Dear author,

First things first: Thank you for doing this! I absolutely adore Yuletide; it is one of my favorite things about the holiday season, and just writing this letter makes me go all warm and fuzzy.

Secondly, I hope you'll forgive me if huge chunks of my letter are copied from previous years -- my preferences and requests are pretty stable.

All of my requests are very broad and/or brainstorm-y. Part of that is because I really don't have particularly concrete expectations or must-have's, and the thing I like most about a gift is the surprise. In addition, I want the best you can offer (I'm picky like that ;)), and I want to give you free rein for that. So, seriously: everything I suggested is just that--a suggestion. In those cases where I said any characters in the request, I meant that! Even if I'm talking about specific characters or scenarios in the prompt--that was just what my mind could come up with at the time. Doesn't mean that I won't enjoy another story more, just because I didn't have that idea.

In conclusion: Do whatever you feel works best for you and feel free to ignore pretty much everything I'm saying here or in my prompts if that helps you to write a good story.

However, if you'd like some more info about my preferences, here it is.


I generally like:

- The Department of Backstory. The main reason I got into fandom was that I wondered about all the details that are never explained in canon. Where do the characters come from? What made them the way they are? Which part of their world have we never seen and how does it function? I also like future fic, for similar reasons.

- Gen fic and character studies. I like romance--het and slash--but I'm picky about my pairings and I need good characterisation to back it up. I love gen fic for the reasons above--it's an opportunity to explore the motives, experiences and personality of a character beyond what's provided in canon.

- Minor characters. I'm a sucker for minor characters, because there's so much room for speculation and experimentation there.

- Dialogue and character interaction. Good, in-character dialogue is awesome. Snarky, witty dialogue and banter is beyond awesome. I'm generally fond of fics that explore the relationship between characters--whether that's romance, friendship, or antagonism.

About smut: I think this year, none of my prompts or fandoms really lend themselves to smut (unless you want to write about Calvin and Susie in the bedroom, which hey, why not?), but in case you're wondering: I honestly don't care either way. If it's there and well done, good. If it isn't, I won't miss it.

About AUs: I guess the same applies here--I like AUs, but I don't have a preference for them. And I'd like the spirit of the original 'verse to be recognizable in an AU.

About crossovers and fusions: If you have a sudden inspiration for a crossover between any of my fandoms or any of the fandoms listed in my profile, sure, why not? Give me Bacon and Hobbes exploring the world of 1110! Have the Orion rise up from the depths of its ocean!

About the general tone: I'm easy here. I'll read dark, angsty stuff as well as teeth-rotting fluff. As long as it's not graphic gore and violence from beginning to end, I'm good. I've gotten character death fic, established relationship fluff, a wacky crossover and character studies for past Yuletides, and loved all of them to bits. If you want to go with fluff, I have a huge kink for established relationships (romantic or platonic).




Something about each of my fandoms:

Raumpatrouille
- My request: I meant it when I didn't specify any characters! I'll be happy with any fic for this fandom. However, here's the prompt of my dreams: More of those scenes in which the government, the GSD and the Oberste Raumbehörde sit around their round table and bicker while McLane and crew save the day. Could be a completely new plot or a missing scene. It would be great if we see both the Orion crew and command, but I'm really intrigued by the (slightly disheartening) glimpses into the future of Earth politics and would like to learn more about the new administration. Bonus points for any of the following: 1. German language preferred. 2. The more bickering and banter, the better! (Goes for Orion and command.) 3. Oberst Villa making an appearance. 4. female characters being awesome.

- Some more info: Chances are you've never heard of this show (obscure German '60s scifi for the win), but if you have: I like Orion for its (partly unintended) campiness--the dances, the flat iron and yoghurt cups--but beyond that, I think it's a genuinely well-written show with good acting. I love the banter, snark and flirting. I love the general setup of the episodes, focusing not only on the Orion out in space, but also on Earth and its new administration. I love how government apparently hasn't changed all that much from the 1960s to now to the year 3000. And given my love for backstory and minor characters, my reasons for picking my prompt should be pretty obvious. (Sidenote: The way women are treated in this show is part awesome (Lydia van Dyke!), part cringe-worthy (Helga's and Tamara's conversation about Cliff's dancing that should never have happened) and part so-bad-the-only-reaction-is-lulz (Chroma). This fandom needs more well-written, truly equal female characters.)

xkcd 1110 (Click and Drag)
- My request: Ummmm, it's a big picture with a lot of people in it... I'd be happy to hear more about any of them, whether it's one of the xkcd regulars or a new character. Is lemonade guy beret guy's secret soulmate? Were all the 'Polo' shouters eaten by sea monsters? Who's Becky? Why does hat guy have those weapons and where's his girl? And what is social justice girl doing in the rigging?

- Some more info: Like Raumpatrouille, xkcd is a staple fandom for me to request. I love the humor and geekerey, and I admire the way Randall Munroe gives his stick figures distinct personalities, so 1110 was a special treat for me. I'm always curious to see how comic strip fandoms can be transferred to another format, whether it's a conventional fic, a series of drabbles, a poem, or a script. Feel free to make this as dark/disturbing/funny/fluffy/cracky as you like, I'm good with all of it! I should mention that hat guy/girl is my OTP and I get all squeeish whenever they appear together, so I guess the only no-go is breaking them up. Oh, and here are three links that I found helpful to navigate the picture.

Hobbes and Bacon
- My request: Requested characters: Susie Derkins. I adore Calvin and Hobbes future fic, so it's no wonder I'm fond of the Hobbes and Bacon strips. I requested Susie, because I always liked her, but you're free to ignore that and go with another character if that helps you. Concerning Susie: I'd just like some backstory (or future fic, I guess, from the perspective of the original comic). How did she end up with Calvin? What does she do? What does she think about her daughter apparently preferring Hobbes to Mr. Bun? Come to think of it: What does Mr. Bun think about it all? Did she come up with the name Bacon (because as perfect as it is, I can't quite see Calvin making that connection, whereas I think it would fit very well with the dry humor Susie sometimes demonstrates in the C&H strips)? Any time period between the end of Calvin and Hobbes and Susie picking names for her first grandchild is good!

- Some more info: Fanfic based on a fancomic! What could be better? It's adorable to see how Calvin, Hobbes, and Susie (and Mr. Bun--I really think it's time for his story, and I was thrilled to see him mentioned in Hobbes and Bacon) have come full circle. I requested Susie, but she doesn't have to be the main character. Run wild! If the story doesn't go anywhere, put it in the Transmogrifier and see it turn into something completely different (and possibly covered in radioactive slime). Or are those out of fashion by now? What does Bacon have instead? I'm curious!



I hope this helps. Most of all, I hope you have fun with my fandoms and prompts! Don't be terrified, I'm so happy you signed up for this, and I love you for it! And anybody who likes either of these fandoms has my implicit trust.