Yuletide 2024 Letter
Wednesday, 9 October 2024 13:36![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lea_hazelYuletide! An exciting year for me this year, since many/most of my requested fandoms are ones I nominated, also.
General wants:
I deliberately chose fandoms where I like most/all of the characters, and where I enjoy the general tone and atmosphere of canon, as well as canon setting/worldbuilding. For A/Us, I prefer ones that are set in the canon setting, or engage strongly with it, rather than whole-setting A/Us (e.g. spaceship, US college, modern royalty, etc.).
I love stories of competence porn and characters getting to display their strengths, and I also enjoy seeing characters engaging in their hobbies and having relaxed downtime.
For ongoing/unfinished canons, I am totally comfortable with fanon characterization or worldbuilding that has a chance of being contradicted by future canon (e.g. Judith from Saint of Steel, the upcoming Ink & Intrigue game). As long as you're comfortable writing it, and you feel like ti fits in well with the existing canon's tone and theme, I'm cool with it. I won't lose my love for the story just because it turns out to be "non-canon".
I love to see supporting character POVs on canon events. I especially love it when minor characters have ambivalent or negative feelings about the heroes, even if they're broadly sympathetic. It doesn't have to be a complete reversal, where the canon hero turns out to be a complete dick. I just like seeing a more round image of beloved characters, such as being disliked by someone who isn't an enemy (perhaps irrationally so, or because of a mismatch in temperament). Just... incompatibility that doesn't rise to the level of being rivals/enemies.
One genre that I adore is fic that happens after a game's bad end. Bad things happened to the characters, and now they have to rebuild their lives, or their world, or just live with the consequences of their decisions. I think it's especially poignant in the context of games with multiple endings, like when the reader knows (for a fact!) that things didn't have to go that badly.
Opt-ins: I'm fine with first-, second-, or third-person fic. I accept fic formatted as in-universe documents. I accept interactive fiction, especially of game/IF canons. I accept NSFW fic for all my requested fandoms except Wylde Flowers. I accept trans or queer headcanons, as long as they don't contradict a canonical queer identity (e.g. Avalie from 7KPP is aro/ace, no headcanons of her as a lesbian, no writing bi characters as gay, etc.). I enjoy poly pairings, both canon and non-canon. I love epistolary fic, especially for settings where letter-writing can be expected to play a major role.
General DNWs:
* Sexual violence (including noncon, dubcon, or backstory rape)
* Reproductive violence (forced pregnancy, arranged marriage with implied consummation, etc.)
* Non-canon character death (unless noted otherwise)
* Graphic injury descriptions
* Real-world politics, tragedies, or natural disasters
* Stalking
* Explicit underage sex
* Underage/adult relationships (whether explicit or not)
Something I dislike that does not fit neatly into bullet points is when character A is abusing/mistreating character B, but acts/speaks as though their behavior is loving, they are doing it for B's own good, or in any way denies/ignores/invalidates B's anger or negative feelings. Now, you may be confused by this description, because that's exactly how the opening chapters of A Sorceress Comes to Call unfold, and that's a fandom that I requested. All I can say is that T. Kingfisher wrote this scenario very skillfully and I felt that Cordelia's resentment of her mother was thoroughly validated, which is why it was only averagely uncomfortable for me to read, rather than unbearable. I would rather you, as my gifter, not take a chance on trying to thread that needle, especially since it's difficult for me to pinpoint the exact boundary where "uncomfortable" becomes "unbearable". I am trusting in your good faith.
Fandom-specific prompts and preferences:
Saint of Steel
I chose Judith for this request because the 0.01 bits of information we got about her are so, so intriguing, and, by my math, it'll be 3 years before we get a book from her POV. At least.
The first and most important thing I want to note is that I don't care if your story is contradicted by future canon so you should feel free to speculate and extrapolate to your heart's content.
If you're uncomfortable writing something that might get invalidated by later books, I'd be equally happy with a vignette showing Judith's POV of the events of previous book(s), or an A/U within the canon setting. For example, one where she becomes a mercenary instead of a berserker, where the Saint never died, etc. "Fork in the road" type A/Us.
I'm less interested in complete A/Us, such as a modern setting.
When it comes to Wisdom, you can include it or not, at your discretion and depending on the timeline. I'm also flexible on the nature of Judith and Wisdom's relationship, whether Judith is a Machiavellian genius and it's all part of her plan, or if her hubris will drive her downfall, or if she's just a flat-out traitor. Go whichever way your heart leads you.
