I do realise that I set the deadline for this to be at the end of July, but 
circumstances proved me otherwise. However, those of you who have written 
fics for the challenge I issued earlier this year (Kill a character, follow 
the ramifications), please send them to me.

As for my judges - if you didn't reply to the message I sent out, last 
month, shame on you. Please respond immediately.

Finally, to keep things going, here's the next challenge. Somewhat lighter, 
but no less significant (I hope).

Write a fic in which you include as many song titles as possible. Extra 
consideration will be given to fics which:

a) Are good
b) Limit themselves to a single genre or artist for the titles
c) Don't play it so much for laughs (unless this is done well - see (a))

As an example, I offer my meagre attempt, including 56 Beatles titles in 
about 4KB of fic (feel free to email me if you can only get around 55). 
Please make yours better. The first call for fics will (hopefully) be around 
September.

Please note that I already realise the following is crap, but you'll 
hopefully get the idea.

ConMan

*****

Shinji picked up the phone and dialled the number of an old friend. After 
losing count of the number of times the phone rang, a voice finally came on 
the other side of the line.

"Hello?"

"Dr Robert?" Shinji said. "It's me, Shinji."

"Shinji! It's good to hear from you. You haven't called since my last 
birthday. Where are you now?"

"I'm down in Tokyo-3, Dr Robert. I need you to help me with something."

"Any time at all, Shinji, you know I'm here for you. What's the matter?"

"Well, Doc, I'm in love."

"Good for you!" the doctor shouted over the phone. "Your mother should know 
about this."

"My mother died some time ago, Doc. Although sometimes it feels like she's 
still around."

"I understand that, Shinji. So, please tell me about this girl."

"Well, Doc, she's kind of bossy, and she thinks she's a woman already. She's 
like nobody I know."

"I take it she loves you?"

No reply.

"Shinji, in my life I've learnt many things, and every little thing that 
life's taught me is telling me that if you don't work that out, you're going 
to lose that girl."

"Well, Doc, there's kind of a problem. You see, there's another girl."

"You don't do things by halves, do you, Shinji. But I still don't see why 
you can't think for yourself. Surely if you love two girls, you're going to 
have to make a decision. It's not like you've got to hide your love away 
from the two of them."

"I tried that, Doc. I sort of hinted to Asuka - that's the bossy one - about 
my feelings, but she got mad, and she said ..."

"She said what, Shinji?"

"She said 'I don't want to see you again'. She only seems to cause me 
misery, but I've got a feeling she's trying to cover something up. One day, 
I saw here standing there in the corner, and she looked really sad, but when 
I asked her about it, she just said 'I feel fine'. Another day, she looked 
really bad, and she came up to me and said 'Hold me tight, please, Shinji', 
but the next day she wouldn't say hello, goodbye, or anything else to me."

"That is a problem, Shinji, but it's hers to deal with. What about this 
other one? Do you love her more?"

"That's the thing, Doc. I don't know that I love her that way. There's 
something between the two of us, but in some ways she's like a little child. 
She doesn't understand things the way I do, and when I think about the 
things we said today ..."

"Do you want to tell me about them?"

"Well, I pointed out a blackbird, and I asked her 'Tell me what you see'. 
She told me 'I see a bird, but it is not flying. Tell me why.' I didn't know 
what to say. And what happened yesterday, and the night before, every time I 
see her I feel like I'm looking from a window into something that's not 
really of this world. I get the feeling it won't be long before I crack. I 
already feel like I'm a loser around here, thanks to Asuka."

"Shinji, you're not a loser, but I think you need some help. Here's a little 
advice, from me to you: I know you want to run or your life, because you've 
been running all your life. But if I needed someone to do what I'm going to 
suggest, I know you'd be the one to do it. It's only love, and you know 
better than I what love can do for you. I want to tell you to make up your 
mind as soon as possible, but I know you won't do it."

"I will, Doc. I'll try."

Doctor Robert sighed. "No you won't, Shinji, but at least together we can 
work it out. Don't wait and let it be, because what you're doing right now 
is prevaricating. It got Hamlet killed, and it won't do you any good either. 
Is that clear?"

"Yes it is, Doc, but I don't know if I can do it alone."

"Well, Shinji, say the word, and I'll drive my car down to Tokyo-3 to see if 
I can help out."

"Thanks, Doc. I'm sure every little thing you do will help. Just don't let 
me down, because I don't want this to be the end of our friendship."

"Don't worry about that, Shinji. When I get home tonight, I'll be thinking 
about your problem. Goodbye, Shinji."

"Goodbye, Doc."

*click*


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