Dear Purimgifter (FINISHED AT LAST!!!)

[opalmatrix]

It's Purim: let's have fun. Let's not be too heavy, even with canons that have tragedy as a main thread (for example, Saiyuki and Saga). I've not given a lot of specific prompts for most of these: the exchange works are to be short, and getting elaborate with the prompts seems counterproductive.

Preferences

I Don't Like:

• Sickly-sweet, coy, cutesy romantic stuff (anything in the "tee-hee-hee, is he looking at me?" category is definitely out)
• Extensive use of epithets, or epithets that don't match the character POV (no one should think of his or her long-time lover as "the green-eyed man," for example): these will throw me right out of a story
• Characters acting out of character, especially if the purpose is to force them into a relationship (doubly bad if that relationship is romantic or sexual)
• By-the-numbers, every-action-described sex. Note that actual sex is fine (I love me some sexy stories) — just don't like it when the descriptions turn into a set of exact stage directions.
• Mpreg, rape, forced sex (including sex pollen and fuck-or-die), hatesex. Dubcon is OK, especially the sort when the reluctant partner really wants the other person but is just not quite feeling ready yet or doesn't think se wants it in this particular way but gets off on it anyway.
• Humiliation or betrayal (without a damn good plot reason) of a character by a friend or lover

I Like:

• Strong characterization (including character-appropriate dialog: no earthy, uneducated characters using $50 words)
• Positive emotional payoffs that are well-earned
• Passions that are strong without being mushy/fluffy
• Moments of realization — satori
• Friendships - although I am a romantic person, not every relationship must be romantic (I do like the trope of friends becoming lovers, however)
• Wry and even dark humor in the course of a more serious story
• And I like any of the following "cool bits":
  • hurt-comfort
  • someone's profile silhouetted against the light
  • warm and oversized bathrobes/dressing gowns or sweaters/jerseys
  • licking honey or something similar off fingers
  • sudden realization of one's feelings for another
  • family-of-choice, nakama, or True Companions
  • cynics with secretly soft hearts
  • impulsive acts of valor (especially on behalf of the weak or an underdog)
  • the little spots of light that sift through a thick canopy of trees onto the ground beneath
  • water running over pebbles or stones
  • senses of smell and touch and memories attached to them
  • food descriptions: "food porn"
  • an autumn leaf or item of clothing as the only bit of color in a bleak landscape
  • an open-air market or seaside boardwalk or other place filled with joyful bustle and the smell of good things to eat
  • a study or library as a refuge against the outside world
  • places where arts or martial arts are studied or where master crafters are at work

I'm quite content with both straight and gay relationships. I do tend to ship the canon relationships, unless it's a character who has had no clear relationships shown in the story. I'm not comfortable with sexual relationships shown in children under the age of, say, 14 or so, and even then it's better in context (teens with other teens or in a societal setting where girls expect to marry by 16-18 anyway).

Fandoms

Discworld - Terry Pratchett

I don't like the Industrial Revolution books, or the Wizards books (although the vast majority of the characters in those don't qualify for other reasons, so). And I'm leery of all the later Pratchett books: I could tell something was off even before we found out about the cruel disease that eventually took him.

So that leaves us: the Witches, the Watch, early Tiffany Aching, and Monstrous Regiment. Something light but sharp or poignant (which is related to "sharp," linguistically ... ). I'm very fond of Tiffany and of Sybil, surprisingly fond of Magrat, and I love Angua to pieces. There isn't enough romantical stuff written about her and Carrot, IMO, and I sometimes wonder whether she misses the forest of Uberwald. Something about how's she's coming to terms with the city, even becoming protective of it, would probably suit very well.

Curtain Up | Theater Shoes - Noel Streatfeild

I loved the character of Uncle Mose, and Miriam was great too. I'm interested in Mose and Lindsay's relationship. How did they meet? Or, how did her family react when they heard she was marrying a Jewish music hall comic? Or has Mose been practicing his religion at all since his marriage? Or has he talked to his daughter about it? Tell me about these or any related topics (or honestly, something you come up with yourself is great too).

Saiyuki

This is mainly about the Kou-tachi, since they are the ones suffering under and evil vizier (vizieress?). Two of them are also the only female characters who get much screen time. So, something light but perhaps poignant about Yaone and/or Lirin, or Lirin or Kougaiji, and so on. I do ship Kou/Dokugakuji, or even Kou/Doku/Yaone. Another choice might be something about Kanan, but please, make it about her life before Hyakugan Maoh got involved. Or (now that we have a couple of other female characters in canon) a side story about Sharak Sanzo, or even Taruchie.

Esther Diamond Series - Laura Resnick

This series is just plain fun. Esther is hilarious. A little romp of some kind. Perhaps something weird happens when she takes her mother out to brunch? Or she finally gets a chance to go out for supper with her detective, and mayhem ensues?

Saga (Comics)

Klara is my favorite, but I love Hazel, Izabel, and Sophie, and I sympathize with Alana (although she also makes me very cross sometimes). And I'm fond of The Brand and want to know more about Hazel's teacher Noreen. Because so much bad shit happens to everyone, light, fluffy but poignant things are probably the way to go.

Gentlemen of the Road - Michael Chabon

I never get tired of Amram and Zelikman. Earlier or further adventures? Passover with the Radanites? Coming back to Filaq to celebrate another of the holidays? Something with a touch of actual magic would be fun too. Perhaps they encounter (crossover!) characters from some other swords-and-sorcey tale?

The People - Zenna Henderson

An old favorite of mine, loaded with great women and girls. I'd eat up "what ever happened to ..." about any of them, including those who are children during the series.

Dalemark Quartet - Diana Wynne Jones

Biffa is awesome, and her viewpoint would be great, I'd love something that explores Hildy, and why she's so impossible. (Seeing her grow out of it would be great too.) Lenina's viewpoint would be interesting as well. I also quite like Brid.

Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett

Fun, fun, fun. Crowley gets his way too often: I'd enjoy having Aziraphale win a round or two.