The Fourth Annual "I Challenge You to Challenge Me" Challenge!
In what I hope to be an annual event, I'm doing this (otherwise known as "Force Me to be Creative for You!") again. I started it way back in 2006, when I lifted an innocuous meme from ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
gypsyjr, and I'm going to keep doing it once a year until I get it right, or until you people storm the castle and force me to stop.
Under the cut, you'll find two listings: one of different types of scenes, the other of a number of fictitious universes in which I feel I am competent (insert snarky comments here) to write a story.
Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to choose one from each list and I'll write a story based on your choice. Choosing a particular character (only one per) is nice, but not required (you can choose, for example, Willow, or just pick the entire "Buffy" series and I'll find someone to work the mojo on). You can also, if you like, choose the length of your story - Drabble (100 words exactly, not counting title, codes, etc), Double Drabble (same as before, only 200 words) or longer-form (Anything goes! Ask around!).
If you want, request multiple stories. Go on, make me suffer.
My commitment is to have your scene done and posted within a couple of days, but if volume goes up (unlikely but possible), it may require more time. When they're all complete, I'll post each (separately or together, depending on the number) to my fic journal,bill_brains_inc.
If you want to see what I managed to do before, here are the results from each of the three previous years.
As always, results may vary. Consult physician if story lasts more than four hours.
Scenes
1. Naughty _____
2. Happy _____
3. Exhausted _____
4. Angsty _____
5. Poorly-Sick-And-Dying _____
6. Horny _____
7. Pregnant _____
8. Excited _____
9. Book-Reading _____
11. Jealous ______
12. Kidnapped _____
13. Caring _____
14. Utterly Shocked _____
15. Obedient _____
16. Stubborn _____
17. Naive _____
18. Bored _____
19. Greedy _____
20. Daring _____
21. Exploring _____
22. Swimming-In-The-Buff-_____
23. Bathtime _____
24. Drunker-than-all-get-out _____
25. Morose _____
26. Falling-Down-A-Lot _____
27. Well-shagged _____
28. Kickass _____
Fan Universes
1. Star Trek
2. Star Trek: TNG
3. Star Trek: DS9
4. Star Trek: Voyager
5. Enterprise
6. Star Trek: AOS (Alternate Original Series, aka the JJ Abrams Movie Version)
7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
8. Angel
9. Dollhouse
10. The X-Files
11. Stargate SG-1
12. Mystery Science Theater 3000
13. Charmed
14. Bones
15. Monk
16. DC Comics Universe
17. Marvel Comics Universe
18. M*A*S*H
19. Daria
20. Sports Night
21. The West Wing
22. Law & Order (Mothership only, no SVU or CI)
23. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
24. The Closer
25. The NAC adventures of L Neil Smith
26. The Tick
27. Fringe
28. Twin Peaks
Story Length
Drabble
Double-Drabble
Knock Myself Out
Also, while I'd like to avoid repeats, I'm not going to be all crazy about it. Here are all the scenarios that have been used so far:
Losing His Cherry Tom Servo
Well-Shagged Arthur (from 'The Tick')
Swimming-in-the-Buff Buffy
Naughty X-Files
Exhausted Enterprise
Pregnant Gypsy
Horny Crow
Pregnant Daria
Naughty Buffy
Swimming_In_The_Buff Stargate SG-1
Poorly-Sick-And-Dying Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Caring MST3K
creativegypsyjr, and I'm going to keep doing it once a year until I get it right, or until you people storm the castle and force me to stop.Under the cut, you'll find two listings: one of different types of scenes, the other of a number of fictitious universes in which I feel I am competent (insert snarky comments here) to write a story.
Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to choose one from each list and I'll write a story based on your choice. Choosing a particular character (only one per) is nice, but not required (you can choose, for example, Willow, or just pick the entire "Buffy" series and I'll find someone to work the mojo on). You can also, if you like, choose the length of your story - Drabble (100 words exactly, not counting title, codes, etc), Double Drabble (same as before, only 200 words) or longer-form (Anything goes! Ask around!).
If you want, request multiple stories. Go on, make me suffer.
My commitment is to have your scene done and posted within a couple of days, but if volume goes up (unlikely but possible), it may require more time. When they're all complete, I'll post each (separately or together, depending on the number) to my fic journal,
bill_brains_inc.If you want to see what I managed to do before, here are the results from each of the three previous years.
As always, results may vary. Consult physician if story lasts more than four hours.
