Dear Yuletide Writer
Nov. 3rd, 2019 10:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
antigravitydeviceThank you so much for writing for me this year! I left you some general prompts and preferences in the signup itself, but if you're still at a loss about what to write, or want some more detail, that's what this letter is here for. It's by no means a shopping list that I expect you to follow word by word. Take the good, leave the rest, and have fun! I can't wait to see where your inspiration will take you.
First of all, here are some of my general preferences when it comes to fics to help you figure out my taste.
LOVES:
-I'm a big fan of banter, and dialogue in general, so don't be afraid to heap it in!
-Mixing vulnerability with self-confidence is extremely attractive to me. Cocky bastards revealing their secret weak spots, meek characters screwing their courage to a sticking place to save a friend -- absolutely my catnip.
-Pining is my guilty pleasure. As long as the way it manifests fits the characters it's always going to delight me. Throw in some UST and a good reason why they can't just talk about it and sort it out straight away, and I'm in heaven.
-Oh, loyalty kink. Loyalty beyond any rhyme or reason, and unbreakable bonds between people that might go just a little too far and stem from the characters' own issues. There's a pinch of us-against-the-world and a generous helping of confused super-intense feelings in the mix. Friendship, love, duty, whatever it is that binds the characters to each other, it's stronger than the characters themselves. Loyalty kink may not be 100% healthy, but it's always complicated, always intense, and I'll always be fascinated by it.
-I love dinosaurs, strange beasts, cryptids and aliens, so feel free to use them whenever applicable.
LIKES:
-Gen, het, and slash of all varieties, it's all good.
-I'm absolutely okay with holiday-themed fics.
-Canon-typical adventures and cases -- if you can write them, or scenes taking place in the middle of them, please do! Many of my favourite characters express themselves best by doing something concrete, and I like seeing this reflected in fic.
-Unlikely friendships and unexpected conversations: there can never be enough of these. "How did we end up here?" is one of my favourite beginnings to a story.
- I'd like to see sparks of humanity even in the darkest settings. I find that angst is the most effective for me when it's seasoned with warmth and hope.
-I tend to grow fond of most of the characters in a canon I like. If you don't like a canonical character, leave them out of the fic rather than forcing yourself to write them.
-I'm not easily squicked by violence or gore in action or horror scenes, as long as it fits the canon and setting. Go for it, if you're so inclined!
- I'm okay with AUs that help explore the characters more but keep to the general themes and tone of the original canon. "What if" scenarios can be great starting places for a story! Canon-divergent AUs are preferred, but even in a different universe or setting, I would still like the story to feel like a Fandom A story and the characters to be recognisable.
- Crossovers are fine if the two canons are easily intertwined, for example, if both take place in the same city and time, or deal with similar themes. Please check with me beforehand (via the mods, of course) to make sure I know the canon you intend to use for crossover purposes! I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
DISLIKES:
-I don't mind serious discussion of difficult social topics if they fit the characters and the story, but I'd like to read a fic, not a lecture.
-I'm not big on humiliation, so awkwardness should be something to be laughed at together. I like it when people reach new levels of intimacy through trial and error, and I don't expect everything to be smooth sailing, but humiliation takes things too far for me, and I don't enjoy it as a kink.
-Jealousy and possessiveness are not attractive to me, so I like it when the characters are either comfortable and trusting enough to deal with such feelings without drama, or don't mind sharing. It can be just for one night, or a regular thing. I have many OT3s, and while they all have different dynamics, I never want to see a tired old love triangle when there could be a whole circle instead.
-Extreme kink like scat play or vore or necrophilia is not really my cup of smut. And while I don't mind a bit of power play if it fits the characters, an everyday D/s relationship is too intense for my tastes.
-No rape scenes, please. I'd rather not read it on merry Yule. I don't always need consent to be spelled out and obvious (dubious consent due to alcohol consumption is absolutely fine) but I don't kink on non-con.
