merle_p | Dear Yuletide Creator Letter!

Thank you so much for writing me a story about some of my favorite characters in one of my favorite tiny fandoms. I am so excited to receive fic for one of these fandoms of few (or even fandoms of one?), I am just looking forward to reading what you come up with.

I am invested in all the requested fandoms and characters equally. Please don’t read anything into the length of the passages, the order of the fandoms (alphabetic!), the nature of the prompts – if there are differences, it is coincidental and has nothing to do with how much I want the fandom or the characters.

I'm merle_p on AO3 as well (and on tumblr and on LJ, but I use LJ and Dreamwidth only for exchange letters these days).

GENERAL LIKES:
Feel free to pick and choose. These are all things I reliably love in fic, so I’ll be thrilled to receive a story that includes any one or two things from the list below. In general, please don’t feel like you need to fit as many likes or prompts as possible into your work if it doesn’t happen organically. I also enjoy a ton of other stuff, so don’t worry about including other tropes not listed in this letter as long as they don’t show up in my DNWs.

Plot/Character-related:

Dialogue/banter
Sarcasm, snark
Any kind of hurt/comfort or angst with a happy/hopeful ending
Canon divergence (AUs in the regular canon setting that diverge from canon in small but significant ways)
Sidekick/underappreciated characters being appreciated
Competent people who are good at what they do without being super-human
People from different (social, national, political…) backgrounds being confronted with each other’s perspective on the world
Cynical and world-weary characters
Recreational alcohol, tobacco, drug consumption

Ship/Friendship-related:

Getting together/first times
Friends-to-lovers and enemies-to-lovers
Friendships of all kinds (with a soft spot for male/female friendship and for supportive friendships between siblings)
Pining, jealousy, misunderstandings (as long as they get resolved in the end!)
Unwavering loyalty, the willingness to make sacrifices for each other, no questions asked
Deep emotions that are expressed in understated ways
People taking care of each other
People working well together as a team

Sex/Porn-related:

Sex scenes of all ratings are lovely, but most definitely not a requirement to make me happy – allusions to potential future sex, fade-to-black, or whatnot are all equally welcome!
Spontaneous sex (I love sex happening spontaneously in the moment, including but not limited to: out of desperation, after a declaration of feelings, due to intoxication, in a somewhat unusual location …)
Passionate/rough sex
Messy/sloppy sex
Porn with Feelings
Size difference /Size kink
Loyalty kink and Praise kink
Kissing, lots of kissing (on the mouth or any other body parts)
Tattoos and scars (I also like those in non-sexual contexts)
I am explicitly fine with teenagers 13+ having on-screen sex
Bodily fluids I’m good with/like in sexual contexts: Sweat, saliva, blood, come.

GENERAL DNWs:

Devastating endings or hopelessly unrequited love
Permanent character death for requested characters (death of other characters is fine)
Character bashing
A/B/O-verse, Dom/Sub-verse, soulmate-verse
Mundane AUs (coffeeshop, highschool/college AUs, and similar scenarios)
Genderswap, bodyswap, mpreg
Non-canonical trans or ace headcanons for canon characters
Infantilism kink, Mommy/Daddy kink
Sex with or between characters under 13 (brief general mentions of CSA are fine)
Explicitly sexual use of feces or vomit (Mentions of these in non-sexual contexts are fine)
Use of formalized safewords (I prefer the characters to say simply “stop” or “no” if needed), or explicit extended kink and consent negotiation (But casually checking in with each other along the lines of “Is this okay?” – “Yes!” etc. is great)
Eating disorders, cutting as ritualized self-harm
“Shovel talks” (so, please no “They’ll never find your body if you hurt my friend/kid” conversations)
Accidentally acquired babies, children playing matchmaker, or stories written from the perspective of a child who is not a requested character (But kids, especially canonical ones, appearing or being discussed in the story is perfectly fine; and so are background narratives about the requested characters’ childhoods)

FANDOMS/CHARACTERS:

All the character constellations I ask for are characters that I do very much ship together. That being said, what I fell in love with was their dynamic in canon, so if you don’t see their relationship the same way and/or aren’t interested in exploring a possible romantic or sexual dynamic between them, I will also be over the moon to receive fic that is based on their friendship dynamic as portrayed in canon. Seriously.

