Yuletide Letter
In general, I like fics that either emulate the style of the source material or that work to subvert that style in an interesting way. I love happy endings, first time stories, stories about friendship, adventure stories, introspective pieces, comedies and angst! I love AUs and crossovers, if you're struck by one of those (my Ao3 profile should give you a hint as to the fandoms I know) - in spaaaaace is always a winner for me, as is "they fight crime"!
As for my DNWs, graphic non-consensual sex; sex with children written as erotica and graphic harm to children and animals are not my fictional cup of tea.
If you'd like a little more information about what I like in the fandoms I asked for, here's what I enjoy about them:
Fix Bay'nets: Oh, George Manville Fenn, how I love his slashy, slashy mind! I love the class-crossing, workers's rights-approving, anti-imperialist, non-racist, non-syrupy-religious, hand-holding, heroic adventure-having manliness of it all. (And while some of that list might need "for his time" appended, its clear from the content of his books that GMF did put forward such views). I adore the innuendo, innocent or not, and the real and clear love (of whatever kind) his characters have for each other. I especially love Bracy and Gedge and the way they support each other and play to each other's strengths. (And the way they are very clearly kissing in between the paragraphs).
Some possible suggestions: I'd adore a Bracy/Gedge or a Bracy/Roberts or Bracy/Gedge&Roberts story that emulates the tone of the book! First time; set after the book ends; soldiers surprised by falling for each other's manly charms; crazy Victorian ideas on science and exploration would all be marvellous. Or a modern setting as soldiers in the 20th or 21st century, or a cross-over with another fandom you feel would suit! Lots of manly innuendo, please!
As this is a Victorian-era book, it's fine to have Victorian-era English attitudes, but within the book itself both Bracy and Roberts criticise imperialism and Gedge makes any number of pointed remarks about the class system, so don't feel the Victorians were all of one opinion on social issues! Go wild! I'll be gleeful!
Hut 33: I just love the madcap humour of the storylines, the very funny (and deliberately terrible) jokes and the use of the 1940s to comment on the present day. I enjoy the class warfare between Charles' snobbery and Archie's inverted snobbery, Gordon's never-ending innocence and desire to lose it as comprehensively a possible and of course, the terror of Bletchley Park, Minka. The more Minka the better, really, she's just great.
Some possible suggestions: I'd really like either an ensemble story with the Hut 33 gang, getting up to their usual less than stellar shenanigans, or something concentrating on one or two of them! Something comedic that emulates the somewhat surreal tone of the series, please! Gen, het and slash are all fine.
Do the staff of Hut 33 discover a famous man Mrs Best *hasn't* slept with (is such a thing even possible)? What terrible plan does Archie and/or Charles come up with this time? What's Minka's life story this week?
Eight Days of Luke: I love David's loyalty to Luke and their friendship, and Luke's reciprocation of that, as best he can. I enjoy the sense of time and place, with the humans so anchored in their place and time, and the ways in which the Norse pantheon adapt themselves to fit - with more or less success - the expectations of England in the 1970s. But David's and Luke's friendship, whether as pre-teen boys or as grateful deity and adopted human friend is what makes it for me! I really like book-like Humour, historical settings, Hurt/Comfort for this fandom.
Some possible suggestions: I'd love a story in which Luke intervenes to make David's life better. His idea of better, of course. This could be set soon after the events of the book (when David is twelve) or at a later point. Or David is brought to the Norse era or whatever is currently between Asgard and Jotenheim, or possibly sees something mythical Luke wishes he hadn't. Or Sigyn and/or Thor attempt to repay properly David for freeing Luke/finding Mjolnir and Luke ends up needing to clear up after them - which may lead to a recursive spiral of trouble, of course! (I'm not familiar with MCU versions of Asgard/Jotunheim, if that will have any bearing on a crossover or fusion you might wish to write).
Either slash or gen is fine, but if David is the age he is in the book, please keep any slash g-rated.
Tanakh and Midrash: I love the David story and the story of Saul's family. Saul as a tragic hero (along with Jonathan and Abner as doomed heroes) has always been appealing to me, and I'm just very fond of Iron Age settings in general, and love the history and archaeology.
Some possible suggestions: I'd be delighted with a story set in Saul and Abner's youth, before there was a king in Israel - perhaps called up to fight by Samuel against the Philistines, or one set in Saul's early kingship when things are going well, or one somewhat later when things are beginning to go wrong, but Jonathan and David have their friendship and are acclaimed young warriors. David (and other heroes of the texts) get acclaimed as giant-killers - maybe Jonathan and David could go up against some other impressive and/or legendary opponent?
In all cases for Saul and Abner or Jonathan and David slash and gen are both fine. (I would prefer Saul/Abner and Jonathan/David if you want to write slash). If you want to concentrate on the older characters, background mentions of the younger ones is more than enough, and vice versa.
If you would prefer to avoid an Iron Age Israel setting, I'd certainly be keen to see Saul's family tragedy in spaaaaaace!