DNWs: same as the general ones above.
Their Majesties' Pleasure
I chose all/any characters because I like everyone, and I would welcome any fic in this fresh new fandom.
A classic genre of fic for a romance game would be a future-fic for the PC with any of the canon love interests, showing something of their "happily ever after", and I'd be happy to read that if that's what you want to write.
However, I'd be just as happy seeing fic focused on the NPCs, whether in a romantic role or in a different capacity.
Some dynamics I'd be interested in:
* Julian/Javier, as friends, allies, friends-with-benefits, or an emerging romance.
* Julian and Lissa as siblings, and how they support each other's political agendas.
* Mia and Javier, as friends, especially Mia's perspective on Javier's relationships, and how it affects his work as king of the underworld.
* Galen and Edenia, and the Fae in general, and how they view the developments in human society, especially the alliance with the Underground Army.
* Edenia and Lissa, either as friends/allies, or romantically (non-canon pairing).
* For characters not in the tagset, I'm most interested in the Queen, her relationship with her husband and children, and her view on the conflicts in the game.
TMJ is a fairly light/idealistic game (from my POV), so while I would love a story that maintains canon's optimistic and solution-oriented perspective, I'd also enjoy a fic that leans a little bit darker/grayer in attitude. Fic that takes place after a game's "bad end" is a particular fascination of mine.
For example:
* In most timelines, Lissa and Julian manage to avoid having to choose between loyalty to their father and to their respective causes. Neither of them raises the obvious solution to the problem, which is regicide. I believe that they're too idealistic to be comfortable seizing power by force, even for the "greater good", but the same cannot be said of Javier. Would his friendship with the Prince survive, if he lived up to his reputation as an assassin? And how would Minare's king react to these developments?
* For a game with multiple love interests, jealousy is handled very tastefully and maturely. That's great, and all, but I am a horrible gremlin, and sometimes I want to see characters being messy bitches. I'd love to see the jilted party looking upon a successful romance with envy and resentment. Not anything to the degree of stalking or violence, but just a nice, unhealthy stewing-in-your-own-misery, with a side order of self-sabotage. Maybe a broken friendship or so. For bonus pain, jealousy between the royal siblings, or between Julian and Javier.
* Supposing the peace treaty with the Wilds falls through, I'd be interested to see the fate of a once-rising-star PC, who has become an exile from their own kingdom, driven to the Wilds. The good and the bad, with or without a Fae romance. Especially from a Fae or Wildling POV.
* Let Outlaws Be Outlaws. Love to see anything involving Mia and Javier, and the whole Underground Army, being the criminal empire they are purported to be. Morally upright Robin Hood stuff is nice, but I also want to see them do stuff that isn't just purely "Chaotic Good", or compensating for a corrupt system. After all, the Cabaret is a pretty luxurious club, and Javier clearly lives well. All of that income doesn't come from pure altruism, there's some sharp business acumen behind it.
* The royals can be won over to a guard becoming a royal consort, if your PC is outstanding enough. What about everyone else? I love to see a Cinderella character struggle with court politics, international diplomacy, etc. Especially with Lissa, who already struggles with the restrictions placed on her as a future queen.
* How do the other knights/guards feel about all this? For example, if the PC is elevated through a romance with Julian or Lissa, who takes their place as a bodyguard? How does Sir Celenion react to these developments, and the other guards? Maybe someone who doesn't know the PC very well gets the cheeky idea that they can seduce one of the royals and improve their place in the world, and the PC has to gently (...or not so gently) correct their misconception.
For mini-challenges, I have some extra prompts for polyships on my Three Turtle Doves comment. Also, Family Matters for sibling fic.
DNWs: although I've given several darkfic prompts, I don't want any sexual/reproductive violence, violence between romantic partners, violence or stalking in the context of unrequited love, or described/detailed torture. Major character death is fair play.
Explicit fic: the game's romances are fairly explicit, so if you're writing a romantic fic, you may want to include sex scenes. I'd rather read a fic that combines plot and smut, but if pure smut is what you're inspired to, that's fine.
No noncon or dubcon please, although bad decisions and regrets are fair game.
I like pairs and threesomes/moresomes equally. I like loving sex, but also sex appealing to other emotions (comfort, friendship, rivalry sexual tension, frustration, boredom, whatever comes to mind). I love stories about non-penetrative sex acts, unusual (not necessarily public) places to have sex, toys and improvised toys, standing/sitting sex, partly clothed, light bondage (wrist or ankle bindings, not full immobilization), or light pain-play (spanking, not punching or blades).
