Dear Yuletide Author 2021

[tawryn]

Hello, dear writer! I’m so happy you’ll be creating for me this year. Here are some general likes and prompts to get those creative wheels turning, but of course don't feel obligated if you already have ideas. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Quick links: My AO3 | Yuleporn | Crueltide

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Winter's Orbit | The Florida Project | The Handmaid's Tale | It's a Wonderful Lie | Dune (2021)

General Likes

• Angst
• Banter
• Casual intimacy (frequent touches, sharing a toothbrush, anticipating another's needs, etc.)
• Dominance Hierarchy AUs (A/B/O, D/s universe, slavefic, etc.)
• Found families
• Enemies-to-friends-to-lovers spectrum (in either direction!)
• Hurt/comfort
• Internal character conflict, characters wrestling with misaligned desires, expectations, or identities
• Messy and complicated relationships
• Mixes of pain and pleasure
• Pining
• Power dynamics
• Tangled snarls of feelings especially shame, guilt, and humiliation
• Worldbuilding

DNWs

• First person POV
• Genderswap or rule 63
• Unrequested crossovers
• Traffic light safewords
• Infidelity (unless noted)
• De-aged characters or kidfic (unless noted)

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Joel Maisel, Miriam "Midge" Maisel

I love these two SO much. I adore how they've become better partners since separating, how much they've learned to appreciate each other. Both of these characters have had a crazy amount of growth! Midge has transformed from perfect housewife into this fierce and independent woman, someone who is relentless in chasing her dreams and reaching her full potential. She's whip-smart, funny, and doesn't back down from failure (and lord, does she have them). And Joel! Joel has maybe grown even more than Midge has. He's had such a journey—riddled with insecurities so strong he leaves his wife, realizing what a colossal mistake it was and trying to win her back, and then finally being the one to pump the breaks in season 3 because it's what's best for Midge. He knows that she can't be his wife and pursue a career in comedy, and he's the one to tell her so, to advocate for her dream. He's become her confidante, her best friend, and number one fan.

There is so much love between them, and I've really enjoyed watching their relationship mature throughout the series. Plus, these lovely fools got married not once but twice. They seriously got a divorce and then drunkenly got remarried in Vegas. There will always be a soft spot in my heart for idiots in love and "it's right, but not right now" relationships.

Since Joel and Midge have shared custody, I am okay with fic that focuses on the co-parenting of their two kids.

Prompts:

□ Missing scenes! What happened that night they drank too much and got remarried in Vegas? How are they going to explain a second divorce to the judge? Or what about bits from that summer in the Catskills?

□ Can you imagine a distant future where they give it another shot? Maybe third time's the charm! Perhaps Midge's career has really taken off and she's got a steady gig somewhere. I could totally see her starring on a TV sitcom or having a sketch show like Carol Burnett.

□ Want to try a new format? What about a "how it could’ve happened, how it should’ve happened, and how it actually happened?" Give me some bittersweet relationship study! Go ahead, break my heart with an emotional fic that shows how it'll never be the right time for them. You have my permission. 

Winter's Orbit
Kiem Tegnar, Jainan nav Adessari, Worldbuilding

A tropey space opera with a queer arranged marriage and political intrigue? It's like this book was written just for me. I devoured it like the meal it was, but I'm still hungry for more. I'm most interested in post-canon fic that explores Kiem and Jainan's developing relationship. Now that things have calmed down, it would be great to see them learning each other's likes and dislikes—in bed or out of it.

It's clear from all that mutual pining that both Kiem and Jainan are considerate, thoughtful partners—to the point where it's problematic. Both of these boys want to put the other first! Good relationships can't be 50/50 all the time, and I get the sense that Kiem and Jainan still need to learn that relationships aren't about keeping score. I feel like they might run into trouble when it comes to reconciling their mutual desires to be good husbands against their self-sacrificing natures.

Prompts:

□ We see a lot of Iskat, but what about Thea? I would adore some Thean worldbuilding. Traditions, festivals, ceremonies and celebrations, myths and superstitions... tell me more about Jainan's home planet! How does the royal etiquette differ? What colloquialisms are lost in translation? I'm imagining an adorably earnest Kiem trying to get it right—are Jainan and family amused at Kiem's little social gaffes? Is he gentle and patient as he corrects Kiem's mistakes? Does Jainan find it difficult to hide how hot under the collar Kiem's genuine efforts make him?

□ Jainan has a LOT of baggage from his time with Taam. How do he and Kiem figure out how to address conflicts in their relationship? What do they do when they disagree on something? Maybe Kiem comes up with some strategies to help defuse the tension when they argue, like they are only allowed to have "serious" conversations using ridiculous accents or while wearing silly hats. I'd like to see them learn how to communicate in a healthy way.

□ MORE TROPES. Winter's Orbit, but make it A/B/O! Or D/s! Or daemon AU!

 

The Florida Project
Halley, Moonee (any)

Oof, this movie. The dichotomy between the ephemeral, innocent fantasy world Moonee creates and the crushing reality of Halley struggling to make ends meet. I was sucked in by how raw and honest it was. All the characters' lives are so messy and hopeful and devastating—this film doesn't pull any punches. Because of that, if you decide to go this route I ask that you please stay true to the tone of the film. For instance, a fix-it fic where Moonee and Halley are "saved" from poverty by winning the lottery is not something I would want (unless their lives got even worse afterward, in which case hell yes, author).