SQUICKS:
-Pregnancy as anything but a vague background detail is not something I'm interested in, and anything to do with childbirth is a hard DNW. I have few genuine squicks, but forced pregnancy and graphic birthing are on the top of that short list.
-A/B/O or Omegaverse. No thank you to everything about this setting.
And now for some fandom-specific details!
The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe - Kij Johnson
Dreamlands is my absolute favourite Cthulhu Mythos-related setting, and I love how malleable and strange it is. It's not really an utopia or dystopia, and I like that about it -- it's simply different and weird, and contains both dreams and nightmares. Johnson did a great job bringing a whole new viewpoint to Lovecraft's creation, and I'd like you to continue in that vein; what sights and experiences do the Dreamlands still have to offer? I love the different kinds of cats that can be found in the Dreamlands; perhaps they have dangerous secrets to whisper, or tasks to bestow. Dreamlands also has its own cosmology -- you could set the story on the Dreamlands Moon (I love that it can be reached by sailing!), or other planets. There's plenty of interesting vistas to explore.
This is mainly a worldbuilding request, but I do love Vellitt, and would definitely appreciate a female character point of view. You could dig into her past, her school years and academic pursuits, but also veer off into another direction and pick one of the other characters to focus on. I have no preference; I'd just like to have the characters you choose experience the weirdness Dreamlands has to offer.
If you're looking for inspiration or perhaps crossover potential, may I suggest The Book of Ants by Robin D. Laws? It has some fascinating suggestions about reaching the Dreamlands through other means than the traditional Seventy Steps of Light Slumber. Dreamers change the Dreamlands -- how does it show academically in the Ulthar Women's College?
Strangers in Paradise
Characters: Casey Bullocks-Femur, Tambi Baker
"Anybody can boil a pancake!"
SiP pocket book 4. That was when I fell in love with Casey, and ever since she's been my favourite character. I love how bubbly and excitable and kinky she is. The last volume made me happy beyond belief. There's so much to Casey we didn't know, and so much that has only been hinted at -- like that she's from Chicago, Becky's sister, into rough sex, dyslexic... Take any of the little facts about her and go exploring! I just want to know more about Casey! SiP isn't always the greatest when it comes to continuity, so if you feel you need to tweak something said about her in the earlier books to make the later revelations make sense, go right ahead. We have only had a few scenes where she's completely let down her guard and just been herself. There's plenty of ground to cover.
And I can't really talk about Casey without mentioning Tambi (or Mary Beth), since their paths are so intertwined. Tambi's another character who has a lot of things bubbling under the surface. The self-harming, for one thing. She's super intimidating and bad at letting herself be vulnerable. It's easy to find similarities in Casey and Tambi's pasts. Both had sisters working in the same, dirty business with them. Both love working out. Tambi has been unable to be herself for a long time, too, and she's clearly enjoying being in control of her own life now. Control is a big thing with her, obviously. She cares for her girls, but being their friend instead of boss is something she's going to need help with. Casey fits the bill; she has a big heart and is trusting and open to a fault. She's pushy and endlessly optimistic and stands up for herself. In short, she's the friend Tambi needs.
I make no bones about it: I ship these two, and would love a steamy, rough sex scene, with some kink and unexpected awkwardness and newly revealed vulnerabilities. It seems their kinks could fit together quite well. I like first times, when the characters are learning each other, and I'd love to read about how these two get together in the first place, but I have nothing against an established relationship, either. If you're not comfortable writing anything explicit, it's perfectly okay! There's plenty of shippy stuff I'd love to read about. How do they work out the fact that Tambi is technically Casey's boss? What kind of things do they do together? Casey might suggest a weekly boxing session, or a jog, to get Tambi out of her shell and talking to her. After all, she likes to get physical.
