Dear Yuletide Author 2023

Dear Yuletide Author,

Thanks in advance for writing for me! I’m firstlovelatespring on ao3, and I’m requesting The Bear, Bottoms, and Moneyball. There is a somewhat obvious thread that connects 2 of these fandoms, but what I really see as the commonality between them is the intense, fraught, and sometimes contentious relationships that play a central role between the characters I’m requesting. So, while I would love something of a romantic or sexual nature between these pairs, I’ll be thrilled any fic that gets a little deeper into that dynamic, whether that be exploring how it came to be, filling in missing scenes, or looking to the future.

DNW

• Anal sex involving women
• Women performing oral sex on men
• Mentions of live-action pornography
• Setting-change AUs

General likes

• Third or first person POV
• Happy endings, sad endings, ambiguous endings
• Pining, requited or unrequited
• Getting together, established relationship, breaking up
• Relationships that are intense and ill defined
• Missing scenes and other canon-typical things
• Forced proximity, from “having to play on the same team” to “being stuck in an elevator together”

Smut likes

• Kissing
• Fingering
• Non-realistic dildos and strap-ons, used for vaginal penetration (but not oral sex)
• Oral sex between women
• Frottage
• Clothed or partially clothed sex
• One character sitting on a table or counter while the other is between their legs
• Semi-public sex without a real fear of being caught

Also, I imagine all of the female characters in my signup having pubic hair. You don’t have to mention it, but I’d prefer if you didn’t outright contradict the idea.

Bottoms (2023)
PJ, Josie, Hazel
I would be ok with just PJ and Josie OR just PJ and Hazel. Or, or course, all 3!

Well that was hilarious. I loved everything about this movie, but especially PJ and Josie’s friendship, and whatever PJ and Hazel had going on. I drove home from the theater and immediately pulled up the tag on AO3.

For PJ and Hazel, I am very interested in how they navigate their relationship post-kiss, especially PJ’s process of adjusting her expectations. I imagine her like that story of the kid who has a crush and writes them a note that says “get out of my school.” I also love how unapologetically horny PJ is, and I think her excitement and eagerness to try everything would go well with Hazel’s more laid-back approach. I don’t really imagine them staying together through college, and I think they probably realize that too, but I do imagine them having, at least, one incredible senior summer.

I loved the way PJ and Josie play off of each other. And all the history they have - I would love a story that follows them through the years, whether that’s before or after the movie. I do imagine they would stay in touch through college, at least at first. And I think it would be fun to follow them through a series of firsts, rehashing everything that happens with Hazel and Isabel.

The Bear
Sydney Adamu, Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto

I loved this show, especially the relationship between Sydney and Carmy. They make each other better, and they make each other worse. I would love any fic that explores their competitive, collaborative, insane relationship.

I would love something from Sydney’s point of view, of her sorting through her jealousy of Claire, who is taking away not only her business partner, but someone that she might have other feelings for. And what it means to her to watch someone else struggle to balance being a chef with having a life. To me, Sydney’s rejection of Marcus was a rejection of the idea of having a life, or of the idea that working at The Bear is just a job. Up to you whether her feelings for Carmy are requited.

I could also go for a fic about Carmy’s (possibly unrequited) feelings for Sydney! She’s this dynamic young chef, a real person he vibes with and bounces off of, but she also represents a choice, the idea of totally giving himself over to the restaurant. And I imagine him feeling guilty about his feelings for Sydney. Someone who is younger and less experienced than him, someone who maybe resents being pulled into his personal family drama struggling restaurant.

You could also, of course, actually get them together. I don’t just like guilt and repression and unrequited pining. I would love future fic about what happens with the new restaurant, whether that means thriving and paying off their debts or going down in flames (literally?). Or missing scenes during the show, taking moments of tension further than what we got onscreen. I just love them in any form!!

Moneyball (2009)
Billy Beane, Peter Brand

How can you not be romantic about baseball? And its corollary: What’s sexier than sabermetrics?

I love the way Billy and Peter obsess over the team. I think they should also obsess over each other. I would love missing scenes set during the season, or future fic set after Peter has left Oakland. (I do love the fics that already exist - I just want more!!!)

The backdrop of baseball is very welcome and appreciated. I would even be interested if you wanted to transpose Billy and Peter elsewhere in baseball, like the minor leagues, or even as overcompetitive little league coaches.