Yuletide 2025: Dear Author
Oct. 20th, 2025 01:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
penguinzeroDear Author:
Thank you for signing up for Yuletide! I've been participating for many years now, but it's always a new thrill to put out my requests for someone else to see. I hope my prompts give you some interesting ideas, and that you enjoy the writing process as much as I'm going to enjoy your story!
If you're interested in seeing what I've written in the past, or the gifts I've received in previous years, everything's up at my profile on Ao3: PenguinZero I'm not a very prolific writer, so there's not all that much there, but it might be an inspiration.
Don't consider any of my requests as mandatory in terms of detail. I personally enjoy getting specific requests to prompt my imagination, but I'm not picky in terms of what I receive! As long as it includes the characters I requested and at is at least loosely inspired by the mood of what I'm looking for, I'll be happy.
I'll be including source links for each of my fandoms -- obviously, we matched on at least one, but if my request for another catches your eye, go ahead and do whichever! Some of them have been in my requests for years, while others are brand new, but I'd be happy with any of them.
General likes:
General dislikes:
General DNWs: underage below about 16, graphic violence, graphic sex, incest, noncon/dubcon, futanari (trans is okay), cheating, loss of body parts, hopeless situations, 'grossout' situations or kinks, ABO, PWP.
Sub-challenges I'd be interested in: Wrapping Paper, Unconventionyule, Chromatic Yuletide, Queering the Tide, Yulebuilding, Femslash Festivus, Interactive Fiction
And if anyone's inspired to do so, I would welcome treats!
Chuubo's Marvelous Wish-Granting Engine:
I've been a huge fan of Jenna Moran's writing for many years now. There's just something about her style that is so amazing, and the worlds and characters she builds are breathtaking. I've read Hitherby Dragons, Nobilis, her work on Exalted, Glitch, and a lot more. (I've got a particular soft spot for the lore sheet vignettes she wrote for Weapons of the Gods.) I keep coming back to all of them, off and on, and right now, Chuubo's has me enraptured again.
I'm particularly fascinated by Natalia and Jasper, as portrayed in The Glass-Maker's Dragon. They're two very different characters, and yet they have some undeniable parallels and interesting ties that I'd love to see explored more. Even just in the game mechanics, there are some elements that immediately draw them together -- for instance, the quest set for being Natalia is the same as the quest set for being someone accompanying Jasper on her story, and vice-versa. Just by being themselves, they're also in the perfect position to accompany each other.
Then there's their asymmetric Connections. Jasper has a level 2 Connection with Natalia, stronger than she has with anyone else -- as strong as the bond Chuubo has with Seizhi, even, and they're best friends by dint of a world-changing wish! And the only reason given is that Natalia fascinates her, and she's not sure why.
And on the other hand, we've got Natalia, who has a -1 Connection to Jasper. Negative one! Which means that when she's trying to work with Jasper, or trust her, or just spend time with her, she's got to spend Will just to get to a neutral result! She just doesn't know how to deal with someone like Jasper, apparently. And that leads to the obvious image of the two of them trying to do something together, and the cheery naive daughter of the sun somehow outshines the superhuman prodigy who's good at everything, just because Jasper's really enjoying Natalia's presence and Natalia feels somehow incredibly awkward around her.
Overall, I see them as a fascinating odd couple. Jasper the cheerful ray of sunshine who's uncannily drawn to the dark, brooding Natalia for reasons neither of them can understand, and despite Natalia's discomfort with it, she can't get out of it somehow.
Personally, I like to interpret this mysterious imbalance as a mutual crush, where neither of them has any experience dealing with romance, but there's plenty of other ways to see it, and I'm eager to see how you take it.
The arcs of their stories also make for a number of potentially interesting scenarios they could find themselves in. At the start of everything, they're both probably the newest arrivals in Town, and still trying to get their bearings in their own unique ways. The two of them crossing paths during that could lead to some interesting interactions. I'm struck by the way two of their early quests have the potential to overlap. Jasper's 'The Miracle (Changes)' has, as one of the once-per-chapter actions, 'dealing with acne, braces, your period, ear infections, or other annoyingly intrusive elements of physicality.' Natalia's 'The Golden Snake of the Rooftops,' meanwhile, has 'helping someone who's in trouble' and 'talking about your past in Russia, reflecting on and developing the memories the snake is resting on.'
And seeing those, I thought, well, aren't those annoyingly physical troubles the sorts of things Natalia might have been forced to deal with on her own in Russia? The sort of things that a group of people training a prodigy to be the perfect physical specimen would have expected her to be capable of handling, or otherwise not seen as worth their time? Might she not have had some sort of minor trauma from that -- something she'd feel the urge to try to help with when she meets a girl who's completely lost and bewildered by them? (I mean, canonically, Jasper's utterly confused by sneezing -- how much worse would some of these be?)
