whether before or after meeting Wuxian (or even the main webseries timeline).
Lao Jun's presence in the tagset was a pleasant surprise! If you offered to write him, I'm assuming you've read the Lanxi Town manga. A character study (how his deadpan trolling coexists with his gentle yet lonely benevolence) or slice-of-life fic about the town would be lovely. I'm also fascinated by his backstory and dynamic with Wuxian, and would love something that explores that.
Please don't pair Xiaohei with anyone romantically; other pairings are fine.
I chose "Any" and meant it; I'd be happy to receive fic that features any of the nominated characters, or any combination thereof. If you have a story you'd like to tell about any of them, please do so! Feel free to include non-nominated characters too. (I have a soft spot for Fengxi's crew, if that helps.)
I love the world and atmosphere of the Luo Xiaohei franchise, how it manages to be by turns gentle and humorous and poignant; its sense of wonder and adventure; the coexistence (and conflicts) of the human and spirit worlds; the sympathy with which both sides are portrayed. Fic that reflects all or any of the above elements would be amazing.
I don't have strong translation preferences for terms such as 妖精 or 领域, so feel free to go with whatever feels right/whatever the subs use.
If it matters: I've watched about half of the animated webseries (trying to ration it out) and am working my way through the Lanxi Town manga -- rest assured that if you do write for the latter, I'll gladly catch up.
---
京騒戯画 | Kyousougiga
Character: Yakushimaru | Myoue
Pretty much anything with a focus on the new Myoue would be amazing. There are so many missing years of his life that we didn't get to see, and I'd love a look at those -- whether it's his childhood, or how he and his siblings grow up in the absence of their parents, or how he becomes the person we see in the main series timeline. Or perhaps something post-series, finding reasons to stay around a little longer? A look at how his relationship with Koto develops? Or even just a vignette from life during or before the events of the series itself.
His story does go to some dark places psychologically, and I'm comfortable with however far you might want to delve into that.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that Kyousougiga had been nominated. Years after watching it, the series still resonates with me. So full of life and ideas and compellingly-drawn characters; able to depict both exuberance and emptiness, love and loneliness. Mirror-Kyoto (Mirror Capital? Mirror City? I'm not fussed about translation) is also fascinating, and fic with a focus on world-building would be great too, as long as Myoue is in there somehow.
I've been to Kyoto a few times and loved it, and a Kyousougiga!spin on actual Kyoto locations would be lovely to read about. But if you're not familiar with Kyoto, no worries -- Mirror-Kyoto is different enough that you shouldn't worry about the details of its real-life counterpart.
As mentioned in my sign-up, given that canon includes [spoilers + trigger warning] suicide attempts and suicidal ideation, I'm stating for the record that I'm comfortable with how much or how little you want to address that whole angle [/spoilers].
If it matters: I understand Japanese, so feel free to engage in the sort of puns and wordplay that canon does (but also don't feel obliged to do so). I'm also fairly interested in Buddhist philosophy, but am by no means an expert.
---
Mushishi
Character: Adashino
I love the world of Mushishi, Ginko himself, and the Ginko and Adashino dynamic (gen or otherwise) -- so please feel free to include other characters and/or worldbuilding! I requested Adashino specifically, though, as I'd like to see more of his life that doesn't necessarily involve Ginko.
There's his fascination with mushi, of course; what it might mean to care about a world that you can't access. But also his role as a doctor, his responsibilities -- and perhaps the parallels or differences with a mushishi's role. What does it mean to have a community rely on you? Being a purely medical doctor in a world with mushi-caused ailments can't be easy. Are there ailments which he can't treat where he suspects that mushi may be the cause, and is frustrated by his lack of sight?
I usually make a wholly open-ended request for Mushishi, but the surprise super-short chapter this year (no worries if you haven't read it, though) made me wish for Adashino-centric fic. As long as it focuses on Adashino, though, pretty much anything would be lovely: a character study, a slice-of-life fic, casefic with or without Ginko's involvement. A modern-day or sci-fi (or Natsume Yuujinchou??) AU. Epistolary fic. His diaries. Five purchases Adashino made from someone other than Ginko.
While I'd prefer if the fic didn't wholly focus on Ginko and Adashino's relationship, I'm open to pairingfic -- the only thing I wouldn't like to receive is porn.
Thanks so much for offering one of these fandoms!
As always, optional details are optional, and this letter even more so.
But if you'd like more details, here goes.
General likes/dislikes:
I'd love fic of any (mix of) mood(s) and length; it doesn't have to keep to the mood of canon. Slice-of-life fic, casefic, character studies, vignettes, plotty fic -- it's all cool. I do enjoy short fic or fic in which nothing much actually happens, if that helps.
I'm interested mainly in gen, but pairingfic is fine too, though I'm not interested in sex.
