(no subject)

[blueinkedfrost]

Dear Yuletide Writer,

Thank you for writing for me! I hope you have a wonderful Yuletide. Our shared rare fandom is joy, optional details are optional, and please don't get eaten by bears.

Things I like to read include: adventure, humour, horror, slice-of-life, alternative universes, ghost stories, tragedy, suffering, irony, drama, mystery, complicated characters, complicated relationships, character development, underexplored parts of canon universes, plot twists, banter, capable/competent characters, female characters having adventures or being central to the story, femslash, gen, het, slash, rare characters in the spotlight, unusual stories, being surprised, and many other things that hopefully cover what you enjoy writing. I'd love to read a story you want to write.

If there're any questions about this letter, feel free to go through the Yuletide Mods, or simply write the story you want to write - I'd much rather read fic that went in a direction you liked writing than a story that stuck to a prompt that wasn't working for you.

Fandoms:

• Charlotte's Inheritance series by Mary Elizabeth Braddon


• Scrapped Princess anime series


• The Way to the Lantern by Audrey Erskine Lindop


• Baldur's Gate video game

Fandom: Charlotte's Inheritance series by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Victorian sensation novels, a pair of female best friends for life, a murderous stockbroker, a chancery inheritance worth many thousand pounds if the family descent can be traced, and a former con artist with a decent underside who becomes reformed for love.

Characters: Any (Charlotte Halliday, Diana Paget, Valentine Hawkehurst, Philip Sheldon)

Source: Two books on Project Gutenberg, Birds of Prey and Charlotte's Inheritance

Details:

I'll love most anything for these books that you enjoy writing - Charlotte/Valentine shipping, alternative-universe Charlotte/Diana femslash, Charlotte/Diana friendship, Diana getting to have adventures, Valentine backstory with hijinks and the art of the con, futurefic, backstory, Philip Sheldon or any other character-viewpoint on any of the events in the novels. I love how Charlotte is so bright and kind, and I adore Valentine's character arc as a former con artist with a decent underside turned hardworking writer all for love! I love how the books convinced me that Valentine made a genuine choice to change - I think he's attractive and I think Charlotte is also very attractive. I also love Diana's character, although in the books I don't love how she's described as intelligent and skilled and yet she only gets a chance to show off passive virtues. This is typical for the era, I know, but if you're interested in giving her active adventures that would be very fun. I'd alternatively love to read the viewpoint of any other characters, from Philip Sheldon to Diana's stepchildren to Nancy Woolper.

Anything based on one of the prompts - or anything not based on them - would be great!

If you're interested in racebending for Yuletide, there's a line in the second novel that intrigues me about Valentine: "If [Philip] had been a citizen of the Southern States, he might have suborned witnesses to prove that there was black blood in the veins of Valentine Hawkehurst." But this is only in the way of an additional prompt in the even-more-optional-than-optional-details-which-are-optional Yuletide Letter.

These books are probably my favourite Mary Elizabeth Braddons, and I've devoured all the novels of hers I could find on archive.org and gutenberg.org. (I love them all, honestly.) This setting is less inherently melodramatic than Braddon's frequent travels among the star-studded rich and elite, and I think the characterisation gains a lot as a result of using a more mundane and realistically written locale. I also love the Charlotte's Inheritance books because of the female friendship, the Charlotte-and-Valentine romance with convincingly written changing for true love, and the way the story's structured with two heroines so that the suspense becomes very strong in the second book. (Being deliberately vague here due to not wanting to ruin the ending.)

Fandom: Scrapped Princess (anime)

Pacifica Casull, a spoilt teenage girl, is going to unconsciously destroy the world ... or is she? Pacifica's warrior brother and mage sister Shannon and Raquel aren't going to let her die, even when the entire world is against her. Magic, prophecy, technology, swords, and politics all combine in an exciting adventure story.

Characters: Raquel Casull

Source: 24 episode anime series available on the internet. Originated as a series of light novels, partly translated by O'Neill at this link (which is amazing). (The anime series, *not* the light novels, is the Yuletide nominated source material; I'm only linking the translations because they're good.)