So I can picture a first meeting between them, or at least an early one, where Natalia helps Jasper out, and Jasper is utterly, sunnily grateful for this in a way Natalia can't handle, and yet can't quite dismiss -- an early way in which Jasper's sunlight might melt Natalia's frozen heart a little.
And then on the other side of the story, the climax to both of their sagas involves journeying to the Bleak Academy. For Jasper, it's because things have gone wrong, and she's not handling her grief for her mother well, and she's starting to turn from a sunny incarnation of hope into a more shadowy being of despair. And for Natalia, it's also because her life has been going poorly, but she's coming to the Bleak Academy to demand answers of it, to find out why they sent an innocent weapon to kill everyone who she had to kill in turn, to try to fix or destroy the place to make the world better.
Under those circumstances, I can actually see the two of them reversing their roles from the first section. Where it's Jasper who's the dark, depressed person who can't see the meaning of life and has a heart that's, if not frozen, perhaps shadowed -- and Natalia the one who pulls her out of it with her determination, her courage, her surety that there's something in the world worth saving -- and maybe that something is Jasper.
Those are just my broadest of ideas -- if you have any other interesting ways to make them interact, go for it! I'm fine with most of the alternate versions of the characters, too, if that's what interests you (though as mentioned above, I'm a big WLW fan, so if you're going to ship them, I'd like female versions of each). And of course, you can include as many or as few of the other main characters as you want -- obviously, they could have plenty of other friends getting involved in their mishaps, whether it's Rinley making mischief, or Seizhi ending up at the Bleak Academy as part of his story arc, or Leonardo or Chuubo or anyone else playing some kind of role in the plot.
Where to find: There are links to all currently-available releases on the official Chuubo's Wiki.
Magus of the Library:
I've loved reading since I was a child. I love books, I love libraries, I love everything connected with the art form in general. And so finding a series like Magus of the Library, which is a love letter to all those things, was amazing and overwhelming to me. The enticing, mysterious plot, the charming characters, and the fascinating world were just a bonus.
So it might seem a little odd that I'm requesting worldbuilding. But there's two reasons for it. First, I really do enjoy the world and all the little hints we get of its depth. The implications of cultures and races beyond the ones we've seen so far, the offhand references to authors and texts that may or may not get filled out later, the customs and rituals that pretty much everyone takes for granted until they come across someone who breaks the mold. I'd love exploring that more. Maybe take a look at some books that have been alluded to, like the famous authors the popular fiction club talks about, or the Seven Seminal Scripts described in Volume 3, and get more into their contents and their impact. (You could even do a story as an in-universe work of fiction, if you liked -- maybe a new chapter of the Adventures of Shagrazzat or Mulligad! Or do a chapter, and then reviews by in-universe characters, reactions from librarians debating whether it should be banned, that sort of thing.) I'd like to see just how fiction or other writings would be affected by the cultures of the setting -- they obviously wouldn't be just like something written by a modern 21st century author! What assumptions or stereotypes would go into their works? What different tropes or cliches would they use that would be familiar to them but strange to us? What moral lessons might they try to teach that we'd disagree with?
You could also explore the different cultures and their customs, as we did with marriage customs early on. What sort of differences exist in the ways the various races approach parenting, or major life turning points, or grieving? Looking at their approaches to LGBTQ+ issues could be fascinating, too -- I doubt they'd have a modern approach, with equality and individuality as ideals, and yet there have been places in cultures throughout history for people who didn't gender conform or who loved the same sex. Is there any place for such people in Hyron society, or Rakta, or Kokopa? What sort of clashes would come up when someone who fits such a role in one society faces someone from another society where the rules of acceptance are different?
And the second reason is that I'd love to see the world expanded with more details on, well, the parts of it having to do with books and librarian duties in general. I loved the section in the first volume where the team of kafna go into repairing a damaged grimoire with all the intensity you'd find in a standard manga fight scene. I loved the test where the candidates had to identify a book given just a cover and one page in an unknown language. I loved the kafna giving Theo's home-town librarian a dressing-down for not letting poor people check out his books. Every part of the story where we get into the making of books or the ways they're bought and sold or the duties of the kafna is enthralling to me.
A story focusing on this aspect could use any of the kafna trainees the series focuses on, or some of the other peripheral kafna, or original characters of your own devising. I'm fond of a few of the trainees more than others (particularly Mihona, Ohgga, Sala, and Aya), but they're all pretty darned interesting characters. You could write something about them learning a new aspect of a librarian's duties, or struggling with work repairing or categorizing books, or visiting a provincial library to learn how they'll be expected to interact with them, or in general anything else about their work with books.
