dear night on fic mountain author (because that's not a mouthful at all)
Dear NoFM writer:
First, I'm delighted that this is a thing that's happening and that you're writing for me at all. Every year, I have to leave things on the Yuletide table, things that I want but I maybe don't want quite as much at that exact moment in time, and so I never ask for them. Getting the chance to ask for them makes me really happy.
Second, general housekeeping stuff. I'm pretty open to whatever you want to write. For the most part, I'd rather read a story you're enthusiastic about writing than one you've tried to make into exactly what I want. If I have specific DNWs for a fandom or characters, I'll note them there. In general, I'd like fic to stay within the tone of the canon, but even there, if you can convince me that your way is better, I'm open to that possibility too. Anyway, let's move on to my requests, because that's what you're here for.
Fandom: The Musketeers (2014)
characters: Anne of Austria, Aramis
Request: I don't have a specific fic in mind here, just them being pretty, doomed people in love. Because that dynamic works for me. A lot.
Okay, so here is an example of where I have a dealbreaker DNW. I DO NOT WANT THAT KID TO DIE. I realize that to have it live and be Louis XIV goes against history (we're eight years too early), but they've ignored history elsewhere where it's suited them and I want it ignored in this case.
But beyond that, I really did mean it when I said I didn't have a specific story in mind for them outside of them being doomed and in love. I sort of see a future for them when Anne is regent and he's her not exactly openly acknowledged lover and confidante because that's as close to a happy ending as these two are ever getting, but beyond that, go wild. Write about Anne's pregnancy or after or the gaps in season one where we don't see them interacting at all. Whatever you want.
As long as the kid doesn't die. Because I am 1000% not here for that.
Fandom: Psy-Changeling - Nalini Singh
characters: Bastien Smith, Lucy, Naya Hunter, Julian Ryder
Request: First, think of this as more of an either/or request. Second, please don't ask why my brain paired off two of my favorite secondary characters, because I don't have an explanation. But for whatever reason, I got extremely attached to the idea of them together and creating another link in the SnowDancer/DarkRiver chain. So, I am down for whatever you want that makes that happen. And when it comes to the other two characters, I am here for the second generation shipping. I'm sorry.
As a point of order, I might have been exaggerating the teensiest bit when I said I didn't know where this came from. One, I have been very attached to Bastien since Mercy and Riley's book and the more he shows up in his sister's life being a pain in the ass, the more attached I got. And Lucy, she just expands so naturally in the verse and then there's the line about Lara asking if she's considered the cats because she's not having any luck finding someone to ravish her in the SnowDancer den. AND THEN MY BRAIN WENT, DONE.
Sadly, my brain and Nalini Singh's are not on the exact same wave length and despite the fact that Bastien is getting a novella (YAY), it's not going to be with Lucy as the heroine. BUT I STILL REALLY WANT IT TO BE HER, SO FIC IT IS.
I really did mean it when I said I was good with whatever made that happen. If you want ideas, one particular scenario I've become attached to is a Smith-Kincaid family holiday and Lucy and Bastien mating in the middle of it with chaos all around them, but that's just an idea. You don't have to write me that at all. Or if you don't think you can get them all the way to relationship because they've never spoken in canon (I'm pretty sure), something pre-ship would be good too.
Go wild.
And because I forgot to mention this up top, please do not feel compelled to work all four of those minor characters into one story. In fact, my brain is sort of thinking of it as more of two requests, with you being able to choose whichever of them appeals to you more.
When it comes to Julian and Naya, I latched onto what was almost certainly a throw away comment in one of the newsletter novellas about Julian being very concerned about the way that Naya smells as a baby. But it's perfect, right? One of the Ryder twins with the alpha's daughter? YES PLEASE.
Please feel free to let your trope flag fly free here. I'm into them as childhood best friends/sweethearts. I'm into the possibility of them being friends who haven't seen each other in forever and then boom. Naya using Julian to fend off an overeager suitor and then fake dating and it turning into real dating. Naya and Roman being best friends and Roman refusing to talk to her or his twin brother when he gets stuck in the middle. Whatever you want. Chances are I'll be into it.
Fandom: Sebastian St. Cyr series - C.S. Harris
characters: Hero Jarvis, Sebastian St. Cyr
Request: HAPPINESS. I just want a little slice of them being happy, whether that's on a long delayed honeymoon or learning to be parents or arguing over names for the cat. Just them being happy.
It's not an exaggeration to say that their evolving relationship is the primary attraction of this series for me. Watching these two people who shouldn't make any sense and definitely don't want to be in love with each other become a defined pair who very much are in love, has been a great reading experience. But them being happy really isn't the point of the series (mysteries, what mysteries) and so even though there's lovely couple stuff intertwined into the books, it's not nearly enough for me.
(To be fair, I'm not sure what would be enough for me.)
