Cori Lannam

Oh wow. It's been a few years since I've written one of these. All my fannish love had been going to fandoms much too big to grace Yuletide, but this year I actually have 3 tiny fandoms that I am crazy in love with. And you! You also love one of these fandoms! Or at least like it enough to be here reading this letter.

So basically, thank you. I guarantee I will be genuinely over the moon, no matter which fandom you write or what plot you choose. Seriously, you don't even have to use my prompts if there's something else you're really burning to write. I'll just be so happy there's one more fic in my tiny fandom.

My general likes are: good characterization and dialogue (consistent with the source material or at least a reasonable extrapolation); tenderness and intimacy (but not schmoop); writing that shows rather than tells; kissing and touching; humor and snark; moments of relief (that love is returned, that a loved one is alive, etc.). I tend to favor things on the lighter side (odd considering I have two war fandoms and one character that should be in hardcore grief counseling), but I also love angst and hurt that leads to some quality comfort.

Things that make me nope out of a fic: permanent death, infidelity, humiliation or second-hand embarrassment. Other than that, I don't have any particular triggers to worry about.

Regarding Smut: I like it in all forms, but I don't need it in a story. If you'd like to write it, go ahead and write whatever turns you on. If it doesn't turn you on, don't write it. I like everything from the most virginal vanilla lovemaking to the most kinky A/B/O gangbang. Basically, you can't offend me. Though the kinky A/B/O gangbang probably isn't appropriate for any of the fandoms I've chosen. UNLESS, like me, you were just struck by an urge for Omega!Collins, in which case, please proceed!

Prompts:

Dunkirk
Collins, Farrier

Look, I'm going to be honest with you here: I went to Dunkirk for Harry Styles. I mean, I would have seen it anyway, because I'm a WWII buff, but fundamentally, Harry Styles. I was not expecting to end up with a massive Jack Lowden crush along the way. But here we are.

I would love any kind of story dealing with the relationship between Collins and Farrier. I totally slash them, but if you don't, feel free to stick with a brotherly dynamic. I'd like something centered around the War (pre-, during, or immediately post), no present-day AUs. However, I'd be utterly tickled by a wartime AU where same-sex love was totally normal and accepted, maybe even honored in the military (where a wingman can be like a shieldmate). Not a necessity, but feel free to go that way if that tickles your fancy as well.

Some prompts for your inspirational convenience:
* Something when they first meet when Collins joins the squadron before the war starts. Maybe they're a little prickly at first, being very different personalities and backgrounds, but they can't seem to stop dancing around each other. Eventually they realize they're both men for men and one of them decides to court the other amid the chaos of the oncoming war.
* Farrier escapes the enemy and makes his way back home, maybe in time to fight with Collins in the Battle of Britain, or maybe arriving just after and fearing what he'll find.
* Either before Dunkirk or later in the war, one of them gets shot down and the other is sure that they didn't make it (but of course they did)
* A series of times they flew together, on patrol or in battle.

DNW: no death, please! Assumed death for the sake of angst is just fine, as long as it has the comfort payoff. And please no pairing them with other people, whether or not you write them as lovers.

Dunkirk-specific likes: I adore dogfight scenes where you can feel the adrenaline rush. Out of all the various first names I've seen for Collins in fic, my favorite is Ainsley (no preference for Farrier's). I'd be happy to see any of the other Dunkirk characters around as secondary characters, as long as there's a logical reason for them to be there. For the record, I also adore Tommy/Alex as a pairing, so if for whatever reason the Collins/Farrier isn't floating your boat, I would also be perfectly happy with a Tommy/Alex story (not that the two of them have a great record with floating boats).

The Charioteer
Ralph Lanyon, Laurie Odell

When I got obsessed with Dunkirk, I remembered that one of my old favorite Mary Renault books was actually set right after Dunkirk. So I decided to re-read it and tumbled right back down the rabbit hole, harder than ever. I am completely obsessed and fascinated with Ralph and Laurie as individual characters and as a couple.