Wylde Flowers
I requested Juliet, Peri, or Shelby, under the assumption that I would get one of these characters, rather than all of them.
I'm not especially interested in fic about Tara and her love interest(s), but I'm interested in Fairhaven's dynamic as a village, and in the coven in particular. Especially, I'd love to see stories about Juliet, or the other young witches, coming into their role in the coven, whether in Fairhaven or elsewhere.
I'd love to see young Juliet's memories of her father, Giacomo, or more of her relationship with her mother.
I'd enjoy seeing either Shelby or Peri acting in a mentor capacity to Juliet, or to any of the coven's other young witches.
Maybe something involving Juliet's interest in music, such as a worldbuilding connection between witchcraft and music.
Magic worldbuilding in general is good.
For this setting that is parallel to our real world, holiday-fic is totally cool.
DNWs: General ones, as listed above. Any character arc about pushing Juliet to be less shy/more extroverted. Whole setting A/U (space A/U, medieval A/U, etc.). Non-canon major character death, unless the story is set far in the future, and the death is of natural causes.
Seven Kingdoms/7KPP
The game is out in early access, and spoilers for weeks 6-7 are now fair game. As such, I want rebel!fic. I requested Sayra, Mrs. White, Ria, or the rebel!MC (and I was sorely tempted to request Gisette and/or Imogen). Write about any of these characters, and include as many or as few other canon characters as you like. Or OCs, as long as the canon NPCs (or the rebel!MC) are the focus of the story.
I'd love to see stories from Sayra's reign, whether it's won by war or by negotiation.
Anything about Mrs. White's past in Revaire, her feelings about her work on Vail Isle, her relationship to Sayra and Clarmont, backstory, or a happy future for her as part of the new-old royal court.
Speculate to your heart's content about what the rebel!MC's origin will be like, and don't be worried about contradicting future canon. That doesn't bother me.
Ria having a special place by Sayra's side is another great story possibility, whether the MC is involved or not.
I'd love to see Sayra, a few years down the line, once she's established a stable reign, try to negotiate a non-canon political marriage. Whether to one of the known NPCs, or to a character of your own invention. I'd like to see the marriage mostly successful, whether as a friendship/respected partnership, or evolving into a classic marriage-first romance plot.
For the less successful game endings, in a case where Vail Isle disappears, I'd love to see Sayra (and Revaire by extension) spearheading a new type of diplomatic summit, one that's managed by the kingdoms themselves, independently of outside factions.
More generally, I'm interested in the historians and weavers as factions, and their perspective on Sayra as a queen.
If you want to run a little darker, one of my evil little wishes is to see a deeply dysfunctional Sayra/Gisette romance.
I love to see pairings that have never been done before! Inaugurate a new pairing tag for me, if you feel up to it.
DNWs: General ones, as listed above. Jarrod romance, especially of the "love redeems" kind. Non-canon death of canon characters. The rebels being "as bad" as the new royals were (they don't have to be perfect, just not indistinguishable).
A Sorceress Comes to Call
I'd be happy with any of the characters in the tagset.
Some specific things I'd enjoy:
* Cordelia and Hester bonding.
* Hester/Richard romance (with or without explicit scenes).
* Cordelia growing in confidence/growing as a person.
* Any canon character's research into magic, in either narrative or document form.
* Anything to do with Ellen and her (surviving) family (even if they're not in the tagset).
* For a darker option, a xenofic from Falada's POV.
On the whole, I like the balance of horror and optimism that the book presents, so I'd enjoy fic that maintains that balance. Not darker, with despair and irredeemable bad endings, but also not pure light and fluff. Recovery fic is great, but I like to see the mark that canon events left on the characters. Some sense of residual horror, rather than it passing as though it never happened/didn't matter.
When it comes to Ellen specifically, you can have her forgive Cordelia and reform their friendship, or blame and resent her, or anything in the middle.
A/Us are fine, except for specifically one where Evangeline wins/succeeds. I prefer canon divergence A/Us compared to ones that displace the characters to a completely different setting.
DNWs: General DNWs. Bad end fic where Evangeline wins. Non-canon character death.
NSFW: if you want to write smut for Richard and Hester, I'm open to anything consensual. My tastes generally run pretty vanilla, though, which I think suits this pair well. A little roleplay or light spanking wouldn't be amiss. I don't think I'd like them in a Dom/sub dynamic, though. If there's anything specific that I haven't thought of, you can ask through the mods.
