I can't count the reasons I should stay
Dear Yuletide Author
Hello! I hope I do this letter correctly, as I've not done one before. In the first place, thank you for writing for me! I suppose I will just talk about the fandoms I requested and my favourite things about them, since that’s what I’ve seen done.
1. Fandom: Exquisite Corpse - Poppy Z. Brite
Characters: Andrew Compton, Jay Byrne
Request: Although they’re together in canon (and I ship them, to clarify, because that doesn’t always follow), I’d be equally happy with a story about their individual lives before Andrew’s imprisonment/escape. I love stories about murderer couples, even in fandoms where it’s not canon, so Jay and Andrew’s relationship is just about everything I want out of a story anyway! That said, whether it’s pre-meeting on their tactics or something from their relationship, I just love these two and everything about them. Really, as long as they’re both in the story, I’ll be happy. Seriously, if this fandom weren’t an option I’d be requesting murdercouple fic in other fandoms, that’s how satisfied I’d be with absolutely anything regarding these two men separate or together.
As for specifics, I’m more interested than I should really admit in the details of taking humans apart, so if you’re comfortable writing that I’d love for it to be included. That’s the only specific thing I can think of.
2. Fandom: @MayorEmanuel
Characters: Rahm Emanuel/Carl the Intern
Request: The nice thing about the alternate-universe Rahm of this twitter account is that he may or may not be married to an alternate-universe Amy, and therefore may or may not be totally free to get with his campaign intern. Carl loving Rahm is canon as of the last few tweets before Rahm disappeared, and was of course heavily hinted at before then, but what of Rahm’s reaction? All he says is “I know”, but we know what that means in sci-fi… and if a mayoral candidate from another universe campaigning alongside the real Rahm Emanuel doesn’t count as sci-fi, well… it should.
I love the twitter account (and theoretically the resulting book, though I haven’t managed to get my hands on a physical copy and thus don’t know if/how it differs) because it gradually changed from the mayoral campaign of a foul-mouthed political advisor to a story of triumph over - and ultimately capitulation to the inevitability of - destiny. That sounds pretentious, but that’s what it is. Rahm is one of my favourite politicians in real life anyway, and this account brings to life not only his swearing (though that’s what everyone notices :-P) but also his ideas for his city and his bond with his friends. And that’s what I love about him.
The Rahm/Carl need not be explicitly stated, but I’d like if it were at least noticeable, whether one-sided or not. And I imagine it’d be rather difficult to fit a story into a tweeted format, so by no means should that be considered a requirement or even something I’m requesting! Any type of story would be greatly loved and appreciated.
By the way, to save you the bother of jumping down the page on twitter itself, the tweets can be found in chronological order from top to bottom at the Quaxelrod archive.
3. Fandom: Macdonald Hall - Gordon Korman
Characters: Boots O'Neal/Bruno Walton, Cathy Burton/Diane Grant
Request: Though I’ve paired them off in my little Characters section, I’d be just as OK with gen for this fandom. Straight couples not so much, but Bruno/Boots and/or Cathy/Diane or gen are all awesome options!
I’d love it if you could include a Bruno scheme, even in the background, or possibly a scheme that Cathy and Diane hatch that the boys help with. Schemes are, after all, the lifeblood of this series! …he said, as if it were still running. You know what I mean! But even without a scheme, the relationship between these pairs has always interested me. To wit: how well they get along despite being totally at odds a great deal of the time.
Boots being asexual (but not aromantic) is a personal interest of mine, as is Boots realising that the reason he goes along with all Bruno’s antics is that he loves him. The fact that most of Bruno’s schemes seem to start as a way to help Boots accomplish something is also relevant to my interests.
The books give more detail on Bruno and Boots, so I have more ideas about them, but if you have ideas about Cathy and Diane I’d love to read them, because they’re kind of underserved in the fandom.
4. Fandom: QI RPF
Characters: Stephen Fry/Alan Davies
Request: The relationship between these two just fascinates me, and with as many times as Alan’s talked about Stephen fancying/flirting with him I just can’t resist. Something where one or the other gradually comes to the realisation that they’re in love with the other would be awesome, as would fic that includes Alan and Stephen’s partners in a discussion of open relationships. If you don’t feel like talking that whole thing out I totally understand, but I’d kind of prefer that Katie (Alan’s wife) and Daniel (Stephen’s partner until last year) not be mentioned if the discussion isn’t going to be had, because cheating is a hard limit for me while open relationships are not.
