Three Sentence Ficathon 2022

[rthstewart]

This post is NOW CLOSED TO NEW PROMPTS!  PLEASE POST YOUR NEW PROMPTS HERE, IN POST 2!  Do continue to fill prompts here but please put all new prompts in Post 2.

 

Welcome to the Three Sentence Ficathon!

Here's a Friending meme!

What is the 3 Sentence Ficathon?
This is an open exchange where you answer a prompt with a fic consisting of only three sentences. It's open to all fandoms and you can post and fill as many prompts as you like, as many times as you want.

What do I do first?
You can start 3SF by posting prompts! When posting a prompt please format it this way:

fandom, character(s), prompt word/sentence.

Only one prompt per comment please. So, for example,

Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi, I don't like sand."

Open ended and anthropomorphic fills are popular too, such as:

Any, Any, "I don't like sand."

or

Earth geography, sand, "I don't like humans very much, either."

What happens after that?
You answer other posters' prompts in three sentences (or more if you can't stop yourself) and fill as many prompts as you want, as many times as you wish. If you see that a prompt you loved has already been filled, go ahead and fill it again! Multiple fills of the same prompt are allowed and even encouraged! (We get really fun stories going this way).

Can I still post if I need more than 3 sentences? Or should I just abuse grammar in ways the English language never contemplated?
Yes. Yes.

But I'm not a member of Dreamwidth
No problem. You can comment anonymously or through open ID

I'm really overwhelmed by all the prompts and how much there is and how fast it goes. I can't read 1,000 prompts and fills. It's too much. 
I hear this a lot and it keeps a lot of people from participating.  The 3SF is big and it moves fast, especially at first.  I get overwhelmed, too, and I'm hosting the thing. With 2020 and 2021 sucking so badly you don't want something that's supposed to be fun cause you anxiety.  I have a couple of suggestions for managing the 3SF volume. 

• First, really, you don't have to read every prompt and fill on every page.  You can start at the last page of this and just go forward, or back a page or two.  It's fine.
  
• You can come and go as time and energy allow, you don't have to participate the whole time, and it drops off quite at bit after about 2 weeks and especially once we open a new post because this one is approaching 4,500 comments.
• Even after the 3SF and new prompting end, people fill prompts all year long.
• You can fill an already filled prompt and you can can leave a prompt that's already been prompted before.  People do it all the time. 

Always make sure you're looking at top-level comments only, not threaded. That helps a lot. Your screen should look like this.




But shouldn't I read everything to see if someone already prompted the same prompt I want to leave if someone already filled it? 
No.  Prompt as many times as you want, as much as you want.  It doesn't matter if someone prompted the exact same prompt.  Go ahead and prompt again!

I left a prompt and no one filled it.  Can I prompt it again?
Absolutely!

Can I spread the word?
Yes, please. I generally fail at creating banners and embed codes but if you create one and make it really idiot-proof, I might be able to post and share it.  Feel free to cross-post this entry. If you create your own banners or icons, let me know and I'll share!
Please share the 3SF with your followers, friends, and any channels and comms you are active on.  I'll post on fandom calendar, Tumblr, and Twitter, but I don't have many connections in other spaces such as Discord.

Here's my attempt at a text box that might go horribly awry.

<br /><a href="https://rthstewart.dreamwidth.org/172142.html" _fcksavedurl="https://rthstewart.dreamwidth.org/172142.html"><img src="https://rthstewart.dreamwidth.org/file/71907.jpg" _fcksavedurl="https://rthstewart.dreamwidth.org/file/71907.jpg" alt="" title="3 Sentence Ficathon 2022 Banner" /></a>




How long will it go?
The 3SF closes to new prompts on February 13, 2022. The entry stays open permanently and people post fills all year long.  (There were a bunch of new posts to the 2021 3SF this week!)

Are there any rules about cross-posting?
Nope, you can post wherever you want, whenever you want. A lot of folks collected their responses together and posted them on AO3 under the 3 sentence fiction tag. 3SFs are a terrific prompt for remixes and could be helpful for Yuletide bears, too.

What about spoilers, content and archive warnings, triggers, pairings, ratings, tags, and squick?

I thought a lot about this. It boils down to reader beware.  In my experience, this typically gets too big, moves too fast, and the stories are too short for content warnings and ratings to even apply. It is too big for me to moderate in this way. You should assume spoilers are fair game and that the initial poster and the responder have opted to use no content warnings or tags. This means AO3 content warnings for dubcon, violence, canon character death, underage, etc. COULD be present (and much more). I've found personally that I can skim and scroll by stuff that, from the prompt, I can tell isn't my favorite flavor of delicious cake. Use your best judgment, protect yourself, and be prepared to skip over things that aren't your thing. In this format, the obligation is on you, the reader, to protect yourself from triggering content.
Some posters do include warnings and spoiler tags or include spoiler space, but they don't have to do so.


