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Yuletide Letter (2015)
Dear Yuletide Writer,
Thank you so much for volunteering to write a fic for me! Please feel free to take a look around my journal if you want to see what kinds of stories I like. You can find my Fanfic Masterlist here, and the fics are also tagged by fandom and/or title in the sidebar. As you can see, I mostly read and write m/m slash, but if you don't feel comfortable writing that, I would be perfectly happy with a gen story, (or also het, for the fandoms that have female characters) too!
Btw, my name on A03 is geri_chan, the same as here on LJ/IJ.
Likes: Love stories with happy endings. Romantic fluff is fine, but I also like angsty fics--as long as they eventually end happily. For gen, I have a soft spot for stories about family or friendship. For both romance and gen: humor, drama, hurt/comfort--it's all good, as long as it ends happily, or at least hopefully. (Actually, I have a pretty big narrative kink for emotional hurt/comfort in particular.) If you decide to write romance, I'm fine with any rating--explicit, steamy sex scenes are great, but I'm happy even if it doesn't go beyond a kiss or fade-to-black. The emotions that the characters share are more important to me than the level of physical affection.
Dislikes/squicks: Character death, noncon, infidelity, mpreg (not really expecting that in these fandoms, but just to be on the safe side). And I generally don't read BDSM unless I'm familiar with the author and know how they'll handle it. Also, it's not a big squick, but I'm not really into threesomes--I'm more into the "two people find true love" trope.
Listed below are some prompt ideas for my chosen fandoms in case you'd like some suggestions, but I want to stress that these are only suggestions and you should feel free to follow your muse, so please don't be intimidated by my very long comments! (I love character/meta discussion and tend to get carried away when talking about my favorite fandoms.) If you come up with an idea that's completely different, it will be all the more exciting for me because it's a surprise, and I'm sure I'll be thrilled with whatever you write! :D
Aibou | Partners (TV) (Any--Itami Kenichi, Kai Tooru, Kanbe Takeru, Sugishita Ukyo):
See my Aibou tags (including past letters) for more on my thoughts about the show and characters.
This fandom has 0 fics (at least in English), so I'd be thrilled with any fic about any of the characters! Shippy or gen, casefic or stories about any of the guys' personal lives--it's all good! What I love most about the show is the characters and their interactions with each other, so you could write a story about them just hanging out at Hana no Sato for a drink after work and I would be perfectly happy.
That said, in case you need some ideas, here are some prompts and thoughts about the characters:
I really love that all Sugishita's partners are quite different, as are his relationships with them. For example, his friendship with first partner Kameyama vs. his (initially, at least) more adversarial relationship with Kanbe. In contrast, Sugishita's relationship with Kai is particularly interesting, since Kai is the first partner that he actually chose, and also because he acts as more of a mentor to Kai, who is younger and inexperienced compared to Kameyama and Kanbe.
I am quite intrigued by the fact that Sugishita specifically chose Kai, and even calls him by the nickname "Kaito" when he usually formally addresses people by their last name plus "san" or "kun". And I like that Kai is idealistic and a bit hotheaded, not unlike Kameyama, and that he's young enough to make some rookie mistakes. I'm in the middle of Season 11, and I'm really enjoying watching Kai grow and mature as a detective.
As mentioned in previous letters, what I like about Kanbe is that he's more reserved (compared to the other two partners), and how his outward charm often hides what he’s really thinking. I also like the tension that sometimes develops between him and Sugishita when they clash over moral issues: Sugishita is devoted to exposing the truth no matter what, while Kanbe sometimes wants to bend the rules in order to protect someone and/or show compassion. And on a lighter note, I am vastly amused by Kanbe's squeamishness over dead bodies.
As for Itami, I love his ongoing feud with the Special Mission unit, and I love that beneath all the gruff rudeness and sneering insults, Itami is an honest and decent cop who has more in common with the Special Mission team than he'd like to admit. And I love the rare moments when he shows a softer or more vulnerable side, like in Season 11, Ep. 9 when he is unusually gentle and understanding while questioning Kai, who has suffered amnesia after an attack, or in Season 8, Ep. 15 (狙われた刑事, or "Detective Targeted"), when he's struck with guilt over his failure to protect a witness. That was one of my favorite episodes because he and Kanbe have a brief bonding moment in which they both discuss mistakes they've made resulting in an innocent person being hurt--something that the genius Sugishita, who never makes mistakes, would not understand. Just for that one moment, there was a sense of understanding and connection, and ever since then, I've shipped the two of them together in my headcanon.