I rather enjoy the idea of a D/s relationship between these two, though I constantly waver on which way the power flows and thus either option would be greatly appreciated in a story. Of course, neither is also an option, and wow, I’m really bad at requesting things because I write and write about what I like but then also don’t want to inconvenience you! But basically, as long as any of these stories are in-voice and don’t contain things on my squicks list, I will be so happy.
Now for kinks and squicks, I suppose.
Kinks:
-I like when couples kill people together. I like when individual people use their intellects to become nearly invincible serial killers by making their crimes look like they were committed by others.
-Electricity, bondage, and knifeplay are specific kinks I have and always appreciate when they’re in stories. Obviously the line between knifeplay and flat-out self-injury (occasionally by proxy) is a difficult one to balance, but if that can be done I absolutely love it. Handcuffs or a simple rope around the wrists can also suffice when full-on bondage is inefficient.
-Ownership/collaring is good if there’s a discussion of what this means for the relationship etc. I like discussions of kink and how the characters react to it.
-I like discussions. Sometimes to the exclusion of other things. Discussions about kink, poly, the direction a relationship is taking, just about anything. Characters talking at each other about things that affect all of them.
Squicks:
-I really don’t like unhappy endings. It’s sort of a given for two of the fandoms I’ve requested, because in one they die and in the other they’re separated by a dimensional rift, but unless dictated in canon I don’t like when people don’t end up together, or die, or are betrayed. Especially not betrayed.
-The use of mind-altering substances that can remove or confuse consent (in fact, anything that removes or confuses consent) is not something I would like to read. Full aware consent at all times is something I’m big on. This could vary if you’re writing an Exquisite Corpse story, because there are all sorts of underlying threats in that relationship, but in standard relationships I can’t handle a lack of consent. At all.
-Cheating. Full stop. If a character wishes to be involved with someone who’s not their current/primary partner, I really prefer polyamory to be an option rather than sneaking around. If cheating must happen for the sake of the story, I prefer it to at least end in mutually agreed-upon and discussed relationships.
Puppies are not a kink, but the inclusion of them in stories is always appreciated. Especially if they are a) fuzzy and/or b) extremely large.
And that about sums it up! Once again, thank you so much for writing for me; I hope I’ve given you enough to go on.
This entry is also here. Comment where you like.
Hello! I hope I do this letter correctly, as I've not done one before. In the first place, thank you for writing for me! I suppose I will just talk about the fandoms I requested and my favourite things about them, since that’s what I’ve seen done.
1. Fandom: Exquisite Corpse - Poppy Z. Brite
Characters: Andrew Compton, Jay Byrne
Request: Although they’re together in canon (and I ship them, to clarify, because that doesn’t always follow), I’d be equally happy with a story about their individual lives before Andrew’s imprisonment/escape. I love stories about murderer couples, even in fandoms where it’s not canon, so Jay and Andrew’s relationship is just about everything I want out of a story anyway! That said, whether it’s pre-meeting on their tactics or something from their relationship, I just love these two and everything about them. Really, as long as they’re both in the story, I’ll be happy. Seriously, if this fandom weren’t an option I’d be requesting murdercouple fic in other fandoms, that’s how satisfied I’d be with absolutely anything regarding these two men separate or together.
As for specifics, I’m more interested than I should really admit in the details of taking humans apart, so if you’re comfortable writing that I’d love for it to be included. That’s the only specific thing I can think of.
2. Fandom: @MayorEmanuel
Characters: Rahm Emanuel/Carl the Intern
Request: The nice thing about the alternate-universe Rahm of this twitter account is that he may or may not be married to an alternate-universe Amy, and therefore may or may not be totally free to get with his campaign intern. Carl loving Rahm is canon as of the last few tweets before Rahm disappeared, and was of course heavily hinted at before then, but what of Rahm’s reaction? All he says is “I know”, but we know what that means in sci-fi… and if a mayoral candidate from another universe campaigning alongside the real Rahm Emanuel doesn’t count as sci-fi, well… it should.
I love the twitter account (and theoretically the resulting book, though I haven’t managed to get my hands on a physical copy and thus don’t know if/how it differs) because it gradually changed from the mayoral campaign of a foul-mouthed political advisor to a story of triumph over - and ultimately capitulation to the inevitability of - destiny. That sounds pretentious, but that’s what it is. Rahm is one of my favourite politicians in real life anyway, and this account brings to life not only his swearing (though that’s what everyone notices :-P) but also his ideas for his city and his bond with his friends. And that’s what I love about him.
