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graycardinalGreetings, O YuleScrivener, and welcome!
First of all, thank you! As a longtime requester of Seriously Obscure Fandoms™, I'm constantly amazed when the matching process succeeds in finding authors who have actually heard of and fallen in love with the canons I so persistently request. I am also invariably delighted on Christmas morning when wonderful and wondrous stories land in my AO3 gift-folder. In particular, I've gotten some truly excellent treats in recent years, as well as a stream of gorgeous gifts - it boggles my mind that the Yuletide community is as consistently productive - and as consistently talented - as it is, and the fact that some of those stories are written just for me never ceases to amaze me.
With the evolution in Yuletide customs over the last few years, my detailed fandom requests, prompts and all, are mirrored straight from the signup itself. Anyone needing further details regarding a specific request should email the Yuletide mods. (As far as I'm concerned, this goes both for assigned writers and prospective creators of treats - to which I remain very much open - unless and until the mods tell us otherwise.),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
My AO3 dashboard is linked to your left; feel free to cruise it looking for fandoms of mutual interest (or just to see what all I've written for). Here on DW, all my fic-exchange letters are tagged "dear santa" as well as to the relevant exchanges, Yuletide included. For those of you willing and able to feed my endless desire for crossovers and fusions, let those listings be your guide to prospective combinations.
Now, then: here's what you need to know about my reading tastes:
Things I like:
Text-driven pluses for me include effective use of wit (aka banter aka snark, etc.), as well as strong characterization & dialogue. I value both respect for and clever use of canon, including well-developed canon-divergence AUs. I thrive on UST (heavy on both U and T), and am mostly neutral where gen/het/slash is concerned; if the pairing is well-developed, I'll read with an open mind.
I am also a sucker for the well-executed crossover, whether via oblique allusion or head-on fandom collision. Yuletide being Yuletide and Optional Details Being Optional, I have absolutely no expectations along this line...but that's why I include the Extremely Optional Bonus Points section in all my requests, because I live in a state of perpetual hope and enthusiasm. Feel free to take up these challenge or set them aside as you prefer.
DNWs:
I've resisted writing specific DNWs for years – not because I don’t have preferences, but because I hate framing them as absolute negatives. I’m a flexible reader, and the story I want most out of Yuletide is the one you want to tell me rather than the one that’s living in my own head (that one, if I want it badly enough, I can always write myself). But here too, both Yuletide customs and a few of my own boundaries have shifted, So, a few general notes beyond those in the signup proper.
On explicit sex generally:The DNW text in my requests is meant to discourage gratuitous smut/PWP; it is not meant to forbid frank treatment of sexual matters when that's appropriate for the story you're telling, especially in those cases where I may have brought up romantic or sex-related prompts on my own nickel. In general, if your muse takes you into explicit territory in the context of a prompt I've given, or if there's context for it in source canon, I am willing to come along for the ride.
Specific sex-related squicks: non-con, incest, or adult/child kinks; power-imbalanced sex/romantic partnerships (teacher/student, boss/underling, etc.) Romantic partnerships explicitly inconsistent with canon: that is, please don't break up an established canon pairing, or invalidate a character's established preferences/identity; please do feel free to thoughtfully establish or expand a character's preferences in ways that amplify canon. (Also see specific fandoms for notes.)
Alt-setting AUs (baristas/high-schoolers/etc.): I fall for worlds; transplanting characters out of those worlds just isn't my jam. Now for the specific requests:
Diana Winthrop series - Kate Chambers (any)
Admin:
* A story about any one or more of the nominated characters will satisfy this request.
* Treats are both welcome and encouraged!
Background:
The Winthrop books are a teen-sleuth series (six slim paperbacks from the mid-'80s) set mostly in New York and New England, with "Kate Chambers" being a pen name for versatile writer Norma Johnston - a fact I didn't learn till much later. The individual mysteries are dedicated to (and often cleverly plotted in the style of) various classic and then-famous mystery authors, the characterizations are much more nuanced than is usual for this category, and there’s a strong ongoing ensemble cast (including a major and well-rendered secondary character who’s blind).
