Dear Yuletide Writer Letter 2020
Oct. 17th, 2020 09:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schlitzie_ramone
NB: My AO3 username is sweetcarolanne.
Hello, dear writer! Thank you for being willing to create for me. The prompts below are suggestions that I hope might inspire your creativity but feel free to adapt or change things and add other elements as well if the story seems to require it. As long as you stay away from my hard DNWs and include some of what I do like (though of course you don’t need to include absolutely everything), you’re golden! Though some prompts may seem longer than others, I love the fandoms all just as much as each other and would be equally delighted to receive any one of them as my gift. Some I have requested before and want more of, others are new Yuletide treasures for me!
Things I DO like in a story:
- fluff
- romance
- the deepening of emotional ties between characters
- friendship becoming love,
- overcoming and healing from trauma with the help of a loved one (or loved ones or friends or just kind souls)
- hurt/comfort
- angsty scenarios that wind up with a happy or hopeful ending
- strengthening of comradeship bonds and characters being willing to go the extra mile to help someone they care about
- fun and humor
- someone stumbling on an unlikely but completely right for the situation solution when disaster looks likely to be looming
- found families and/or kidfic
- smut (for some of my smutty likes, see my Smut Swap letter here: http://schlitzie-ramone.dreamwidth.org/6093.html)
My hard DO NOT WANTS are:
- noncon
- main character death or death of one or both halves of the main pairing
- unhappy endings and complete and pure angst with no hope in sight
- homophobia
- female characters being submissive to males
- darkfic (a good scare is fine for spooky stories, but no gore or deathfic please)
- graphic depictions of child or animal abuse (although allusions to those happening in the past are OK if the story requires it)
- unrequested ships or characters being the main focus of the story - it's perfectly fine for other canon characters to show up or be mentioned - they're very welcome, but the story needs to focus on the requested characters (s)
- animal characters being changed into humans
- character bashing
Here are my requests, in no particular order!
1) Rise of the Planet of the Apes Movies (2011, 2014)
Characters: Caesar, Koba, Cornelia, Blue Eyes
This fandom and characters have recently become a near-obsession! I am particularly drawn to the character of Koba and all that he has endured – he is a complex character with both horrific flaws and many redeeming features. He turned from an innocent victim into a villain due to his hatred for humans and all the terrible wrongs they had done him, but I believe there was a time when he was happy, especially those 10 years between Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. He was devoted to his leader Caesar then and wanted to please him, before the canon of “Dawn” when he turned against Caesar and everything went to hell.
Some ideas: Perhaps the story could be something set in that period between the two films, the happy times when Koba trusted Caesar and wanted to make him proud. It could be something to do with a brotherly-type love that deepens – the scarred Koba would likely associate touch with pain due to his sufferings at the hands of humans, but Caesar could persuade him to accept physical affection again (which does not have to include sex, but I will not object if it does, and Caesar re-awakens Koba’s bonobo passions). Or they could go on a hunting trip where the two get separated from the main group and have to huddle for warmth somewhere and rely on each other’s strength; it would be particularly interesting if the roles were reversed and Caesar (wounded perhaps) had to rely on Koba for a change…
Or perhaps a three-way love could develop between Caesar/Cornelia/Koba? I would like the same time period mentioned above or a scenario where the events of “Dawn” never happened, and to see the characters all involved equally with each other… m/m as well as f/m, and a specific DNW is a submissive Cornelia – I like her strong and fiery! I would be happy with an established relationship angle, with the three characters going about their daily lives and being supportive of one another in their various tasks within the colony, or taking on some task or challenge together, or a getting together scenario where all three are feeling attracted to each other and work out a happy solution to their situation. Koba with his hunting skill and wisdom could be seen as somewhat of a mentor to younger apes, so his help would be invaluable in raising the young Blue Eyes. I do like kidfic so would be quite happy with this sort of a plot! :D
2) Kong: Skull Island (2017)
Characters: Kong, James Conrad, The Iwi
I admit it, LOL – I’ve started shipping one of the human characters with the giant ape! :P I was intrigued by how, in the movie, Kong not only began to trust and show affection to Mason Weaver, but extended that trust to James Conrad too. What if the relationship between Conrad and Kong deepened, and they developed an understanding based on love as well as trust? It could include adventures and plot, or simply a tender exploration of feelings. I don’t expect erotic content, but if you want to write some I would welcome it (maybe based on desires, dreams and/or sensual touch rather than anything, er… physically impossible?)
