Dear 2019 Yuletide Creator ...
Nov. 3rd, 2019 08:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jedibuttercupIt's that time of year again! This will be my fourteenth year participating in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
yuletide; not my first exchange, but definitely the most enduring. I love the whole atmosphere of fannish glee that surrounds the challenge, and the opportunity to play in smaller or newer fandoms. And I also love waiting up to read whatever's been written for me: it adds an extra sparkle to my holiday season. So. Dear Yuletide Creator! I look forward to whatever you gift me with!
I adore action and romance and humor, but I also eat casefic and canon-divergent AUs and worldbuilding up with a spoon; I know that's not much help, but I really am a "many cakes" type of reader. I love complicated characters, and watching them interact is always a good time for me, whatever they're up to. So whatever you add to my fandom, I'm sure I'll be happy to receive. Though I will add some fandom-specific notes below to give you something to go by. :)
I do have a handful of general DNWs, which I'd prefer you avoid: incest closer than cousins, deliberate betrayal of trust between partners, "on-screen" non-consensual sex, permanent death of requested characters, and setting-change AUs. Any rating is fine (I definitely don't mind some porn in my plot, though I do enjoy gen as well). Angst or h/c is also A-OK, though I prefer more of the comfort than the hurt side of the scale.
If you want to stalk me, this is my main journal. You can also find me on AO3 at![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
jedibuttercup. I am an extremely eclectic writer, mostly gen but with occasional 'ships (including m/f, m/m, f/f, and OT3s) and frequent crossovers (see AO3 profile if that interests you; if I've written in it, go for it). But don't sweat it; celebrate our mutual small fandom in whatever way pleases you.
Fandom 1: Battle: Los Angeles (2011)
Characters: Elena Santos, Lee Imlay, Michael Nantz
I'm a long-time fan of apocalypse or alien invasion stories where a small band of heroes saves the day or turns the tide, and this one delivers in spades. It has the Iron Woobie type character in Michael Nantz; the tough girl who carries her own weight and is essential to saving the day in Santos; a tight POV on the heroes; even the mauve shirts we lose before the movie's half over get at least a thumbnail's worth of characterization and snappy dialogue; it's about as realistic as you get in one of these types of stories; and the whole 'retreat hell' throughline gets me every time. When they're all in that tent at the end crashing from taking down the alien command and control and getting somewhere safe, and Nantz looks around at their expressions and decides nah, ammo up everyone, we're going back in! and they all immediately perk up, that whole forged-in-fire teaminess of it, ungh. Yeah.
(It also doesn't hurt that it stars Aaron Eckhart and Michelle Rodriguez. Just sayin'.)
So, tell me another story with that team! Some possible prompts:
Fandom 2: Crawl (2019)
Characters: Haley Keller, Dave Keller
There are two kinds of movies I always end up watching with my mother: creature features, and environmental disasters. (Thus leading to prompts and fic for everything from Twister to Sharknado to The Meg over the years.) This one featured both: a hurricane, and rogue gators! I was prepared for some ridiculous fun-in-the-moment action, and that was all.
However, the human story was unexpectedly well-put-together in this one, too! It felt like something you could have gotten an actual movie out of without all the trapped in a storm trying to escape the alligators part. The Kellers felt like a real family, with all the ups and downs that come with that: I was as invested in them reconnecting as I was in them surviving, and loved all the supporting details (Haley and Beth closing a call with I love you despite being irritated at each other! The door jamb at the house marked with the kids' heights! Haley missing her dad at her meets despite complicated feels! Dave lying about the house because of his own complicated feels! etc.) ALSO [SPOILER] THE DOG LIVES!
So: I would love to see more of Haley and Dave. Particularly post-movie, as they deal with the aftermath of what happened. Some possible ideas:
Basically, anything you write me for this movie will be hearts-in-eyes amazing.
Fandom 3: The Great Wall (2017)
Characters: Pero Tovar, William Garin
Pretty people, pretty scenery, mythical enemies, historical setting: sometimes that sort of thing really scratches an itch for me (the Brendan Fraser Mummy movies being another example), and this was definitely one of those times. Epic scale, epic backdrops, and epic chemistry between all the main cast, not just the lead characters: I got sucked right in.
(This is actually the first thing I really saw Pedro Pascal in, before he showed up in Kingsman, or before I knew he was Oberyn Martell. He's the main reason I'm going to be watching The Mandalorian. Anyway, tl;dr.)
For this fandom, I'd be equally happy with William/Tovar or William & Tovar: slices of life such as caring for their gear as they prep for a battle, eating a meal, fighting together, etc.; or getting to know and appreciate one another pre-movie despite or because of the differences in their backgrounds; or figuring out what comes next, either post-movie-as-shown or maybe in an AU where they end up sticking around at the Wall - perhaps if the queen wasn't killed, so the Tao Tei were only knocked back for another 60 years and Lin Mae requested their expertise in coming up with more unorthodox tactics?
