greerwatson (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
greerwatson) wrote2021-01-06 12:09 am
greerwatson) wrote2021-01-06 12:09 am
Dear Chocolatier
First, let me thank you for writing me a story in one of the fandoms we share. I'm excited about all of them.
GENERAL POINTS:
REQUESTS:
The Charioteer - Mary Renault (Gareth Straike/Lucy Odell Straike & Laurie Odell, Alec Deacon & Ralph Lanyon, Alec Deacon/Sandy Reid)
The prompts I listed in the sign-up are only suggestions: I'm not wedded to any of them. If none hits the spot, then write me something different. On the whole, though, I'd prefer a story that is more-or-less gen—though that depends, of course, on what characters are included during which period in their lives. I certainly don't want canon ignored; it's more a question of focus. Backstory, futurefic, missing scene, an exploration of characters often overlooked....
Availability: The preferred edition is always the 1953 Longman (or its 1973 reprint); but the paperback is a lot more available, being in print. Also, Renault's books are found in most libraries.
DC's Arrowverse (Gideon & Zari Tomaz | Zari Tarazi, Caitlin Snow & Cisco Ramon, Barry Allen & David Singh, Lita & Mick Rory, Leonard Snart & Mick Rory, Leonard Snart & Lisa Snart & Mick Rory, Leonard Snart & Lisa Snart, Barry Allen & Leonard Snart, Nate Heywood & Ray Palmer)
Sometimes it seems as though the actual show almost forgets that Barry is a CSI; but it's surely an important side of his life. Possible prompts: juggling both careers, working on non-meta cases, slice-of-life in the lab.
For ColdFlash, I like snarky banter during heists and other meet-ups, fix-it fic (no way is Snart dead!), and ethical dilemmas about their CSI/thief relationship.
And of course Snart belongs to both series. So for Mick & Len, the story could be based either in Central City or on the Waverider. We've had a fair number of hints about the Snart family, but mostly from Len's perspective. How does Lisa fit into this? The friendship between Mick and Len is often tense and has a lot of backstory, and shifted during their time together on the Waverider before the Oculus explosion. And then there's the aftermath. Not to mention after the aftermath. (No way is Snart dead!)
As for the rest of the Waverider crew (not to mention the Time Bureau), I've picked out gen relationships. It's an ensemble, as far as I'm concerned. Nate and Ray's bromance; Mick's relationship with his new-found daughter; anything with Gideon; the evershifting roster of old, new, and newest, all managing to barely work together at best, but succeeding in their weird and wonderful missions. Include whoever else you fancy. They're a fun lot.
DCU Comics (Hartley Rathaway & Wally West, Hartley Rathaway & James Jesse & Leonard Snart & Mark Mardon & Mick Rory & Sam Scudder, Barry Allen & Leonard Snart)
My preference would be a story about the Rogues interacting with one another. Perhaps a heist, pre- or post-heist in their safe house, personal time, etc. If you want to include the Flash, I'd prefer (if it's a heist story) that the Rogues manage to escape, with or without the loot. Humour would be great, and very much in character.
If you want, I always saw hints of one-sided Barry/Len in their interactions during this period. My head canon is unrequited feelings on Len's part (which he mostly can't even admit to himself), with the Flash being oblivious since his interest is in Iris.
Hartley came out to Wally after Crisis. However (if appropriate to your story), I'd prefer if you retcon him as also gay in this period. Alternatively, of course, you might write about their friendship. Piper went straight longer than any of the other Rogues, not to mention giving Wally a hand at heroics now and then.
Frankly, I miss the old Rogues. The current version is far less interesting
Forever Knight (Javier Vachon & Screed, Nick Knight & Tracy Vetter & Joe Reese, Nick Knight & Don Schanke & Amanda Cohen, Nicholas Knight & Tracy Vetter, Natalie Lambert & Grace Balthazar, Nicholas Knight & Don Schanke)
And then there are the vampires introduced in Season Three. The series only told their "origin stories": much remains unknown. How did Vachon get together with Screed (or any other member of his crew, for the only one whose history we know is Urs)? What was it like for Screed as a carouche among vampires who prefer human blood? And then there's Urs: how is she affected by Vachon's friendship with Tracy.
GENERAL POINTS:
- I love worldbuilding and character pieces—stories that explore more deeply—through backstory, or by elaborating the setting/history/culture or exploring people's motivations and personal interactions.