If you're not aboard the ship, no worries! Scenes with these two interacting with each other and perhaps with Tambi's girls would be just as great. The process of becoming friends could work out much the same way as becoming girlfriends -- doing sports together, being each other's confidants, navigating around touchy subjects and old hurts. A bit of H/C would be wonderful and called for, given both of their pasts. Also, I adore Cherry Hammer, and would like to read more about Becky. Do they have something to say about the boss getting soft on Casey? Does Becky have objections or concerns about her sister? Perhaps one of them gets in trouble, and the rest have to come up with a plan to rescue them. It would be a fun twist if it was Tambi who needed rescuing for a change. So feel free to use the characters that aren't in the tag set, too, but I'd like the story to focus on Casey and Tambi and their interaction.
VA-11 Hall-A
I've been a big fan of cyberpunk since the 90s, so this game was an easy sell to me, especially as I happen to be a queer bartender myself! The bartending in the game has little to do with real-life bartending, but the interactions with the customers definitely struck me as familiar, even through the scifi details and anime graphics. I'm a huge fan of having the story progress through dialogue, so please keep some of that aspect intact! I know some characters can struggle with expressing themselves, but I'm looking for interaction in this request (outside the bar, maybe, for variety!), not character introspection or pure worldbuilding. I tried to pick some of the characters from the tagset, but finally realised I'm equally fond of them all and would love to read about any combination of them. I know there are quite a few of them, so here are some character interaction possibilities and ships that I would be interested in:
I want Sei to have all of the hugs. I really love it when kind and protective people are taken care of for a change, and there are plenty of opportunities for H/C here, especially after the Apollo Bank incident. Stella would be the most obvious candidate. I love their friendship and am absolutely all right with a friends-to-lovers story! Stella has insecurities about her eye and body shape, but I like the fact that she hasn't completely repressed her feelings, and would love to see her get some reassurance and appreciation for all the good she does. Really, these two are both such do-gooders at heart. If you're in the Mega-Christmas mood, how about a party or gifting plan that goes awry in some way? They could include the other characters in the plan once things start heading south. After all, Dana is excellent at problem-solving.
Speaking of Dana Zane, who's the best boss ever... Here's a character who definitely thrives on conflict, and I'd love to see her confronted with a puzzle or tricky situation of some kind! For once, it could be something unrelated to the bar or her employees. Perhaps she gets in trouble due to her curiosity about some kind of new tech? Feel free to play with the cyberpunk aspects here. Could someone have hacked her arm and turned it against her? Alma and Jill to the rescue! As far as shipping goes, I'm all right with just about anything, but admit to a soft spot for Dana/Jill, because of the obvious affection they have for each other. Having Jill be the one to help Dana out for a change would be fun and provide a nice opportunity for shippy interaction.
I'm really fond of Alma, and her playful, roguish personality. She might be my favourite character (I have a serious soft spot for rogue lady scientists!) if the game wasn't chock-full of wonderful characters that make it hard to choose! Her hacking skills open up a lot of opportunities for spots of danger or intrigue -- she might dig too deep this time. What will she discover, and how will she cover her tracks and get out of danger? She's going to need her friends to get out of this one. I really like her friendship with Jill, and if you want to have her be Alma's one exception to her heterosexuality, I'm a-okay with that. Discovery would be the key word with Alma -- discovery of new and intriguing information, discovery of new aspects of herself through interaction with the others.
And finally, the protagonist herself, Jill. I rarely get this attached to main characters, but she struck me as hugely relatable and human. I love her to bits for her jagged edges and sense of humour. She's often understated but very genuine when it comes to what truly matters. In her case, I'd be mostly interested in post-canon adventures; choose any of the endings and you get opportunities for her future career and relationships. Post-Bad Ending Jill/Alma or Jill/Dana would be super easy, if you want shipping possibilities! I'm open to Jill/Sei or Jill/Stella, too, but that requires a little more bonding -- maybe via future job opportunities or mutual adventures?
Whew, that got a bit long, sorry! There are lots of characters in the tagset, and I wanted to give all of them some attention.
