Yuletide letter 2023

[regshoe]

Dear Yuletide Writer,

Thank you for writing me a fic in one of these lovely small fandoms! I'm regshoe on AO3. I've said a little bit below about why I love each of the fandoms I've requested, and given a few prompts, but if you have a completely different idea you'd love to write then go ahead—I'll look forward to seeing whatever you come up with!


Some things I like:
—A strong sense of place; relationships between characters and places
—Descriptions of nature, especially birds
—Historical detail; how the characters fit into historical settings and events
—Comfortable connectedness and 'fitting together' between the characters in a (romantic or platonic) pairing; a sense that they're 'each other's people'; characters finding comfort and rest in each other amidst a hostile world or plot-related struggles
—Quietly significant physical intimacy: handholding, long hugs, cuddling, hair-stroking, etc.
—Characters who are emotionally closed-off, defensively cynical after getting hurt in the past, etc., opening up emotionally as they slowly come to trust another character; learning to love, and learning to be loved
—Hurt/comfort! Characters seeing the person they love get hurt and realising how much they care about them, or revealing their feelings in their reaction; characters receiving comfort and realising how much they're loved
—Loyalty: characters who are unfailingly loyal to each other; characters facing conflicting loyalties, or caught between their existing loyalties and their feelings for another character
—Religion and its meaning in characters' lives, especially the place of religion in society and how that interacts with characters' places in society
—Magic and the supernatural, especially otherworldly fairy-folklorish stuff, ghosts and hauntings

Do Not Wants:
—Graphic violence or body horror
—Explicit sex (implied/fade-to-black is fine)
—Rape/noncon/dubcon
—AUs that place the characters in a different setting (canon divergence is fine, as is adding supernatural/fantasy elements to a mundane canon setting)
—Un-prompted-for non-canon ships including requested characters; focus on un-prompted-for canon ships including requested characters
Plus a few fandom-specific DNWs, listed in the fandom sections below

I have gifts enabled and am open to treats! All requests are for standard AND matching (gift must feature all my chosen character tags).


Armadale - Wilkie Collins
Ozias Midwinter | Allan Armadale, Main Allan Armadale

I love Allan and Midwinter, whether as a friendship or a romantic pairing; I like ships where one character is a cheerful ray of sunshine and the other is a sad woobie and they love each other devotedly, and this is such an adorable example. Allan cheerfully trying to give Ozias all the good things he can think of, Ozias worrying about Allan all the time, their loyalty to each other—it's just the best. I also enjoy the sensation-novel drama of the book, its ideas about fate and the shadow of the past that hangs over the story. One of my favourite moments is when Ozias says that what persuaded him out of believing in his father's superstition was 'my love for Allan Armadale'.

So: tell me more about this fascinating situation! For all its dramatic importance, Allan never finds out very much about the mystery of the past—but what if he did? Perhaps Ozias chooses to confide in him about the murder and the real meaning of his dream, that night on the wrecked ship or afterwards, or he finds out some other way, and they decide what to do about it together. (And the curse of the past is defeated by the power of True Love!) How would it affect their relationship, and how might things go differently from then on? Or perhaps Ozias confides in Allan much later, after everything is resolved—I can see him still having occasional spells of anxiety about Doom in the future, and of course Allan would want to find out what's going on and comfort him.

I love Lydia Gwilt too, and would be happy to see her get involved in the story if you'd like to go that way (but would prefer such a story not to include her canon requited relationship with Ozias). How might she adapt her schemes if Allan found out about the backstory early in the book's timeline? Or perhaps she tries the 'marry Mr Armadale and get his fortune' scheme on one or the other of the Allans, but fails because they realise they prefer each other! Or what other plans might she concoct? Her diaries could provide a great opportunity for an outsider POV on the Allans and their relationship—given her darkly hilarious contempt for Allan in canon, I think this could be very funny.

Alternatively, I'd love anything where these two just get to be happy together for a while, regardless of the canon mystery plot. They could go exploring the beautiful Norfolk broads together, or get into exciting and dramatic adventures on a yachting tour somewhere off the coast (perhaps they end up in some sort of trouble, leading to a daring rescue and/or a hurt/comfort scenario!). Or you could write about their future life together post-canon, in domestic happiness at Thorpe-Ambrose—perhaps bringing in Ozias's literary career, about which I can imagine Allan being enthusiastically and adorably supportive.


The Flight of the Heron - D. K. Broster (The Jacobite Trilogy | The Flight of the Heron Series - D. K. Broster)
Keith Windham, Ewen Cameron

I love this book for the beautiful landscape descriptions, the historical detail, the dash of the supernatural in a mostly-mundane setting—but most of all for the beautiful, slashy, hurt/comfort-laden relationship between Ewen and Keith, with all their eighteenth-century gentlemanly honour and anguished conflicts of loyalty. Anything exploring their relationship further, as slash or as friendship, would be lovely.

