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Yuletide Letter (2017)
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 ship the male couples, I would be perfectly happy with a gen or (where applicable) f/f or het story too!
My name on A03 is geri_chan, the same as here on DW/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, BDSM, infidelity, mpreg (not really expecting that in these fandoms, but just to be on the safe side). 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
Please be aware that my letter may contain spoilers for the various canons.
相棒 | Aibou | Partners (TV) - Any (Itami Kenichi, Kameyama Kaoru, Kanbe Takeru, Sugishita Ukyo):
You can see my Aibou tags for more on my thoughts about the show and characters if you like.
I love the odd-couple bromance between the brash, impulsive Kameyama Kaoru and the logical, intellectual Sugishita Ukyo. I love that they're complete opposites in personality, but get along very well as both working partners and friends. I like Kaoru's cheerful good nature, and the way that he’s kind in spite of his hotheadedness, and I love his "frenemy" relationship with Itami and how they always insult each other (but care about each other deep down, I suspect). I also love how he has complete trust in his partner, and is willing to riski his life without question if Ukyo asks him to do so.
As for Ukyo, 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 partners, and at the same time, I am intrigued and sometimes a little saddened by the sense of distance 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.
In contrast to Kaoru, I like the way that Kanbe is more reserved, and how his outward charm often hides what he’s really thinking. And I liked how he and Ukyo started off with a rather prickly and adversarial relationship, but gradually learned to trust and respect each other. It was both amusing and touching to see that Ukyo clearly missed Kaoru (though he'd never admit it) and resented his new partner, to the point of being uncharacteristically petty with his frequent criticisms of Kanbe, and also the way that he would often go out to investigate on his own without Kanbe. I also like the comical moments in the show when we see Kanbe getting squeamish over dead bodies. I also like the conflict that results when Ukyo's relentless pursuit of the truth clashes with Kanbe, who would sometimes would prefer to bend the rules in order to protect someone or show compassion.
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. 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.
I'd love to see fic that explores any of these characters and/or the different ways that they relate to each other. Some 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.
-Kaoru returning from abroad to visit Ukyo and meet Ukyo's new partner. Maybe there's a little conflict between him and Kanbe, and/or he helps them with a case.
-Itami seeking out Special Mission's help on a case, or Itami being temporarily demoted to Special Mission as punishment for talking back to Chief Uchimura or one of the other higher-ups in the MPD.
-Itami is gay (or bisexual), 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.
-For solo character prompts, I'd enjoy seeing a story about their past, before Ukyo, Kaoru, and/or Kanbe joined Special Mission: Ukyo's past work in the NPA or training at Scotland Yard as part of an exchange program; Kaoru's career in Division One of the MPD, with or without Itami; Kanbe's past work in the NPA in the Security division. 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?
My only fanon ships are Itami/Kanbe and Itami/Iwatsuki (who isn't nominated), but if you want to write another ship, go ahead! If you want canon ships, feel free to include Tamaki and Miwako. If you want to write slash, I'm fine with that, but I don't care for infidelity, so please set any slash fics with Kaoru during the period when he and Miwako broke up, or make it an AU in which he and Miwako had an amicable permanent breakup. And of course I'm fine with gen, too.
It is absolutely fine with me if you want to write about any other Aibou character that you want--I love them all! Want to write fix-it fic for Kai, or about what Miura's been doing since he retired, or a story about Yonezawa working a case? Feel free! The only sort-of exception is Kaburagi--I haven't seen any of his seasons yet. It's fine to include him, but I'd prefer to have the focus of the story be on the more familiar characters.
I have seen Seasons 1-12, the preseason tv movies, and all the the theatrical movies except for the fourth one. I am okay with being spoiled for the later seasons and movie, and have already been spoiled for the ending of Season 13.
Burnt (2015) - Adam Jones (Burnt), Reece Montgomery, Tony Balerdi: I'm late to the party, but I recently watched this movie and completely fell in love with it! I love the friendship between Adam and Tony, and how Tony is still a loyal friend in spite of everything that Adam has put him through. I shipped them the moment I found out about Tony's unrequited feelings for Adam, and I would really love to see a story where Adam ends up returning his feelings after all.