Star Wars Legends: Outbound Flight - Timothy Zahn
Characters: Thrawn | Mitth'raw'nuruodo (Outbound Flight)
I've recently returned to Timothy Zahn's works after devouring the Extended Universe books when I was younger. The SW Rebels series rekindled my fondness for Thrawn, and made me seek out more of that art-loving Chiss! No one could ever love Thrawn more than Zahn, so I was not disappointed. This book offers a wonderful look at a younger, less experienced Thrawn, and I was interested in seeing a version of the character that's a bit closer to his own cultural heritage. The Chiss culture is a deep well to draw from if you want to explore how it influences Thrawn (maybe even a flashback to his childhood, as short as Chiss childhood tends to be?) and foreshadows how his own life is going to differ from the average Chiss officer's. Thrawn's strengths as a tactician rely on his skills on being able to think outside the box and truly understand how his opponent thinks -- that's something he's probably started to develop at a fairly young age. I can't imagine that made life easy for him on Csilla.
That would lead nicely to a "missing scene" from the book where some cultural aspect comes to the fore, perhaps with his brother Thrass. Although I didn't specifically request him, please feel free to use Thrass in your story if you wish; he's a good mirror to Thrawn, closer to his Chiss heritage and more attuned to the current social situation than the big picture. I'd love to read the brothers interacting and even showing affection in their own way. They're clearly devoted on some level, and my loyalty kink raised its ears when Thrass felt conflicted about reporting his brother's conduct. Dwell on that conflict, and share Thrawn's own feelings on Thrass's loyalty to him, and I'm more than happy! Feel free to include Ar'alani, too, if you wish; the more Chiss the... well, perhaps not merrier, but it certainly would provide more opportunities to dwell on this alien race that I love.
I'm also a big linguistics geek, so the Basic/Cheunh learning scenes in the book were of special interest to me! If you want to add to them I'd be more than thrilled. Perhaps with a touch of such cultural details as humour, gestures and societal norms? Jorj Car'das would probably work best for this prompt, or Maris Ferasi; however, I'd prefer no Maris/Thrawn, not even any focus on an unrequited crush beyond a mention. I'd generally prefer gen for this request, please!
First of all, here are some of my general preferences when it comes to fics to help you figure out my taste.
LOVES:
-I'm a big fan of banter, and dialogue in general, so don't be afraid to heap it in!
-Mixing vulnerability with self-confidence is extremely attractive to me. Cocky bastards revealing their secret weak spots, meek characters screwing their courage to a sticking place to save a friend -- absolutely my catnip.
-Pining is my guilty pleasure. As long as the way it manifests fits the characters it's always going to delight me. Throw in some UST and a good reason why they can't just talk about it and sort it out straight away, and I'm in heaven.
-Oh, loyalty kink. Loyalty beyond any rhyme or reason, and unbreakable bonds between people that might go just a little too far and stem from the characters' own issues. There's a pinch of us-against-the-world and a generous helping of confused super-intense feelings in the mix. Friendship, love, duty, whatever it is that binds the characters to each other, it's stronger than the characters themselves. Loyalty kink may not be 100% healthy, but it's always complicated, always intense, and I'll always be fascinated by it.
-I love dinosaurs, strange beasts, cryptids and aliens, so feel free to use them whenever applicable.
LIKES:
-Gen, het, and slash of all varieties, it's all good.
-I'm absolutely okay with holiday-themed fics.
-Canon-typical adventures and cases -- if you can write them, or scenes taking place in the middle of them, please do! Many of my favourite characters express themselves best by doing something concrete, and I like seeing this reflected in fic.
-Unlikely friendships and unexpected conversations: there can never be enough of these. "How did we end up here?" is one of my favourite beginnings to a story.
- I'd like to see sparks of humanity even in the darkest settings. I find that angst is the most effective for me when it's seasoned with warmth and hope.
-I tend to grow fond of most of the characters in a canon I like. If you don't like a canonical character, leave them out of the fic rather than forcing yourself to write them.