If you’re not into the ship, I do have a couple of gen scenarios I’d be thrilled to see.
Perhaps something about Kong’s memories infancy and early childhood would be fascinating, and how he goes on to form new relationships with the humans he develops a mutual trust with. What was his relationship with his parents like? Were they the only ones of their kind from the beginning, or were they members of a tribe originally? If so, they may have become somehow separated from the other apes, or the others could have been killed off by the skull-crawlers… and how does he react to the humans he's later bonded with, either the Iwi or the new humans he's come to trust, now that he's alone but still very much needs a family?
Or how, as the Iwi people’s god, would he and they interact? Did he perhaps receive some help from them in his early days as a young orphan? How might they have helped him with his loneliness, his early struggles, and the kingship and godhood that became his at far too young an age? I would be happy to see him protecting them against the skull-crawlers and otherwise acting as the tribe’s protector. And I'd love to see how the human newcomers perceive Kong's role as the protector of the island - and later, their protector, too!
3) Rampage (2018)
Characters: George, Davis Okoye
My most recent of the canons I love! This is another one where I’m interested in the relationship between the big ape and the human guy, LOL! Yes, I ship Davis/George in a romantic way, but also would be content with a family-type relationship between these two. If you choose the romantic angle, as with Kong I don’t expect smut if you’re not wanting to write it, but again, as with Kong, it’s most welcome if you do want to write it (maybe based on desires, dreams and/or sensual touch rather than anything, er… physically impossible?)!
After the Chicago incident, George had his “chill pill” and is now calmed down and his normal sweet self, personality-wise, but the fact remains that he is still a gigantic, super-powerful enhanced ape. And I imagine he wouldn’t be allowed back with the normal sized gorillas for obvious reasons. As gorillas are social animals, that would leave George lonely, stressed and emotionally dependent on Davis for company and affection. How would such a relationship change and develop after the shocking events both of them have been through? How would the bond develop and intensify between them?
Also, what kind of adventures might Davis get up to with an enhanced ape who is now capable of using his powers for good? Would they go into the African jungles to fight against poachers, or foil crimes at home? Or would the authorities seek to take George away from Davis, forcing Davis to go on the run with his giant friend and keep him out of harm’s way? And what if they came across other kinds of giant creatures and other cool monsters? I'd love to see George get into some epic battles, especially if he's feeling all protective of Davis!
4) Freaks (1932)
Characters: Schlitzie, Phroso, Elvira (Pinhead Zip), Jenny Lee (Pinhead Pip)
I adore this beautiful old cult classic – so many fascinating characters, and a story that is not so much for me a morality or horror tale, but a slice of life where circus and sideshow folk go about their daily lives, find love, and deal with various challenges.
I tend to ship Phroso/Schlitzie (or Schlitze, I am fine with either spelling variant) and see them as being in a tender, old-fashioned romance-style relationship, so would prefer a delicate, innocent love story here (the kisses and flowers and handholding type), and NOT smut for this fandom! And I am fine with whatever pronouns you want to use for Schlitzie, although the movie tends to use “she” and “her” (if you want to stick to movie canon in your method of writing). I tend to view Schlitzie as transgender or gender-fluid (in RL and the film, s/he was very fond of dresses and feminine finery and was always ecstatic when given new ones). Do feel free to include other characters from the movie in the story too, I love them all – even the horrible villains are fascinating! Especially I’d love my other nominated characters, Elvira and Jenny Lee (AKA Pinheads Zip and Pip) playing a large part in the story. Possible (very optional) storylines could include:
a) Schlitzie, Elvira and Jenny Lee somehow help Phroso out with his clown act, and bonding develops, especially between Phroso and Schlitzie.
b) Phroso takes Schlitzie and their friends Elvira and Jenny Lee shopping in Paris, or for a picnic, or some other outing
c) Phroso has to protect Schlitzie, Elvira and Jenny Lee against some kind of threat, possibly from the story’s villains or from hostile members of the circus audience or the townspeople where the circus is visiting.
