Discovered In A Valentine

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It's taken us three years to build up to being able to do this to the lads, but finally, at long last, the Challenge we know you've all secretly been waiting for...

Discovered in a Valentine!

It's pink! They're pretty! And on the 14th of February, they will be...

... well, what they will be is down to you of course - your challenge is to write our lads into a Valentine's Day story! The hard men of CI5, the blokes who think nothing of killing a dozen villains before breakfast if it's necessary for the safety and well-being of good old Joe Public, must somehow be combined with the pinkest, the fluffiest, most sugar-coated, chocolate-boxed, roses and lavendered day of the year...

Is it even possible?

*g*

There are prompts available for those who would like them, and whether you'd like a prompt or not it'd be fab (though never compulsory, cos we like last minute inspirations too!) if you'd comment below just to let us know that you fancy playing.

Posting any time from midnight in your country on the 14th February 2009, until midnight in someone else's country (good old Auntie Mabel, in Pago Pago... *g*) at the end of the day.

o0o

And a special request - please use a new Trailer for posting creations to discoveredinalj:
Title:
Author:
Warnings (only if absolutely necessary):
Disclaimer:
Notes:

Reminder: none of the Pros archives are currently archiving fic automatically. Archiving seems to be as follows:
ProsLib CD - Please send stories to proslib at gmail dot com
Automatic Hatstand - Please post your stories via your own Automatic Hatstand account
Circuit Archive - No information/update known

And final reminder - do please post the trailers at the end of your story and under the cut, so that no one is spoiled unnecessarily! That way people who want to see the endings can do so, those who don't want to know don't have to read even hints of what happens! Warnings are not compulsory, ratings make no sense to us so we don't use those either... *g*

And the really really final final reminder - if you're viewing this through your flist, please please come to the comm and see empty_mirrors' challenge banner and layout. It's... pink... *vbg*

Comments

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

I'm looking at that lovely banner and I have only one question... Which of the lads made those lipstick prints? *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh good, not had a chance to use this icon for ages... *g*

You playing?!

oh no, you didn't

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

Yes, you did!

How can I resist this one? Apparently, I can't. Would like a prompt, though - with a two week deadline, I'll need all the help I can get ;).

Re: oh no, you didn't

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Your prompt is...

"In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling."

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Could I please have a prompt, oh lovely co-mod? *g*

[empty-mirrors.livejournal.com]

Had to be this one...

"In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favourite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, 'You unlock my heart!'"

[foreverfoxcat.livejournal.com]

I'll have a bash. Prompt me, please. :D

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, jolly D! Right, your prompt...

"Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire."

[mikes-grrl.livejournal.com]

do please post the trailers at the end of your story and under the cut,

You know, I don't get this at all. What's the point of putting information at the END of the story? This is really why I don't read too many stories in this fandom; I have some things I simply will not read, and I'm not going blind into a story without having an idea of what it is about. Yes I can click and scroll, and sometimes I do if I'm curious, but at that point I'm invested anyway.

I just find this very odd. I don't expect it to change just for me, but I thought I would throw my contrary opinion out there and perhaps give some explanation of why I don't read much here. IMHO summaries and warnings serve a purpose which is kind of voided by being put at the end of a fic.

*slinks back off to lurk again*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Well, the point is that if someone writes warnings, explanations etc in a "header" at the top of a fic, then there is absolutely no way that someone can avoid whatever spoilers that header may contain.

Putting the information as a "trailer" rather than a "header" means that people who know they're extra sensitive to the content of stories can scroll to the bottom of the post and read the information they need, and people who are reading for the journey and thus don't want to know the end before they get there, can safely read from the top of the story.

We do explain on the User Info page what the policy is and why - there's a history in Pros fandom of people not liking to be spoiled for stories, and we're a) respecting that, and b) going with our own preferences which is not to be spoiled.

You know, you don't have to read from the top down - you can check out the trailer and then scroll back up and read the story second... *g* Just sayin'... *g*

[probodie.livejournal.com]

I am not promising because I know what I'm like - but I'd like to think I *could* write a little for Valentine's Day so if you'd like to throw a prompt my way...

*disclaimer - might not be finished!*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It's never a promise - I've my own disclaimer running on this one! *g*

How about...

"In some countries, a young woman may receive a gift of clothing from a young man. If she keeps the gift, it means she will marry him."