Why is 3SF split among several posts?  That seems confusing.
It is confusing and we always lose momentum once we have to move to a second post. The reason is because at 5,000 comments to a single post, DW installs a human test CAPTCHA, which is a pain for users.  So, once this entry gets to the upper 4,000 comments, I open a new post.  If you've been waiting until things slow down to participate, when we open a second post is often a good place to join.

If I have questions, what do I do?
I'm rthstewart everywhere, here, Twitter, Tumblr, gmail and AO3.

A special thank you to conuly  .
Last year, Conuly started logging all unfilled prompts.
This year's (2021) unfilled prompts are here.
Last year's (2020) unfilled prompts are here.

Conuly asks that you not reply, as they want to be able to edit and add more prompts to the list.

 

Here, have some icons and banners and let me know if you've created your own!



      

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Selina D'Arcey/Gordon Ralfe, A Patch of Blue (1965), connection

[svgurl]

Ted Lasso, Roy/Keeley, sunset

[acequeenking]

"Isn't this lovely?" Keeley said; Roy winced, his fucked knee still giving him more trouble than he wanted to admit having.

"It's a bloody sunset," he said, wincing; didn't seem like it was worth climbing up a hill for, particularly not mid-winter.

"Oh, don't be such a fuddy-duddy," she scolded gently, no real heat behind it; she pulled out a thermos of hot cocoa, poured him a drink, and kissed his cheek -- and though he wouldn't admit it to a fucking soul, it did make him feel a bit better.

[raisedbymoogles]

Legally Blonde, Elle/Vivian, simple pleasures

Dress Sense

[acequeenking]

Elle wore pink for their courthouse wedding; of course, she did, what other color would Elle Woods ever be seen in on such an important occasion?

"How do I look?" Elle asked, as if she wasn't dominating the entire courtroom's attention; Vivian smiled, taking it in: the dress was large and elaborate -- sixteen layers of tulle, beading on the bodice that had taken Paulette at least sixteen weekends to help finish, and a train that somehow was exactly the right size to not get caught in the courthouse elevator -- she was pretty sure, somehow, Elle had measured it somehow in between their immigration hearings and the poverty law center she was tirelessly building next to the clerk's office.

"Look very classy on you," she said, and, even if it wasn't traditional, she kissed the bride.

[svgurl]

Harry Potter, Ron/Hermione, creating new traditions

A Granger-Weasley Christmas

[nasimwrites]

Ron doesn't understand the half of it, really. He doesn't understand the carols, or the star at the top of the tree, or whatever Box Day is and what one does on that day. He tries to do some research (with help from his dad) about what Red Nose Day is and if he, too, ought to paint his nose red, but only ends up feeling more confused.

"We can just spend Christmas at your family's," Hermione says helpfully, sounding rather amused as he tries to get his head around the Queen's speech. "We can see my parents for New Year's."

"No," Ron refuses, dropping the page he's been reading from and pulling her onto his lap. "This year, the Granger-Weasleys will do it all: sweaters, crackers, carols, and red noses. Muggle fun and normal fun."

He winces a little at his own slip-up, but Hermione is too busy kissing him to notice.

[siver]

Final Fantasy VI, Any, visiting a chocobo stable

[anonne]

They were about to leave - the handler had ramped the price up when he saw Edgar's attire, neglecting to consider that for eight birds, it would make the total sum quite extortionate - when Terra said, "They're different here."

Celes was about to turn to her and speak sharply - don't be ridiculous, there's only one breed big enough to ride - but the glint of the nearest chocobo's eye stopped her in her tracks: it was brighter than those of the Imperial stock, she realised, and as she considered the bird, she saw that the feathers seemed softer and lighter, more relaxed.

"They're kept better," she concluded; "they're happier, away from all that."

[svgurl]

Harry Potter, James/Lily, When you walk in the room that very night
A special feelin' just burst inside
It was only you, nobody else
But baby, I know better now (Gotta Tell You- Samantha Mumba)

[svgurl]

DCEU, Diana/Steve, breakfast in bed

[svgurl]

Gilmore Girls, Rory/Paris, borrowed clothes

[ravenlilyrose]

Community, the Study Group, family emergency

[ravenlilyrose]

Community, the Study Group, outsider POV

[mouseyear]

Somehow that group had become the most popular in the college. No one was really sure why or how – they always kept to themselves, were openly nerdy or rude, they embarrassed themselves more often than not but somehow everyone loved them.