5) A Little Princess – Frances Hodgson Burnett
Characters: Sara Crewe, Becky, Tom Carrisford, Ram Dass
I recently re-read this book and got all super-nostalgic! This one’s a canon I’ve loved since childhood and the re-read has given me so many Sara/Becky feels. I now ship these two like burning, and would totally adore something where Sara and Becky as adults came to realise their love, whether the story’s explicit smut or just sweet fluff. I really like the idea of these two having a love they can hide in plain sight (since they would have to hide it due to the nature of social attitudes in those times), as a rich lady and devoted lady’s maid, they could be close and no one would be any the wiser.
What I would love to see is more of the happy ending, and what might happen in the future. Does Uncle Tom Carrisford invent more delightful surprises for Sara, and hopefully for Becky too? Does Sara get involved with more philanthropic projects, perhaps taking in a poor little girl as her ward to become the next “Little Princess”? Do Sara and Becky realise how lonely Ram Dass is and help him to connect with other Indian people in England? Perhaps grown-up Sara might even take over the Select Seminary when the Misses Minchin have retired or passed away, and make it into a much better place!
6) Where Are You Now, Patty – Lenny Green (Song)
Character: Patty the Bigfoot
The Patterson-Gimlin film of 1967, and Patty herself, have always fascinated me (I like to hope the film, and she, are/were real…) I love the way she walked in that film, and how she turned back towards the camera as if to say, “You’ve seen what you came to see, now scoot!” And then she hurried off… towards another Bigfoot waiting for her, perhaps?
How would life be for Patty after the Patterson-Gimlin film was made? Was she ever aware of the controversy she caused? What did she think of humans after seeing two men on horseback up so close? What was her family life like? Did she have a mate (female preferred if you write a romance for Patty <3) In the film, she seemed a bit annoyed with the unexpected attention she was getting, though not aggressively so (in a slowed-down gif of the film, she even seemed to make a slight "shoo" gesture with one hand) so I'd be willing to bet she's scared off a few humans from her family and home in her day, and if you want to create something more action-adventure that would be a good starting point... I also love family fluff, slice of life sort of things so any sort pf sweet and fluffy story for a big ol' fluffy Bigfoot will be awesome! <3
For references, here's the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOcYWiTDV8Q
And the Patterson-Gimlin Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jehaUPZtBGo
Hello, dear writer! Thank you for being willing to create for me. The prompts below are suggestions that I hope might inspire your creativity but feel free to adapt or change things and add other elements as well if the story seems to require it. As long as you stay away from my hard DNWs and include some of what I do like (though of course you don’t need to include absolutely everything), you’re golden! Though some prompts may seem longer than others, I love the fandoms all just as much as each other and would be equally delighted to receive any one of them as my gift. Some I have requested before and want more of, others are new Yuletide treasures for me!
Things I DO like in a story:
- fluff
- romance
- the deepening of emotional ties between characters
- friendship becoming love,
- overcoming and healing from trauma with the help of a loved one (or loved ones or friends or just kind souls)
- hurt/comfort
- angsty scenarios that wind up with a happy or hopeful ending
- strengthening of comradeship bonds and characters being willing to go the extra mile to help someone they care about
- fun and humor
- someone stumbling on an unlikely but completely right for the situation solution when disaster looks likely to be looming
- found families and/or kidfic
- smut (for some of my smutty likes, see my Smut Swap letter here: http://schlitzie-ramone.dreamwidth.org/6093.html)
My hard DO NOT WANTS are:
- noncon
- main character death or death of one or both halves of the main pairing
- unhappy endings and complete and pure angst with no hope in sight
- homophobia
- female characters being submissive to males
- darkfic (a good scare is fine for spooky stories, but no gore or deathfic please)
- graphic depictions of child or animal abuse (although allusions to those happening in the past are OK if the story requires it)
- unrequested ships or characters being the main focus of the story - it's perfectly fine for other canon characters to show up or be mentioned - they're very welcome, but the story needs to focus on the requested characters (s)
- animal characters being changed into humans
- character bashing
Here are my requests, in no particular order!
1) Rise of the Planet of the Apes Movies (2011, 2014)
Characters: Caesar, Koba, Cornelia, Blue Eyes
This fandom and characters have recently become a near-obsession! I am particularly drawn to the character of Koba and all that he has endured – he is a complex character with both horrific flaws and many redeeming features. He turned from an innocent victim into a villain due to his hatred for humans and all the terrible wrongs they had done him, but I believe there was a time when he was happy, especially those 10 years between Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. He was devoted to his leader Caesar then and wanted to please him, before the canon of “Dawn” when he turned against Caesar and everything went to hell.
