rarepair_shorts | Number Game Ficathon Fall 2009!

Hey everyone! It's been a while since we've had any sort of event here, hasn't it? But we received a message a couple weeks ago asking if we had any plans on bringing back the Number Game Ficathon from last year (and here's its masterlist), so we thought, why not? It was a lot of fun then, so we hope you enjoy it again for an encore round.

We have compiled two lists - one of male characters (71 total males), and one of female characters (55 total females). All the characters are at least quasi-substantial - that means you won't get anyone overly obscure.

The lists are sorted randomly, and each character has been assigned a number on their respective lists.

Based on the information you provide us, you will be given several random rare pairings to work with. We have you choose seven numbers to ensure you'll get at least one pairing that is doable/not squicky, and because we will throw out any non-rare pairings you happen to generate. You may then choose the one pairing you like best and write a fic that's at least 500 words. Please post it to the community - making sure you follow general posting rules, which we'll show you in a moment.

So, to split things into easy and hard, you have two options.
Option #1 [easy]: Select one character you feel comfortable working with.
Option #2 [hard]: Leave the pairings you get entirely up to chance.

Reply to this post using the following form:

1.
-Specify whether you'd like to take Option #1 or Option #2. If taking Option #1, name the character you'd like to work with.
2.
-If taking Option #1, give us seven numbers (1-71 for males, 1-55 for females). After each number, specify whether you'd like het, slash, or femmeslash.
-If taking Option #2, give us seven pairs of numbers. After each pair, specify whether you'd like het, slash, or femmeslash. If choosing het, the first number will correspond to a male character, and the second number will correspond to a female character.

Here's a couple of example forms:

1. Option #1 - Zacharias Smith
2. 1 [het], 4 [het], 18 [het], 25 [slash], 36 [slash], 38 [slash], 71 [het]

1. Option #2
2. 1/3 [slash], 12/9 [slash], 58/34 [het], 22/22 [het], 45/35 [het],55/31 [femmeslash], 5/18 [femmeslash]

We will reply to your comments telling you the pairings you generated - excluding those that happen to be non-rare.

Because this generated some confusion last year, your comments will be screened, and our comments will be visible. But in spite of this little switcheroo, please don't share with others which numbers you chose. We don't want people to figure out which numbers correspond with which characters - that just spoils the fun. :D (Although when we give you your pairings, we will list the characters in alphabetical order, and not the order in which you put them down.)

You have until October 28 to sign up and get your pairings, and until November 23 to finish up your fics.

Questions should also be directed at this post.

Have at it and have fun!

Here is the format you need to follow to post fics for the ficathon. :D Feel free to make posts as soon as you receive your characters/pairings!

Headline
In the Subject line of your post, please use the following format:
FICATHON: Title of fic (Pairing)
e.g. FICATHON: An Unfortunate Coincidence (Ginny/Blaise)

Body
In the body of your posts, please use the following format:
Title:
Pairing:
Rating:
Word Count: (Remember, no less than 500 and no more than 1500!)
Summary:
Author's Notes:

Tags
You need a total of four tags on each post - the usual three tags plus the tag ".ficathon: fall 2009". Some of your tags might not exist yet, so we'll add them for you - don't worry about that.

You may also write more than one fic - if multiple pairings appeal to you, go right ahead!

However, once you sign up, you are not obligated to participate in this event. We know real-life stuff comes up, or you just lose interest, and for the purposes of this ficathon, that's okay. :)