Some prompts for your inspirational convenience:
* An AU where Ralph doesn't start anything with Hazell. He and Laurie become closer while still at school and become lovers long before Dunkirk.
* Anything set soon after the end of the book as they try to get their relationship on solid ground amid the chaos of war.
* Something exploring Ralph's POV at the end of the book. How did he end up so close to suicide? What did he feel when he walked into his flat and saw Laurie there? The final words of the book imply that they were able to finally stop fighting all the things driving them and rest together - but how did that look, the rest of that night? (alternatively: Alec's POV as he figures out what's going on, sends Laurie to Ralph, and then waits to discover the outcome)
* Or Ralph's POV during the infamous party scene - how he felt when he first saw Laurie alive and well, all the pushes and pulls he must have felt during those hours, dealing with everything going on at the party, longing for Laurie but still so unsure of him, trying to get his own head together while also managing everyone else.

DNW: no death, no infidelity, no Andrew (unless it's a scene of him meeting the real Ralph, but please no lingering romantic feelings to/from Laurie). Beyond the level of the books, no feckless or submissive Laurie or domineering or condescending Ralph.

Charioteer-specific likes: I love Laurie and Ralph as equal partners, each bringing their own strengths to the relationship. I love Laurie learning to take care of Ralph as much as Ralph takes care of him, and Ralph learning to allow and enjoy it. I love Laurie learning how he wants to define himself as a queer man and figuring out how he fits into that world on his own terms. I really like Alec as a side character, and I'm fond of Sandy as well (if you include him, please don't treat him poorly! he's capable of growth, too!). I also wouldn't mind Bunny popping back into the scene, if you think of something interesting to do with him - particularly interacting with a Laurie more confident in himself and Ralph's love. I also love outsider POVs on their relationship.

Lethal Weapon
Trish Murtaugh, Roger Murtaugh, Martin Riggs, Brooks Avery

This is my little stealth fandom that no one else seems to love! I adore this show and all the characters and their relationships. The Riggs/Murtaugh relationship is the absolute perfect slashy bromance -- I'd love a story focusing on that relationship whether it's platonic bros or bickering lovers. Either way, though, Trish needs to be fully aware and involved, because I love her and her relationship with Roger. I guess what I really want is to see Riggs getting semi-reluctantly absorbed into the Murtaugh family. I also tagged Captain Avery here because he is so long-sufferingly awesome and I would be so happy if he were involved as a major character dealing with his brilliant asshole cops.

Some prompts for your inspirational convenience:
* Riggs and Murtaugh trying to cope with their first family Christmas, possibly including some criminal hijinx that keep pulling them away from the eggnog
* Murtaugh has a near-death experience (another heart attack, shot, whatever) and gets to talk to Miranda Riggs before he's brought back
* One of them gets kidnapped and the other works with Captain Avery to rescue him in time.

DNW: no death (real death, assumed death for the sake of angst is A-okay!), no infidelity (polyamory in any configuration is also A-okay!)

LW-specific likes: show-level banter, all the side characters (but maybe less of Jordana Brewster as the Worst Psychologist Ever, unless it's for amusing therapy sessions which would be awesome), the awesomeness of the Murtaugh family, those moments when Murtaugh proves he's just as crazy as Riggs, outsider POVs on their relationship

All of you who have drafts of your yuletide stories done? I dislike all of you very, very much.

I'm finally back in the office today after an involuntarily extended holiday break. It can pretty much be summed up by an exchange I just had with one of my co-workers:

Co-worker: Where did you go for the holidays?

Me: New Jersey.

Co-worker: LOL! And how'd that work out for you?

It was actually a very nice extended holiday weekend, despite the blizzard and the 2 feet of snow and the 5 hours on the New Jersey Fucking Turnpike. My very favorite presents were the Merlin stories I got from both chelseafrew and anna_zee. We had Boxing Day plans to go into NYC to see American Idiot (my last chance to see it while my very favorite Broadway singer and one of the very, very few people who can make me pay for and sit through a play of any kind, is still in it), which abruptly got moved up to Christmas night after hearing the 6 o'clock news. Did you know that an hour's drive into the city can be accomplished in 20 minutes when there's no traffic and you're very motivated?

When the snow did come, it gave me lots of time to read yuletide, which was a nice change from last year. I read in probably a dozen fandoms and found some truly excellent stories, all of which have been repeatedly recommended over on the yuletide community, so I'll spare you the repetition.

I did end up participating this year after all by writing a very, very last minute pinch hit/treat. Almost nobody is even looking at this particular fandom, but the recipient seemed to like it, so I'm content. Only 2 comments, but a handful of kudos, which made me feel much better. I can see why people worry about the kudos supplanting comments, but I'm fairly certain that the people who left me kudos probably weren't going to comment at all otherwise, so I'm happy to have the extra affirmation. All in all, I approve of the feature.

