thefourthvine | Are You My Santa?

Are You My Santa?

Dear Santa,

Okay. I'm. Um. A little bit afraid that you're looking at your assignment right now and regretting ever signing up for Yuletide, because you got stuck with a crazy recipient OMG. Do not fear! I'm not crazy. Okay, I am, but not in a way that's harmful.

To you, anyway.

I know I went overboard with the details a bit, but I wanted to make sure you had a starting place if you needed one. If you can't do what I requested, or you think you can't do it well, details are optional.

If, on the other hand, you want to know more about what I like in fan fiction in general, or what I'm hoping for from Yuletide this year, read on.

I'm hoping that my story will be like the canon it's based on. I made these requests because I love the canons, after all, so I'm hoping the characters will sound like themselves, act like themselves, and think like themselves. For the fictional fandoms, I'm hoping the story will be similar in tone and content to the canon. For the historical fandoms, I'm hoping the details will be historically accurate and appropriate.

I'm hoping that my story won't be very dark or angsty. I'm great with tension and conflict in the middle, but I'm a big fan of happy endings. Witty dialog and humor are always a plus, if you can go there. I'm neutral about porn this year; if it fits in the story and it's what you want to write, then please do. If it doesn't work in the story, that's great, too. The story's the thing.

ETA: Like an idiot, I forgot to mention squicks. The first and most major one is animal harm - I just can't handle it in any form. And the other one is embarrassment. Minor embarrassment I can survive; major embarrassment leaves me fetal on the floor. So, um, those would be good to skip?

Fandom specifics:

For I, Robot, my ideal is actually a pairing story, though it can be of any rating or explicitness. I'd also be totally happy with a gen story that has a level of subtext similar to the Powell and Donovan short stories in the book. And, as I said, I'm really hoping for malfunctioning robots in space. Malfunctioning robots in space are the very essence of this canon, to me. I'd love to see Powell and Donovan work some kind of robot problem. And if that robot problem causes them to have we're-gonna-die or we're-locked-in-an-enclosed-space or we're-desperate-and-horny first-time sex? That would be golden.

For The Gold Bat, I have no preference between slash or gen. (If you do write slash, though, O'Hara and Moriarty are my first choice, followed very closely by Trever and Clowes - or Trevor and pretty much anyone of roughly his age.) One thing I don't think I made clear in the details is that it doesn't have to be set during the school years - feel free to age them up to university or whatever if you like. I'm hoping for something similar in tone and content to the school stories - light, humorous, filled with school politics and intrigue.

For James Cook and Joseph Banks, as I said, feel free to take it either to a gen or a slash place - extraordinary friendship or pairing, either is fabulous. I'd particularly be interested in something that acknowledges or explores the diversity of their backgrounds and their relative purposes and positions during the expedition. I'd love it to feel like the age of sail, too. If you need references or beta help, obviously I can't volunteer, but you could try

kiss_me_hardy, which is basically tailored to suit your beta and research needs; I've left the community and will stay gone for the duration of Yuletide, so if you post members-only there, I won't be able to see it. And Australiana (and, OMG, maybe even a wombat!) is totally not necessary or expected, but if you can put that in there, I will bounce with joy.

And for Charles Baudelaire - if he's the fandom we share in common, I love you. And I'm so, so sorry. My fourth request is, traditionally, the place where I let my inner crazed fangirl come out and play, and I definitely went there this year. Basically, I want (lower-case 's') supernatural fiction with Charles Baudelaire's rather, um, unique world view as the guide, and Charles himself as a main character. If you can make it jibe with his life, I'd love it. (And if you need references for his life, let me know via the mods or however; I will so totally be happy to help!) Oh, and - I don't speak French, though I'm familiar enough with most of Les Fleurs du Mal that I'll at least understand the poems themselves. But for dialog and suchlike, English is definitely preferable.

Here's what's most important, though: I love all these fandoms. The existence of a story in any of them will make me happy. That it was written for me will make me deliriously happy.

And I already love you for volunteering to write for it.

Love,
TFV, your totally not crazy in any way recipient

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Cook/Banks and a wombat? That would be so freaking cool! *secretly hopes you that as your Yuletide gift, or at least a NYR*

Speaking of Cook, have you read Blue Latitudes yet? It's a rather interesting approach - looking not only Cook's life but his considerable wake throughout history, especially on the islands he encountered.