Scenes
1. Naughty _____
2. Happy _____
3. Exhausted _____
4. Angsty _____
5. Poorly-Sick-And-Dying _____
6. Horny _____
7. Pregnant _____
8. Excited _____
9. Book-Reading _____
11. Jealous ______
12. Kidnapped _____
13. Caring _____
14. Utterly Shocked _____
15. Obedient _____
16. Stubborn _____
17. Naive _____
18. Bored _____
19. Greedy _____
20. Daring _____
21. Exploring _____
22. Swimming-In-The-Buff-_____
23. Bathtime _____
24. Drunker-than-all-get-out _____
25. Morose _____
26. Falling-Down-A-Lot _____
27. Well-shagged _____
28. Kickass _____
Fan Universes
1. Star Trek
2. Star Trek: TNG
3. Star Trek: DS9
4. Star Trek: Voyager
5. Enterprise
6. Star Trek: AOS (Alternate Original Series, aka the JJ Abrams Movie Version)
7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
8. Angel
9. Dollhouse
10. The X-Files
11. Stargate SG-1
12. Mystery Science Theater 3000
13. Charmed
14. Bones
15. Monk
16. DC Comics Universe
17. Marvel Comics Universe
18. M*A*S*H
19. Daria
20. Sports Night
21. The West Wing
22. Law & Order (Mothership only, no SVU or CI)
23. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
24. The Closer
25. The NAC adventures of L Neil Smith
26. The Tick
27. Fringe
28. Twin Peaks
Story Length
Drabble
Double-Drabble
Knock Myself Out
Also, while I'd like to avoid repeats, I'm not going to be all crazy about it. Here are all the scenarios that have been used so far:
Losing His Cherry Tom Servo
Well-Shagged Arthur (from 'The Tick')
Swimming-in-the-Buff Buffy
Naughty X-Files
Exhausted Enterprise
Pregnant Gypsy
Horny Crow
Pregnant Daria
Naughty Buffy
Swimming_In_The_Buff Stargate SG-1
Poorly-Sick-And-Dying Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Caring MST3K
When you say these scenarios "have been used before", do you mean people have made these requests to this meme or that there are stories already existing that could and ought to be linked to? Because at least one challenge I was going to offer you is already on this list.
And since I didn't feel I could complain about that without offering a challenge too: Bathtime M*A*S*H
Bathtime M*A*S*H? That can work.
Paul's Story - "Operational Status"
Author: Bill L.
Size: Drabble
Summary: Before you begin, you run through the checklist
Challenge: Bathtime M*A*S*H
Disclaimer: M*A*S*H owned by 20th Century Fox. You Tell 'Em, Ferret Face!
OPERATIONAL STATUS
By Bill Livingston
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Scalpel?" Pierce inquired.
"Check," McIntyre confirmed.
"Scissors?"
"Check."
"Retractors?"
"Check."
"Robes?"
"Check."
"Binoculars?"
"Check."
"Lounge Chairs?"
"Check."
"Martinis?"
"Check and double check - full pitcher with a fresh jar of olives."
"Excellent! Lookout, I assume you've been briefed on your duties?"
"You betcha," Radar nodded. "First sight of Major Houlihan, I give you two sirs the high sign."
"Very good, Swifty. Time, Watson?"
McIntyre ostentatiously brought his watch to his face. "Quarter to six - 1545, Army Standard Time, and the nurses' shower opens in 15 minutes. Shall we begin our prep?" he asked, brandishing the scissors.
"Gowns and gloves!" Hawkeye smirked.
Edited at 2009-05-21 05:06 am (UTC)
Book-Reading Dollhouse
Falling-Down-A-Lot Angel
Pregnant Crow
Bathtime Buffy
Drunker-than-all-get-out Bones
*Ow*
*Medical Insurance Premium Increase*
*OW!!!*
Roland's First Story (#2) - "Have a Nice Trip"
Author: Bill L.
Size: Double Drabble
Summary: Angel hits the deck. Constantly!
Challenge: Falling-Down-A-Lot Angel
Disclaimer: "Angel" owned by Mutant Enemy productions. Grrr Arrgh!
HAVE A NICE TRIP
By Bill Livingston
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Guys, tell me you're making progress here," Angel pleaded, slowly dragging himself to his feet for the 37th time.
"Some," Wesley said, then added ruefully, "But not much."
"How much?"
"None really," Fred admitted.