Hmm, a couple more ideas if those don't inspire ... William and Tovar getting clean together when they first arrive at the Wall? Hashing out what happened, after they ride off at the end? (Do they have more trouble learning to forgive/trust each other again than the ending implies, or was it really just that easy and one or both of them is a bit thrown by that?) Or even a tropey-er plot, such as your choice of take on soulmate/soulmark AU, or them getting involved in another supernatural adventure (original or crossover) could also be nifty here. [I got an excellent Groundhog Day AU in a previous exchange, for example.]
But whatever you want to write - any and all interactions between William and Tovar would please me very much!
Fandom 4: Salt (2010)
Characters: Evelyn Salt, Darryl Peabody
One of the things I loved about this movie when it came out was the fact that they basically wrote it with a man in mind, then just swapped in a female actor without modifying the role at all. Including the complicated backstory, fridged significant other, tough action sequences, the whole works. It's been long enough since I watched it that I don't have as many specifics or prompts to enthuse about as my other fandoms - I apologize for that! It doesn't mean I want it any less! I came across the drabble I wrote for them years ago right before nominations, and was strongly reminded how much I really wanted some post-movie Salt-centric fic with Peabody as more or less her handler, just going on being a badass with him her touchstone back to the world.
So many complicated feelings, after everything that happened with her husband, and her childhood, and what she was trained to do versus making her own choices, and his perspective on all that having gone from being her interrogator to letting her free, etc. (Peabody being played by Chiwetel Ejiofor certainly didn't hurt.)
You can go action with this, or some kind of canon-divergent/soulmates/etc. AU (as long as they're the focus), or just slice of life post-movie; or even a crossover with any contemporarily-set spy canon if that inspires (could be fun!), but I do confess I have a hankering for some Salt-dominant het, if you feel inspired to go there. As explicit or non-explicit as you feel comfortable writing. True love not required.
I hope I've given you some things to be thoughtful about, rather than boxing you in or leaving you flailing. Feel free to ignore my prompts altogether if they don't inspire, or mix and match bits of them to your preference. Thank you again!
yuletide; not my first exchange, but definitely the most enduring. I love the whole atmosphere of fannish glee that surrounds the challenge, and the opportunity to play in smaller or newer fandoms. And I also love waiting up to read whatever's been written for me: it adds an extra sparkle to my holiday season. So. Dear Yuletide Creator! I look forward to whatever you gift me with!I adore action and romance and humor, but I also eat casefic and canon-divergent AUs and worldbuilding up with a spoon; I know that's not much help, but I really am a "many cakes" type of reader. I love complicated characters, and watching them interact is always a good time for me, whatever they're up to. So whatever you add to my fandom, I'm sure I'll be happy to receive. Though I will add some fandom-specific notes below to give you something to go by. :)
I do have a handful of general DNWs, which I'd prefer you avoid: incest closer than cousins, deliberate betrayal of trust between partners, "on-screen" non-consensual sex, permanent death of requested characters, and setting-change AUs. Any rating is fine (I definitely don't mind some porn in my plot, though I do enjoy gen as well). Angst or h/c is also A-OK, though I prefer more of the comfort than the hurt side of the scale.
If you want to stalk me, this is my main journal. You can also find me on AO3 at
Fandom 1: Battle: Los Angeles (2011)
Characters: Elena Santos, Lee Imlay, Michael Nantz
I'm a long-time fan of apocalypse or alien invasion stories where a small band of heroes saves the day or turns the tide, and this one delivers in spades. It has the Iron Woobie type character in Michael Nantz; the tough girl who carries her own weight and is essential to saving the day in Santos; a tight POV on the heroes; even the mauve shirts we lose before the movie's half over get at least a thumbnail's worth of characterization and snappy dialogue; it's about as realistic as you get in one of these types of stories; and the whole 'retreat hell' throughline gets me every time. When they're all in that tent at the end crashing from taking down the alien command and control and getting somewhere safe, and Nantz looks around at their expressions and decides nah, ammo up everyone, we're going back in! and they all immediately perk up, that whole forged-in-fire teaminess of it, ungh. Yeah.
(It also doesn't hurt that it stars Aaron Eckhart and Michelle Rodriguez. Just sayin'.)
So, tell me another story with that team! Some possible prompts:
- What happens after they finish taking back L.A.? That's a bit broad, so a little more elaboration: Is there more action, helping take back other cities? Or something else? Michele, the vet who helps them figure out how to kill the aliens and later takes care of the rescued kids, is also in the tagset; she did have a few sparks with Nantz, so you could go romance here if you like! Nantz/Santos could also be interesting - though probably not easy, being military in different branches of the service. Are they all hailed as heroes? Do they help rebuild? Etc.
- If you're more into the sci-fi side, how about some kind of time loop plot! Groundhog Day style, Edge of Tomorrow style, just one reset, whatever - method choice yours. Corporal Imlay seems like the ideal character for this - a hypercompetent secondary character (I think he was the best sniper on the team) but not in charge, leaving room for complications. So what if some kind of alien tech thing blows up and somehow throws one of them back in time to just before the invasion? Go wild! (Just don't perma-kill any of the nominated characters.)