And finally Sugishita: I like the way that he never takes offense to Itami's (or any of the other cops') insults, but cheerfully ignores them and carries on with his investigation. I like the different sense of respect/connection that he develops with each of his three partners, and at the same time, I am intrigued and sometimes a little saddened by the sense of distance (however slight) that exists between him and them--well, between him and everyone else, actually. Despite his intellectual brilliance, I think that's his weak point, and one that makes him interesting to me: he’s a bit aloof and sometimes has difficulty with emotionally relating to other people, which I suspect is why he and his wife broke up.
Suggested prompts:
-Any combination of characters working together on a case, or getting together for a drink after work. If you want to explore how the characters do or don't get along with each other, that's great, but feel free to keep it light if you prefer.
-Kanbe temporarily joining Sugishita and Kai on a case--I'd love to see how he and Kai react to each other. Maybe they're each a little jealous of the other? Or maybe they actually get along and commiserate about having to put up with Sugishita's eccentricities.
-Itami seeking out Special Mission's help on a case, or Itami being temporarily demoted to Special Mission as punishment for talking back to his superiors.
-Itami is gay, but is closeted for the sake of his career. One night he goes to a gay bar and is shocked to find Kanbe there, and somehow the two of them wind up going home together. (Kanbe has a canonical ex-girlfriend, so for the sake of fic, let's say he's bisexual.)
-For solo character prompts, maybe a story about the character's past, such as the time that Sugishita spent training at Scotland Yard, or Kanbe's past work in the MPD or the NPA. For Kai, maybe something exploring his relationship with his father and why they are estranged? And for Itami, you could write a story where he solves a case without Special Mission's interference for once. Or tell me why any of them decided to become a police officer--have they always had a strong sense of justice, or is there a personal reason, such as the death of a loved one or some past injustice that they suffered?
I don't have any fanon ships other than Itami/Kanbe, but if you want to write shippy fic, I'd enjoy seeing your take on the characters! If you want canon ships, feel free to include Tamaki and/or Etsuko. If you want to write slash, I'm fine with that, but I don't care for infidelity, so if you're shipping Kai with one of the guys, please make it an AU in which he and Etsuko broke up amicably or were never a couple to begin with.
You can also feel free to write about about any other Aibou character that you want--I love them all, but didn't have enough slots to include more of them! I'm currently watching Season 11 (and will probably have finished it by the time of Yuletide reveals), but I'm okay with being spoiled if you have an awesome idea that takes place after that. I'm semi-spoiled for the end of Season 13 (I know how Kai left the show, but not the exact circumstances), so if you have a burning desire to write fix-it fic, please go right ahead!
The Chinese site Youku has episodes available for streaming online--with Chinese subtitles only, I'm afraid. Dramanice also has some videos available, but they don't seem to have subtitles either, although I haven't checked them all. YouTube has a lot of short clips if you do a search for "Aibou" or "相棒", but not many full episodes, although you may be able to find a few. It's possible that you might be able to find some fansubs online by doing a web search, though I can't vouch for any download sources. Sorry I can't be more helpful!
The official Japanese website for the show can be found here.
Foreigner Series - C. J. Cherryh (Cajeiri, Irene): I love Cajeiri--his earnestness and enthusiasm, and his very unique viewpoint as the only Atevi child to have been raised among humans. Not to mention the way that he's been shaped by being raised by Illisidi! We know less about Irene, but I'm really impressed by the bravery and cleverness she showed at the end of Tracker, and by her loyalty to Cajeiri.
I was really intrigued by what happened with Irene in Tracker, so I would love post-canon fic showing what happens to her after the book ends. That could be in the short term, as in where does she go to live now that living with her mother on the station is not going to be an option--does she stay with Cajeiri, at least for the short term while they sort things out? Or perhaps she could be fostered by Illisidi (a rather intimidating prospect!) or Tatiseigi, now that the old conservative has developed an unlikely soft spot for Cajeiri's human friends? Or, as some readers have speculated, perhaps she will be apprenticed to Bren for paidhi training?
(Obviously, some of these prompts include characters that I haven't requested, so feel free to include them if you want, but don't feel like you have to. You can have Irene's guardian be "offscreen" while Cajeiri and Irene discuss her situation, for example, or go with a completely different prompt since these are only suggestions.)
