Unconventional Courtship

Rules and How to Play

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:51:44 GMT

Posted by: aflaminghalo

How to play:
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Rules:
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Unconventional Courtship 2026: Sign Ups!

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:49:32 GMT

Posted by: aflaminghalo

'Welcome to 'Unconventional Courtship 2026'!

Come join our thirteenth round and over a decade of proud trope subversion.

'Unconventional Courtship' is a panfandom fic fest where you write and post a 1000+ word fic based on a M&B/Harlequin plot. Fics will be posted to this community, staggered through June 2026.

This year's mod is aflaminghalo. Thank you to liadt for all your hardwork modding this fest.

Sign Ups - April 1st - June 10th 2026
Posting - 1st June - June 30th 2026
Amnesty Week - July 1st - July 7th 2026

How to play:

It's as simple as:

1. Sign up! Sign ups close on June 10 and all you need to do is comment on this post with the day you want to post your fic. You can tell us which summary/pairing you're going with, but you don't have to. You don't need a Dreamwidth to play - just comment with OpenID, although you will need to ask us to post your fic on the com. If you are on DW, please follow the community.

2. Choose a M&B/Harlequin summary (or two etc) - we have hundreds of suggestions here, but there are literally thousands. Our prompt generator may also help (thank you john_amend_all) You can do more than one fic, if you want. You can also combine prompts, if you like.

3. Replace the names (and pronouns if necessary) with the names (and pronouns) of the pairing of your choice. Any any all fandoms and pairings are welcome in this fest.

You can also replace place names and jobs as long as you keep to the spirit of the prompt. So, if you want to write Kirk/Spock, but you don't want to write a modern day AU, you could replace 'the Sahara desert' with 'a desert planet' and Kirk wouldn't need to be the boss at a law firm, he could be the boss... in the sense that he's the captain.

4. Complete a fic based on your altered summary. You can take the prompt seriously or use it as an improbable basis for lols.

4.5. Pimp the fest far and wide. I'm hardly going to do this at all, so it's up to you - the players! I've re-uploaded the make-your-own banners and of course you can use ready made ones found over here and here.

Please do pimp where ever you think would be appropriate.

5. Post to this community on your assigned day. If you unable to post on your day there is a amnesty week for those that sign up from July 1 - 7.

You can also post to our AO3 collection if you want!

You can read examples of Unconventional Courtship fic by looking through the collection, or by going through masterposts in the comm.

6. ~~Profit!~~ Fics and art for all! I'll post a masterlist once all the entries are in. Crossposting is encouraged.

Any questions? Leave a comment or PM me.

( Rules )

( Days for posting )

If you have questions, feel free to ask! And/or consult the FAQs.

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Mod Announcement

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 14:23:11 GMT

Posted by: liadt

I've decided to stand down as mod for Unconventional Courtship. Founder and comm owner aralias has said another user can take over as mod if they want. If so please contact me, liadt, by either replying or PM-ing me.

In the mean time, the UC generator is still available for inspiration here (credit to john_amend_all).

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Unconventional Courtship Masterlist 2025

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 15:30:34 GMT

Posted by: liadt

It's the end of another unconventionalcourtship round! Many thanks to all that participated this year. Whether you wrote fic, read fic, signed up, made banners, promoted the fest or fell down the UC Generator rabbit hole your participation was very much appreciated.

Now the fest is over here is this year's masterlist to peruse while you give yourself a pat on the back!

Here is this year's masterlist of fic:
( Read more... )

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[Bridgerton - Kanthony] You above all else

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 02:33:28 GMT

Posted by: hydriotaphia

You above all else (9847 words) - Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 (on dreamwidth)

Chapters: 2/2
Fandom: Bridgerton (TV Show)
Rating: Teen and Up
Warnings: No Warnings Apply
Relationships: Anthony Bridgerton/Kate Sharma
Characters: Anthony Bridgerton, Kate Sharma, the Bridgerton family plus Simon Hastings, the Sharma family.
Additional Tags: Friends to Lovers, Regency setting, Angst, Pining, The Gulf between Social Classes, Canonical Character Death Referenced, Eldest Children Syndrome, Time Jumps, Unconventional Courtship 2025
Summary:

Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma were inseparable as children since he’d defended her from an irate tutor. Once she thought there was something more growing between them until grief and the divergent demands of their positions drew them apart.

To Kate, the warm, close knit Bridgerton family lead a charmed life and spending Christmas with them is both an honour and a relief from the challenges her own little family face.

