Dear Yulegoat (or other ruminant),

 Another year, another Yuletide, and this time a lot of change both in
the world and in my life.  Given my signups you may well have written
for me in Yuletide before (in which case thanks a lot for doing so!),
but this year I've changed the name on my AO3 account and now I'm
Larilille.  (I've signed up with a pseud of Senji anyway, in order to
maintain yt continuity).

 Over this tumultuous year I've resolved to be more myself; and here
in yuletide I'd really like to see characters I can identify with in
one way or another.  I'm a pansexual trans-feminine non-binary gamer
geek; but don't worry I'm not going to ask you to, for instance, write
a story about Justin Warrick's journey of discovery as a trans woman.

 I have no major overarching DNWs but there are a couple in the
requests themselves.   Likewise I'm not adverse to something that's
not a traditional story -- if your fannish inclinations lead you to
Interactive Fiction or a CYOA story, or whatever, then feel free!

Alliance-Union - C. J. Cherryh
Characters: Meg Kady & Sal Aboujib

 The four from Heavy Time and Hellrider have an amazing friendship
dynamic that rings very true to me, but their friendship is going to
be tested even harder as the Fleet leaves Earth.

 I would like a view of where they are a few years down the line, when
it's clear that the war isn't going to be short; or possibly even
victorious.  Centred on Meg and Sal of course.

 I've never felt a strong identification with any of these characters;
although if you'd pressed 25-year-ago me I'd've been hard pressed to
pick between Dekker and Ben and would had probably claimed to aspire
to be Bird.  Nowadays I'm older and queerer and I'm growing close to
Meg.

 DNW: please don't split Meg and Sal up; I don't need HEA/HFN but
please keep them together.


Cyteen Series - C. J. Cherryh
Characters: Ariane Emory II & Catlin AC-7892 II

 These books, on the other hand, have two characters I've always
identified very strongly with; and had problems with both
identifications until recently.  With hindsight very much becomes
clear.  These two are Ari II and Justin.

 But for this request I really want you to centre Catlin and her
relationship with Ari.  I have no idea if it's possible within canon,
without bending Catlin's character, to actually put her into a
position of physical intimacy with Ari; but my read is that her
(confused, endocrine) feelings are more than just the imprinting left
by tape.  Take that suggestion where it leads you and we can all see
where it goes.

 DNW: I absolutely do not want no-con, dub-con, or even implied
consent on Catlin's part.  Those themes would be fine applied to Ari.


The Shadow Warrior Saga - John F. Merz
Characters: Jysal & Neviah

 First of all let me apologise, these books are terrible, and the only
character who really gets any characterisation is the protagonist.

 But!  We do see slightly more that two dimensions for most of the
characters and one of the places where that's visible is in the
relationship between Jysal and Neviah which is definitely more than
just charge and bodyguard.

 I don't know if they have a romance, if they're lovers, or if they're
just good friends but please give them a moment of happy time together
(probably pre-canon given everything).


Vatta's War - Elizabeth Moon
Characters: Gracie Vatta

 It's actually been a long time since I read these books; but they're
fun and have strong female characters _and_ spaceships and fighting.
What could be better?

 If I wanted to pick a crazy aunt with hidden depths to emulate I
could do a lot worse than Gracie Vatta.  Please tell me a story about
her.


Larilille / Senji.