Yuletide Letter 2018
Hello! Incredibly sorry for the wait on this letter to my recipient! But to get down to the point, I am quite easy to please when it comes down to fic written for me, because I just love the very thought of it! I am big on both gen and shippy fic, whether focused on action, domesticity, humor, fluff, angst, meta, character studies and most anything as long as it involves some of my faves. Not all nominated characters need to be included within the fic! It is perfectly fine if you would rather focus on one or two, and I would be very interested in seeing them. (Although I do have preferences for Death Gate Cycle and Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World, to have at least two of the nominated characters, but again not a huge requirement!)
I’ve provided a few prompts but they are merely guidelines to help you jumpstart on a story if you need it! If you have an idea with the chosen canon and characters that you want to write out, then please do so! I only have a few preferences for my type of fic.
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Likes
I definitely like a whole lot of genres, although some of my most favorite things include character introspection, worldbuilding focus, background exploration, missing scenes in canon, and so so much focus between the bonds of characters. (Like, a whole lot). And for AU settings - I am open to very much all of them! These include modern, coffee shop, dark, fantastical, or sci-fi related. Also very drawn to experimental styles in fiction, and seeing people have fun with descriptions. I am also a sucker for angst/comfort fic. And! For the ships listed, I am very okay with smut! This is for those who would like to write such a story of course!
Dislikes
Not really into character bashing generally, though having a light tease on someone is fine! For some prompts, I have named certain characters I don’t generally like, but would prefer if they were rarely mentioned at all. For smut, when it comes to kinks in fiction, I’m generally pretty vanilla, and like to focus on the bonds between characters for such smutty fiction too. Things such as heavy BDSM and non-con are my dislikes for the listed canons and ships. I don’t read reader-insert fic, but am fine with the 2nd POV writing style when used for characters already in canon.
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The Death Gate Cycle
Haplo, Alfred Montbank, Marit, Hugh the Hand
Very into Haplo/Alfred and Haplo/Alfred/Marit. Love angst/comfort, fluff, pre-canon work, and happy post-canon. Life in the Labyrinth/Nexus together? Any extra stories that take place during the timeframe of the books? Or an AU putting everyone in a different environment (cafe, modern, space, other fantasy, etc). I am all for it, give me your best ideas for everyone! Am also highly interested in smut for those who are interested in writing that! Optional idea, emphasizing on Alfred's dragon form, and its effect on Haplo and Marit. Is he in this form often? What does it mean for Haplo when he looks at these two different sides of Alfred? Especially as Alfred reflects a form that is meant to be feared in the Labyrinth?
Would also be interested in Hugh the Hand introspection, particularly how he feels being in the Labyrinth, maybe an expansion of his death scene there since it was off-screen in the books. You can also explore his childhood, expanding on what the books gave us, or one of his assassination jobs since, strangely, the books never actually show him doing that? It'd be very neat seeing a tale lifted from his past to see here.
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Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
Lloyd Irving, Colette Brunel, Tenebrae
Curious about learning Tenebrae's perspective of the main characters of the first Symphonia game, particularly Lloyd and Colette. An exploration about Tenebrae's role in the story and his relationship to Ratatosk would also be neat! He once mentioned having met with Mithos when he was young, so another possible idea is exploring that past of his. Still, I would like some of the original heroes participating in the story in some way, at least as familiar faces.
Another idea, Colette and Tenebrae story where she keeps trying to treat him like a dog. Can be completely silly and fluff-filled. But if you have any serious ideas for these two, go for it!
Optional, but would love Lloyd/Colette emphasis in a story if you would ever like to. Tenebrae interactions with the two as a pair are also highly encouraged. If Lloyd/Colette have any explicit smut scenes together somehow in the story, I would not complain at all thank you.
