osprey_archer | Dear Yuletide Author

Dear Yuletide Author,

Thank you so much for writing this fic for me! I love all these fandoms to pieces and will love anything you write for me in them.

But if you want a bit more guidance, I have some helpful lists for you.

Likes:
• Witty dialogue
• Emotional complexity
• Flawed but likeable characters
• Interesting female characters (I bet you could kind of guess that from my fandoms)
• Angst leavened by humor, or humor leavened by angst
• Hurt/comfort
• "Five things..." fics

Dislikes
• Character death
• Character bashing

1. Northanger Abbey

I love this book so much! I adore both Henry and Catherine and their somewhat odd couple relationship, and I'd love a little more insight into how Henry came to fall in love with her.

In some ways Henry and Catherine's relationship seems so unlikely. He's cynical and sarcastic, and the first few times they meet he's often making fun of her obliquely. When and how did he switch from seeing her as a good mark, to appreciating her innate honestly and good nature? And what made him so cynical in the first place, anyway?

I also really like Eleanor, so if she gets a cameo I will probably squeal like a tiny child who has received an unexpected ice cream cone.

2. Dostana

THESE THREE ARE SO OBVIOUSLY MEANT FOR EACH OTHER, and I would love, love, love to see a post-movie fic where they realize that. Maybe Neha can repay them for the wonderful dates they took her on (amusement park! At night!) with some amazing plan of her own?

Alternatively, I'd love a story about the fun the three of them had together while Sam and Kunal were still living in Neha's apartment. The song montages show them getting up to all kinds of crazy awesome things together, and I'd love to read about that.

Here is a link to my review of Dostana. The effervescent joy and silliness of the movie takes me to my happy place.

Also, if neither of the prompts from my sign-up are doing it for you, I've thought of another possibility: Kunal and Neha come down with something or other, and Sam has to make use of his mad nursing skills. Kunal and Neha get "I am awesome at my job!" moments in the movie; let's give one to Sam, too!

3. Baby-sitter's Club

I've wanted more Ashley for YEARS, ever since I first read Claudia and the New Girl back when I was a wee little thing. I'd love a story where Ashley and Claudia meet again, maybe in high school or college, and discuss art. Or go painting in the park or at the zoo. Or just have coffee together. And possibly make out.

I was really sad that Ashley only showed up in the one BSC book. I thought she really understood Claudia in a way that the other BSC members, wonderful though they are, couldn’t because they weren’t artists.

I shipped Claudia and Ashley before I knew what shipping was. They're such kindred spirits, and I would love to see them connect again when they're both a bit more mature and on the same page about how central art needs to be to their lives.

Also, I love art history, so if they end up geeking out about the Impressionists or Vincent Van Gogh or Japanese art (I know nothing about Japanese art, so if you do go for it!), I might just die of happiness.

4. The Montmaray Journals

I love every character in these books and I will love anything that you write about them. More diary entries by Sophie, chronicling the beginnings of World War II? Awesome! Fic about the FitzOsbornes as children on Montmaray? Rock on! A fic explaining how Simon and Toby first got involved? Totally cool!
Seriously. Go wild. I'm so psyched that this fandom is included, you could write Veronica's grocery list and I'd love you. (Veronica's grocery list would probably be fascinating.)

I only realized that Montmaray was available at the last minute, so that's why this request is a little less specific than the others. Here is my review of the The FitzOsbornes in Exile, in case you want more what I love about them. The beautiful use of history! The vivid, wonderful characters! I keep wanting to say "So-and-so is my favorite" - about Veronica, or Sophie, or Toby, or Simon - but they're all my favorite. Seriously. Just have fun with this.