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?!

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

I want to play, but I just can't face the potential of failing to meet yet another deadline and to ask for a prompt and then to fail to deliver would feel like I'd wasted the prompt. I've lost confidence in my writing and it shows so... Erm... yeah. Oooh rambling, not *that* I can do! *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Well it is all just for fun, so for the times when it's not fun - good to do other things. Ramble away. *g*

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."

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Bah! I'm just sick and feeling sorry for myself. Whine, sniffle, whine, cough, whine, blah, blah, blah...

I'm getting tired of me... Hit me with a prompt and I'll see if I can do something half-way sane with it. After all, who can resist that banner? *g*

[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!'"

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Aww - everyone has days like that, hope you're feeling better soon!

How about:
"Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind. Count the seeds that remain on the stem. That is the number of children you will have."

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

As to the prompt, egads woman! NO, I'm not writing mpreg no matter how much you beg. Even I have some standards. *whistles*

[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."

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think we might all prefer you to take your imagination in another direction... *g*

[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!)

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!

[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.