Hi! So you got assigned to me, awesome! I’m htbthomas on AO3 as well as here and everywhere. I’ve been doing Yuletide since 2007, and I love it. It’s fun to try new things and read things I’d never think to read. My previous letters are here on LJ, and here on Tumblr. Feel free to see how I’ve changed (or not, most likely, heh.)
GENERAL LIKES AND DISLIKES:
I have a few bulletproof story kinks. Use them if you like!
Secret Identity - I love characters with secrets. Ones they’re keeping from their friends, from their family, from their coworkers, from the world-at-large. I like it when one or two inner circle people know, but not everyone they know.
Powers - I especially like when it’s a power that the character is hiding. If they’re using it for heroism, even better. I love discovering new powers, using powers to help or get ahead in a sneaky way.
Reveals - despite everything I just said, my favorite thing ever is someone finding out the secret. I always want the love interest to find out, or the enemy, or the neighbor, or the random acquaintance or stranger. Okay, pretty much anyone. I still don’t want EVERYONE to know, but I ache for the stories of when the select few learn the truth like burning.
Humor - I like everything mixed with humor. Even the darkest fandoms need a little, sometimes a lot. Make me laugh and I’ll pick out all my favorite moments.
Canon-Typical - Unless I say otherwise, I like the humor, violence, sexual content and language of the source material to stay similar in fic.
Other things I like: crossovers/fusions are fun, tropey relationship fics rock, first times and family/group bonding are my jam.
For general dislikes, I don’t have many. The longer I spend in fandom, the more I can just go with the flow. That said, please no mundane AUs, like high school or coffee shop. I like the canon secrets/powers to stay in any AUs.
REQUESTS:
The Good Place (TV) - Eleanor Shellstrop, Chidi Anagonye
So Season 1 was just a roller coaster of fun and twists and I’m so pumped as we head into season 2! By the end I was in love with the whole five-some of Chidi/Eleanor/Tahani/Jason/Janet and I can’t wait to see what they do when they’re in the know.
I’m still shipping Chidi/Eleanor like crazy, though. Maybe more now.
Elements I like about the source:
The high-concept nature of the show
The possibility of in-canon and fanfiction AUs of all the ways Michael could have attempted to twist them (I do not consider these mundane AUs)
The humor and heart of the five as they interact
The behind-the-scenes fun we’re already seeing of the non-human denizens of The Good Place
Prompts: (edited after 2.03)
Tell me more about all the ways Chidi and Eleanor found each other as they went through all of Michael’s failed attempts.
How did that first time come about in the Medium Place? Was it different every time or were there things in common?
Now that Eleanor knows she's developed feelings for Chidi in the past - does she actively work toward that, or does she try to ignore it? (Edit post 2.07:) After Eleanor shows Chidi the tape, she clearly has some feelings developing. Does she go for straight denial but fails miserably? Does Chidi start to develop feelings after he thinks Eleanor has no interest? Some other scenario? Some one-sided pining or unrecognized mutual pining would be awesome.
Ships:
Eleanor/Chidi
Tahani & Eleanor (and Eleanor’s flirtatiousness with Tahani)
Jason/Janet
The five-some
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (TV 2017) - Miriam “Midge” Maisel
I was blown away by this pilot. There’s so much to explore about Midge and her life and the stand-up comedy life she’s about to experience. I want so much more of it. (Edit 10/10) The trailer is out! The rest of the season will be available Nov. 29. However! I’m fine with fics based on the pilot or the full season, either way. ♥ (Edit 12/2) I have watched it! Oh wow, the last ten minutes gave me goosebumps. I can’t wait for more! My edits post-season are in italics.
Elements I like about the source:
Midge and her perfectionism. It was played as tragic in the face of the dissolution of her marriage, but I look forward to seeing how it helps her as she goes forward. This certainly bears out, especially after the times she “quit” because she bombed. But I love (with Susie’s influence) that she keeps trying again.
Her father, Abe. They seem to have a close relationship, but not without its expectations and conflicts. He’s such a stern man, but Midge seems to be the one person that can break through it. That conversation in his displaced study is a highlight.
Susie. Who is this woman with her lonely apartment and the hints of her failed dreams? She’s fucking amazing. Such a fighter, doesn’t give a shit about what other people think -- except Midge. Their rise and fall and rise as friends and partners is already epic.
Imogene. Is she the fair-weather best friend, or more? Yes! I was hoping Imogene was ride-or-die, and it’s wonderful to see. I want more of her!
Susie’s take down of Joel was the most delicious thing, and his heartbroken “She’s good!” as he shambles down the street at the end gives me life. The reveal scenes with Joel had me clutching my pillow in glee.
Prompts:
I’d love to see more funny Midge in the past and how it helps her in the future
Abe and Midge growing up
More about Susie’s past as she helps Midge
Imogene ends up seeing Midge perform, by accident.
More reveals of her second career to other people. How do her parents react? The girls at work? Does Joel tell anyone or is he too mortified? Does the bootleg recording make its way into someone else’s hands?
More scenes with Lenny Bruce. He was an unexpected highlight.
Ships:
Midge/stand-up
Midge &/ Susie (okay yes, the finale really got me interested in some shippy Midge/Susie)
Midge & Imogene
Powerless (TV 2017) - Emily Locke, Beatriz da Costa | Green Fury, Teddy
Oh, my poor canceled show. I saw the original pilot at Comic Con 2016 (it was funnier, aaaggggghhhhh) but I stuck by the show in its new format. I thought the cast was really starting to click! I have seen the 3 unaired episodes, but if you haven’t, you don’t need to reference them. On the other hand, use them if you like!
Elements I like about the source:
The conceit of regular people in a superpowered world. People who can still make a difference.
Emily’s ambition and sweetness, Jackie’s acerbic wit with a hidden heart, Ron’s excitement about things, Wendy’s weirdness, Teddy’s everything.
I really enjoyed Green Fury’s few appearances and wanted more!
I can see the three requested characters in any combination, shippy or friendship. Don’t put them in a triangle, though, please.
Prompts:
Emily or Teddy (or both) get to help Green Fury save the day!
Emily or Teddy run across Beatriz in her secret identity. What is that? (Could be the comics version, but I’m fine with anything).
Teddy starts seeing Emily in a new light after she helps Green Fury with stopping a crime.
Ships:
Emily/&Teddy
Emily/&Green Fury
Teddy/&Green Fury
Emily/Teddy/Green Fury
If any of the prompts I’ve given don’t resonate with you, feel free to go in another direction. The tags below link to any posts I’ve made/reblogged on these three fandoms, which might give you more insight into my likes in each! I will also update this post throughout the writing period if new developments in canon affect my requests.
And thank you so much for writing for me. I love Yuletide, and I’m usually waiting impatiently for the archive to open with my yuletide slack group, so I’ll probably read and review right away. :) If you have any questions, you can ask @blithers. She knows my tastes and can keep a secret.
