telophase: (Kyo - say what?)
telophase ([personal profile] telophase) wrote2007-11-20 11:24 am
Entry tags:

Okay, BORED NOW

Wonder how an LJ round-robin story would work? Let's see: if I post the beginning of a story here, anyone who felt the urge to continue it could post a comment, and anyone continuing that story would reply to that comments, and so on.

So ... why not? I think the only rules (so far) need to be:

1) Reply to the comment whose story you're continuing, so readers can read a story easily without searching around too much (I know, if it branches, it branches).

2) You can write as little or as much as you want, make it fanfic or original fic, silly or serious, contemporary, historic, fantasy, SF, prose, comic, poetry, whatever. Just to see what directions it can go. If it's teh_pr0n or graphic violence, warn and hide it with span tags so people can read at work or skip it if they're not into it, or whatever. (<span style="background-color: #000000; color: #000000;">your text goes here</span>)

3) ETA2: A question brought up here asks about claiming characters: yes or no? I rule no, just because it takes longer for the story to be written if you have to wait for the next person. So feel free to write any character anyone comes up with. If the person who created it doesn't like the way you're taking it, they are free to write their own responses - it's OK to have more than one branch to the story (I think seeing the different ways the story could go is interesting :D).

i.e.: John Doe writes segment A. Jane Doe writes segment B, branching from A. John doesn't like Jane's direction, so writes his own segment B. Richard Roe comes through, likes both of them, and writes two different segment Cs, one for each segment B. And so on.

Feel free to ask for clarifications, etc. in the comments.

This might turn out good, or might fall flat. We'll see. :D

That being said, let me start with something reasonably generic and vague that can go in a number of directions...

(ETA1: 3 responses at the moment, and I'm loving the different ways it's gone already. XD)

======================================================================

There was, of course, a library, a proper library, with shelves packed tight with leather-bound books carefully lined up at the edge of the shelf. There was, of course, someone walking through the aisles, echo of footsteps muffled by the paper and leather, searching for the right book. The figure stopped, bent to examine one of the lower shelves, then pulled out a book and opened it, flipping hastily through the pages, then stopped at a page a little more than halfway through the book.

"Aha. This is it."
weirdquark: Stack of books (books)

2 b

[personal profile] weirdquark 2007-11-20 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
There was, of course, a librarian, passing by that particular aisle as she looked for a book a patron had requested. She clicked her tongue disapprovingly when she saw the book on the floor, and stopped to pick it up and put it back on the shelf. Then she noticed the title. All else was forgotten and she rushed to find her supervisor.

"Meredeth," she said, "we have a problem."

3b

[identity profile] tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com 2007-11-20 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"What do you mean a problem?" Meredeth looked up from her bits of paperwork and paperclip riddled desk. Eyes over halfmoon glasses.

But when the other librarian girl, Annalee, held up the book, Meredeth nearly fell from her chair.

"What is that still doing here?" Didn't we get rid of that?"
weirdquark: Stack of books (know how to whistle)

Re: 4b

[personal profile] weirdquark 2007-11-20 06:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Preservation insisted on moving it to the restricted section so we could keep it," Annalee said, putting the book down on Meredeth's desk and tugging at her sleeves. "That's not the problem. It was out. And it smells like it was used recently."

5b

[identity profile] frostedelves.livejournal.com 2007-11-20 06:35 pm (UTC)(link)
As if to prove her point, the book snapped its cover at them weakly, seeking another passenger-- involuntary or not.

Meredeth clucked her tongue. "I told them we needed chains."
chomiji: Cartoon of chomiji in the style of the Powerpuff Girls (ancient evil)

Re: 6b

[personal profile] chomiji 2007-11-20 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)


Annalee looked seriously worried. "But there wasn't any in the budget to cover the silver chains! You know the brass ones don't last. Wasn't Daniel going to take care of it ... somehow? He said something about special shelf cards."

Re: 7b

[identity profile] frostedelves.livejournal.com 2007-11-20 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Meredeth snapped her fingers. "Right! The virgin parchment." She frowned, fishing her handheld out of its pocket. Moments later, the small globe lit to display Daniel's fuzzy golden face.

The kinkajou in Meredeth's handheld display sighed in miniature. "Central said they were out of virgins and we'd have to wait. Yes, I know. Look, just don't start with me, I've had a really bad day."

[identity profile] tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com 2007-11-20 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"How can there be a lack of virgins?!" Meredeth's eyebrows rose as she pursed her lips. "I can't believe this --"

"Mere, He's said he's having a bad day..." Annalee offered quietly. "Daniel?" She called out over her boss's shoulder, peeking up and waving. "Is there something else we can do? Something not with virgins? This book is...well, it's doing things again and we really can't have that going on..."