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Catherine
Catherine, Katherine McBride
A possible ending where Katherine and Catherine end up with each other, no Vincent in the picture! Can be character exploration, to fluff, to smut. Does not need to be a fully happy relationship, as long as both interact with each other mainly. Prefer for neither to really fight over Vincent and that he's more or less not part of the story. Can also explore the idea about Catherine being a succubus, and she needs sexual energy to live, so what exactly makes her go to Katherine? How do their different values line up with each other?
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Night in the Woods
Black Goat Cult, Black Goat, Jeremy “Germ” Warton, Mae Borowski
I'm extremely interested in learning about the cult and how they shaped the town throughout the years. Delving into their motivations, emphasizing the creepiness of the Black Goat itself, are all options.
For something completely different, would love fic about Germ and his own perspective of his life in the town. He's so different from everyone else trying to get away and yet he seems to find his own place there. What events in his life have shaped him the way he was? How does he think about Mae and her friends? Would also love fic about him and Mae's relationship, whether it be platonic or romantic.
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To answer a question: I am fine with reading about additional characters that I have not nominated, except for mildly maybe one or two. For specifics:
Death Gate Cycle: I am happy with many of them! Some additional characters not nominated but who I love, Grundle, Jarre, Limbeck (I like the dwarves) the kids in Chelestra, Aleatha, Orla, Iridal, Sang-Drax, and Haplo’s dog. Characters I’m not too crazy about would be Roland, Rega and Paitan from Elven Star, but I don’t mind if they’re in a fic.
Tales of Symphonia, Dawn of the New World: I’m fine with seeing everyone, especially the old cast of characters from the first game! I’m fine with Emil, not too crazy about Marta, but I don’t mind her in a fic either. Alice and Decus are okay to include too!
Catherine: I’m fine with many characters here, although I am indifferent to Vincent. I would prefer him to just be mentioned, but however, if you need him in a story and still focus on Catherine and Katherine, I am okay with that!
Night in the Woods: I am perfectly fine with mentioning any nominated characters for this canon! Besides who I nominated, I also like the rest of the main gang, and other characters such as Lori, Mae’s Mom, and any of the interesting characters in the town.
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Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and once again sorry for the delay! All of the above prompts are still suggestions. If you have an idea that doesn’t go into my dislikes and still includes some of the nominated characters mainly, please write it! Leave a comment for any needed questions, or send me an ask on my tumblr at http://likes-words-and-shrimp.tumblr.com/. Thank you again!
I’ve provided a few prompts but they are merely guidelines to help you jumpstart on a story if you need it! If you have an idea with the chosen canon and characters that you want to write out, then please do so! I only have a few preferences for my type of fic.
--
Likes
I definitely like a whole lot of genres, although some of my most favorite things include character introspection, worldbuilding focus, background exploration, missing scenes in canon, and so so much focus between the bonds of characters. (Like, a whole lot). And for AU settings - I am open to very much all of them! These include modern, coffee shop, dark, fantastical, or sci-fi related. Also very drawn to experimental styles in fiction, and seeing people have fun with descriptions. I am also a sucker for angst/comfort fic. And! For the ships listed, I am very okay with smut! This is for those who would like to write such a story of course!
Dislikes
Not really into character bashing generally, though having a light tease on someone is fine! For some prompts, I have named certain characters I don’t generally like, but would prefer if they were rarely mentioned at all. For smut, when it comes to kinks in fiction, I’m generally pretty vanilla, and like to focus on the bonds between characters for such smutty fiction too. Things such as heavy BDSM and non-con are my dislikes for the listed canons and ships. I don’t read reader-insert fic, but am fine with the 2nd POV writing style when used for characters already in canon.
--
The Death Gate Cycle
Haplo, Alfred Montbank, Marit, Hugh the Hand
Very into Haplo/Alfred and Haplo/Alfred/Marit. Love angst/comfort, fluff, pre-canon work, and happy post-canon. Life in the Labyrinth/Nexus together? Any extra stories that take place during the timeframe of the books? Or an AU putting everyone in a different environment (cafe, modern, space, other fantasy, etc). I am all for it, give me your best ideas for everyone! Am also highly interested in smut for those who are interested in writing that! Optional idea, emphasizing on Alfred's dragon form, and its effect on Haplo and Marit. Is he in this form often? What does it mean for Haplo when he looks at these two different sides of Alfred? Especially as Alfred reflects a form that is meant to be feared in the Labyrinth?
