Dear Yuletide writer!

[wakeupnew]

I ... maybe wrote this post on October 25.

Possibly.

Hello, yuletide writer!

(Sign-ups are coming! I am totally justified in writing this in October! Leave me alone I am excited okay.)

Fandoms:

- Ugly Betty
- You Belong with Me, University of Rochester Yellowjackets (music video)
- Scott Pilgrim (comics)
- On the Road with Austin & Santino

Some notes on general likes and dislikes! I'm chill with violence and/or sex scenes as long as they work in the context of the story and they're not gratuitous. I tend to prefer stories that mesh well with the general feeling of the source canon; ie: not taking a light-hearted sitcom canon and writing a darkfic of torture and death and maimery. I tend to love the funnies and the warm moments, but if it matches with the canon's feel, I can absolutely go for sadder, darker stuff as well. Go with your own artistic judgment and have fun writing, and I will be a super happy camper.

Things that are not generally my favorite: alternate universe fic (except for Groundhog Day style fics; they are my AU achilles heel), mpreg, PWP, incest, BDSM themes, explicit nonconsensual sex or explicit sex of dubious consent, character bashing, excessive and out of character weepiness, female characters being reduced to bitches or damsels in distress. I somehow wound up with the gay-happiest list of requests ever this year, despite being really, really into strong awesome lady characters.

Ugly Betty
Marc St. James, Cliff St. Paul

This is a pretty straightforward request. I would like Marc/Cliff. You can take that and do what you will with it! They, like, don't exist as a pairing in fandom, and they never got even a single kiss on the show, and I want to change that. I'd prefer not focusing on the cheating/break-up (unless you want to do a post-canon story where they meet up again, in which case the cheating/break-up would obviously need to be addressed, and I would be TOTALLY GOOD WITH THAT; it broke my heart that David Blue really wanted to come back in the final season, and everyone seemed to want him to come back, but it never happened), because Marc's panic and subsequent terrible treatment of Cliff made me so encompassingly sad I could not take it.

On many of the occasions where we saw Cliff, Marc was being varying levels of jerk to him (ilu, Marc, but seriously); I pretty much clinged to their sweeter moments. So -- moments where we can actually see why they dated for, like, a year, would be cool! Or seeing Marc dealing with/overcoming his beauty on the outside vs. beauty on the inside issues (for what it's worth, I always thought that Cliff was frigging adorable and that all the stuff about how supposedly ugly he was was laughable), or -- seriously, I know I'm talking a lot here but I would be so, so thrilled with anything that you chose to write about these guys. Bittersweet or sad are totally fine tones to take; they would definitely match Ugly Betty's tones. I am just requesting that the entire story is not soul-crushing misery, please!

What I like about them: the humor factor (oh, the quips; I miss them), how well they seem to support each other, the fact that Marc is a sucker for Cliff being a huge dork, the way that Cliff is capable of making Marc laugh at himself, that moment where they're watching Psycho and you can see Marc make the decision to be flirty and they hold hands and kick each others' feet, LOTS OF OTHER STUFF!

Side note: I love pretty much the entire cast, with particularly special places in my heart for Marc's relationships with Justin and Amanda (and her distaste for Cliff) and Wilhelmina (I just started listing half the cast and had to stop myself; EVERYONE, I LOVE EVERYONE), so appearances from anyone else who you would like to write in would be totally welcome.

---

You Belong with Me, University of Rochester Yellowjackets (music video)
Guy Wearing Glasses, Baseball Player

Oh, gosh. Okay. I am going to try really hard not to be a psycho right now. Well, first of all, for reference, here is the video:

and this is a post that I made of some screencaps/general happy flailing, if that's the kind of thing that might help you.

I discovered this video eight or nine months ago, and it just flat out makes me happy. I would prefer that you go a fictional route based on the music video rather than looking up the a capella group that performed it and writing it as borderline RPF about them; that would make me very uncomfortable. Otherwise, seriously, go to town. I love the dorkiness of Glasses-Wearing Dude and the good-natured geniality of the baseball player and how it turns out at the end that maybe he wasn't as oblivious as Glasses clearly thought he was through the whole video. If you want to do something in the early stages of their friendship, with glasses-dude's crush growing, that would be awesome; so would exploring what's going on during the video, or following them through the scene at the dance, or what happens afterward, or -- for real, do whatever you'd like! I didn't put her in the character list, but I'm 100% okay with the inclusion of the girl who looks like she's Baseball Player's girlfriend, and/or with making up a whole cast of characters. The fun thing about this "fandom," to me, is that it's basically a blank slate. I totally just want to see someone play with it.