I also love the intense rivalry and antagonism between Adam and Reece, and how--to my surprise near the end of the movie--they actually respect and care about each other deep down. That was my favorite scene between them: Reece taking care of Adam after his meltdown and making him breakfast and reminiscing about their time in Paris when they were training together. I just loved the way that the tenderness in that scene contrasted with the earlier scenes of them arguing with and insulting each other.
I am cool with Adam/Tony, Adam/Reece, and Reece/Tony, but I'd prefer no threesome fics for them. If you're writing shippy fic, it's okay with me if you want to concentrate on the two guys in the pairing and leave the third out or give him a minimal role. I do feel bad for Tony and his unrequited love, though, so if you write Adam/Reece, it would be nice to drop a reference that Tony really has moved on and is no longer pining over Adam. I like Helene, so if you're writing Adam slash fic, please just handwave that she and Adam never got together or amicably decided that it wasn't working out and went back to just being coworkers and friends. Canon Adam/Helene is okay as a background ship if you're writing Reece/Tony.
I've listed some prompts below in case you need inspiration, but if you have a different idea, feel free to run with it!
Adam/Tony prompts:
-Adam asks Helene to accompany him to the opening of Reece's restaurant, but she's either busy (maybe doing something with Lily) or not interested. She tells him that since he's supposed to ask someone nice to be his date, he ought to ask Tony.
-Tony is doing his best to get over Adam and move on. Maybe he's even started to date other people, and seeing Tony with someone else makes Adam realize that he's in love with Tony after all--but he might have to convince a skeptical Tony that he's really serious about this.
-Tony's father dies and Adam is there to help Tony with his grief, and for a change, be the one to take care of someone else. (In this case, the character death reference is okay.) Or Tony's father doesn't die, but Tony is having a difficult time with his father's illness and Adam is there to support him. Maybe Dad even makes a miraculous recovery! Either way, the experience helps to bring Adam and Tony closer together.
Adam/Reece prompts:
-I'd love anything in the vein of that breakfast scene mentioned above! Maybe this time it's Reece who has a meltdown for some reason, and Adam is there to take care of him and make him breakfast.
-Similarly, a hurt/comfort scenario where one of them is sick or injured, and the other takes care of him, although they both make a show of grumbling about it.
-They're both participating in some kind of cooking competition--maybe as rivals, or maybe they've somehow ended up being partnered together to compete against other teams. If the heat in the kitchen causes things to heat up in the bedroom, that would be great!
Reece/Tony prompts:
-In the movie, Reece tells Adam, "If you have any humanity left, leave Tony Balerdi and his father alone." I like the implied concern for Tony in that statement, and I'd love to see a fic where he continues to be protective of Tony and is determined not to let Adam hurt Tony (either financially or emotionally). Maybe he's always secretly had a thing for Tony but figured that he wouldn't have a chance since Tony was so obviously in love with Adam?
-Reece has always secretly had feelings for Adam, but Reece being Reece,would rather die than admit it. Adam gets together with Helene as he does in canon, and Reece and Tony end up comforting each other.
If you don't ship any of the guys with each other, here are some gen prompts:
-An adventure that the three of them had in their younger and happier days back in Paris, before Adam self-destructed.
-Adam and Reece take part in a cooking competition, as in the Adam/Reece prompt minus the shippiness. Maybe Tony is on hand to try and keep them from killing each other in the process.
-Adam and Reece temporarily set aside their differences to do something nice for Tony. Maybe it's to comfort him after his father's death, or maybe it's just to throw him a surprise birthday party. Or since this is Yuletide, maybe the three of them could get together for a Christmas party.
Crossover option:
-On the off chance that you happen to be familiar with Sweetness & Lightning (see below) and would like to do a wacky crossover, you could have Adam and the guys visit Japan for some reason and stop by Yagi's café. It's not Michelin-star level cuisine, but it's still delicious comfort food and they appreciate it for what it is. But of course this is 100 percent optional, and I'm just throwing it out there just in case you're a fan of both stories.