In the long run, what happens when Cajeiri and Irene are grown up? What happens if, as seems likely, they fall in love? Bren and Jago's discreet relationship is tolerated (in large part, I suspect because not many people know about it), but the future Aiji having a human lover is sure to cause a huge scandal and uproar. Do they deal with it by keeping their affair secret, or can Cajeiri appease his opponents by making a brief contract marriage to produce an heir with an Atevi woman? Or does he come up with another solution that I can't even begin to imagine? ETA: Please, no underage sex for this pair, but I'm fine with them having sexytimes as adults, if you want to go there.
If you don't feel comfortable writing post-canon fic, I'd love to read about Irene and Cajeiri having an adventure together while she's on the planet for his birthday celebration. They could be exploring Tirnamardi or Najida together (and maybe getting into some mischief) while their friends are asleep or otherwise occupied. Or maybe they are being perfectly behaved and minding their own business when an enemy attacks the residence, or some sort of other emergency happens, and Cajeiri and Irene must hide/protect themselves or find some way to help.
I'm focusing my prompts on Cajeiri and Irene, since they're the only characters that I requested, but absolutely feel free to include any others that you want! I love all the Atevi characters, and I definitely wouldn't mind seeing Bren and/or Jase if you wanted to include them, or Gene and Artur to round out Cajeiri's group of friends.
Haru wo Daiteita | Embracing Love (Kikuchi Katsuya, Onozuka Yuu): I received a wonderful Iwaki/Katou fic last year, so this year I'm requesting Kikuchi and Onozuka! What I like most about these two is are how devious and complex they are. Kikuchi is a jerk towards Iwaki and Katou, but at the same time, I can understand his bitterness and have some sympathy for the way his career was destroyed by the past gay scandal. As for Onozuka, he's a manipulative bastard, but he's also very loyal towards his friends.
I ship the two of them together in my fics, so I would be thrilled if you wanted to write that pairing, but since it's purely fanon, please don't feel like you have to. I would be perfectly happy to see them having some gen adventures together: perhaps Kikuchi is scheming to make trouble for Katou and Iwaki, while Onozuka schemes to help his friends; or Kikuchi and Onozuka team up to play a (mostly) harmless prank on Iwaki and Katou.
They both seem to dislike Iwaki to a certain extent, although in Onozuka's case, I think it's more jealousy that Katou and Miyasaka pay so much attention to him. But in any case, I can see the two of them bonding over the fact that they seem to be the only people who don't think that Iwaki is perfect. Maybe that leads to romance, or just a great friendship. (It would be funny to see Katou's reaction to those two getting together either romantically or platonically, if you want to include him.)
It's my pet theory that Onozuka secretly has some slightly more-than-platonic feelings for Katou and/or Miyasaka, but chooses not to act on them because he knows that (1) Katou will never love anyone but Iwaki, and that (2) it just wouldn't work out and they're better off as friends. If you want to ship Kikuchi and Onozuka together, maybe Kikuchi helps him get over those feelings?
If you do choose to write Kikuchi and Onozuka as a couple, I'd also love to see them having lovers' quarrels for the pleasure of making up later--maybe one day it goes too far and a fake quarrel becomes real, or maybe their coworkers get fed up with all the drama and decide to teach them a lesson. Or show me how they got together in the first place! Obviously, I have my own headcanon for that in my fics, but I'd love to see a different take on the pairing.
I'd even be cool with a fic just about Kikuchi, if you're not as familiar with Onozuka (since he hasn't appeared in the official English releases yet). I'd love to see a story taking a look at the scandal that forced him to leave Japan, and/or showing us what his life in America was like. And OTOH, if you'd like to write a story focusing on Onozuka, maybe something about how he got into show business or why he's so devious?
Really, I'd just be happy with any story about these two, solo or together! I love all the Haru characters, so please feel free to include any other characters you want.
Viz is currently releasing the manga in both print and e-book form.
The Youka Nitta LJ comm has some summaries of recent chapters, but since the comm is friends-locked, you'll need to join to see the entries.
And there is a scanalation community working on the latest Haru chapters released in Japan.
Troubleshooters Inc - Suzanne Brockmann (Ihbraham Rahman, Mary Lou Starrett): I love Sam and Alyssa, so I was totally prepared to hate Mary Lou for breaking them up, but damn if Brockmann didn't make me sympathize with her and root for her to get her own happy ending! (I talk bit about how my perception of Mary Lou changed in this post.)
I really loved Ihbraham when we met him in Into the Night, and really enjoyed the way his friendship with Mary Lou slowly developed and eventually blossomed into love. I like his kindness and his soft-spoken, gentle manner, while also admiring his courage and strength of character. As for Mary Lou, I sympathize with her desperate desire for love and belonging, even if she initially went about trying to get it in all the wrong ways.