So to that end, I want the stuff that happens in between. That honeymoon we didn't see. Them bonding with their new son. Perhaps even, a reconciliation between Devlin and Hendon with a new grandson as a buffer. I just want whatever it is to be focused on their relationship. If you want to include a mystery, that's cool too, but I don't want just case fic.
Fandom: Women of the Otherworld - Kelley Armstrong
characters: Sean Nast, Nick Sorrentino
Request: In short, Nick and Sean get it on.
This seems to be turning into a fest where I ask for my favorite non-existent pairings for rare fandoms. And I'd apologize for that, but as my friends will tell you, when it comes to stuff like this I never actually mean the apologies.
Anyway, this particular dream originated around book ten of the Otherworld series, when Nick had more or less given up on finding any sort of lasting romantic happiness. And I understand that he has a novella now (that I haven't read), but in the meantime, I grew very attached to the idea Sean sort of tutoring Nick into emotional adulthood. There's a lot of dynamics I like there; the younger man being the more together person, Sean's existence at all (Sean is by far my favorite Nast sibling), Nick getting the happy ending that Kelley Armstrong seemed to really not want to give him. Plus, the heir to the Nast dynasty and a werewolf? Please, that has amazing potential.
This is another one where I don't really care how it happens. If you just want to write them getting it on, that's fine. If you want to go all in on relationship building, that's great. If you want it to be a doomed Romeo and Juliet thing, I'm good with that too. Whatever you want. I'm just really into it happening at all.
Because, god. It'd be so pretty. And sometimes that's enough.
Fandom: Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Super Mysteries - Keene & Dixon
characters: Nancy Drew, Frank Hardy
Request: I want these two characters to put their faces together.
In retrospect, these crossover mysteries have a lot to answer for, but the primary thing I blame them for is my enduring love of UST and the angst that accompanies it. Don't get me wrong, I love resolved sexual tension too (or I wouldn't be asking for them to put their faces together), but I spent years reading those books for scraps of interaction and the moments where Nancy and Frank remembered that they still had significant others and couldn't give in to what they both knew they wanted to do.
Anyway, it's years later and I'm an adult and I still ship these two mofos like burning. And I want them to get the happy ending (take that whatever way you'd like), that they couldn't in those books due to them being rated PG and also, them being part of different series. Do that however you want, just don't forget the faces together part. That's very important.
And that's it! I hope this makes everything more clear for you, if it doesn't, I'm sorry and feel free to send the mods questions and I'll be happy to answer them.
Thank you! See you in June.
Love,
Me
First, I'm delighted that this is a thing that's happening and that you're writing for me at all. Every year, I have to leave things on the Yuletide table, things that I want but I maybe don't want quite as much at that exact moment in time, and so I never ask for them. Getting the chance to ask for them makes me really happy.
Second, general housekeeping stuff. I'm pretty open to whatever you want to write. For the most part, I'd rather read a story you're enthusiastic about writing than one you've tried to make into exactly what I want. If I have specific DNWs for a fandom or characters, I'll note them there. In general, I'd like fic to stay within the tone of the canon, but even there, if you can convince me that your way is better, I'm open to that possibility too. Anyway, let's move on to my requests, because that's what you're here for.
Fandom: The Musketeers (2014)
characters: Anne of Austria, Aramis
Request: I don't have a specific fic in mind here, just them being pretty, doomed people in love. Because that dynamic works for me. A lot.
Okay, so here is an example of where I have a dealbreaker DNW. I DO NOT WANT THAT KID TO DIE. I realize that to have it live and be Louis XIV goes against history (we're eight years too early), but they've ignored history elsewhere where it's suited them and I want it ignored in this case.
But beyond that, I really did mean it when I said I didn't have a specific story in mind for them outside of them being doomed and in love. I sort of see a future for them when Anne is regent and he's her not exactly openly acknowledged lover and confidante because that's as close to a happy ending as these two are ever getting, but beyond that, go wild. Write about Anne's pregnancy or after or the gaps in season one where we don't see them interacting at all. Whatever you want.
As long as the kid doesn't die. Because I am 1000% not here for that.
Fandom: Psy-Changeling - Nalini Singh
characters: Bastien Smith, Lucy, Naya Hunter, Julian Ryder
Request: First, think of this as more of an either/or request. Second, please don't ask why my brain paired off two of my favorite secondary characters, because I don't have an explanation. But for whatever reason, I got extremely attached to the idea of them together and creating another link in the SnowDancer/DarkRiver chain. So, I am down for whatever you want that makes that happen. And when it comes to the other two characters, I am here for the second generation shipping. I'm sorry.
As a point of order, I might have been exaggerating the teensiest bit when I said I didn't know where this came from. One, I have been very attached to Bastien since Mercy and Riley's book and the more he shows up in his sister's life being a pain in the ass, the more attached I got. And Lucy, she just expands so naturally in the verse and then there's the line about Lara asking if she's considered the cats because she's not having any luck finding someone to ravish her in the SnowDancer den. AND THEN MY BRAIN WENT, DONE.