Maybe it was Winger’s open manipulative tactics and insistence he didn’t need anyone. Maybe it was Perry’s open determination to fight ‘the man’ whoever that man happened to be. Or the way Bennett would give out free pastries and bakery goods in exchange for people’s favour. Or Barnes’ shortlived stint as head of the football team, the jock that chose to be mostly-nice to others. Maybe it was Nadir’s wacky theories and filmmaking that included everyone and made them all feel special. Or Hawthorne’s well meaning old fashioned humor and plain ignorance. Possibly it was Edison’s fantastic grades and willingness to do anything for an extra couple points.

Or maybe the individual members didn’t matter, maybe it had more to do with how they used that power – in fits and spurts, sometimes the unquestioned tyrants of the college, other times seemingly oblivious to their popularity.

One thing was certain – the Study Group was like nothing from High School but college was different – that was something they learned after the first paintball tournament – and was the Study Group really that odd in the grand scheme of colleges? They didn’t think so.

[zombie_honeymoon]

Any, any, damaged wings

Breath of the Wild, Link & Zelda

[raisedbymoogles]

(follows from this fill)

"I'll be fine!"

Link staggers, one wing dragging brokenly behind him, the other flared out, trying to find his balance-

"Don't worry about me - run!"

But of course, of course Link won't run. He stands before the Guardian, shield up though his arm must be screaming, ready to die in defense of his wingless failure of a Princess-!

The Guardian's eye flashes blue. Zelda doesn't think - only flings herself forward, hand outstretched as though her will alone could turn the deadly light-

The world erupts in gold.

The Guardian collapses in pieces, the Malice that had animated it burnt to ash, and Zelda stands amazed, her hand still outstretched. From her back six wings flare outstretched, glowing gold, the mark of a goddess.

There is a soft thud behind her and Zelda is Zelda again, rushing to gather Link to her breast and shield him with all of her wings, begging him not to die. If the breaking of those soft tawny wings are the sacrifice required to awaken her golden ones, Zelda thinks both now and later - it will never be a sacrifice worth making.

[cornerofmadness]

any, any, bone-weary

Adventure's End (Castlevania (Netflix); Alucard, Sypha, (Trevor))

[kalira]

"I- I thought he enjoyed the adventuring; I thought you both did!" Sypha said, whirling back to face Alucard, possibly sounding more antagonistic than she had intended.

It was one reason Alucard had chosen to corner Sypha for this alone - Trevor all too easily bowed to Sypha when she got like this; Alucard refused to ask but wondered about his family, his sisters.

"He's good at it, but he has had no choice but to wander and fight since his family were killed, Sypha," Alucard said pointedly, "he finally has somewhere he can stop and rest," he paused, chest tight; being back here was hauntingly painful, but he wouldn't give it up . . . but he desperately didn't want to be left alone in the castle with the haunting memories of his family, "don't you think he truly needs that?"

[ravenlilyrose]

Glee, New Directions, "This is my family. I found it, all on my own. It's little, and broken, but still good. Yeah, still good."

[cornerofmadness]

any crime show, any, familiar taste of poison

Maiden Holmes, Dong Rushuang

[aroberuka]

“Fei Yuan, I need you to stay calm and get something for me,” Rushuang says right after tasting the tea.

Everyone freezes then starts talking all at once; she tunes them out and licks her lips, studying the aftertaste – no bitterness, if anything the tea had been a little too sweet; must be fast-acting, her mouth is already becoming numb–

“I’ll need charcoal,” she says, “and a lot of water,” and sticks her fingers down her throat.

[(Anonymous)]

Sense and Sensibility, Margaret Dashwood, traveling the world

[ruanchunxian]

(Cross over with Around the World in Eighty Days 2021 (David Tennant version). In New York, instead of meeting Estella under the clock, Fogg meets another English lady. Don’t think too much about the timeline.)

“Aren’t you Mr Phileas Fogg? What are you doing still sitting here? The Henrietta sets sail in half an hour!”

Fogg turned to find, instead of the woman he was waiting for, sitting next to him now was another lady of at least eighty years, white-haired but with merry eyes, even if those eyes were currently looking at him in confusion.

“I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure, madam,” he said, even as his heart longed to look around, hoping against hope still that Estella would arrive any minute now. He did not wish to speak to this old lady, and the only way he could make his excuses now was if Estella showed up.

“Margaret Dashwood,” the old lady introduced herself.

“Mrs Dashwood – “

“Miss,” the lady interrupted, strong in her confirmation of her never married status.  

“I do apologise, Miss Dashwood – “

“Never mind that, Mr Fogg,” the lady said impatiently. “As I believe I asked, what are you still doing here, instead aboard the Henrietta?”