- Along those lines, but not time-loopy: write me a canon-divergent AU! Was one of the other characters who died early one of your favorites? Save them! Or what if the bombing of Santa Monica had actually gone off - would it have worked? Or what if Nantz had retired earlier, and got caught up with the team as a civilian trying to help out? Etc.
- Or a wilder trope: finding your soulmate at the end of the fucking world. Any pairing OK!
Fandom 2: Crawl (2019)
Characters: Haley Keller, Dave Keller
There are two kinds of movies I always end up watching with my mother: creature features, and environmental disasters. (Thus leading to prompts and fic for everything from Twister to Sharknado to The Meg over the years.) This one featured both: a hurricane, and rogue gators! I was prepared for some ridiculous fun-in-the-moment action, and that was all.
However, the human story was unexpectedly well-put-together in this one, too! It felt like something you could have gotten an actual movie out of without all the trapped in a storm trying to escape the alligators part. The Kellers felt like a real family, with all the ups and downs that come with that: I was as invested in them reconnecting as I was in them surviving, and loved all the supporting details (Haley and Beth closing a call with I love you despite being irritated at each other! The door jamb at the house marked with the kids' heights! Haley missing her dad at her meets despite complicated feels! Dave lying about the house because of his own complicated feels! etc.) ALSO [SPOILER] THE DOG LIVES!
So: I would love to see more of Haley and Dave. Particularly post-movie, as they deal with the aftermath of what happened. Some possible ideas:
- Recovery in the immediate aftermath of the movie - both of them went through a lot!
- Do Haley's injuries have consequences regarding the swim team? Or Dave's, with his business? Do they end up being each other's awkward cheerer through rehab?
- What's it like, going through the debris of the house and reconstructing their lives while also rebuilding their family relationship?
- I didn't prompt long-distance-sister Beth, but she's also in the tagset; what's her perspective on the events of the movie like, having not been there when it happened?
- Do they get involved in another creature-related event later on? Or do they always now go prepared in case of one, and other people think they're paranoid?
Basically, anything you write me for this movie will be hearts-in-eyes amazing.
Fandom 3: The Great Wall (2017)
Characters: Pero Tovar, William Garin
Pretty people, pretty scenery, mythical enemies, historical setting: sometimes that sort of thing really scratches an itch for me (the Brendan Fraser Mummy movies being another example), and this was definitely one of those times. Epic scale, epic backdrops, and epic chemistry between all the main cast, not just the lead characters: I got sucked right in.
(This is actually the first thing I really saw Pedro Pascal in, before he showed up in Kingsman, or before I knew he was Oberyn Martell. He's the main reason I'm going to be watching The Mandalorian. Anyway, tl;dr.)
For this fandom, I'd be equally happy with William/Tovar or William & Tovar: slices of life such as caring for their gear as they prep for a battle, eating a meal, fighting together, etc.; or getting to know and appreciate one another pre-movie despite or because of the differences in their backgrounds; or figuring out what comes next, either post-movie-as-shown or maybe in an AU where they end up sticking around at the Wall - perhaps if the queen wasn't killed, so the Tao Tei were only knocked back for another 60 years and Lin Mae requested their expertise in coming up with more unorthodox tactics?
Hmm, a couple more ideas if those don't inspire ... William and Tovar getting clean together when they first arrive at the Wall? Hashing out what happened, after they ride off at the end? (Do they have more trouble learning to forgive/trust each other again than the ending implies, or was it really just that easy and one or both of them is a bit thrown by that?) Or even a tropey-er plot, such as your choice of take on soulmate/soulmark AU, or them getting involved in another supernatural adventure (original or crossover) could also be nifty here. [I got an excellent Groundhog Day AU in a previous exchange, for example.]
But whatever you want to write - any and all interactions between William and Tovar would please me very much!
Fandom 4: Salt (2010)
Characters: Evelyn Salt, Darryl Peabody
One of the things I loved about this movie when it came out was the fact that they basically wrote it with a man in mind, then just swapped in a female actor without modifying the role at all. Including the complicated backstory, fridged significant other, tough action sequences, the whole works. It's been long enough since I watched it that I don't have as many specifics or prompts to enthuse about as my other fandoms - I apologize for that! It doesn't mean I want it any less! I came across the drabble I wrote for them years ago right before nominations, and was strongly reminded how much I really wanted some post-movie Salt-centric fic with Peabody as more or less her handler, just going on being a badass with him her touchstone back to the world.
So many complicated feelings, after everything that happened with her husband, and her childhood, and what she was trained to do versus making her own choices, and his perspective on all that having gone from being her interrogator to letting her free, etc. (Peabody being played by Chiwetel Ejiofor certainly didn't hurt.)
You can go action with this, or some kind of canon-divergent/soulmates/etc. AU (as long as they're the focus), or just slice of life post-movie; or even a crossover with any contemporarily-set spy canon if that inspires (could be fun!), but I do confess I have a hankering for some Salt-dominant het, if you feel inspired to go there. As explicit or non-explicit as you feel comfortable writing. True love not required.
I hope I've given you some things to be thoughtful about, rather than boxing you in or leaving you flailing. Feel free to ignore my prompts altogether if they don't inspire, or mix and match bits of them to your preference. Thank you again!