I would prefer if my requested characters are at the center of the story. However, I absolutely do not mind other characters being included and enjoy when the relationship between my requested characters is explored indirectly also in conversations or interactions with other characters. Unless I explicitly mention a character I prefer not to see in the story, all canon characters are fair game. I’m perfectly fine with including OCs as well, but would prefer if they didn’t take center stage.

Attack the Block: Moses, Pest

What I like about them: I really like the contrast between Moses’ stoic quiet leadership and Pest’s dorkiness and his questionable efforts at bravado; I like that Pest trusts Moses to lead them well, and that he is firmly in Moses’ corner. The final scene in the van gives me all the feels: I just love the fact that Pest seems so pleased about people on the block recognizing Moses as a hero. There’s some true devotion shining through in that moment.

Ideas/suggestions for fic:

Post-Canon: Anything set after the movie, where they recover from/cope with what happened to them and end up turning towards each other for comfort. Like, the movie is hilarious, but also, they lose friends in really horrific ways and get arrested … how do they deal with that, separately and together?
Pre-Canon: I am also curious about their past … how did their friendship develop? How did their first encounter go? Were they once the little “Mayhem and Probs” of the block, before they became part of the teenage gang we see in the film?
Complicated family lives: Anything that explores Moses’ living/family situation in some way: Maybe the elusive uncle finally disappears for good, and Pest keeps bringing food over to make sure Moses eats? Maybe Pest sort-of moves himself into Moses’ apartment? Or maybe Moses moves in with Pest’s family instead?
New adventures: The alien invasion probably wasn’t the first and certainly not the last strange, dramatic, bizarre, dangerous situation they have found themselves in. Give me Moses and Pest (and if you want, any of the other characters) dealing with other tricky situations: Outsmarting the police? Parkour chases through the council estate? Dealing with the new big baddie on the block? Taking over the local weed business with Ron?
Shippy/sexy:
- Pest has had a crush on Moses forever, but Moses has a hard time believing that anyone would be seriously interested in him – cue pining, misunderstandings, awkward confessions …
- Moving from “jerk-off buddies” to OMG, feelings!!! to going steady
- Maybe one of them moves away and they realize how much they miss each other and make sure to reconnect?

Banlieue 13: Leïto, Damien

What I like about them: For all that they are such opposite personalities, they are so in synch, so comfortable with each other, and seem to have so much fun together in pretty much every scene they share. I could watch their shared parkour and fight scenes on repeat for hours. Add to that the loyalty, the trust, and the willingness to put their lives on the line for each other, despite their different backgrounds and life experiences, and I’m 100% here for it.

Ideas/suggestions for fic:

Post-canon: How does Damien being in charge of rebuilding District 13 change their relationship? Does Leïto struggle with the pressure of leading a more “respectable” life (or maybe he purposefully doesn’t)?
Class differences: Anything that explores the fact that they have very different backgrounds and had very different lives. Do those social differences cause tensions between them? How do they overcome them? (I’m cool with anything ranging from humorous to light-hearted to serious and dramatic here)
Hurt/Comfort: One of them being on the run (from the police, from bad guys?) and having to move in with the other? One of them getting seriously injured and having to cope with a slow recovery/not being mobile while the other is taking care of him? One of them getting hurt saving the other?
Physicality/Parkour: Sparring, working out together, fighting side-by-side, anything related to the parkour elements of canon
Paris: If you want to bring the city into the fic somehow, I’m totally on board – specific locations, local culture, clichés about the arrondissements, the history of the banlieue, le métro … certainly not required, definitely not expecting anything requiring a lot of research, but feel free to sprinkle in any details you would like.
Disguises: More creative/ridiculously perfectionist disguises Damien slips into for his job? Does Leïto immediately recognize him? Or maybe Leïto is the one dressing up for once?
Shippy/sexy:
- Shippy tropes and dynamics I love for those two include: (requited/resolved) pining, loyalty kink, slow-burn friends-to-lovers, adrenaline-fueled spontaneous post-mission “thankgodwearealive” sex, sweaty post-workout sex
- Also, they both have really lovely arms? And I’m super into Leïto’s spiky hair and tattoos (and maybe Damien is too?)!

