Yuletide Letter 2022
Oct. 15th, 2022 02:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
If you're checking - I accept treats, yuletide madness drabbles and fanart, and you're very kind!
If you are unfamiliar with any of these canons, I suggest strongly into looking at content warnings, especially for The Alienist. The website doesthedogdie.com is good for this.
Contents
Dear Yuletide Author,
Firstly, a HUGE thank you for writing for me! Yuletide is one of my favourite fandom experiences every year and I hope, whether it's your first Yuletide, or if you've participated before, that you have a super great time too.
This letter collection of prompts and things I love about my requested media is meant to be a jumping off prompt, not something that should limit you. Aside from my DNWs/Triggers, these are for guidance only.
The fic is yours. The most important thing is that you enjoy writing it.
Happy Yuletide!
Love,
Derry Rain
@ AO3
Likes, DNWs and Triggers
I’m fine with genfic, or shipfic - I’ll add preferred/avoided pairings if I have them. If I mention characters not requested, be absolutely assured I do not expect you to write them, unless you absolutely so choose.
Ratings-wise, I'm happy with G to M rated fics. Caveats are given in the DNW below - I don't particularly enjoy graphic sex scenes, for instance.
Likes: Found families, first times, friendships, gentle teasing, platonic love and affection, bros for life, adventures, learning, unlikely friendships, nerding out about interests, canon-settings, apocalypse aus (think Walking Dead or Fallout), fake dating/fake married, fixit aus (eg somebody lives/not everybody dies), mutual pining, physical intimacy, protective partners, creepy horror settings, worldbuilding, competence, holiday fic
DNW: most setting aus, graphic violence, sick!fic (ie, focused on character being nursed back to health), major character death , food-based/weight-related kinks, scat or other bodily waste related kinks, infidelity, a/b/o, pregnancy, non-canon background relationships (eg, if writing The Alienist, mentioned Mary/Laszlo or John/Sara is fine as it is canon, but Marcus/Laszlo or Lucius/Sara would not be preferred).
Triggers: sibling death, rape, humiliation
Fandoms
The Alienist

Let's make this clear up front: If you choose to set fic post-S2, I'd prefer you IGNORE ENTIRELY the canon event of Marcus' death. I'm in raging denial about it on a character basis, and it's a big trigger for me as general subject matter. Near death and recovery, absolutely fine.
These two are the perfect package of smarts and decency, I love their relationship with each other and how they present themselves to the world as a team. They're sharp, and they're good at their job - and they know that they're good at their job. I love how unapologetic they are in taking up the space and respect that is due to them in the face of discrimination and antisemitism, and I love how they always always have each other's backs.
If the big three, Laszlo, Sara or John are mentioned in the fic, I'd prefer it to be in passing, but feel free to give any other minor character a significant role if you so choose!
Prompts
Mindful this is a horror movie, I'll caveat the no major character death and no graphic violence DNWs - the character deaths confirmed in the movie are fine, and violence to the level shown in the movie is equally fine.
I'd also prefer no setting-aus for this - it is a strange enough world on it's own!
That aside, this is probably my wildcard, because nobody I know ever saw this movie. I can't be the only one, because I wasn't the initial nominator, but it was a bit of a surprise.
The premise is this: Michael's daughter Karen is visiting on their once-a-month weekend. Having tried to go horseriding, only to find the ranch closed, they end up breaking down in a small town on the way back. While their car is being fixed, they decide to do a local escape room, at an old house. Inside, they, and three others, are told the escape room conceit - that the house used to belong to an inventor, who was trying to find ways to contact the dead, and they must find five people who disappeared in the house. However, once they begin exploring the escape room, supernatural events start occurring, and multiple characters find themselves inside time loops, being pursued by a shadowy figure.
It's a movie that doesn't quite pay off everything it sets up, if I'm honest, but a really enjoyable addition to the genre. The supernatural elements are mostly understated and very creepy, and the ending, if possibly predictable, opens up a lot more questions about this world. I also found all of the characters engaging in their own ways, and Michael and Karen are rounded and interesting protagonists, whom its easy to root for. Any fic exploring the world of this house and its history, I would absolutely be interested in.
Prompts:
The Quantum Leap reboot is less a full reboot and more a continuation, and I love the way it respects the old lore and yet challenges it and explores new ways to tell the story. Ben Song's missing memory, and the suggestion that there is a wider mystery to solve gives a new fascinating layer.