I am an incredible sucker for seemingly unrequited love that, it turns out, is requited after all, and for solid jock/dork friendships and romances, especially when the jock turns out to be pretty dorky, too.

---

Scott Pilgrim (comics)
Stacey Pilgrim, Wallace Wells

I've seen and really enjoyed the movie, but the comics are my first love, especially with the way that film!Ramona was repeatedly controlled and damseled. Any comic book that ends with an army of furious Ramonas kicking the tar out of the bad guy is a-okay by me!

I have to admit that I really, really struggled to decide what I wanted from Scott Pilgrim. Did I want Ramona and Kim being awesome together? Stephen Stills's background realizations that actually, he doesn't want to date Julie, and actually he might be gay, and actually he kind of wants to be with Joseph? Wallace and Scott being lolarious? Stacey Pilgrim winning the game of life? Some exploration of what in the hell it means to have a psychic boyfriend (Wallace and Mobile)?? HOW TO DECIDE; IT'S ALL SO GOOD.

Then I realized: I totally want Wallace and Stacey being a terrifying force of nature together. I don't care what they do or how they do it, or if it's serious or not; I just want them to team up somehow. (One thing I did enjoy about the movie: Wallace repeatedly texting Stacey the stupid things that Scott is doing.) Or you could do the background for why Stacey is like "WALLACE!!! not again" when she sees Wallace macking on Jimmy; just how many dates of hers has he stolen, anyway, and has she ever stolen one of his? Basically, as long as the story features (1) Wallace and (2) Stacey, I will be super happy.

---

On the Road with Austin and Santino
Austin Scarlett, Santino Rice

Okay, so I have never written or asked for RPF in my life. To the best of my memory. It has always kind of freaked me out a little. But then I started watching On the Road with Austin and Santino and

oh

my

God.

I had to get over my freak-outs. I just had to. Because THEY 'SHIP THEMSELVES.

Which is to say: I would love a story that outright 'ships them. I would also love a story that just continues their warm, wacky, flirty friendship as we see it on TV, if you are not comfortable with the 'shipping. Santino himself has come right out and said that they're not dating, but, uh -- well, see for yourself.



♪ ♫ HOW ABOUT LOOOO-OOOOOO-OOOOOOVE ♪ ♫

(I highly recommend Santino's twitter in general; he's a funny dude.)

Anyway, if you want to see some of my feelings on the show, I have this blog post filled with shrieking and sparkles and animated gifs; it lays out pretty well what I enjoy about the show and about their relationship. My favorite moments this season have included the "I'm Helen of Troy and Santino is my brave Paris come to rescue me" talking head, anything involving singing, the "I wish I could quit you but I can't/my heart is a lone hunter" fireside chat with MOURNFUL STARING HAHAHA I'm sorry I am controlling my giggles I swear, the birthday suits moment, Santino's reaction to Austin biting the head off a fish, Santino carrying Austin to the car after he slices his leg open, and, of course, this.



Whatever you want to do: awesome. Them hanging out in LA? The goings-on behind the scenes of a fake episode of the show? The moment when Santino realized that they are roadtripping and Austin doesn't actually drive? I am going to shriek no matter what! My one request is that I would prefer not to see the real-world clients from the show appear, other than in mentions; my discomfort with RPF returns when it comes to putting words in the mouths of real people who aren't performers or TV show hosts or famous.

Thank you, Yuletide writer! I know this is a whole lot of information, but I tend to err on the side of too much information instead of too little; I figure you can pick and choose things that work for you, from this. P.S. - I am so fucking excited to read whatever you write, I cannot even. *___*

Comments

[summerstorm.livejournal.com]

You're requesting Stacey Pilgrim fic? Awesome. I haven't actually read the comic, just seen the movie, but she was my favorite part -- I'm kind of biased in favor of anything Anna Kendrick plays, but still. Your request for that fandom sounds like it would make a really fun story.