- I prefer gen. DNW non-canon relationships unless requested. I'm not asking you to ignore canon relationships; but please don't make them the focus of the story. I don't care for anything more than PG-13: explicit sexual detail is definitely a DNW for me.
- I love casefic; and, more generally, I like stories that are canon-compliant. The general exception to this is ignoring canonical character death if you want. Canon-divergent AUs are also okay. (There may be other specific exceptions.)
- I'm okay with violence if necessary to the story; but not gore for the sake of gore. On the whole, I prefer not to have characters die in the story; but references to canonical deaths are okay. (I'm fine with having original characters murdered in casefic, and that sort of thing.)
- I enjoy comedy—being able to recognize the ridiculous when it pops up; also wit and wordplay. 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.
- No second person fic, please. First person is definitely okay for book canons that were written that way by the author. However, I don't generally care for it with TV fandoms. Epistolary fic is fine.
REQUESTS:
The Charioteer - Mary Renault (Gareth Straike/Lucy Odell Straike & Laurie Odell, Alec Deacon & Ralph Lanyon, Alec Deacon/Sandy Reid)
Quite a lot of fan fiction focuses on the canonical romances; so I'd prefer a story that's a bit different. Possible prompts: Laurie's life after he's mustered out; life for the Straikes during the war; Alec and Sandy as army doctors; an insider's view of the Bridstow scene; backstory/futurefic about Ralph's relationship with Alec. Feel free to include other characters besides those nominated.The Charioteer is the last contemporary book written by Mary Renault before she shifted to writing historicals. What do I like about it? Well, it was one of the first stories I ever read that had explicitly gay characters in it, let alone a gay hero. The characters are eternally fascinating. In addition, it's set in Britain during World War II, which makes it an intriguing period piece.
I prefer canon-compliant stories that are gen or character-driven mild romance. However, I don't like anything more than PG13: explicit sexual detail is definitely a DNW for me. I prefer not to have characters die in the story; but references to canonical deaths are okay. DNW second person fic.
The prompts I listed in the sign-up are only suggestions: I'm not wedded to any of them. If none hits the spot, then write me something different. On the whole, though, I'd prefer a story that is more-or-less gen—though that depends, of course, on what characters are included during which period in their lives. I certainly don't want canon ignored; it's more a question of focus. Backstory, futurefic, missing scene, an exploration of characters often overlooked....
Availability: The preferred edition is always the 1953 Longman (or its 1973 reprint); but the paperback is a lot more available, being in print. Also, Renault's books are found in most libraries.
DC's Arrowverse (Gideon & Zari Tomaz | Zari Tarazi, Caitlin Snow & Cisco Ramon, Barry Allen & David Singh, Lita & Mick Rory, Leonard Snart & Mick Rory, Leonard Snart & Lisa Snart & Mick Rory, Leonard Snart & Lisa Snart, Barry Allen & Leonard Snart, Nate Heywood & Ray Palmer)
On the one hand, Barry Allen is a CSI; on the other, he's a superhero. I like seeing him on the job, and trying to juggle both roles. Cisco and Caitlin are the core of his back-up team; and I love the snarky banter of ColdFlash encounters, as well as ethical dilemmas about their CSI/thief relationship. And of course, Snart belongs also to Legends. So for Mick and Len, the story could be based either in Central City or on the Waverider, dealing with past, present ... or future. (No way is Snart dead!) As for the rest of the crew, it's an ensemble, as far as I'm concerned: the evershifting roster of old, new, and newest, all managing to barely work together at best, but succeeding in their weird and wonderful missions.I think the choice of relationships makes it clear that, within the Arrowverse, I prefer The Flash and Legends. Taking the former first: Cisco and Caitlin are the core of Flash's back-up team. Maybe their perspective back in the Cortex while he's off saving the day? Or some off-duty friendship chat; or maybe backstory before the Particle Accelerator explosion when Star Labs was a busy research site.
I don't like anything more than PG13: explicit sexual detail is definitely a DNW for me. DNW soulmates, A/B/O, mpreg, wingfic, genderswap, kidfic. Canon-divergent AUs are fine; but DNW other types of AU. I prefer not to have characters die in the story; but references to canonical deaths are okay. DNW second person fic. Any other characters you want to include would be fine.
Sometimes it seems as though the actual show almost forgets that Barry is a CSI; but it's surely an important side of his life. Possible prompts: juggling both careers, working on non-meta cases, slice-of-life in the lab.
For ColdFlash, I like snarky banter during heists and other meet-ups, fix-it fic (no way is Snart dead!), and ethical dilemmas about their CSI/thief relationship.