Elemental Blessings - Sharon Shinn - Corene (Elemental Blessings): I really loved watching the way that Corene has developed over the course of the series, from bratty but vulnerable young princess in the first book, to reckless teenager in the second, to becoming a more mature (if still impulsive) young woman and unofficial ambassador in the the third. I love how close she and Josetta eventually became, after being pitted as rivals against each other by their mothers. I also love her relationship with Zoe, and how well these two women of fire and water get along! And in contrast, I love the more prickly relationship between her and Darien--and I especially love how in Jeweled Fire she was a little uncertain of his love for her, and was touched and reassured when he proved it beyond a doubt by sending the navy to rescue her by force if necessary.
I also loved her relationships with the other princesses in Jeweled Fire, and how they became close friends instead (as one might have suspected) of scheming against each other as rivals. I especially loved her friendship with Melissande! I mostly see them as just friends, but if you ship them, I'd enjoy that too! I did find the scene where Melissande propositions Corene to be intriguing, even if Corene ended up politely turning her down. So if you like, you could write an AU in which Corene did accept and discovers she might be at least a little "sublime"--anything ranging from a one-time fling to true love is fine with me.
I am okay with the canon pairings of Corene/Foley and Josetta/Rafe, but I still OTP Josetta/Foley (which is all Zoe's fault). So you are free to write Corene/Foley or a fanon pairing for her or to not pair her off at all--as long as the story is about Corene, I'll be happy!
One of the things I really like about the series is the drawing of the blessings coins--I've often wished the books were popular enough to warrant making them as fan merchandise! (Maybe a miniature set like the one Corene has in Jeweled Fire?) But for now, you can find a printable set of blessings on the Troubled Waters page of Sharon Shinn's website if you would like to try it out, for story inspiration or just for fun.
Here are a few suggested prompts, but as always, they're just suggestions if you have something different in mind:
-Post-canon fic in which Corene is visiting Melissande--it would be fun to see her exploring a new country! If you want to write about Melissande and/or Jiramondi, it would be nice to see how they're doing, and maybe having an adventure together with Corene.
-Corene returns home to Welce; how does Darian react? (With both pride and exasperation, I suspect, but feel free to come up with your own take on things!) Does he officially make her an ambassador? If you're going with the Corene/Foley canon ship, how does Darian feel about it? Does he think it's inappropriate for a princess to have a guard as a lover or husband, or is he relieved to know that Foley will always be there to protect Corene?
-AU in which Corene marries Garameno. Maybe it's to prove her independence and find a place of her own to belong, or to make an alliance between Welce and Malinqua. Maybe they need to unite against an enemy that threatens them both? I would like to see them eventually fall in love even if the marriage starts out as purely political. Or maybe Garemeno decides that he needs a queen who can help him change Malinquan society (including the prejudices that he and Jiramondi experienced), and he sets out to woo and win over Corene. How does she feel about marrying someone who is so much like her father?
-A story focusing on the friendship between Corene and any (or all) of the other princesses in Jeweled Fire. Maybe an adventure that they had together in Malinqua, or one or more of them comes to Welce on a diplomatic mission and has the chance to reconnect with Corene. Or conversely, Corene travels to one of their countries. If you want to write about Alette, it would be great if Corene finds out that she was able to make it to safety--maybe an epistolary fic in which they exchange letters?
-A story about the time when Corene and Josetta were traveling with Jaker and Barlow after Zoe rescued Corene from having to marry the Viceroy of Soeche-Tas.
-Corene having a solo adventure: maybe as a child, she sneaks away from her nursemaids and the guards to explore the palace, or post-Troubled Waters, sneaks out into the city to have some fun. Maybe she wants to explore the riverbanks where Zoe used to live, envious of the freedom that Zoe had during that time. Maybe the residents there recognize the princess, but pretend not to since she clearly doesn't want to be recognized?
In Death - J.D. Robb - Eve Dallas, Nixie Swisher: One of my favorite In Death books is Survivor in Death, the one in which the orphaned Nixie imprints on Eve for comfort and security after her family is murdered. I really loved how flustered Eve was when Nixie got so attached to her, and how she was totally not prepared to deal with even temporarily taking care of a kid, but at the same time, cared deeply about Nixie and what she was going through. At first glance, it seems like Peabody would be the better choice to comfort a traumatized child, but of course Eve can relate to Nixie because of what she went through herself as a child. And I like how Nixie instinctively senses that Eve is someone she can trust to protect her and keep the promises she makes.
Eve is exactly the kind of character I love--standoffish, distrustful, and emotionally guarded who gradually opens up to the people who care about her, which is probably why I love this series so much. (You can read more about my initial thoughts about the books and Eve here on this earlier review/meta post if you're interested.) So I loved the way she gradually warmed to Nixie, and part of me wished that she would have become Nixie's permanent guardian, and if you would like to write an AU in which she does, I would be thrilled!
It is absolutely 100 percent okay if you would like to include any other In Death characters like Roarke, Peabody, Summerset, or...well, just about anybody because I love them all!
Here are a few suggested prompt ideas if you need inspiration:
-Eve (and Roarke) decide to take in Nixie permanently: legal guardian, foster parents, adoption--whatever works for you. Maybe she decides she can't give Nixie up after all, even though she's terrified of being a parent. Or maybe Nixie isn't happy living with Elizabeth Barrister and Richard DeBlass no matter how kind they are, and Eve realizes that she misses Nixie, too. How does Eve deal with unexpectedly becoming a mother?
-If you prefer to remain canon-compliant, then maybe Nixie could come over to visit Eve. It can be slice-of-life where they just hang out together, maybe enjoying some of the things in Roarke's mansion that a child would find cool, or it can be a casefic where an incident happens while Nixie is staying with Eve--say for example, a robbery taking place at a store where the two of them are shopping. (And yes, I know Eve hates shopping but maybe she promised to do whatever Nixie wanted to do, and Nixie wanted to shop. Though this would probably just convince Eve even further that shopping should be avoided by any means necessary. ^_^)
-Future fic in which a grown-up Nixie decides to follow in Eve's footsteps and become a cop. It can be anything from Eve proudly watching Nixie graduate from the police academy to Nixie as a detective in Eve's squad. Or Nixie is working in a different precinct, but her case has ties to one of Eve's cases.
-Casefic in which Nixie's adoptive family is targeted for some reason, or Nixie herself is targeted, possibly because the culprit is going after people who are close to Eve. Either way, Eve is determined to protect Nixie at all costs.
甘々と稲妻 | Sweetness and Lightning (Anime) - Inuzuka Kouhei, Yagi Yuusuke: For those not familiar with this fandom, it's a very easy one to access, as the manga is currently being published in the US by Kodansha, and the anime is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. Kouhei is a high school teacher and recently widowed father who wants to learn how to cook delicious meals for his daughter Tsumugi. By chance, he stumbles across the restaurant owned by the mother of his student Kotori, and he and Kotori end up learning to cook together. His old friend Yagi works at a restaurant as well, and sometimes joins Kouhei, Tsumugi, and Kotori on their cooking adventures.
This is such an adorable manga/anime, and I love the recipes and all the references to food and cooking. I love how Kouhei's doing in his best in a difficult situation, and how he's trying so hard to be a good father to Tsumugi. He's not perfect, and sometimes he makes mistakes, but I love the way he always does his best to make things right and explain things properly to Tsumugi.
As for Yagi, he's stoic and a bit sardonic on the surface, and even looks a bit scary--Kotori mistakes him for a kidnapper when she spots him with Tsumugi. But he's clearly a kindhearted and good guy deep down, and I like how that contrasts with his outward appearance.
I started shipping these two when I was watching the episode where Yagi mentions that he used to cook for Kouhei when they were in high school, and there were several comments on the Crunchyroll site saying that it sounded like Yagi had a crush on Kouhei, and maybe still has a thing for him now. (Sorry, I forget which episode it was, but I think it might have been the gyoza one.) Ever since then, I haven't been able to get the idea out of my head, so I'd love to see a fic in which the oblivous Kouhei finally realizes that Yagi is in love with him--maybe someone else points it out. (I think Shinobu would be the first to notice, or Tsumugi could innocently and off-handedly mention how much Yagi likes Daddy.) Or maybe Yagi blurts it out after drinking a little too much one night. Or maybe you have a competely different scenario! I'm sure Kouhei would be taken aback, and I'd love to see how he deals with it and comes to recognize his own feelings for Yagi. Bonus points if they show each other their feelings through their cooking! (But don't feel like you have to stick to the canonical cooking/recipe story format unless you want to.)