I am an incredible sucker for seemingly unrequited love that, it turns out, is requited after all, and for solid jock/dork friendships and romances, especially when the jock turns out to be a little dorky, too.

...and I can totally get behind this request, too. Jock/dork ships are my kryptonite.

[wakeupnew]

I freaking love Stacey Pilgrim; she and Wallace are my favorites in both the comics and the movie (they were so well cast in the movie, it was ridiculous).

Jock/dork ships, especially when the jock turns out to be kind of dorky too, slay me. This is why Troy/Abed from Community will forever be my loves!

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I really love your first three requests!

[wakeupnew]

I don't think I have ever been so excited about getting one of my Yuletide requests; I can't even decide what I want the most. *______*

[kindness_says]

Hey, I'm just a random person who found this on the spreadsheet/paring down the fandom list in prep for signup, and I went and watched and then to read your letter and then to read your other post and eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

And I was curious what you named MTS. And whether you ever settled on a corresponding name for "jock-gentleman" and/or anyone else.

And I wanted to make this anonymous, but I couldn't. But then I was like, well, it's probably okay. Nobody has an assignment yet, so you can't really suspect me of being your writer. XD

Oh, God, I'm going to go watch it again.

And then ask my theatre/music dork friends at Rochester if they know them.

SCAMPER.

[wakeupnew]

HAHAHA! Well (and please for the love of God stop reading right now, eventual-Yuletide-writer; please please don't feel in any way beholden to my ridiculousness), I decided that Male Taylor Swift was a Devon. I never entirely made up my mind on Jock Gentleman; I kept going back and forth between Ed and Luke, and other similarly single-syllable fairly common dude names.

I am torn between AHAHA and SHRIEK! If your friends do know any of the guys in the group, hahahlshjasg please do not mention where they can find fan fic based on their video. I so do not want to be found by any members of the a capella group!! I'm interested in the fictional characters they're playing, not in the guys themselves, but I still have to think this would be so weird for them and I live in terror of it, a little.

Hooray hooray for more people watching! It's such a charming video; I've been throwing it at everyone I know in the hopes of people requesting/offering it.

[kindness_says]

1. Have you seen how many people have offered it to date?? You would think it wasn't rare at all. =)

2. I'm going with Luke. It goes better with the last name on the jersey. I've already started calling him that in my head.

3. I have only remembered to ask two of my guy friends at Rochester. One of them isn't in that arena at all and didn't know why I was asking, but he was pretty amused by the video. He said he recognized Matt (the jock). This makes sense, because the Yellow Jackets website says he's our age, which means Sam's been walking by him on campus for three years, pretty much. The other friend does know them, but not super-super-well. I did not explain Yuletide to either of them, and I doubt they would tell them even if I did. XD

4. That said, I think your worries are silly. =) I've gotten the sense they have a sort of frat vibe, so a) I don't think it's going to occur to them to be like, "I wonder if someone's written fanfiction about us!" and b) if they somehow did find or get alerted to it, I don't think they'd be as horrified as you imagine. They're probably attention people, and it IS kind of flattering, ish. Especially since it's not RPF about them (that would be a little weird). Alternately, they're the kind of people who just think all fanfiction is freaky and lame, in which case, I mean, just wash your hands of the whole situation. XD But really, I think it's okay. I've never had the sense Rochester is a super-cool-and-judgey school, if you know what I mean. Sciencey. Dorky. Certainly gay-friendly, if that video is any indication.... Probably actually less bro-ish than MY hockey-playing university. Lulz.

ANYWAY, they'll probably never know, so the point is moot. The main reason I came to post here was to share my amusement at the number of people who have offered it. =)

[kindness_says]

Also, I get the sense you're a little scared of RPF, which I am not, so maybe that's related.

[kindness_says]

Oh, btw, ironically, I actually know someone from high school (not the same kid) who shares jock's full name.

Also, when I looked up their website to show Sam what I was talking about, I found a picture of the girlfriend (Molly IRL) modeling a T-shirt. She is captioned as their "favorite groupie." XD I don't know if maybe you've seen the site and already know this, but, in case you didn't, I found it funny and thought you might, too.

