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This is a prompt style challenge NCIS fanfiction community for those of us who just can't get it said in 100 words.

The Set-up:
• Each week one prompt will go up. You will have two weeks to write to that prompt. Ergo, once we get underway, there will be two prompts, overlapping by a week, running at any one time.

• Prompts will be broad enough for all kinds of writing: slash/het/gen as well as G to NC-17, and will vary widely. If you don't get a spark from the first one you see, wait until next week, you may get something from that.

• We're aiming for 1000 words exactly, but your story will still be considered in-bounds if you're + or - 100 words.

• If you do hit your target of exactly 1000 words, you can award a cup of coffee to your canon character of choice. When that prompt's round up goes up, the winning character will be announced. (This doesn't actually go anywhere other than to add a bit of fun and a little bit of encouragement to hit that 1000 words on the nose.)

• Your story is your own. Feel free to post directly to the comm or to your own journal and then link to it from a post in the comm. Once you've dropped us a link, you're free to post your story anywhere else you like. You do not need to wait for the challenge to end.

• Got a lot of time and lots to say? Feel free to enter as many stories as you feel moved to write for any given challenge.

The Rules:

• This comm is for *everyone*. Flaming or bashing any author on the basis of their pairing, kink or character preference (or lack thereof) will not be tolerated. That said, please be clear in your headers what people will see when they read your story. I'm not saying you have to give away your surprise ending or anything, but let's not ambush anyone with something they'd chose not to read.

• You must use the prompt in some way. Sometimes it will have to be a very literal interpretation. For example, if it's a line-of-dialogue challenge, you must use that line exactly as it's stated. But on the broader challenges, feel free to think outside the box. "Red" could mean something that's literally the color red or it could be 'seeing red', 'a red herring' or 'painting the town red'.

• A beta is your friend. Failing that, once you've written it, get up, get a cup of coffee, watch an NCIS rerun (there seems to be one on most hours of the day. :) and then come back and look at your story with fresh eyes. You'll catch a lot more of the places where you didn't say what you thought you did. You aren't my 4th grade students, so I'm not here to be your grammar and spelling police, but if something is completely riddled with errors, I reserve the right to ask you to take it down, get a beta and repost.

• That said, constructive criticism is welcome here. Flaming, bashing, or otherwise belittling a writer is not. To paraphrase a wise man, 'giving someone a slap in the back of the head is a wake-up call, slapping their face would be humiliating." Keep that in mind when you leave concrit. Squeeing over something you like, in all forms, is encouraged. :)

• You will have two weeks to respond to a prompt. The time will start when the prompt goes up and end two weeks later with the "close of prompt" post. If you have something almost done, or three weeks later you get hit with the best idea for that prompt that closed last week, hang on to it. Every 6th round or so will be an amnesty round where people can play with any of the prompts that they didn't get a chance to tackle or get finished in time to post.

• I don't want to get too bogged down in warnings.  With any luck we're all grown ups here.  However, please do denote deathfics (for non-canon deaths; I can do a whole thing about what qualifies as 'deathfic' these days, but that's not my objective here.)  For our purposes, a story set after "Twilight" would not need to be labeled a deathfic UNLESS you also have someone else dying besides Kate.  Does this make sense?  We'll also warn/label for: BDSM, suicide, and graphic depictions of torture.  To be perfectly clear, you're welcome to write and post those stories here, just let people know you've done so so we don't upset those with certain sensitivies.  We want this to be a fun place for everyone.

The Spoiler Rules:
You may use information from new episodes in your fic as soon as they air.  However, all spoilers must be clearly marked for at least two weeks after the original U.S. airdate.  No spoilers can be placed above the cut, including in the summaries.  Find a way to make the point without spoiling anyone or put your summary under the cut.  Posts violating this rule will be removed and the author will be asked to correct the problem before reposting.

The Format:

Please use this format when submitting your stories:

Title:
Author:
Word Count:
Pairing or Featured Characters:
Rating:
Warnings and/or Spoilers:
Challenge #/Challenge Text:
Author's Notes:
Summary:

Coffee to?:

Example:

Title: Gibbs' Eighth Cup of Coffee Before 9:00 a.m.
Author: A. Writer
Word Count: 1000
Pairing or Featured Characters:  Gibbs/Tony + Abby, McGee
Rating: PG
Spoilers:  Episode 10x04 "Roadtripping"
Challenge #/Challenge Text: #1234/Morning
Author's Notes: Tag to episode 10x04
Summary: On the road to Chicago: Eight cups of coffee and not a rest stop in sight.

Coffee to: Tony (he's probably still too saddle-sore to walk over and get his own.)

A few note on headers:  Don't feel obligated to list every character who gets a passing mention in your story.  Most readers want to know who the story focuses on.  Please be sure to quote back the challenge number and what the actual challenge is.  Remember two challenges will be running concurrently (after week #1) so we need to know where you drew your inspiration from.

Additionally: PLEASE SPELL OUT YOUR PAIRINGS. Name smushes can lead to confusion. If you can write 1000 words, you can spell out the two names in your pairing. Thanks.

You only get to award coffee if you hit the 1000 word mark exactly.  Snarky comments about why you chose your character welcome, but please adhere to the spoiler rules in them.

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