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Dear Yuletide Writer,
First, let me say that I'm so happy to have you writing something for me that I don't get to see every day but wish that I did. Thank you in advance for that! (For other Yuletiders who might read this, yes, if any prompts tickle your fancy, gift fics are awesome!)
I know that my prompts lean toward the slashy and the sexy. I like slash, het (though not vanilla het), and femslash. If you’re writing either het or femslash, I like strong, capable women who own their own strength, intellect, and desire. Of course, I like that in men too. I like BDSM, though more in terms of power dynamics and less in terms of highly ritualized behavior.
However, I love interesting and complex characters and good stories above all else. Even when it comes to the sexy, the sorts of stories I like best are the ones that really get inside the characters’ heads, ones that go beyond the act itself and show how it impacts the characters or their relationship. If you want to see the sorts of things I write (and like to read), I'm also Savageseraph over at the Archive of Our Own.
This is not an exhaustive list, just some things that often tend to make me smile.
LIKES
Dirty talk
The seductive power of language
Power exchanges/dynamics
Kink
Surrender (even against better judgement)
Smart, strong, capable characters
Temptation
Bondage
Angst (but not at melodramatic levels)
RPF where there’s some bleedover between actors and their characters
NonCon (usually just in FPF, unless the fic is an AU, but no AU’s for this Yuletide)
DubCon (I’ve no objections to this in RPF.)
Non-vanilla/traditional characters/situations
Explicit-rated fics (though I do like story and character with my porn)
High Passion/Sensuality/Stakes
Sexual Tension
Tension between resistance and surrender
An edge of darkness/danger
Intensity (physical, emotional, and/or situational)
While this shouldn’t be perceived as a critique of items in the list, these are things I would prefer not to receive in my Yuletide Fic.
DO NOT WANTS
Watersports/Scat
Hurt/Comfort
MPREG
A/B/O verse
Overly sentimental or cloyingly romantic fic, schmoop
Domestic fic/curtain fic
Crackfic/humor
Social issue/political fics
Characters behaving OOC for their canon
No AU’s for the fandoms this Yuletide
Weak female characters
Feminization of male characters
Angst that becomes overly emo
Woobie fics
Fluff
Character death
And now, a bit about the fandoms I've requested for this Yuletide exchange.
GUILD HUNTER SERIES – NALINI SINGH
read this series at the start of 2019, but after I started, I mainlined the crap out of it because it hit so many of my kinks. It was romantic (but not sappy), dark and gritty, had angels and vampires, had epic worldbuilding and new and interesting supernatural world: what’s not to like. I really admire Singh’s management of story arcs across novels, her worldbuilding and her characters. I do like the pairings in the series a lot, so since I’ve asked for slash, it might be nice if the fics were set before the characters find their het mates.
What would I like for Yuletide? I’d love some Raphael/Dmitri back when they were both young and struggling with their griefs and becoming brothers-in-arms (and perhaps in beds). I love power struggles, and while there is abiding friendship and loyalty between them, they do clash over things. I wouldn’t mind angry sex between them or something to take the edge off after a battle.
Of course, we’ve had teases of a less-than-platonic relationship between Ilium and Aodhan all along, and if you'd like to give the boys some post-ARCHANGEL’S LIGHT sexy time I wouldn't object. Pre-ARCHANGEL'S LIGHT longing/angst would also be good.
I’m interested in the forces of attraction and repulsion, surrender and resistance. I love to see strong men/women struggling to have the upper hand physically, intellectually, and sexually over each other, and if that also involves wrestling with their own inner demons, so much the better.
CRITICAL ROLE (RPF)
I’m a long-time DnD gamergirl, and CRITICAL ROLE takes away a little of the sting that I don’t have a regular party and campaign going on right now. This early summer Calamity was one of my narrative delights. I loved the doomed city of Avalir and The Circle of Brass. I especially enjoyed Luis Carazo's Zerxus. His interactions with Asmodeus were electric, and I'd like to see something of that captured in a Luis/Brennan fic.
While I’m fine with non-con (dub-con is okay) and darker fics in FPF, I’d rather not have them in RPF.