"Nothing?"
"Just what's in these seven books, and that's about it."
"Aw c'mon, there's got to be..." The rest of Angel's sentence was cut off as he tripped over his own feet yet again and the floor smacked him.
"If it helps," Lorne offered from the other side of the room, I could always do a couple of verses of 'Stumbling In'."
"Ow!" Angel said in response to both the tumble and Lorne's comment. He shot a hard look at Gunn, who was trying hard not to laugh. "Y'know, it may look funny, but you try being the one who can't walk more than five steps without hitting the floor - which, I might add, is extremely hard!"
"Sorry, big guy," Gunn said, trying to look more serious. "Anything I can do to help? Besides not laughing?"
"Only if you can tell us," Wesley said, "the basics of the spell."
"I never knew impedimenta was a real spell," Fred sighed. "I just wonder how Rowling heard of it?"
Re: Roland's First Story (#2) - "Have a Nice Trip"
Roland's Second Story (#1) - "The Book of Names"
Author: Bill L.
Size: Longer Form
Summary: Someone has left a book for Echo
Challenge: Book-Reading Dollhouse
Disclaimer: "Dollhouse" owned by Mutant Enemy productions. Did I fall asleep?
The Book of Names
By Bill Livingston
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Someone had left a book on the table where Echo usually sat. That was odd - there are very few books here, and most of them are small. This one was thicker, colored pink, with a picture of a fat smiling baby and the words POPULAR BABY NAMES FOR GIRLS written on the front.
Echo smiles. Babies are nice.
Echo opens the book and, starting at the back, skims through it. Most of the names are very pretty, but they mean nothing to her.
Some names, though, are circled. Reading them makes Echo feel - strange. Vague, half-formed memories come to her unbidden.
"Yvonne" (The cold steel of a gun in her hand, watching as an oddly-dressed man exits a car)
"Taffy" (A giant metal door swings open, revealing statues and pictures)
"Rebecca" (A man holding her in his arms, telling her she was home)
"Paige" (Gently coaxing a woman to give birth)
"Margaret" (A room full of people, all come to see her - because she's dead?)
"Lacey" (Sitting in a Jacuzzi between a man and his wife as each ran a hand up her thigh)
"Jordan" (Singing and dancing before a packed audience)
"Gia" (Dressed in tight, uncomfortable leather, she softly drew a whip across a man's chest)
"Esther" (In a room filled with smoke, someone swings something at her head)
"Caroline"
Echo stares at the name, not only circled but highlighted. It means nothing to her, calls forth no memories.
Curiously though, just the sight of the word seems to hold her captive. She is fascinated by it. She feels her mind begin to churn, spinning like something momentous was about to happen. It's close, so close, she could almost...
"Echo?"
With a start, she looked up. The phenomenon faded instantly. "Hello," she smiled.
"What do you have there, Echo?" the woman asked.
"I found a book," Echo said, handing it to her. "It has a lot of names in it."
She took the book and scanned it. Echo was puzzled as a small frown appeared - she hadn't meant to make the woman sad.
Quickly, Adelle DeWitt tucked the book under her arm. She had an uncomfortable feeling she knew who had left it - but neither how nor why. Masking her disquiet, she smiled at her Active. "Echo, why don't you come with me, and we'll see about getting you a treatment?"
"I'd like that," Echo smiled as she stood and went with the woman. Echo liked it when the woman smiled - it made her happy. "I liked those names," she said as they went upstairs. "Some of them are very pretty."
"Yes," Adelle agreed, tightening her clutch on the book. "Yes, they are."
Edited at 2009-05-23 04:27 pm (UTC)
Re: Roland's Second Story (#1) - "The Book of Names"
I'm guessing that's post-Season 1, and Paul was the one who put the book there.
Re: Roland's Second Story (#1) - "The Book of Names"
Roland's Third Story (#3) - Forcing It Over Your Head
Author: Bill L.
Size: Double Drabble
Summary: Crow wants to know.
Challenge: Pregnant Crow
Note: Title taken from an old Carol Burnett quote about pregnancy.
Disclaimer: "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and all characters owned by Best Brains Inc. You never had a puppy.
FORCING IT OVER YOUR HEAD
By Bill Livingston
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Hey Mike, tell me something."
"If I can."
"What's pregnancy like?"
That made Mike Nelson lower his copy of Temps Monthly. "OK, first, why do you want to know, and second, why are you asking me?"
