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Dear Yuletide author,
Hello dear Yuletide author (and anyone else reading this)!
I adore the range of creativity and amazingness that comes out of Yuletide every year - I've been doing Yuletide since 2011, and reading since rather earlier than that. I am here for stories exploring things in new ways, people delighting in sharing things they love, and all the things I didn't know I wanted that come out of Yuletide requests.
If seeing previous letters and recs is helpful, they're all in my Yuletide tag. I am![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
jenett if you want to look at what I've written. (If a past prompt in the repeat canon moves you, they are all still things I'm interested in!)
Worldbuilding, especially worldbuilding which makes canon make more sense, or clarifies something - those moments where everything lines up, and you go "Oh, that's how that works." If you're making a choice between plotty story and something focusing on character or world, feel free to indulge in the latter.
People being competent, and I'm here for all kinds of competence, whether that's about skill, knowledge, problem-solving, or finding the best in other people. I'm also here for whatever kind of geekery you want to get up to - magical theory, folklore, obscure byways of knowledge, cooking, crafting, history, technology, etc.
People being good to each other. Drama and narrative tension are necessary things for the plot, but for Yuletide, I'd love a story that is fundamentally about people being good to each other, and hopeful, at least at the end.
(aka my do not wants)
There are some things that don't work for me at Yuletide length, or that I'd rather not read. I've added notes to the canon sections where there might be any confusion, but please feel free to inquire through the mods if you're not sure.
No explicit sex, graphic violence, or language choice beyond where the canon itself goes.
Non-canon relationships, AUs, and crossovers depend a lot on setup for me, so please not for this exchange. By AU I mean 'something that makes a fundamental change in the worldbuilding, arc of the work, or events of the work' And on the relationship front background changes to minor characters are fine, but please don't break anyone up, or write people out of the relationships they were in at that point in the canon.
No situations where every teacher is stupid, entirely unobservant, abusive, etc. Obviously, not all teachers are great, but narratives where every teacher is lousy at their profession or has no care for their students are awful for me.
No stories that focus on despair or bad things happening. Unpleasant plot events are fine, just please end on a hopeful note, or people being good to each other in the aftermath, etc.
Alice Weatherall
Number One
Number Two
Peter Wimsey
Rereading some of the Lord Peter short stories this year, I couldn't get two of them out of my head, so this request is in hopes that someone else will be curious about exploring one or the other (or hey, if you see a way to make them overlap, go for it!) Both stories can be found in a couple of the anthologies, either Lord Peter Views the Body or Lord Peter. (And if you'd find a timeline helpful, here's a start.)
(I would love a Lord Peter cameo or mention in either case, but he does not need to be a central figure. Alternately, lots of Lord Peter is great!)
Option one is "The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba", and basically I am deeply curious about how Number One and Number Two met, their life before Lord Peter comes sweeping in with ingenious mechanisms, and so on. From the story, it's clear they have a close (and perhaps complex) relationship, and I would love more about how they got to be Number One and Number Two, and what else they've done together.
Jukes says of Number One, "He's a gentleman,I can tell you that, and a pretty high-up one, from his ways." If it's true, then surely he and Lord Peter are at least potentially socially known to each other. And there's a quick reference to Number Two being Russian.
Or if you're up for case fic, feel free to give me a story of how they got away with any of the cases mentioned (the Rubens going missing from the National Gallery particularly makes me wonder about some of the theories in the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist...)
Alternately, as someone with thyroid issues, I've found "The Incredible Elopement of Lord Peter Wimsey" fascinating (horrifying, complicated, and many other things) since I first read it.
Tell me how Alice Weatherall rebuilds her life - what's it like to come back to the world she'd once known, and figure out what's changed and what hasn't. Does she take up a cause to help other people in slow terrifying cases of abuse? This is one where I can see her ending up with Langley long-term, or not - feel free to go either way with it. If she does, what is it like at academic social gatherings, where the usual small talk is suddenly completely bizarre? If she doesn't, what does she do instead that is great for her in the end?
Characters requested
David Cyprian
Richard Vane
(But include anyone you see fit!)
I love the work of KJ Charles for a lot of reasons - but one of them is her ability to mix really thoughtful ‘what are the challenges of being alive in this time and place’ with complex romances, where people have to figure out how to make things work. The depth and intricacy in this series is particularly great - both the historical details, and the challenges of people falling for other people where there are real complex ethical complexities going on, and trying to make that work out.
I also love the friendships of the men involved, how they stay friends even when that's terribly hard, or when they've been badly hurt and eventually sort that out. (Richard, looking at you.) Basically, I’d like to see more of David and Richard after the third book.
Is there a time when Cyprian has to use all of his skills (again!) to get Richard (or others) out of trouble, but it’s a lot harder because of what he and Richard have now? Does a bit of Cyprian’s past come back to haunt him? What if some gossip gets the right end of the stick about what’s going on, entirely by accident? Or someone tries to get Richard properly married off? (At the end of the book, it looked like that might not be his brother and sister-in-law, but there are plenty of options here!)
And finally, having just finished Gilded Cage which is in the same universe, sometime later and which gestures at later events, I am utterly here for a "Richard and David, a substantial number of years later" fic, should you be so inclined. How does their relationship grow and mature? They have a large circle of family and friends, and what happens as a newer generation comes into contact with them, as nephews grow up and become independent people? (Obviously, particularly interested in Richard and David's relationship with Richard's nephew here. I'm being vague to avoid spoilers since it only just came out.)
A note for this canon
Sex is great! This is a fantastic example of ‘it’s entirely in keeping with the canon’. On the other hand, don’t feel you have to write smut to make me happy or if your story takes you somewhere else.
Queen of Swords
Queen of Wands
Queen of Cups
Queen of Pentacles
The Shadowscapes Tarot is one of my favourite decks, and I've been thinking a lot in the past few months about the Queens in particular.
Particularly, I'd love to see them interacting, whether that's directly with each other, or in a larger dance around some particular problem or issue. Perhaps there's a negotiation on who takes on the role of acting or advising a querent about one of their questions. Perhaps each of them tackles an aspect of a problem. I keep coming back to the moments of stillness and movement in these cards, how those things play with each other, in particular, how those things might interweave, or alternately, might compete. (Though I would like an eventually good outcome!)
As always in this deck, I'm also fascinated by the accompanying flowers and animals. Are there particular relationships there? Are they things that grew organically, or are they things that are part of being queen of that suit, that element, that space? If you like this option, feel free to pick one or two of them to focus on. (I'm most curious about the Queen of Wands and her music and the listening creatures, or the Queen of Cups and her turtles, if you want a little more guidance there.)
Beverley Brook
Cecelia Tyburn Thames
Father Thames (Rivers of London)
Isis (Rivers of London)
This year, I am here for interactions between the Rivers. (Past, present, and hey, feel free to go for future, if it pleases you.)
I'm particularly interested in their interactions when others aren't around - when it's all in the family, one way or the other. One of the things I love about this canon is how deeply rooted it is in London (and other places, as relevant), and how the ancient stories and connections continue to matter. We've seen various things in canon about the customs of festivals and larger interactions, and I'd love something along those lines.
Other things I am up for (in whatever combination of rivers pleases you...)
Thank you again for writing and for reading, and may you have a most excellent Yuletide!
I adore the range of creativity and amazingness that comes out of Yuletide every year - I've been doing Yuletide since 2011, and reading since rather earlier than that. I am here for stories exploring things in new ways, people delighting in sharing things they love, and all the things I didn't know I wanted that come out of Yuletide requests.
General notes and background
If seeing previous letters and recs is helpful, they're all in my Yuletide tag. I am
Things I love
Worldbuilding, especially worldbuilding which makes canon make more sense, or clarifies something - those moments where everything lines up, and you go "Oh, that's how that works." If you're making a choice between plotty story and something focusing on character or world, feel free to indulge in the latter.