-I'm not easily squicked by violence or gore in action or horror scenes, as long as it fits the canon and setting. Go for it, if you're so inclined!
- I'm okay with AUs that help explore the characters more but keep to the general themes and tone of the original canon. "What if" scenarios can be great starting places for a story! Canon-divergent AUs are preferred, but even in a different universe or setting, I would still like the story to feel like a Fandom A story and the characters to be recognisable.
- Crossovers are fine if the two canons are easily intertwined, for example, if both take place in the same city and time, or deal with similar themes. Please check with me beforehand (via the mods, of course) to make sure I know the canon you intend to use for crossover purposes! I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
DISLIKES:
-I don't mind serious discussion of difficult social topics if they fit the characters and the story, but I'd like to read a fic, not a lecture.
-I'm not big on humiliation, so awkwardness should be something to be laughed at together. I like it when people reach new levels of intimacy through trial and error, and I don't expect everything to be smooth sailing, but humiliation takes things too far for me, and I don't enjoy it as a kink.
-Jealousy and possessiveness are not attractive to me, so I like it when the characters are either comfortable and trusting enough to deal with such feelings without drama, or don't mind sharing. It can be just for one night, or a regular thing. I have many OT3s, and while they all have different dynamics, I never want to see a tired old love triangle when there could be a whole circle instead.
-Extreme kink like scat play or vore or necrophilia is not really my cup of smut. And while I don't mind a bit of power play if it fits the characters, an everyday D/s relationship is too intense for my tastes.
-No rape scenes, please. I'd rather not read it on merry Yule. I don't always need consent to be spelled out and obvious (dubious consent due to alcohol consumption is absolutely fine) but I don't kink on non-con.
SQUICKS:
-Pregnancy as anything but a vague background detail is not something I'm interested in, and anything to do with childbirth is a hard DNW. I have few genuine squicks, but forced pregnancy and graphic birthing are on the top of that short list.
-A/B/O or Omegaverse. No thank you to everything about this setting.
And now for some fandom-specific details!
The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe - Kij Johnson
Dreamlands is my absolute favourite Cthulhu Mythos-related setting, and I love how malleable and strange it is. It's not really an utopia or dystopia, and I like that about it -- it's simply different and weird, and contains both dreams and nightmares. Johnson did a great job bringing a whole new viewpoint to Lovecraft's creation, and I'd like you to continue in that vein; what sights and experiences do the Dreamlands still have to offer? I love the different kinds of cats that can be found in the Dreamlands; perhaps they have dangerous secrets to whisper, or tasks to bestow. Dreamlands also has its own cosmology -- you could set the story on the Dreamlands Moon (I love that it can be reached by sailing!), or other planets. There's plenty of interesting vistas to explore.
This is mainly a worldbuilding request, but I do love Vellitt, and would definitely appreciate a female character point of view. You could dig into her past, her school years and academic pursuits, but also veer off into another direction and pick one of the other characters to focus on. I have no preference; I'd just like to have the characters you choose experience the weirdness Dreamlands has to offer.
If you're looking for inspiration or perhaps crossover potential, may I suggest The Book of Ants by Robin D. Laws? It has some fascinating suggestions about reaching the Dreamlands through other means than the traditional Seventy Steps of Light Slumber. Dreamers change the Dreamlands -- how does it show academically in the Ulthar Women's College?
Strangers in Paradise
Characters: Casey Bullocks-Femur, Tambi Baker
"Anybody can boil a pancake!"
SiP pocket book 4. That was when I fell in love with Casey, and ever since she's been my favourite character. I love how bubbly and excitable and kinky she is. The last volume made me happy beyond belief. There's so much to Casey we didn't know, and so much that has only been hinted at -- like that she's from Chicago, Becky's sister, into rough sex, dyslexic... Take any of the little facts about her and go exploring! I just want to know more about Casey! SiP isn't always the greatest when it comes to continuity, so if you feel you need to tweak something said about her in the earlier books to make the later revelations make sense, go right ahead. We have only had a few scenes where she's completely let down her guard and just been herself. There's plenty of ground to cover.