Like the Isaacsons above, one of the main things that draws me to Ian is their smart mind and strong sense of morality. Over this season, we're seeing Ian struggle with secrecy and work hard both on their professional work, and keeping their small team cohesive. I love how warm Ian is, how their mouth gets away from them far too often, and how quick they are to fall into tech. Plus, see image. Ian is hands down one of the most beautiful people on the planet and definitely amongst the most sharply dressed.
I'd love to have Ian have their moment in the spotlight, and perhaps Yuletide is the place to do that! They are integral to the QL team - but how did they come to this? What drives them? Is it intellectual curiosity? Is it moral obligation? We know so little about Ian - there's so much to learn. Happy for other characters to have significant roles, as long as Ian is the main focus.
Prompts:
Prompts in mini-challenges
Wrapping Paper
Seasons Treatings
Two for One 2022
Queering the Tide
TransTide
If you are unfamiliar with any of these canons, I suggest strongly into looking at content warnings, especially for The Alienist. The website doesthedogdie.com is good for this.
Contents
- Thank you
- General likes, DNWS, triggers
- Fandom specific prompts
- Links to prompts in mini-challenges.
Fandoms
- The Alienist (TV)
- No Escape Room (Movie)
- Quantum Leap (TV 2022)
Dear Yuletide Author,
Firstly, a HUGE thank you for writing for me! Yuletide is one of my favourite fandom experiences every year and I hope, whether it's your first Yuletide, or if you've participated before, that you have a super great time too.
This letter collection of prompts and things I love about my requested media is meant to be a jumping off prompt, not something that should limit you. Aside from my DNWs/Triggers, these are for guidance only.
The fic is yours. The most important thing is that you enjoy writing it.
Happy Yuletide!
Love,
Derry Rain
@ AO3
Likes, DNWs and Triggers
I’m fine with genfic, or shipfic - I’ll add preferred/avoided pairings if I have them. If I mention characters not requested, be absolutely assured I do not expect you to write them, unless you absolutely so choose.
Ratings-wise, I'm happy with G to M rated fics. Caveats are given in the DNW below - I don't particularly enjoy graphic sex scenes, for instance.
Likes: Found families, first times, friendships, gentle teasing, platonic love and affection, bros for life, adventures, learning, unlikely friendships, nerding out about interests, canon-settings, apocalypse aus (think Walking Dead or Fallout), fake dating/fake married, fixit aus (eg somebody lives/not everybody dies), mutual pining, physical intimacy, protective partners, creepy horror settings, worldbuilding, competence, holiday fic
DNW: most setting aus, graphic violence, sick!fic (ie, focused on character being nursed back to health), major character death , food-based/weight-related kinks, scat or other bodily waste related kinks, infidelity, a/b/o, pregnancy, non-canon background relationships (eg, if writing The Alienist, mentioned Mary/Laszlo or John/Sara is fine as it is canon, but Marcus/Laszlo or Lucius/Sara would not be preferred).
Triggers: sibling death, rape, humiliation
Fandoms
The Alienist
- Marcus Isaacson
- Lucius Isaacson
Let's make this clear up front: If you choose to set fic post-S2, I'd prefer you IGNORE ENTIRELY the canon event of Marcus' death. I'm in raging denial about it on a character basis, and it's a big trigger for me as general subject matter. Near death and recovery, absolutely fine.
These two are the perfect package of smarts and decency, I love their relationship with each other and how they present themselves to the world as a team. They're sharp, and they're good at their job - and they know that they're good at their job. I love how unapologetic they are in taking up the space and respect that is due to them in the face of discrimination and antisemitism, and I love how they always always have each other's backs.
If the big three, Laszlo, Sara or John are mentioned in the fic, I'd prefer it to be in passing, but feel free to give any other minor character a significant role if you so choose!
Prompts
- Holiday fic - any kind of holiday fic would be lovely, featuring as few or as many of the Isaacsons' friends and family as you like.
- Lucius seems happier in a lab than in the field - what happens when he's forced to investigate in the field more (perhaps while Marcus is recovering?)
- Family Isaacson. That is all.
- Marcus seemed so good at interacting with the younger boys in S1 - is he good with children in general? I'd love to see big brother Marcus in some way, esp with any of the characters from the brothel.
- During S2, Lucius started a relationship with Bitsy - does Marcus approve? How does this impact their relationship as a whole? (I appreciate that Bitsy is not in the tagset, so you don't have to include her, but feel free to make her as significant a character as you would like in this story or any others).