[wakeupnew]

I DID NOT KNOW that the girl who plays the girlfriend modeled T-shirts on their website; the "favorite groupie" tag would make some of the audience reaction make sense!

I'm mostly just horrified by the trend I've seen of people writing fan fiction and other people being like, "LET'S GIVE THIS TO THE SHOWRUNNERS/ACTORS; THEY'LL THINK IT'S GREAT, RITE??" so the idea of someone who actually made a piece of media that I enjoy, reading something that I wrote (that ridiculous picspam where I wigged about how cute they are), is very scary to me, haha!

I HAVE SEEN HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE OFFERING IT AND I HAVE BEEN FREAKING OUT WITH JOY FOR TWO DAYS. Case in point: this was already saved in my Photobucket account when I got your comments.

[kindness_says]

Hahahahaha, yeah, she's probably either dating one of the guys or really close with one or more of them. And I'm sure the audience was full of her friends. =)

Oh, God, hahaha, that trend horrifies me, too, even IF Brian G. liked the Sassy Gay Friend/Old Spice Guy thing. It's one thing if you decide to offer up your work, another if other people offer it for you. And we really don't live in a world where fanfiction is mainstream (though clearly some people seem to be unclear on this fact); PLUS, college kids currently at school who made a video for shits and giggles, who may not normally be actors, writers, filmmakers, etc., are different from professional showrunners and actors, too. Anyway, I'm leery of people reading my writing even when it's NOT fannish. XD Although I think I've gotten less nervous over the years.

Semi-relatedly, I know someone who's on a current TV show - not super-well, we just were working together right before she flew to LA to do it, and she's still on my Facebook and is the reason I picked up the show - and I like her character and another character together (and there is canon for it), and right now I'm still trying to decide what to request...and I'm having trouble thinking of things I'd be really excited to get (weirdly)...and I'm like, "Well...I could ask for Loker/Torres...they are pretty delightful...but, to what extent is that just normal fannish activity, and to what extent does it make me feel weird? What will I need to specify in my request to make sure I get something COMPLETELY palatable? For instance: NO HARD KINK OF PEOPLE PLAYED BY PEOPLE I KNOW PERSONALLY AUUUUUGH MY EYYESSSS." Haha.

And I think you would be interested to know, the bunnies are going CRAZY in my head. A certain song came up on my iPod and inadvertently fleshed out their history and I AM SEEING THINGS IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT OMGZZZZZ.

(I debated whether to tell you that last bit. In case I actually get you. But I suspect I won't. Alas.)

[pollitt.livejournal.com]

I just had to pop in and say I also found your letter/journal from the Yuletide spreadsheet and your letters made me grin, especially #1! I thought about requesting Marc/Cliff again this year for the same reasons you mentioned.

(you didn't have any fandoms I offered to write so I didn't have to sign out and post anon ;)

[wakeupnew]

Hello! I'm really hoping that some Marc/Cliff gets written one way or another, whether it's for me or someone else; there really is nothing out there about the two of them. But then again, I'm really hoping that all of my other requests somehow magically get written, too. Yuletide makes life so hard! :D

[bettef.livejournal.com]

I'm stalking the Yuletide Santa post and OMG I love your requests! The Austin/Santino request makes me giggle uncontrollably! I will definitely be reading any story you get.

[wakeupnew]

Thank you! The Austin/Santino request is very silly, now that I look back at it and remember that I wrote giant Bonnie Raitt lyrics in it, but worth it. :D

[frambreliza.livejournal.com]

Hi there. I'm not a yuletide writer, or even a member. I came upon this post after doing an LJ search with the words "Austin and Santino." I adore your post, I adore your blog post, I LOVE your .gifs (steals borrows),and I adore Austin and Santino.

(And right now I'm working on a little something Austin-and-Santino-related anyway for another challenge community. I'll let you know when it's finished. It might be as soon as today, or hopefully no later than next weekend).

♥

[frambreliza.livejournal.com]

Hey there - I just finished my Austin and Santino fic for the 1sentence community/challenge thing.

Here 'tis: On the Road to Love (http://community.livejournal.com/1sentence/901294.html)

[frambreliza.livejournal.com]

Umm... I wrote another Austin and Santino - on the subject of fan fiction, as a matter of fact. :D

http://community.livejournal.com/runwayslash/53458.html



/pimp