General wants:
I deliberately chose fandoms where I like most/all of the characters, and where I enjoy the general tone and atmosphere of canon, as well as canon setting/worldbuilding. For A/Us, I prefer ones that are set in the canon setting, or engage strongly with it, rather than whole-setting A/Us (e.g. spaceship, US college, modern royalty, etc.).
I love stories of competence porn and characters getting to display their strengths, and I also enjoy seeing characters engaging in their hobbies and having relaxed downtime.
For ongoing/unfinished canons, I am totally comfortable with fanon characterization or worldbuilding that has a chance of being contradicted by future canon (e.g. Judith from Saint of Steel, the upcoming Ink & Intrigue game). As long as you're comfortable writing it, and you feel like ti fits in well with the existing canon's tone and theme, I'm cool with it. I won't lose my love for the story just because it turns out to be "non-canon".
I love to see supporting character POVs on canon events. I especially love it when minor characters have ambivalent or negative feelings about the heroes, even if they're broadly sympathetic. It doesn't have to be a complete reversal, where the canon hero turns out to be a complete dick. I just like seeing a more round image of beloved characters, such as being disliked by someone who isn't an enemy (perhaps irrationally so, or because of a mismatch in temperament). Just... incompatibility that doesn't rise to the level of being rivals/enemies.
One genre that I adore is fic that happens after a game's bad end. Bad things happened to the characters, and now they have to rebuild their lives, or their world, or just live with the consequences of their decisions. I think it's especially poignant in the context of games with multiple endings, like when the reader knows (for a fact!) that things didn't have to go that badly.
Opt-ins: I'm fine with first-, second-, or third-person fic. I accept fic formatted as in-universe documents. I accept interactive fiction, especially of game/IF canons. I accept NSFW fic for all my requested fandoms except Wylde Flowers. I accept trans or queer headcanons, as long as they don't contradict a canonical queer identity (e.g. Avalie from 7KPP is aro/ace, no headcanons of her as a lesbian, no writing bi characters as gay, etc.). I enjoy poly pairings, both canon and non-canon. I love epistolary fic, especially for settings where letter-writing can be expected to play a major role.
General DNWs:
* Sexual violence (including noncon, dubcon, or backstory rape)
* Reproductive violence (forced pregnancy, arranged marriage with implied consummation, etc.)
* Non-canon character death (unless noted otherwise)
* Graphic injury descriptions
* Real-world politics, tragedies, or natural disasters
* Stalking
* Explicit underage sex
* Underage/adult relationships (whether explicit or not)
Something I dislike that does not fit neatly into bullet points is when character A is abusing/mistreating character B, but acts/speaks as though their behavior is loving, they are doing it for B's own good, or in any way denies/ignores/invalidates B's anger or negative feelings. Now, you may be confused by this description, because that's exactly how the opening chapters of A Sorceress Comes to Call unfold, and that's a fandom that I requested. All I can say is that T. Kingfisher wrote this scenario very skillfully and I felt that Cordelia's resentment of her mother was thoroughly validated, which is why it was only averagely uncomfortable for me to read, rather than unbearable. I would rather you, as my gifter, not take a chance on trying to thread that needle, especially since it's difficult for me to pinpoint the exact boundary where "uncomfortable" becomes "unbearable". I am trusting in your good faith.
Fandom-specific prompts and preferences:
Saint of Steel
I chose Judith for this request because the 0.01 bits of information we got about her are so, so intriguing, and, by my math, it'll be 3 years before we get a book from her POV. At least.
The first and most important thing I want to note is that I don't care if your story is contradicted by future canon so you should feel free to speculate and extrapolate to your heart's content.
If you're uncomfortable writing something that might get invalidated by later books, I'd be equally happy with a vignette showing Judith's POV of the events of previous book(s), or an A/U within the canon setting. For example, one where she becomes a mercenary instead of a berserker, where the Saint never died, etc. "Fork in the road" type A/Us.
I'm less interested in complete A/Us, such as a modern setting.
When it comes to Wisdom, you can include it or not, at your discretion and depending on the timeline. I'm also flexible on the nature of Judith and Wisdom's relationship, whether Judith is a Machiavellian genius and it's all part of her plan, or if her hubris will drive her downfall, or if she's just a flat-out traitor. Go whichever way your heart leads you.
DNWs: same as the general ones above.