Overall, I'd just like something that celebrates books, reading, and libraries, in whatever way you find most interesting. I'm guessing most of the people who sign up for Yuletide have a love of the written word in one way or another, so I'd be honored if you'd reach deep inside and show off what you really love about writing and books, however that manifests!
Where to find: The first three chapters are available on Kodansha's web site, which also has links for purchasing all currently available volumes in digital or print versions.
The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All:
This series has taken the yuri-fan community by storm the past few years, and for very good reason. It's the heartwarming story of two girls who have something that pushes them apart from the people around them — but it's that same something that draws the two of them together. It's a story about appreciating the media of a foreign culture (and I think most manga fans can appreciate that in a mirrored way), and the joy of sharing it with the people around you. And, of course, it's an unapologetic yuri story that's forthright about what it's like for two girls to fall in love.
Really all I have to say in terms of my request is that I'd like more! More of Aya and Mitsuki enjoying each other's presence, more of them fumbling through the early days of their relationship, more of them enjoying and sharing the music they love. I was also pretty interested in some of the early bonus art showing them living together, so I was thinking of asking about that, but then we hit the time skip, so it could be we're getting some of that canonically — but at the time of writing, we have no idea how the story will be treating the couple in this new future storyline. So I'm expanding it to say either something based on the time skip or something that ignores it and just bases itself on the bonus art would also be welcome.
Also, this is a manga that celebrates music, so I'd love to see your taste in music as well! I've discovered some interesting songs from Mitsuki and Aya's choices that I never would have stumbled on otherwise. If you enjoy any music that's in their wheelhouse — or, for that matter, Joe's or anyone else's — I'd love to see them mentioned in the story, or maybe something more than that. (A playlist? A soundtrack for each scene in the story? A custom music video would probably be way too much effort, but it's an interesting thought.)
Some possible prompts if you want ideas for a story: Aya and Mitsuki get the chance to go to a concert together, but have to overcome some scheduling or other obstacles so they both have the time to go. A new album by one of their favorite artists comes out, and they spend time at Joe's shop geeking out about it — or maybe all of his copies are on pre-order, and they've got to scramble to find a place that actually has it in stock. Joe's preparing to leave for America, and Mitsuki's trying to get ready to live on her own, with Aya of course making it clear she's going to be a part of it all. Sometime in the future, Mitsuki is trying to get a music career to take off, and Aya's there to support her despite the stress it's putting on their relationship.
Where to find: Yen Press has links to purchase physical or digital versions.
Ichi the Witch:
I'll admit that I enjoy a good, light shounen action series now and then, but Ichi the Witch is a bit of a step above even most of the good ones. It's got a lot of humor, it's got engaging action and worldbuilding, it's got fun characters, and it's got a much stronger female presence than most of the genre, which is always a plus for me.
And, of course, the core of that female presence is everyone's favorite uber-talented badass Desscaras.
There's just something so charming about her arrogance and her unwillingness to be herded by anyone, and how she'll be incredibly selfish one moment and then be ready to utterly sacrifice herself to do what's right the next. In a manga full of characters with presence and charisma, she steals the entire show. And that's why I want a story about her -- nearly anything about her.
Basically anything centering around Desscaras would be fine, but if you want inspiration, I have a few ideas. Something about her daily life around the Mantinel Witches' Association would be interesting — clashing with the administration, dealing with fans, basking in praise, evading responsibility, all the things you can picture her doing. (You could even put it in the format of one of Kumugi's reports about her activities, or Desscaras's own self-important stories — or contrast them both!) Another option would be to look back at her history. This could be dark and moody (we've probably got a good idea of what happened to Libro, but seeing her response could tell us a lot about her), or more action-packed, if we look at her earlier adventures. How did she acquire her various Majiks, anyway? Did she have to outshoot Iskandar, or win a tug-of-war with Yatsukami, or discover or confess truths for Golconda? How do they feel about being her Majiks, for that matter?
If you want to go shippy (or just explore non-romantic relationships), I strongly suggest doing something with Togeice. Their dynamic is just so interesting — two rivals who absolutely can't stop squabbling under most circumstances, and seem to really enjoy getting under each other's skin, but when one is in danger, the other will be right there to save them — without giving up on the needling, of course. And then there's that amazing scene with them in the bar, where all the animosity just drops away as Togeice acknowledges how serious the situation is, and reaches out empathetically to Desscaras. It's practically heartbreaking in how tender it is, in an understated, long-standing-relationship sort of way. I'd love a story about them -- maybe something exploring an on-again, off-again romance they have that wobbles between constant antagonizing and understated tenderness, or maybe something about their childhood, when they were the two youngest prodigies to ever become witches, and were obviously tangled up with each other even then.
