Dear Yuletide Letter 2024

[jaclynhyde]

Dear Yuletide Writer,

Thank you for writing for me! I've loved my past Yuletide fics and I can't wait for yours. A summary of this letter: I ship things and would like fic for those relationships, but I’d love gen of their relationships too. I include prompts if you want them, but I’d be just as happy to read your ideas. I will pretty much adore whatever you write. I am jaclynhyde on Tumblr and AO3 if you want to stalk. Thank you so much! Also treats are very welcome!

 

Stuff I love:

• Shipping! I am a ridiculous shipper at heart, so my favorite thing would be ship fic for the pairings I request, or gen fic focusing on their relationship that could be pre-ship; getting-together fic with a plot and eventually-resolved sexual tension is my absolute fave.  Porn or no porn are both great--it's the ship more than the smut I'm into. I love pining and hurt/comfort and cuddling to avoid hypothermia and all those wonderful fanfic tropes.
• Identity porn! As defined by Fanlore, it's focusing on people who have secret identities which focus on the consequences of using multiple personas". So Character A is in disguise, interacting with Character B, who may or may not know who Character A really is, and there may be kissing.
• Dramatic reunions! Considering how many of my requests over the years have included at least one character that canonically dies, well... I love seeing characters brought back from the dead (or not actually dead, or whatever plot device works) reunited with someone who's been mourning them. If shippy, I really love if the living person had feelings for the other and regrets never confessing them.
• Bad guys turning good! I love villains who discover that their worldview is wrong, especially by getting to know one of the good guys. I also love villains who aren't entirely bad, and good guys who can learn from them too.
• Lots of story types--adventure, what-ifs, canon continuations, everyone is mysteriously alive somehow, etc. Both happy and bittersweet/sad fics are great, as long as the angst isn't from the pairing's relationship not working out.
• Interactive fiction! I love both parser and choice or whatever weird mix you come up with. I don't have any specific prompts, but would love it for any fandom--you can use my other prompts or go wild. If you're writing IF with multiple endings, feel free to ignore my major character death DNW for the bad ends. I secretly crave dating sims for every canon--if you do this, feel free to pair off requested characters with everyone (the weirder the better) as long as the couple I requested are at least one of the ends!

 

Stuff I don't want (DNWs):

• Noncon; dubcon is great. The noncon line for me is one character forcing another into sex acts; dub-con examples I like are sex pollen, aliens make them do it, fighting turning into sex (even if they're still trying to kill each other), a villain sexually teasing a hero who is trying not to respond but is into it. Verbal consent is not needed. Canon past noncon and repercussions are great.
• Character bashing, including canon love interests.
• Non-canon permanent major character death (except that Starman prompt). Mourning during non-permanent or presumed death is great.
• Unrequested crossovers and AUs of the setting instead of plot (mundane AUs, everyone is ponies, etc.). Other DC "crossovers" with Starman and Infinity, Inc. are fine. Other Forgotten Realms characters for Legend of Drizzt is also fine.
• Unrequited love (one or both parties incorrectly thinking it's unrequited is fantastic!) and shooting down pairings I requested.
• Unrequested ships for my requested characters. Past relationships I didn't DNW are fine.
• Outsider POV.
• Established relationship fic. This isn't a hard DNW like the others, but I prefer getting together, pre-relationship fic, or shippy gen for ships.

Requests:

"Not so fast, Doc, not so fast! I've still one demand to say. You're not gonna like it, that's for sure--but we'll pick it up along the way!"

"You're right, Bones. I don't like it...I thought we had that nasty little habit of yours licked!"

"Not me! I'm snagged for life by a pack of nicotine hooks. And what'm I scared of, anyhow? That I'm gonna lose my looks?"

"Just shut up, Bones--and drive!"

Fandom: Infinity Inc. (Comics)
Characters I Requested: Beth Chapel, Mr. Bones

Infinity, Inc. likes: the rest of Infinity Inc. (esp. Northwind, the twins, and Fury), the JSA (esp. McNider and Jay Garrick), Mister Bones rhyming, Hooty
Infinity, Inc. DNWs: Mister Bones being an evil government agent (morally ambiguous fine, just not the trying to kill Chase, overtly sinister Batwoman stuff)

What I Want:

I started Infinity Inc. expecting to love Obsidian the most (and he is a delight), but then I fell head over heels for the annoying rhyming wannabe-supervillain skeleton because of course I did.  I love his goofiness and his rhyming and his dramatic cape and his desperate need to be loved. I also expected to love Beth after being my fave kid in Stargirl, and she was completely different and I think I love her even more! love her smarts and her immediate clocking of McNider's secret identity and her compassion and her snark. And then the two of them together turned out to have such a sweet friendship, and of course I ship the weird noncanon het pairing. I love how she actually enjoys the company of the most annoying man in the world; as a doctor, it makes sense that she's the first one to treat him with compassion, but then she wants to be his friend. And Bones, separated from the only family and friends he's ever had, of course imprints on the first person to become his friend by choice. He trusts her enough to go to her after he's used as a murder weapon, and she trusts him enough to know he didn't do it.  As for the ship, I love Bones having a low-key thing for Beth and completely suppressing it because he values her friendship so much, and then all that shit happens and she dies and he's just going to pack all those feelings away. And Beth probably notices and is amused and kind of flattered, and may not realize she's falling for him too for a long time.