I really enjoyed reading about these two, so I was disappointed that we haven't gotten to see more of them since Gone Too Far, although it's mentioned in Hot Pursuit that they'll be having a baby.
So what I'd really like is to read more about Mary Lou and Ihbraham! Anything about these two would make me happy, but if you need some ideas, I'd love to read about their married life together. They obviously love each other very much, but there are bound to be a few adjustments to make, and I'd like to see how they adapt to becoming a couple and a family (with Haley and eventually the new baby, if you want to include the kids). How does Ihbraham's family react to the marriage, and if they disapprove, which seems likely, how does Mary Lou win them over? Or maybe she doesn't, and Ihbraham has to make peace with that.
Other ideas:
-A story about their honeymoon. Maybe it was wonderful and romantic, or maybe it was disastrous and nothing turned out as planned, but they're able to laugh it off and still have a good time because they're together.
-They get involved in a Troubleshooters-related adventure. Maybe they're targeted by bad guys because of Mary Lou's connection to Sam, or they coincidentally come across some information related to a Troubleshooters op. Include any other Troubleshooters characters if you want, or if not, I think it would be awesome if Mary Lou and Ihbraham manage to rescue themselves without any outside help!
Completely optional, but if you want to include Sam and/or Alyssa:
-It seems like by the time Hot Pursuit takes place, Sam and Alyssa are getting along well enough with Mary Lou that they consider asking her and Ihbraham to babysit Ash. I'd love to see what happens in-between, and how they reached that stage of friendliness. Sam and Mary Lou are both much happier with their current spouses, which I'm sure was a major factor, but there was probably still some awkwardness and maybe a few issues they needed to work out.
-Or show me what happens when they get over all that and are in a good place, with both families hanging out together amicably.
I love all the Troubleshooters characters, so if you want to include any of them, please feel free to do so!
Mary Lou and Ihbraham are featured in the novels Into the Night and Gone Too Far. For more info about the series, see Suzanne Brockmann's official website.
Usagi Drop | Bunny Drop (Kaga Rin, Kawachi Daikichi): I love how Daikichi steps up to take care of Rin because no one else will, and that even though it was an impulsive decision and at times he's overwhelmed by his new responsibilities, he never once considers going back on his word. I love how he muddles through despite his inexperience and does his best to be a good parent to Rin. As for Rin, I love how cute and adorable she is without being saccharine-sweet. And most of all, I love the father/daughter relationship between these two (even if they don't call themselves father and daughter).
I'd prefer fic set during Books 1-4 (or during Season 1 of the anime) when Rin is still about six, but if you have a great idea for a preteen or teenager Rin, I'm cool with that. However, I don't ship Daikichi/Rin, so please keep their relationship strictly father/daughter.
Here are some story ideas if you need inspiration, but as always, feel free to follow your muse if you have other ideas:
I remember how Daikichi asked Rin early in the series if she wanted to call him "Dad," and she said no (because "Grandpa" is her dad). I understand why she felt that way, but I did kind of want Daikichi to become "Dad," so I would enjoy a fic where Rin changed her mind later on and wanted Daikichi to formally adopt her and/or call him "Dad," while still treasuring the memory of Grandpa. Or maybe she continues to call Daikichi by name, but writes a Father's Day card or essay that Daikichi is moved to tears by.
If that doesn't tickle your fancy, then I'd be happy with any type of canon-style Daikichi and Rin adventure, such as Daikichi nursing Rin through an illness (or vice versa), or helping her with a big homework project, or Daikichi taking Rin on a trip during summer vacation (such as to his parents' place, or the beach, or an amusement park).
Kouki and his mom weren't nominated, so this is completely optional, but if you want to include them in the story, please feel free to do so! I love the friendship between Kouki and Rin, and how Kouki feels comfortable inviting himself over to Rin and Daikichi's house to play or to join them for meals. I was rooting for Daikichi and Kouki's mom to end up together, so if you want to ship them, I would love that, but if you don't, I also love them just being friends and helping each other out as fellow single parents. If you do want to include Kouki and his mom, I'd really enjoy a fic about the four of them going on an outing together, such as a picnic or a visit to the zoo. But once again, that's completely optional, and I'd be just as happy with a story focusing solely on Rin and Daikichi.