Some ideas: Perhaps the story could be something set in that period between the two films, the happy times when Koba trusted Caesar and wanted to make him proud. It could be something to do with a brotherly-type love that deepens – the scarred Koba would likely associate touch with pain due to his sufferings at the hands of humans, but Caesar could persuade him to accept physical affection again (which does not have to include sex, but I will not object if it does, and Caesar re-awakens Koba’s bonobo passions). Or they could go on a hunting trip where the two get separated from the main group and have to huddle for warmth somewhere and rely on each other’s strength; it would be particularly interesting if the roles were reversed and Caesar (wounded perhaps) had to rely on Koba for a change…
Or perhaps a three-way love could develop between Caesar/Cornelia/Koba? I would like the same time period mentioned above or a scenario where the events of “Dawn” never happened, and to see the characters all involved equally with each other… m/m as well as f/m, and a specific DNW is a submissive Cornelia – I like her strong and fiery! I would be happy with an established relationship angle, with the three characters going about their daily lives and being supportive of one another in their various tasks within the colony, or taking on some task or challenge together, or a getting together scenario where all three are feeling attracted to each other and work out a happy solution to their situation. Koba with his hunting skill and wisdom could be seen as somewhat of a mentor to younger apes, so his help would be invaluable in raising the young Blue Eyes. I do like kidfic so would be quite happy with this sort of a plot! :D
2) Kong: Skull Island (2017)
Characters: Kong, James Conrad, The Iwi
I admit it, LOL – I’ve started shipping one of the human characters with the giant ape! :P I was intrigued by how, in the movie, Kong not only began to trust and show affection to Mason Weaver, but extended that trust to James Conrad too. What if the relationship between Conrad and Kong deepened, and they developed an understanding based on love as well as trust? It could include adventures and plot, or simply a tender exploration of feelings. I don’t expect erotic content, but if you want to write some I would welcome it (maybe based on desires, dreams and/or sensual touch rather than anything, er… physically impossible?)
If you’re not into the ship, I do have a couple of gen scenarios I’d be thrilled to see.
Perhaps something about Kong’s memories infancy and early childhood would be fascinating, and how he goes on to form new relationships with the humans he develops a mutual trust with. What was his relationship with his parents like? Were they the only ones of their kind from the beginning, or were they members of a tribe originally? If so, they may have become somehow separated from the other apes, or the others could have been killed off by the skull-crawlers… and how does he react to the humans he's later bonded with, either the Iwi or the new humans he's come to trust, now that he's alone but still very much needs a family?
Or how, as the Iwi people’s god, would he and they interact? Did he perhaps receive some help from them in his early days as a young orphan? How might they have helped him with his loneliness, his early struggles, and the kingship and godhood that became his at far too young an age? I would be happy to see him protecting them against the skull-crawlers and otherwise acting as the tribe’s protector. And I'd love to see how the human newcomers perceive Kong's role as the protector of the island - and later, their protector, too!
3) Rampage (2018)
Characters: George, Davis Okoye
My most recent of the canons I love! This is another one where I’m interested in the relationship between the big ape and the human guy, LOL! Yes, I ship Davis/George in a romantic way, but also would be content with a family-type relationship between these two. If you choose the romantic angle, as with Kong I don’t expect smut if you’re not wanting to write it, but again, as with Kong, it’s most welcome if you do want to write it (maybe based on desires, dreams and/or sensual touch rather than anything, er… physically impossible?)!
After the Chicago incident, George had his “chill pill” and is now calmed down and his normal sweet self, personality-wise, but the fact remains that he is still a gigantic, super-powerful enhanced ape. And I imagine he wouldn’t be allowed back with the normal sized gorillas for obvious reasons. As gorillas are social animals, that would leave George lonely, stressed and emotionally dependent on Davis for company and affection. How would such a relationship change and develop after the shocking events both of them have been through? How would the bond develop and intensify between them?
