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Nitral's Archive 13

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On the search of chaos" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "527BC 21 ST Augusto Oh diary, today I felt like writing an account of this plan. Perhaps I should have started a diary the day my thoughts about Meica began turning twisted and contorted, but I’m not late. They are bound to call me foul and sick for what I plan to do. Do I care? No." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Caring is only for those who have never faced death. I have. Right in its eyes, I promised it I would come for him one day, that his blood would be mine. Many moons have passed ever since I left my homeland, or at least felt like I’ve been part of it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have lived on the outskirts of this fake utopia for all my life hiding my true self. The son of Lanmir. The man that grew me up, neither weak nor soft of soul, in truth it took him great ease to continuously command his men forward." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My father was a commander and at times the bravest this wretched city had to offer. But in this world people who are often the bravest and deserve the most for their selfless acts get treated like junk." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was a revolutionist against the king, a man above the hierarchy, almost seen as a divine entity by his cowardly followers. Henry IV, the undomesticated barbaric dog that has been reigning over the people of Meica oppressively for years has made it simple." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Either be one of his loyal soldiers or of his trusted assistants that cater to his every need. Else be ready to be treated worse than cattle. But funnily enough, I am one of those assistants after suppressing my hate for him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But he doesn’t see my face, he doesn’t remember me as the kid who saw him order the decapitation of my father. My father stood against this oppressive city and all the king stood for until his whereabouts were ratted out by the same people he was trying to protect. Two-faced snakes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His punishment? Decapitation visible to all. It wouldn’t have bothered me more than it was supposed to if the nation hadn’t visibly been content. All of them laughed and cheered the moment my father’s head blew off into the distance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At that moment I felt my heart explode under such discomfort and an itch so loud in my head that only worsened by the laughs of the people surrounding me. Giggles and laughter towards my headless father. Mocking him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Perhaps he had done something bad to these people I was unaware of but that’s simply impossible, these people were just cowards. That day I promised revenge on all these two-faced bastards and that horrific man who calls himself ruler." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’ve begun searching for a nation to wipe Meica off the face of the earth, unfortunately, I just can’t do it alone. I now call myself the man of many masks. Telling lies and telling truths and whatever is required in different cities with an army big enough to help me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Anything to sprinkle chaos into Meica." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And now that you are up to date diary I have the ruler of Dimoria to persuade on the morrow… 527BC 25 th Augusto Another failure has fallen onto me today in the land of Dimoria, the people I thought would have acted out my revenge on my behalf were too weak-minded, not greedy and certainly not violent enough." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Another failure. Weeks wasted for their incapacity to plan and for their stupidity to believe In me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "527BC 31 th Augusto Oh, great diary, I have found a different city not too far and this one promises well, on the morrow I am taking a voyage there and seeing it for myself, perhaps their ruler will be easy to manipulate once I become his right hand or give him the false knowledge he seeks, whatever it takes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It’s annoying diary, but it will be worth it. 527BC 2 nd Settebra Oh, diary Isn’t it just beautiful when poor insignificant people will do anything for worldly items you own in abundance? I say that because I believe I have found the right people." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At first, when I entered Pechax everyone instantly thought of me as wealthy, those peasants had never once seen clothes which weren’t punctured with holes and of magnificent colours like mine, but funnily enough they had weapons, all seemed to have wielded something sharp within their filthy hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A good sign. They instantly listened to what I had to say, “How may I meet your ruler?” I remember requesting them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instantly, what I’d later come to know as their leader’s fortress was pointed to me as if they saw some salvation to their problems with me… Nevertheless, it was easy to reach and even easier to enter. No guards. Almost isolated." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With long thin webs and short thick piles of dust, the corridors and rooms mourned for a day they would be cleaned. If it weren’t for the leathered throne with wooden handrests he was sitting on, I would have had trouble believing I had entered a king layer. His face looked so pale and troubled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I requested what I always did to every king. “Lend me your army for In return a promiscuous land.” No hesitation. I remembered his confused expression, understandable. Not every day do you see a shining man walk through your trembling doors and request such a bizarre feat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That pale old “King” then took to his feet questioning me. I would normally be of polite nature to someone that could be so helpful but this individual resembled nothing of a king, only a mere poor man that had a lot of men. Useful men. Which I needed. But he was a rightful man." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After he understood my request and what it meant to invade and kill another city he didn’t want to be involved in such a bloody conquest. Respectable, but I just couldn’t care, this was a golden ticket. I needed them and their poorly fed body seemed to have needed my resources—Meica’s resources." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was done searching the land for armies that could help me in my quest for revenge. So I did what I do best. Manipulated him into thinking that if his people didn’t have food then they’d soon have their king's blood instead, and surprisingly it worked. This king was rightfully scared." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The moment I had walked into this barren land I had felt a tension between the people and this “king”. Hunger almost certainly leads to unforgivable actions, I know, I’ve felt it on my skin. In this case, a revolution is to be carried out against their “king”." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But I assured him this revolution would have happened to a different king. 527BC 25 TH Settebra Oh diary, I have finally returned to my land victorious, after a month of continuous travel back and forth between my land and Pechax I have managed to conclude what could have only been a dream pact." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They are not the strongest I’ve seen, but they are numerous, that’s what matters, and with the swords they all seem to have it will suffice. Apparently, they were thrown as waste into their city with other trash and they scavenged it to find what they felt was useful." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In this case swords… Sure, whatever works. With a king atop a land that rots and reeks of intoxicating fumes, he was bound for his starving and irritated people to follow me on this quest. On a quest to find a solution to the “poverty” that afflicted his people. Just a matter of time and negotiation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That’s all it takes to kill. Extreme survival conditions; and a people who already believed he was a selfish king keeping plenty of food supplies to himself. That last bit I may have had something to do with… Regardless, they will not back down. They can’t." }, { "from": "human", "value": "These Pechax are greedy people who would never back down from a land so breathtaking as Meica." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With its crystal clear river that runs through its core, with so many well-erected houses dotted across its fields, with each one filled with blacksmiths and leatherworkers and farmers and tool smiths and weaponsmiths and—Yes, it’s enough." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After the complete and utter destruction of people, all those houses will be empty, ready to be given to Pechaxians to fulfil their economy. It’s perfect. The motive is perfect. And their men are plenty. With my help, it won’t be of any difficulty." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I promised them the gates of Meica open upon their arrival during the night. After years of being a kiss-ass and strategically getting closer to him I have become one of Henry’s most trusted assistants and because of that with me lie the keys of these fortified walls." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Its people and its king for so many years have solely been protected by these walls. Not its soldiers but its walls. Soldiers here are weak. I just need to finalise this bloodbath. It’s all up to me now diary, to bring them here. 527BC 12 RD Ottobra It is done! Oh, diary It has all been planned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Soon I will avenge my father, a father who was far greater than every living being within these walls, every single person who laughed at the man who stood up against tyranny. A father so Better if I stop myself there. He’s dead. Nothing to remember more than I already have for these years." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nothing can bring him back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But this will avenge him, I have promised Pechaxians the gates opened at their nightly arrival and the vast army that will march through the gates of Meica will establish graves for children men and women alike and hydrate this uncalmable thirst for the blood of Meicans I have gathered over the years." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I won’t take credit until Henry’s head dangles before me, however. I don’t want to prolong this entry… Diary, as I finish writing this passage I stand in the courtyard of my previous hell, and diary, tomorrow I will turn it into my paradise filled with my enemy’s grave." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "527BC 13 th Ottobra Oh Diary, It was fabulous. My promise for revenge came true, and so did the promises I had made to the people of Pechax. Their trust is in my hands—but that’s beside the point." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The moment his decapitated head hung from my left hand as thickened blood gushed from his punctured neck, swinging; as his eyes twitched in pain and his senses opted in and out of consciousness was fabulous. It was fabulous. And of those bastards of Meicans almost only lay ripped flesh." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Some are still being hunted and chased with razor-sharp blades screaming for their salvation, but in this chaos, I take my time to write this entry because it's freeing. It’s a wholesome sight. The smell of rotten flesh, however, has begun displeasing my nose a little. It's irritating." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It’s incredible that even beyond their graves these insignificant creatures still irritate me. It is so thrilling remembering it all. From the instant, I opened those gates while the townsfolks were asleep right till the moment they invaded Henry’s castle I was there of course." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They stripped him out of bed, tied his hands and feet and dragged him by his hair. This was all just after all his guards were outnumbered by my pawns these Pechaxians. These pawns Pechaxians, then hauled him into the courtyard as he was cursing me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The audacity! All I had to do was give an arm signal to my men before his body was dashed onto the cold floor, as he crawled away from me. He. Was. Scared. What a pitiful king. In the moment I saw anger in his eyes I asked for the soldier’s blade, then, his eyes frightened." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He asked why all of this was happening to him, why this invasion was taking place and why I appeared to be the mastermind behind it and why— now that I think of it, so many questions. Understandable. Nevertheless, it felt degrading." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Questions weren’t meant to be asked then, it meant he didn’t fear me enough. If he did, he would have kept shut under my presence. I had to make him value me, fear me. And so I did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I began with his nails, they were too perfect, if I was the one with the upper hand in this situation he couldn’t possibly be “better looking” than me. I had to level things with him. Even better, I lowered his status as a human. Not that it was high." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ripped a few nails here and there until his screams of agony accompanied the sound of blood dripping down to the floor and created a delightful symphony of pain in my ears. I think it was four I took off, maybe eight or even nine. Can’t remember well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then his skin looked just a bit too polished for my liking. “Perhaps his flesh is a bit too covered by his skin.” I mockingly told the soldier who had supplied me with the blade. To which he chuckled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I began trimming him shortly after and once again the screams besieged the courtyard as he kept on cursing me. I had completely forgotten about my father then, the truth I wanted to tell Henry, that I was the son of Lanmir had left my mind. But he did deserve some answers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Why was I doing this after so many years after my father’s death, still chasing that personal vendetta? So many people had been born after my father’s execution and today they were still dying while I was torturing Henry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It felt like something else was stirring up in my heart, more than just a personal vendetta. It was the need to see the world and its people get flipped upside down. That’s what It was. Perhaps I deserved some answers. “Why all this chaos?” “Because chaos is freedom,” I remember telling him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It felt so freeing. “It’s an elixir to slurp and awaken one's desires." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When you grant people the correct or the unlimited amount of chaos their true freedom rages out.” The fact that humans, myself included diary, have some sort of person that is a pillar, almost resembling an entity in their life, a protector that helps guide them in all moments." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And when that powerful entity is defeated chaos slowly rages from within and freedom to fulfil any action is given, however corrosive. My father was my pillar and he had taken it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I said it all, everything deep within… when he realised who I was meant to be after those words and without having to mention the name of Lanmir, his eyes visibly filled with misery. My vengeance felt accomplished in that moment so, I took his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I granted chaos to “his” land and its people, while simultaneously giving it freedom from his tyranny. The same feeling Henry had gifted me, the sprinkles of chaos in my life, I had offered abundantly to his little nation of two-faced bastards.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Love in the Last Days" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the desolate expanse of a world ravaged by a zombie apocalypse, love was a luxury most thought lost forever. The streets once teeming with life were now silent, save for the occasional groans of the undead and the rustling of the wind through abandoned streets and storefronts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Humanity had been reduced to a scattered, desperate few. It was in this bleak landscape that an unexpected love story began. As the pandemic began to unfold, chaos erupted. The initial panic drove people to commit unimaginable acts of desperation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the frenzy of looting, the value of everyday items became a fleeting illusion. Electronics, jewelry, and cash were snatched up with wild abandon. People robbed banks, hoping to amass fortunes that would offer them some semblance of security." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yet, as the world spiraled into chaos, it became painfully clear that TVs, rings, and cash could not stave off the inevitable. Survival had become the only currency of value." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mara, a librarian who thought of herself as a “weekend survivalist” had sharp wit and an even sharper blade, had been traveling alone for months. She’d fortified her small car with makeshift armor and scavenged what she could from the ruins of cities." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her heart was hardened by loss and the constant threat of zombies that now walked the Earth. Her life had become a routine of survival, devoid of the simple pleasures that had once defined her existence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The only solace was the few books she took with her before her apartment was over ran by the undead. One fateful day, Mara’s path crossed with Ethan’s, and their meeting was as unlikely as it was dramatic." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ethan, a former history professor, had been wandering alone after a recent attack had scattered his small group of survivors. He had been forced to adapt quickly, learning to navigate the new world through necessity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ethan’s journey had led him through the aftermath of the pandemic’s early days, witnessing the absurdity of humanity’s greed in the face of its own extinction. Ethan had once been a professor at the local university, known for his meticulous lectures and passion for the past." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His life before the apocalypse had been filled with academic debates and classroom discussions. When the pandemic struck, his world unraveled as quickly as his students' notes scattered in a storm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The initial days of the outbreak had seen him desperately clinging to a semblance of normalcy—attempting to save his research, evacuate his students, and ultimately, to come to terms with the collapse of civilization itself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now, with his scholarly pursuits replaced by the horrific realities of survival, Ethan navigated the ruins of the old world with a combination of analytical sharpness and a newly acquired, gritty resilience." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Their initial interactions were marked by caution, but as they traveled together, they found a sense of camaraderie and trust. They shared resources, strategies, and gradually, the bond between them deepened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ethan’s charm and wit managed to break through Mara’s tough exterior, and in turn, Mara’s resilience and strength offered Ethan a glimmer of hope. They began to envision a world beyond the apocalypse, one where they could build something together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As their relationship grew, Ethan began to entertain the idea of a future with Mara, one that included a gesture of commitment amidst the chaos. On the anniversary of the pandemic’s onset, Ethan devised a plan." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In a moment of grim necessity, Ethan had to venture into a dangerous part of town where the zombies roamed freely. He found one of the undead still wearing a ring, a haunting reminder of the greed and delusion of the pre-apocalypse world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With careful precision, Ethan managed to cut off the zombie’s finger, retrieving the ring in the process. The task was gruesome, but Ethan was driven by the thought of giving Mara a symbol of their love and hope for a future." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The ring, though obtained under grim circumstances, was now a token of something pure and enduring. Ethan found an old chapel in a forgotten town, a place that had once celebrated life and love." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He spent days restoring it as best as he could, creating a small, makeshift altar and decorating it with salvaged flowers. The chapel, though worn and faded, was filled with an unexpected beauty. It was a place where they could momentarily forget the world’s darkness and embrace a shared future." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When the day arrived, Mara was taken aback by the sight. The chapel was adorned with a sincerity that spoke to her heart. Ethan’s proposal was simple yet profound." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He spoke of their journey, the challenges they had overcome, and how in the midst of despair, he had found a reason to hope and dream again—because of her. Mara, moved by the gesture and the depth of Ethan’s words, accepted his proposal." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They celebrated their wedding in that old chapel, with only the faint hum of a wind in the trees, and the distant echoes of the apocalypse outside. The ceremony was stripped of glitz and glammer but filled with genuine emotion and a shared commitment to face whatever the future might hold." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Their wedding was not just a union of two people but a beacon of hope in a world that had long since lost its way. As they exchanged vows, promising to stand by each other in sickness and health, in peril and safety, they found strength in their love." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their marriage was a testament to the enduring power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the midst of a world torn apart by the undead, Mara and Ethan’s love was a reminder that even in the darkest times, there was still room for light, for connection, and for the promise of a brighter future." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their wedding was a symbol of a new beginning, a chance to build something beautiful amidst the ruins, and a love story that proved that even in the apocalypse, the heart can still find a reason to beat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As the couple walked away from the chapel, hand in hand, they knew that their journey was far from over. But with each other by their side, they faced the future not with fear but with a renewed sense of hope and a love that would guide them through the trials yet to come." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And so, in a world forever changed, amidst the ruins and the shadows, they pledged their love with a simple yet profound promise: I do.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I Do Wah Ditty" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On her 70th birthday Alice knew she was in trouble. Unlike the blessed virgin Mary, no angels were lurking above awaiting to impregnate her.\n\nOr worse than that, she didn’t have a horny old Abraham itching to get a son out of her 90 year old body. Sarah’s tolerance was much greater than Alice’s." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alice was actually a rather chaste celibate. She had been penis free for close to 30 years and though she enjoyed the freedom that went with this status, occasionally she was tempted. The day it dawned on her that change might be brewing was a strange one." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She’d been considering letting her vehicle go, with some reluctance. The cost of maintaining and operating her beloved car had begun to weigh heavy on her pocket book. She had been a driver for over 60 years and had loved every minute of it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her first experience was sitting on her grandfather's knee as he drove a tractor around the farm. His trust in her ability to steer was immense and transferred to Alice’s self confidence. By the time she was 10, she was put on a cushion to reach the steering wheel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A brick weighed down the gas pedal while her grandfather walked beside the truck throwing hay out to hungry cows." }, { "from": "human", "value": "By the time she was 15 she received a learner’s permit and at 16 graduated to a fully fledged driver’s license that gave her access to hit the open highway and further develop her racing skills." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "True, few were willing to accompany her.\n\nAgain, she was blessed with that man, her grandfather, who, with eyes sometimes closed, would allow her to drive his truck…on the highway…at speeds over the legal limit. Many changes occurred over the years." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She survived the death of her grandfather, parents, many close friends and the dissolution of two marriages and what had seemed promising as a third. She found herself contemplating ideas that she believed were a thing of the past." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So it was a great surprise to find herself driving around the city exploring with her car, for what might be the last time. She drove to a rather popular city park hoping to curb her arising passions by sitting peacefully on a park bench, enjoying nature in its abundance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shock best describes what happened next. \n\nIt had all begun rather innocently.\n\nGeese and ducks flew overhead, landed on the lake in front of her and began waddling over to partake of the special bird food she’d brought along." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All was well until she began noticing how many attractive young men there seemed to be in the world.\n\nShe would find herself becoming very dreamy as they paraded across her field of vision." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The wild birds seemed to disappear as these new, more grounded creatures moved from her peripheral sight to a more prominent position. Her venially innocent thoughts gradually began expanding and before long had definitely entered the land of mortal sin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her inhibitions began to melt like a child’s popsicle left on a summer hot sidewalk. She knew something was more than a little off kilter when she began dreaming about these delicious young men walking nearly naked across a stage, all smiling as they singled her out of a crowd of thousands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She grabbed her dominant hand to prevent herself from reaching out to pet one of these creatures as they stopped to chat with what they thought was a pleasant old woman. She knew it would be a serious violation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Though it was an involuntary reaction, the intensity of the desire and her almost inability to curb the impulse shocked her into awareness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Most disturbing was the day she found herself almost stroking the sleek firm arm of a parking lot attendant.