Details: I'd love to read more about what makes Raquel tick. Her surface is sweet and simple, but there's also the mind of a brilliant mage in there. In some ways, Raquel's the most restrained of her siblings (or is she?). Does she ever feel like the odd duck out in her family? How does her magic work from a worldbuilding/theoretical perspective? I'd love to read a story about Raquel on her own, Raquel with one or more of the other Casulls (Carol, Yuhma, Shannon, Pacifica, extended family/neighbours?), Raquel and Steyr or another Peacemaker, Raquel catching up with Bergen or anyone else she met on her adventures, Raquel doing magic, Raquel on an adventure. I'd love to read any story with plenty of Raquel in it.

Wherever you'd like to go with Raquel, I'd love to read it.

I enjoy all the Scrapped Princess characters, and I'd be thrilled to read about Raquel interacting with absolutely anyone, from Bergen to Bairach to Casull family and Zefiris, or Raquel on her own or with original characters. Steyr is also one of my favourite characters, though a prompt with her interacting with Raquel is probably an alternative universe! I love how Steyr's a machine forced to do a job who grew incredibly bitter about it, rebelled against the system, and became a villain who's more complicated than she was designed to be. I like Steyr's voicing in the dub as she always seemed a lot more lively than the other Peacemakers to me. Raquel was also Cz's/Cin's past caretaker.

For the worldbuilding prompt, I'd love to read more about Raquel's magic from her perspective. Other aspects of the worldbuilding that interest me are the history of the world (would Raquel want to find out about her ancestors, Mauser's family?), and the future. What happens after the medieval stasis is over and presumably the Peacemakers' creators take a look at some point? What happens to the magic system and Raquel's knowledge after Pacifica changes the world? What sociopolitical changes are coming, with Forsyth soon to be the new king, Seness in a powerful position, and with the characters' new knowledge of the world?

Dub/sub/other versions: I've watched the anime in dub and sub versions, haven't read the manga, and only read the light novels in the fan translated parts linked above.

Fandom: The Way to the Lantern - Audrey Erskine Lindop (book)

Philippe Roberts, a handsome actor and con artist caught up in the French Revolution, is in way over his head when he's pursued by a determined rich Englishwoman, a charismatic politically active French aristocrat, and an impossible creature without shoes whom he's trying to protect at all costs.

On the rare occasions when I have ever told the truth I have always failed to be convincing. Lack of practice, I expect.

Characters: Any (Lizzie Weldon, Suzon Dupont | The Puce, Marie-Clarice, Philippe Roberts)

Source: 1 book, still under copyright

Details:

I love the way the three main female characters in this novel (Lizzie Weldon, the Puce, and Marie-Clarice) are all so incredibly determined and clever and drive the plot by announcing what they want. Which is usually Roberts. (And in Marie-Clarice's case, wanting heaping amounts of political change as well.) I also love the way that Roberts, as the narrator, has such a limited perspective on what other people see in him. Roberts thinks of himself as rather stupid but rescues his friends from several tough situations by quick thinking and acting in the course of the novel; he doesn't see himself as brave or kind but some of his actions go against that; and from his inside he can't see the effect his outside has on various women. And I love the found/chosen family bond between Roberts and Manager Smith, both before and after they take in the Puce. Another aspect of this story I absolutely love is the historical aspects - it comes across as if Lindop really did the research, and the grounding in this specific place and time is fantastic. Here are some optional fic prompts: Lizzie Weldon somehow gets a happy ending; Marie-Clarice backstory; Roberts and the Puce interacting after she's grown up; adventures in America with Roberts and his family; the Puce developing an acting or other kind of career; interaction between Marie-Clarice/Lizzie Weldon/the Puce (in any combination of two or three); character introspection or missing scene from some point in the novel. In short, I'd love to read absolutely any fic in this fandom that you enjoy writing.

And here are some additional character-specific thoughts on the four nominated.

