Three Sentence Ficathon 2022 Part 2

[rthstewart]

UPDATE 14 FEBRUARY 2022 -- 3SF 2022 IS NOW CLOSED TO NEW PROMPTS!  Do continue to fill prompts already posted but the 3SF 2022 is now closed.  We'll be back next year in a new comm (If I can get my act together).  Thank you again!

THIS IS THE NEW POST FOR PART 2 OF THE 3 SENTENCE FICATHON -- ALL NEW PROMPTS SHOULD BE POSTED HERE
You may continue to fill prompts (but not leave new ones) at the original Post 1 here but please post new prompts here, not there.  And if you're asking, hey is just me, or did this get enormous really fast? Why yes, yes it did.  Last year, it took us ten days before I opened a new post.  This year, it took us about 5.5 days to get there.  So, by all means, go back and fill in Post 1 and post new prompts here!

Also woops, in an indication of how busy I've been with other things, I neglected to post that for a third year in a row the awesome conuly  started a master list of unclaimed prompts and has been updating it as time permits.  Obviously a huge task! Thank you!

 

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

[elementalraven]

lotr, any, what if lotr was written by G.R.R. Martin

[elementalraven]

any, any, what if any book/canon was written by a different author

Narnia, if Narnia were written by Tolkien

[arveldis]

Susan, frowning, looked up at the lamp-post, its flickering flame that kept the glass from frosting over and its intricately-carved ladder rest, and then she looked down at the base, which looked as if it had grown great twisting roots that plunged into the ground, and said, “It’s impossible. This would have to be lit every evening, and there’s clearly no lamplighter in these woods, or else it wouldn’t still be burning in the daytime.”

“Lucy did say this was a magical land,” Peter put in.

Susan looked at him in exasperation and said, “What magical land would have a London lamp-post in it?”

[elementalraven]

Narnia, any, mirror universe

The Sun Never Sets

[edenfalling]

She destroyed her own world by accident, a hideous unforeseen consequence of a last, desperate spell to stop the Empire of Charn and her traitor sister from conquering the last small land that still gasped shallow breaths of freedom, but she has learned caution since that day -- and yet, some things never change; the casual arrogance of imperialists is a constant across all times, all places, and all peoples.

"And what, pray tell, is your home like?" she asks the human child as he sulks by her sleigh (damn the Lion for blighting this land with endless Winter as vengeance for her attempt to free his cowed and hoodwinked slaves!), blithely confident that no harm can truly touch him despite all evidence to the contrary.

"I'm from England, and we have the greatest empire in the world!" the boy says with pride, and Jadis begins to prepare again for war.

[elementalraven]

any, any, mirror universe

MDZS, Lan Wangji(/Wei Wuxian)

[quillsshadow]

GusuLan have over three thousand rules detailing how much mercy is acceptable (none), who is owed respect (those who can take it), their duties to the non-cultivators (to remind them of their places and remind everything else that they belong to GusuLan), and many more things.

Lan Wangji almost wonders, at times, whether he might prefer to have been born to a softer, gentler sect.

But when he sees Wei Wuxian, shining and brilliant and vicious, he is grateful that the wisdom of his ancestors says he should seize hold and take.

[elementalraven]

any crossover, any, a character is dropped into a different universe

ASOIAF / The Phantom (Susan Kay) - Tyrion meeting Javert the showman

[wickedlittletown]

One moment he was walking through the narrow street of the capital, ready to walk around the last street corner, which was separating him from his favorite spot, he stopped irritated.

'That isn't King's Landing anymore' thought Tyrion, while he let his different-colored eyes scan the surrounding. Wherever he had mysterious ended up, at least it was a decent looking place.

Cautious he made his way through the unknown place. He got the impression that he was a thief, when he was sneaking around with quite the opposite intention. But how do you behave in a place you don't know, where you hear a language that you don't understand.

He felt the looks of the citizens as he passed them by, could hear them whispering but he didn't understood them. He reached a spot where a crowd of people had already gathered, there was certainly something interesting to see.
But he didn't understood the people, otherwise he would have been aware that he had reached dangerous territory for someone like him: a curiosity in this city.