And, of course, if you want to do something in the current day with the rest of the squad, I'm fine with that too! Just make sure Desscaras gets a good amount of focus, and I'm find with Ichi, Kumugi, Gokuraku, or anyone else playing a major role, too.
Where to find: Shonen Jump and Manga Plus are currently publishing chapters in English as they come out.
Blue Prince:
Blue Prince enthralled me for quite some time earlier this year. I filled up a journal with notes on each room, theories on how to progress, even a list of all the Erajan words I could find. The puzzles, of course, kept me occupied for quite some time, but the gradual reveal of the world surrounding them, both in the sense of the world itself and the people who populate it, was what really kept me hooked.
(Also, my requests are going to involve spoilers for some of the big mysteries of the game, so if you haven't played it yet but plan to, turn back now!)
I'm requesting one of two things: worldbuilding, or a story about Simon's mother, Mary. (Of course, if you can fit both in, so much the better!) Worldbuilding could take a lot of forms, but I'd most like to look at things related to the science of drafting, because it alone makes the world a fascinatingly strange place. It's a known science, it even has journals dedicated to it, and it's widely-known enough that no one things it particularly strange, while still rare enough that the note in the Laboratory mentions confusion and frustration regarding how to navigate it. So, how does it all fit in to the world? How do most people see it? Is it something common in at least a limited form in most buildings (maybe most houses swap out the laundry room for the garage when it's needed), or rare and only used in special places? Are there other places that use the technique — like the Synka headquarters mentioned in one blue note? (Eight stories aboveground and eight below sounds like a very significant layout.) What are some unusual things that can be done with it? We've learned of fugitives hiding in an undrafted room — what was that like? And rooms can evidently be transferred from one building to another in blueprint form — the will states that the Gallery will eventually be transferred to a museum, and there's every indication that the Throne Room was taken from the old Orindan castle. How does that affect the world? If you can think of any other creative tricks that might be commonplace in this world, I'd be enraptured.
This would also lend itself well to unusual formats — something like a course syllabus for a drafting seminar in Corarica could be fascinating, or another issue of Drafting Strategy that addresses new techniques. Or you could do something from the point of view of more familiar characters — did Simon ever get lost in Mt. Holly when he was a kid, perhaps trapped in a room that got undrafted, or getting his hands on the blueprint and drafting rooms to go somewhere he shouldn't?
Other worldbuilding topics I might be interested in are the geopolitical situation (obviously the history of Fenn Aries is important in the game, but we also get glimpses of the other countries, and I'd like to see more), or the everyday culture we get allusions to, such as the nature of the religion we first see in the Chapel and its angels. And if you have any ideas on the unsolved mysteries of the game, go wild!
To me, Mary is the most interesting of the characters we get references to throughout the game. A children's book author who came from a privileged background, studied abroad, got a career and family back home, and then gave it all up to strike back against a fascist government and go into hiding in the country of her ancestors, so hidden that even her husband and son believe her dead. That's an amazing story in its own right, and I'd love to see it fleshed out more. What inspired her to become a rebel? Did her time abroad have anything to do with it, or learning more about her Erajan ancestors? How did she get Herbert on board — and why did she trust him with her secrets, but not her husband? What is she doing now? Does she long to reach out to Simon and let him know she's okay, or does her mission take precedence over everything? Is she working against the government of Fenn Aries even now — and might this have to do with Simon's potential to become the Blue Prince? What is she really like as a person — not just a mother or a rebel or a writer?
(This obviously could cross over with political worldbuilding, but examining her time in Corarica might also bring up drafting science. Did she study it while she was there, either as her major or as a side-trek to writing, art, or political science? For that matter, she seems to have met her husband there — what was Daniel studying? You could definitely do a story about their college days, and the groundwork it laid for their later lives.)
Oh, and if you do go into politics, I'm absolutely fine with allusions to the real world if you want to go that direction. I know not everyone would, but if you do, don't shy away.
Where to find: Available on Steam, or on the Playstation 5 or XBox Series X/S stores. There are also several good YouTube playthroughs you might take a look at.
Thank you for signing up for Yuletide! I've been participating for many years now, but it's always a new thrill to put out my requests for someone else to see. I hope my prompts give you some interesting ideas, and that you enjoy the writing process as much as I'm going to enjoy your story!
If you're interested in seeing what I've written in the past, or the gifts I've received in previous years, everything's up at my profile on Ao3: PenguinZero I'm not a very prolific writer, so there's not all that much there, but it might be an inspiration.
Don't consider any of my requests as mandatory in terms of detail. I personally enjoy getting specific requests to prompt my imagination, but I'm not picky in terms of what I receive! As long as it includes the characters I requested and at is at least loosely inspired by the mood of what I'm looking for, I'll be happy.