DNW:
Just in case: please, no Lydian/Diana slash. Between canon’s implied Lydian/Rob Winthrop (which I approve of) and Lydian’s mentor/protegé vibe with Diana, that hits my squick radar multiple ways.
Notes:
As obscure as this series is, I've evidently managed to sell at least one or two new readers on these books over the past couple of years, so there are now more actual prompts in this request than there used to be. Nonetheless, this is what I tend to describe as an "Oliver Twist" request -- what I really and truly want most is simply more, and I am pretty much guaranteed to be delighted whether or not you actually follow any of the prompts given.
Prompts:
One of the really nifty things about Diana's adventures was the multi-generational family dynamic. That's a big reason that in addition to Diana herself, I chose Jacintha (who's clearly an adult here, if pretty new-minted; I see her as mid-20s at the outside), Gran Culhaine, and Lydian Sinclair (who looks likely to become part of the Winthrop clan ere long) to represent the ensemble. I'd like to see familial texture here, whether in the context of a case/adventure or a more personal sort of tale. Feel free to bring in others from the extended cast as appropriate, and to look for story ideas both from Diana's past (the Boston contingent as kids? Diana's original "acting" days?) and future (what does she end up doing career-wise?) as well as the series' present.
Extremely Optional Bonus Points:
The crossover junkie in me points out that Diana's NYC/Boston home base and detective interests make for plausible run-ins with a great variety of other source canons, including at least one of my other current requests, and someone (other than me!) has already nudge-winked a connection between Diana's Ross cousins and a certain family of MCU military and espionage professionals. More generally, see (1) my works and gifts received on AO3, and (2) all entries tagged “Dear Santa” in my DW journal, and assume that any fandom represented therein is welcome.*
Elsbeth (2024) (Elsbeth)
Admin:
* Treats are both welcome and encouraged!
DNWs:
I met Elsbeth for the first time in this series, so any references or plot points involving material from the Good Wife/Good Fight shows will go right past me. (This may be less of an issue than usual, given that the show's creative team is itself leaning away from linking the earlier series, but I figure it's worth mentioning.)
For this request, I'm not looking for explicit sex/PWP (but see the prompts section regarding romantic elements). Also not looking for heavy violence/gore, though obviously in a detective show, death and some degree of violence are to be expected.
Prompts:
Casefic and character pieces are equally welcome, and do not let the fact that the official request just includes Elsbeth prevent you from bringing in other characters - whether from the main ensemble or guests. Indeed, a story where someone else - a colleague, bystander, or guest villain - gives us a close-in study of Elsbeth would be very welcome (as would the reverse, for that matter). I can see epistolary format - letters, texts, journal entries, etc. - working well for this request...or maybe give me the newspaper/tabloid/trade-journal write-up(s) of our heroine's fashion-runway turn and whatever follows on from it.
I'm totally not opposed to a relationship-focused story here, either. It's very early in the show's timeline, so friendship (or tension, as appropriate) seems a likelier prospect than romance; if you do elect to pursue a romantic pairing, I'd prefer seeing a slow build to a slow tease, if that makes sense - and what I've seen in canon to this point makes me really reluctant to see Elsbeth being on either end of a "casual fling". (Also: your guess as to Elsbeth's preference in partners is as good as or better than mine; as yet I'm not prepared to take anything off the table, though I admit I'd be hard-pressed to take her seriously as either a dominatrix or a lifestyle submissive.)
Extremely Optional Bonus Points:
Oh dear Lord, the crossover potential here boggles my mind. As a past Castle fan, I'd be delighted to see that cast in Elsbeth's orbit, and if one were looking for more exotic options (and inclined to some fudging of timelines), either Gargoyles or Diane Duane's "Young Wizards" series would make excellent choices. And then there's the elephant in the room....
If you have not seen the pilot for the new Matlock series, mainline it now. (The second episode drops tomorrow night as I type this, and I WILL watch.) I cannot imagine a twistier and more entertaining matching of wits than Elsbeth and Madeline Matlock occupying the same space at the same time - and I will be moderately surprised if CBS itself does not go there by the end of the two shows' current seasons.