And of course Snart belongs to both series. So for Mick & Len, the story could be based either in Central City or on the Waverider. We've had a fair number of hints about the Snart family, but mostly from Len's perspective. How does Lisa fit into this? The friendship between Mick and Len is often tense and has a lot of backstory, and shifted during their time together on the Waverider before the Oculus explosion. And then there's the aftermath. Not to mention after the aftermath. (No way is Snart dead!)
As for the rest of the Waverider crew (not to mention the Time Bureau), I've picked out gen relationships. It's an ensemble, as far as I'm concerned. Nate and Ray's bromance; Mick's relationship with his new-found daughter; anything with Gideon; the evershifting roster of old, new, and newest, all managing to barely work together at best, but succeeding in their weird and wonderful missions. Include whoever else you fancy. They're a fun lot.
DCU Comics (Hartley Rathaway & Wally West, Hartley Rathaway & James Jesse & Leonard Snart & Mark Mardon & Mick Rory & Sam Scudder, Barry Allen & Leonard Snart)
My favourite version of the Rogues is the original pre-Crisis line-up; but I also enjoy the friendship between Hartley and Wally. Perhaps a heist, pre- or post-heist in their safe house, personal time, etc. If you want to include either of the Flashes, I'd prefer (if it's a heist story) that the Rogues manage to escape, with or without the loot. Humour would be great, and very much in character. Feel free to include other Rogues besides those listed.The characters I've requested come from two different time periods (20th and 30th century).I've read The Flash since Carmine Infantino days, which was a decade or two ago, to say the least. There are obvious differences between the comics then and now, never more so than with the Rogues. My favourite version is the original pre-Crisis line-up, though there were a lot of good things about the early period immediately afterwards when Wally first took over as the Flash.
I don't like anything more than PG-13: explicit sexual detail is definitely a DNW for me. DNW the death of any of the canonical characters in the story. DNW second-person fic. If you write about the early Rogues, I'd prefer if you retcon Hartley as also gay in this period.
My preference would be a story about the Rogues interacting with one another. Perhaps a heist, pre- or post-heist in their safe house, personal time, etc. If you want to include the Flash, I'd prefer (if it's a heist story) that the Rogues manage to escape, with or without the loot. Humour would be great, and very much in character.
If you want, I always saw hints of one-sided Barry/Len in their interactions during this period. My head canon is unrequited feelings on Len's part (which he mostly can't even admit to himself), with the Flash being oblivious since his interest is in Iris.
Hartley came out to Wally after Crisis. However (if appropriate to your story), I'd prefer if you retcon him as also gay in this period. Alternatively, of course, you might write about their friendship. Piper went straight longer than any of the other Rogues, not to mention giving Wally a hand at heroics now and then.
Frankly, I miss the old Rogues. The current version is far less interesting
Forever Knight (Javier Vachon & Screed, Nick Knight & Tracy Vetter & Joe Reese, Nick Knight & Don Schanke & Amanda Cohen, Nicholas Knight & Tracy Vetter, Natalie Lambert & Grace Balthazar, Nicholas Knight & Don Schanke)
While I know FK is usually described as a vampire series, I particularly love the cop aspect of the show. I like both Schanke and Tracy as Nick's partner, with or without the appropriate captain in the mix. Or Natalie as pathologist, working with her lab assistant, Grace. However, I also like the new vampires introduced in Season 3. If you write about Vachon and his crew, then I'd be equally happy with either an incident from their past together or a tale set in the present-day of the series.I prefer stories with a modern setting to focus on Nick as a detective, with vampires on the side, so to speak, if at all. I love the cop aspect of the series, both the interplay back at the station, and also the detective story plots. I like both Tracy and Schanke as Nick's partner, all the captains, and Natalie's role as pathologist.
I prefer gen; but I'm not asking you to ignore canon relationships. However, I don't like anything more than PG-13: explicit sexual detail is definitely a DNW for me. I prefer not to have characters die in the story; but references to canonical deaths are okay. DNW second person fic. Any other characters you want to include would be fine. Do feel free to ignore "Last Knight" if you want.
And then there are the vampires introduced in Season Three. The series only told their "origin stories": much remains unknown. How did Vachon get together with Screed (or any other member of his crew, for the only one whose history we know is Urs)? What was it like for Screed as a carouche among vampires who prefer human blood? And then there's Urs: how is she affected by Vachon's friendship with Tracy.