Fandom-specific DNW (only applies to shipfic): Infidelity/Cheating. If the story is set post-Ultimatum, I’m okay with however you want to handle that: Damien and Sonya breaking up before he gets together with Leïto, Sonya being a casual fling that’s over now, or even just simply ignoring the brief scenes between Damien and Sonya. I just don’t want to see Damien cheating on one of them with the other.

Dogs of Berlin: Erol Birkan, Kurt Grimmer

What I like about them: I am incredibly intrigued by the complicated dynamic between these two characters, the way they can’t seem to stop taunting each other, the push-and-pull they are engaged in, the teammates/sort-of enemies/allies-but-not-friends relationship they have. Considering the different backgrounds and priorities they have, it’s not surprising that they clash; so it’s fascinating to see them slowly and grudgingly warm up to each other throughout the series.

Ideas/suggestions for fic:

Work partners: The two of them working together after the Tarik-Amir raid and grudgingly realizing that they make a good team. Leading the team together. Commiserating about red tape/bureaucracy.
Good cop/bad cop: Erol’s upstanding attitude “rubbing off” on Kurt who is suddenly developing ambitions to be a “good cop” but feeling (slightly) resentful about it; Erol being conflicted about the things he ends up doing in the context of his work with Kurt.
Hurt/Comfort: Saving each other’s lives on the job; one of them getting injured, the other one realizing how much they care; one of them having to confront a traumatic part of their past and the other one helping or providing support in some way.
Vice: Would love to see anything related to Kurt’s gambling addiction – for example, how does Erol react when he experiences it first-hand? Is he put in the position to cover Kurt’s debts to save him from physical violence? Is he able to help Kurt cope with it in some way? I will say that I am not really interested in therapy fic (or even necessarily recovery fic) here; I’m more thinking of something like, them having an agreement where Kurt comes to Erol whenever he is itching to gamble and Erol gives him something to do/gets drunk with him to distract him/etc.
Shippy/sexy:
- The two of them developing an (unhealthy?) obsession with each other (emotionally, sexually)
- I am 100% here for all the sexual tension, for aggressive “I don’t even like you” sex as much as for “I know I shouldn’t but I’m falling for you” romance
- Secret workplace relationship – how does that go?

Fandom-specific DNWs:

Romanticizing or excusing Kurt’s political past (feel free to mention it, make it part of the plot, or ignore it; I just don’t want to see it presented as positive in any way)
(Only applies for shipfic): Poly/open relationships. I would prefer for them to either hook up once one or both are single post-breakup/post-divorce/post-death of canon partner(s); or for them to cheat on their significant others with each other.

Pilgrimage: Brother Diarmuid, The Mute

What I like about them: Their dynamic in canon is one of my favorite things ever: the fact that Diarmuid saved the Mute’s life, the Mute’s utter and blatant devotion to Diarmuid, Diarmuid being gentle with and protective of the Mute, their differences (in world experience, in physical appearance, in age), the way they communicate with each other.

Ideas/suggestions for fic:

You don’t need to include all or any of them, these are just some examples to give you a sense of what I’d enjoy. Most of these prompts should work both as gen and shippy prompts so feel free to go either way with them. Specifically shippy prompts are listed at the end.
(EDIT: I just realized that I didn't initially say anything about The Mute's name. I don't really have a strong preference for how to handle that. I'm good with him remaining nameless and being called "Mute" by the narrator but I am also good if you would like to give him a name or have him take on a new name. Either is equally fine with me.)

