#32: They Say Romance is Dead.

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#32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by Kagoma_Kage » Mon 9th Feb 2009

(Hey guys, I think it's about time I got the Valentine's Day Challenge posted.)
This idea was brought to us by our fabulous new overlord admin BlackOpal.
If Artemis were to write someone a Valentine, how do you think he would go about it?
Personally, I'm thinking cypher encryption, but how to you think he would add that romantic touch?
You can answer in any format you want, from statement to drabble, and the Valentine can be to any other character.
I'd also like to clarify that the Valentine in question doesn't have to be strictly just a Valentine at all, feel free to throw in any ideas for romantic gestures that come to you as well.
Good Luck as aways.

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Re: #32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by KierisaNOT12 » Tue 10th Feb 2009

Hm.. this should be tough. Artemis doesn't seem very romantic.

To: Captain Short.

Its been a while since we comunicated with each other, miss Short.

Lovely weather we have, over here in Ireland. Would you like to visit this weekend?
Opal is behind bars, so what else could you possibly have to do?
Valentine's day is tomorrow, I was wondering if you'd be able to be here by then.
Enter Fowl manor threw the study window. I don't want my parents to see you.

You reallly must come, I have something to give you. It WOULD be Valentine's day.
Oh, and I really must tell you something, to go along with my gift.
Under the circumstances, it might be awkward... You being an elf and all...


Artemis Fowl the 2nd.




In the actual letter, the letters aren't colored. ^_^
I did get the idea from Artymon's poems though....
Anyway, whadda you think?
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Re: #32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by Meova » Tue 10th Feb 2009

Haha, this one is nice, Kagoma.

Dear Holly,

It has come to my attention that it is Valentine's Day. I have never really given much thought to this... feast before, but I feel like I have the obligation to do so now. I have looked on the internet to find information about February 14th, and I am pleased to say that I am now an expert on this.
So, I was wondering if you wanted to celebrate it with me. You know, just as friends. I read that Valentine's Day can be celebrated with friends as well. I have also looked up information on how to celebrate it, so included in this card, which I bought on Hallmark, is a map to Fowl Manor. I also have made an anagram for you. It contains a secret message, just for you. I hope that I'll see you on the 14th.

Sincerely,
Artemis Fowl the Second.


Okay, wow, that came out really weird. If I ever manage to get back at this, I'll try and make it sound better, but I do think this is pretty Artemis-like. Right? Right? :P
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Re: #32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by BlackOpal » Thu 12th Feb 2009

Okay, I may add more to this later.
I had an idea of Artemis exchanging coded love notes, using well known works of literature, math, etc.
So, this is his first one.
Solve the quadratic and the number system. Put the numbers in the order in which they go.
(Though, I hope this system is solvable. I wouldn't know, I am awful at math. If it is solvable, it's cake for a mathematician. If it isn't, oops... But you get the idea... My other ones will be better.)

O2-10O+21=0

____________________

I + L + V + E + Y + U= 25

I + L((root)V)
____________= 1
E

YU + VL= 50

I/L + E/V = U/V

2Y + 3U + L + 4E= 50 + I + V

3I +10 + L + E= Y + U + V + 3

____________________


I think that what it says is obvious.
Hopefully the literature one will be better. I just need to decide on a poem.
(Someone remind me later.)


Edit: Second message. A Tennyson poem.


My heart is wasted with my woe, Oriana.
There is no rest for me below, Oriana.
When the long dun wolds are ribb'd with snow,
And loud the Norland whirlwinds blow, Oriana,
Alone me wander to and fro, Oriana.

Ere the light on dark was growing, Oriana,
All night the cock was crowing, Oriana:
Winds were blowing, waters flowing,
We heard the steeds to battle going, Oriana;
Aloud the hollow bugle blowing, Oriana.

In the yew-wood black as night, Oriana,
Ere I rode into the fight, Oriana,
While blissful tears blinded my sight
With star-shine and by moonlight, Oriana,
I to thee my troth did plight, Oriana.

She stood upon a castle wall, Oriana:
She watch'd my crest among them all, Oriana:
She saw me fight, she heard me call,
When forth there stept a foeman tall, Oriana,
Atween me and the castle wall, Oriana.

The bitter arrow went aside, Oriana:
The false, false arrow went aside, Oriana:
The damned arrow glanced aside,
And pierced thy heart, my love, my bride, Oriana!
Thy heart, my life, my love, my bride, Oriana!

Oh! narrow, narrow was the space, Oriana.
Loud, loud rung out the bugle's brays, Oriana.
Oh! deathful stabs were dealt apace,
The battle deepen'd in its place, Oriana;
But I was down upon my face, Oriana.

