Dear Yuletide Writer 2025

[aquietjune]

Dear Yuletide Writer,

Thank you for considering writing for me, be it for your assignment or for a treat (they are always welcome). I'm aquietjune on AO3, and I'm writing this letter to share a little bit of what I like in a story. I'm also going to list what I like for each fandom I request, plus a few ideas of what I would enjoy see projected into reality. Please know that these are just suggestions, and they're here to get your inspiration going, and not as an obstacle for any other story idea. On the contrary, I look forward to what you're going to come up with!

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto - Hyuuga Natsu (Light Novels)

Any

I'm up to date with the official English translation (LN15 as of writing; I doubt LN16 will be out before Yuletide ends), so feel free to set your story anywhere in this canon. The canon in KnH is often (though not always) limited to what Maomao sees for herself and learns from others, and so I'd love to see any part of the relationships and stories that Maomao doesn't get to experience or witness, as well as those that she witnesses but with her peculiar (let's say pragmatic, unflinching) point of view.

I am, of course, a big JinMao fan, and I love seeing Jinshi pining (and being a little bit pathetic at it), as well as Maomao slowly allowing herself to be vulnerable. While I enjoy canon moments I'm also all for canon divergence, but I'd rather not have canon divergence first meetings or backgrounds and instead focus on changing what happens in the main story.

Having said this, a few thoughts/prompts on what I like in KnH stories:

• casefic, always: especially if it covers fantastical elements (curses, legends) that can be explained through science... or not
• JinMao domestic moments, during or post canon
• I love the extended cast of characters, so please feel free to involve anyone
• being part of the Ma Clan or living with them must be... an experience, and I'd love to see focus on Basen or Baryou, or Chue or Lishu
• in particular, what if Baryou, despite all he is, is the only one able to save Chue's ass in some situation? familial or otherwise
• cute and funny Basen/Lishu moments
• the life of Ah Duo as a former consort and that of Suirei as a person that should not exist, somehow together
• what if Ah Duo could have a truthful conversation with Jinshi?

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto - Anime

Any

I'm up to date with the official translation of the novels and I love the anime. The second season got us through major developments in Maomao's relationships and how she understands relationships (even if she doesn't realize it rationally), and there is a lot to work with.

• JinMao is always my favorite ship and I love to see more of them in their latest "positions". A noble visiting the Verdigris House just to spend time at the apothecary shop, and maybe too often...
• casefic? after the shi clan rebellion, do we have more ghosts? more resentment, even outside of the palace?
• the new life of Suirei at Ah Duo's
• I'm sure Maomao loves her adopted brother Lahan
• Maomao/Shisui I love when it also takes Jinshi/Maomao (as true) into account
• the lives of the consorts, and their relationships with the Emperor: among them all, I love Lihua the best. How does her (?) pregnancy go?
• What if Gyokuyou delivered another baby girl?
• Jinshi and Ah Duo drink together
• Maomao and Ah Duo drink together
• Will Maomao see Xiaolan again?
• A moment between Anshi and Jinshi, when Jinshi is very young (when does he start to live on his own, for example?)
• what if there is a mystery at the Verdigris house and the only one available to solve is... Lihaku?

Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni

Furude Rika
Maebara Keiichi
Sonozaki Mion
Sonozaki Shion

I watched the original anime seasons and the GouSotsu anime. I also read the manga. I only played the sound novel partially, but I don't mind spoilers. Anything post-canon would be lovely. I ship young adult or adult Keiichi/Rika and Keiichi/Mion. I'm deeply interested in the Shion & Mion relationship as sisters. Anything related to life at St. Lucia for either Rika, Shion, or both, would also be great!

Picnic at Hanging Rock - Joan Lindsay

Albert Crundall
Irma Leopold
Michael Fitzhubert

I love the eeriness of this story, how the primordial force in Hanging Rock awakens and creates ripples all through "reality". I'd like to see more of the ripples in post-canon, in time, especially for Irma and Michael, mostly separately, though I'm all for their relationship failing, and if you want to explore that I'm also up for it. Same for Bertie. Please consider exploring the mystery with or without the solution in chapter 18. If you're taking more from the movie than from the book, I'm more than OK with it.

Suspiria (1977)

Helena Markos (Suspiria 1977)
Miss Tanner (Suspiria 1977)
Worldbuilding (Suspiria 1977)

I'd love further exploration of the lore and the villains. In particular, I'd love to see more of Helena Markos's past -- her first rise and "death" -- as well as the (potentially later?) joining of Miss Tanner, which in the 1977 movie is a very striking character. I'd love to see more about the worldbuilding, in general, using any character (canon or original); I would not protest (on the contrary!!!) if you wanted to include stuff from the later movies of the Three Mothers Trilogy, Inferno (1980) and Mother of Tears (2007). (Of course, not needed.)

General likes:

• In-depth character studies
• Non linear or fragmentary narrations
• Friendships and familial relationships exploration
• Canonverse and post-canon
• World-building elements
• Slice of life
• Heightened emotions
• Magical realism
• Dream/Nighmare sequences
• Hurt/Comfort
• Angst and Fluff
• Realizing feelings
• Emotional breakdowns
• Comedy and humor

Common squicks I’m ok with:

• 1st and 2nd person narrator
• Kids and kidfics, pregnancy

DNWs:

• Smut-centered work
• Permanent mutilation, loss of hearing, sight, mobility, or life (scars ok)
• Omegaverse
• Soulmates
• Reader fics
• Purely mundane AUs (school, uni, office, coffee shop…)
• Aging up (canonically young) characters to old (70+) age

Thank you and happy creating!