Dear Yuletide Writer

[przed]

Dear Yuletide Writer,

It's awesome that you're going to write a story in one of the fandoms I requested. My prompts gave you some idea of why I like these fandoms, so what follows is a more general idea of the sort of story I enjoy.



Things That Make Me Happy
I love angsty stories and hurt/comfort. I love banter. I love competent characters behaving competently. I love plotty stories. I love character studies. I love happy endings. I like unhappy endings, if they're of the magnificently tragic variety. I prefer slash, but like gen. I'd even be willing to read Damiel/Marian het in Wings of Desire, but no Chance with a gal in Human Target, please. With slash, it's the emotional intimacy that matters more than the physical, though I wouldn't turn down some rousing physical intimacy. While I most want to see the characters listed, I am fond of seeing other characters in the fandoms and how they interact with the guys I love best. And I'm not averse to OC's, if they're well drawn and essential to the plot.

Things I Can Do Without
I do not get MPreg, am not fond of crack!fic, or song!fic. I dislike seeing competent characters acting stupidly, or strong characters made into whimpering children. I'm iffy on BDSM.

In the end, I hope you write something that gives you joy. That's sure to bring me joy as well.

And for the record, here are my original requests:

Human Target, Guerrero , Gen
I started watching Human Target for Mark Valley. I stayed for Jackie Earl Haley. Guerrero is far and away my favourite character in the show. I love his scary competence, his casual cold-bloodedness, and his snarky banter with Winston. I pretty much adore the lengths to which he'll go to protect Chance. Maybe you show us a piece of Guerrero's past with Chance. Maybe you give us Guerrero working a current case, or protecting Chance from his past. Slash or gen, I'll enjoy either.

Velvet Goldmine, Arthur Stuart, Slash
For me, the heart of the movie is Arthur Stuart, both the teenage version with his awkward sexual awakening and his tentative bravado, and the disillusioned adult version. Give me a scene with Curt, back in the day. Or a more satisfying reunion with Curt after the movie ends. Or whatever inspires you, really.

Legion, Gabriel, Michael, Slash
Hot. Angel. Slash. That's pretty much what I'd like to see most, should you choose to write in this fandom. Michael's background with Gabriel, Michael fighting at Gabriel's side before it all goes wrong, or as it all goes wrong, a missing scene from the movie, it would all be good.

Wings of Desire, Cassiel, Damiel, Gen
I love the push and pull between Cassiel and Damiel, the way Damiel is willing to throw himself into mortal life, while Cassiel feels intensely, but can't quite make the leap. Maybe a vignette set after Damiel crosses over, with Cassiel following his friend. Maybe a story set when they're both still angels, possibly during WW II. Slash not necessary, but not unwelcome. And a guest appearance by Nick Cave would be awesome.

Comments

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

OH MY. You requested Wings of Desire, one of my favorite movies (and which probably explains my current fixation on Supernatural).

Did you ever see the sequel to Wings of Desire, Faraway, So Close? It's actually terrible, unfortunately.

BTW - I want to do a vid someday to "Allelujah" by Randall Thompson, with scenes from all the angels in the media I love...including Legion, Wings of Desire, Supernatiral, etc. etc. etc. Too bad I have no idea how to vid and lack all the necessary skills~!

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

Also? It occurs to me that most people do not comment on other people's Dear Yuletide letters. I am so weird.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Ya know what? You commented on mine last year too. (I was looking it up to cut and paste some stuff. Including the Wings of Desire request.) And I don't think it's weird. I think it's kinda sweet.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I was so excited when Faraway, So Close came out. And yes, it's pretty terrible. Apart from his documentaries, I don't think Wenders has made a good film since Wings of Desire. Which is also one of my very favourite movies, so I suppose I shouldn't complain.

And I also credit Wings with my current SPN love. Cassiel/Castiel? A trench-coated angel? You can't tell me that Kripke and company weren't familiar with the film.

Your vid idea? Is genius. Well, actually I don't know the song--I'm going to give it a listen--but I love the idea of putting all the angels in one place. I've always wanted to cut together the shot of the angels in the library in Wings and the reapers in that town in SPN. (Hmmm, if I have time, I may be up for a collaboration some time in the future. With the caveat that vidding takes me for freaking ever now since my spare time is limited indeed.)

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

Kripke TOTALLY has to be a Wings of Desire fan. Or the costumer is.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Kripke AND the costumer. Because you can't tell me that name is an coincidence.

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

I too am going to be weird and reply to your Yuletide letter but I have a good excuse.

Just in case you didn't know, a new season of Human Target starts tomorrow (Wednesday). I'm both excited about this and a little concerned. They've "tweaked" it to add two female characters to the regular cast, a professional thief (Janet Montgomery) and a new boss, played by Indira Varma, an English actress I really like.

Yes, TV has a dearth of strong female characters and Varma at least normally plays very strong women, so a big yay to that but I really liked the dynamic of Chase, Guerrero and Winston so... yeah, a little concerned.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I did know Human Target starts up again tomorrow (Yay!) but hadn't heard about the tweak (Hmmmm).

I shall reserve judgment, but it does sound like it might upset the awesome Chance, Guerrero, Winston dynamic. On the other hand, it might mean that the people Chance is rescuing aren't always freaking gorgeous women that he almost falls in love with, which would be a bit of a relief, actually.