9b

[identity profile] frostedelves.livejournal.com 2007-11-20 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Before Daniel could answer, the book lunged off the table and bit Meredeth. Annalee watched her boss fade out of existence with a muffled shriek.

At least she still had a line to Daniel, their loyal reference kinkajou.
octopedingenue: (Default)

Re: 9b

[personal profile] octopedingenue 2007-11-21 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
But first a run through the milliner's. Better faded than further unprepared.
chomiji: Cartoon of chomiji in the style of the Powerpuff Girls (Default)

Re: 9b

[personal profile] chomiji 2007-11-21 03:46 am (UTC)(link)


Daniel cringed, the fur along his snout ruffling with disgust. "Annalee, you know I hate those places. They have ... feathers. And the chic. And fashionistas. Can't you try calling me back later? I need a nap like you wouldn't believe. And then maybe some grapes."


7b - 2

[identity profile] tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com 2007-11-20 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Do you think he ever listens?"

Meredeth shook her head, scrunching her nose up at the book.

"Perhaps you should call him, I think he's down by the food court picking up lunch. We all know he rather pay attention to turkey sandwhiches than his job."

6b

[identity profile] tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com 2007-11-20 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes but, what will we do?" Annalee sighed, eyeing the book. "This is a serious problem."

She paused, pushing aside a few strands of brown hair that caught on the frays of her lips.

"I mean, there's someone we can call, right?"

7c

[identity profile] frostedelves.livejournal.com 2007-11-20 07:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Meredeth snapped her fingers. "Right! This is definitely a matter for the helpdesk." She frowned, fishing her handheld out of its pocket.

Moments later, the small globe lit to display a remarkably bored young man. He straightened when he saw who was calling, though. "'Deth! What can I do for ya?"

Re: 7c

[identity profile] tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com 2007-11-20 07:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"James, there's a problem..." Meredeth kept herself from blushing at his comments, the young boy's sleepy eyes always getting to her.

Even if she was nearly ten years older than him.

"It's the book. It's done something again. You know, ancient magic, spells, disappearing people. I can't have the newscasters back in here you know. Something has to be done!"

8c

[identity profile] frostedelves.livejournal.com 2007-11-20 08:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, yeah. I'm on it." The globe made clackety sounds. "In the meantime, 'Deth... I've got tickets to Iron Maiden, baby. Come with me Friday, don't say maybe." James paused expectantly.

Re: 8c

[identity profile] tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com 2007-11-20 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Meredeth blushed.

"James, I..." She looked up at Annalee who was watching with a half disgusted face. She shook the book, as a clue that was the most important part of the entire conversation.

Not watching her coworker fall for a boy who was only nearly twenty.

Meredeth turned in her chair and faced away from Annalee, who groaned.

"I hate metal...but, but..."

Annalee gagged.

"Of course James!"

10c

[identity profile] frostedelves.livejournal.com 2007-11-20 08:14 pm (UTC)(link)
James giggled. "'Deth, you're so cute to play along. I shoulda known you'd like metal, with a name like Merry-Death. If I went for girls-- excuse me, fine older ladies-- you'd be first on my list, honest babe. But anyway, I gotcher answer: that book's flagged in the system. Anybody sees it, boss says come to Left of Central right away. Looks like they didn't even know it was in your branch, Dethmeister."

Re: 10c

[identity profile] tokyoghoststory.livejournal.com 2007-11-20 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Meredeth stuck her tongue out at him and looked up at Annalee.

"There's your answer." There was a sparkle of something devious in her eyes. The honey tinted with gold.

"Do you think you can take over to Central, it's not that far? Maybe a 40 minute car ride, but.." She scrunched her mouth up.

"You know the fees for asking James for help, right?"

octopedingenue: (Default)

Re: 10c

[personal profile] octopedingenue 2007-11-21 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
Annalee became very interested in cleaning under her nails with a date card. "I hardly ever get out of this dimension these days, anyway. What's the loss of a few alterna-mes going to hurt?"

Re: 10c

[identity profile] frostedelves.livejournal.com 2007-11-26 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Meredeth shrugged. "I've nearly run out, and I feel fine. They're having such a hard time tracking the rest down that Jamesie threatened to take my nearest subordinate's instead, if I called in again this mon-- er." She let out a cute little half-covered laugh. Her subordinate was well familiar with it.

It had not improved with long acquaintance.

"I'm sure he was just kidding, Annalee. Run along, won't you?"