Dear Yuletide Author ('24)

[seikasoter]

Dear Author,

Merry Yuletide and the best of the exchange to you! I'm very happy to have matched with you, and look forward to seeing what you've got in store!


Some general preferences

Rating – from General to Explicit, it's fine. Whatever feels right for your inspiration and story. Serious gore or fetishes (vore, scat, et al.) are a turn off, but I can handle most of what you’re throwing at me. My prompts generally don't stray too far toward the sexy side of things but, if you’re going unprompted or just feel like it fits your story, I can definitively say I have no objection to smut.


Yes, please:

• extra/missing scenes which fit the gaps of canon;
• unbreakable friendships;
• teamwork;
• standing battered but triumphant;
• character introspection;
• a touch of the bittersweet.

No, thank you:

• In general, a lot of the common plug-and-play AUs which significantly alter the background of the setting (e.g. ABO, D/s, vampires/werewolves, Hogwarts/school, daemons, total de-powering rather than just backgrounding supernatural elements) – I like these series not just for their characters but also for the specific journey everyone's going through, so it's difficult for me to get into something which would upend that. If you’re hit really hard by a generic modern AU, that’s something I can take though.
• Character bashing: a villainous story role is fine; it’s when the author is clearly frustrated with a character and taking it out on them that I tune out.
• What I understand specifically by 'futa' or 'G!P' - that is, sticking a penis on a cis woman for the sake of making sure there's dick involved in sex - is not my kink, though actual trans women are fine.

I'm Seika on AO3, and I have my works, my previous gifts, and some of my bookmarks public, often with notes on them, so you can glance through those if you're inclined to keep researching my bad taste.

Obviously, by the terms of the exchange, everything here is optional. I'm very happy for you to remember that, and to take advantage of it: please don't strain anything trying to fit your writing into my ideas. I'm trying to help spark off some thoughts if you aren't immediately seized by one, not to confine you. That's why my prompts often throw out a scattershot of questions and instances at you, even contradictory ones - you're free to pick up as many or as few threads as you'd like. If a single phrase inspires you, I'll be content.


Jade Empire
Female Spirit Monk, Silk Fox, Dawn Star

How does this dynamic work in practice? We don't really get it much in-game, just hints at a somewhat catty relationship between Dawn Star and Silk Fox with an undercurrent of caring toward the end. So how does the eventual triad actually turn out? How do they talk to each other, where are the lines of attraction and affection and romance, what sort of banter and jokes are there (do Silk Fox and Dawn Star keep their dynamic from their mission at the Temple of Dirge or does it evolve?), when or where or how do they rely on each other?

Could be to do with the relationship developing during the game, some climactic moment of resolution between them, or a story about their more finished dynamic, perhaps post-game. Could use a more Closed Fist-style imperial rulers dynamic or a more Open Palm-style setting where their duties and desires spread them farther across the empire (Sun Lian as Empress, Spirit Monk attending to the Land of Howling Spirits, Dawn Star establishing her own school).

Prefer ship, can be gen. If ship, I'll specifically reiterate that I'm okay with smut (and think the power dynamics of their social statuses - or the subversion thereof - in this relationship could set up some very hot scenes).

If you're not feeling the full threeway, I would be happy with any pair of the three.


Baldur's Gate I & II
Imoen

I just really like Imoen, so I kept this low to the ground to catch pretty much anyone who wanted to offer her. Still more than happy to see her interacting with any of the BGI/BGII characters. (No Beamdog or Larian, please).

In general, happy to go with whatever catches your particular imagination. Potentially would be interested in building on some of the points in BGI and SoA where her late development changes in both games meant she lacked the same range of dialogue and interaction as the other characters, e.g., her dynamics with other NPCs and her reaction to big plot events. Consider perhaps her relationship with Khalid and Jaheira when she and CHARNAME meet the Harpers and are told about Gorion wanting to have them adopt his ward if anything happened; or her reaction to Gorion's letter revealing CHARNAME's heritage; or her reaction to the tragedy of Yoshimo, whom she only barely got to know as a somewhat charming and slightly bumbling rogue for a few hours before she got taken to Spellhold.

Lends itself to gen, but pretty content to ship her with anyone you want, including CHARNAME. (If CHARNAME, though, would prefer female).


Warframe
Operator, Lotus

I will never, ever, ever, ever get enough of bonding between Space Mom and her Eldritch Horror Child Soldier. This broken, traumatised, unnatural little family that still manages to bear each other up.

Outright fluff, or hurt/comfort both good. Scenes in amidst or in the wake of the New or Old War alike, with weight bearing down on them or triumph deserved. Tenderness and caring despite the rigours of battle. Maybe Lotus' point of view on The Second Dream (especially the final scene) or on the final scene of The New War (or both and the parallels/reflections/differences between them).

Prompted Operator and would like Operator specifically, because I think the Drifter dynamic is different. Can include Drifter, but DNW as main focus, please. Likewise, DNW ship, just gen.


Song of the Lioness
Alanna, Alex

Would like to see an expansion on Alex & Alanna friendship, or at any rate a friendly rivalry.

For The First Adventure/In the Hand of the Goddess-era 'fic, could be without Alex becoming Roger's ally and they both end up working together, could be a roleswap AU where Alanna catches Roger's attention even more (perhaps becoming his squire too) and Alex is trying to pull her back to Jon's side, could have Alex get snapped out of his loyalty to Roger during the near-deadly duel between them, and all attendant consequences.

Post Lioness Rampant, could be a sort of redemptive 'fic if he survived (and is perhaps under her supervision, especially if e.g. it seems that an unstable Tortall needs to keep one of its finest knights available to fight). Maybe even a 'fic that looks long past that, to a stable and easy relationship when they're both among Jon's finest knights (and maybe still trying to pass each other up as they did when they were just kids).

Happy with gen or ship.