"I want to know because it's part of the human experience, and that's what I strive for."
"No it isn't."
"It's not?"
"No," Mike said. "In fact, not two days ago, you called me a 'bag of meat' and cursed out Data from 'Star Trek' as a 'rotten traitor to bot-hood'."
"Huh. Oh! Oh, that's right!" Crow laughed. "I forgot - living organisms are a blight on the universe and deserve only contempt! Boy is my face red! Or, well, gold, I guess! Thanks for setting me straight, Mike."
"No problem. Hey wait, why were you asking me to begin with?"
"Well, you're a no-good meatbag, so I figured you'd know."
Mike sighed. "Crow, I'm a guy. I can't really get pregnant without massively massive medical intervention."
"Yeah, but you used to be an embryo or a larvae or something, right?"
"Sorry, Crow," Mike said, returning to his magazine. "I can't quite remember that far back."
"Figures," Crow muttered as he wandered off. "Stinking meatbag."
Edited at 2009-05-27 07:51 am (UTC)
Re: Roland's Third Story (#3) - Forcing It Over Your Head
Re: Roland's Third Story (#3) - Forcing It Over Your Head
Roland's Fourth Story (#5) - "Long Live the King"
Author: Bill L.
Size: Triple Drabble
Summary: Hodgins has a plan. Not a good one, but a plan.
Challenge: Drunker-than-all-get-out Bones
Note: Takes place right after the Season 3 finale "The Pain in the Heart".
Disclaimer: "Bones" owned by 20th Century Fox Television in association with Far Field Productions and Josephson Entertainment. What's That Mean?
LONG LIVE THE KING
By Bill Livingston
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Hodgins?"
Jack Hodgins lifted his head, exposing eyes so bloodshot they were almost solid crimson. "Dr. Bennen! Agent Brooth! Two of my very fav'rite people not onna way to the nuthatch! Howerya?!"
"OK Hodgins," Booth said, "What're you doing?"
Hodgins swept his arm at a pile of empties in the corner - several beers, Maker's Mark, an expensive bottle of champagne, a couple of vodkas, even MD 20/20. "My plan," he slurred, "Is to drink ever' ounce of alcohol at th' Jesserfonian. When that's gone, I'll manufacture more here in th' lab an' drink that it too."
"Hodgins," Brennan said. "You can't do that."
"Sure I can!" Hodgins said. "I'm undisputed King of the Lab now! My only rival is - is - gone." Like a deflating balloon, he sank to the floor.
Brennan knelt next to him. "Hodgins," she said softly, "We miss Zack too."
"Stupid... stupid..." he mumbled.
"Yeah, what Zack did was stupid," Booth started to say, "But -"
"Not him - me! ME!!!" Hodgins shouted. "Don' you unnerstan'? I shoulda noticed - but all I did was keep filling his sweet stupid head with my conspiracy theory crap! I practically primed him for Gormagon! It's my fault! All - all my fault!"
For a moment, Hodgins looked as though he was going to burst into tears, but he simply slumped over. Brennan checked his pulse to make sure he was merely insensate instead of comatose, then asked, "Now what?"
Regarding the unconscious scientist with pity, Booth pulled out his cell phone. "Now," he said, "We call Angela to come collect him."
Temperance Brennan remembered how unhappy she'd felt as she'd watched Zack led away in chains. I know how he feels, she thought sadly.
"My fault--- 'sall my fault," Hodgins mumbled miserably. "The King a' the lab's gone, an' 'sall my fault!"
Edited at 2009-05-31 03:15 am (UTC)
Re: Roland's Fourth Story (#5) - "Long Live the King"
Roland's Fifth Story (#4) - "The Sweet (?) Smell of Successfullness"
Author: Bill L.
Size: Drabble
Summary: Sometimes, baths don't help so much
Challenge: Bathtime Buffy
Note: Takes place sometime in late season 3.
Disclaimer: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" owned by Mutant Enemy productions. Saving the World. A lot.
THE SWEET (?) SMELL OF SUCCESSFULLNESS
By Bill Livingston
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Chasing the demon had taken them through one of the Sunnydale's ickier swamps, so Joyce had let the gang wash up there - a sign, maybe, that she was getting used to the weirdness surrounding Buffy being the Chosen One.
They were in the kitchen, munching on lemon squares or corn chips (or in Xander's case, both at once) when she came in. Suddenly, she stopped, winkled her nose and sniffed. "I better check those towels - I think they're starting to smell like wet dog."