Suddenly he felt a strong hand on his shoulder. Someone had gotten onto the same level with him, something that didn't happened often. "What is your name young man?" Javert had spotted Tyrion a while before, wondering if he could manage to get him to join his freak show. His shining bright hair had stood out in the masses and when Javert noticed the two different colored eyes he was convinced that he should try every possible to get him into his possession.

Sure nothing could beat his "Living Corpse" which was singing at the very moment in his tent, making people shed tears and money into his pockets.

[elementalraven]

Narnia, any, dark au

Golden Age, Pevensies

[arveldis]

Narnia’s enemies soon learned to fear the newly-restored kingdom, for its kings and queens led bloody campaigns against all who had thought to encroach upon it during its long thralldom under the Witch’s hand; all four kings and queens rode to war, and enemy nations feared the names of the young monarchs who charged into battle with wild laughter in their throats and steel in their battle cries.

Rhindon ran slick with blood, and in Peter’s merciless hands it cut through enemy lines until none were left to challenge the High King, who bared his teeth in a smile and wiped the blood of his enemies on his wolf-skin mantle; at his side, Edmund cleaved through ranks of soldiers, dual swords flashing with a hungry glint as champions and foot soldiers alike fell into jaws of his blades.

Susan let fly her arrows, swift and unsparing, and her bow sang a bitter battle song; her hand was ungentle when she took up a blade and stood at her sister’s back as Lucy fought with sword and throwing daggers, the thrum of the battle pulsing in her veins as she spun through her enemies in a deadly dance, and her foes fell to their knees with shock in their eyes as her daggers hit their mark, flying unseen in the fury of the fray.

[elementalraven]

Narnia, any, modern au

Tumnus, I'm so sorry I turned you into an influencer himbo

[last_haven]

Lucy couldn't help staring at the very strange--man?--before her. It was startling enough when he appeared through the trees, goat legs and arms full with flimsy white bags, holding a strange thing which she could only assume was a camera (albeit very flat and square, but there was a lens on it that he pointed out to her while he tried to explain what "live streaming" was, and she could actually see the video play as if he held a very small, full color television) out on a very long stick before him, but subsequent talks hadn't cleared much up. He kept going on about her "cool, vintage threads" while tugging at her jumper, and asking if she was "a real man--or human, sorry I wasn't trying to assume anything".

She was so confused by the whole thing that when he offered to take her back to his place--"my studio might not have great natural lighting, but it sure is warmer than out here!"--she ended up agreeing because she wasn't sure how to refuse.

"But first, I gotta take a selfie with my first human bestie!" he laughed, getting the--camera?--back out and she felt like she understood only some of that sentence, but it wasn't like she had never taken a picture before. She managed a grin as he put up two fingers--the V sign was apparently a thing here?--but at least she had fun when he handed his device over and let her pick out a filter for the photo.

(She picked the one that gave them dog noses and ears. Tumnus nodded in appreciation and only belatedly remembered that someone might report his selfie with a human, or worse, repost it. He set the photo to private and considered the whole thing settled.)

[elementalraven]

Narnia, any, sci fi au

[primeideal]

"The Horn may open a wormhole and summon help from elsewhere in our coordinate system. But from their frame of reference, it might appear to cover a great distance in space and/or time. Therefore, I suggest we slowly disperse to locations where we think the gravitational instabilities may permit a wormhole to open--bearing in mind that if we go too fast, the sounding will not take place 'simultaneously' for all of us, so we had better be cautious."

[elementalraven]

narnia, any, dystopia au

fast-forward the cold war to the wrong end

[(Anonymous)]

There are no talking animals to guard their backs, no Lion to roar his displeasure and crown them as monarchs of the land they've saved. But then, this isn't a land they've saved, and eking out an existence after the bombs have fallen (the cold war did not last, unthinking stupidity pushing buttons and ending everything), is something they've become inured to.

Lucy, as the youngest, is the first to fall prey to the radiation sickness.