I’m interested in the forces of attraction and repulsion, surrender and resistance. I love to see strong men/women struggling to have the upper hand physically, intellectually, and sexually over each other, and if that also involves wrestling with their own (or their characters’) inner demons, so much the better.
THE BOYS – TV
Although I'm not completely current on watching the series, I do love this dark, violent, twisted show. And I'd adore some dark, twisted fic. For Butcher and Homelander, I'd love hatesex or "fuck or die" scenarios. In general, I'm good with non-con and dubcon, and those certainly make sense for these two.
I’m interested in the forces of attraction and repulsion, surrender and resistance. I love to see two strong men/women struggling to have the upper hand physically, intellectually, and sexually over each other, and if that also involves wrestling with their own (or their characters’ inner demons, so much the better.
WHEEL OF TIME (TV)
I confess it has been many years since I first read THE EYE OF THE WORLD, but I started rereading the books last year before the Amazon series dropped. While I can't say that I loved all of the changes they made from the books, I did like that we got a bit more insight into Lan and Nynaeve's relationship and more about the Warders and their society as well.
I really loved Lan and Nynaeve in the books and also in the series. I like how the Warder’s bond complicates their relationship and the tension between them when it comes to their duty and desires. I'd love fics that flesh out their relationship a bit more, giving more depth and internal thoughts. What they see/respond to in each other? What draws them together? What thing in the other completes them? How does their physical intimacy impact them as they part so abruptly the next morning with each going into danger? How does their growing physical/emotional intimacy impact them? I'd also love to see what their thoughts are after Lan is almost killed by Logain and Nynaeve unleashes her powers to save him? How does it change how they see each other? How does that impact their relationship?
I’m interested in the forces of attraction and repulsion, surrender and resistance. I love to see strong men/women struggling to have the upper hand physically, intellectually, and sexually over each other, and if that also involves wrestling with their own (or their characters’) inner demons, so much the better.
STAR WARS (RPF)
Many thanks to the person who nommed this particular fandom/characters. I love watching Isaac and Pascal interacting in videos I’ve seen online, and, well, I'm all for seeing that friendship edged up to something a bit more...non-platonic. ^_^
While I’m fine with non-con (dub-con is okay) and darker fics in FPF, I’d rather not have them in RPF.
I’m interested in the forces of attraction and repulsion, surrender and resistance. I love to see strong men/women struggling to have the upper hand physically, intellectually, and sexually over each other, and if that also involves wrestling with their own (or their characters’) inner demons, so much the better.
PSY-CHANGELING SERIES – NALINI SINGH
I read Singh’s GUILD HUNTER series first, and honestly, I didn’t expect to enjoy this series as much. Vampires and angels had to trump shifters and psionics. Well, I was wrong about that. I like this series just as much as the other. I do like the pairings in the series a lot, so since I’ve asked for slash, it might be nice if the fics were set before the characters find their het mates.
I’d really like a Lucas/Hawke fic. Two alphas in a contest of wills is one of my favorite things, and it definitely takes me to my happy place. I do like the het pairings in the series, so maybe something slashy set before the first book in the series when the Dark River and Snow Dancer packs are forging their uneasy alliance would be nice.
My favorite character in the series is probably Kaleb (one of the top tier at least), and since the Arrows are very much a lethal, creepy band-of-brothers, I’d like to see a fic with Kaleb and Judd and/or Aden when their icy control snaps. I have no issues with something forcing them into emotional vulnerability and physical intimacy against their training (would like that to be before reuniting with Sahara). I'd also be fine with Kaleb/Sahara.
I’m interested in the forces of attraction and repulsion, surrender and resistance. I love to see two strong men/women struggling to have the upper hand physically, intellectually, and sexually over each other, and if that also involves wrestling with their own (or their characters’ inner demons, so much the better.
Having said that, I read and write and enjoy lots and lots of things that aren't really represented in my fics or this letter, so I don't want you to feel boxed in. Write what you really love, what inspires you, and it will show in the fic.
I'm sure I'll love what you make for me, and I'm already looking forward to reading it!
Barbara
First, let me say that I'm so happy to have you writing something for me that I don't get to see every day but wish that I did. Thank you in advance for that! (For other Yuletiders who might read this, yes, if any prompts tickle your fancy, gift fics are awesome!)
I know that my prompts lean toward the slashy and the sexy. I like slash, het (though not vanilla het), and femslash. If you’re writing either het or femslash, I like strong, capable women who own their own strength, intellect, and desire. Of course, I like that in men too. I like BDSM, though more in terms of power dynamics and less in terms of highly ritualized behavior.
However, I love interesting and complex characters and good stories above all else. Even when it comes to the sexy, the sorts of stories I like best are the ones that really get inside the characters’ heads, ones that go beyond the act itself and show how it impacts the characters or their relationship. If you want to see the sorts of things I write (and like to read), I'm also Savageseraph over at the Archive of Our Own.
This is not an exhaustive list, just some things that often tend to make me smile.
LIKES
Dirty talk
The seductive power of language
Power exchanges/dynamics
Kink
Surrender (even against better judgement)
Smart, strong, capable characters
Temptation
Bondage
Angst (but not at melodramatic levels)
RPF where there’s some bleedover between actors and their characters
NonCon (usually just in FPF, unless the fic is an AU, but no AU’s for this Yuletide)
DubCon (I’ve no objections to this in RPF.)
Non-vanilla/traditional characters/situations
Explicit-rated fics (though I do like story and character with my porn)
High Passion/Sensuality/Stakes
Sexual Tension
Tension between resistance and surrender
An edge of darkness/danger
Intensity (physical, emotional, and/or situational)
While this shouldn’t be perceived as a critique of items in the list, these are things I would prefer not to receive in my Yuletide Fic.
DO NOT WANTS
Watersports/Scat
Hurt/Comfort
MPREG
A/B/O verse
Overly sentimental or cloyingly romantic fic, schmoop
Domestic fic/curtain fic
Crackfic/humor
Social issue/political fics
Characters behaving OOC for their canon
No AU’s for the fandoms this Yuletide
Weak female characters
Feminization of male characters
Angst that becomes overly emo
Woobie fics
Fluff
Character death
And now, a bit about the fandoms I've requested for this Yuletide exchange.
GUILD HUNTER SERIES – NALINI SINGH
read this series at the start of 2019, but after I started, I mainlined the crap out of it because it hit so many of my kinks. It was romantic (but not sappy), dark and gritty, had angels and vampires, had epic worldbuilding and new and interesting supernatural world: what’s not to like. I really admire Singh’s management of story arcs across novels, her worldbuilding and her characters. I do like the pairings in the series a lot, so since I’ve asked for slash, it might be nice if the fics were set before the characters find their het mates.
What would I like for Yuletide? I’d love some Raphael/Dmitri back when they were both young and struggling with their griefs and becoming brothers-in-arms (and perhaps in beds). I love power struggles, and while there is abiding friendship and loyalty between them, they do clash over things. I wouldn’t mind angry sex between them or something to take the edge off after a battle.
Of course, we’ve had teases of a less-than-platonic relationship between Ilium and Aodhan all along, and if you'd like to give the boys some post-ARCHANGEL’S LIGHT sexy time I wouldn't object. Pre-ARCHANGEL'S LIGHT longing/angst would also be good.
I’m interested in the forces of attraction and repulsion, surrender and resistance. I love to see strong men/women struggling to have the upper hand physically, intellectually, and sexually over each other, and if that also involves wrestling with their own inner demons, so much the better.
CRITICAL ROLE (RPF)
I’m a long-time DnD gamergirl, and CRITICAL ROLE takes away a little of the sting that I don’t have a regular party and campaign going on right now. This early summer Calamity was one of my narrative delights. I loved the doomed city of Avalir and The Circle of Brass. I especially enjoyed Luis Carazo's Zerxus. His interactions with Asmodeus were electric, and I'd like to see something of that captured in a Luis/Brennan fic.
While I’m fine with non-con (dub-con is okay) and darker fics in FPF, I’d rather not have them in RPF.