But when she comes face-to-face with Anthony again, she hardly recognises him in the cold, aloof man he's become. Worse, he seems to see her as a spinster maid, below his notice, and an outsider

--

Inspired by HOME TO FAMILY by ANN EVANS

Amnesty post - sorry this is late!

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Amnesty Week

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:59:24 GMT

Posted by: liadt

For those that signed up, July 1-7 is amnesty week. If you missed your deadline or have completed another fic you can post it during this time. No need to ask for a day, just post!

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[Psych - Shassie] Yours in Black Lace

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 05:44:23 GMT

Posted by: altum_videtur

Yours in Black Lace (2727 words) by cuethesun

Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Psych (TV 2006)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Carlton Lassiter/Shawn Spencer
Characters: Carlton Lassiter, Shawn Spencer, Juliet O'Hara, Woodrow "Woody" Strode, McNab passes by
Additional Tags: Dirty Talk, erotic writing, Secret Admirer, Or well not so secret, Shawn hasn't got enough patience for it, Unconventional Courtship 2025, Men in Lingerie Kink, a little bit of it at least, Lassie's sorry excuse for self-esteem
Summary:

“You’ve read it? Dammit, Strode, why are you wasting my time then?” Carlton turns his eyes back to the report he’s writing. “Just give me the gist of it, tell me if it’s worth pursuing.”

“Are you sure, detective? Because—”

“Yes, I’m sure, now just—”

“Dear Detective Carlton Lassiter. I have a confession to make: you’ve turned me into a naughty, naughty boy.”

Carlton gets a letter at the station.

-----

Sorry I'm a little late! Here's my entry for the 30th.

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Trapped In Yesterday (Hit The Floor, Jude/Zero)

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:45:03 GMT

Posted by: brokenhighways

Title: Trapped In Yesterday
Author: brokenhighways
Fandom: Hit The Floor
Pairing/Characters: Jude/Zero
Rating: R
Length: 12,000 words
Summary: Jude Kinkade is the CEO of a fledgling sportswear brand, and he's ready to throw his Hail Mary pass and do whatever it takes to save his company. Enter Zero, a washed-up former player who's more known for falling out of clubs than his three championship wins. Desperate for some publicity, his head of PR, Jelena, convinces Jude to hire Zero as the face of the brand, but is this a comeback story in the making, or a reckless gamble that will destroy both their reputations for good?

Notes: Based on the summary for 'In the Heat of the Spotlight- Kate Hewitt'

Link: Here @ AO3

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Dance of Dreams (Octopath Traveler II - Agnea/Giselle)

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 19:19:58 GMT

Posted by: rubylily

Title: Dance of Dreams
Author: rubylily
Fandom: Octopath Traveler II
Pairing/Characters: Agnea Bristarni/Giselle
Rating: Mature
Length: 8073 words
Summary: Giselle had always hoped that Agnea Bristarni would one day be more than just a dear friend. But on that day Agnea and her companions brought back the dawn, Giselle swore that her feelings would remain hidden forever.

A year later and Giselle and her traveling troupe are back in Tropu'hopu – and they've been asked to team up with Agnea for the performance of a lifetime on Tropu'hopu's famous floating stage! And it's clear that those long-buried feelings are still as heartachingly, pulse-racingly powerful as before…

Surely turning back the clock would be a bad idea… except that it feels so very, very right!
Notes: Inspired by Jennifer Taylor's Best Friend to Perfect Bride.
Link: Read on AO3 | Read on Dreamwidth

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The Wedding's Off - Hi-De-Hi! - rated G, multiple ships

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 19:55:30 GMT

Posted by: colisahotnorthernmess

Title: The Wedding's Off
Author: colisahotnorthernmess
Fandom: Hi-De-Hi!
Pairing/Characters: Gladys/Clive (mentioned), Spike/April, Spike/Ted, Gladys/Jeffrey (implied)
Rating: G
Length: 1318 words
Summary: Glamorous Welsh beauty Gladys Pugh's husband to be left her standing at the altar and wedding planner Spike Dixon was only too happy to fill in. Be Gladys' husband. For however long she wanted. What better way to escape his unhappy relationship than by marrying his kind and caring friend-cum-colleague..?
Notes: Based on Society Page Seduction – Maureen Child

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/66857152

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The Right Match (Stargate Atlantis)

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 11:59:27 GMT

Posted by: melagan

The Right Match (14526 words) by melagan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Rodney McKay/John Sheppard, Steven Caldwell/David Sheppard, Evan Lorne/Parrish the Botanist
Characters: John Sheppard, Rodney McKay, Richard Woolsey (Stargate), Evan Lorne, Parrish the Botanist (Stargate), Steven Caldwell, Dave Sheppard, Teyla Emmagan
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Royalty, Alternate Universe - Sentinels and Guides Are Known, Alternate Universe - Sentinels & Guides, Alternate Universe - Regency
Summary:

With his father's death, Sentinel Prime Lord John has just come into his legacy. However, due to a provision in the will, he must take a guide or lose his entire inheritance.