They should have stabb'd me where I lay, Oriana!
How could I rise and come away, Oriana?
How could I look upon the day?
They should have stabb'd me where I lay, Oriana
They should have trod me into clay, Oriana.

O breaking heart that won't not break, Oriana!
O pale, pale face so sweet and meek, Oriana!
Thou smilest, but thou dost not speak,
And then the tears run down my cheek, Oriana:
What wantest thou? whom dost thou seek, Oriana?

I cry aloud: none hear my cries, Oriana.
Thou comest atween me and the skies, Oriana.
I feel the tears of blood arise
Up from my heart unto my eyes, Oriana.
Within my heart my arrow lies, Oriana.

O cursed hand! O cursed blow! Oriana!
O happy thou that liest low, Oriana!
All night the silence seems to flow
Aside me in my utter woe, Oriana.
A weary, weary way I go, Oriana.

When Norland winds pipe down the sea, Oriana,
I walk, I dare not think of thee, Oriana.
Thou liest beneath the greenwood stalk,
I dare not die and come to thee, Oriana.
I hear the roaring of the sea, Oriana.


______________________

This one is meant to be explained, too.
I kind of partially stole the idea from Lemony Snicket.
Throughout the poem there are several words changed. The words changed I bolded, but if Artemis expected his love (*coughCadelcough*) to understand it, he wouldn't bold said words.
Maybe, but I'm not sure.
If you take the words that were supposed to be there, I, At Midnight, by, the, be (Aside is beside in the actual poem), will and tree, and rearrange them, it says I will be by the tree at midnight. An invitation.

I don't think that Artemis would be this romantic. But if he were to be romantic, he'd have to still be his regular intelligent self.
Thanks to darvit and /b/for my signature. :D
And thanks Kagoma, for the awesome birthday present that is the C&H sprite!
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Re: #32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by HollyShort9 » Thu 12th Feb 2009

Hmm, this should be a tough one xD Uhm.... *thinks* AGH, I CAN'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING!

If I come up with anything before the deadline, I'll let you know, though.
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we're all stories in the end. just make it a good one, eh? because it was, you know. it was the best.

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Re: #32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by Kagoma_Kage » Thu 12th Feb 2009

BlackOpal, gets the unofficial Best Pairing award. :D
Have to say, I never thought I would get an entry for them.

But I actually attempted to solve that before I let myself read the answer.
I'm unfamiliar with the piece, I got about half way.

Don't stress over the deadline Holly9, it mostly exists within your mind. XD
These Challenges are nothing if not flexible.

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Re: #32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by HollyShort9 » Thu 12th Feb 2009

Haha, thanks, Kagoma. XD
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Re: #32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by Star Jinin » Sat 14th Feb 2009

OMG. BlackOpal, you win at life. I don't think ANYONE could top that. I'll try, but I'm not generally very creative...

[EDIT]

I've got it!

Artemis is typing an email to Holly for Valentine's day. He feels that hidden messages are too cliched and complicated mathematical equations are too difficult for Holly, as she's not exactly a genius on the scale that Artemis is. He decides that subtly has no point, as he wants Holly to know his feelings. So for once, he decides to try doing it bluntly.

Holly,

I--love you.

For once I don't feel like it's these dammed hormones that's enforcing these feelings, these
thoughts that have been running through my head day and night lately.

I've had these feelings since the night I sought to catch you--I just didn't identify them as attraction back then, only as the stress placed upon my shoulders back then. Even now, I desire your presence to fill my loneliness that just can't be satisfied with the company of my family.

You've changed a lot for me, you know. Once I would have relished this silence but now...you've changed a lot of me, Holly Short, even bits of me I don't understand--and that's difficult for me to admit, mind you.

It's exhilarating, just being by your side. I admit, I've enjoyed our adventures over the past few years far more than any night hacking though Swiss banks. You don't know how I felt during the months that I was living without my memories, feeling the emptiness and the confusion.

I don't ever want to feel that ever again.

I realize we're not meant to be together and that all this is probably all just a pipe dream, but I just wanted to know if you


Artemis backspaced the paragraph, paused for a second hesitantly, and then retyped it and resumed finishing the email.

--if you felt the same. I wouldn't fault you if you didn't--who is to say that we could actually be together in all seriousness? But if there's anything that I request of you...

...I just wanted to hear those words, even if you can't keep them


Artemis stops typing aburptly, looking over the email. He decides it was a ridiculous, insane idea. He flushes, preparing to delete the draft when his brothers burst in, distracting him. In the chaotic confusion that ensues, he accidentally clicks the 'send' key.

And Artemis Fowl II being the genius he was, had encrypted his own email server to be unhackable and un-sabatogable. He spends hours trying to break through the encryption but alas, it's too late.