I reference some post-Infinity, Inc. events in my prompts, but don't feel pressured to read past it! (If you do want to see Director Bones where he's still IC, I recommend Chase (1998) and Manhunter (2004).) I'm perfectly fine with canon divergence after the end of the comic if you're writing futurefic. Bones/Penny is fine but I'd like it either past or not a major focus. Bones crushing on Sylvester or Lyta is good! I prefer one-sided Rick -> Beth if it's mentioned.

• Just any moments of them hanging out and appreciating each other! Bones showing off to impress her! I want to see how she warmed up to him and how they started hanging out all the time.
• I love that Beth knows he's Black when no one else does; what does it mean to him to be able to talk frankly with another Black person when none of his family were Black? Does she have advice for him? (Especially haircare tips because he isn't bald in Infinity Inc. and it's adorable)
• Bones and Beth meeting after her resurrection, because oh my god there is so much angst potential here. I fully subscribe to the idea that Beth's death pushed him into the government job and leaving behind his old life because what's the point now that everyone he cared for is gone? Beth being shocked with how much he's changed, Bones still badly wanting her approval, Bones admitting he missed her...
• Beth gets to see his face in a less awful situation and oh no, he's hot. He wears makeup sometimes in Manhunter! They can go out on a nice normal evening date friendly outing!
• They can actually touch and Bones really wants to take advantage of it. The makeup that supposedly suppresses his cyanide, power nullification, just being very careful with gloves... Sex pollen would go great here! Just them being able to kiss (and Bones losing his mind cause it's his first kiss) would be so sweet.
• Identity porn, going along with the makeup/power nullification/etc. Who could this handsome man flirting with Beth be? This would work especially well after her resurrection, where his voice has probably changed over the years. She will still figure it out instantly, but might want to see where this goes...

---

 

"I am he who will give meaning to your life, Artemis, my friend. You do not even begin to understand the breadth of your powers. You know how well you might skulk through the shadows, you know all too well your prowess with the blade, but you have never understood what those well-deserved, well-earned powers can bring you."
"You assume that I want anything."
"Oh, you do. If you can only dare to wish for it."

Fandom: The Legend of Drizzt Series - R.A. Salvatore
Characters I Requested: Artemis Entreri, Jarlaxle Baenre

Legend of Drizzt likes: Sellswords Trilogy, any time period, sexy sparring/trying to kill each other, Jarlaxle's house being a secret, Dwahvel, Guenhwyvar, Drizzt/Catti-Brie, Artemis/Drizzt homoeroticism, past or poly Artemis/Dahlia, Jarlaxle/everyone, past Jarlaxle/Zaknafein, Kimmuriel (as a character and as an obstacle), Bregan D'Aerthe, illithids
Legend of Drizzt DNWs: Jarlaxle pressuring Artemis into sex while knowing his trauma
 

What I Want:

I did not expect to get obsessed with these books in 2024, but I played the Forgotten Realms idle game because of BG3 and looked up where the funny drow came from and read the Sellswords trilogy and here we are. Artemis Entreri became my favorite character, and everything about him and Jarlaxle and their insane relationship is incredible. I love Artemis's anger and intensity and ingenuity, I love the emotionless mask he formed out of trauma and how it takes him centuries of extended life to finally process it, and I love how he's always in the orbit of this outrageous man despite being annoyed with him 98% of the time. I love Jarlaxle's flamboyance and charm and flair for the dramatic, I love how fiercely he values his independence but still finds himself answering to the Matron Mothers in the end (and occasionally a shiny rock), and I love how he takes on Artemis as his pet project but can't figure out why he's so hung up on him a century after his assumed death. And their relationship, oh my god. Jarlaxle's fixation on finding out what makes Artemis tick and showing him his true potential! Nonconsensual flute therapy! Matron Baenre having to mindwipe Jarlaxle to engineer their separation because he's so obsessed with this human!!! Neither of them do anything by halves and they're so important to each other and constantly at each other's throats. They're in love.

I'm currently reading through the series, but I'm well-spoiled about everything that happens so I'd love fic from any time period. (I don't expect my writer to have read all 39 books; canon divergence at any point is fine!) I started with Sellswords and am currently reading from Streams of Silver on (up to Legacy as of writing this letter), but I'm fascinated with all that's going on with them in the later books.