And I can't really talk about Casey without mentioning Tambi (or Mary Beth), since their paths are so intertwined. Tambi's another character who has a lot of things bubbling under the surface. The self-harming, for one thing. She's super intimidating and bad at letting herself be vulnerable. It's easy to find similarities in Casey and Tambi's pasts. Both had sisters working in the same, dirty business with them. Both love working out. Tambi has been unable to be herself for a long time, too, and she's clearly enjoying being in control of her own life now. Control is a big thing with her, obviously. She cares for her girls, but being their friend instead of boss is something she's going to need help with. Casey fits the bill; she has a big heart and is trusting and open to a fault. She's pushy and endlessly optimistic and stands up for herself. In short, she's the friend Tambi needs.
I make no bones about it: I ship these two, and would love a steamy, rough sex scene, with some kink and unexpected awkwardness and newly revealed vulnerabilities. It seems their kinks could fit together quite well. I like first times, when the characters are learning each other, and I'd love to read about how these two get together in the first place, but I have nothing against an established relationship, either. If you're not comfortable writing anything explicit, it's perfectly okay! There's plenty of shippy stuff I'd love to read about. How do they work out the fact that Tambi is technically Casey's boss? What kind of things do they do together? Casey might suggest a weekly boxing session, or a jog, to get Tambi out of her shell and talking to her. After all, she likes to get physical.
If you're not aboard the ship, no worries! Scenes with these two interacting with each other and perhaps with Tambi's girls would be just as great. The process of becoming friends could work out much the same way as becoming girlfriends -- doing sports together, being each other's confidants, navigating around touchy subjects and old hurts. A bit of H/C would be wonderful and called for, given both of their pasts. Also, I adore Cherry Hammer, and would like to read more about Becky. Do they have something to say about the boss getting soft on Casey? Does Becky have objections or concerns about her sister? Perhaps one of them gets in trouble, and the rest have to come up with a plan to rescue them. It would be a fun twist if it was Tambi who needed rescuing for a change. So feel free to use the characters that aren't in the tag set, too, but I'd like the story to focus on Casey and Tambi and their interaction.
VA-11 Hall-A
I've been a big fan of cyberpunk since the 90s, so this game was an easy sell to me, especially as I happen to be a queer bartender myself! The bartending in the game has little to do with real-life bartending, but the interactions with the customers definitely struck me as familiar, even through the scifi details and anime graphics. I'm a huge fan of having the story progress through dialogue, so please keep some of that aspect intact! I know some characters can struggle with expressing themselves, but I'm looking for interaction in this request (outside the bar, maybe, for variety!), not character introspection or pure worldbuilding. I tried to pick some of the characters from the tagset, but finally realised I'm equally fond of them all and would love to read about any combination of them. I know there are quite a few of them, so here are some character interaction possibilities and ships that I would be interested in:
I want Sei to have all of the hugs. I really love it when kind and protective people are taken care of for a change, and there are plenty of opportunities for H/C here, especially after the Apollo Bank incident. Stella would be the most obvious candidate. I love their friendship and am absolutely all right with a friends-to-lovers story! Stella has insecurities about her eye and body shape, but I like the fact that she hasn't completely repressed her feelings, and would love to see her get some reassurance and appreciation for all the good she does. Really, these two are both such do-gooders at heart. If you're in the Mega-Christmas mood, how about a party or gifting plan that goes awry in some way? They could include the other characters in the plan once things start heading south. After all, Dana is excellent at problem-solving.