OMG yes. I loved Blue Latitudes. I mean, I'm a travel essay fan anyway, and I've enjoyed his previous books, so there's also that, but anything that takes Cook and Banks to a modern context gets a big ol' HEART from me.

Cook/Banks and a wombat. Yeah, that's a good, good place to go. (But all my requests are just that cool. Trust me. My requests are the very essence of cool. Um. By very limited definitions of the word "cool." My definition, basically.)

Have fun on

article_xxix and

kiss_me_hardy without me, by the way. I figured it'd be best to get away from there; I don't think the odds my Santa is going the Cook/Banks route are high, but if she is, I don't want to be hovering inquisitively over her only real LJ resources for queries and and betas. (That I know about, anyway.)

For James Cook and Joseph Banks, as I said, feel free to take it either to a gen or a slash place - extraordinary friendship or pairing, either is fabulous. I'd particularly be interested in something that acknowledges or explores the diversity of their backgrounds and their relative purposes and positions during the expedition. I'd love it to feel like the age of sail, too. If you need references or beta help, obviously I can't volunteer, but you could try [info]kiss_me_hardy or [info]article_xxix, particularly the former; I've left both communities and will stay gone for the duration of Yuletide, so if you post members-only there, I won't be able to see it. And Australiana (and, OMG, maybe even a wombat!) is totally not necessary or expected, but if you can put that in there, I will bounce with joy.
OMG, *genius*. Not something I'd ever thought of, but very cool! And I was wondering how the wombat came into it.

Yeah, that'd be how. (I, um. Hope you weren't imagining anything really unfortunate, because, yes, I love Our Friend the Wombat, but not that way.)

And, yes, Cook/Banks. I finally decided to come to terms with my historical RPF needs this year. Because - Joseph Banks! James Cook! Theirloveissoexploratory!

I honestly cannot decide which of these I want more. Every time I think of one, I'm all, "OMG PLEASE SANTA PICK THAT ONE," and then I think of another and I want that one, too.

Eeeeee yay Yuletide!

I am stealing this bit wholesale:

I know I went overboard with the details a bit, but I wanted to make sure you had a starting place if you needed one. If you can't do what I requested, or you think you can't do it well, details are optional.

And then I am re-writing this godawful executive summary, really I am.

Oh, is it midnight? ON MY VACATION?! Well, that's never stopped them before. *looks glumly at document* I can't even get started obsessing about yuletide until this damn thing is done!

FYI,

article_xxix is members-only for posting... you might want to remove it from your recommended list of places to post.

kiss_me_hardy would be perfect, though.

And, OMG, Cook/Banks!!!1 You sick puppy! *loves* If you don't get it for yuletide I might write it for you myself!

You requested The Gold Bat fic? Magnificent. Also the Baudelaire, that's a brilliant idea.

Oh, good point. I'd forgotten

article_xxix is members-only for posting. (Does this mean I'll have to reapply when Yuletide's up? Because I already unsubbed, unfortunately.)

And, OMG, Cook/Banks!!!1 You sick puppy! *loves* If you don't get it for yuletide I might write it for you myself!

*swoons*

I would love you forever for that. The Cook/Banks love is MEANT TO BE. Don't even tell me you've never thought about it.

...You really haven't? It is just me? Damn. But you're thinking about it now, right? Soon you will accept that it is a concept of true brilliance.

I worship the Wodehouse school stories, and I've been requesting a story for one of them for at least two years. (I don't know about 2004, because the email account that had that signup sheet in it went poof, but I think that year I requested the Pothunters.) I have this unfortunate thing for boarding school stories anyway, as I have confessed to you before, and Wodehouse is the king, in my opinion.

Also the Baudelaire, that's a brilliant idea.

I've been trying to write it myself for three years and getting fucking nowhere. If my Yuletide Santa doesn't bite, I'm giving it another try, this time dumping the Angelus/Baudelaire angle and going just for Baudelaire.

Although I will need to find a co-writer who can PLOT. I am hoping to draft

maygra, possibly when SPN goes on hiatus. (She'll be bored! She'll need something to do! ...No, really. Okay, she won't even be interested, but she swore she'd help me plot it, anyway.)