I'll be including source links for each of my fandoms -- obviously, we matched on at least one, but if my request for another catches your eye, go ahead and do whichever! Some of them have been in my requests for years, while others are brand new, but I'd be happy with any of them.
General likes:
- Plot-filled fics — while quick vignettes or mood pieces are fine too, there's something about a story with a challenge the main characters overcome or an event they have to react to that really appeals to me. Doubly so if it's thematically appropriate — if it somehow parallels the dynamic the main characters have, or highlights their personalities, strengths, and flaws. You can absolutely have the emotional relationship between the characters be the main point of the story, but I do like having something else going on at the same time.
- WLW relationships. I was hooked on yuri and femslash at an early age.
- Worldbuilding. I didn't tag it specifically on some of these fandoms, but I'd love to explore all of their worlds.
- I love exploring the sides of a world that often go overlooked in the big drama — how people get by day to day, what they do to relax, where the basic necessities come from, how whatever weird powers they have or unusual situations they're in affect their daily routine.
- Happy endings. I don't mind a story where things get tough for the characters — indeed, that's often really satisfying. But in the end, I like optimism in my stories. I like the idea that even when times are tough, people can make a difference if they work at it.
- Additional characters. I may have only asked for one or two characters in my prompt, but I know that all of them have a whole constellation of supporting cast or other protagonists around them, and I'd love to see them get involved in whatever the story is. Having characters bounce off their friends, their family, their enemies, or just the random people they know can add so much depth and richness to the story.
General dislikes:
- Plotless smut. I like romance in my stories, but just having two characters making out or more for the whole story doesn't really satisfy me. It's the plot and the emotional depth I'm here for.
- Random AUs. I'm generally invested in the characters and the world as they are, and looking to explore their depths. Canon divergences, or pre- or post-canon stuff is just fine, but randomly taking the characters and putting them in a coffee shop or a sitcom premise kind of takes a lot of the fun out of it for me.
General DNWs: underage below about 16, graphic violence, graphic sex, incest, noncon/dubcon, futanari (trans is okay), cheating, loss of body parts, hopeless situations, 'grossout' situations or kinks, ABO, PWP.
Sub-challenges I'd be interested in: Wrapping Paper, Unconventionyule, Chromatic Yuletide, Queering the Tide, Yulebuilding, Femslash Festivus, Interactive Fiction
And if anyone's inspired to do so, I would welcome treats!
Chuubo's Marvelous Wish-Granting Engine:
I've been a huge fan of Jenna Moran's writing for many years now. There's just something about her style that is so amazing, and the worlds and characters she builds are breathtaking. I've read Hitherby Dragons, Nobilis, her work on Exalted, Glitch, and a lot more. (I've got a particular soft spot for the lore sheet vignettes she wrote for Weapons of the Gods.) I keep coming back to all of them, off and on, and right now, Chuubo's has me enraptured again.
I'm particularly fascinated by Natalia and Jasper, as portrayed in The Glass-Maker's Dragon. They're two very different characters, and yet they have some undeniable parallels and interesting ties that I'd love to see explored more. Even just in the game mechanics, there are some elements that immediately draw them together -- for instance, the quest set for being Natalia is the same as the quest set for being someone accompanying Jasper on her story, and vice-versa. Just by being themselves, they're also in the perfect position to accompany each other.
Then there's their asymmetric Connections. Jasper has a level 2 Connection with Natalia, stronger than she has with anyone else -- as strong as the bond Chuubo has with Seizhi, even, and they're best friends by dint of a world-changing wish! And the only reason given is that Natalia fascinates her, and she's not sure why.
And on the other hand, we've got Natalia, who has a -1 Connection to Jasper. Negative one! Which means that when she's trying to work with Jasper, or trust her, or just spend time with her, she's got to spend Will just to get to a neutral result! She just doesn't know how to deal with someone like Jasper, apparently. And that leads to the obvious image of the two of them trying to do something together, and the cheery naive daughter of the sun somehow outshines the superhuman prodigy who's good at everything, just because Jasper's really enjoying Natalia's presence and Natalia feels somehow incredibly awkward around her.
Overall, I see them as a fascinating odd couple. Jasper the cheerful ray of sunshine who's uncannily drawn to the dark, brooding Natalia for reasons neither of them can understand, and despite Natalia's discomfort with it, she can't get out of it somehow.
Personally, I like to interpret this mysterious imbalance as a mutual crush, where neither of them has any experience dealing with romance, but there's plenty of other ways to see it, and I'm eager to see how you take it.