The Master (TV) (any)
Admin:
* A story about any one or more of the nominated characters will satisfy this request.
* Treats are both welcome and encouraged!
DNW:
McAllister/Max slash; the mentor/student relationship (evolving into something like a father/son "found family" vibe) is too strong here to make me comfortable with that.
Background:
On one hand, this one-season wonder series from 1984 has no official connection to the extended KUNG FU franchise. But the premiseis right out of the same ballpark, with Lee Van Cleef as the only Occidental ever to attain the rank of master ninja - now roving the USA in search of a long-lost daughter and training Tim Van Patten in the arts of stealth and self-defense. (Series creator Michael Sloan would, in fact, go on to create "The Equalizer" in 1985 and "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues" in the '90s, and the seeds of those shows are definitely in evidence here.) I've never understood why this show folded as quickly as it did; what separates "The Master" from its assorted successors is that it recognizes and embraces its inner snark. Van Cleef's John Peter McAllister may be the consummate ninja master, but he's also pragmatic, practical, and perfectly willing to point out cliches when he sees them. There's just a touch of 1960s Batman in the tone here, and that's a good thing in my book.
Prompts:
For Yuletide purposes, don't worry much about the arc involving McAllister's daughter; I'll be happy with case/caperfic, with something training-centric, and/or a situation that forces Okasa and our heroes to see each other as something other than outright enemies. And while I'm primarily interested in the show's "present day" setting (or follow-ups to some of the loose ends left open in various individual episodes), I would absolutely not say no to a deep-background tale about Okasa and McAllister from before McAllister left Japan.
Extremely Optional Bonus Points:
Why yes, this is where we talk about crossover prospects...this is, after all, me, and with its road-warrior stop-for-the-week premise, this show is absolutely made for crossovers with nearly any other contemporary-setting fandom, from "Murder She Wrote" (might McAllister have known Frank Fletcher from his wartime service?) on out.
Mighty Ducks: TAS (any)
Admin:
* A story about any one or more of the nominated characters will satisfy this request.
* Treats are both welcome and encouraged!
Background:
You have no idea just how delighted I was to see this turn up in the tag set (unless of course you happen to have nominated it). There was much more niftiness in the Disney Afternoon than is commonly remembered nowadays, and this one-season series is one of the best of several largely forgotten shows from that quarter. Any Disney+ subscriber who has not had a look shouldn't hesitate to check it out, as I don't entirely trust the Mouse not to pull it down for no particular reason. And note carefully: this is NOT about any iteration of a human hockey team; no, this is purest gonzo-played-straight SF about hockey-playing ducks from several universes over setting up housekeeping in Los Angeles - and defending against invasion thereof by nasty alien dinosaurs.
DNWs:
I'm not looking for 'ships/romance/smut here, at least not as primary focus. Character-bashing of any sort should also be off the table. Please avoid alt-setting AUs (coffee shop, high school, etc.), likewise AUs where the ducks are something other than ducks.
Prompts:
From this character group in particular, I'm hoping for some combination of back story/worldbuilding, high adventure, exploration of loose threads from canon, and some degree of emphasis on the SFnal aspects of the setting. I can definitely see canon-divergent AUs spinning off from this set of characters. And I'm equally interested in stories that take advantage of LA-specific local color, and those that take our heroes out into space and/or dimension-jumping as plot may demand. This fandom is one of those where the Oliver Twist axiom applies: "Please, sir, may I have some more?" is gift enough in itself.
Extremely Optional Bonus Points:
As is often the case, I am all about the potential crossovers, although in many cases here we might be looking at serious finagling of external timelines to carry one off. The obvious, if tonally trickiest Disneyverse trick would be hooking these Mighty Ducks up with the Manhattan clan from Gargoyles; I also find myself curious about how one would connect this setting up with 2015's live-action Tomorrowland. Other possibilities, Disney-driven or otherwise, are of course possible - but as the section heading says, Extremely Optional.
Tomorrowland (2015) (any)
Admin:
* A story about any one or more of the nominated characters will satisfy this request.