Lizzie Weldon - what I love about her is that she's independent and intelligent and determined and driven, and it's one of Roberts' good points that he is one of few characters to admire and value those traits in her. It also interests me that Roberts notices that Lizzie's father's attitude is a key factor in her lack of suitors, instead of blaming it all on her. I think it's telling that Lizzie really gets to him, that Roberts analyses her so deeply, and how strongly they react to each other, even though it seems Roberts doesn't love her romantically. Lizzie tries to uphold the principles of the society that she's in, at least outwardly, while inwardly she'll do anything to get her way. Lizzie's harsh, initially unsympathetic, and continues very unsympathetic to people in general and the Puce and Manager Smith in particular. But she ends up saving Roberts' life practically singlehandedly and it's clear she is kind to her cousin Edward. I also rather like Lizzie's relationship with Sir Gregory Hawtrey - it's a pity she never realised that he was a better man than his son Nick ever was.

The Puce - another independent and intelligent and determined character, only much more frank and not at all keen on conventions. I think the novel succeeds in the difficult goal of starting with a young child, and growing her up into an adult woman by the end of it. Her wit, impulse, cleverness, and thiefly talents all combine to make her an extremely entertaining character. I love how the Puce is constantly in motion.

Marie-Clarice - she is an incredibly fun character; brilliant and active in about a thousand different projects and politics, sincerely cares about making the world a better place, sense of humour, sarcastic and dignified in the face of death. Marie-Clarice's attitude of constantly forgiving everyone everything, especially if she can believe they acted for political reasons, is very endearing. I love (hate, in a good way) the final tragedy Lindop gave Marie-Clarice, that at the very end she thought she died completely friendless.

Roberts - as the narrator, I love his sarcasm and the way he criticises himself, and the way his acting skills give him insights into people's characters. I like the way he puts on the mask of the Viscount de Lambriere, designed to be Lizzie's fantasy, while the reality is even more interesting. He's certainly an unscrupulous liar, thief, and leaver of debts unpaid - and he let himself be hanged this one time.

Fandom: Baldur's Gate (Video Game)

Fantasy adventure bildungsroman with a host of amazing companions.

Characters: Any (Anomen Delryn, Dynaheir, Female Charname, Haer'Dalis, Imoen, Jaheira, Keldorn Firecam, Khalid, Mazzy Fentan, Montaron, Phaere, Rasaad yn Bashir, Shar-Teel Dosan, Solaufein, Valygar Corthala, Xzar, Yoshimo)

Source: Gog.com, Beamdog, baldursgate.com

Details: I'd love to read a story about any characters in this fandom, nominated, non-nominated, original characters, anything you enjoy writing. Backstory, futurefic, alternative universe, creepy chills, adventure genfic, humour, delving into characters' issues and complexities and relationships, your favourite party on an adventure - whatever genre or combination of characters you'd most like to write.

Specific prompts: So many characters nominated this year, which is absolutely glorious! If we matched on this fandom and you offered a subset of characters, I wanted to leave an explicit prompt for you. So I apologise for writing an excessively long letter, and I'd love to read absolutely any story you want to write in this fandom, prompt related or not.

Anomen - I love his complicated character and the way the reasons behind his insecurities gradually come out as the player takes him on his personal quests. Anomen's backstory with Cor and Moira and the warring impulses inside him fascinate me, as he's constantly fighting himself to make himself the knight he wants to be. When/if Anomen falls in love, he's 100% OK with the female Charname being the strong team leader who rescues him. (Like all the other characters, I ship Anomen with anyone/no one/what works best for a story.)

Dynaheir - I love how she's determined, reflective, and ambitious to do the right thing. And also she's a nerd with fireballs. Backstory or Baldur's Gate I fic about her would be awesome, or alternative universe where she/Khalid/other dead characters survive. She's one of my favourites.

Female Charname - I'm keen to read about your Charname or any other original character.

Haer'Dalis - he's so much fun. One of the things I love about Haer'Dalis is how he and Aerie end up having a romantic relationship that's both healthy and short-lasting - they both gain from the relationship, and then break up because their underlying goals and philosophies aren't really all that compatible. I also like how Haer's epilogue seems to imply he orbits Raelis Shai, eventually coming back to her no matter what other exciting adventures he goes on. Or not. Whatever your take and theories on Haer, I'd like to read it!

