![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Yuletide Letter (2020)
Thank you so much for volunteering to write a fic for me!
My name on A03 is geri_chan, the same as here on DW/LJ/IJ.
Do Not Wants: Character death (of requested and prompted characters), noncon, BDSM, underage (meaning under 18) explicit fic, infidelity, threesomes/poly, mpreg (not really expecting that in these fandoms, but just to be on the safe side).
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!
Please be aware that my letter may contain spoilers for the various canons.
The Courtship of Eddie's Father (TV) - Eddie Corbett (The Courtship of Eddie's Father (TV)), Tom Corbett (The Courtship of Eddie's Father (TV)): If you like, you can see my promo post on what I love about this fandom, but basically I love the warm and loving father/son relationship between Eddie and his dad Tom. I love how patient and tender Tom is with Eddie, but I also love that he's not a saint and occasionally gets frazzled and frustrated with his kid, as parents do. And I really love that when Tom does make a mistake or treat Eddie unfairly, he'll apologize and do his best to make things right.
While I love Eddie's humorous schemes to find a wife for his widowed dad, my favorite parts of the show were always the little father/son talks at the beginning and end of every episode, where they talk about various topics both silly and serious. There's a nice compilation of them on YouTube here.
As a kid, I loved the humor and Tom and Eddie's close relationship, and as an adult now re-watching the show for the first time in years, I can appreciate that while the show is obviously dated in some aspects, it was surprisingly diverse for its time: Miyoshi Umeki played the Corbetts' housekeeper Mrs. Livingston, who is a really wonderful character in her own right, and a young Cicely Tyson played one of Tom's potential love interests. The show is primarily a comedy, but it does handle prejudice in a thoughtful and sensitive manner without being preachy, in a way that a child like Eddie can understand.
I know I DNWed character death, but since Tom is canonically a widower it's okay to acknowledge his wife's death on the same level that the tv show does, as long as the main focus of the story is on Tom and Eddie's relationship rather than their grief.
I only nominated Tom and Eddie, since I wanted to focus on the father/son relationship, but you are absolutely welcome to include any other characters you like, including Mrs. Livingston, Tom's best friend Norman Tinker, or the various women that Tom has dated or that Eddie has tried to set him up with.
Some suggested prompts if you need them:
-Tom gets married and Eddie gets the new mother he wanted, but maybe adjusting to this new change in the family is more difficult than he expected, since he's used to it just being him and his dad. Maybe he misses Mrs. Livingston (who was only planning to stay until Tom remarried), and/or maybe there's also a stepbrother or stepsister to adjust to. I really loved Betty (Cicely Tyson's character), but feel free to write about whomever you'd like, whether it's another one of Tom's canon love interests or an OC. Or maybe Tom and Mrs. Livingston's friendship turns into romantic love--the three of them are already family, in a sense. The only person I'd rather not see Tom getting together with is his secretary Tina, though it's fine if she appears in the story in her canonical role.
-Tom doesn't marry a woman, but falls in love with a man instead. Maybe it's Norman--I really loved the Season 1 episode "Guardian for Eddie" where Tom is trying to choose a guardian for Eddie in case something happens to him, and decides that free-spirited Norman would be a better guardian because he would allow Eddie to follow his dreams, as opposed to Tom's bigoted and narrow-minded mother. Or it could be another male character or an OC if you prefer. Maybe Eddie is initially opposed but comes around, or maybe he surprises Tom by being totally fine with it.
-Or Tom decides not to remarry, and while Eddie is disappointed at first, he realizes that everything will be fine as long as they have each other.
-Canon-style story about Tom and Eddie--maybe going on a trip and having a little adventure. If you want to include Mrs. Livingston, maybe they go to Japan to visit her family and do some sight-seeing. Or maybe Tom takes Eddie to someplace like the zoo or circus. Or it could be a story about Tom helping Eddie deal with some crisis at school.
-Future fic: what is Eddie doing as an adult? Brandon Cruz, the actor who played Eddie, became a punk rock musician in real life, and I remember adult Brandon and Bill Bixby (who played Tom) appearing on what I think was an awards show or some kind of retrospective where they did an impromptu father/son talk where "Eddie" asked if "Dad" was upset about his hair (which was cut in a spiky punk style) and the punk rock thing, and "Dad" replied that as long as Eddie was happy, it was fine. It was so sweet and they fell into the routine so naturally, as if it hadn't been more than a decade since they'd last done it. So I'd love it if Eddie became a musician as an adult, but don't feel bound by that if you'd rather go in another direction--I'd love to see what you come up with! Whatever path he follows, I hope to see that he and Tom are still close and still have that warm relationship.
-Still going with the future fic theme, Eddie as a teenager. Is he still Tom's "best friend" (as the theme song goes), or is he going through a rebellious phase? Maybe Tom is worried about Eddie getting mixed up with the wrong crowd, or maybe they've just drifted apart a little because it's not cool to hang out with your dad at that age, and they need to find their way back to their former closeness. Or maybe they are still each other's best friend and Eddie doesn't care if the other kids think he's uncool.
Or if you have some completely different idea about Tom and Eddie, go for it!
Elemental Blessings Series - Sharon Shinn - Corene (Elemental Blessings), Garameno Elemental Blessings): I really loved Jeweled Fire, in part for seeing the way that Corene grew from a reckless teenager into a more mature and confident (though still impulsive) young woman who found a purpose in life. And as always with this series, I loved the worldbuilding and political intrigue--and double the pleasure in this book, because we got to see a new royal court with more scheming nobles!
I chose Garameno in addition to Corene because I was intrigued by his character: ambitious and scheming, but also sympathetic and mostly a good person at heart. I like the banter and verbal sparring between him and Corene, and I also liked how sometimes she didn't like him because he is so much like her father. And I like the exchange between Corene and Jiramondi where he says that she doesn't notice that Garameno is in a wheelchair, and she replies that of course she notices, but what really interests her isn't that but how clever he is, how close he is to Filomara, and how well-informed he is about everything that happens in Malinqua. Garameno isn't present for this conversation, but he's intelligent and observant, so I'm sure he has also noticed and appreciated that Corene isn't repulsed by his supposed disability.
That quality might make him appreciate her as a potential bride, though he might regard her recklessness as a liability. And Corene likes him as a friend, though he's too much like Darien for her to want to marry him--which ironically, make me ship them all the more, because that tension would make for an interesting if not necessarily peaceful marriage.
If you don't see them as a couple, that's fine--I'd be just as happy with gen fic of them interacting because they still make a great combination as friends and/or political allies (or possibly adversaries if you set the fic during the period that the princesses are being held hostage). I am okay with the canonical ship of Corene/Foley, so it's fine to mention it in passing, as long as the main focus of the story is on Corene and Garameno.
Suggested prompts (though as always, feel free to run with your own ideas if you come up with something different):
-An AU in which Corene does marry Garameno, perhaps in an attempt to prove her independence and find a place of her own to belong. Or perhaps post-Unquiet Land, the Empress of Malinqua wants a marriage to further cement the alliance with Welce (possibly due to a new threat of war). Perhaps it starts off as purely political, but slowly matures into love. 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.
-For a gen story, post-canon fic in which Corene returns to Malinqua as Welce's ambassador, perhaps to negotiate some sort of treaty or trade agreement. I can see her and Garameno getting frustrated with each other over the political sparring while at the same time enjoying the challenge. Or perhaps it's a more serious issue, with the two countries coming together over a threat from a hostile third country.
-Darien still holds a grudge over Garameno holding his daughter hostage, though he was willing to set aside his personal feelings to make the alliance in Unquiet Land. As a show of good faith, Filomara sends Garameno to Welce as a hostage of sorts, though the official story is that he's there on a diplomatic mission to promote good relations between the two countries, which is true enough. Corene and Garameno renew their friendship, and Darien eventually forgives him.
-Or Garameno just visits Welce for trade negotiations or some other peaceful reason, and Corene enjoys showing him around, perhaps taking him to a temple to draw blessings. If you want to include other non-nominated characters, maybe they could visit Zoe's house or Kayle's factory or the shelter that Josetta runs.
-Or if you'd like to set the story during Jeweled Fire, you could write a story about Corene and Garameno having an adventure together. Maybe they're on one of the official trips showing the princesses around the city when an attack happens and the two of them get separated from the rest of the party. Or maybe they have a quiet moment just talking about their families and the pressures they feel being potential heirs--or the loss that Corene feels no longer being an heir now that Zoe has a child. Or maybe just a relaxing slice of life story where they go on a picnic (possibly with some of the other characters if you want to include them) and forget about politics for a little while.
I love pretty much all the characters in the Elemental Blessings series, so feel free to include anyone else you want, especially the other princesses and Jiramondi if you set the story during the Jeweled Fire timeline.
Innkeeper Chronicles - Ilona Andrews: Arland Krahr, Dina Demille (Innkeeper - Andrews): While I enjoy the canonical pairings of Dina/Sean and Maud/Arland, I still love Arland and Dina's interactions and would love to see what they would be like as a couple. I know it's not a practical match, for the reasons that Dina states in the book (he has obligations to his clan and she to her inn, plus he'd make a lousy innkeeper), but I love Arland's charm and humor, and the way he has osmosed the idea of human/vampire interactions from the Twilight series, and well...he is smoking hot. Even Dina admits to being a little tempted, even though she does turn him firmly down.
But if you don't ship them, that's fine! I also love their friendship and would be happy to see them having a canon-style adventure. If you go that route, it's okay to acknowledge their canon relationships with Sean and Maud, but I'd like the main focus to be on Dina and Arland. OTOH, if you want to write a shippy fic, you can set the story before they got together with Sean and Maud, or make it an AU in which the canon romances didn't happen (but hopefully everyone is still on more-or-less friendly terms).
It's absolutely fine to include other characters from the series (I'm especially fond of Orro) in supporting roles if you want.
Suggested prompts if you need them, but feel free to come up with your own:
-Dina knows that they won't work as a couple in the long term, and so does Arland despite his protestations, but they decide to have a one-time, no-strings-attached fling just to get it out of their systems. Possibly after some stressful crisis at the inn has passed and Dina needs to blow off some steam, and Arland is more than happy to help.
-Arland decides that he loves Dina enough to leave his clan to become an innkeeper for her sake, and has to prove it to a skeptical Dina. (You can handwave that he's able to retire as Marshal because he's found a worthy successor or just ignore the whole issue. Mainly I just want to see him play innkeeper without his clan coming to drag him back.) It can be total crackfic where hilarity ensues as Arland tries to deal with rude, demanding guests without resorting to violence, or it can be more serious where he is sincerely doing his best for Dina's sake (though humor is still welcome). It can end with him staying on as innkeeper, or with him admitting that he's not suited to the position after all. In the latter case, I'd like for him and Dina to still remain friends.
-Or if you want to write a story where Arland and Dina want to marry but have to overcome the objections of House Krahr, go for it! Maybe they have to accomplish some near-impossible quest, or maybe Dina is able to win them over by saving House Krahr's honor somehow.
-For gen fic: a canon-style adventure at the inn. Maybe the inn is hosting a summit between two or more vampire clans, or maybe Arland is visiting when the inn is attacked by someone or something. Or for an option less likely to end in bloodshed, maybe Dina takes Arland to a Twilight convention or some other fannish event where he can experience what normal humans think vampires are like.
-Or you could take the "Arland as innkeeper" prompt and make it gen: Dina only half-jokingly says he wouldn't last a day as an innkeeper, and out of sheer stubbornness he decides prove her wrong--it's up to you whether he makes it through the day or not. Or maybe she has a big crowd at the inn and is short-handed enough to accept Arland's offer to help over her better judgement.
The Numair Chronicles - Tamora Pierce - Varice Kingsford: I really loved Tempests and Slaughter, and how it gave us new insight into the characters of Numair, Ozorne, and Varice. I especially loved Varice, and how the book gave us a more complex view of her compared to Emperor Mage, where we see her only through the limited and somewhat biased perspective of Daine's POV.
I'm a foodie myself, so I love Varice's love of cooking, and how she wants to use her magic to make delicious feasts and beautiful things. And I like the contrast between her and Numair/Arram, and how she doesn't have any interest in using her power to become a great mage or change the world, and how she would be content to simply be Ozorne's hostess and organize fancy parties--a wish that does come true, although we know from Emperor Mage that it doesn't turn out as happily as she thought it would.
I also love the friendship between the young Varice and Arram and Ozorne, while at the same time it was heartbreaking to see how close the three of them were, knowing that the friendship between Arram and Ozorne will be irreparably broken in the relatively near future.
I only selected Varice as a character because I wanted the focus to be on her, but absolutely feel free to include Arram and Ozorne. For pairings, I am fine with Arram/Varice or Arram/Ozorne, but I'd prefer no threesomes or Ozorne/Varice. I am also fine with gen fic.
Feel free to come up with your own ideas, but if you'd like some suggestions, here are a few prompts:
-Fic set between Tempests and Slaughter and the Tortall books. I know that we'll eventually get the canon answer in the sequels, but I'd love to see your take on how things between Arram and Ozorne went wrong, and how Varice reacted to it. Was she caught in the middle trying to play peacemaker? Did she help Arram escape after he was arrested for treason? We know from Emperor Mage that Arram didn't ask Varice to come with him and that she didn't offer, but why was that? Did she stay because she wasn't willing to give up her life in Carthak, or did she feel that Ozorne needed her, maybe even more now that he'd lost his other best friend? I listed happy endings in my likes, but I understand it's difficult to pull off with this prompt, so it's okay to ignore in this case, but it would be nice if the story could end on a hopeful or at least bittersweet note rather than in complete tragedy.
-For something happier, a fic set during Tempests or a little afterwards, when the three of them are still secure in their friendship. Maybe a spell goes out of control during one of their lessons, and they have to work together to save the day. Or if you just want to focus on Varice, her domestic magic is able to save the day in an unexpected way--whether it's literally saving someone from physical harm, or figuratively, maybe by charming an important political ally with a splendid feast.
-Or it doesn't have to be a big adventure; I would be equally happy with slice-of-life fic about Varice learning magic and developing new spells. As I said, I'm a foodie, so I'd be thrilled to see something with her cooking, in either a mundane or magical fashion. If you want to include Arram and/or Ozorne, she could throw a surprise birthday party for one of them. Or if you're a fan of shows like the Great British Bake Off, maybe she could enter a magical cooking contest!
-This goes beyond Tempests and Slaughter, so this prompt is completely optional, but if you're up for writing Varice as an adult in the Tortall timeline, I'd love post-canon fic set after Emperor Mage. Does Varice flee Carthak, or does she stay to help the new emperor rebuild the country? If she leaves Carthak, what does she do? Does she try to find a similar position in another country, or is she fed up with courts and political intrigue, and maybe decides to open her own restaurant or bakery. After she finds out Numair is alive, perhaps they are able to renew their friendship even though they are no longer lovers, and perhaps she visits him in Tortall after the war with Immortals is over. Feel free to include Daine if you wish. (In that case, some tension between the two women is fine, but I wouldn't want to see them fighting over Numair.)