The only guide John is interested in is Rodney McKay—a rogue guide who has managed to stay in hiding for years.

The hunt is on.

But once he catches him...then what?

The Right Match

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The Captain's Mistress (Nautilus TV)

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 08:19:30 GMT

Posted by: meridian_rose

The Captain's Mistress (8526 words) by meridian_rose
Chapters: 3/3
Fandom: Nautilus (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Humility Lucas/Captain Nemo | Prince Dakkar
Characters: Humility Lucas, Captain Nemo | Prince Dakkar (Nautilus), Crew of the Nautilus (Nautilus TV)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Romance Novel, based on a romance novel summary, Period Typical Attitudes, Unconventional Courtship 2025, Community: 100fandoms, 100 fandoms dreamwidth
Summary: To escape an arranged marriage, spirited Humility Lucas has staged her own death and — disguised as a boy — fled to London and a life of freedom.
Yet her plans to masquerade as an independent youth are thwarted by an encounter with Captain Nemo, the powerful and dangerously attractive Prince Dakkar.

Notes: Based on the romance novel summary The Accidental Mistress by Tracy Anne Warren

Link: The Captain's Mistress

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Dandelions (Hazbin Hotel Angel Dust/Husk)

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:28:22 GMT

Posted by: cornerofmadness

Title: Dandelions

author: cornerofmadness

Fandom: Hazbin Hotel

Pairing/Characters: Angel Dust/Husk

Rating: explicit

Length: 24,404

Summary: Even though Angel is still under Valentino’s thumb, he has secretly signed on as Charlie Morningstar’s man, a protector, a faithful friend, whatever she needs and what she needs now is his help to find out who is stalking her (even if she thinks she can handle it herself)
Husker is more concerned with his casinos and clubs and his wild parties than he is with whatever reason Valentino wants him to take his best porn star to bed. He assumes Valentino is trying to get him in his debt but Husker prefers his lovers to have some brains, something - if the rumors are true – Angel Dust is lacking. But when he is being framed for trying to kill the Princess of Hell, Husker throws his lot in with Angel and the rest of Charlie’s people to clear his name.

Notes: Sorry, I wrote the post date wrong
Only the last chapter contains sexual content, though sexual innuendo and non-graphic scenes are laced throughout the story

The blurb I used:( under here )

Link: here on AO3.

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Ave Caesar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Buffy Summers/Rupert Giles)

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 20:32:59 GMT

Posted by: unendingwanderlust

Title: Ave Caesar
Author: unendingwanderlust
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)
Pairing/Characters: Buffy Summers/Rupert Giles
Rating: Explicit (NC17)
Length: 2,685 words
Summary: For ex-cavalry officer Rupert Giles, duty always comes first. His task to escort the Roman emperor's latest captive should be easy. But one look at his fiery slave and Giles wants to put his own desires before everything else. For Buffy, her powerful, battle-honed captor has her head in conflict with her heart. Bound by a new-found bondage of emotions, it's not long before Buffy wonders whether she wants to come out of this perilous journey to Rome with her virtue intact!

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/66336622

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Wedding Date With the ER Doctor (The Pitt)

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 04:24:35 GMT

Posted by: tinystarsfic

Title: Wedding Date With the ER Doctor
Author: tinystarsfic
Fandom: The Pitt (TV show)
Pairing/Characters: Mel King/Frank Langdon
Rating: Teen (for an implied sex scene)
Length: 2,355
Summary: A risk-taking emergency doctor brings her handsome colleague to a wedding
Notes: Based on this synposis

Link:Wedding Date With the ER Doctor

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The Angel Trap (Supernatural Fic)

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 08:29:46 GMT

Posted by: glory_jean

Title: The Angel Trap
Author: Glory_Jean
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing/Characters: Dean Winchester/Castiel
Rating: PG
Length: 1694
Summary: Not long after Cas returns from the empty, Dean and Cas get drawn into an undercover case by their favorite wayward young hunters. But they quickly realize it’s not what they expect. Meanwhile even though Dean knows he isn’t relationship material he’s having trouble keeping his feelings to himself. Cas and this case are not helping matters. Not to mention this pack of annoying kids. Claire and Alex have a plan. Patience and Kaia are along for the ride. Jack is just having a good time.

Notes: Season 13 if most of that *waves hands* Apocalypse World stuff didn’t happen. Don’t worry about it. It’s total crack. Based on the summary of The Nanny’s Little Matchmakers by Danica Favorite.

Link: https://glory-jean.dreamwidth.org/226620.html

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Bridesmaid with Benefits (Doctor Who (1963))

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 16:50:32 GMT

Posted by: natequarter

Title: Bridesmaid with Benefits
Author: natequarter
Fandom: Doctor Who (1963)
Pairing Sarah Jane Smith/Harry Sullivan
Rating: Teen and Up
Length: 22,614 words
Chapters: 10/10
Summary: Harry Sullivan’s one rule is: not to sleep with Sarah Jane Smith. Yes, she’s hot, but falling into bed with her after every wedding must stop! But when Harry sees a new side to her, he decides that some rules are made to be broken.
Notes: Based on In Room 732: Bridesmaid with Benefits by Amy Andrews.

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haven't been home lately (why keep a room?) (Justified; Raylan Givens/Tim Gutterson)

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 23:34:01 GMT

Posted by: kick_back_80s

Title: haven't been home lately (why keep a room?)
Rating: Explicit
Fandom: Justified
Relationship: Raylan Givens/Tim Gutterson
Additional Tags: Masturbation, Getting Together, coworkers with benefits, Blow Jobs, Anal Sex

Summary:
Thoughts circling like the fan blades, Tim comes back to the same frustrating reality. He's been working with Raylan for months now, and each infuriating habit is growing increasingly endearing. The way Raylan carries himself doesn't help, and when Tim's eyes close, Raylan's swagger plays on repeat against Tim's eyelids.

"Stupid cowboy," Tim mutters, although there's no one around to overhear — he's not back in the barracks, isn't trying to keep quiet in a hostile household.

A/N: For Unconventional Courtship. The Harlequin Romance I picked was Never Tempt A Lawman by Lauri Robinson

Book Summary

Western Kansas, 1866

Steady, wealthy and oh-so-safe—that's the kind of husband Bess Trundale wants. Someone like the local banker's son. Someone unlike Sheriff Kirk Landers. The lawman's confident swagger gets right under her skin…and into her fantasies. And though she's tried to ignore the chemistry surging between them, one night is about to change everything.

Kirk isn't planning on being anyone's husband ever again. But months of living under the same boardinghouse roof as quick-witted, feisty Bess have stirred desires he can't ignore. Together they could put their pasts to rest and claim a bold, passionate future—if he can tempt her to break all the rules with him….

AO3 (Archive Locked) | Dreamwidth

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A Difficult Decision (ST:TNG, Beverly Crusher/Will Riker)

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 12:36:33 GMT

Posted by: paranoidangel

Title: A Difficult Decision
Author: paranoidangel
Fandom: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Pairing/Characters: Beverly Crusher/Will Riker, Deanna Troi/Worf, Will Riker/Deanna Troi
Rating: General
Length: 1751 words
Summary: Doctor Beverly Crusher has always treasured her friendship with first officer Will Riker. Until an unexpected night of passion leaves her expecting his baby! Now she must acknowledge what she’s long denied: Beverly wants Will to be more than her best friend. But Beverly’s previous trauma still haunts her, and Will’s scared of losing what they already have. Can they find the courage to forge a life – as a family?
Notes: Set after Generations, and at the beginning and end of Triangle: Imdazi 2 by Peter David

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/66299935

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Falling for His Rival

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:47:26 GMT

Posted by: artemisdart

Falling for His Rival (21,217 words) by ArtemisDart
Chapters: 4/4
Fandom: Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Poe Dameron/Armitage Hux
Characters: Poe Dameron, Armitage Hux
Additional Tags: Unconventional Courtship 2025, Modern Era, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Reality TV, Alternate Universe - Reality Show, Food, Recipes, POV Alternating, Armitage Hux Has Issues, Armitage Hux Has No Chill, Armitage Hux Has a Bad Childhood, Armitage Hux Needs A Hug, Gay Poe Dameron, Poe Dameron is a Menace, Flirty Poe Dameron, Rivals With Benefits, Enemies to Lovers
Summary:
Blurb taken from Falling for Her Rival, by Jackie Braun

For chef Poe Dameron, it's time to turn up the heat. Three years ago he hit rock bottom. Now he's ready for a comeback, starting with winning a TV competition to secure a spot running New York's trendiest kitchen! He just didn't count on his attraction to rival Armitage Hux burning a hole in his plans…

Hux has worked his apron off for this opportunity, and total focus on the competition was the plan — which is difficult when all he can think about is wanting his opponent out of the kitchen and in his bed! But there can only be one winner, and sometimes, to win, a guy has to play dirty!