Imoen - So many things happen to Imoen across the story of this game, and just like Charname she grows up in the process. By the end of the story she's used her intelligence and curiosity to develop into an incredibly powerful archmage. I'd love to read about one or more of the possibilities for Imoen's character development and depth, where she's her own person rather than someone standing in Charname's shadow.

Jaheira & Khalid - They're both wonderful, separately or together. An adventure they share together? If you signed up to write only 1 of them, that's cool too. Adventures, alternative universe where Khalid survives, the normal universe where Jaheira survives, or anything that involves one or both characters.

Keldorn Firecam - A knight in tarnished armour who's not nearly the good family man he likes to think of himself as, but who's trying to do the decent thing nevertheless. I love the way Keldorn gently tries to mentor some of the other characters, such as Anomen, and the way that although Keldorn's seen some of the very bleakest, most depressing aspects of knighthood, he still hasn't lost his faith and his will to do something.

Mazzy Fentan - I love her for being so capable and awesome and standing up against halfling stereotypes. Mazzy is always fun to read.

Montaron & Xzar - When I met these guys in my first Baldur's Gate I playthrough, I couldn't bring myself to drop them no matter how many fights they picked with Khalid and Jaheira. Alas poor low level evil Zhentarim wandering through the wrong woods ... I enjoy Montaron's practical bloodshed and Xzar's extraordinarily bizarre worldview. Again, if you signed up to write only 1 of them, that's cool and I will love your story!

Phaere & Solaufein - One or both of these characters would be very interesting. One of the things I love about Baldur's Gate is that even many of the minor characters have these fascinating side stories. There are so many different possible takes on Phaere's and Solaufein's characters, and I'd love to read another of them.

Rasaad - I haven't played much Extended Edition, but I think the new characters are pretty cool and fun! So if you signed up to write Rasaad, I'd love reading him with plenty of exposition about why he's so good.

Shar-Teel Dosan - One of my favourites! I love how she's so strong and quick and good with a sword (in Baldur's Gate I original version I always have to give her the big two-handed swords). I love Shar-Teel's hilariously intense man-hating combined with her undeniable competence. I think Shar-Teel is more than a one dimensional stereotype - her history with Angelo Dosan explains a lot of her past. In Baldur's Gate I original version, I love how Shar-Teel swaps a lot of lines with Branwen and Viconia, and how Skie Silvershield seems to compliment her and fangirl over her tremendously. I'd enjoy a fic about Shar-Teel adventuring with a bunch of companions, in Baldur's Gate I or Baldur's Gate II setting (or in backstory or future fic, or in any kind of Shar-Teel story).

Valygar Corthala - What I like about Valygar is how he's so restrained and quiet, which is certainly needed when so many other characters are drama queens! Poor Valygar has this horrible backstory that he bottles up inside and won't let out or ever complain about. He's an interesting character, and I think his low-key personality hides a lot of interesting complications.

Yoshimo - he's a key part of the Baldur's Gate 2 story and I really enjoy reading different takes on him and where he fits into the Sarevok, Irenicus, and Tamoko affair. The two different layers of him, self-depreciating thief with a sense of humour and bounty hunter on a mission, are always interesting to read.

--

Dear Yuletide Writer, from whatever shared fandom we matched on, thank you, and I hope your Yuletide is wonderful and fun.

Comments

[rr-duscan.livejournal.com]

Squee! I'm well and truly excited for Yuletide now :)

[blueinkedpalm.livejournal.com]

Me too! I'm so happy to see you in Yuletide again. :)

[rr-duscan.livejournal.com]

I thought this would amuse you in the run up to the Tide of Yule!
Signs You May Be Dying In A Victorian Novel (http://the-toast.net/2015/11/11/signs-you-may-be-dying-in-a-victorian-novel/).
R.x

[blueinkedpalm.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the lovely link!