(CW: sexual assault) As for Artemis' canon sexual assaults, center them as much or as little as you want. If Jarlaxle finds out, I'd like him to be kind about it (to the extent Artemis will accept), and I'm good with Artemis reacting violently to Jarlaxle's advances before he knows. If you don't want to deal with that or it doesn't come up, that's good too!

 

Prompts:

• The fact that Artemis and Jarlaxle's divorce era and reconciliation is entirely offscreen drives me insane. How did they get back on speaking terms? Did Artemis even know Jarlaxle didn't leave him by choice? I'd love to see them reach a new equilibrium, especially after all of Artemis' character development. Bonus for dramatic confessions, and double bonus if Jarlaxle breaks first because he's still reeling from the news that Artemis is alive at all.
• The two of them running around having adventures and hijinks. Festivals! Fake dating! Anything where Jarlaxle is gleeful and Artemis doesn't want to be here is comedy gold.
• Artemis or Jarlaxle being jealous about the other's lovers. Jarlaxle learns Artemis opened up to Dahlia and that's actually what he wanted for him, so why does he feel so discontent? (Also Artemis and Dahlia teaming up on Jarlaxle would be richly deserved and hilarious) Artemis finds out Jarlaxle was serious about Zaknafein and the last thing he needs is to travel with Jarlaxle and his ex and that's totally why he's even angrier than usual.
• Identity porn! The Waterdeep: Dragon Heist module goes into Jarlaxle's alternate identities and disguises, and what better way to check in on an old friend who is extremely likely to murder him if he realizes it's Jarlaxle? (Maybe not Zardoz Zorz specifically) I'd love to see Jarlaxle trying to befriend him again, but better this time!, and maybe even flirting because it's not like it's really him, while Artemis wrestles with Many Complicated Feelings about this weirdly friendly man and the old enemy he reminds him of.
• Catti-Brie and/or Drizzt recognize some parallels to their relationship and attempt to matchmake. This is an absolute trainwreck, but somehow not unsuccessful. Bonus points for Drizzt discovering Jarlaxle fucked his dad and Jarlaxle frequently reminding him of it.

---

 

"Stop that," said Broxholm. He shook his head. "You earthlings! You never know what you want. If you'd stop trying to hold on to everything, you'd be a lot happier."
It wasn't until he spoke that I realized I was crying. "Sorry," I whispered, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.
Broxholm touched my shoulder. "Don't look back," he said softly. "Look up!"

Fandom: My Teacher Is an Alien - Bruce Coville  
Characters I Requested: Broxholm, Peter Thompson
 

My Teacher Is an Alien likes: futurefic, older Peter/Broxholm, worldbuilding, all the other characters, Poot

My Teacher Is an Alien DNWs: requited Broxholm/Peter with Peter under 17, Broxholm as an overt father figure, specific current events/current problems

What I Want:

I absolutely adore this series; it's one of my childhood favorites and got me into sci-fi as a whole. I love how it goes from a fun kids vs. adults adventure in the first books to an exploration of humanity and how to find our better nature. I love Peter's love of science fiction and his desperation to escape, and how that turns into his willingness to stay behind and do the hard work to teach humanity how to be better. I love Broxholm and his bluntness and his pacifism and his deep caring for the species he watches over. I love the worldbuilding and the really alien aliens and the deep respect for teachers. I just want more of it! For Yuletide fic, I'd prefer not going in-depth into the problems of humanity part of the canon, cause hoo boy I don't want to be hideously depressed. If you write something like the missions in the fourth book, a generic setting would work; feel free to ask through the mods if you're worried about skirting the line. 

I also really want what I did not get from the series, which is Peter/Broxholm! I love their relationship; Peter running after the alien invader, begging him to take him with him, was absolutely formative for me. While the books framed Broxholm as a father figure, I love the idea of Peter growing up to realize his attachment to Broxholm is more than just wanting a replacement for his father (especially now that his relationship with his father's much better). And I love the idea that his fascination with aliens is, well, a fascination. I'd like adult Peter if shipping them; a childhood crush on Peter's side is great, but no pursuit or requited interest until he's at least 17. (I'd prefer college-age or later.) As for the other series characters, pair/multi/don't pair them up however you want! If you're not into shipping for this, just their canon friendship, especially how it changes as Peter grows older, would be lovely.