There's plenty of room for even more hurt/comfort in fic! Perhaps Keith is merely injured by Lachlan at the end, and Ewen finds him; how does Ewen balance the urgent necessity of escaping from Scotland with taking care of Keith? Or perhaps it's Ewen who gets hurt protecting Keith from Lachlan, and Keith has to take care of him, no doubt facing his own conflicts of duty and loyalty along the way. (And what would happen to/with Lachlan in such a scenario?)

Speaking of which, Keith's conflicting loyalties fascinate me! He takes his duty as an officer seriously, and military ambition is his one passion in life; but he's horrified at the Army's actions after Culloden, and he may have been pushed into the career he has by the chance circumstances of his mum's connections and perhaps wouldn't have chosen it (at least in the specifics) for himself. What if this interestingly ambivalent relationship was disrupted further—by another meeting with Ewen (perhaps Keith somehow gets lost on the way to the coast in Part V and runs into Ewen); or by Keith actually making the choice to warn Ewen instead of summoning the patrol at the end; or even by a severe injury that puts an end to his military career? How would he and Ewen deal with these interesting conundrums together?

My favourite character besides these two is Aunt Margaret, and I'd love a story including her. Perhaps in an AU where Keith survives, and later goes to visit or live at Ardroy, he and Margaret get to know each other better—their brief interactions in canon are great and could certainly be developed further!

I like a lot of other Jacobite-related historical novels too, and if you happen to know any of them, I'd love a crossover! What on earth would Keith make of Edward Waverley, or Ewen of Fergus MacIvor? (I think they're kind of perfect opposites, in a way that could both be very funny and have a lot of story potential). What might happen a few years after the Rising if Ewen and an AU surviving Keith met David Balfour and Alan Breck Stewart? How does Ewen get along with his young neighbour Andrew Boyd? Or what if Ewen and Keith, complicated enemies, crossed paths during the '45 with the double agent Archie Flemington?


Jill - E. A. Dillwyn
Gilbertina Trecastle, Sister Helena

This book is so much fun, and Jill—selfish, outrageous, bold, adventurous—such a great narrator. I like how, while generally light-hearted and a bit silly, the book touches on more serious issues like medical abuse and the troubles of domestic servants; and I love how Jill's relationship with the serious, thoughtful and devoted Sister Helena introduces a deeper emotional aspect to her own character. I would love to read a story developing their relationship a bit further—if you'd like to take it in a femslashy direction I would enjoy that, and I'd be equally happy with friendship fic.

You could fill in the details of what happens in those cosy, sadly-interrupted little teas they have together in Helena's room at the hospital. Of course everything we see in canon is from Jill's POV, but I'd love to see Helena's perspective on their relationship and her feelings for Jill, and I would love to know more about Helena's backstory and personality. What does she think of and feel about Jill as their relationship develops; what does she tell Jill about her past, and how much does Jill tell her in turn of her own? Perhaps, one of those times when Helena is summoned away to some urgent work and Jill is left alone in her room, she snoops about a bit and finds something that throws an unexpected light on some aspect of Helena's life—and perhaps she tells Helena (Jill wouldn't be dishonest to her, of all people!) and they talk about it.

I'd love to see an AU where Helena lives, and she and Jill get to continue their relationship after Jill leaves the hospital. They're both very busy, Helena with her work and Jill as a landowner running her estate, so perhaps they write letters to each other (how about an epistolary fic?). I can see their friendship being a little beacon of mutual support in their respective busy and responsible lives—and perhaps they manage an occasional visit. Or perhaps their conversations about the nurses' shortcomings lead to them deciding to work on some kind of medical reform effort together?

I'm interested in the meaning of religion for characters and their relationships, and I especially like how Jill's relationship with Helena isn't a conventional 'bad character finds religion and undergoes a complete moral transformation' plot: Helena introduces Jill to more serious moral ideas and she regretfully decides that tormenting her stepmother is wrong after all, but she's still very much herself, independent and self-willed. Helena is independent too, of course, and as Jill observes, her religion is in some ways unusual and unconventional. What does Helena think of Jill's developing religious faith and moral reform, how do they talk about it, and how might things go for them in the future?

Fandom-specific DNW: Fic including Helena's canonical death (either something set earlier, or a fix-it AU, would be lovely).

Re. my 'un-prompted-for non-canon ships' DNW: brief references to Jill's crush on Kitty are fine, but (while I like her!) I'd prefer for Kitty not to play a major role in the fic.