...why am I struck with the urge to make icons for tiny and hitherforeto unconsidered fandoms? It is the power of yuletide. *flails* So, I wanted to stick 'thier love is so exploratory' on an icon, or at the very least cook/banks otp, but I just couldn't make it work.
I did manage to make this icon work, though, so - happy yuletide?

Please pretend I am not crazy. Thanks.

Eee! Thank you so much. It is gorgeous.

(Did you know I had a great and abiding love of maps, or was that just a lucky guess kind of thing?)

*hugs you*

You had better be in bed by now, missy. VACATION = NO WORK.

(Also, when it comes to executive summaries, the secret magical ingredient is HATE. Remember this.)

My hate knows no bounds.

Also, bed.

Vacation only = no work if you are not me, apparently. Gah.

Fancy Hearing Cake! I like it!

Off to bed to dream of YULETIDE!

I thought I remembered you saying it. :) I also tried one with text from Bank's journal, but the map worked better. Although you cannot really see it, there vague and hopeful squiggle in the lower right is labled terra australis. ♥
I am glad you like it.

Also, bed.

OMG YES.

Vacation only = no work if you are not me, apparently.

I think the equation goes: vacation = no work if you do not work for jerks. (Note handy rhyming element to enhance retention!)

Fancy Hearing Cake! I like it!

It (along with my previous user name, "the fluffy temptation of wheat") comes from the theme song of Azumanga Diaoh (an anime that is really, really hard to describe). The English translation of the song is delightfully nonsensical, and my understanding is that it is equally nonsensical in Japanese, transcending the boundaries of traditional song lyrics, with their "meaning" and their "coherence."

Also, it's about romantic love (as much as it is about anything - I mean, there's also phrases like "please eat tonight" and "cake for you" and "fairyland" and so on), but it's the theme song of an anime that doesn't feature any romance (aside from the romantic fantasies one of the characters has about her girlcrush).

I think it's obvious why I thought it needed to be saluted via LJ name. Also, "Fancy Hearing Cake" is a great name for pretty much anything.

DUH, of *course* I've thought about it. I just think that Flinders/Banks are a more appealling pairing. Boyhood friends, Banks is a surgeon, it's all during the Napoleonic Wars and they keep bumping into the French, Flinders is heartbreakingly fond of the ship's cat, they have to beg for a tiny little boat to go off exploring together in, the whole goal of circumnavigation... what's not to love?

I thought I remembered you saying it.

*beams*

Yup! Maps are things of great and lasting beauty.

Although you cannot really see it, there vague and hopeful squiggle in the lower right is labled terra australis.

Awwww. *hearts*

And thank you again!

*admires shiny new icon*

I went to see POTC2: DMC and in several scenes which take place in Norrington's old office you can see a *huge* map of the world (which at times is being painted.) It was *awesome*.
I also went on a tour of the Doge's palace while I was in Venice, and it has a map antechamber thing, with large maps from various time periods and two huge globes (like, as tall as me huge). It was a thing of beauty.

Trim! I love that book.

Have you read David Blaize and sequel by EF Benson? I've read probably a thousand or so school stories, and it's the slashiest thing I've ever read. I do like Wodehouse's stories, but I find him a bit light. For me, the best school stories are those that when you're reading (and preferably for a short time afterwards), school is EVERYTHING, and it matters quite terribly that everyone plays up, is honourable and eschews beastliness.

Baudelaire was on the list and I didn't see it?

Not that I would have been able to write it, but damn, that's a good idea.

*nods*

Many profound and interesting options lurk under the RPF - Historic category.

Next year, I am maybe going to lobby for it to be broken down into things like RPF - Age of Sail and RPF - Literary Figures, or some such, because I think the category confused people.

*grins* I loved your comment about potential interpretation of Cook/Banks/Wombat - we should love our wildlife, but not quite in that way. ;)

Hee, I should reapply to

article_xxix, considering right now, my M.A. thesis is on sodomy in the Napoleonic Royal Navy. Right now, my historiography is bitching about how nobody has written anything worthwhile on the subject.

I'm still pulling for the Cook/Banks route! If you don't get it for Yuletide someone has to write it for ~~all of us~~you!