*g*

[hagsrus.livejournal.com]

Trailer: sorry to be a nuisance, but could you make that proslib at gmail dot com, please? It just helps me sort things.

Thanks - F

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Not a nuisance at all - I meant to go over to Yahoo and find the right email address, but... it's all the way over there, so actually I'm sorry my laziness meant you had to ask! All done. *g*

[erushi.livejournal.com]

I'll bite, though heaven knows when I'll have the time. But it's pink, and it's the lads... *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Well exactly! Okay, how about...

"A love seat is a wide chair. It was first made to seat one woman and her wide dress. Later, the love seat or courting seat had two sections, often in an S-shape. In this way, a couple could sit together -- but not too closely!"

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Oh my God. We're doing Valentine's Day with the lads! Pink and pretty and mushy and sweet! Bring it on! It's Valentine's Day! I'm so happy! All of us who love our lads in love will be giddy with delight that day. Chocolates and hearts and kisses. I love romance. Off to hopefully do a really syrupy story to post... You have been warned. LOL!

Oh! Almost forgot. The DIALJ is beautiful! So pretty and pink and sweet. Did I say that already? (Actually, it's even too pink for me most of the time, but for Valentine's Day, it's perfect!)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

A syrupy story, eh? Then our trepidation and fear has not been in vain... *g*

And yes! empty_mirrors has done a fabulous job on the banner, hasn't she!

An avid reader doth love this challenge

[ma-donna196.livejournal.com]

This challenge made me smile and then gulp in trepidation;) I loved the idea of their spouting poetry a la Robbie Burns. The romantic in me did smile through Burns' lovely lines . . . but hearts and flowers Pros style? I know all you wonderful writers are up for the challenge and I can't wait to read them!

Re: An avid reader doth love this challenge

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Lol - smiling and gulping in trepidation is how we've felt for the last three years as well... But the time has come! *g* Lovely to see you here, and I'm sure there will be lots of... interesting stories for you to read... *vbg*

[mab-browne.livejournal.com]

It really is most very very pink isn't it? I'll bite - even if all I end up doing is a drabble.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yeay! You drabble away - anything and everything welcome! *g*

"Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry, As you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry the person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off."

[bistokids.livejournal.com]

Oooh oooh I'll play! *jumps up and down*

*calms down* Sorry, it's snowy, and I always revert to a mental age of about six under these conditions! *g*

Anyway, I'd like to play please, and I don't want a prompt. (I'm assuming that, without a prompt, any fic is OK as long as it has a tie to Valentines Day. That right?)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Lol! Yes, it most certainly is fine to write and post any vaguely-Valentine's Day related fic, and you don't need a prompt to do so! *g*

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

I'd like to try and do something for this one... the banner is brilliant! *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Not sure whether you'd like a prompt or not, but just in case you would... *g*

"Hundreds of years ago in England, many children dressed up as adults on Valentine's Day. They went singing from home to home. One verse they sang was:
Good morning to you, valentine;
Curl your locks as I do mine ---
Two before and three behind.
Good morning to you, valentine."

[rochvelleth.livejournal.com]

Ooh, go on then :)

Can I have prompt for backup in case I have no inspiration closer to the time please? I think I have the start of an idea...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

You certainly can!

"If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will also know how many children you will have."

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

I was really hoping for a Valentine's Day challenge. I wholly agree with sc fossil's comment, in spirit, so this is wonderful opportunity for lots of lovely romance and easy on the angst.

I'd like to try writing something. Could you please lend me a prompt, just in case?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

As I said to sc_fossil, everyone is always free to write whatever they like - and this goes for all the challenges. I'm not aware of any particular bias towards "angsty" challenges here at Dialj, to be honest. Unfortunately, mind, simply being a Valentine's Day challenge doesn't mean there won't be any angsty fic posted - look at what happened in 1929... *g*

Prompt-wise, how about...

"Valentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.

[ankaree.livejournal.com]

Oh! I think I shall be playing in this challenge! I love fluffly, mushy, romanitic stories *g*.

And the banner is terrific! Nice and Valentinesy *bg*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Excellent! You don't sound like you want a prompt, or would you...?

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

My challenge response rate has been pretty pitiful of late, DWAC aside - but I'll give it a go!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Brilliant! We're into the historical ones...

"In the Roman Empire, the lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry."

*g*

[vamp2911.livejournal.com]

count me in. xxx

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Excellent - and welcome! *g* Would you like a prompt, or are you happy to freewheel?!