I'd be happy with a story that focuses on either Halley or Moonee (kidfic is obviously okay here, since Moonee is a kid herself), especially one that details what comes after their heartbreaking separation. There are definitely some dark themes to explore here too, so feel free to take this in a Crueltide direction if you wish.

Prompts:

□ Where is Moonee now? Has she been bounced through a string of foster homes? Does she see Halley for visitation? Does Mom send her birthday cards through JPay? Or maybe they've been reunited, but Moonee struggles with forgiving Mom for allowing her to be taken away in the first place?

□ Time loop fic! What is Halley reliving over and over again? Is it the day Moonee got taken? The first night she sold her body to make rent money? What would Halley do differently if given the chance?

The Handmaid's Tale
June Osborne, Luke Bankole, Nick Blaine (any)

I love how intense this show is. I love the disaster of these three imperfect people trying to find a slice of happiness in such a fucked-up world. June is a hot mess and Luke's not much better. And though Nick seems to be doing fine for himself now, his fierce dedication to June and Nichole is bound to be his undoing.

I would be cool with receiving fic of just one or any combination of these three! Infidelity would be okay for this fandom, as would any fic that features Nichole. There's a really interesting love triangle aspect here, so I'd be interested to see how they make it work—or how it all falls apart. 

Prompts:

□ I think about Luke and Nick's first meeting a lot. What if it had turned into something more? What if Luke had been so desperate to feel a degree of connection to June that he pulled Nick into the bar bathroom? Remember this comment from S1? ("What do you think — all girls just go through a gay phase?") Well, maybe June wasn't so far off the mark...

□ How does June make sense of the person she was vs. the person she's become? Is the person who loves Luke the one who loves Nick as well? Can she be both at the same time or does she have to choose? Does she live a double life with Luke in Canada and then cross the border to steal time away with Nick? Maybe they have a "don't ask, don't tell" arrangement or perhaps Luke and Nick have a heart-to-heart? If Nick is involved in Nichole's life, how do the logistics of that work?

□ Let's make this dystopia even more convoluted! Maybe a layer of D/s or Sentinel/Guide? What if this is a world where Canada isn't much better than Gilead, and June's just left one kind of slavery for another?

It's a Wonderful Lie
Ashley Flowers, Greg Hess, Holly Laurent, Ray (any)

If you haven't listened to this podcast yet, do yourself a favor and check it out—it's hilarious. If you were a fan of the MST-era of fanfiction, then this should be right up your alley! The basic premise is this: three hosts read a holiday newsletter aloud and lovingly tear it to shreds. Did you know holiday newsletters were still a thing? I didn't, dear author, but this podcast makes me so glad they are.

If you'd like to give it a go, I recommend the episodes "Pigeon Eating Trash" or “Don’t Fw! Link in Bio." The second one in particular has a lot of potential (see below).

Because of the format, I am open to receiving a crossover fic featuring this and any of my other requested fandoms. That's right, author, you could write an MST-style fic in the year of our lord 2021! Time is just a construct, after all.

Prompts:

□ "Don't Fw! Link in Bio." features the most outlandish reveal about Ray. I won't spoil the surprise, but tell me, do you think Ray is telling the truth? You could go in so many directions with this! A casefic where DJ Splendor helps him go undercover? A weirder reveal where Ray turns out to be a clone or an artificial intelligence? An investigation where Dean turns the tables and finds out there is a secret family after all?

□ Crossovers galore!

- Do Ashley, Greg, and Holly get their hands on the Maisel's newsletter? I'm not sure if Chanukah newsletters were circulating around the Upper West Side in the 1960s, but if anyone can start a trend it's Miriam Maisel.

- Does someone submit an official holiday statement from the press office of Imperial Prince Kiem and Count Jainan of Thea?

- Is this a tongue-in-cheek retelling of Offred's journey in season 4? ("It's been an eventful year. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone, they say. Somehow I managed to find the time to try out a few hobbies. Pig farming wasn't for me, but I learned a lot about gardening and distilling...")

Dune
Duncan Idaho (Dune 2021), Paul Atreides (Dune 2021)

Coming in at the wire with a last-minute request!

As a sci-fi fan who's always been a bit embarrassed about trying and failing to slog through Dune many times, I was beyond excited for this movie release. I could tell from the bits and pieces I'd osmosed through pop culture that I'd fall in love and I was not disappointed. Space aristocracy! Weird witchy power voice! Confusing fever-dream visions! I have SO many questions about how things in this universe work and where Paul's path will lead.

That said, I'm asking for fic featuring Paul and Duncan Idaho because I am but a simple requester with simple tastes. I am weak in the knees for mentor/mentee relationships, either strictly platonic or uhhh, not. It's obvious that Paul and Duncan are very close, and I love how Duncan teases Paul whenever they reunite. I'd love any pre-canon fic that fills in the holes on how their relationship developed!

Prompts:

□ Can I interest you in some training montages? What sort of training did Paul receive? What teaching style does Duncan Idaho have? Is he more laissez-faire or does he use a, um, firmer touch? Has Paul ever tried to use the Voice while sparring with Duncan? How did THAT play out?

□ There's definitely mutual affection between the two, but what else does Paul feel for Duncan? Admiration? Envy? A confusing amount of lust brought on by teenaged hormones?

□ Maybe Duncan takes Paul into the mountains of Caladan for a field mission as part of his training. What happens when they're alone and Paul tells Duncan about some *other* dreams he's been having?