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Mon, 02 Jun 2025 23:58:25 GMT

Posted by: aflaminghalo

Those Golden Olden Times (1390 words) by aflaminghalo
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Batman (Comics), Batman - All Media Types
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dick Grayson/Bruce Wayne
Characters: Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson
Additional Tags: Golden Age AU, Unconventional Courtship 2025
Summary:

Bruce Wayne puts away his playboy facade and drowns his painful past in whiskey--like he does every year on this night. Except this time Dick Grayson is determined to make him face his demons.

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You Can Find It on Craigslist (WWE, Rhea Ripley/IYO SKY)

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 04:32:24 GMT

Posted by: merryghoul

You Can Find It on Craigslist (1020 words) by merryghoul
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: World Wrestling Entertainment
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Rhea Ripley/Shirai Io | IYO SKY
Characters: Rhea Ripley, Shirai Io | IYO SKY
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Magic, Witches, Craigslist, Movie Night, mentions of other wrestlers, Movie: Terrifier (2016), Mild Gore

Summary: Iyo Sky is in a precarious position for a witch--isolated from her coven and regretting a lot of her choices. Keeping herself from her sisters is the only way she can protect them from a threat only she knows is coming. Iyo bides her time until she's able to distract herself with a job offer from Rhea Ripley. Handsome, surprisingly sweet and filthy rich, Rhea needs Iyo's expertise. Spoiler alert: The solution is almost always late night snacking and smooching.

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Not long 'til posting

Wed, 28 May 2025 14:36:54 GMT

Posted by: liadt

Posting starts in June! I hope all is going well and for the undecided sign ups don't close until the 10th June.

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Unconventional Courtship 2025: Sign Up

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 13:40:01 GMT

Posted by: liadt

'Welcome to 'Unconventional Courtship 2025'!
Come join our twelfth round and over a decade of proud trope subversion.

'Unconventional Courtship' is a panfandom fic fest where you write and post a 1000w+ fic based on a M&B/Harlequin plot. Fics will be posted to this community, staggered through June 2025.

This year's mod is liadt.

How to play:

It's as simple as:

1. Sign up! Sign ups close on June 10 and all you need to do is comment on this post with the day you want to post your fic. You can tell us which summary/pairing you're going with, but you don't have to. You don't need a Dreamwidth to play - just comment with OpenID, although you will need to ask us to post your fic on the com. If you are on DW, please follow the community.

2. Choose a M&B/Harlequin summary (or two etc) - we have hundreds of suggestions here, but there are literally thousands. Our prompt generator may also help (thank you john_amend_all) You can do more than one fic, if you want. You can also combine prompts, if you like.

3. Replace the names (and pronouns if necessary) with the names (and pronouns) of the pairing of your choice. Any any all fandoms and pairings are welcome in this fest.

You can also replace place names and jobs as long as you keep to the spirit of the prompt. So, if you want to write Kirk/Spock, but you don't want to write a modern day AU, you could replace 'the Sahara desert' with 'a desert planet' and Kirk wouldn't need to be the boss at a law firm, he could be the boss... in the sense that he's the captain.

4. Complete a fic based on your altered summary. You can take the prompt seriously or use it as an improbable basis for lols.

4.5. Pimp the fest far and wide. I'm hardly going to do this at all, so it's up to you - the players! I've re-uploaded the make-your-own banners and of course you can use ready made ones found over here and here.

Please do pimp where ever you think would be appropriate.

5. Post to this community on your assigned day. If you unable to post on your day there is a amnesty week for those that sign up from July 1 - 7.

You can also post to our AO3 collection if you want!

You can read examples of Unconventional Courtship fic by looking through the collection, or by going through masterposts in the comm.

6. ~~Profit!~~ Fics and art for all! I'll post a masterlist once all the entries are in. Crossposting is encouraged.

Any questions? Leave a comment or PM me.

( Rules )

( Days for posting )

If you have questions, feel free to ask! And/or consult the FAQs.

comments

Unconventional Courtship Masterlist 2024

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 15:40:46 GMT

Posted by: liadt

It's the end of another unconventionalcourtship round!

Congratulations to all who joined in, whether by signing up, writing, falling down the UC generator rabbit hole, promoting the fest, making banners, commenting or reading fic! Now it's time to relax and maybe peruse the masterlist.

Here is this year's masterlist of fic:

( Read more... )

comments