The arcs of their stories also make for a number of potentially interesting scenarios they could find themselves in. At the start of everything, they're both probably the newest arrivals in Town, and still trying to get their bearings in their own unique ways. The two of them crossing paths during that could lead to some interesting interactions. I'm struck by the way two of their early quests have the potential to overlap. Jasper's 'The Miracle (Changes)' has, as one of the once-per-chapter actions, 'dealing with acne, braces, your period, ear infections, or other annoyingly intrusive elements of physicality.' Natalia's 'The Golden Snake of the Rooftops,' meanwhile, has 'helping someone who's in trouble' and 'talking about your past in Russia, reflecting on and developing the memories the snake is resting on.'
And seeing those, I thought, well, aren't those annoyingly physical troubles the sorts of things Natalia might have been forced to deal with on her own in Russia? The sort of things that a group of people training a prodigy to be the perfect physical specimen would have expected her to be capable of handling, or otherwise not seen as worth their time? Might she not have had some sort of minor trauma from that -- something she'd feel the urge to try to help with when she meets a girl who's completely lost and bewildered by them? (I mean, canonically, Jasper's utterly confused by sneezing -- how much worse would some of these be?)
So I can picture a first meeting between them, or at least an early one, where Natalia helps Jasper out, and Jasper is utterly, sunnily grateful for this in a way Natalia can't handle, and yet can't quite dismiss -- an early way in which Jasper's sunlight might melt Natalia's frozen heart a little.
And then on the other side of the story, the climax to both of their sagas involves journeying to the Bleak Academy. For Jasper, it's because things have gone wrong, and she's not handling her grief for her mother well, and she's starting to turn from a sunny incarnation of hope into a more shadowy being of despair. And for Natalia, it's also because her life has been going poorly, but she's coming to the Bleak Academy to demand answers of it, to find out why they sent an innocent weapon to kill everyone who she had to kill in turn, to try to fix or destroy the place to make the world better.
Under those circumstances, I can actually see the two of them reversing their roles from the first section. Where it's Jasper who's the dark, depressed person who can't see the meaning of life and has a heart that's, if not frozen, perhaps shadowed -- and Natalia the one who pulls her out of it with her determination, her courage, her surety that there's something in the world worth saving -- and maybe that something is Jasper.
Those are just my broadest of ideas -- if you have any other interesting ways to make them interact, go for it! I'm fine with most of the alternate versions of the characters, too, if that's what interests you (though as mentioned above, I'm a big WLW fan, so if you're going to ship them, I'd like female versions of each). And of course, you can include as many or as few of the other main characters as you want -- obviously, they could have plenty of other friends getting involved in their mishaps, whether it's Rinley making mischief, or Seizhi ending up at the Bleak Academy as part of his story arc, or Leonardo or Chuubo or anyone else playing some kind of role in the plot.
Where to find: There are links to all currently-available releases on the official Chuubo's Wiki.
Magus of the Library:
I've loved reading since I was a child. I love books, I love libraries, I love everything connected with the art form in general. And so finding a series like Magus of the Library, which is a love letter to all those things, was amazing and overwhelming to me. The enticing, mysterious plot, the charming characters, and the fascinating world were just a bonus.
So it might seem a little odd that I'm requesting worldbuilding. But there's two reasons for it. First, I really do enjoy the world and all the little hints we get of its depth. The implications of cultures and races beyond the ones we've seen so far, the offhand references to authors and texts that may or may not get filled out later, the customs and rituals that pretty much everyone takes for granted until they come across someone who breaks the mold. I'd love exploring that more. Maybe take a look at some books that have been alluded to, like the famous authors the popular fiction club talks about, or the Seven Seminal Scripts described in Volume 3, and get more into their contents and their impact. (You could even do a story as an in-universe work of fiction, if you liked -- maybe a new chapter of the Adventures of Shagrazzat or Mulligad! Or do a chapter, and then reviews by in-universe characters, reactions from librarians debating whether it should be banned, that sort of thing.) I'd like to see just how fiction or other writings would be affected by the cultures of the setting -- they obviously wouldn't be just like something written by a modern 21st century author! What assumptions or stereotypes would go into their works? What different tropes or cliches would they use that would be familiar to them but strange to us? What moral lessons might they try to teach that we'd disagree with?
You could also explore the different cultures and their customs, as we did with marriage customs early on. What sort of differences exist in the ways the various races approach parenting, or major life turning points, or grieving? Looking at their approaches to LGBTQ+ issues could be fascinating, too -- I doubt they'd have a modern approach, with equality and individuality as ideals, and yet there have been places in cultures throughout history for people who didn't gender conform or who loved the same sex. Is there any place for such people in Hyron society, or Rakta, or Kokopa? What sort of clashes would come up when someone who fits such a role in one society faces someone from another society where the rules of acceptance are different?