Would also be interested in Hugh the Hand introspection, particularly how he feels being in the Labyrinth, maybe an expansion of his death scene there since it was off-screen in the books. You can also explore his childhood, expanding on what the books gave us, or one of his assassination jobs since, strangely, the books never actually show him doing that? It'd be very neat seeing a tale lifted from his past to see here.
--
Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
Lloyd Irving, Colette Brunel, Tenebrae
Curious about learning Tenebrae's perspective of the main characters of the first Symphonia game, particularly Lloyd and Colette. An exploration about Tenebrae's role in the story and his relationship to Ratatosk would also be neat! He once mentioned having met with Mithos when he was young, so another possible idea is exploring that past of his. Still, I would like some of the original heroes participating in the story in some way, at least as familiar faces.
Another idea, Colette and Tenebrae story where she keeps trying to treat him like a dog. Can be completely silly and fluff-filled. But if you have any serious ideas for these two, go for it!
Optional, but would love Lloyd/Colette emphasis in a story if you would ever like to. Tenebrae interactions with the two as a pair are also highly encouraged. If Lloyd/Colette have any explicit smut scenes together somehow in the story, I would not complain at all thank you.
--
Catherine
Catherine, Katherine McBride
A possible ending where Katherine and Catherine end up with each other, no Vincent in the picture! Can be character exploration, to fluff, to smut. Does not need to be a fully happy relationship, as long as both interact with each other mainly. Prefer for neither to really fight over Vincent and that he's more or less not part of the story. Can also explore the idea about Catherine being a succubus, and she needs sexual energy to live, so what exactly makes her go to Katherine? How do their different values line up with each other?
--
Night in the Woods
Black Goat Cult, Black Goat, Jeremy “Germ” Warton, Mae Borowski
I'm extremely interested in learning about the cult and how they shaped the town throughout the years. Delving into their motivations, emphasizing the creepiness of the Black Goat itself, are all options.
For something completely different, would love fic about Germ and his own perspective of his life in the town. He's so different from everyone else trying to get away and yet he seems to find his own place there. What events in his life have shaped him the way he was? How does he think about Mae and her friends? Would also love fic about him and Mae's relationship, whether it be platonic or romantic.
--
To answer a question: I am fine with reading about additional characters that I have not nominated, except for mildly maybe one or two. For specifics:
Death Gate Cycle: I am happy with many of them! Some additional characters not nominated but who I love, Grundle, Jarre, Limbeck (I like the dwarves) the kids in Chelestra, Aleatha, Orla, Iridal, Sang-Drax, and Haplo’s dog. Characters I’m not too crazy about would be Roland, Rega and Paitan from Elven Star, but I don’t mind if they’re in a fic.
Tales of Symphonia, Dawn of the New World: I’m fine with seeing everyone, especially the old cast of characters from the first game! I’m fine with Emil, not too crazy about Marta, but I don’t mind her in a fic either. Alice and Decus are okay to include too!
Catherine: I’m fine with many characters here, although I am indifferent to Vincent. I would prefer him to just be mentioned, but however, if you need him in a story and still focus on Catherine and Katherine, I am okay with that!
Night in the Woods: I am perfectly fine with mentioning any nominated characters for this canon! Besides who I nominated, I also like the rest of the main gang, and other characters such as Lori, Mae’s Mom, and any of the interesting characters in the town.
--
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and once again sorry for the delay! All of the above prompts are still suggestions. If you have an idea that doesn’t go into my dislikes and still includes some of the nominated characters mainly, please write it! Leave a comment for any needed questions, or send me an ask on my tumblr at http://likes-words-and-shrimp.tumblr.com/. Thank you again!