The manga is available in English from Yen Press, and the anime is available on Blu-ray/DVD from NIS America, or can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
Once again, my prompts are just suggestions, so please don't feel bound to follow them if you come up with something different! I'd be thrilled to get fic for any of my small fandoms, so I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever you come up with. ^_^
Thank you so much for volunteering to write a fic for me! Please feel free to take a look around my journal if you want to see what kinds of stories I like. You can find my Fanfic Masterlist here, and the fics are also tagged by fandom and/or title in the sidebar. As you can see, I mostly read and write m/m slash, but if you don't feel comfortable writing that, I would be perfectly happy with a gen story, (or also het, for the fandoms that have female characters) too!
Btw, my name on A03 is geri_chan, the same as here on LJ/IJ.
Likes: Love stories with happy endings. Romantic fluff is fine, but I also like angsty fics--as long as they eventually end happily. For gen, I have a soft spot for stories about family or friendship. For both romance and gen: humor, drama, hurt/comfort--it's all good, as long as it ends happily, or at least hopefully. (Actually, I have a pretty big narrative kink for emotional hurt/comfort in particular.) If you decide to write romance, I'm fine with any rating--explicit, steamy sex scenes are great, but I'm happy even if it doesn't go beyond a kiss or fade-to-black. The emotions that the characters share are more important to me than the level of physical affection.
Dislikes/squicks: Character death, noncon, infidelity, mpreg (not really expecting that in these fandoms, but just to be on the safe side). And I generally don't read BDSM unless I'm familiar with the author and know how they'll handle it. Also, it's not a big squick, but I'm not really into threesomes--I'm more into the "two people find true love" trope.
Listed below are some prompt ideas for my chosen fandoms in case you'd like some suggestions, but I want to stress that these are only suggestions and you should feel free to follow your muse, so please don't be intimidated by my very long comments! (I love character/meta discussion and tend to get carried away when talking about my favorite fandoms.) If you come up with an idea that's completely different, it will be all the more exciting for me because it's a surprise, and I'm sure I'll be thrilled with whatever you write! :D
Aibou | Partners (TV) (Any--Itami Kenichi, Kai Tooru, Kanbe Takeru, Sugishita Ukyo):
See my Aibou tags (including past letters) for more on my thoughts about the show and characters.
This fandom has 0 fics (at least in English), so I'd be thrilled with any fic about any of the characters! Shippy or gen, casefic or stories about any of the guys' personal lives--it's all good! What I love most about the show is the characters and their interactions with each other, so you could write a story about them just hanging out at Hana no Sato for a drink after work and I would be perfectly happy.
That said, in case you need some ideas, here are some prompts and thoughts about the characters:
I really love that all Sugishita's partners are quite different, as are his relationships with them. For example, his friendship with first partner Kameyama vs. his (initially, at least) more adversarial relationship with Kanbe. In contrast, Sugishita's relationship with Kai is particularly interesting, since Kai is the first partner that he actually chose, and also because he acts as more of a mentor to Kai, who is younger and inexperienced compared to Kameyama and Kanbe.
I am quite intrigued by the fact that Sugishita specifically chose Kai, and even calls him by the nickname "Kaito" when he usually formally addresses people by their last name plus "san" or "kun". And I like that Kai is idealistic and a bit hotheaded, not unlike Kameyama, and that he's young enough to make some rookie mistakes. I'm in the middle of Season 11, and I'm really enjoying watching Kai grow and mature as a detective.
As mentioned in previous letters, what I like about Kanbe is that he's more reserved (compared to the other two partners), and how his outward charm often hides what he’s really thinking. I also like the tension that sometimes develops between him and Sugishita when they clash over moral issues: Sugishita is devoted to exposing the truth no matter what, while Kanbe sometimes wants to bend the rules in order to protect someone and/or show compassion. And on a lighter note, I am vastly amused by Kanbe's squeamishness over dead bodies.
As for Itami, I love his ongoing feud with the Special Mission unit, and I love that beneath all the gruff rudeness and sneering insults, Itami is an honest and decent cop who has more in common with the Special Mission team than he'd like to admit. And I love the rare moments when he shows a softer or more vulnerable side, like in Season 11, Ep. 9 when he is unusually gentle and understanding while questioning Kai, who has suffered amnesia after an attack, or in Season 8, Ep. 15 (狙われた刑事, or "Detective Targeted"), when he's struck with guilt over his failure to protect a witness. That was one of my favorite episodes because he and Kanbe have a brief bonding moment in which they both discuss mistakes they've made resulting in an innocent person being hurt--something that the genius Sugishita, who never makes mistakes, would not understand. Just for that one moment, there was a sense of understanding and connection, and ever since then, I've shipped the two of them together in my headcanon.