* Treats are both welcome and encouraged!
DNW:
Explicit sex is neither expected nor required. These prompts are mostly not romance-focused; if included, physical intimacy should be portrayed in a tone and style consistent with canon.
Prompts:
I really like Athena here; she’s such a delightful combination of practical, innocent, wise, and deeply mischievous. I’m torn between wanting more stories about her quest for dreamers out here in this world vs. more about how she evolved, in the Tomorrowland world, to the point where she bonded with Frank and broke away from Nix. I also admit to being curious about her origins, considering that whereas Tomorrowland has a lot of robots/androids, Athena’s independence is rare to unique among them. Here as always, feel free to introduce any other canon characters you feel inclined to bring in (any of the Plus Ultra founders, for instance).
As regards Athena and possible pairings: I don't have a "ship" as such where she's concerned, but I do ask that if you go there, please clearly establish the relationship as one between equals. Which is to say, if you portray Athena as the teenager she physically resembles, I can see pairing her with Casey; if you portray her as a mature adult based on her chronological age and lived experience, then it's appropriate to pair her with Frank. (On a romantic level, I don't think one can have this both ways - for me, at least, Frank/Athena/Casey is not a viable triad.)
Extremely Optional Bonus Points:
Per usual, crossovers are both welcome and encouraged, and there's lots of room for them in this universe. In specific, you might consider combining this request with any of my others for this Yuletide round - but I'm by no means limiting you to that field if your muse has another idea in mind. Feel free to prowl the fandom list from my AO3 dashboard for other prospects, and the "Dear Santa" tag from my DW community for fandom requests from prior years. One additional note: I stumbled quite by accident on the prequel tie-in novel, Before Tomorrowland, a good month or so after seeing the movie proper. If you haven't run across the book, I highly recommend it and encourage you to check it out. If you have, inclusion of any elements from that storyline or its consequences would be a lovely bonus.
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego (1994) (Carmen Sandiego)
DNWs:
I'm mostly not looking for romance here, and not looking at all for explicit sex. Specifically: please avoid both Carmen/Ivy and Carmen/Zack (power-imbalanced relationships are a squick for me). As to Carmen/Suhara, I won't give an absolute no, but if you write it, the pairing must be shown as one between equals, rather than having any basis in Suhara having been a mentor-figure to Carmen.
Prompts:
I'd be very interested in something ACME-centric, whether set pre-series or in the show's nominal present. Alernately, one of my great fascinations with this series is the bond that develops between Carmen and the detectives as the show progresses. Carmen's interest in Our Heroes reads to me as somewhat maternal, and I'd enjoy seeing that idea considered. It's also intriguing that canon gives us essentially no information about Ivy's and Zack's parents...which might be because they're utterly ordinary, but could also have to do with some tragic past event - or the fact that technically, Ivy and Zack are computer-generated avatars.
OTOH, if deep familial musings aren't your cup of tea, I will also be greatly pleased with rapid-fire casefic (infoscans optional), a straightforward snark-and-action encounter, or even a peek into Carmen's workaday routine as she deals with day-to-day VILE paperwork. (Surely there must be paperwork, at least some of which Carmen won't want to delegate to any of her minions....)
Extremely Optional Bonus Points:
I have often noted that this series, with both time travel and C5 portal tech on the table, is a crossover junkie's dream (indeed, I've written one or two of those, and had one of them remixed in brilliantly cracktastic fashion).
That said: I'd rather not see this series and the 2019 iteration interact directly with one another. One of the new show's strengths is that it stands so very well on its own, even as it re-interprets classic elements. I may change my mind about this at some point - but not this year. Instead? I've previously suggested Carmen/SG-1, whether setting Carmen against the Goa'uld or doing a thief-vs.-thief riff with Carmen and Vala. Go full-on comics mode (Batman, Black Widow). Or see just how far afield she can roam (Time Lords, Star Trek captains, Miraculous Ladybug...). There are just so many possibilities - and even if 2019!Carmen is off the table, I have to think '94!Carmen might find it amusing to tweak her Player by stealing Rockapella from the PBS series.