Their Majesties' Pleasure
I chose all/any characters because I like everyone, and I would welcome any fic in this fresh new fandom.
A classic genre of fic for a romance game would be a future-fic for the PC with any of the canon love interests, showing something of their "happily ever after", and I'd be happy to read that if that's what you want to write.
However, I'd be just as happy seeing fic focused on the NPCs, whether in a romantic role or in a different capacity.
Some dynamics I'd be interested in:
* Julian/Javier, as friends, allies, friends-with-benefits, or an emerging romance.
* Julian and Lissa as siblings, and how they support each other's political agendas.
* Mia and Javier, as friends, especially Mia's perspective on Javier's relationships, and how it affects his work as king of the underworld.
* Galen and Edenia, and the Fae in general, and how they view the developments in human society, especially the alliance with the Underground Army.
* Edenia and Lissa, either as friends/allies, or romantically (non-canon pairing).
* For characters not in the tagset, I'm most interested in the Queen, her relationship with her husband and children, and her view on the conflicts in the game.
TMJ is a fairly light/idealistic game (from my POV), so while I would love a story that maintains canon's optimistic and solution-oriented perspective, I'd also enjoy a fic that leans a little bit darker/grayer in attitude. Fic that takes place after a game's "bad end" is a particular fascination of mine.
For example:
* In most timelines, Lissa and Julian manage to avoid having to choose between loyalty to their father and to their respective causes. Neither of them raises the obvious solution to the problem, which is regicide. I believe that they're too idealistic to be comfortable seizing power by force, even for the "greater good", but the same cannot be said of Javier. Would his friendship with the Prince survive, if he lived up to his reputation as an assassin? And how would Minare's king react to these developments?
* For a game with multiple love interests, jealousy is handled very tastefully and maturely. That's great, and all, but I am a horrible gremlin, and sometimes I want to see characters being messy bitches. I'd love to see the jilted party looking upon a successful romance with envy and resentment. Not anything to the degree of stalking or violence, but just a nice, unhealthy stewing-in-your-own-misery, with a side order of self-sabotage. Maybe a broken friendship or so. For bonus pain, jealousy between the royal siblings, or between Julian and Javier.
* Supposing the peace treaty with the Wilds falls through, I'd be interested to see the fate of a once-rising-star PC, who has become an exile from their own kingdom, driven to the Wilds. The good and the bad, with or without a Fae romance. Especially from a Fae or Wildling POV.
* Let Outlaws Be Outlaws. Love to see anything involving Mia and Javier, and the whole Underground Army, being the criminal empire they are purported to be. Morally upright Robin Hood stuff is nice, but I also want to see them do stuff that isn't just purely "Chaotic Good", or compensating for a corrupt system. After all, the Cabaret is a pretty luxurious club, and Javier clearly lives well. All of that income doesn't come from pure altruism, there's some sharp business acumen behind it.
* The royals can be won over to a guard becoming a royal consort, if your PC is outstanding enough. What about everyone else? I love to see a Cinderella character struggle with court politics, international diplomacy, etc. Especially with Lissa, who already struggles with the restrictions placed on her as a future queen.
* How do the other knights/guards feel about all this? For example, if the PC is elevated through a romance with Julian or Lissa, who takes their place as a bodyguard? How does Sir Celenion react to these developments, and the other guards? Maybe someone who doesn't know the PC very well gets the cheeky idea that they can seduce one of the royals and improve their place in the world, and the PC has to gently (...or not so gently) correct their misconception.
For mini-challenges, I have some extra prompts for polyships on my Three Turtle Doves comment. Also, Family Matters for sibling fic.
DNWs: although I've given several darkfic prompts, I don't want any sexual/reproductive violence, violence between romantic partners, violence or stalking in the context of unrequited love, or described/detailed torture. Major character death is fair play.
Explicit fic: the game's romances are fairly explicit, so if you're writing a romantic fic, you may want to include sex scenes. I'd rather read a fic that combines plot and smut, but if pure smut is what you're inspired to, that's fine.
No noncon or dubcon please, although bad decisions and regrets are fair game.
I like pairs and threesomes/moresomes equally. I like loving sex, but also sex appealing to other emotions (comfort, friendship, rivalry sexual tension, frustration, boredom, whatever comes to mind). I love stories about non-penetrative sex acts, unusual (not necessarily public) places to have sex, toys and improvised toys, standing/sitting sex, partly clothed, light bondage (wrist or ankle bindings, not full immobilization), or light pain-play (spanking, not punching or blades).