Azumanga Diaoh

Eeeeeeeeeee! <3

That is all.

Azumanga Daioh, yay. ♥

I'm not sure whether I'm going to write a Yuletide Santa letter myself or not...do people *actually* look each other up for Yuletide? *has never run into this in any other challenges/exchanges before*

I totally stole your last two lines for my yuletide santa post (http://kalpurna.livejournal.com/24597.html), just FYI. :D

Yup. Yuletide stalking. Totally happens - is in fact the SOP - and I am practicing it on my recipient right now.

This is why there's a rule against friending your recipient (until after author reveal): if there wasn't, so many people would do it that the surprise would be, um, substantially lessened.

It's part of the fun of Yuletide, actually: obsessively going through everything you can find out about your recipient to determine what she wants. It's all part of that crazy Yuletide charm!

Yay! You are entirely welcome to them. (You'd be welcome to the whole thing, but in less there is a remarkable, even mystical, coincidence going on, you didn't request those same fandoms, so the rest of it wouldn't be much good.)

...huh. *begins composing letter*

And is it a worrying thing if I haven't gotten my assignment yet? *Yuletide virgin, omg*

If you still haven't gotten your assignment, email yuletide@yuletidetreasure.org and get a copy. (And if you have, I hope you're thrilled!)

OMG no. And now I really, really want to. And it is out of print. (Although I love how, if you search for it on Amazon, what you mostly get is references to it in books like "Gay and Lesbian Literary Heritage." Apparently you aren't kidding about the slashiness.

*off to search out-of-print stores*

considering right now, my M.A. thesis is on sodomy in the Napoleonic Royal Navy.

That is indeed a worthy topic.

If you don't get it for Yuletide someone has to write it

Oh, I completely agree. And don't tell

damned_colonial, but now that she's opened her mouth, I will be pestering her for it for all eternity.

Assuming my Yuletide writer doesn't go there, of course.

Also RPF - Artic Explorers? Or maybe: RPF - Historic Literary Figures, RPF - Historic Military Figures, and RPF - Historic Other?

Random drop in to express Gold Bat love :) I think Wodehouse's school stories are the best of his work, I still have so much adoration for The White Feather. O'Hara and Moriarty were the ones with the ferret, right? I like how his characters kind of pop up here and there in the different school stories even when the focus characters are different. I keep forgetting the one where Clowes saved the headmaster's niece from having her bicycle stolen, but lots of love for that too. I kept hoping for a grown up follow up to Mike at Wrykyn but it was not to be *sigh*

Gold Bat woooo!

And, nope, the ferret-keepers were Renford and Harvey, who are too young for me to slash. They're, like, eleven or twelve, I think. O'Hara and Moriarty were the stereotypical Irish scofflaws with the broad accents and the tendency to start trouble - O'Hara was the one who lost the gold bat in the first place, at the base of the mayor's statue, which he and Moriarty were tarring and feathering.

I can't believe that I know all this crap off the top of my head. I've read these books way too many times.

And, and! There is a grown-up follow-up to Mike at Wrykyn - actually, several: the Psmith stories, including Mike and Psmith and Psmith, Journalist and so on. Mike is Psmith's, um, right-hand man. The Psmith stories aren't my favorites, but they do exist. (And eventually Psmith gets married, although he is the GAYEST CHARACTER IN ALL OF LITERATURE, beating even Georgette Heyer's romantic male leads in the field.)

*hearts the school stories SO DAMN MUCH*

(And, by the way, they're out of copyright, so you can get them all at Project Gutenberg if you want them on your PDA or whatever. So cool!)

Oh, right. I can't believe I forgot about the troublemakers! I think I borrowed the book from a friend maybe in the eighth grade or so and only reluctantly gave it back when I came for college here and I am very ashamed that I did not remember *is ashamed*

Am also senile it seems because I picked up a Psmith book once and now recall thinking "Oh! Mike!" but then I didn't really like Psmith at all, so that fizzled out pretty fast and I didn't read any more of them.

Project Gutenberg is very helpful, I actually read The gold Bat and The White Feather again on that site. And, heh, I actually went and got David Blaize from the library a few minutes ago.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Are You My Santa?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject