gemini | Dear Yuletide Author (Reply)

Dear Yuletide Writer,

First, thank you so much! I hope this letter makes your job a bit easier but as always, feel free to ignore all the prompts if they don’t work for you. I’m very excited to get fic for any of the fandoms below, so can’t go wrong!

DNWs up front: child or animal death (occurring in text, mentions in passing or as past events can be okay) embarrassment or humiliation. Infidelity. Character death (of main characters in fic, if you need to kill a baddie of the week or what have you, have at it) Modern aus, I prefer it to be set in canon universe but you can au the hell out of those.

If you choose to do any smut: I’m not a fan of scat/watersports or humiliation play. I am not a fan of D/s unless its strictly a sex thing where all parties are aware and involved in the process (consent! True informed consent!) Also please don’t spell come as cum/cumming. I know it’s a weird thing but it throws me right out.

What I love:

Hurt/Comfort! This is my main jam! The after of traumas, characters who suffer through hell but get their healing, just. I love it. Characters being protective of their friends/lovers/family – even against small slights, but especially against big ones.

Found family! Intense loyalty! I am equally excited about introspective character driven pieces and more plot driven pieces. Happy endings! Even if its just a hopeful ending, I can’t do the super negative, rocks fall everyone dies kind of endings. Nothing bleak or unforgiving.

PORN: I enjoy it greatly. DO NOT FEEL OBLIGATED TO INCLUDE IT. I am well aware it’s not everyone’s thing and that many writers struggle with sex scenes. So please don’t think I will be disappointed if there is none present.

Natsume’s Book of Friends – Natsume Takashi & Madara ‘Nyanko-Sensei’

I am so sad that the number of fic for this fandom is so small because it’s SO WONDERFUL and there are so many avenues to take for fic. I’ve only requested 2 characters to make it easier, but I wouldn’t be upset if you included ANY of the others, as long as there is a focus on these two.

The whole found family dynamic is my favourite in this especially -Natsume slowly learning to let himself be loved and be cared about. It all started with Madara showing up and the evolution of their relationship is my favourite.

I’d love anything with Madara being protective of Natsume (whether Natsume is aware of it or not) whether that’s against a youkai threat or human ones (the exorcists or people from his past) or just past trauma! Madara teaming up with any of the others is fine – I adore it when he and Natori are forced to work together for Natsume’s sake.

Matobi Seiji showing up and being a menace and forcing Natsume’s human and youkai allies to step up to the plate? Natsume learning to trust his friends with a little help from Madara’s interfering? Natsume gets a crush (I ship Natsume/Tanuma if you want to go there) and Madara takes great glee in mocking him about while secretly creating hilarious set ups?

I also love fic that’s from the pov of an outsider, looking in.

Honestly you can’t go wrong! I am happy for anything!

The Ancient Magus Bride – Hatori Chise, Ruth & Elias Ainsworth

I apologise if requesting three characters made this too difficult, but I couldn’t pick who to leave out!

I love the way Elias and Chise are teaching each other – both learning, although Elias is a much slower learner. I love them as a romantic relationship – though I completely understand that not being everyones cup of tea. I see them as being at a similar emotional age, although I would prefer if you include any sexual content that Chise be older. I’m perfectly happy with their relationship to be presented as it is in canon (anime, I’m not very caught up on manga currently, but I’m not opposed to spoilers if you’re only familiar with that)

RUTH. Ruth is my favourite. Any way you want to include him would be wonderful.

One thing – in canon, in the anime, both Elias and Ruth make some SUPER QUESTIONABLE (read: horrific) decisions regarding Chise and ignore her own desires in order to carry them out. Or attempt to, in any case. One thing I loved was that this wasn’t swept under the rug or forgiven just because it was meant to save her. Chise doesn’t shy away from telling them when they’ve crossed the line, and watching her grow from the girl who sold herself into slavery to escape making choices and living into the woman who will stand up for herself and the people she loves was one of the best parts of the show.

AND Elias learning about his own emotions and what it means to love other people. That his fear isn’t a right to make unilateral decisions. Learning to trust, and love and just. Hits in all the right places. So any exploration or continuation of that!

Prompts…any of them dealing with past traumas! Or happy little fic about them all just being a family, Chise learning magic, Ruth being a dog! Elias getting to experience those simple moments of happiness with people who care about you. New unexpected threats that lets them all be their badass selves in defence! Go wild!

Rolling in the Deep – Mira Grant – Mermaids

I realise compared to my other entries this one is pretty small but I only recently read Into the Drowning Deep (twice, the second time immediately after I’d finished it the first time) and the only thing I could think was ‘More, please!’

It’s such an awesome world, the mermaids/sirens are INCREDIBLE and I’d LOVE to see more of them. I did love all the characters in the novel, immensely but for most of them I felt their stories were complete enough for me. It was the mermaids I wanted more of.

And Hallie’s story with the captured siren. The moment where he saves Hallie was so pivotal and just. Knowing they had language and culture and all that was one thing, but the potential reasons behind this one siren’s choice is so interesting!

I would love if that was explored, but I didn’t include Hallie in my character list as I didn’t want to box you in too much. You could include any of the cast from the book and delve as deep into their lives or stories as you wanted, just as long as there are mermaids!

So that’s it! I am just ecstatic to get any fic at all, so don’t stress overmuch and really enjoy it. I hope it goes well for you, and that you have a great yuletide. Thank you so much for giving me this great gift and I can’t wait to read it.

Good luck!