Here are some themes that interest me, if it helps, but feel free to ignore this list entirely: freedom versus responsibility; journeying even if (or perhaps precisely) without a destination; obligations as both burden and anchor; philosophical differences; how differently immortals/those with non-human lifespans perceive things; having a place where one belongs.
---
Individual fandoms
罗小黑战记 | Luó Xiǎo Hēi Zhàn Jì | The Legend of Luo Xiaohei
Character: Any
Nominated characters: Luo Xiaohei, Feng Xi, Wu Xian, Lao Jun
Something exploring the movie's dynamics and conflicts would be great: the philosophical conflict between Fengxi and Wuxian, and/or how Xiaohei fits into that; what Xiaohei means to each of them respectively. Xiaohei's own journey is compelling, too, whether before or after meeting Wuxian (or even the main webseries timeline).
Lao Jun's presence in the tagset was a pleasant surprise! If you offered to write him, I'm assuming you've read the Lanxi Town manga. A character study (how his deadpan trolling coexists with his gentle yet lonely benevolence) or slice-of-life fic about the town would be lovely. I'm also fascinated by his backstory and dynamic with Wuxian, and would love something that explores that.
Please don't pair Xiaohei with anyone romantically; other pairings are fine.
I chose "Any" and meant it; I'd be happy to receive fic that features any of the nominated characters, or any combination thereof. If you have a story you'd like to tell about any of them, please do so! Feel free to include non-nominated characters too. (I have a soft spot for Fengxi's crew, if that helps.)
I love the world and atmosphere of the Luo Xiaohei franchise, how it manages to be by turns gentle and humorous and poignant; its sense of wonder and adventure; the coexistence (and conflicts) of the human and spirit worlds; the sympathy with which both sides are portrayed. Fic that reflects all or any of the above elements would be amazing.
I don't have strong translation preferences for terms such as 妖精 or 领域, so feel free to go with whatever feels right/whatever the subs use.
If it matters: I've watched about half of the animated webseries (trying to ration it out) and am working my way through the Lanxi Town manga -- rest assured that if you do write for the latter, I'll gladly catch up.
---
京騒戯画 | Kyousougiga
Character: Yakushimaru | Myoue
Pretty much anything with a focus on the new Myoue would be amazing. There are so many missing years of his life that we didn't get to see, and I'd love a look at those -- whether it's his childhood, or how he and his siblings grow up in the absence of their parents, or how he becomes the person we see in the main series timeline. Or perhaps something post-series, finding reasons to stay around a little longer? A look at how his relationship with Koto develops? Or even just a vignette from life during or before the events of the series itself.
His story does go to some dark places psychologically, and I'm comfortable with however far you might want to delve into that.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that Kyousougiga had been nominated. Years after watching it, the series still resonates with me. So full of life and ideas and compellingly-drawn characters; able to depict both exuberance and emptiness, love and loneliness. Mirror-Kyoto (Mirror Capital? Mirror City? I'm not fussed about translation) is also fascinating, and fic with a focus on world-building would be great too, as long as Myoue is in there somehow.
I've been to Kyoto a few times and loved it, and a Kyousougiga!spin on actual Kyoto locations would be lovely to read about. But if you're not familiar with Kyoto, no worries -- Mirror-Kyoto is different enough that you shouldn't worry about the details of its real-life counterpart.
As mentioned in my sign-up, given that canon includes [spoilers + trigger warning] suicide attempts and suicidal ideation, I'm stating for the record that I'm comfortable with how much or how little you want to address that whole angle [/spoilers].
If it matters: I understand Japanese, so feel free to engage in the sort of puns and wordplay that canon does (but also don't feel obliged to do so). I'm also fairly interested in Buddhist philosophy, but am by no means an expert.
---
Mushishi
Character: Adashino
I love the world of Mushishi, Ginko himself, and the Ginko and Adashino dynamic (gen or otherwise) -- so please feel free to include other characters and/or worldbuilding! I requested Adashino specifically, though, as I'd like to see more of his life that doesn't necessarily involve Ginko.
There's his fascination with mushi, of course; what it might mean to care about a world that you can't access. But also his role as a doctor, his responsibilities -- and perhaps the parallels or differences with a mushishi's role. What does it mean to have a community rely on you? Being a purely medical doctor in a world with mushi-caused ailments can't be easy. Are there ailments which he can't treat where he suspects that mushi may be the cause, and is frustrated by his lack of sight?
I usually make a wholly open-ended request for Mushishi, but the surprise super-short chapter this year (no worries if you haven't read it, though) made me wish for Adashino-centric fic. As long as it focuses on Adashino, though, pretty much anything would be lovely: a character study, a slice-of-life fic, casefic with or without Ginko's involvement. A modern-day or sci-fi (or Natsume Yuujinchou??) AU. Epistolary fic. His diaries. Five purchases Adashino made from someone other than Ginko.
While I'd prefer if the fic didn't wholly focus on Ginko and Adashino's relationship, I'm open to pairingfic -- the only thing I wouldn't like to receive is porn.