“I – how do you know I am to board the Henrietta, Miss Dashwood? Indeed, how do you know my name?”

“Everyone knows your name,” she said, still impatient. “You are trying to navigate the globe in 80 days to win twenty-thousand pounds, are you not? And you are not in a hurry to catch your ship?”

“I – I am waiting for someone – “ he said, unsure why he was even sharing this with a stranger. The person he was waiting for still had not shown up.

“It must be someone important for you to risk missing your boat,” she commented. More sardonically, she added, “It must also be nice that you can be so calm when the loss of twenty-thousand pounds is at stake.”

Fogg didn’t answer.  

“Mr Fogg, I sense that you are scared of something,” Miss Dashwood said when the silence stretched on between them.

“I don’t have the pleasure of understanding you, madam.”

“If you are waiting for someone to give you approval or encouragement to complete this extraordinary journey you have started out on, and are moments away from finishing, then I tell you, no one is coming to lead you onto that boat. You yourself must go on.”

Again, Fogg could not answer.

“I spent my youth in Sussex, and then Devonshire, Mr Fogg,” Miss Dashwood said, “and as the youngest daughter of a country gentleman, everyone thought they could see my life laid out before me. That was not what I wanted. So as soon as I was old enough, I started travelling, making my own way through the world. I have lost count of how many places I have been to, only that when my feet finally wearied, this city was here to receive me. But I only stopped because the longing for the horizon in my heart had been sated.”

She turned her deep blue eyes on Fogg, and asked with heart-shattering sympathy, “What about you, Mr Fogg? Are your yearnings for the horizon sated as well? Or are you here, waiting for a someone who might never come, letting that be the excuse for failure because the fear of success is becoming too much for you?”

[(Anonymous)]

Any, any, stress baking

Power Rangers (MMPR), Finster

[acequeenking]

Finster molded like a crazed man; the clay flew from his fingers, and he could not be distracted from his task, no matter how much Squatt and Bamboo tried.

There wasn't much else to do now that Lord Zedd had come back, and decided that three years of Galactic Overlord classes had made him Better at Monster Making than an artisan with centuries of experience.

He sighed; one day he'd be appreciated by someone -- but until then, there wasn't much to do besides practice his art.

[(Anonymous)]

Resident Evil, Mother Miranda, letters

[silverwill]

Heaven Official's Blessing, any, headaches

[silverwill]

Heaven Official's Blessing, Shi Wudu, feeling the pressure

[silverwill]

Heaven Official's Blessing, any heavenly official, wild stories about them

[silverwill]

Heaven Official's Blessing, Ling Wen, First Impressions

[ravenlilyrose]

any, any, "Let's eat, folks"

Beastars, Louis

[kiestan]

The day he achieves the point where he doesn't gag at the texture of meat rolling against his mouth's warm walls, trapped between gum and teeth, going down a throat turned perpetually dry and burnt -- the day he swallows it with disgust as just an afterthought, he doesn't celebrate.

Louis knows now: no matter how he dresses or behaves, he won't be a carnivore.

But what he wants isn't to transform into a creature easily consumed by mindless hunger; what he wants is their raw strength, crushing bites and natural claws, but since he can't have them, he'll be among and above those who do -- which means, he thinks, as he sets down his wine and cuts into flesh again, always doing what is necessary to rise above survival.

[notoriousreign]

Fionavar Tapestry, Paul/Jaelle, it is you I have loved all along

[vialethe]

Star Wars: TCW, Anakin/Ahsoka, inappropriate use of the force

Snips

[syrena_of_the_lake]

“It’s a nickname!” yelped Anakin, already on his feet and running for his life, “not a command!”

A veritable fleet of airborne scissors sailed behind him, darting in and nipping at his hair.

Obi-Wan was no help, having doubled over in laughter, and Ahsoka’s control wobbled dangerously as she wiped the tears from her eyes; even if Anakin’s hair survived, his dignity would be in shreds.

[vialethe]

Star Wars: TCW, Anakin/Ahsoka, too cocky for their own good

[demigodscum]

(Sequel to this fill.)


Anakin mutters something about making her come another three times before she passes out for the night, and Ahsoka turns around with a scoff to face him and say, "As if it's that hard. I could do that."

"I — don't think that's even physically possible," Anakin says, wincing at whatever he's seeing in his mind.

"Oh yeah? Are you so old already that you can't even get it up? Should I call the med droid? Hey, maybe you can get a hypospray or something," Ahsoka says, eyebrows raised and trying not to laugh — but of course it only serves to encourage Anakin, who narrows his eyes at her determinedly before grabbing her hips and pulling her closer.