Wylde Flowers
I requested Juliet, Peri, or Shelby, under the assumption that I would get one of these characters, rather than all of them.
I'm not especially interested in fic about Tara and her love interest(s), but I'm interested in Fairhaven's dynamic as a village, and in the coven in particular. Especially, I'd love to see stories about Juliet, or the other young witches, coming into their role in the coven, whether in Fairhaven or elsewhere.
I'd love to see young Juliet's memories of her father, Giacomo, or more of her relationship with her mother.
I'd enjoy seeing either Shelby or Peri acting in a mentor capacity to Juliet, or to any of the coven's other young witches.
Maybe something involving Juliet's interest in music, such as a worldbuilding connection between witchcraft and music.
Magic worldbuilding in general is good.
For this setting that is parallel to our real world, holiday-fic is totally cool.
DNWs: General ones, as listed above. Any character arc about pushing Juliet to be less shy/more extroverted. Whole setting A/U (space A/U, medieval A/U, etc.). Non-canon major character death, unless the story is set far in the future, and the death is of natural causes.
Seven Kingdoms/7KPP
The game is out in early access, and spoilers for weeks 6-7 are now fair game. As such, I want rebel!fic. I requested Sayra, Mrs. White, Ria, or the rebel!MC (and I was sorely tempted to request Gisette and/or Imogen). Write about any of these characters, and include as many or as few other canon characters as you like. Or OCs, as long as the canon NPCs (or the rebel!MC) are the focus of the story.
I'd love to see stories from Sayra's reign, whether it's won by war or by negotiation.
Anything about Mrs. White's past in Revaire, her feelings about her work on Vail Isle, her relationship to Sayra and Clarmont, backstory, or a happy future for her as part of the new-old royal court.
Speculate to your heart's content about what the rebel!MC's origin will be like, and don't be worried about contradicting future canon. That doesn't bother me.
Ria having a special place by Sayra's side is another great story possibility, whether the MC is involved or not.
I'd love to see Sayra, a few years down the line, once she's established a stable reign, try to negotiate a non-canon political marriage. Whether to one of the known NPCs, or to a character of your own invention. I'd like to see the marriage mostly successful, whether as a friendship/respected partnership, or evolving into a classic marriage-first romance plot.
For the less successful game endings, in a case where Vail Isle disappears, I'd love to see Sayra (and Revaire by extension) spearheading a new type of diplomatic summit, one that's managed by the kingdoms themselves, independently of outside factions.
More generally, I'm interested in the historians and weavers as factions, and their perspective on Sayra as a queen.
If you want to run a little darker, one of my evil little wishes is to see a deeply dysfunctional Sayra/Gisette romance.
I love to see pairings that have never been done before! Inaugurate a new pairing tag for me, if you feel up to it.
DNWs: General ones, as listed above. Jarrod romance, especially of the "love redeems" kind. Non-canon death of canon characters. The rebels being "as bad" as the new royals were (they don't have to be perfect, just not indistinguishable).
A Sorceress Comes to Call
I'd be happy with any of the characters in the tagset.
Some specific things I'd enjoy:
* Cordelia and Hester bonding.
* Hester/Richard romance (with or without explicit scenes).
* Cordelia growing in confidence/growing as a person.
* Any canon character's research into magic, in either narrative or document form.
* Anything to do with Ellen and her (surviving) family (even if they're not in the tagset).
* For a darker option, a xenofic from Falada's POV.
On the whole, I like the balance of horror and optimism that the book presents, so I'd enjoy fic that maintains that balance. Not darker, with despair and irredeemable bad endings, but also not pure light and fluff. Recovery fic is great, but I like to see the mark that canon events left on the characters. Some sense of residual horror, rather than it passing as though it never happened/didn't matter.
When it comes to Ellen specifically, you can have her forgive Cordelia and reform their friendship, or blame and resent her, or anything in the middle.
A/Us are fine, except for specifically one where Evangeline wins/succeeds. I prefer canon divergence A/Us compared to ones that displace the characters to a completely different setting.
DNWs: General DNWs. Bad end fic where Evangeline wins. Non-canon character death.
NSFW: if you want to write smut for Richard and Hester, I'm open to anything consensual. My tastes generally run pretty vanilla, though, which I think suits this pair well. A little roleplay or light spanking wouldn't be amiss. I don't think I'd like them in a Dom/sub dynamic, though. If there's anything specific that I haven't thought of, you can ask through the mods.