And finally Sugishita: I like the way that he never takes offense to Itami's (or any of the other cops') insults, but cheerfully ignores them and carries on with his investigation. I like the different sense of respect/connection that he develops with each of his three partners, and at the same time, I am intrigued and sometimes a little saddened by the sense of distance (however slight) that exists between him and them--well, between him and everyone else, actually. Despite his intellectual brilliance, I think that's his weak point, and one that makes him interesting to me: he’s a bit aloof and sometimes has difficulty with emotionally relating to other people, which I suspect is why he and his wife broke up.
Suggested prompts:
-Any combination of characters working together on a case, or getting together for a drink after work. If you want to explore how the characters do or don't get along with each other, that's great, but feel free to keep it light if you prefer.
-Kanbe temporarily joining Sugishita and Kai on a case--I'd love to see how he and Kai react to each other. Maybe they're each a little jealous of the other? Or maybe they actually get along and commiserate about having to put up with Sugishita's eccentricities.
-Itami seeking out Special Mission's help on a case, or Itami being temporarily demoted to Special Mission as punishment for talking back to his superiors.
-Itami is gay, but is closeted for the sake of his career. One night he goes to a gay bar and is shocked to find Kanbe there, and somehow the two of them wind up going home together. (Kanbe has a canonical ex-girlfriend, so for the sake of fic, let's say he's bisexual.)
-For solo character prompts, maybe a story about the character's past, such as the time that Sugishita spent training at Scotland Yard, or Kanbe's past work in the MPD or the NPA. For Kai, maybe something exploring his relationship with his father and why they are estranged? And for Itami, you could write a story where he solves a case without Special Mission's interference for once. Or tell me why any of them decided to become a police officer--have they always had a strong sense of justice, or is there a personal reason, such as the death of a loved one or some past injustice that they suffered?
I don't have any fanon ships other than Itami/Kanbe, but if you want to write shippy fic, I'd enjoy seeing your take on the characters! If you want canon ships, feel free to include Tamaki and/or Etsuko. If you want to write slash, I'm fine with that, but I don't care for infidelity, so if you're shipping Kai with one of the guys, please make it an AU in which he and Etsuko broke up amicably or were never a couple to begin with.
You can also feel free to write about about any other Aibou character that you want--I love them all, but didn't have enough slots to include more of them! I'm currently watching Season 11 (and will probably have finished it by the time of Yuletide reveals), but I'm okay with being spoiled if you have an awesome idea that takes place after that. I'm semi-spoiled for the end of Season 13 (I know how Kai left the show, but not the exact circumstances), so if you have a burning desire to write fix-it fic, please go right ahead!
The Chinese site Youku has episodes available for streaming online--with Chinese subtitles only, I'm afraid. Dramanice also has some videos available, but they don't seem to have subtitles either, although I haven't checked them all. YouTube has a lot of short clips if you do a search for "Aibou" or "相棒", but not many full episodes, although you may be able to find a few. It's possible that you might be able to find some fansubs online by doing a web search, though I can't vouch for any download sources. Sorry I can't be more helpful!
The official Japanese website for the show can be found here.
Foreigner Series - C. J. Cherryh (Cajeiri, Irene): I love Cajeiri--his earnestness and enthusiasm, and his very unique viewpoint as the only Atevi child to have been raised among humans. Not to mention the way that he's been shaped by being raised by Illisidi! We know less about Irene, but I'm really impressed by the bravery and cleverness she showed at the end of Tracker, and by her loyalty to Cajeiri.
I was really intrigued by what happened with Irene in Tracker, so I would love post-canon fic showing what happens to her after the book ends. That could be in the short term, as in where does she go to live now that living with her mother on the station is not going to be an option--does she stay with Cajeiri, at least for the short term while they sort things out? Or perhaps she could be fostered by Illisidi (a rather intimidating prospect!) or Tatiseigi, now that the old conservative has developed an unlikely soft spot for Cajeiri's human friends? Or, as some readers have speculated, perhaps she will be apprenticed to Bren for paidhi training?
(Obviously, some of these prompts include characters that I haven't requested, so feel free to include them if you want, but don't feel like you have to. You can have Irene's guardian be "offscreen" while Cajeiri and Irene discuss her situation, for example, or go with a completely different prompt since these are only suggestions.)