People being competent, and I'm here for all kinds of competence, whether that's about skill, knowledge, problem-solving, or finding the best in other people. I'm also here for whatever kind of geekery you want to get up to - magical theory, folklore, obscure byways of knowledge, cooking, crafting, history, technology, etc.
People being good to each other. Drama and narrative tension are necessary things for the plot, but for Yuletide, I'd love a story that is fundamentally about people being good to each other, and hopeful, at least at the end.
Please don't
(aka my do not wants)
There are some things that don't work for me at Yuletide length, or that I'd rather not read. I've added notes to the canon sections where there might be any confusion, but please feel free to inquire through the mods if you're not sure.
No explicit sex, graphic violence, or language choice beyond where the canon itself goes.
Non-canon relationships, AUs, and crossovers depend a lot on setup for me, so please not for this exchange. By AU I mean 'something that makes a fundamental change in the worldbuilding, arc of the work, or events of the work' And on the relationship front background changes to minor characters are fine, but please don't break anyone up, or write people out of the relationships they were in at that point in the canon.
No situations where every teacher is stupid, entirely unobservant, abusive, etc. Obviously, not all teachers are great, but narratives where every teacher is lousy at their profession or has no care for their students are awful for me.
No stories that focus on despair or bad things happening. Unpleasant plot events are fine, just please end on a hopeful note, or people being good to each other in the aftermath, etc.
Lord Peter Wimsey - Dorothy L. Sayers
Alice Weatherall
Number One
Number Two
Peter Wimsey
Rereading some of the Lord Peter short stories this year, I couldn't get two of them out of my head, so this request is in hopes that someone else will be curious about exploring one or the other (or hey, if you see a way to make them overlap, go for it!) Both stories can be found in a couple of the anthologies, either Lord Peter Views the Body or Lord Peter. (And if you'd find a timeline helpful, here's a start.)
(I would love a Lord Peter cameo or mention in either case, but he does not need to be a central figure. Alternately, lots of Lord Peter is great!)
Option one is "The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba", and basically I am deeply curious about how Number One and Number Two met, their life before Lord Peter comes sweeping in with ingenious mechanisms, and so on. From the story, it's clear they have a close (and perhaps complex) relationship, and I would love more about how they got to be Number One and Number Two, and what else they've done together.
Jukes says of Number One, "He's a gentleman,I can tell you that, and a pretty high-up one, from his ways." If it's true, then surely he and Lord Peter are at least potentially socially known to each other. And there's a quick reference to Number Two being Russian.
Or if you're up for case fic, feel free to give me a story of how they got away with any of the cases mentioned (the Rubens going missing from the National Gallery particularly makes me wonder about some of the theories in the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist...)
Alternately, as someone with thyroid issues, I've found "The Incredible Elopement of Lord Peter Wimsey" fascinating (horrifying, complicated, and many other things) since I first read it.
Tell me how Alice Weatherall rebuilds her life - what's it like to come back to the world she'd once known, and figure out what's changed and what hasn't. Does she take up a cause to help other people in slow terrifying cases of abuse? This is one where I can see her ending up with Langley long-term, or not - feel free to go either way with it. If she does, what is it like at academic social gatherings, where the usual small talk is suddenly completely bizarre? If she doesn't, what does she do instead that is great for her in the end?
Society of Gentlemen - K. J. Charles
Characters requested
David Cyprian
Richard Vane
(But include anyone you see fit!)
I love the work of KJ Charles for a lot of reasons - but one of them is her ability to mix really thoughtful ‘what are the challenges of being alive in this time and place’ with complex romances, where people have to figure out how to make things work. The depth and intricacy in this series is particularly great - both the historical details, and the challenges of people falling for other people where there are real complex ethical complexities going on, and trying to make that work out.
I also love the friendships of the men involved, how they stay friends even when that's terribly hard, or when they've been badly hurt and eventually sort that out. (Richard, looking at you.) Basically, I’d like to see more of David and Richard after the third book.