If you don't ship them, that's fine, because I love the canon version too! In that case, I'd love to see a story about their high school days, or a canonical-style story in which they cook together (with Tsumugi, Kotori, and/or Shinobu if you want). Or maybe it's Yagi who gives Kouhei a cooking lesson this time, or he and Kouhei and Tsumugi go out together on an outing (maybe to the zoo, or a picnic or camping, if you want suggestions). Or Tsumugi is sleeping over at a friend's house, leaving Kouhei free to relax for an evening and go out drinking with Yagi.
I also love Tsumugi, Kotori, and Shinobu, so it's absolutely fine to include them (and/or Kotori's mom) if you want to! But I don't ship Kouhei/Kotori, so please keep their relationship platonic, although it's perfectly fine to reference her crush on him the way canon does.
Completely optional option: If you happen to be a fan of the What Did You Eat Yesterday manga and want to write a crossover, feel free to do so! The emphasis on cooking (and emotions being shown through the cooking) is very similar in both stories, so they seem well-suited to each other. Shiro could be a fan of Kotori's mom, or maybe he or Kenji are friends of Kouhei or Yagi. Or if you happen to be familiar with the Burnt movie (see above), maybe Adam, Tony, and/or Reece are on vacation in Japan and just happen to wander into Yagi's café. Maybe Yagi freaks out when he recognizes a famous chef (or chefs) in his shop! However, these crossover prompts are of course 100 percent optional, and I'm just throwing it out there in case you're a fan of those other fandoms.
Usagi Drop | Bunny Drop - Kaga Rin, Kawachi Daikichi, Nitani Kouki, Nitani Yukari: I was spoiled for the ending of the manga ahead of time, but I was still kind of heartbroken when I finished vol. 9 because I'd been rooting for Daikichi and Kouki's mom to get together when I was reading the earlier volumes when Rin was a little kid. And also because I love the father/daughter bond between Daikichi and Rin, and how much they care about each other, and how earnestly Daikichi does his best to take care of Rin even though he has no experience looking after kids. I love Daikichi because even though he quickly realizes he's in over his head, he never once considers going back on his promise to become her guardian.
So what I'd really love is some fix-it fic where Daikichi and Yukari get together, preferably while Rin and Kouki are still little kids. It can be anything ranging from them getting married with Rin and Kouki becoming siblings to an awkward first date--or maybe it's a great first date where things are more casual and less pressured, like a picnic or a trip to the zoo with the kids. Maybe the kids want them to get married, and scheme to set their parents up on a romantic date. Maybe it all goes hilariously wrong, but Daikichi and Yukari end up getting together so it all works out in spite of itself.
However, I understand if you don't feel comfortable with altering canon, so I'd just be happy with them having some kind of canon-style adventure, like the four of them going on an outing--maybe they go camping, or go to the beach. Or Daikichi dresses up to play Santa for the kids on Christmas! Or a hurt/comfort scenario in which the kids get sick (something they picked up at school?) and Daikichi and Yukari take care of them. Or it's either Daikichi or Yukari who gets sick, and the other takes care of them, with a little help from the kids.
I'd prefer fic set during Books 1-4 (or during the anime, which covers pretty much the same time period) when Rin and Kouki are still about six, but if you want to write them older, I wouldn't mind seeing fic about the missing years between Books 4 and 5. You can even write about their teenage years if that's where your muse takes you, but I do ask that you keep Daikichi and Rin's relationship strictly father/daughter.
If you want to ship Rin and Kouki together--puppy love as little kids, or a more serious relationship as teenagers--I'm fine with that, but please, no underage sex.
I do 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 understood 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. (Maybe Kouki and his mom could help her sort her feelings out?) Or maybe she continue to call Daikichi by name, but writes a Father's Day card or essay that Daikichi is moved to tears by.
If you want to focus more on Yukari and Kouki, I wouldn't mind learning more about Yukari and how she became a single mother, and the challenges involved in raising a son alone. And even if you don't ship her with Daikichi, I'd enjoy seeing them be friends and giving each other support as fellow single parents.
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 for all the fandoms are just suggestions, so please don't feel bound to follow them if you come up with something different! I'd be overjoyed to get fic for any of my small fandoms, so I'm sure I'll be happy with whatever you come up with. ^_^
This letter is also cross-posted at Insane Journal.
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