Dear Yuletide Writer 2022

[dreemyweird]

 Dear Yuletide author,

thank you so much for offering one of my fandoms - that alone fills me with delight. Yuletide is a huge source of joy to me, especially this year, just because I get to meet someone who shares my tiny likes and obscure preferences!

Much of this letter is copypaste because I'm really happy with how I worded my requests last time I participated, so I don't see a reason to fix it if it ain't broke :>

Hope the letter is clear and helpful, but don't hesitate to reach out through the mods if you have questions!

 

My AO3 handle is plumedy :) I do love and allow treats, I've ticked the ticky box on AO3 to let everyone who wants gift to me

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I. General DNWs.

DNW the requested characters being in romantic/sexual relationships with each other. Background romantic and/or sexual relationships are ok as long as the main focus of the story is on a platonic relationship between requested characters. Background mentions/descriptions of noncon are ok under the same condition.

DNW communism portrayed in a sympathetic light. I don't think anyone will write this for me but just pls no, particularly not this year. No surprise!communist OCs or plot points.

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II. Opt-ins (these are things you should feel free to include in your work if you like).

- AUs (wingfic, soulmates, coffee shop, etc. Go wild)
 

- Major character death, including death of requested characters

 

- Animal death and harm to animals

 

- Gore

 

- References to or descriptions of noncon

 

- Abuse

 

- Mental illness

 

- Physical illness of any sort (this includes pandemics and epidemics)
 

- Harm to children

 

- Identity headcanons (gender, including nb; sexuality, including ace; ethnicity and religion; neurodivergence)
 

- In-universe bigotry of any kind

 

- Any POVs (including 1st and 2nd)
 

- Any tenses

 

- Generally any non-traditional writing devices

 

- Interactive fiction

 

- Crossovers and fusions, as long as I know the other fandom (anything I've ever requested in exchanges or written fic about goes)

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III. General likes.

I'm a fan of intense, angsty, h/c-flavoured friendships. Sometimes my requests will skew fluffier, sometimes darker. In general, all I want is for the characters to be unquestionably devoted to each other. Specific interpretations are up to you!
 

My likes for platonic relationships:
 

- Repressed stoics love each other too much to succeed at fully repressing their emotions

 

- Characters angsting about being unworthy of and undeserving of their friend/characters believing that they're a harmful presence in their friend's life

 

- Impulsive gestures of affection

 

- Characters trying desperately to repress their affection and desire for someone's friendship because it is not socially/hierarchically appropriate. They are Not Good At It

 

- Hugs

 

- Characters getting tearful despite themselves and being ashamed of it

 

- Hand touching

 

- Forehead kisses

 

- Hand kisses, as an expression of extreme loyalty and/or gratitude

 

- Meaningful gifts

 

- Quasi-familial relationships; characters yearning for another to be their family, especially if it's because their original family was shit

 

- Hurt/comfort, physical or emotional

 

- The classic "A is terrified for B's life or wellbeing and this brings out Emotions" is a favourite

 

- Characters feeling like All Is Right With The World, at least for a time, because their BFF is with them

 

- Characters affirming each other's identities and providing support and friendship in that regard (ethnic, cultural, religious, gender, sexuality identities, etc)
 

- Hierarchical and/or social differences between characters

 

- Character A believes character B is dead and is desperate/in total denial/suicidal/murderous over this

 

- Character A hurts character B and angsts about it endlessly (physically or emotionally, accidentally or because they were forced to)
 

- Character A realizes that character B actually cares deeply for them and this causes them to be MindblownTM

 

- Character A angsting because they're unsure if their affection for B is fully reciprocated

 

My narrative likes:

- Slice of life and character studies. Don't worry about writing these, I love them. If you want to write a gift consisting wholly of some minor hurt/comfort-y nonsense, I will enjoy it.
 

- Casefic - I'm a big fan of mysteries and crime solving (or of committing elaborate crimes, considering the nature of some of my canons...)
 