- I think the idea that either or both Marcus and/or Lucius are queer is compelling. Given some of the attitudes we see on display during the series, how do they react? Feel free to come up with other queer characters to populate this fic, if you go down this route. I'm particularly interested in more sensitive handling of trans identity and characters, which S1 touched on, but I think could be handled differently. Also, if you choose to explore this and would like to write either or both Isaacsons as trans, please do!
- You know, thinking about it, I WOULD like to see what Marcus and Lucius make of themselves in a Walking Dead style apocalypse world. How would they cope? Would their scientific minds give them any advantages?
No Escape Room

- Michael
- Karen
Mindful this is a horror movie, I'll caveat the no major character death and no graphic violence DNWs - the character deaths confirmed in the movie are fine, and violence to the level shown in the movie is equally fine.
I'd also prefer no setting-aus for this - it is a strange enough world on it's own!
That aside, this is probably my wildcard, because nobody I know ever saw this movie. I can't be the only one, because I wasn't the initial nominator, but it was a bit of a surprise.
The premise is this: Michael's daughter Karen is visiting on their once-a-month weekend. Having tried to go horseriding, only to find the ranch closed, they end up breaking down in a small town on the way back. While their car is being fixed, they decide to do a local escape room, at an old house. Inside, they, and three others, are told the escape room conceit - that the house used to belong to an inventor, who was trying to find ways to contact the dead, and they must find five people who disappeared in the house. However, once they begin exploring the escape room, supernatural events start occurring, and multiple characters find themselves inside time loops, being pursued by a shadowy figure.
It's a movie that doesn't quite pay off everything it sets up, if I'm honest, but a really enjoyable addition to the genre. The supernatural elements are mostly understated and very creepy, and the ending, if possibly predictable, opens up a lot more questions about this world. I also found all of the characters engaging in their own ways, and Michael and Karen are rounded and interesting protagonists, whom its easy to root for. Any fic exploring the world of this house and its history, I would absolutely be interested in.
Prompts:
- What happens if new people enter the escape room? Are Michael and Karen able to interact with them? Stop them? Do they bring any insights?
- After the final moments, how do the two choose to go on? Continuing to solve puzzles? Or do they start looking further into the backstory of the inventor himself?
- Are they ever able to break the loop and find ways to exist in the house as time passes? How do you mark the passage of time inside a place that resets itself?
- What was the deal with the painting anyway?
Quantum Leap (2022)

- Ian Wright
The Quantum Leap reboot is less a full reboot and more a continuation, and I love the way it respects the old lore and yet challenges it and explores new ways to tell the story. Ben Song's missing memory, and the suggestion that there is a wider mystery to solve gives a new fascinating layer.
Like the Isaacsons above, one of the main things that draws me to Ian is their smart mind and strong sense of morality. Over this season, we're seeing Ian struggle with secrecy and work hard both on their professional work, and keeping their small team cohesive. I love how warm Ian is, how their mouth gets away from them far too often, and how quick they are to fall into tech. Plus, see image. Ian is hands down one of the most beautiful people on the planet and definitely amongst the most sharply dressed.
I'd love to have Ian have their moment in the spotlight, and perhaps Yuletide is the place to do that! They are integral to the QL team - but how did they come to this? What drives them? Is it intellectual curiosity? Is it moral obligation? We know so little about Ian - there's so much to learn. Happy for other characters to have significant roles, as long as Ian is the main focus.
Prompts:
- QL team bonding holiday fic. Bonus points if you find a way to work Ben in there too.
- What brought Ian on to the project in the first place? Why do they stay?
- AU in which Ian is the hologram? Or the leaper? Why would this happen - do they have a Secret like Ben, or was it planned? Was there an accident? Any reason to see Ian out of their techy comfort zone and into the field, would be beautiful.
- I'm open to seeing Ian shipped with anyone on the team, including Magic. Caveat: if shipping with Ben or Addison (or both), please no infidelity, either ignore the relationship or incorporate it in a way that is respectful to all involved. Poly relationships welcome.
- Any insights into Ian's backstory would be awesome! Feel free to make up family for Ian, populate their childhood/teen/young adult years, do what you will!
Prompts in mini-challenges
Wrapping Paper
Seasons Treatings
Two for One 2022
Queering the Tide
TransTide