In the long run, what happens when Cajeiri and Irene are grown up? What happens if, as seems likely, they fall in love? Bren and Jago's discreet relationship is tolerated (in large part, I suspect because not many people know about it), but the future Aiji having a human lover is sure to cause a huge scandal and uproar. Do they deal with it by keeping their affair secret, or can Cajeiri appease his opponents by making a brief contract marriage to produce an heir with an Atevi woman? Or does he come up with another solution that I can't even begin to imagine? ETA: Please, no underage sex for this pair, but I'm fine with them having sexytimes as adults, if you want to go there.
If you don't feel comfortable writing post-canon fic, I'd love to read about Irene and Cajeiri having an adventure together while she's on the planet for his birthday celebration. They could be exploring Tirnamardi or Najida together (and maybe getting into some mischief) while their friends are asleep or otherwise occupied. Or maybe they are being perfectly behaved and minding their own business when an enemy attacks the residence, or some sort of other emergency happens, and Cajeiri and Irene must hide/protect themselves or find some way to help.
I'm focusing my prompts on Cajeiri and Irene, since they're the only characters that I requested, but absolutely feel free to include any others that you want! I love all the Atevi characters, and I definitely wouldn't mind seeing Bren and/or Jase if you wanted to include them, or Gene and Artur to round out Cajeiri's group of friends.
Haru wo Daiteita | Embracing Love (Kikuchi Katsuya, Onozuka Yuu): I received a wonderful Iwaki/Katou fic last year, so this year I'm requesting Kikuchi and Onozuka! What I like most about these two is are how devious and complex they are. Kikuchi is a jerk towards Iwaki and Katou, but at the same time, I can understand his bitterness and have some sympathy for the way his career was destroyed by the past gay scandal. As for Onozuka, he's a manipulative bastard, but he's also very loyal towards his friends.
I ship the two of them together in my fics, so I would be thrilled if you wanted to write that pairing, but since it's purely fanon, please don't feel like you have to. I would be perfectly happy to see them having some gen adventures together: perhaps Kikuchi is scheming to make trouble for Katou and Iwaki, while Onozuka schemes to help his friends; or Kikuchi and Onozuka team up to play a (mostly) harmless prank on Iwaki and Katou.
They both seem to dislike Iwaki to a certain extent, although in Onozuka's case, I think it's more jealousy that Katou and Miyasaka pay so much attention to him. But in any case, I can see the two of them bonding over the fact that they seem to be the only people who don't think that Iwaki is perfect. Maybe that leads to romance, or just a great friendship. (It would be funny to see Katou's reaction to those two getting together either romantically or platonically, if you want to include him.)
It's my pet theory that Onozuka secretly has some slightly more-than-platonic feelings for Katou and/or Miyasaka, but chooses not to act on them because he knows that (1) Katou will never love anyone but Iwaki, and that (2) it just wouldn't work out and they're better off as friends. If you want to ship Kikuchi and Onozuka together, maybe Kikuchi helps him get over those feelings?
If you do choose to write Kikuchi and Onozuka as a couple, I'd also love to see them having lovers' quarrels for the pleasure of making up later--maybe one day it goes too far and a fake quarrel becomes real, or maybe their coworkers get fed up with all the drama and decide to teach them a lesson. Or show me how they got together in the first place! Obviously, I have my own headcanon for that in my fics, but I'd love to see a different take on the pairing.
I'd even be cool with a fic just about Kikuchi, if you're not as familiar with Onozuka (since he hasn't appeared in the official English releases yet). I'd love to see a story taking a look at the scandal that forced him to leave Japan, and/or showing us what his life in America was like. And OTOH, if you'd like to write a story focusing on Onozuka, maybe something about how he got into show business or why he's so devious?
Really, I'd just be happy with any story about these two, solo or together! I love all the Haru characters, so please feel free to include any other characters you want.
Viz is currently releasing the manga in both print and e-book form.
The Youka Nitta LJ comm has some summaries of recent chapters, but since the comm is friends-locked, you'll need to join to see the entries.
And there is a scanalation community working on the latest Haru chapters released in Japan.
Troubleshooters Inc - Suzanne Brockmann (Ihbraham Rahman, Mary Lou Starrett): I love Sam and Alyssa, so I was totally prepared to hate Mary Lou for breaking them up, but damn if Brockmann didn't make me sympathize with her and root for her to get her own happy ending! (I talk bit about how my perception of Mary Lou changed in this post.)
I really loved Ihbraham when we met him in Into the Night, and really enjoyed the way his friendship with Mary Lou slowly developed and eventually blossomed into love. I like his kindness and his soft-spoken, gentle manner, while also admiring his courage and strength of character. As for Mary Lou, I sympathize with her desperate desire for love and belonging, even if she initially went about trying to get it in all the wrong ways.
I really enjoyed reading about these two, so I was disappointed that we haven't gotten to see more of them since Gone Too Far, although it's mentioned in Hot Pursuit that they'll be having a baby.
So what I'd really like is to read more about Mary Lou and Ihbraham! Anything about these two would make me happy, but if you need some ideas, I'd love to read about their married life together. They obviously love each other very much, but there are bound to be a few adjustments to make, and I'd like to see how they adapt to becoming a couple and a family (with Haley and eventually the new baby, if you want to include the kids). How does Ihbraham's family react to the marriage, and if they disapprove, which seems likely, how does Mary Lou win them over? Or maybe she doesn't, and Ihbraham has to make peace with that.
Other ideas:
-A story about their honeymoon. Maybe it was wonderful and romantic, or maybe it was disastrous and nothing turned out as planned, but they're able to laugh it off and still have a good time because they're together.
-They get involved in a Troubleshooters-related adventure. Maybe they're targeted by bad guys because of Mary Lou's connection to Sam, or they coincidentally come across some information related to a Troubleshooters op. Include any other Troubleshooters characters if you want, or if not, I think it would be awesome if Mary Lou and Ihbraham manage to rescue themselves without any outside help!
Completely optional, but if you want to include Sam and/or Alyssa:
-It seems like by the time Hot Pursuit takes place, Sam and Alyssa are getting along well enough with Mary Lou that they consider asking her and Ihbraham to babysit Ash. I'd love to see what happens in-between, and how they reached that stage of friendliness. Sam and Mary Lou are both much happier with their current spouses, which I'm sure was a major factor, but there was probably still some awkwardness and maybe a few issues they needed to work out.
-Or show me what happens when they get over all that and are in a good place, with both families hanging out together amicably.
I love all the Troubleshooters characters, so if you want to include any of them, please feel free to do so!
Mary Lou and Ihbraham are featured in the novels Into the Night and Gone Too Far. For more info about the series, see Suzanne Brockmann's official website.
Usagi Drop | Bunny Drop (Kaga Rin, Kawachi Daikichi): I love how Daikichi steps up to take care of Rin because no one else will, and that even though it was an impulsive decision and at times he's overwhelmed by his new responsibilities, he never once considers going back on his word. I love how he muddles through despite his inexperience and does his best to be a good parent to Rin. As for Rin, I love how cute and adorable she is without being saccharine-sweet. And most of all, I love the father/daughter relationship between these two (even if they don't call themselves father and daughter).
I'd prefer fic set during Books 1-4 (or during Season 1 of the anime) when Rin is still about six, but if you have a great idea for a preteen or teenager Rin, I'm cool with that. However, I don't ship Daikichi/Rin, so please keep their relationship strictly father/daughter.
Here are some story ideas if you need inspiration, but as always, feel free to follow your muse if you have other ideas:
I remember how Daikichi asked Rin early in the series if she wanted to call him "Dad," and she said no (because "Grandpa" is her dad). I understand why she felt that way, but I did kind of want Daikichi to become "Dad," so I would enjoy a fic where Rin changed her mind later on and wanted Daikichi to formally adopt her and/or call him "Dad," while still treasuring the memory of Grandpa. Or maybe she continues to call Daikichi by name, but writes a Father's Day card or essay that Daikichi is moved to tears by.
If that doesn't tickle your fancy, then I'd be happy with any type of canon-style Daikichi and Rin adventure, such as Daikichi nursing Rin through an illness (or vice versa), or helping her with a big homework project, or Daikichi taking Rin on a trip during summer vacation (such as to his parents' place, or the beach, or an amusement park).
Kouki and his mom weren't nominated, so this is completely optional, but if you want to include them in the story, please feel free to do so! I love the friendship between Kouki and Rin, and how Kouki feels comfortable inviting himself over to Rin and Daikichi's house to play or to join them for meals. I was rooting for Daikichi and Kouki's mom to end up together, so if you want to ship them, I would love that, but if you don't, I also love them just being friends and helping each other out as fellow single parents. If you do want to include Kouki and his mom, I'd really enjoy a fic about the four of them going on an outing together, such as a picnic or a visit to the zoo. But once again, that's completely optional, and I'd be just as happy with a story focusing solely on Rin and Daikichi.
The manga is available in English from Yen Press, and the anime is available on Blu-ray/DVD from NIS America, or can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
Once again, my prompts are just suggestions, so please don't feel bound to follow them if you come up with something different! I'd be thrilled to get fic for any of my small fandoms, so I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever you come up with. ^_^