- In medias res, snippets that feel like outtakes from a bigger story

 

- Characters being badass and doing something cool, whether in combat or otherwise

 

- 5+1 things

 

- A sense of wonder and awe at the universe, whether from the characters themselves or from the narrative

 

- OTOH in darker scenes, I like an us vs the world feel

 

- Loving descriptions of plants and other nature

 

- Music (mostly classical), art, literature, fashion, and architecture references

 

- Sciencey things. Whether they're scientifically plausible or handwavey, I love them!
 

- Human anatomy in any way, shape or form. This is my field of study

 

- Jewish and Eastern European stuff

 

- Food and cooking. Throw in a good description of a tasty dish, and I'm yours mind body and soul

 

- Cozy domestic scenes in general. Characters having a cup of tea with each other next to a fireplace after a hard day's work? Yes please

 

- On the other hand, Gothic shit. I'm weak for Gloomy Weather Reflecting The Hero's Mood and for dark forests and angsty philosophical conundrums and so forth. Convoluted flower symbolism and emotional repression ftw.
 

- If a character has a canon marginalized identity that is meaningful to them, or if you headcanon them as having one, I enjoy small nods to that in fic

 

And now to my requests!!

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1. Heart of a Dog - Mikhail Bulgakov. Requested characters: Ivan Arnoldovich Bormenthal and Filipp Filippovich Preobrazhensky.

Fandom-specific DNWs:
 

DNW either of the requested characters being actually killed by the regime within the story. Imprisonment is ok as long as they're no longer imprisoned by the end.
 

This was my baby's first brOTP back in the day. I am still!! So fond of them!!! They're just, ah. Their whole old Russian intelligentsia thing. Bormenthal's worshipfulness towards Preobrazhensky. Preobrazhensky's awkwardness about it. That bit when he's not entirely sure how to react when Bormenthal proclaims his loyalty to him and kisses him on the moustache!

Bormenthal offering to kill for Preobrazhensky's sake and to essentially sacrifice himself to the regime!! Preobrazhensky telling him he won't allow it!!!!!!
 

I could probably recap the whole thing if I kept talking about all the things I love about them.
 

Mostly, I just want something about them being affectionate with and angsty about each other. I'd like the ending to be on the hopeful side, but bittersweet endings are great, it doesn't have to be 100% HEA. Realistically, considering the era, it can't really be a HEA anyhow. Although they could just leave the USSR altogether, of course (but that would also be bittersweet in its own way).
 

- One thing I think it would be fun to do is to write a post-canon story where they do their best to deal with the emotional aftermath. And maybe there's some domesticity with Sharik as their shared pet!
 

- Another idea is to fast-forward a bit into the future and have Bormenthal obtain his doctorate. There could be some fun changes in the dynamic and angst about the possibility that they will now have to part ways and so forth <3 And there's of course a little celebration and Preobrazhensky is so proud of him,,,,
 

- For darker takes, you could get the OGPU take a direct interest and have Preobrazhensky and/or Bormenthal interrogated or under surveillance for a while.
 

- Or you could do an AU of some kind, I'm always up for that! Magical realism, daemons, platonic soulmates, noir, anything goes.

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2. Hitman. Requested characters: Diana Burnwood and Agent 47.

Fandom-specific DNWs:
 

DNW anything 47 and Diana have done to each other being treated like a real betrayal by the other character or by the narrative. It's more than welcome for them to angst about the things they've done, though, and fear that the other considers themselves betrayed!
 

DNW mentions of 47 being in any romantic relationships.
 

Anyway I continue to remain in a very Hitman-shaped hole. I love these two SO MUCH ugh. I have played Hitman: Blood Money, Hitman: Absolution, and HITMANs 1 through 3. Haven't read the comic but I do broadly know what happens in it. Have read "Overachievers" and found it delightful.
 

I'm just so weak for their friendship and for how they trust each other even after having shot and poisoned each other a bunch of times... They're messed up but they're doing their best with the cards they're given, and I love every bit of it.
 

And I love that 47 is clearly more and more aware of experiencing emotions as the series goes on, even if he can't necessarily put a name to them.
 

It is obvious to me that 47 and Diana need to HUG. Or just. Quit being so damn repressed for a minute and express their affection for each other.
 

I headcanon 47 as autistic but I don't care if you write him as allistic, either, or if you just don't concern yourself with this either way.
 

I do like almost every secondary character in the franchise (Victoria, Lucas, Olivia), so feel free to include any of them if you think it appropriate.
 

Some potential prompts are:
 

- 47 says he's not 47 anymore. What name does he choose and why? Does he just keep calling himself Tobias Rieper, or does he adopt a different pseudonym? Diana being nice to him about it and going out of her way to use his new name.
 

- 47 and Diana reuniting immediately post-H3 and her hugging him and him not knowing how to handle that. That's it. That's the prompt.
 

- Daemon AUs, platonic soulmate AUs, any AUs you want, I'll eat it all with a spoon. Ooh, maybe Diana's daemon is a bunny! Or a canary! And there's Meaningful Angst. And their daemons eventually snuggle each other and it makes them happy ajdvjfvekfv

 

- Something connected to the assassination of Diana's family? 47 trying to apologize to Diana about it? For more action-y stuff, maybe they're hunting someone connected to that, or perhaps someone tries to get them to kill a family of similar targets, or a dilemma arises about keeping a target's family alive. Featuring 47 doing some painful reflection, of course >:)
 

- Role reversal AU? Diana as the assassin and 47 as the handler! I imagine Diana to be quite proactive and creative in the field, specifically in ways that reflect her moral judgement. Meanwhile, 47 would be all about efficiency, at least to begin with. Snippets of moments showing the progress of their relationship in such an AU?
 

- Post-canon stuff. What are they up to immediately after H3? How has their relationship changed? Are they unsure of or fearful about anything?

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3. Murder Rooms. Requested characters: Joseph Bell and Arthur Conan Doyle.

Fandom-specific DNWs: none.
 

I've had this brOTP for a very long time and honestly I would read absolutely anything about them? I don't even care, you could write 1k words of them window shopping and I'd be happy.
 

I love how incredibly angsty they are about each other (and about everything else) and how their friendship helps them remain sane. I love that Bell makes Doyle tea to soothe him. I love that Doyle keeps writing him letters. I love Doyle's weirdo obsessive narration at the end of The White Knight Stratagem where he says he can't forget Bell. I love their father and son relationship and how even that is kind of messed up because Doyle already has an actual father and being all "this is now my dad" about his professor is not exactly hierarchically appropriate. Even if he really wants to.
 

I do love basically every other character in the series, too, so feel free to include any of them you like.
 

Some potential prompts:
 

- Christmas gifts. Doyle and/or Bell painstakingly choosing a gift for the other. Hearteyes.jpg.
 

- They've never hugged in the series and I feel that this is a crime. So, their first hug. Why, how, and where did it happen? I'm ok with you either interpreting the series to mean that they literally never hugged because they're so repressed (and so setting the story post-canon) or assuming that they did but behind the scenes. Either is great.
 

- I'd love some riff on a Canon story. Not necessarily a full casefic, just an outtake or something that glosses over the details of the investigation is more than ok! Some of my favourite ACD canon stories are The Copper Beeches, The Hound, The Blue Carbuncle, and, of course, The Three Garridebs.
 

- On that subject, we've had a Reichenbach in the books but I feel a distinct lack of it in the TV series. Or, alternatively, a distinct lack of Doyle being presumed dead. Or both. Just, a situation where one of them has serious cause to think that the other has died, if even for a short while.
 

- Modern AU! Detective noir AU! I got a daemon AU before and it was splendid, I'd definitely go for another one! Coffee shop AU! Space AU! Someone stop me

 

- Doyle and getting into an actually happy romantic relationship! Possibly with a guy since I hc Doyle as bi. Bell being super nice and supportive about it in a way Doyle's own parents never would be >:)

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4. 1954 Holmes. Requested relationship: Sherlock Holmes & John Watson.

Fandom-specific DNWs:
- Jam Watson, although with this canon I feel like this almost doesn't need to be specified.

- Canon-typical bigoted stereotypes (I recognize this series has a few pretty racist episodes, but please don't riff on them; actually, if you depicted H & W being explicitly more sensitive about marginalization than the canon, that'd be nice).

- Any background ships involving Holmes. If you want to give Watson a LI of any gender, that's fine.

I'm obsessed with this series and I can't lie. The boyish, earnest, failboat-y Holmes portrayed by Ronald Howard is honestly my favourite Holmes ever. And H. Marion Crawford's BAMF temperamental but kind-hearted Watson who punches every villain in the face is also amazing. And I love how nice they are to their clients and to each other, and all their domesticity, drinking tea together, going on holidays together, you name it. They're so damn adorable.

So naturally I want ANGST >:D Well, not necessarily wall to wall angst and nothing else - fluff and hurt/comfort are more than welcome too. But The Christmas Pudding episode really did something to me. Holmes being completely all over the place and flailing while clumsily lying to Watson in an attempt to protect him... That got me good.

Just give me them being affectionate with each other and angsty and then a happy ending, and I will love you forever.

Again, like with Murder Rooms, riffs on the Canon are very welcome. My favourite stories are COPP, BLUE, and HOUN. And 3GAR is really awfully written, lol, but it has a special place in my heart for obvious reasons. And of course, takes on FINA and Reichenbach are always great.

For this canon I would also be quite interested in various magic AUs and how their worldbuilding interacts with the Victorian society. Daemons? Platonic soulmates? Wingfic? Magical powers? How does this work in the Victorian era and how do Holmes and Watson interact within this context?

I would also very happily read a modern AU of the series :D

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5. The Murder Rooms book series - David Pirie. Requested relationships: Joseph Bell & Arthur Conan Doyle.

Fandom-specific DNWs: none.

Oh I adore these books so much. They're so Gothic and iddily OTT and full of angst and philosophical musings on the nature of the Victorian era. There's so much potential for hurt/comfort. Bell and Doyle's relationship is so messy and yet offers so much hope to them. Doyle is constantly bitter about Bell but then when Bell is presumed dead, he basically becomes suicidal over it. I love it.

I just want them to work through at least some of their difficulties. They're so frustratingly repressed and traumatized and there's entirely too much miscommunication going on. They need to hug understand each more. They definitely need to hug though

anyway prompts!!!
- When Cream kidnaps Doyle, he also sexually assaults him (not necessarily full-on rape, maybe it's just touching and extreme sleaziness. But actual rape is fine too). Sexual assault recovery. And Bell is the only one who can get Doyle out of the dark pit of ensuing mental health and self-esteem issues, because he can be very sensitive when he needs to and because they love each other that much. Salvation and recovery through the power of friendship and kindness. Possibly Bell specifically drags Doyle along on a case that involves someone else being sexually violated so that Doyle and the victim could offer each other support and realize they're not alone.

- SO I just want Doyle to have a breakdown post-The Dark Water about Bell having been presumed dead. I feel like he'd keep it together for a while but then just have to hide in some dark corner and have a cry for a while. Or maybe Bell is a bit more seriously hurt and Doyle has to keep a Bedside Vigil and that's what messes him up. Or maybe he's just having massive PTSD about the fact that he just witnessed what he thought was his dad BFF dying. Either way, he tries to be an uptight Victorian about it but eventually fails.

- Again, riffs on the Canon!! Excellent stuff!! As I have mentioned above, my faves are COPP, BLUE, HOUN, and 3GAR, but really feel free to pick any of the original stories, I've read it all and am enthusiastic about any references to or remixes of them.