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Dear Yuletide Santa,
Thank you so much for writing for me. I really will be happy with anything you've come up with, but if you're like me and prefer some prompts and general likes/dislikes, I've expanded a little on my requests below.
Meine Liebe
This is a fandom where I would be happy with anything. Maybe a character-centric story about Isaac, or a look at the conflict between Japanese and Kuchen customs for Naoji. Or how will Camus cope with psychic weight of WWII? For that matter, where will Naoji's loyalties ultimately lie? You could look at how all the characters' friendship develops into the future (or, of course, how it falls apart). How does the passage of time and the compromises of adulthood and politics change them? Or you could even write and AU with Charlene: what might have happened if Ludwig had married her? Was she naive and expecting love, or politically savvy and expecting a marriage of expediency? Does Lui have any idea how to have a relationship that doesn't treat the other party as an indulged pet, a follower, or an equal who he expects will undoubtedly leave?
I will be equally happy with a story focussing on just one or two characters or on the whole ensemble. You could write something character-centric, or equally well an exploration of the politics and culture of Kuchen (or both!). I admit I'd be particularly pleased with something set in their future, when they're all older and have had to begin dealing with the practical consequences of their ideals, but I wouldn't want you to feel bound by that if you'd really prefer to write something else.
I'm fine with gen, slash or het, and I've no objection to explicit sex, but I really would prefer to focus on the political themes and on the characters, rather than just on shipping any given couple. (Which isn't to say you can't write about a relationship, just that I'd prefer it if the main point of the story wasn't 'How A & B got together' or 'A & B angst for a while then live happily ever after'.) I, personally, tend to see Ludwig/Naoji with a potential side order of (possibly casual) Orpherus/Eduard, but I'm more than happy to read any other pairings, or no pairing at all.
Mythology-Chinese
I'd be more than happy with Matsu OR Chang E - I don't mean you to tie yourself in knots trying to fit both into one story. I'd really like something dealing with Chang E's rise to the moon, or on her life there: the loss of mortality, immortality gazing down on a beautiful but transient world, the loneliness of the cold, white moon. For Matsu, I'd love something with the seductive power of the sea and the grey savagery of its storms, on the loneliness and desperate hope of those who wait on shore and the fitful presence of the divine that lets her save her brothers (or, if you prefer, that leads to her death and apotheosis).
Or, you know, something completely different. These are prompts, not demands. For Chang E, I'm particularly interested in how it would feel to change between mortal and immortal, and what immortality might mean. I love the imagery of the moon: frost and white jade. For Matsu, the intervention of the supernatural in daily life, the moment when one girl on shore had, through longing, prayer, meditation, desperation or just luck, the power to save others, how it might feel to step outside nature like that, and what the potential cost might be.
Petshop of Horrors
I'd really love something about one of the pets, maybe something darkish about Tet-chan, or even an untold chapter with a new pet. Alternatively something from Leon's perspective - his changing views on the supernatural or on the Count. I would prefer no sex involving Count D (although background UST is fine), but other than that I'm fine with gen, slash or het.
I love the style of this series, which can gracefully encompass both the light-hearted and the unsettling, not to say macabre. If you want to go for dark and unsettling, Tetsu is, after all, carnivorous, and originally wanted to eat D. Or there's a wide range of other pets, both canon and of your own invention. If that isn't to your taste, though, you can always write about Leon or D - a character-centric piece about D would be fine. (However, copying and pasting from last year's letter: I really like D's mixture of convincing humanity and equally convincing otherworldliness but somehow, for me - and this is just a matter of my own taste - it turns out that I can find him convincingly not exactly human, but any sex involving him unconvincing, or I can find the sex convincing but the aura of otherness lost; feel free to ladle on as much UST as you like, but I'd really prefer it if he wasn't involved in any actual sex. Any other characters, including the pets, can do as you please.)
Pu Songling - Liaozhai Zhiyi aka Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio
I'm interested to see whatever you choose to make of this. Retell one of Pu Songling's stories or tell one of your own. Play around with language and allusions or concentrate on plot or on character. You could do something with the ever present fox spirits - they viewed in such a range of ways, from meriting death in The Merchant's Son and Fox Enchantment, through the ambivalance of Cut Sleeve to Lotus Fragrance's role as admirable heroine. Or you could do something with the relation of dreams to reality, or the extent to which stories are a type of dream. You could look at Shican and Huang's relationship - there's a lot of emotional ground at the end of that story the remains unexamined. Or what about Bird's treatment of her son, and indeed all the relationships in that family? (For more on how to come by the text, see the Fandom Of One pitch.)
For this, I can't stress enough that you should do as you please. My interest really does lie in seeing what other people make of it. Feel free to focus on one or several of the listed tales, or any other tales of your choice, or write your own. Make your language as densely allusive or as simple as you please, your tone as light or as dramatic as you want. Gen, slash, het; light-hearted, bitingly satirical, restrained or sly or melancholy ... anything that strikes your fancy.
In General
Things I like (provided only as indicative of my taste, not as particular requirements of your story): established relationships, smart and competent characters, witty banter, slash, political intrigue, moral ambiguity, apparently simple conversations with much going on under the surface, angst if done with restraint, difficult decisions with no right answer (I think I mentioned moral ambiguity?), metaphor, clever use of literary allusions, relationships where each party thinks the other has all the power. Happy endings aren't required, which isn't to say I'm against them, or dislike endings with at least a sliver of hope, but in these fandoms I am equally fine with unhappy. I'm not at all keen on mpreg, stories told in 2nd person or stories with simplistic morals and I do have something of an embarassment squick, but apart from that, I'm really very easy to please.
Thank you so much for writing for me. I really will be happy with anything you've come up with, but if you're like me and prefer some prompts and general likes/dislikes, I've expanded a little on my requests below.
Meine Liebe
This is a fandom where I would be happy with anything. Maybe a character-centric story about Isaac, or a look at the conflict between Japanese and Kuchen customs for Naoji. Or how will Camus cope with psychic weight of WWII? For that matter, where will Naoji's loyalties ultimately lie? You could look at how all the characters' friendship develops into the future (or, of course, how it falls apart). How does the passage of time and the compromises of adulthood and politics change them? Or you could even write and AU with Charlene: what might have happened if Ludwig had married her? Was she naive and expecting love, or politically savvy and expecting a marriage of expediency? Does Lui have any idea how to have a relationship that doesn't treat the other party as an indulged pet, a follower, or an equal who he expects will undoubtedly leave?
I will be equally happy with a story focussing on just one or two characters or on the whole ensemble. You could write something character-centric, or equally well an exploration of the politics and culture of Kuchen (or both!). I admit I'd be particularly pleased with something set in their future, when they're all older and have had to begin dealing with the practical consequences of their ideals, but I wouldn't want you to feel bound by that if you'd really prefer to write something else.
I'm fine with gen, slash or het, and I've no objection to explicit sex, but I really would prefer to focus on the political themes and on the characters, rather than just on shipping any given couple. (Which isn't to say you can't write about a relationship, just that I'd prefer it if the main point of the story wasn't 'How A & B got together' or 'A & B angst for a while then live happily ever after'.) I, personally, tend to see Ludwig/Naoji with a potential side order of (possibly casual) Orpherus/Eduard, but I'm more than happy to read any other pairings, or no pairing at all.
Mythology-Chinese
I'd be more than happy with Matsu OR Chang E - I don't mean you to tie yourself in knots trying to fit both into one story. I'd really like something dealing with Chang E's rise to the moon, or on her life there: the loss of mortality, immortality gazing down on a beautiful but transient world, the loneliness of the cold, white moon. For Matsu, I'd love something with the seductive power of the sea and the grey savagery of its storms, on the loneliness and desperate hope of those who wait on shore and the fitful presence of the divine that lets her save her brothers (or, if you prefer, that leads to her death and apotheosis).
Or, you know, something completely different. These are prompts, not demands. For Chang E, I'm particularly interested in how it would feel to change between mortal and immortal, and what immortality might mean. I love the imagery of the moon: frost and white jade. For Matsu, the intervention of the supernatural in daily life, the moment when one girl on shore had, through longing, prayer, meditation, desperation or just luck, the power to save others, how it might feel to step outside nature like that, and what the potential cost might be.
Petshop of Horrors
I'd really love something about one of the pets, maybe something darkish about Tet-chan, or even an untold chapter with a new pet. Alternatively something from Leon's perspective - his changing views on the supernatural or on the Count. I would prefer no sex involving Count D (although background UST is fine), but other than that I'm fine with gen, slash or het.
I love the style of this series, which can gracefully encompass both the light-hearted and the unsettling, not to say macabre. If you want to go for dark and unsettling, Tetsu is, after all, carnivorous, and originally wanted to eat D. Or there's a wide range of other pets, both canon and of your own invention. If that isn't to your taste, though, you can always write about Leon or D - a character-centric piece about D would be fine. (However, copying and pasting from last year's letter: I really like D's mixture of convincing humanity and equally convincing otherworldliness but somehow, for me - and this is just a matter of my own taste - it turns out that I can find him convincingly not exactly human, but any sex involving him unconvincing, or I can find the sex convincing but the aura of otherness lost; feel free to ladle on as much UST as you like, but I'd really prefer it if he wasn't involved in any actual sex. Any other characters, including the pets, can do as you please.)
Pu Songling - Liaozhai Zhiyi aka Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio
I'm interested to see whatever you choose to make of this. Retell one of Pu Songling's stories or tell one of your own. Play around with language and allusions or concentrate on plot or on character. You could do something with the ever present fox spirits - they viewed in such a range of ways, from meriting death in The Merchant's Son and Fox Enchantment, through the ambivalance of Cut Sleeve to Lotus Fragrance's role as admirable heroine. Or you could do something with the relation of dreams to reality, or the extent to which stories are a type of dream. You could look at Shican and Huang's relationship - there's a lot of emotional ground at the end of that story the remains unexamined. Or what about Bird's treatment of her son, and indeed all the relationships in that family? (For more on how to come by the text, see the Fandom Of One pitch.)
For this, I can't stress enough that you should do as you please. My interest really does lie in seeing what other people make of it. Feel free to focus on one or several of the listed tales, or any other tales of your choice, or write your own. Make your language as densely allusive or as simple as you please, your tone as light or as dramatic as you want. Gen, slash, het; light-hearted, bitingly satirical, restrained or sly or melancholy ... anything that strikes your fancy.
In General
Things I like (provided only as indicative of my taste, not as particular requirements of your story): established relationships, smart and competent characters, witty banter, slash, political intrigue, moral ambiguity, apparently simple conversations with much going on under the surface, angst if done with restraint, difficult decisions with no right answer (I think I mentioned moral ambiguity?), metaphor, clever use of literary allusions, relationships where each party thinks the other has all the power. Happy endings aren't required, which isn't to say I'm against them, or dislike endings with at least a sliver of hope, but in these fandoms I am equally fine with unhappy. I'm not at all keen on mpreg, stories told in 2nd person or stories with simplistic morals and I do have something of an embarassment squick, but apart from that, I'm really very easy to please.
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