Deep underground, Holly finds a new message from Artemis. Thinking it was probably urgent, she opens it and--

Well, you can think of what happens next yourself :P I can be a sappy Arty/Holly shipper, but I actually think he's gonna be rejected. But this is a Valentines theme, so I cut that part out XD

Good god, this is practically a fanfic! :shock: Or a drabble. Sorry if I switch tenses every now and then. I get confused when I write stuff like this.

I hope I win this challenge! I'm gonna work my way up, BlackOpal!
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Re: #32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by Soulcatcher » Mon 16th Feb 2009

Eeeh, I'm not really very sure about this, but I have a couple ideas. I'm neither an A/H or an A/M girl, but I'm going with A/H for this for simplicity.

Idea #1

Well, my first idea was a Cryptogram. This is where you have a phrase or message but you replace the letters with numbers (or other letters). The recipient then has to work out the original lettering to read the phrase.

So, for my message Artemis is using a quote ... if you can work it out, let me know:

1 13 1 3 14 3 14 8 1 11 17 15 9 13 15 20 25 9 22
13 20 22 9 7 9 22 5 24 1 6 9 1 24 23 1 11 4
14 21 20 18 24 5 20 18 1 16 20 18 15 3 25 14 15 4
13 20 22 9 7 9 22 1 11 6 5 17 14 22 3 9 11


Idea #2

Despite knowing it's total rubbish I was watching the Da Vinci Code recently ... anyway, I really like the idea of the cryptex, and I think Artemis would too. So basically, the cryptex works "much like a bicycle's combination lock", and if one arranges the disks to spell out the correct password, "the tumblers inside align, and the entire cylinder slides apart" .In the inner compartment of the cryptex, secret information can be hidden, written on a scroll of thin papyrus wrapped around a fragile vial of vinegar as a security measure: if one does not know the password but tries to pry the cryptex open by force, the vial will break and the vinegar will dissolve the papyrus before it can be read.

It's a five letter password, giving hundreds of possible combinations.

But for Valentine's day, I think Artemis would constuct a special one for Holly.

The password: Holly

The message on the papyrus inside: I love you.



Well, those were my thoughts anyway.
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Re: #32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by Meova » Tue 17th Feb 2009

I so love the cryptex idea! That'd certainly be something for Artemis.
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Re: #32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by BlackOpal » Wed 18th Feb 2009

Oh, a cryptogram, way to show me up. :P
I said there'd be a third note, so here it is.

ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage

Assuming that Cadel doesn't know Gnommish, this would be a challenge for him, I think. :D
(I think that Artemis would be a little presumptuous. But that's just me.)

Though, it isn't a cryptogram. XD It's kind of lame and obvious. Whatever. XD
Thanks to darvit and /b/for my signature. :D
And thanks Kagoma, for the awesome birthday present that is the C&H sprite!
You can't take the sky from me.
1/4/10- The end of the world as you know it
And it's just the beginning...

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Re: #32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by Kagoma_Kage » Sat 28th Feb 2009

This Challenge is officially closed.
The Judges are deliberating over the results as we speak.
(Wait...no. Well, Kagoma is deliberating at least. :) )
But in all seriousness guys, these are the best entries I've read in a long time and it really is going to be killer picking my favorites.
I'm delighted to get to witness such awesome creativity from everyone.
Results will be up tomorrow.
Excellent work.

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Re: #32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by Kagoma_Kage » Sun 1st Mar 2009

1st BlackOpal
Your entries where all supurb and a lot of fun to read and attempt solving.
However my particualr favorite was Oriana.
(And I promise it's not just because I feel an odd satisfation at your use of stealth shipping.)
I thought this seemed really fitting, and although the Fowlverse would come to an end if Artemis was ever that romantic, it somehow still seems like this could happen.

2nd Star Jinin
This is a close second.
I adore drabbles and always wish people would enter them. Your entry leads into the imagined reaction very smoothly, and all the details of how he was actually typing out the words really gave a sense of what he's thinking/feeling.
This entry was pleasure to read.
I hope to see more like it in future Challenges.

3rd Soulcatcher
I'm not even going to pretend I can decode your Cryptogram, but I applaud you for entering one in the first place.
Would you mind sharing the key to solving it now that the contest is over?

Once again I'd like to thank everyone for their wonderful entries.
This was a particularly fun Challenge to judge.

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Re: #32: They Say Romance is Dead.

Post by Soulcatcher » Mon 2nd Mar 2009

A 4
B 26
C 10
D 21
E 22
F 6
G 15
H 3
I 7
J 2
K 11
M 23
N 9
O 8
P 13
Q 17
R 14
S 12
T 5
U 16
V 24
W 20
X 25
Y 1
Z 19
Image

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