[elementalraven]

any, any, genre swap

[paxilam]

the witcher, any, nobody wants to know those details

[(Anonymous)]

Any fantasy series, any, make it Galavant instead of Game of Thrones

[primeideal]

(Wheel of Time, late-series spoilers)

"Nothing I've done has broken Semirhage," Rand complained. "We list her acts of horrific sadism, and she just gloats!"

"You're going about it the wrong way," said Cadsuane. "What does Semirhage fear most of all? Not pain, not disapproval, but humiliation. You let me at her, and I'll have her begging for mercy in a week."

Rand shuddered. "If it's the only way."

--

Three days later, all the gai'shain were humming this catchy number:

Who's bored us with too much hate and wrath?
Tiresome, over-the-top Anath!
Who can't even do basic math?
Must be that dimwit, baby Anath!
Who thought she was a great Truthspeaker
But really, only a sheep is weaker?
Who only pines for the Age of Wonders
When she committed a bunch of malpractice blunders?
Who do we ridicule in this montage?
Everyone give it up for Semirhage!

"If you give me an animation budget I can come up with a really good clip reel of her being pathetic," Cadsuane added.

"Stop it, stop it, I confess," said Semirhage. "Just leave me alone."

[ernest]

Hamlet, any, first mouthed to be last swallowed

[smallhobbit]

His uncle had been the one he had always been after, the one who should be brought to account, the one who would pay the price. But now, after so many others had died first, and whose deaths could, directly or indirectly be laid at his feet, it no longer felt the same. A taste, once to be savoured, was now so very bitter.

[ernest]

Hamlet, any, in the secret parts of Fortune

[ernest]

Hamlet, female Laertes, the chariest maid is prodigal enough

[smallhobbit]

She could do chaste, if it was needed, but that wasn't what Hamlet wanted at this point. Her sister could marry him in due time, and receive a consort's crown. But how much more powerful she would be as mistress of the future king.

[ernest]

Hamlet, any, In the general censure take corruption from that particular fault

[smallhobbit]

(Yes, I should be doing something else - why do you ask!)
Horatio looked at Hamlet and said, "I don't understand you; I agree Osric is vain, self-serving, obsequious and a total waste of space."

Hamlet shrugged, "Where's the problem?"

"The thing you have most against him is his hat!"

[(Anonymous)]

Any, any, elderflower

[wickedlittletown]

Phantom of the Opera, Erik and Nadir - I know you're lying

[wickedlittletown]

RHPS, any, teaching someone the Time Warp

[(Anonymous)]

Any, any, island, mountain, water, forest

Fill

[swirlsngirls]

Cold sea surrounds the tall cliffs, pushing in with each tide as if a hand squeezing a throat. The great structures are rocky and sheer, a treacherous climb. A better route is inland, through the mingling trees, where your feet are cushioned by pine needles and your head is sheltered by sun-dappled leaves.

[emmatheslayer]

Scream 1996 , Billy Loomis/Stu Macher , my one and only

[emmatheslayer]

Mcu , Bucky Barnes/ Sam Wilson ,let me hold you

[dariaw]

Watching the news, Sam started gripping the kitchen chair tight, leaning on it instead of crumbling down on to the ground, refusing to cry or scream or anything else the bastards probably wanted him to do.

Bucky, probably on instinct, walked in, saw the news, and wrapped his arms around Sam.

Sam swallowed, closed his eyes, and for a second, he wanted to fall into Bucky, bury his head in Bucky's neck, and he wanted it so badly it felt like a sear into his skin. But he pushed away, not looking Bucky in the eye.

Bucky loosened his arms but still held on, moved in to whisper, a soft rasp in Sam's ear, "Look, I know you're going to do your job and I've gotta let you. But I'm the guy who holds up the guy who holds up the shield. And you've gotta let me do my job too."

He moved slowly, tightening his embrace cautiously around Sam's waist, and Sam found himself leaning against Bucky, his mind still somewhere as else as Bucky held up his weight.

[emmatheslayer]

The politician Payton Hobart/river Barkley, I need your love

[emmatheslayer]

Trueblood, Eric northman/Jason stackhouse, whenever I think about you

[emmatheslayer]

Glee , Noah puckerman/Blaine Anderson, make em say wow