Sadly, my brain and Nalini Singh's are not on the exact same wave length and despite the fact that Bastien is getting a novella (YAY), it's not going to be with Lucy as the heroine. BUT I STILL REALLY WANT IT TO BE HER, SO FIC IT IS.
I really did mean it when I said I was good with whatever made that happen. If you want ideas, one particular scenario I've become attached to is a Smith-Kincaid family holiday and Lucy and Bastien mating in the middle of it with chaos all around them, but that's just an idea. You don't have to write me that at all. Or if you don't think you can get them all the way to relationship because they've never spoken in canon (I'm pretty sure), something pre-ship would be good too.
Go wild.
And because I forgot to mention this up top, please do not feel compelled to work all four of those minor characters into one story. In fact, my brain is sort of thinking of it as more of two requests, with you being able to choose whichever of them appeals to you more.
When it comes to Julian and Naya, I latched onto what was almost certainly a throw away comment in one of the newsletter novellas about Julian being very concerned about the way that Naya smells as a baby. But it's perfect, right? One of the Ryder twins with the alpha's daughter? YES PLEASE.
Please feel free to let your trope flag fly free here. I'm into them as childhood best friends/sweethearts. I'm into the possibility of them being friends who haven't seen each other in forever and then boom. Naya using Julian to fend off an overeager suitor and then fake dating and it turning into real dating. Naya and Roman being best friends and Roman refusing to talk to her or his twin brother when he gets stuck in the middle. Whatever you want. Chances are I'll be into it.
Fandom: Sebastian St. Cyr series - C.S. Harris
characters: Hero Jarvis, Sebastian St. Cyr
Request: HAPPINESS. I just want a little slice of them being happy, whether that's on a long delayed honeymoon or learning to be parents or arguing over names for the cat. Just them being happy.
It's not an exaggeration to say that their evolving relationship is the primary attraction of this series for me. Watching these two people who shouldn't make any sense and definitely don't want to be in love with each other become a defined pair who very much are in love, has been a great reading experience. But them being happy really isn't the point of the series (mysteries, what mysteries) and so even though there's lovely couple stuff intertwined into the books, it's not nearly enough for me.
(To be fair, I'm not sure what would be enough for me.)
So to that end, I want the stuff that happens in between. That honeymoon we didn't see. Them bonding with their new son. Perhaps even, a reconciliation between Devlin and Hendon with a new grandson as a buffer. I just want whatever it is to be focused on their relationship. If you want to include a mystery, that's cool too, but I don't want just case fic.
Fandom: Women of the Otherworld - Kelley Armstrong
characters: Sean Nast, Nick Sorrentino
Request: In short, Nick and Sean get it on.
This seems to be turning into a fest where I ask for my favorite non-existent pairings for rare fandoms. And I'd apologize for that, but as my friends will tell you, when it comes to stuff like this I never actually mean the apologies.
Anyway, this particular dream originated around book ten of the Otherworld series, when Nick had more or less given up on finding any sort of lasting romantic happiness. And I understand that he has a novella now (that I haven't read), but in the meantime, I grew very attached to the idea Sean sort of tutoring Nick into emotional adulthood. There's a lot of dynamics I like there; the younger man being the more together person, Sean's existence at all (Sean is by far my favorite Nast sibling), Nick getting the happy ending that Kelley Armstrong seemed to really not want to give him. Plus, the heir to the Nast dynasty and a werewolf? Please, that has amazing potential.
This is another one where I don't really care how it happens. If you just want to write them getting it on, that's fine. If you want to go all in on relationship building, that's great. If you want it to be a doomed Romeo and Juliet thing, I'm good with that too. Whatever you want. I'm just really into it happening at all.
Because, god. It'd be so pretty. And sometimes that's enough.
Fandom: Nancy Drew & Hardy Boys Super Mysteries - Keene & Dixon
characters: Nancy Drew, Frank Hardy
Request: I want these two characters to put their faces together.
In retrospect, these crossover mysteries have a lot to answer for, but the primary thing I blame them for is my enduring love of UST and the angst that accompanies it. Don't get me wrong, I love resolved sexual tension too (or I wouldn't be asking for them to put their faces together), but I spent years reading those books for scraps of interaction and the moments where Nancy and Frank remembered that they still had significant others and couldn't give in to what they both knew they wanted to do.
Anyway, it's years later and I'm an adult and I still ship these two mofos like burning. And I want them to get the happy ending (take that whatever way you'd like), that they couldn't in those books due to them being rated PG and also, them being part of different series. Do that however you want, just don't forget the faces together part. That's very important.
And that's it! I hope this makes everything more clear for you, if it doesn't, I'm sorry and feel free to send the mods questions and I'll be happy to answer them.
Thank you! See you in June.
Love,
Me