The Rahm/Carl need not be explicitly stated, but I’d like if it were at least noticeable, whether one-sided or not. And I imagine it’d be rather difficult to fit a story into a tweeted format, so by no means should that be considered a requirement or even something I’m requesting! Any type of story would be greatly loved and appreciated.
By the way, to save you the bother of jumping down the page on twitter itself, the tweets can be found in chronological order from top to bottom at the Quaxelrod archive.
3. Fandom: Macdonald Hall - Gordon Korman
Characters: Boots O'Neal/Bruno Walton, Cathy Burton/Diane Grant
Request: Though I’ve paired them off in my little Characters section, I’d be just as OK with gen for this fandom. Straight couples not so much, but Bruno/Boots and/or Cathy/Diane or gen are all awesome options!
I’d love it if you could include a Bruno scheme, even in the background, or possibly a scheme that Cathy and Diane hatch that the boys help with. Schemes are, after all, the lifeblood of this series! …he said, as if it were still running. You know what I mean! But even without a scheme, the relationship between these pairs has always interested me. To wit: how well they get along despite being totally at odds a great deal of the time.
Boots being asexual (but not aromantic) is a personal interest of mine, as is Boots realising that the reason he goes along with all Bruno’s antics is that he loves him. The fact that most of Bruno’s schemes seem to start as a way to help Boots accomplish something is also relevant to my interests.
The books give more detail on Bruno and Boots, so I have more ideas about them, but if you have ideas about Cathy and Diane I’d love to read them, because they’re kind of underserved in the fandom.
4. Fandom: QI RPF
Characters: Stephen Fry/Alan Davies
Request: The relationship between these two just fascinates me, and with as many times as Alan’s talked about Stephen fancying/flirting with him I just can’t resist. Something where one or the other gradually comes to the realisation that they’re in love with the other would be awesome, as would fic that includes Alan and Stephen’s partners in a discussion of open relationships. If you don’t feel like talking that whole thing out I totally understand, but I’d kind of prefer that Katie (Alan’s wife) and Daniel (Stephen’s partner until last year) not be mentioned if the discussion isn’t going to be had, because cheating is a hard limit for me while open relationships are not.
I rather enjoy the idea of a D/s relationship between these two, though I constantly waver on which way the power flows and thus either option would be greatly appreciated in a story. Of course, neither is also an option, and wow, I’m really bad at requesting things because I write and write about what I like but then also don’t want to inconvenience you! But basically, as long as any of these stories are in-voice and don’t contain things on my squicks list, I will be so happy.
Now for kinks and squicks, I suppose.
Kinks:
-I like when couples kill people together. I like when individual people use their intellects to become nearly invincible serial killers by making their crimes look like they were committed by others.
-Electricity, bondage, and knifeplay are specific kinks I have and always appreciate when they’re in stories. Obviously the line between knifeplay and flat-out self-injury (occasionally by proxy) is a difficult one to balance, but if that can be done I absolutely love it. Handcuffs or a simple rope around the wrists can also suffice when full-on bondage is inefficient.
-Ownership/collaring is good if there’s a discussion of what this means for the relationship etc. I like discussions of kink and how the characters react to it.
-I like discussions. Sometimes to the exclusion of other things. Discussions about kink, poly, the direction a relationship is taking, just about anything. Characters talking at each other about things that affect all of them.
Squicks:
-I really don’t like unhappy endings. It’s sort of a given for two of the fandoms I’ve requested, because in one they die and in the other they’re separated by a dimensional rift, but unless dictated in canon I don’t like when people don’t end up together, or die, or are betrayed. Especially not betrayed.
-The use of mind-altering substances that can remove or confuse consent (in fact, anything that removes or confuses consent) is not something I would like to read. Full aware consent at all times is something I’m big on. This could vary if you’re writing an Exquisite Corpse story, because there are all sorts of underlying threats in that relationship, but in standard relationships I can’t handle a lack of consent. At all.
-Cheating. Full stop. If a character wishes to be involved with someone who’s not their current/primary partner, I really prefer polyamory to be an option rather than sneaking around. If cheating must happen for the sake of the story, I prefer it to at least end in mutually agreed-upon and discussed relationships.
Puppies are not a kink, but the inclusion of them in stories is always appreciated. Especially if they are a) fuzzy and/or b) extremely large.
And that about sums it up! Once again, thank you so much for writing for me; I hope I’ve given you enough to go on.
This entry is also here. Comment where you like.