All eyes turned to the dude at the end of the table.
"Sorry," Oz shrugged.
Re: Roland's Fifth Story (#4) - "The Sweet (?) Smell of Successfullness"
I've always liked Oz as a character. Too bad he didn't last long on the show.
Jon's Story - "The Mommy Club"
Author: Bill L.
Size: Triple Drabble
Summary: It turns out that how they got that way isn't the biggest mystery.
Challenge: Pregnant Hoshi and/or T'Pol
Note: Takes place after the final Enterprise storyline and before "These are the Voyages".
Disclaimer: "Enterprise" owned by Paramount in association with CBS Entertainment. It's been a long road getting from there to here.
The Mommy Club
By Bill Livingston
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
An upset Ensign Sato shook her head as she clutched her distended stomach. "It's like we said, Captain. I went with T'Pol to investigate what we thought was an intermittent subspace signal, but when we got to the clearing it was deserted. Then there was just that bright flash of light and..."
"It struck before we could report in," the Vulcan woman added from the biobed opposite Hoshi's. "We came to only when were revived by Commander Tucker, by which time we were already in this condition," indicating her own rotund belly.
"Maybe Phlox's exam turned up something," Captain Archer said.
"Or at least let us know if they're expectin' boys or girls," Trip added, trying to lighten the mood.
"Both embryos seem to be female," said the Denobulan physician, his normal cheerful demeanor then turning concerned and puzzled. "However, both the Lieutenant and the Sub-commander now appear to be beginning the third trimester of pregnancy, despite being decidedly non-pregnant before leaving for this mission. And that isn't even the strangest part."
"Doctor," Hoshi said wryly, "What's stranger than waking up six months pregnant?"
"How about the fact both daughters are half human and half Vulcan?"
Trip swallowed - he and T'Pol had been here before. "Does, does that mean that the kids are..."
"No worries on that score, Commander, they're quite viable. The most puzzling aspect of this situation, though, is that both girls are genetically identical."
"That," T'Pol said flatly, "Is impossible."
"Impossible but true," Phlox said. "Furthermore, each child's chromosomes are half yours, half hers."
It took a second for the doctor's words to sink in. Trip and Hoshi looked at each other, flabbergasted. T'Pol's expression betrayed nothing.
"But - but that would mean..." stammered Captain Archer.
"Exactly - essentially, the two of them are having each other's babies."
Edited at 2009-05-31 03:14 am (UTC)
Re: Jon's Story - "The Mommy Club"
Re: Jon's Story - "The Mommy Club"
Re: Jon's Story - "The Mommy Club"
BTW, it's "John" with an "h".
Re: Jon's Story - "The Mommy Club"
Re: Jon's Story - "The Mommy Club"
What a lovely way to say how much they value each other as fellow crewmembers.
Re: Jon's Story - "The Mommy Club"
:-)
Noah's Story - "Making the Call"
Author: Bill L.
Size: Double Drabble
Summary: Uhura's news settles an issue - or does it?
Challenge: Pregnant Uhura (TOS version)
Disclaimer: "Star Trek" owned by Paramount in association with CBS Entertainment. Moving from "Nichols" to "Saldana" in just 11 steps.
MAKING THE CALL
By Bill Livingston
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"I'm the father?"
"It couldn't be anyone else."
"And you're worried?" he asked.
"Of course - I'll have to leave the service, at least temporarily. And if it gets out the father's a fellow officer, both our careers would be over."
"Do you want to keep the child?" he asked softly.
She hesitated, nodded. "I tried to convince myself otherwise, but - yes."
There was a long silence from the shadows. "Then I'll take leave - or resign - along with you, help you raise him. Or her."
"What? No! Your career..."
"My career," he said firmly, "Is nothing compared to my child. Or the woman I love."
Uhura felt her heart rise. "Do you really mean that?"
"Of course," he said, taking her hand in his. "In fact, I'd consider it an honor if you'd marry me."
Tears of joy welled in Uhura's eyes. She hadn't realized until that moment how much she loved him, had wanted to hear those words. She rose to embrace her beloved...
...Just as the intercom buzzed her wake-up call.
Her relief quickly turned to puzzlement - who had the father been? She felt it was important to know - maybe her subconscious was sending her its own wake-up call.
Re: Noah's Story - "Making the Call"
Re: Noah's Story - "Making the Call"