Prompts:

• Peter being an amazing teacher! How does he bring what he's learned back to humanity? I also love the idea of Broxholm staying behind to teach with him; maybe he comes back after Peter's been on his own for a while, when he's really missing the stars and his friends. Does he get Broxholm to loosen up a bit as a teacher? Do their colleagues notice their bond and get the wrong (right) idea?
• Peter is happy to be on Earth to help humanity grow, but he still misses the stars. Broxholm (with or without the others) spirits him away for a Very Important Meeting that turns out to be an excuse for summer vacation. Where do they go? Does Peter have some things on Earth to show him in return? Does Peter realize that a big part of his missing space is missing Broxholm?
• Look, the first book keeps going into how handsome Mr. Smith is, and Broxholm may not be able to use that particular face but I want Peter getting distracted by how handsome his human face is. Which he could just ignore because it's not real, except it's not just his human disguise he's interested in. If you can somehow get fake dating or having to kiss to not get caught out of this (especially since Broxholm almost certainly does not know how to kiss), yes please!
• Peter is surreptitiously very interested in what courtship looks like for Broxholm's species, for reasons he may or may not admit to himself. And with telepathic connections to his human friends (not to mention some pretty clever alien friends), this may not stay secret for long. And if Broxholm finds out, is dating something he's ever considered?

---

 

"Remember Opal is a city. Beautiful, but in the end just a city. San Francisco is just a city, too. You made Opal what it is to you. You can do the same in any place if you have love and happiness."
"I'm amazed to hear you say all this, Shade."
"Frankly, so am I. But in the end a rose is a rose is a rose."

Fandom: Starman (Comics)  
Characters I Requested: Richard Swift, Jack Knight
 

Starman Likes: Opal City, antiquing, painter Jack, gay/primarily into men Shade, Shade being in love with Jay Garrick, Shade being horny for superheroes, the whole supporting cast, the Shade's painted nails, the Shade's sexy shadow powers, Mikaal, Smudge

Starman DNWs: Hope/Shade

What I Want:

I wrote so many words about why I love Starman in my promo post, and that really covers why I love it so much! The Shade is my forever favorite DC character (along with Renee Montoya), and Jack is just such a fantastic character. I'm a big DC fan, especially of the JSA crew, but I absolutely don't expect background knowledge of anything outside of Starman; if you're already a fan, though, feel free to throw in whatever you want from the rest of the universe! Within Starman itself, I adore the other Starmen and Nash and the Dibneys and basically everyone.

 

I have a lot of favorite parts of Starman, but the one that snuck up on me was Jack and the Shade's relationship. From the first time the Shade showed up at Jack's place to annoy him, I was intrigued; upon rereading. I went from "they'd be fun together" to "oh I really ship them" to "they're so good for each other and also they're falling in love." I love these two and how their roles as protectors of Opal grew into a real friendship. I adore how the Shade just decides Jack is going to be his mentee and friend, and that he accomplishes it by dumping his life story onto Jack.  I love how much he professes to be uncaring and heartless while he very clearly holds his friendships dear. And the way he talks about Jack versus the other Starmen, like he's been waiting for someone who loves Opal like him all his life...and then how he tells Jack "a rose is a rose is a rose" when he leaves the city and doesn't hold it against him. I love their shared love for old things and Opal and being pretentious, and how Jack has no time for the Shade's bullshit (but secretly he does) and how the Shade just throws more bullshit at him in response.

For Jack/Sadie, I prefer it having not worked out or it just didn't happen. As for Shade, I'd prefer focus on past gay relationships over his het ones; mentions of past het is fine (outside of Shade/Hope, which I'd prefer didn't happen), but I'd like the focus on his relationships with men. If you want to make up any past queer ships or flirtations for him, go wild! 

 

 

Prompts:

• Jack and Shade stay in touch after Jack leaves for San Francisco through writing letters and Shade occasionally stopping by. Jack and Sadie don't work out, and then the Shade keeps dropping hints that Jack could return to Opal City and still stay retired. It takes a while for Jack to realize that the Shade just likes his company, and even longer to realize how much he likes the Shade's.
• After reading enough of the Shade's journals, Jack starts to suspect he had a Thing for Jay Garrick. Does he ask the Shade about it, and does the Shade admit it? Does the Shade still have some hangups about his attraction to men, especially admitting it? Does Mikaal have to teach Jack what bisexuality is? Does Jack subsequently realize some things about himself?
• The Shade is good with kids and dotes on Teddy and tells him stories of his father and grandfather and, well, Jack isn't made of stone. Extra points for Smudge (who is FINE) also doting and calling him Squire Teddy.
• Jack has to pretend to stop the Shade's villainy for whatever reason (for charity? drawing out some supervillain?) and the Shade is really into that.
• After Jack's death (at the end of a long and happy life), the Shade meets him on Jack's birthday, Talking With David style. The Shade didn't realize how much the loss would affect him, and he can finally tell him some things he never did in life. Or, long after Jack's death, he meets his reincarnation and old feelings/attraction that he never acted on flare up.