Kidnapped - McArthur & McCarthy & Stevenson (NTS Kidnapped)
David Balfour, Alan Breck Stewart

This play is just so beautiful, as well as being a great adaptation of a book I love: it's loads of fun, it combines irreverence and silly humour with real emotional depth where it matters, it gets at the heart of the story and the joy and hope in it, and it makes my OTP canon! :D The play's Alan and Davie are utterly adorable; I love Davie's earnestness and courage, and Alan's dashing, romantic audacity, and I love how much they just go together and how deeply they care about each other despite their quarrels and culture/political clashes. I mean, look at them. ♥

The part of the play after their big quarrel and Davie's dramatic refusal to betray Alan by helping the treacherous Rob Og definitely presents material to develop a bit more in fic! I adore Alan bridal-carrying Davie across the stage, and a story exploring the hurt/comfort here in more detail, all amongst the reaffirmed love and loyalty between them, would be lovely. Unlike in the book they don't get to stop comfortably in a house at this point—I can see Alan tenderly wrapping his coat round Davie as they take what shelter they can among the heather (in doubtless dreadful weather), almost back at Queensferry but with a way to go yet...

Or you could follow one of the play's very memorable cast of side characters for an outsider POV on their relationship. What do the ex-sailors, re-encountered at the Bam & Anchor, really think about them? (I am especially fond of Bloody Karen and Two-Legged Barry.) Probably my favourite ensemble character is Jannet Clouston—I love how cheerfully fond she is of Davie, and I'm sure she would be supportive (in her way) during his heartbreak after losing Alan and also after the happy ending. After their reunion at the end, perhaps Davie and Alan go to visit some of Alan's Highland friends again together—what do they make of the situation? Besides the ensemble, I really love the play's take on Frances Stevenson and would enjoy a story bringing her in somehow: perhaps you could do something with the parallels between Alan/Davie and Frances/Louis, or with the play's multiple layers of fiction.

Does Alan ever explain the lyrics of his Gaelic song to Davie? :D

There's plenty of opportunity for fic in that lovely finale! Alan's appearance is a total surprise to Davie, but Alan must have been planning and travelling for some time—you could follow him on board a ship bound for Scotland, thinking longingly of Davie and anxiously wondering how he's doing, and finally reaching the end of his journey... How does Davie—the successful and fortunate Lowland laird of the finale, who loves this Highland Jacobite outlaw—reconcile the two sides of the 'big country' of Scotland, and bring something of both into his future life with Alan?

A note: As is clear from my requests, I also love the book; if you'd like to write a play fic that also takes inspiration from/brings in a few elements from the book, please do!


Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson
David Balfour, Alan Breck Stewart

I love this book—for the historical setting and the colourful detail Stevenson brings to portraying it, for the exciting adventure-novel drama, but most of all for Alan and Davie. The banter, the culture/political clashes, the deliberately annoying folk songs, the terribly serious eighteenth-century gentlemanly honour, the twelve-inch height difference, the deep and heartfelt care for each other underneath all the silliness and drama, the derailing a quarrel through tactically provoking hurt/comfort instead... They are hilarious and adorable, and I'd love a story exploring their relationship further, whether as slash or as a friendship.

There are lots of opportunities for missing scenes during the 'flight in the heather', especially at Corrynakiegh (and what a lovely setting it is...!). Perhaps Alan sings David some of his Gaelic and/or Jacobite folk songs to while away the time while they're hiding at Corrynakiegh; or you could write about their fishing and sword-fighting lessons (David observes that 'as I had sometimes the upper-hand of him in the fishing, he was not sorry to turn to an exercise where he had so much the upper-hand of me'—I'd love to see that in more detail!); or perhaps their 'there was only one coat' sleeping arrangements provide an opportunity for a development in their relationship...

Or you could explore what happens post-canon. I'm interested by David's presumable future as a respectable Whig proprietor at Shaws: how do his canon adventures and his relationship with Alan affect his future choices? And what does Alan, who will surely come back to visit him in secret, make of it all? If one sees this fun, dramatic slashy adventure novel in its serious literary aspect as an allegory about the historical development and cultural identity of the nation of Scotland, there's a lot of interesting potential there—I can see David, with his Lowland Whig upbringing and his appreciation for the worthwhile things in Alan's strange Highland Jacobite ways, finding some way to reconcile the two sides and bring something of both into his future life (with Alan...?).

Look at this lovely poem about the Braes of Balquhidder! (I learnt of it via the also lovely folk song variant usually called 'Wild Mountain Thyme'). The Balquhidder interlude, with David recovering from his illness in the aftermath of the quarrel, is a brilliant opportunity for hurt/comfort, emotional heart-to-heart conversations and generally a bit of quiet relationship development in between the exciting plot drama before and after. I'd love something set there, and I'm sure there's potential for an absolutely adorable Alan/Davie fic using the poem as a prompt (the poem itself is too recent for 1751, though strict historical accuracy didn't stop Stevenson...!).

Fandom-specific DNW: Any elements from the sequel (which is to say, if like me you haven't read it, don't worry about accidentally including something that happens to overlap with it! Just please don't do it deliberately if you have)

A note: As is clear from my requests, I also love the NTS stage adaptation; if you'd like to write a book fic that also takes inspiration from/brings in a few elements from the play, please do!