Is there a time when Cyprian has to use all of his skills (again!) to get Richard (or others) out of trouble, but it’s a lot harder because of what he and Richard have now? Does a bit of Cyprian’s past come back to haunt him? What if some gossip gets the right end of the stick about what’s going on, entirely by accident? Or someone tries to get Richard properly married off? (At the end of the book, it looked like that might not be his brother and sister-in-law, but there are plenty of options here!)
And finally, having just finished Gilded Cage which is in the same universe, sometime later and which gestures at later events, I am utterly here for a "Richard and David, a substantial number of years later" fic, should you be so inclined. How does their relationship grow and mature? They have a large circle of family and friends, and what happens as a newer generation comes into contact with them, as nephews grow up and become independent people? (Obviously, particularly interested in Richard and David's relationship with Richard's nephew here. I'm being vague to avoid spoilers since it only just came out.)
A note for this canon
Sex is great! This is a fantastic example of ‘it’s entirely in keeping with the canon’. On the other hand, don’t feel you have to write smut to make me happy or if your story takes you somewhere else.
Shadowscapes Tarot
Queen of Swords
Queen of Wands
Queen of Cups
Queen of Pentacles
The Shadowscapes Tarot is one of my favourite decks, and I've been thinking a lot in the past few months about the Queens in particular.
Particularly, I'd love to see them interacting, whether that's directly with each other, or in a larger dance around some particular problem or issue. Perhaps there's a negotiation on who takes on the role of acting or advising a querent about one of their questions. Perhaps each of them tackles an aspect of a problem. I keep coming back to the moments of stillness and movement in these cards, how those things play with each other, in particular, how those things might interweave, or alternately, might compete. (Though I would like an eventually good outcome!)
As always in this deck, I'm also fascinated by the accompanying flowers and animals. Are there particular relationships there? Are they things that grew organically, or are they things that are part of being queen of that suit, that element, that space? If you like this option, feel free to pick one or two of them to focus on. (I'm most curious about the Queen of Wands and her music and the listening creatures, or the Queen of Cups and her turtles, if you want a little more guidance there.)
Rivers of London - Ben Aaronovitch
Beverley Brook
Cecelia Tyburn Thames
Father Thames (Rivers of London)
Isis (Rivers of London)
This year, I am here for interactions between the Rivers. (Past, present, and hey, feel free to go for future, if it pleases you.)
I'm particularly interested in their interactions when others aren't around - when it's all in the family, one way or the other. One of the things I love about this canon is how deeply rooted it is in London (and other places, as relevant), and how the ancient stories and connections continue to matter. We've seen various things in canon about the customs of festivals and larger interactions, and I'd love something along those lines.
Other things I am up for (in whatever combination of rivers pleases you...)
- Beverly's interactions with her sisters, especially about the interplay between familial responsibility and personal choice.
- How any or all of them interact with their particular devotees (beyond Maksim)
- More events from Beverly's time in the hostage exchange.
- We see snippets of how the nature of the physical rivers affects the personalities of the Rivers, and vice versa, but this is basically my catnip, more about that, please! Historical stories encouraged here, particularly!
- Anything you'd like to explore about the Rivers and previous generations of the Isaacs - again, we get only fleeting glances in canon, but there have to be a lot more in the way of stories and interactions and cautionary tales.
- Anything about the Rivers and their earlier life - we see glimpses of their interactions with education, for example. Particularly interested in Bev or Cecilia here.
- A situation where someone asks Father Thames for information, and it goes unexpectedly. (A cautionary tale, as Peter keeps getting warned about.)
- I am totally here for a snippet of Isis backstory, basically anywhere in her existence. What was it like having her sense of self change, and reform around Oxley? What did she find the most challenging or the easiest? Is there fascinating gossip to be had here from people around her at the time?
Thank you again for writing and for reading, and may you have a most excellent Yuletide!