Also, what kind of adventures might Davis get up to with an enhanced ape who is now capable of using his powers for good? Would they go into the African jungles to fight against poachers, or foil crimes at home? Or would the authorities seek to take George away from Davis, forcing Davis to go on the run with his giant friend and keep him out of harm’s way? And what if they came across other kinds of giant creatures and other cool monsters? I'd love to see George get into some epic battles, especially if he's feeling all protective of Davis!
4) Freaks (1932)
Characters: Schlitzie, Phroso, Elvira (Pinhead Zip), Jenny Lee (Pinhead Pip)
I adore this beautiful old cult classic – so many fascinating characters, and a story that is not so much for me a morality or horror tale, but a slice of life where circus and sideshow folk go about their daily lives, find love, and deal with various challenges.
I tend to ship Phroso/Schlitzie (or Schlitze, I am fine with either spelling variant) and see them as being in a tender, old-fashioned romance-style relationship, so would prefer a delicate, innocent love story here (the kisses and flowers and handholding type), and NOT smut for this fandom! And I am fine with whatever pronouns you want to use for Schlitzie, although the movie tends to use “she” and “her” (if you want to stick to movie canon in your method of writing). I tend to view Schlitzie as transgender or gender-fluid (in RL and the film, s/he was very fond of dresses and feminine finery and was always ecstatic when given new ones). Do feel free to include other characters from the movie in the story too, I love them all – even the horrible villains are fascinating! Especially I’d love my other nominated characters, Elvira and Jenny Lee (AKA Pinheads Zip and Pip) playing a large part in the story. Possible (very optional) storylines could include:
a) Schlitzie, Elvira and Jenny Lee somehow help Phroso out with his clown act, and bonding develops, especially between Phroso and Schlitzie.
b) Phroso takes Schlitzie and their friends Elvira and Jenny Lee shopping in Paris, or for a picnic, or some other outing
c) Phroso has to protect Schlitzie, Elvira and Jenny Lee against some kind of threat, possibly from the story’s villains or from hostile members of the circus audience or the townspeople where the circus is visiting.
5) A Little Princess – Frances Hodgson Burnett
Characters: Sara Crewe, Becky, Tom Carrisford, Ram Dass
I recently re-read this book and got all super-nostalgic! This one’s a canon I’ve loved since childhood and the re-read has given me so many Sara/Becky feels. I now ship these two like burning, and would totally adore something where Sara and Becky as adults came to realise their love, whether the story’s explicit smut or just sweet fluff. I really like the idea of these two having a love they can hide in plain sight (since they would have to hide it due to the nature of social attitudes in those times), as a rich lady and devoted lady’s maid, they could be close and no one would be any the wiser.
What I would love to see is more of the happy ending, and what might happen in the future. Does Uncle Tom Carrisford invent more delightful surprises for Sara, and hopefully for Becky too? Does Sara get involved with more philanthropic projects, perhaps taking in a poor little girl as her ward to become the next “Little Princess”? Do Sara and Becky realise how lonely Ram Dass is and help him to connect with other Indian people in England? Perhaps grown-up Sara might even take over the Select Seminary when the Misses Minchin have retired or passed away, and make it into a much better place!
6) Where Are You Now, Patty – Lenny Green (Song)
Character: Patty the Bigfoot
The Patterson-Gimlin film of 1967, and Patty herself, have always fascinated me (I like to hope the film, and she, are/were real…) I love the way she walked in that film, and how she turned back towards the camera as if to say, “You’ve seen what you came to see, now scoot!” And then she hurried off… towards another Bigfoot waiting for her, perhaps?
How would life be for Patty after the Patterson-Gimlin film was made? Was she ever aware of the controversy she caused? What did she think of humans after seeing two men on horseback up so close? What was her family life like? Did she have a mate (female preferred if you write a romance for Patty <3) In the film, she seemed a bit annoyed with the unexpected attention she was getting, though not aggressively so (in a slowed-down gif of the film, she even seemed to make a slight "shoo" gesture with one hand) so I'd be willing to bet she's scared off a few humans from her family and home in her day, and if you want to create something more action-adventure that would be a good starting point... I also love family fluff, slice of life sort of things so any sort pf sweet and fluffy story for a big ol' fluffy Bigfoot will be awesome! <3
For references, here's the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOcYWiTDV8Q
And the Patterson-Gimlin Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jehaUPZtBGo