And the second reason is that I'd love to see the world expanded with more details on, well, the parts of it having to do with books and librarian duties in general. I loved the section in the first volume where the team of kafna go into repairing a damaged grimoire with all the intensity you'd find in a standard manga fight scene. I loved the test where the candidates had to identify a book given just a cover and one page in an unknown language. I loved the kafna giving Theo's home-town librarian a dressing-down for not letting poor people check out his books. Every part of the story where we get into the making of books or the ways they're bought and sold or the duties of the kafna is enthralling to me.
A story focusing on this aspect could use any of the kafna trainees the series focuses on, or some of the other peripheral kafna, or original characters of your own devising. I'm fond of a few of the trainees more than others (particularly Mihona, Ohgga, Sala, and Aya), but they're all pretty darned interesting characters. You could write something about them learning a new aspect of a librarian's duties, or struggling with work repairing or categorizing books, or visiting a provincial library to learn how they'll be expected to interact with them, or in general anything else about their work with books.
Overall, I'd just like something that celebrates books, reading, and libraries, in whatever way you find most interesting. I'm guessing most of the people who sign up for Yuletide have a love of the written word in one way or another, so I'd be honored if you'd reach deep inside and show off what you really love about writing and books, however that manifests!
Where to find: The first three chapters are available on Kodansha's web site, which also has links for purchasing all currently available volumes in digital or print versions.
The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All:
This series has taken the yuri-fan community by storm the past few years, and for very good reason. It's the heartwarming story of two girls who have something that pushes them apart from the people around them — but it's that same something that draws the two of them together. It's a story about appreciating the media of a foreign culture (and I think most manga fans can appreciate that in a mirrored way), and the joy of sharing it with the people around you. And, of course, it's an unapologetic yuri story that's forthright about what it's like for two girls to fall in love.
Really all I have to say in terms of my request is that I'd like more! More of Aya and Mitsuki enjoying each other's presence, more of them fumbling through the early days of their relationship, more of them enjoying and sharing the music they love. I was also pretty interested in some of the early bonus art showing them living together, so I was thinking of asking about that, but then we hit the time skip, so it could be we're getting some of that canonically — but at the time of writing, we have no idea how the story will be treating the couple in this new future storyline. So I'm expanding it to say either something based on the time skip or something that ignores it and just bases itself on the bonus art would also be welcome.
Also, this is a manga that celebrates music, so I'd love to see your taste in music as well! I've discovered some interesting songs from Mitsuki and Aya's choices that I never would have stumbled on otherwise. If you enjoy any music that's in their wheelhouse — or, for that matter, Joe's or anyone else's — I'd love to see them mentioned in the story, or maybe something more than that. (A playlist? A soundtrack for each scene in the story? A custom music video would probably be way too much effort, but it's an interesting thought.)
Some possible prompts if you want ideas for a story: Aya and Mitsuki get the chance to go to a concert together, but have to overcome some scheduling or other obstacles so they both have the time to go. A new album by one of their favorite artists comes out, and they spend time at Joe's shop geeking out about it — or maybe all of his copies are on pre-order, and they've got to scramble to find a place that actually has it in stock. Joe's preparing to leave for America, and Mitsuki's trying to get ready to live on her own, with Aya of course making it clear she's going to be a part of it all. Sometime in the future, Mitsuki is trying to get a music career to take off, and Aya's there to support her despite the stress it's putting on their relationship.
Where to find: Yen Press has links to purchase physical or digital versions.
Ichi the Witch:
I'll admit that I enjoy a good, light shounen action series now and then, but Ichi the Witch is a bit of a step above even most of the good ones. It's got a lot of humor, it's got engaging action and worldbuilding, it's got fun characters, and it's got a much stronger female presence than most of the genre, which is always a plus for me.
And, of course, the core of that female presence is everyone's favorite uber-talented badass Desscaras.
There's just something so charming about her arrogance and her unwillingness to be herded by anyone, and how she'll be incredibly selfish one moment and then be ready to utterly sacrifice herself to do what's right the next. In a manga full of characters with presence and charisma, she steals the entire show. And that's why I want a story about her -- nearly anything about her.
Basically anything centering around Desscaras would be fine, but if you want inspiration, I have a few ideas. Something about her daily life around the Mantinel Witches' Association would be interesting — clashing with the administration, dealing with fans, basking in praise, evading responsibility, all the things you can picture her doing. (You could even put it in the format of one of Kumugi's reports about her activities, or Desscaras's own self-important stories — or contrast them both!) Another option would be to look back at her history. This could be dark and moody (we've probably got a good idea of what happened to Libro, but seeing her response could tell us a lot about her), or more action-packed, if we look at her earlier adventures. How did she acquire her various Majiks, anyway? Did she have to outshoot Iskandar, or win a tug-of-war with Yatsukami, or discover or confess truths for Golconda? How do they feel about being her Majiks, for that matter?
