Challenge #21: Behind the Scenes

[spikedluv]

Our next challenge is: Behind the Scenes.

As some of you know, I’ve spent this week watching the season one DVDs, including all of the commentaries and bonus features, and I discovered (and in some cases rediscovered), some interesting tidbits about what might have been, as well as some whacked-out ideas for what could have been. The challenge is to use one of those ‘might have been’s in a fic:

1. Write a story where the series takes place in Boston. [“The show was originally set in Boston...” DK, Pilot commentary]

2. Write a story where Charlie is more than what he seems. [“The original concept of the show was that I was both a mathematician and a highly skilled machine gun...weaponist.” DK, Uncertainty Principal, commentary] (And yes, I totally get that he was joking, but I still like it. *eg*)

3. Write a story in which Margaret is still alive and well. [“In the original, original pitch for the show, the mother wasn’t dead....” DZ, Uncertainty Principal commentary]

4. Write a story in which Don and Charlie have a younger sibling. [“And there was actually a suggestion that there be a younger brother, like about 17, in the family.” CH, Uncertainty Principal commentary]

5. Write a story in which Don (or someone else) is in trouble and Charlie has to go to Edgerton (or the person of your choice) for help. [“Now that we’ve established that kind of strong relationship between Charlie and Edgerton, maybe the character of Don gets in trouble and if Charlie ever had to call for help, who would he call?” CH, Sniper Zero commentary]

6. Write a story explaining why Charlie gained weight after he started helping Don with his cases (or some other catalyst), or explaining why he later lost it. [DK said that he’d gained 20 pounds over the course of the first season, until Charlie’s wardrobe no longer fit him. Dirty Bomb commentary].

7. Write a story where Charlie gets his mathematical knowledge from Alan, and Alan is the parent who ‘gets’ him. [Judd Hirsch said that math is what attracted him to Numb3rs; that he’d studied mathematics in college and was a physics major, and if he hadn’t gone into acting, he’d have been a mechanical engineer. Dirty Bomb commentary]

This challenge isn’t limited to the tidbits I’ve uncovered. If you read something in an interview or on a message board that you think would fit the challenge, go ahead and use it. Just give us an idea of how you came by the information in your notes.

You have two weeks to write your fic and post them here. We will close the challenge on Saturday, August 19th.

Remember, fic may only be posted here during the challenge period. Once the challenge is closed you may post it elsewhere. (If at any time you need to refresh your memory about them: Rules.)

Have fun!

Feel free to suggest future challenges in the comments to this post.

Comments

[umbralillium.livejournal.com]

Um, is there a limit to how many fics we can write per challenge? I already have three more written with more bunnies piling up. ^^;;;

[spikedluv]

No, there's absolutely no limit! Write, write, write! *bg* I'm glad this challenge sparked your interest. I was a tad bit worried that the AU-ness of it might be a turn off for some. Please, post away! *g*

[umbralillium.livejournal.com]

*snicker* You do know that this is me, right? The one who has two AUs established already and who is now being taken over by this new AU with Benji the troublemaker. *mock-glares at Benji*

[spikedluv]

Personally, I adore AUs, but I'm also a crack!fic addict, so... *g*

Hee, Benji the troublemaker.

I finally had some time today to write up my sibling fic, and I just posted it. Whew! *g*

[umbralillium.livejournal.com]

I love AUs, too, just not when one of the characters seduces my muses thereby stealing my chances of working on something other than that AU. Crack!fic is love. *grin*

He is! I really need to post at least one of my newest Benji!fics. He's such a...kid brother. *snicker*

I saw that! I'll be reading it in a sec, once I've had a chance to look at a few other posts that were made in the last, oh, half hour. *headdesk*

[spikedluv]

Yes, you must! I can't wait to read about Benji the troublemaker. *g*

(I'm glad you enjoy AUs and crack!fic. Hopefully I can count on you for a couple of the other AU scenarios I have in mind as challenges, as well as the crack!fic challenge, which I am absolutely going to do. There can never be too many aliens-made-them-do-it fic, and frankly, Numb3rs needs more crack!fic. *eg*)

[umbralillium.livejournal.com]

*giggles* I have another one in mind that I'm going to start in a bit that has to do with Hot Shot. I have a feeling I'm going to be going through all the episodes by the time he leaves me aloe. ^^;;;

(Weeeell, I have had a crack!fic scenario running through my head ever since All's Fair and a conversation I had with ivinnuna shortly thereafter. *hides*)

[neur0vanity.livejournal.com]

Is crossover fic allowed?

[spikedluv]

Sure! As long as it's Numb3rs-focused, and not, for example, basically a CSI fic with a Numb3rs character thrown in the mix. But sure, I love crossovers. *g*