Speaking of Dana Zane, who's the best boss ever... Here's a character who definitely thrives on conflict, and I'd love to see her confronted with a puzzle or tricky situation of some kind! For once, it could be something unrelated to the bar or her employees. Perhaps she gets in trouble due to her curiosity about some kind of new tech? Feel free to play with the cyberpunk aspects here. Could someone have hacked her arm and turned it against her? Alma and Jill to the rescue! As far as shipping goes, I'm all right with just about anything, but admit to a soft spot for Dana/Jill, because of the obvious affection they have for each other. Having Jill be the one to help Dana out for a change would be fun and provide a nice opportunity for shippy interaction.
I'm really fond of Alma, and her playful, roguish personality. She might be my favourite character (I have a serious soft spot for rogue lady scientists!) if the game wasn't chock-full of wonderful characters that make it hard to choose! Her hacking skills open up a lot of opportunities for spots of danger or intrigue -- she might dig too deep this time. What will she discover, and how will she cover her tracks and get out of danger? She's going to need her friends to get out of this one. I really like her friendship with Jill, and if you want to have her be Alma's one exception to her heterosexuality, I'm a-okay with that. Discovery would be the key word with Alma -- discovery of new and intriguing information, discovery of new aspects of herself through interaction with the others.
And finally, the protagonist herself, Jill. I rarely get this attached to main characters, but she struck me as hugely relatable and human. I love her to bits for her jagged edges and sense of humour. She's often understated but very genuine when it comes to what truly matters. In her case, I'd be mostly interested in post-canon adventures; choose any of the endings and you get opportunities for her future career and relationships. Post-Bad Ending Jill/Alma or Jill/Dana would be super easy, if you want shipping possibilities! I'm open to Jill/Sei or Jill/Stella, too, but that requires a little more bonding -- maybe via future job opportunities or mutual adventures?
Whew, that got a bit long, sorry! There are lots of characters in the tagset, and I wanted to give all of them some attention.
Star Wars Legends: Outbound Flight - Timothy Zahn
Characters: Thrawn | Mitth'raw'nuruodo (Outbound Flight)
I've recently returned to Timothy Zahn's works after devouring the Extended Universe books when I was younger. The SW Rebels series rekindled my fondness for Thrawn, and made me seek out more of that art-loving Chiss! No one could ever love Thrawn more than Zahn, so I was not disappointed. This book offers a wonderful look at a younger, less experienced Thrawn, and I was interested in seeing a version of the character that's a bit closer to his own cultural heritage. The Chiss culture is a deep well to draw from if you want to explore how it influences Thrawn (maybe even a flashback to his childhood, as short as Chiss childhood tends to be?) and foreshadows how his own life is going to differ from the average Chiss officer's. Thrawn's strengths as a tactician rely on his skills on being able to think outside the box and truly understand how his opponent thinks -- that's something he's probably started to develop at a fairly young age. I can't imagine that made life easy for him on Csilla.
That would lead nicely to a "missing scene" from the book where some cultural aspect comes to the fore, perhaps with his brother Thrass. Although I didn't specifically request him, please feel free to use Thrass in your story if you wish; he's a good mirror to Thrawn, closer to his Chiss heritage and more attuned to the current social situation than the big picture. I'd love to read the brothers interacting and even showing affection in their own way. They're clearly devoted on some level, and my loyalty kink raised its ears when Thrass felt conflicted about reporting his brother's conduct. Dwell on that conflict, and share Thrawn's own feelings on Thrass's loyalty to him, and I'm more than happy! Feel free to include Ar'alani, too, if you wish; the more Chiss the... well, perhaps not merrier, but it certainly would provide more opportunities to dwell on this alien race that I love.
I'm also a big linguistics geek, so the Basic/Cheunh learning scenes in the book were of special interest to me! If you want to add to them I'd be more than thrilled. Perhaps with a touch of such cultural details as humour, gestures and societal norms? Jorj Car'das would probably work best for this prompt, or Maris Ferasi; however, I'd prefer no Maris/Thrawn, not even any focus on an unrequited crush beyond a mention. I'd generally prefer gen for this request, please!