I’m interested in the forces of attraction and repulsion, surrender and resistance. I love to see strong men/women struggling to have the upper hand physically, intellectually, and sexually over each other, and if that also involves wrestling with their own (or their characters’) inner demons, so much the better.
THE BOYS – TV
Although I'm not completely current on watching the series, I do love this dark, violent, twisted show. And I'd adore some dark, twisted fic. For Butcher and Homelander, I'd love hatesex or "fuck or die" scenarios. In general, I'm good with non-con and dubcon, and those certainly make sense for these two.
I’m interested in the forces of attraction and repulsion, surrender and resistance. I love to see two strong men/women struggling to have the upper hand physically, intellectually, and sexually over each other, and if that also involves wrestling with their own (or their characters’ inner demons, so much the better.
WHEEL OF TIME (TV)
I confess it has been many years since I first read THE EYE OF THE WORLD, but I started rereading the books last year before the Amazon series dropped. While I can't say that I loved all of the changes they made from the books, I did like that we got a bit more insight into Lan and Nynaeve's relationship and more about the Warders and their society as well.
I really loved Lan and Nynaeve in the books and also in the series. I like how the Warder’s bond complicates their relationship and the tension between them when it comes to their duty and desires. I'd love fics that flesh out their relationship a bit more, giving more depth and internal thoughts. What they see/respond to in each other? What draws them together? What thing in the other completes them? How does their physical intimacy impact them as they part so abruptly the next morning with each going into danger? How does their growing physical/emotional intimacy impact them? I'd also love to see what their thoughts are after Lan is almost killed by Logain and Nynaeve unleashes her powers to save him? How does it change how they see each other? How does that impact their relationship?
I’m interested in the forces of attraction and repulsion, surrender and resistance. I love to see strong men/women struggling to have the upper hand physically, intellectually, and sexually over each other, and if that also involves wrestling with their own (or their characters’) inner demons, so much the better.
STAR WARS (RPF)
Many thanks to the person who nommed this particular fandom/characters. I love watching Isaac and Pascal interacting in videos I’ve seen online, and, well, I'm all for seeing that friendship edged up to something a bit more...non-platonic. ^_^
While I’m fine with non-con (dub-con is okay) and darker fics in FPF, I’d rather not have them in RPF.
I’m interested in the forces of attraction and repulsion, surrender and resistance. I love to see strong men/women struggling to have the upper hand physically, intellectually, and sexually over each other, and if that also involves wrestling with their own (or their characters’) inner demons, so much the better.
PSY-CHANGELING SERIES – NALINI SINGH
I read Singh’s GUILD HUNTER series first, and honestly, I didn’t expect to enjoy this series as much. Vampires and angels had to trump shifters and psionics. Well, I was wrong about that. I like this series just as much as the other. I do like the pairings in the series a lot, so since I’ve asked for slash, it might be nice if the fics were set before the characters find their het mates.
I’d really like a Lucas/Hawke fic. Two alphas in a contest of wills is one of my favorite things, and it definitely takes me to my happy place. I do like the het pairings in the series, so maybe something slashy set before the first book in the series when the Dark River and Snow Dancer packs are forging their uneasy alliance would be nice.
My favorite character in the series is probably Kaleb (one of the top tier at least), and since the Arrows are very much a lethal, creepy band-of-brothers, I’d like to see a fic with Kaleb and Judd and/or Aden when their icy control snaps. I have no issues with something forcing them into emotional vulnerability and physical intimacy against their training (would like that to be before reuniting with Sahara). I'd also be fine with Kaleb/Sahara.
I’m interested in the forces of attraction and repulsion, surrender and resistance. I love to see two strong men/women struggling to have the upper hand physically, intellectually, and sexually over each other, and if that also involves wrestling with their own (or their characters’ inner demons, so much the better.
Having said that, I read and write and enjoy lots and lots of things that aren't really represented in my fics or this letter, so I don't want you to feel boxed in. Write what you really love, what inspires you, and it will show in the fic.
I'm sure I'll love what you make for me, and I'm already looking forward to reading it!
Barbara