First off, thank you for writing me a story about one of these women. While not all are equally "rare" in their respective fandoms, that's only because the fandoms are rare in their own right.

Suggestions, speculations.... I've put quite a few of these under the cut, since I know a lot of people find them useful. In truth, there are many things that intrigue me about these characters; so I'm just throwing out suggestions in case you don't have an idea in mind already and are looking for something to inspire you. I wouldn't even call them "optional details"—though you'll gather that they're all more or less gen.

I know you'll write something I love!


Forever Knight

I'm pretty easy on what you write and who you include. Preferably gen; but don't feel that you have to ignore canon. Casefic is always a treat (if appropriate to the character). Here are a few suggestions, if you should find that sort of thing useful: for Tracy or Natalie, her p.o.v. on a case or the insider's scoop on daily routine on the job; for Cohen, her personal life or backstory about her career; for Myra and/or Jenny, their perspective on life in a cop's family; for Urs, backstory about her life in the years since she was brought across.

The characters I listed are pretty varied (apart from sex): Natalie Lambert, Tracy Vetter, Amanda Cohen, Myra Schanke, Jenny Schanke, and Urs. Still, please don't limited to picking only from these few: anyone else you feel fits in the story is fine by me. I'm pretty open to whatever you decide to write.

For Natalie, I'd prefer casefic, especially if it involves her role as a pathologist. Her contribution in that area is usually limited to only the occasional scene in the morgue; and I'd like to see more of her on the job. (By all means include Grace, if you like.)

For Tracy, I'd either like casefic where she solves the crime, or something around the precinct showing the daily grind. Or perhaps, if you like, you might involve her family. This could mean her father and/or mother; but we are told that she comes from a fairly large family, others of whom are also police officers.

Capt. Cohen is definitely the least popular of the three captains. I don't think it's because she's a woman: it's because the actress played her as an chilly, uptight workaholic. However, that, in itself, demands examination. We have only sketchy information about Cohen's professional background. Why does she have this particular management style? Her relationship with her family is another possible topic.

Myra and Jenny are a cop's family, and mostly seen (or, rather, heard about) as adjuncts to Don Schanke—understandably, given that we basically never meet them. What is the marriage like? What is Myra's take on her husband's job and his partner? Or Jenny's perspective on her Daddy? Alternatively, perhaps you might write about Jenny as an adult: did she maybe follow her father's path into a police career?

Urs appeared in only a handful of episodes; but she did star in one significant flashback that told us how she came to be brought across. What happened after that? I'd really like more of her backstory, especially through the twentieth century, when she had adjusted to her new role as vampire. This could involve Vachon and/or others in his crew...or not.


The Charioteer

Quite a lot of fan fiction focuses on the canonical romances; but here you'd be focusing on one or more of the supporting cast. Perhaps some slice-of-life at the E.M.S. hospital; something about Mrs Timming's perspective on the family she works for; or Laurie's mother's p.o.v. on her son's absence, her life in the village, and/or her remarriage. However, do please feel free to include other characters if you want.

If you've matched with me on The Charioteer, then you pretty well have to know the book and its characters already, and you're probably familiar with the fan fiction. Not surprisingly, a high percentage focuses on the male characters: after all, the women are all supporting characters. I've asked for any of Mrs Timmings, Laurie's mother, and/or the Matron at the E.M.S. hospital.

Laurie's mother must have her own story, from her wartime marriage to being a single mother during the Depression, her life in the village, her courtship by the retired Indian Army colonel, her son's departures (for school, college, and war), World War II, and remarriage. What is her perspective on any or all of these, given that we see her only from her son's point of view at a time when he and the country were both in crisis?

Mrs Timmings belongs to Laurie's life before the war. In the book, she barely appears in passing; but she has to have had her own perspective on the Odells. This could mean any period from Laurie's childhood to the later war years. What did she think of Mrs Odell as a mother? Of the prospects of Lucy's remarriage (which might have led to some worry on her own behalf)? How did Mrs Timmings react to Laurie being injured? What happened to her later on? (Lots of scope for speculation, little canon to base it on, but...!)

Renault describes Matron in rather precise little pictures, yet only in passing. So little is known of her that you pretty well have a clean slate here. I specifically suggested some slice-of-life at the E.M.S. hospital. I'm curious about her expectations of wartime service, given that she so loathed being put in charge of a hospital full of rough soldiers. And then, of course, there's the staff she has to deal with, from doctors and nurses to conchie orderlies.

These are only ideas, mind. If some other idea is begging to be written, that's always the sign of a good story!


Hellspark

I love this book for Lassti, linguistics, the cast (especially Maggy!), and the detective plot. So as much of that as you can get into the story the better. A missing scene? Something aboard ship? A new case for the new judge? While I would particularly like to see Maggy and Tocohl together again, I love all the characters; so please feel free to write about any of them.

This is by far the rarest fandom here: I don't think I've ever seen fan fiction written for it. If you've offered it, you probably already know it well and own a copy. I love it for the detective plot, the delightful flora of Lassti, and the incorporation of linguistics as the S in SF. And Maggy. The other characters, too, of course, but especially Maggy. I wound up listing all the characters, since this is such a rare fandom that I wanted to maximize the chance of matching. Do, please, feel free to mix'n'match as you like, for any Hellspark story would be a treat.

Suggestions, suggestions....

Well, I don't think it's reasonable to ask you to write a sequel. I'd love a sequel, of course; and it's not as though people have never written novels for gift exchanges. (I did myself once. Nearly killed me.) However, it's not really a practical request. *g*

I love casefic. So, if you have skill with plotting, then some other mystery for now-Byworld Judge Tocohl Susumo to tackle would be a joy. We saw one other world in some detail, at the beginning of the novel, so—if perchance some other year she were back there and some crime were committed—perhaps she might be enlisted to solve it.

Then there's the possibility of filling in a missing scene. On board ship, perhaps? (If it were on the way to Flashfever, you might work Alfvaen into the story, too.) Or on planet: a bit repartee between Buntec and Edge-of-Dark, maybe? Or Tocohl running again into that clearly experienced judge, Nevelen Darragh, who clearly takes an interest.

Really, anything would be wonderful.


General Guidelines

As far as general guidelines are concerned, I seem to say pretty much the same thing for every gift exchange.

What I Like:
* Plot and/or character (both being the ideal, of course!)
* A sense of humour and being able to recognize the ridiculous when it pops up; also wit and wordplay, if the story calls for them. (Having said that, I totally leave it up to you whether you write a serious or comic story—or a serious story with comic interludes.)
* Stories that are true to canon (though I've certainly enjoyed some flat-out AUs)

What I Dislike:
* Poor spelling, bad grammar and punctuation, and blatant Americanisms uttered by British characters (unless they're aware of what they're doing, which is another matter entirely)
* Explicit sex, especially if long and detailed. (No objection to hints, if appropriate to the story, but I'm not into plumbing.)

As for my specific requests for rarelywritten, the choice of characters is definitely "either/or". However, please don't consider yourself limited to the ones I listed. Do feel free to include any that you need for your plot. In particular, I've no objection to having male characters in the story, though in a supporting role, of course, given the nature of this particular gift exchange.