This is for my Yuletide Author, who is amazing and awesome and should always believe in themselves.
(Yes, I've signed up as well. But this is for whoever is writing me something for Yuletide this year.)
First of all, you are a lovely person. And thank you for taking on my requests.
Now, in case you wondered, the names are different. My LJ name is reynardo but my Ao3 name is Mary West. And one day I'll have my genuine author name too. Scary stuff!
All the time, I want characters to be themselves. Are they tapping you on the shoulder and saying "Like this. That's right. I would have done *that* in those circumstances"?
I love origin stories and filling in the gaps. I love "But what if..." If, instead of my prompts, something other ferocious plot bunny comes along and bites hard, go with it. Plot bunnies are to be respected.
So here's the prompts:
Cold Comfort Farm - It's ten years after the original novel (which was set in 1946, so ten years after makes in 1956). Great-Aunt Ada has died, the family have regathered at Cold Comfort Farm. Flora Poste is now Flora Fairford. Great-Aunt Ada died on her travels, and the person who has brought back her ashes is her young male travelling companion. So what happens now? Does Amos return too? Has Judith come back? I have no idea - use any of the characters as you will, as long as Flora is involved somehow (she doesn't have to be the main character).
Jane Eyre - Tell me about Helen Burns. She is almost unnaturally sweet and good. We know her mother died, and that her father used to teach her Latin, but that he has sent her to school at Lowood, and he has since remarried. So tell me about when she and her father used to read together, or how he felt when she died. (I can't believe he was so cold-hearted about her, but then you may have heard differently). Feel free to include other characters if they help the story.
Persuasion really starts many years before the novel, when Anne turned Frederick down and broke both their hearts. His sister, Sophia, is a sensible woman. He never told her why he was so miserable, but she must have noticed something. I will accept narrative, epistolary, even from the point of view of someone else seeing them from the outside (maybe a servant?) I'm looking for before he asked Anne, and then after - in effect, the change in the man, and what Sophia thought of it all. Use anyone else you need to make this work, so long as the centre of the action is Frederick and Sophia.
Kind Hearts and Coronets. You know how, when you meet someone you think might be special, there's a movie you show them that means a lot to you and their reaction determines the chances of the relationship? This is the one my husband showed to me, so it's very, very special. So - Louis, Edith and Sibella. What a trio. And Sibella's voice ... ahem. Sibella's condition to not spill the beans on Louis is for Louis to marry her - but Edith has already agreed to marry him too. (In the UK version they are only engaged). And Louis has just remembered his memoirs in the prison. So what happens next? Bonus points for the fact that he's been awake all night, writing, so might not be thinking very clearly. Take this any way you want to as long as it's darkly comedic.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Oh how I love this movie, and I still can't believe we've lost Glenne Headley. I adored her work. So - Janet Colgate. She took on the persona of a naive lass from the Midwest when she met the lads. But who was she really? Why did she turn into an amazing con artist, and has she ever regretted it?
All fics - use any other characters that make sense to you in the story. You know them. You are listening to their voices, so write who they are.
If they lead down the path of heat and fire and bodies clashing, let them. But there's no need to force it. I'm quite as happy with G rated as I am with M. Or even E. Again, let them lead where they will. Stick your nose in this ratings list and I would prefer we stay inside green, blue and purple at the most, just this time. There are times for the others, but not this time.
Or friendship fic. It can be just friends. That would be fine too.
And don't worry too much if your fic starts straying outside the boundaries. They do that. It's all the characters' faults. You are making something for me, and I love you anyway. Write me a story, leave me going "yes, they totally would have done that!" and you will have a happy, happy recipient.
Thank you.
First of all, you are a lovely person. And thank you for taking on my requests.
Now, in case you wondered, the names are different. My LJ name is reynardo but my Ao3 name is Mary West. And one day I'll have my genuine author name too. Scary stuff!
All the time, I want characters to be themselves. Are they tapping you on the shoulder and saying "Like this. That's right. I would have done *that* in those circumstances"?
I love origin stories and filling in the gaps. I love "But what if..." If, instead of my prompts, something other ferocious plot bunny comes along and bites hard, go with it. Plot bunnies are to be respected.
So here's the prompts:
Cold Comfort Farm - It's ten years after the original novel (which was set in 1946, so ten years after makes in 1956). Great-Aunt Ada has died, the family have regathered at Cold Comfort Farm. Flora Poste is now Flora Fairford. Great-Aunt Ada died on her travels, and the person who has brought back her ashes is her young male travelling companion. So what happens now? Does Amos return too? Has Judith come back? I have no idea - use any of the characters as you will, as long as Flora is involved somehow (she doesn't have to be the main character).
Jane Eyre - Tell me about Helen Burns. She is almost unnaturally sweet and good. We know her mother died, and that her father used to teach her Latin, but that he has sent her to school at Lowood, and he has since remarried. So tell me about when she and her father used to read together, or how he felt when she died. (I can't believe he was so cold-hearted about her, but then you may have heard differently). Feel free to include other characters if they help the story.
Persuasion really starts many years before the novel, when Anne turned Frederick down and broke both their hearts. His sister, Sophia, is a sensible woman. He never told her why he was so miserable, but she must have noticed something. I will accept narrative, epistolary, even from the point of view of someone else seeing them from the outside (maybe a servant?) I'm looking for before he asked Anne, and then after - in effect, the change in the man, and what Sophia thought of it all. Use anyone else you need to make this work, so long as the centre of the action is Frederick and Sophia.
Kind Hearts and Coronets. You know how, when you meet someone you think might be special, there's a movie you show them that means a lot to you and their reaction determines the chances of the relationship? This is the one my husband showed to me, so it's very, very special. So - Louis, Edith and Sibella. What a trio. And Sibella's voice ... ahem. Sibella's condition to not spill the beans on Louis is for Louis to marry her - but Edith has already agreed to marry him too. (In the UK version they are only engaged). And Louis has just remembered his memoirs in the prison. So what happens next? Bonus points for the fact that he's been awake all night, writing, so might not be thinking very clearly. Take this any way you want to as long as it's darkly comedic.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - Oh how I love this movie, and I still can't believe we've lost Glenne Headley. I adored her work. So - Janet Colgate. She took on the persona of a naive lass from the Midwest when she met the lads. But who was she really? Why did she turn into an amazing con artist, and has she ever regretted it?
All fics - use any other characters that make sense to you in the story. You know them. You are listening to their voices, so write who they are.
If they lead down the path of heat and fire and bodies clashing, let them. But there's no need to force it. I'm quite as happy with G rated as I am with M. Or even E. Again, let them lead where they will. Stick your nose in this ratings list and I would prefer we stay inside green, blue and purple at the most, just this time. There are times for the others, but not this time.
Or friendship fic. It can be just friends. That would be fine too.
And don't worry too much if your fic starts straying outside the boundaries. They do that. It's all the characters' faults. You are making something for me, and I love you anyway. Write me a story, leave me going "yes, they totally would have done that!" and you will have a happy, happy recipient.
Thank you.