In contrast, I am really far behind on Merlin fic, both reading and writing.

Everyone else staying unfrozen out there?

Over the last couple of months, I've been learning French during my daily commute. I had gotten the CDs when I thought I'd be going to France and liked the learning method. France didn't work out, but sometime later I decided I felt like learning the language anyway.

So last week I was updating my Google Reader, and I found a few French language blogs and newspapers to add in the hopes of getting some extra practice. To my delight, I found I could read most of the newspaper articles! On the down side, it turns out that the news in France is just as depressing as it is here.

***

I am still debating whether to sign up for Yuletide this year, but I was composing my Dear Writer letter in my head last night, which may be a bad sign. What's odd is that this is the first year where I have multiple things I want to request, but nothing I particularly want to write. Every other year I've struggled on the details of what I wanted to receive and wished I could just sign up to write.

But this year, I find myself really wanting several particular stories. I want a few things from the Hunger Games books. I really want a story about Anne of Cleves, and maybe something about Charles Brandon and how he managed to keep his head as Henry VIII's best friend for 40 years. And a few other things I'd have to narrow down from my list.

***

As you might guess from my Yuletide pondering, I spent the weekend marathoning season 1 of The Tudors. I watched most of S1 when it was originally on, but then missed a week and never caught up again (as happens to me with most television shows). Since that was a few years ago, I figured I might as well just start from the beginning again to refresh my memory of what happened. Plus, I couldn't remember where I left off.

The interesting thing was that between the last time I watched the show and now, I went on a big Tudor history reading kick. So now all the historical discrepancies are driving me freaking crazy, whereas before they were only the gentlest niggle in the back of my mind. Henry had two different sisters, dammit! Though I'll forgive anything for Gabrielle Anwar.

***

And before I sign up for any other writing challenges, I guess I really should finish the one that's due in, oh, a week? I've known the plot of what I was writing since the day I got my assignment, but the emotional connections have been eluding me ever since. Thankfully, it's finally all coming together. I just have to get it all on paper.

***

I'll leave you with today's Daily Puppy, a baby girl bullie who turned my crappy Monday around with a single paw. http://www.dailypuppy.com/puppies/layla-the-english-bulldog_2010-11-15

I can hardly believe what a lucky girl I am. I stuck it out to the opening of the Yuletide archive, and it's OMG o'clock in the morning, but it was totally worth it. I got two (2)(TWO!) fantastic stories, which both just happen to be in my two primary obsessions of the moment, and I could practically explode with the squee.

My main story was Duran Duran (OMG!) --

Push and Pull

A totally great story about John and Simon and how all their years together add up to an intense, incredible relationship on stage and off. Very, very hot and sweet - and this is what I love in band fic, the sense of shared history and long love between them. OMG, I'm so happy.

I also, for the first time ever, got a Yuletide Treat! And it's Merlin!

That Shall Achieve the Sword

A long, plotty, totally gorgeous story that hit all my Merlin buttons perfectly. Great dialogue, fantastic Arthur, absolutely squee-worthy. All about what Arthur and Merlin will do to protect each other.

I can't believe I got exactly what I wanted - TWICE!

For some reason, the archive isn't letting me comment on my stories (I keep getting the sad snowman of doom). I'll keep trying, but if I don't manage before I pass out -- THANK YOU, AUTHORS!! I really could not be happier, and I will gush appropriately at my earliest opportunity.

In the meantime, the rest of you go read my stories and tell the authors how wonderful they are.

Like so many people that I see posting today, I am also traveling for the holidays and will not be in my usual abode on Christmas morning.

However, unlike these amateurs, I will be online the moment I have achieved sufficient consciousness and will be coming straight to the Yuletide archive to unwrap my favorite present. In fact, I plan to fall asleep on top of my laptop, probably still refreshing my friends page waiting for the opening announcement.

Just so's you know. I might be a little excited.

*g*

Well, maybe. After all, my recipient hasn't actually read the story yet....

I woke up this morning with my Yuletide story clear and sparkling in my mind at last.

Of course, this is a completely different story than the one I was writing last night.

*headdesk*

I am terribly pleased with my yuletide assignment. I already have a title and everything. I just hope I can do justice to the story that goes with it!