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; for Grace or Norma, the insider's scoop on daily routine on the job; for Cohen, her personal life or backstory about her career; for Barbara, and 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, Barbara Vetter, Norma Alves, and Urs. Nor should you feel 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 Tracy, I'd either like casefic where she solves the crime, or something involving her family. This could mean her father and/or mother; but we do have hints that she comes from a fairly large family, others of whom are also police officers.

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.)

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.

Norma Alves comes from Season One. As support staff at the police station, she must have her own perspective—both on policing in general and on the other characters. That could mean Nick and Schanke; but it could also mean Stonetree, or the various cops who appeared in other episodes. What is Norma's experience of the 27th Precinct?

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?

Barbara Vetter is the (ex-)wife of one cop and the mother of another. The focus could be on the mother/daughter relationship, about which the show was ambivalent, depending on the episode. Then there are the stresses that led her to drink. Or you might prefer to examine what her life is like after her divorce.

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 something about Mrs Timming's perspective on the family she works for; or some slice-of-life at the E.M.S. hospital. 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, Nurse Adrian, Nurse Sims, and/or the Matron at the E.M.S. hospital.

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...!)

As for the other characters I asked for: I specifically suggested some slice-of-life at the E.M.S. hospital, especially if you want to use all three of them in a single story. However, you may prefer to focus on one specific character.

Nurse Adrian is hardly ever mentioned in fanfic, for all that Laurie clearly considered her a friend, at least to a degree. Perhaps that's because her crush on him clearly had no future. However, what was her perspective on the situation (whether while he was still at the hospital or after he left for Bridstow)? Indeed, for either nurse, you might consider what was it like to work at the E.M.S. hospital, when it would be quite unlike the place where she trained.

Renault describes Nurse Sims and Matron in rather precise little pictures, yet only in passing. So little is known of them that you pretty well have a clean slate here. I'd be particularly interested to hear more about Matron, who so loathed being put in charge of a hospital full of rough soldiers.

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 particularly want to see Maggy and Tocohl together again, I love all the characters; so please feel free to include 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. However, I did not ask for any specific characters. 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?

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 rarewomen, 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.