Protectiveness: Anything touching on the contrast between the Mute’s capability for violence and his infinite gentleness when it comes to Diarmuid, and the way he is ready to sacrifice his comfort, sanity, and life for Diarmuid, no questions asked. But also Diarmuid being so vocal in his defense of the Mute, whenever someone questions the Mute’s motives, intellect, etc.
Post-canon: Fix-it or canon divergence – give me all the happy endings for those two, whatever they may look like! (As for how to get there: Healing/recovery? Another miracle? Or a slightly different ending that avoids the Mute’s injury – for example, what would have happened if he had refused to obey Geraldus on the beach?)
Mythology/Culture: I really loved the elements of Celtic/Gaelic culture and religion throughout the film and would love to read more: Is the Mute healed through the use of “pagan” rituals or medicine? Maybe a canon-divergent AU where they somehow end up staying with a group of Gaels? (Just please no demonization of the Gaels).
Hurt/Comfort: Really, any h/c scenario for these two: One of them experiencing emotional or physical hurt of any kind, and all the concern and caretaking and protectiveness from the other.
Tattoos: Something about the Mute’s back tattoo, or one of them tattooing the other for … reasons, or … up to you!
Shippy/sexy:
- Size difference/size kink for those two? Yes please.
- I love super gentle, worshipful sex for them, but I also really like the idea of rough physical passion between these guys.
- Cross-dressing on the road: Perhaps post-canon they try to stay under the radar by having Diarmuid pretend to be the Mute’s wife?

Fandom-specific DNWs:

Reiterating my general “No permanent character death” DNW here. I’m totally on board with all other options, including post-movie fix it/recovery, canon divergence, pre-canon scenes, or scenes taking place during canon before the finale.
(Only applies to shipfic): Diarmuid being completely naïve when it comes to sex. I am perfectly happy for him to not have any practical experience, in fact, I’d kind of expect that with the life he has led, and virginity kink is always nice. I just would prefer him to not be completely oblivious to the concept of sex or his own sexual desires.

The Angel: Ashraf Marwan, Danny Ben Aroya

What I like about them: Okay so I was incredibly intrigued with their relationship dynamic throughout the film. I found it so interesting how they both seem to put so much importance in the idea of trust and honesty even as each of them is playing his own game. But despite all the distrust and the deception and the political games, they genuinely seem to like each other on a personal level, and I loved all the moments that reminded them (and the audience) that in one way or another, they both wanted the same thing: prevent a devastating war. (It certainly doesn’t hurt that Marwan Kenzari looks so pretty when gazing tearfully at his co-stars).

Ideas/suggestions for fic:

Spy shenanigans: Secret meetings in odd places, being in touch through coded messages, shaking off tails, clever disguises, Danny having to deal with his superiors being suspicious of his work with Ashraf …
Hurt/(Comfort): Dealing with the fallout from Ashraf being kidnapped and threatened by Judah. Feel free to go “off-script” (aka canon divergence) here – does Danny know and feel guilty about what happened? Maybe a canon-divergent twist where Danny is present for the confrontation? Does Ashraf struggle to cope in the aftermath?
Religion: I absolutely don’t expect/require this, but I was so intrigued by Ashraf’s side comment to Danny about the irony of them (a Muslim and a Jew) meeting in a place where neither of them are wanted. I would be interested in seeing how their different religious backgrounds affect the way they engage with each other, the things they have in common and the things that separate them. Coffeehouse conversations about theology? Religious holidays? All good.
Post-Canon: Can they stay in touch? Do they meet every few years on a park bench? Do they send books to each other on a regular basis?
Shippy/sexy:
- Danny also believes that Ashraf is having an affair with Diana and is jealous (along the lines of “If he’s having an affair, it should be with me!”)
- Super-secret, super-taboo, super-dangerous frantic hookups during their spy meetings (cheating on their canon spouses would be okay and likely expected for this one)
- Post-canon: Maybe they are now both separated/divorced and find themselves gravitating towards each other in a tentative romance between two burnt-out, jaded ex-spies?

Fandom-specific DNW: Focusing on Ashraf Marwan as an actual real person/historical figure. For the purpose of this request, I would prefer if you treated him as a fictional character and stuck to the information we get in the film about the fictionalized version of Ashraf. (I’m perfectly fine with reading about the historical/political context or other real historical figures that appear in the film, though).