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

The promo pics up at Fox have the cast standing in that 'arrowhead' formation much popularized after Buffy and Chase is at the front, the two women next and Winston and Guerrero at the back. I can't help thinking some idiotic studio exec said "well Guerrero and Winston aren't that pretty so we'll..." I really hope I'm wrong. I don't know whether you've seen Varma work -- she was in the original Torchwood episodes as the evil woman later revived by the "risen mitten" and plays Luther's wife in Luther -- and as said she normally plays strong willed women. Still, I expect less screen time for Guerrero and Winston. :(

[przed.livejournal.com]

I did like Varma in Torchwood. (I haven't seen Luther yet. Another show to catch up on.) I was rather irked when she went evil and died. I liked her better than any of the other characters, actually. So she's promising. The other gal looks rather too Hollywood and young for my taste, but time will tell...

With two more regulars, it's inevitable that Winston and Guerrero are going to get less screen time. I just hope they don't marginalize them completely. (They've done that with Cho in The Mentalist. He's getting a couple of lines an episode, and no screen time at all with the lead. Which is beyond dumb, since it's their chemistry together that makes the show. I am this close to canning the show entirely.)

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

I like Varma because she's able to play really strong women without giving up on being a woman... Hmmm, that made sense in my head. I loathe when strong women are played like guys with breasts. Varma is an interesting choice so I'm trying to see that as encouraging.

I haven't watched The Mentalist. For all I know it might be a wonderful show but I'm oddly loyal to the shows I love and the fact that they ripped of Psych just put me off even trying... although it's led to extra snark on Psych:

[przed.livejournal.com]

I can totally understand the show loyalty thing. (I've never forgiven Sliders for taking VR.5's time slot. And that was nearly 20 years ago.) And I knew going in that The Mentalist was completely a Psych rip off. But Simon Baker is pretty, and no Canadian station ever picked up Psych so I'd never had the chance to see the show.

That clip, however? Priceless.

And I am now more determined to finally watch the Psych Season 1 box sitting on my shelf. (I picked it up on sale on the assumption that I'd probably love it.)

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

It's a delight, one of the few things on telly that consistently makes me laugh and I'm even more impressed by how much of it is written by Roday who plays Shaun. The pop culture references come thick and fast including a running gag about Shaun being a huge Tears For Fears fan. He dresses up like them for a talent show they enter during a case (Gus is dressed like Michael Jackson) and in a recent episode Curt Smith appeared as himself... reduced to playing songs to order for a millionaire.

This season four trailer shows the pop culture references:

[przed.livejournal.com]

Awesome trailer. And they quote Airwolf! I loved Airwolf, and all it's angsty, crack-addled stupidity. With a character named St. John! Pronounced correctly! (Yeah, I totally have to watch this show.)

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

It's really one of the most enjoyable shows around. While I don't actually 'ship anyone on there it's a treasure trove for shippers I'm told. My mate Loz says she ships everyone with everyone.

[przed.livejournal.com]

More and more, I'm thinking I need to kill The Mentalist on the PVR and pull out those Psych DVDs instead...

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Well, check out your Psych DVDs first just in case you hate it but I'd be surprised if you did. Bag loads of snark, intelligent and goofy humour, great buddy interaction/dialogue and pop culture references all over the place.

Do you remember Corbin Bernson, quite a big TV star in the '80s? He plays Shaun's retired cop dad. The show does flashbacks to Shaun's childhood (Gus was his best friend even then) and while child actors play Shaun and Gus they just slap a blond wig on the now bald Bernson. *g*

[przed.livejournal.com]

BTW, here's my all-time fave Psych vid. (Yes, I have a fave vid and I don't watch the show. Sue me.)

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

That's one of my favourites too although I must admit the fanvid I love best that uses that song is for Bones:



It just fits the squints so well.

[przed.livejournal.com]

That's pretty good too. Though still not enough to get me to watch the show. (After Buffy and Angel, I can't handle David Boreanaz in daylight. Yes, I know how crazy that sounds.)

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Doesn't sound crazy to me... but then, this is me. *g*

It's interesting though as Boreanaz plays a completely different character here, hopeful, optimistic, sort of the "idealized American" if you will but with enough flaws to undercut it. I particularly enjoyed the season where his anger got the better of him and he shot the clown model on the top of an ice-cream van and ended up having to see a psychiatrist for a while, a psychiatrist played by Stephen Fry. I like it for the ensemble cast and the science nerdery.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Stephen Fry?! That's nearly got me there. And I'm always up for good science nerdery.

Of course, so often the science nerdery isn't good. (I had to bail from both Fringe and the unlamented Eleventh Hour--and really, how bad is a show when even Rufus Sewell in the lead can't get me watching--because of the utter stupidity of the science in the first few eps. And don't even get me started on the first season of Torchwood. Mind you, the fundamental lack of understanding of how supernovae really work didn't kill my love for the Star Trek Reboot, so it's all relative I suppose.)

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

It's based on the Kathy Reichs novels and she's a producer for the show. Reichs IS a forensic anthropologist and high level academic and actually her attention to detail is why I'm not a big fan of her novels. I REALLY don't need that much autopsy information in a book. Ack!

So, while there have been bits of the science that have made MG and I roll our eyes a bit it tends to be more the moments where they show you things like computer graphic projections that aren't quite available to that level yet rather than getting the hard science wrong and the charm and camaraderie of the nerds who are proud of their nerdery and refuse to be cowed carries it along.

I'll cheerfully admit that I loathe Fringe and had to give up watching it despite liking Walter and as far as Eleventh Hour goes I just watched it for the pretty... oh the pretty. :D