If you want to go shippy (or just explore non-romantic relationships), I strongly suggest doing something with Togeice. Their dynamic is just so interesting — two rivals who absolutely can't stop squabbling under most circumstances, and seem to really enjoy getting under each other's skin, but when one is in danger, the other will be right there to save them — without giving up on the needling, of course. And then there's that amazing scene with them in the bar, where all the animosity just drops away as Togeice acknowledges how serious the situation is, and reaches out empathetically to Desscaras. It's practically heartbreaking in how tender it is, in an understated, long-standing-relationship sort of way. I'd love a story about them -- maybe something exploring an on-again, off-again romance they have that wobbles between constant antagonizing and understated tenderness, or maybe something about their childhood, when they were the two youngest prodigies to ever become witches, and were obviously tangled up with each other even then.
And, of course, if you want to do something in the current day with the rest of the squad, I'm fine with that too! Just make sure Desscaras gets a good amount of focus, and I'm find with Ichi, Kumugi, Gokuraku, or anyone else playing a major role, too.
Where to find: Shonen Jump and Manga Plus are currently publishing chapters in English as they come out.
Blue Prince:
Blue Prince enthralled me for quite some time earlier this year. I filled up a journal with notes on each room, theories on how to progress, even a list of all the Erajan words I could find. The puzzles, of course, kept me occupied for quite some time, but the gradual reveal of the world surrounding them, both in the sense of the world itself and the people who populate it, was what really kept me hooked.
(Also, my requests are going to involve spoilers for some of the big mysteries of the game, so if you haven't played it yet but plan to, turn back now!)
I'm requesting one of two things: worldbuilding, or a story about Simon's mother, Mary. (Of course, if you can fit both in, so much the better!) Worldbuilding could take a lot of forms, but I'd most like to look at things related to the science of drafting, because it alone makes the world a fascinatingly strange place. It's a known science, it even has journals dedicated to it, and it's widely-known enough that no one things it particularly strange, while still rare enough that the note in the Laboratory mentions confusion and frustration regarding how to navigate it. So, how does it all fit in to the world? How do most people see it? Is it something common in at least a limited form in most buildings (maybe most houses swap out the laundry room for the garage when it's needed), or rare and only used in special places? Are there other places that use the technique — like the Synka headquarters mentioned in one blue note? (Eight stories aboveground and eight below sounds like a very significant layout.) What are some unusual things that can be done with it? We've learned of fugitives hiding in an undrafted room — what was that like? And rooms can evidently be transferred from one building to another in blueprint form — the will states that the Gallery will eventually be transferred to a museum, and there's every indication that the Throne Room was taken from the old Orindan castle. How does that affect the world? If you can think of any other creative tricks that might be commonplace in this world, I'd be enraptured.
This would also lend itself well to unusual formats — something like a course syllabus for a drafting seminar in Corarica could be fascinating, or another issue of Drafting Strategy that addresses new techniques. Or you could do something from the point of view of more familiar characters — did Simon ever get lost in Mt. Holly when he was a kid, perhaps trapped in a room that got undrafted, or getting his hands on the blueprint and drafting rooms to go somewhere he shouldn't?
Other worldbuilding topics I might be interested in are the geopolitical situation (obviously the history of Fenn Aries is important in the game, but we also get glimpses of the other countries, and I'd like to see more), or the everyday culture we get allusions to, such as the nature of the religion we first see in the Chapel and its angels. And if you have any ideas on the unsolved mysteries of the game, go wild!
To me, Mary is the most interesting of the characters we get references to throughout the game. A children's book author who came from a privileged background, studied abroad, got a career and family back home, and then gave it all up to strike back against a fascist government and go into hiding in the country of her ancestors, so hidden that even her husband and son believe her dead. That's an amazing story in its own right, and I'd love to see it fleshed out more. What inspired her to become a rebel? Did her time abroad have anything to do with it, or learning more about her Erajan ancestors? How did she get Herbert on board — and why did she trust him with her secrets, but not her husband? What is she doing now? Does she long to reach out to Simon and let him know she's okay, or does her mission take precedence over everything? Is she working against the government of Fenn Aries even now — and might this have to do with Simon's potential to become the Blue Prince? What is she really like as a person — not just a mother or a rebel or a writer?
(This obviously could cross over with political worldbuilding, but examining her time in Corarica might also bring up drafting science. Did she study it while she was there, either as her major or as a side-trek to writing, art, or political science? For that matter, she seems to have met her husband there — what was Daniel studying? You could definitely do a story about their college days, and the groundwork it laid for their later lives.)
Oh, and if you do go into politics, I'm absolutely fine with allusions to the real world if you want to go that direction. I know not everyone would, but if you do, don't shy away.
Where to find: Available on Steam, or on the Playstation 5 or XBox Series X/S stores. There are also several good YouTube playthroughs you might take a look at.