\n\nAs he reached for her ticket, his rippling muscles and sweaty skin exuded a strong musky odour that somehow dulled her normal sense of propriety." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With great restraint she stopped herself, parked her car and sat quietly attempting to calm herself down. In that meditative space she drifted back to a time long ago. Alice was quite young when the adults in her life began to comment on her innate sense of balance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her gift played out in many guises, including a graceful presence that led her out onto the dance floor from a time when she could barely walk. The adults in her life loved to watch her twirl and whirl around a room, her long wavy hair floating about her wee head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She would lose herself to a rhythm, most often a composition whose beat played out for her hearing alone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This talent for balance manifested across other lines.\n\nAlice would walk the perimeter of her family's farm, entirely five feet off the ground. \n\nHer ability to navigate fences led her family to wonder if one day she would join a circus.\n\nAlas, her fear of heights kept her from this destiny and the dizzying height of the farm fence was as high as she could tolerate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "More years passed. Her dancing talent remained, but never rose to a professional level. Her first marriage was a disaster. She and her fiancé had decided to escape a formal wedding and drive down from the west coast of Canada to tie the knot in LasVegas." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alice was very excited about hitting the streets of SanFrancisco on the way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was the year 1969, the peace movement, populated by hoards of hippies, seemed to center around that city.\n\nAlice, a bonafide member of that rapidly declining movement, longed to ride the cable cars that would carry her to the Haight Ashbury district." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This area had been a hippie hubbub during the early 60’s and she held out some hope that visiting here would refresh her zeal for that amazing time in history. She fondly remembered the song that reminded her to wear flowers in her hair when she met some gentle people there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She held a small hope that as it was July, there might be a love-in. After all it was but a short time before, that strange vibrations were setting young people in motion, anxious to share their explanation of a revolutionary new world vision." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Love and peace did not abound on the lovebirds journey to the spot they’d chosen to marry. Almost from the start, intense arguments and ensuing hours of sullen silence made this trip a miserable experience." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In a spur of the moment decision, they decided to marry in Redding, a northern city of California. Alice intuitively knew that if one of them hadn’t murdered the other, a LasVegas wedding was going to be highly unlikely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sure enough, that marriage was brief, intensely destructive and left Alice floundering helplessly longing to find Prince Charming. She knew he would help build a picket fence to contain the many children she longed to bear. Sadly that dream collapsed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She survived forays into the madness of the 70’s, drinking herself almost to death in an attempt to dull the sharp pains of disappointment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She eventually came to her senses, found a religious community that lured her back to moral behaviour, helped her to stop drinking and assisted her in seeking a soul mate. She met Joe when she was 25. They were born in the same year, 6 days apart and seemed to have much in common." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This proved to be an illusion, but to the idealistic Alice, held great promise. Joe’s marriage proposal should have been a warning. Alice longed for a version more akin to Manfred Mann’s popular song." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His bold assertion about the fine woman he saw walking down the street, culminated with a declaration of undying love. He was hers, and she was his and surely, wedding bells were going to chime. Ha! Back to Joe.\n\nHe knew he was going to lose Alice if he didn’t offer to marry her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As much as he abhorred the idea of tying the knot, his fear of her walking away was greater. Hindsight of course provides the clarity of 20/20 vision. Without that knowledge, Alice accepted Joe's proposal.\n\n18 years passed. With that passing, many tragedies happened. Some almost beyond forgiveness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Alice did her best to rise to that place and was actually quite successful. However, not successful enough to withstand the dissolution of their marriage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As she pondered the many mistakes each had committed, she began humming Manfred’s tune, “Do wah ditty ditty.” Her foot began to tap, she itched to get out onto a dance floor and then something magical happened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Do wah” morphed into “Do I?”\n\n“Do I?” morphed into “I do!” At this point Alice woke up from that bad dream. The reality before her was transformative." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As she gazed into that mirror, she saw Joe's face.\n\nShe remembered his indecent proposal and with a barely concealed sneer, replied, “Do I want to marry you?” The next words that crossed her lips were,\n\n“Fat Chance!”." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Toasted" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Toasted  “Ladies and gentlemen, for those of you who don’t me, I’m Peter, Rob’s best man. I was there from the beginning, when Rob and Cindy first met. Rob tells people that he and Cindy met while hiking. This is technically true, but it’s not the whole story. Rob’s a modest guy and doesn’t like to brag, so now I’m going to completely embarrass him by telling you what really happened." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Rob and I were up at the lake, on the mountain trail, when we heard a scream. We ran toward the sound and found a lovely young woman crying and pacing, distraught and alone on the trail. Cindy here had been hiking with her German Shepherd, Muffin, and her then-boyfriend. We’ll call him Richard, or Dick, for short. They’d seen a large black bear on the trail and Muffin decided to summon his inner canine warrior and chase the bear. So, Muffin takes off into the woods, chasing the bear. Dick, apparently after several moments of hesitation, so I’m told, reluctantly takes off after Muffin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Upon hearing Cindy tell this story, Rob takes off running in the direction of the dog and I follow him, after making sure Cindy was okay by herself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“So, I’m following Rob, who’s moving through the woods faster than I thought humanly possible, jumping over tree limbs and bursting through bushes like a stunt man in a movie, until we finally see the dog in the distance. The dog’s still running deeper into the woods. No sign of Dick, in case you were wondering." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“We begin to hear water, which, if you’ve been to the mountain trail, you know is the river where the little waterfall feeds into the lake. We get closer and we see Muffin, trying to swim in the river. The bear, being a better swimmer than Muffin, is long gone. We caught a glimpse of him way on the other side of the river, heading further into the woods. We did not, at any point, catch a glimpse of Dick." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“But now here’s Muffin, being tossed about by the rapids in the river and beginning to head downstream. Toward. The. Waterfall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“So, here’s the part where Rob, predictably, being the good guy he is, jumps into the river to save Muffin. Luckily for Muffin, Rob is a pretty good swimmer. He manages to catch up with Muffin before the poor dog goes over the waterfall. Rob grabs him by the collar and starts swimming toward the bank. I’m standing around like a dumb ass, because this is all happening so fast. I even forgot to whip out my phone and shoot a video. That would have been epic. Anyway, Rob gets to the bank of the river and checks Muffin for injuries. No animals were hurt in the making of this story, by the way. And still, no sign of Dick." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“We didn’t have a leash and couldn’t risk Muffin running off again, so Rob picks up Muffin, who, you’ll remember is a German Shepherd, not a small dog, and fireman-carries him back toward the trail." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Poor Muffin was too tired to fuss about that, at this point. It took nearly a half hour to get back to the trail carrying this gigantic dog. And still, you guessed it, no sign of Dick." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“We finally make it back to the trail, where poor Cindy is crying with worry, maybe more for the dog than the boyfriend. She sees us coming and her face lights up. She runs toward us, fastens Muffin to a leash, and gives us both hugs. We traded information and stood around talking for a while, waiting for Dick to arrive. Forty minutes later, he finally shows, covered in scrapes and dead leaves, and looking very annoyed that the dog was already safe and that he had nothing to do with it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“That, my friends, should have been the end of the story. But no. The next morning, while watching the local news, I see Dick being interviewed on camera for a story about bear sightings in the area. Apparently, other hikers spotted the bear, and a news crew had arrived after we left.\n\n “Anyway, here’s Dick, talking about how he was hiking with his girlfriend and how her dog ran after the bear, and how he had to run after the bear to save the dog. He added some colorful details about how he had to jump into the rapids to save the dog from going down the waterfall and how he’d gotten badly scraped up in the process. I thought about Rob’s bravery and his humility, and just shook my head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“And that should have been the end of the story. But again, no.  “Two weeks later, I’m reading the local news online and I see this story. There’s Dick again, accepting an award from an animal rescue group, for saving his girlfriend’s German Shepherd from a tremendous bear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He’s giving a speech about the importance of animals in our lives. I’d almost believe it if I hadn’t seen his face when he finally got back to the trail that day.  By this time, I’m kicking myself for not having shot a video of Rob rescuing Muffin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“And that would have been the end of the story, if not for Cindy. Cindy appreciates a good man, and Dick wasn’t making the cut. Another week or so went by and Rob’s phone rings. Cindy had jettisoned Dick from her life. This is where the real story begins, the one that led us to be gathered here today." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“’Muffin and I would like to thank you for saving his life’ she said. They got together for coffee and the rest is history. The moral of the story is this. Nice guys don’t finish last. Sometimes, it just takes a little while to get there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“A lot of times, at weddings, people like to talk about how fate brought the happy couple together. That’s nice. But let’s look a little deeper. We have some other entities to thank for bringing us together today. We have a wild bear, a dog named Muffin, and a self-promoting Dick. So, thank you bear, thank you Muffin, and ironically, thank you Dick." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Raise your glasses everyone. To Rob and Cindy and Muffin. May you have boring hikes for the rest of your lives.”." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What's in Venice?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Cat’s eyes couldn’t stop looking at her boots. Tattered and filthy with scratches and scuffs of mud, they were bound to leave a trail that led to her getaway route at the train station." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With all the mental energy she had left, she hoped that the trail would just blend in with the rest of the civilian life behind her, masking the scent of her escape both quickly and efficiently enough just for her to get far, far away. She couldn’t stop wondering if she was still being pursued." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She began to consider the fact that cameras everywhere would be her final enemy, leading whoever she was running away from right to her without a struggle. She would be spotted soon...\n\nAttempting to calm herself, she kicked her feet under the train seat and raised her eyes from the floor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Immediately, she caught the eyes of a child. Someone’s son. He couldn’t have been over six years old. With khaki shorts and a white collared shirt on, he sat beside his mother who paid no attention to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With one hand she held one of his little hands and with her other she gripped a book in which her face was fixated on. The title was too small to read from across the train but the binding was thin. A short story maybe? Or one of those self-improvement guides." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The book couldn't have been over a hundred pages--a quick read here and there and finished in a week. While lost in her curious thoughts, she realized that the little boy was still staring at her. It took a second, but she knew why his eyes lingered on her face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her left hand slowly went up and touched her eyebrow. There. She felt it still. A cicatrix holding the terrible memory of what felt like the previous night. She winced at the contact of her own finger and pulled the black hood further over her head, lowering her eyes once again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Instantly, she noticed a couple tears in her black pants. The number of lacerated slits made her anxious again. She fiddled with one of the tears with her thumb and tried her best not to remember the activities that had led to the violent ripping of the fabric." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With each flash of memory Cat closed her eyes harder. She clenched her jaw tighter. She balled her fists up. Her chest was pounding and her throat dry. She wasn’t breathing. She let out a loud gasp she didn’t know she was holding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She peeked out of her hoodie and saw a couple eyes peering in her direction in confusion. The boy’s mother had looked up from her book with a slight frown on her face–irritated at the inconvenience of being distracted from her reading." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She let go of her son’s hand and put her arm around his waist pulling him closer to her. Her hand then went to his head and softly guided him down to lay in her lap. The boy swung his little legs on top of the seat and laid down as his mother immediately went back to her reading." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Cat hung her head low once again. Partially because she didn’t want to be seen but mainly because she was tired. Her eyes opened and she looked up to see that the little boy was gone. His mom and her short book weren’t anywhere to be seen. Cat froze and realized that she wasn’t on the train anymore." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her cold lips and breeze-filled air confirmed she wasn’t dreaming. Everything in front of her was dark while below her, there seemed to be a bright illumination that she was almost scared to look down at. Where she was sitting, her back was propped up against something." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When she turned, she saw that she had been leaning on the leg of a statue. The statue was exceptionally tall. And although it was tall, the building behind it stood at an even more dramatic height." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The base of the building was partially lit, but the top of the building was so high it blended in with the darkness. “ That’s Oceanus .” A loud voice echoed slightly. Her head turned swiftly, scanning the area but seeing no one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“ Standing arrogantly on his seahorse-led chariot, the view is astounding. Don’t you think? ” The invisible voice continued. She wondered if it was a recording, one that played for the entertainment of tourists that came to see whatever the statue behind her was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She blinked hard four or five times before her eyes were awake enough to dart around at her surroundings. She turned her head again, taking in the view of the statue. Once again, her eyes wandered to the height of the structure behind it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“ I see you’re exceptionally captivated by the grand scale of the fountain. Eighty-five feet. That’s how high it is .” She froze. The voice was live. Someone was watching her! She could feel her cheeks red hot with anxiety as her head continued to swivel, searching for whoever had her attention." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The voice hadn’t stopped spewing out information about the fountain, but the light echo made it hard to tell where it was coming from. “ –the two seahorses are quite opposites. While one is tamed and docile, the other ravishes roughly and wild...just like the personalities of the oceans." }, { "from": "human", "value": "” It then clicked in her mind.\n\nTrevi Fountain. This is where she had meant to go. But she didn’t go there on her own. Someone who knew her anticipation finished the journey for her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Was it the man talking to her through the speaker system? How long had he been watching her? She considered the fact that this could actually be all in her head. The voice, the personified seahorses, the structure that scratched the heavens." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Because why in the world would she actually be in the fountain? “ According to myth, a coin that is thrown into this fountain is bound to return to Rome. The myth even goes to the extent that throwing a second coin would bring true love. ” The man babbled continuously." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“ Sadly, you only have one coin for right now .” She halted. For some seconds everything went silent. She felt something in her hand. Perplexed, she sat there distracted by her thoughts. In her mind was nothing but anxiety. Inhaling deeply, she decided to count to three. One. Two. Three." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She opened her hand palm up and stared. Silver, round and flat. Jagged edged. The inscription REPVBBLICA ITALIANA . She could do nothing but gasp. She doubted the coin had been in her hand previously but she was too shocked to be sure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her fingers wrapped around the coin as she clenched her hand into a fist. She opened her fist and was shocked when the coin was still there. She closed and opened her palm one last time. The coin remained face up in the crevice of her thin and dirty palm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“You’re not supposed to be on that statue, young lady.” A lady’s voice said loud enough to cross the water and reach her ears. She looked up and finally saw people; a lady and a tall man. The lady was beautiful and the man handsome; they wore the formal attire of a dress and a suit, respectively." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They stood straight with exemplary posture and matching suspicious faces. Leaning a little bit forward and squinting, she was able to make out their faces. For a second she completely disregarded the lady. Her eyes met the man’s." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Something about him was emphatically familiar and the gash in his right cheek only intensified his look. Her mind associated his face with animosity. But also disquietude and she feared him and whatever he was capable of. His stare stopped her breath and his grin sped up her heartbeat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She caught her attention back and returned her gaze at the lady. “Young lady, please come down.” She didn’t move. Too many thoughts formed too many questions in her mind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How did she get to her location? Whose coin was she holding and when did it get into her hand? Why did she just realize that the big voice had stopped talking? Who were these two people? The lady looked at the guy and said something too quiet to be heard by anyone who wasn’t supposed to hear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He nodded and took off the jacket of his suit. He carelessly dropped it to the floor and made his way closer to the fountain. Without a thought, he entered the water and was moving quickly. He waddled but made progress at a terrifying speed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Cat looked around for a place to run to but couldn’t see a clear exit out of the situation. There was no way to go but she had to get up. She wouldn’t sit down and let herself see what would happen if she was caught." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bracing herself with her hands, she pulled the lower half of her body up and stood beside the statue. She tried to be careful but slipped. Reaching out quickly, she was able to grab onto one of Oceanus’ legs and hold on. She heard a plop! in the water." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Still grasping onto the calf, she peered over the ledge into the water. A small sliver of shimmering gold seemed to shrink smaller and smaller as it descended to the bottom. The coin! Then she heard her name." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Catalaya! Catalaya, wake up!” The pitch black sky frightened her and she closed her eyes shut, trying her hardest to bite her lip and hold back her tears of fear and confusion. “Wake up! Catalaya!” No, she didn’t want to." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Please, you need to wake up!” The terror had taken over and she shut her eyes even tighter, horrified at the ominous voice looming over her. She shook her head, wanting to wake up from this nightmare. The tears had begun streaming down, and her mouth was crying out but making no sound." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She didn’t want to move, she didn’t want to open her eyes. The monstrous man would be getting too close to her now for her to make any move. She wanted to give up. “Catalaya, wake up!” She realized this time, she recognized the voice. Her eyes opened and saw her father’s face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was filled with worry, which concerned her because she had never seen him look so scared. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the bed. Out the room, through the living room, through the kitchen and out the sliding doors, they barged through the backyard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Catalaya still could not tell what was going on. And before she could get any sign, the two of them were blindsided and hit the floor. Her father rolled a bit further than she did, separating the two of them by too many feet. Catalaya sat up on the grass." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her new black jeans were dirty and covered in grass stains. She heard grumbling and looked up\n\nto see her father wrestling a man. And as soon as she stood up, another man appeared and grabbed her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instinct from her self-defense training caused her to kick, scream and scratch while the man tried to maintain his grip on her. A hard and final kick in between his legs sent him stumbling back. She tried to run to her father but was grabbed and turned. For a split second she stared at the man." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was a scar on the right side of his face, on his cheek. Before she knew it, his hand went up and came down fast sending a hard backhand to her cheek. Her father tackled the man and sent one hard punch before dashing back to his daughter. He picked her up and continued running." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They got to the driveway and he opened the back door of the Jeep. He placed her down and the door closed behind her with daddy on the other side. “Daddy?” She whispered. The car engine started. The person in the driver’s seat was her family’s driver." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Miss Catalaya, your father will be fine.” He assured her without a drop of conviction in his voice. “He left you everything you need for right now.” Looking on the seat beside her she saw a plane ticket, a train ticket, and a coin. She picked up the items and stared at them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The plane ticket was a departure from her city’s airport to Italy. The train ticket was to Venice. The coin had something written in a foreign language. The three items were all strange to her but she held on to them so tight that she began to smother the two tickets into a wrinkle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She couldn’t stop thinking of her father. She had left him back at the house with the two random, violent men. He had to fight them off by himself. She hoped and prayed that he could. With a deep sigh and a tear on her cheek, she looked at the tickets again with questions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The biggest one being what was in Venice?." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My Journey Home" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This story references a kidnapping (of a sort). I was happy. Really. Life was good." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the age of innocence, I never had to worry about my next meal, or a roof over my head. I was carefree, spending my days enjoying what life had to offer, educating myself about the world around me, and having fun playing with my brothers and sisters." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I recall, my house was warm and cozy back then. I thought it was a safe place, never imagining any danger could infiltrate my sanctuary. Fear didn’t exist within those four walls. My siblings and I were content. Our mother was both a sentry and an enforcer. In my young eyes, she was invincible." }, { "from": "human", "value": "God forgive anyone that tried to harm our family. She was also our disciplinarian, keeping us all in line. We learned right from wrong, and did our best to always do right. It was a simple time. A time when my life was filled with love and joy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That all changed one day when the stranger came. My sense of safety was shattered. I cried for my mother and my siblings when he grabbed me away from all I knew and loved. I know my mother fought to keep this man from me, but to no avail." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As strong as I had always envisioned her to be, she was powerless against him.\n\nHe put me in a large car and drove off. I cowered in the back, shaking at the unknown. Where were we going? Why would someone do this? What would become of me? We drove and drove. After a while, my curiosity got the better of me and I peered out the window. Lots of trees and grass. Occasional buildings. I was disoriented and didn’t recognize anything, but I knew we were far from whence I came." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Exhausted with fright, I slept a bit. I heard my mother’s screams in my sleep and whimpered, hiding my head in the back seat, hoping to muffle the sound. My dreams were now nightmares with strangers lurking in dark corners. Innocence broken." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I never saw them again-my family. I still miss them terribly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After a while, we stopped. I don’t know how long we drove, but apparently we arrived at our destination. Terror gripped me again, not knowing what was next.\n\nMy new house is large and drafty. I have my own room, where I spend all my time. It is bare and lonely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Others live here, too. I can hear them, but I can’t see them. At night I hear them crying for their families, just like I do.\n\nWhat kind of a person could do this? I wonder how many are here; how many this cruel man has taken away from their mothers. I can’t tell. I wish I could break free and escape. But where would I go? I have no idea where I am, which way is home, or if my family is still there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The man smells of smoke, probably from the cigar that resides in his mouth. It’s never lit when he comes into my room, but he still carries it in his mouth. I’m beginning to wonder if it is permanently stuck to his lip. He must love it. The cigar." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What would he do if I grabbed it away from him, like he grabbed me away from my family? I’m too scared to try. Whenever cigar man nears, I shake uncontrollably. He is gruff, never has a nice word for me. As a matter of fact, he barely speaks to me at all. He has no warmth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I long for the warmth of mother. Or if not mother, someone to show me they care. When cigar man enters my room, usually just to give me something to eat, I go to the farthest corner and make myself as small as possible. He brings me breakfast and dinner each day. I hardly touch my food." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I know I need my strength, but how can I eat when my stomach is twisted in fear? I think of my mother and wonder what she would do if she were here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then I start shaking. Is she looking for me? Today, a little girl has entered the big house. I heard her voice. It sounded so sweet; it made me cry. She’s with cigar man and another lady. The lady has a nice voice too, but not as sweet as the girl’s." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Doors open and close. I hear them going in and out of different rooms. Please, please let me see the girl, I thought.\n\nPlease let her into my room . I cry louder. The door began to open. I ran to the far corner, in case it was the cigar man." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was the little girl. She saw me in the corner and walked into my room. The cigar man closed the door behind her. I didn’t know what to do. She was a stranger, but her voice wasn’t gruff. She couldn’t be cruel like the man. Could I trust her? I was scared." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The little girl walked in to the center of the room and sat down on the floor. She didn’t try to crowd me. She just sat down. Then she started to softly sing. I don’t remember the words, but it was a nice song. It calmed me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Slowly, I stopped shaking. I took a couple of steps towards the girl, watching carefully to see what she did. If she made a sudden move, I was ready to retreat to the corner again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But she didn’t move. She just sat there, perfectly still, and kept singing softly in that sweet, sweet voice.\n\nI approached her, one step at a time until I found myself in her lap. She pet my head and I let her rub my belly. Then I licked her all over, until she started laughing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At the sound of laughter, the door opened. The little girl’s mother walked in." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“This one,” the little girl said. “I want this one.” Her mother smiled at the sight of the little dog sitting in her daughter’s lap. “This one it is, then,” her mother said. “You have to give him a name.” “How about Buddy? ‘Cause he’s my new best buddy,” said the girl." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Buddy sounds perfect,” said the mother. “OK, Buddy. How’d you like to come home with us?” I jumped up and started running in circles. My tail was wagging as hard as I could wag it. ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "THE TIME TRAVELLERS’ DILEMMA" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "i As Inti took in the local view before her, she looked at the sun, noticing that it was high in the sky. It was the day of her mother’s scattering." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The weight of despondency melted away as she surrendered to the stirring sounds that were coming to her ears from Mount Pleasant cemetery’s pool of reflection and its waterfall. With each moment, she felt less constrained." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As Inti soaked in the warm sun of a Toronto summer, her eyes glinted with sorrow for the life she was bearing, the enigmatic journey of her life behind her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her recurring visits to Toronto marked the passage of time displaying the scattering as a cause for her to mark fifty years of knowing her mother. It wasn't just another day; it was an anticipation that beheld what the day held in store." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With graceful movements of her body, Inti began to wend her way up the hill to the beginning of the ceremony. Each step, each sway of her body, was a tribute to the mother whose memory drifted through the air from a time long past, and Inti used her body now to derive meaning from the movement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As she reflected, a sense of freedom arose from the release of the event. She wasn’t just a performer in the ceremony; she was enmeshed in the world through her feet, her hands, shoulders and what she called her torso." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was a worldly woman like her mother had been, about to meet the others in the drama that had been her mother’s life. In that moment, the dressing up was all worth it; the black outfit, shoes, and in the declaration of her independence with a dark red and black scarf around her neck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As she walked, Inti felt the family's support. Johnny Antunes was stood under a tree contemplating the woman he called the female James Bond, now deceased." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His wife Sally was attempting to mingle with the observers who attended, the sisters Rio and Giselle who were in dignified attire; there were other performers like the minister who had absorbed the details by osmosis about which she was to speak and the official who acted as scatterer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "By repetition, and the rare combination of both empathy and projection, the resident group melded the mourners together under a tree." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And as their presence filled the air, Inti knew that she had touched them with a richly detailed speech and a poem, both the women with their serious looks, and the restrained uniformity of the men." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Inti behaved for the scattering in the manner of a shy woman not wishing to break into the faults of a stranger. Afterwards she walked back north and westwards to her accommodation and shut the observatory window and then the event that had already passed sharply increased her torment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She stared down at her skirt zip, her beautiful back with lustrous black hair shaken out of the way and remembered suddenly that she was still a young woman with a young woman's ardour. The observatory was a place to watch the events of the past, not the events of space." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There one could spy with serenity without danger behind its protective walls on events which happened hundreds even thousands of years ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The danger of accidents and even catastrophe could not touch her personally as it had with the death of her mother who had had a serious fall the previous year; it was like watching a cobra poised to strike from behind a pane of glass." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She got a tremendous thrill just thinking about the dreadful and deadly monstrous events which could end lives on any given day." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sometimes the observatory would show a death and Inti would look away; sometimes it would retrace its course and circle back as many times as the observer wished, but the machine itself was one of the major achievements of the late 21st century. As such it terrified her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looked again at the high arching surface of the metal casing and visualized the maze of intricate control mechanisms fitted into spaces so small it took a new factory in Taiwan to manufacture them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Swiftly and competently her fingers moved over the instruments of science which only a completely trained operative would know how to manipulate. It was an acid test and she knew it as she worked the time observatory's controls which operated a machine designed to puncture the veil of time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Inti lowered her eyes and closed the observatory window cautiously.\n\nii The Canadian Spacetime Agency at 777 Nebula Drive was a circular building on the east side of Ecliptic Heights, apart from the smart neighborhood of residential properties of Bayview, shrouded by a canopy of whispering trees, leading to Rouge National Urban Park." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The façade did not invite passersby in. Beside it, a row of low offices with modern lines of vine-covered stonework, created an urban enclave to emphasize normality. Similarly, residents of that area had the dilemma of cautious movement around its blank façade." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shortly an RV marked with the David A Dunlap Observatory’s logo sped unnoticed towards it. The nearest space observatory to Toronto, the David A Dunlap Observatory (DADO) was located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, about 25 kilometers north of downtown Toronto." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Inti who was at the wheel drove through the underground garage into the CSA’s inner courtyard, parking it by the back door. A reflective cylinder marked ‘part replacement’ was being wheeled in down a bare corridor. She took the corridor with the carpet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was an ongoing physics experiment requiring a bunny suit which she took from the wall and donned. A man and a women, both heavily protected appeared." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The experiment will be starting within ten seconds, so get under cover,\" one of them warned. She read the words ‘Vase arme (sic) sent from David A Dunlap Observatory’ which her cryptanalytic mind saw as, ‘Vetoed - modern day favor – past Lunar Base II Mars’." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Immediately she saw four messages on her phone – One said simply, “No interstellar travel”, ‘another “MISSION TO SIRIUS HALTED” in capitals as a headline." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Inti parked under a heavy steel pillar marked with her name and walked to her cluttered desk, the glow of her iphone casting eerie shadows in the dimly lit room. Her eyes, trained by years of decrypting the most complex codes, were drawn to the screen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There, innocuously displayed, were various ‘jobs’ from which she got her income. Her fingers moved instinctively to her worn notebook, scribbling possibilities of what the signal from the aliens meant. It certainly referred to the Nazca lines, that much she knew from JOHNNY ANTUNES." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Suddenly, a memory from a decade past surfaced—a lecture on ancient symbols and their connection to extraterrestrial messages. She realized they all contained the word \"Nazca\". Inti's breath caught. The Nazca lines—those mysterious geoglyphs etched into the Peruvian desert over two millennia ago." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her fingers flew over the virtual keys, decrypting the file with a fervor she'd not felt in years. The blueprint unfolded—it was a device which would transform the time observatory into a means of traveling back with human explorers 2,000 years to the creation of the Nazca lines." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The realization hit her, \"Objective - Obliterate.\" Why would the aliens give humans the means to remove the necessity for their presence? The lines weren’t just ancient art; they were a message. Someone, or something, wanted them erased." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Inti stared at the screen, the weight of her discovery pressing down. The iphone in her hand revealed a portal to a past, a past that was never meant to be altered. The woman’s untamed hair worn long was more of a rebellion against conformity than of any lack of care." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Was she capable of working for the CSA, the most demanding organization for conformity that existed, already including Johnny Antunes and Sally Padeira in its ranks? This question lingered in her mind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Before the scattering, she had harbored dreams of working to decrypt the Nazca lines using Maria Reich's work, the mathematician who had made it her life’s work. However, after conversations with colleagues in academia, she'd decided against it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now something or somebody living all the way from Sirius, eight and a half light years distant, was indicating that the world's attention should be focused there. But having never had the Nazca lines would leave humans free to roam interstellar space." }, { "from": "human", "value": "‘Their incessant petty tinkering has ruined everything, according to the wise future people of the Hidden Centuries. They have “bred out the unusual.” In forestalling disasters, they have left no room for triumphs that come only from danger and insecurity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In particular, the Eternals have adamantly prevented the development of nuclear weaponry, at the cost of forestalling any possibility of interstellar travel.’ James Gleich Time Travel: a history (2017) concerning Isaac Asimov ‘The End of Eternity’ 1971. The note was pinned to her desk as a reminder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What level of intelligence wanted to remove its own influence on a less intelligent species? An altruistic one? This was a cliché - that a superior species could be benign in a way no human could be, but Inti had no time for reflection as she was sat staring at a photo of the Cube, its perfectly smooth, metallic surface reflecting the harsh desert sun." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was mesmerizing in its simplicity, yet utterly baffling in its complexity. Eight billion tiny cubes, each just 2.5 centimeters wide, all packed within this structure that was no larger than a small building. It was a marvel of alien engineering, a puzzle that taunted human understanding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Inti felt the weight of her task pressing down on her. The Cube wasn’t just a physical object; it was a statement, a challenge from an intelligence far beyond Earth’s comprehension. The fact that it was here, in the middle of the Nazca lines—only added to its unsettling presence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A constant, repeating stream of data, undecipherable to most, but holding within it some code, some key that might explain why the Cube was here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why now? Why in this place? The questions swirled in Inti’s mind, but the answers were elusive, hidden behind layers of meaning that she wasn’t sure she could peel away. Inti felt small in the face of the intellect that had crafted it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a test, that the Cube had been left there deliberately, placed with precision on the ancient lines, a cosmic breadcrumb for humanity to follow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The lines themselves, vast and intricate, had always been a mystery—some said they were markers for gods or alien visitors. Now, this Cube seemed to confirm those wild theories, grounding them in a reality that was far stranger than any fiction. The code in the signal. That was her task." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was daunting, like trying to decode the language of a god. She knew it would be a laborious process, sifting through the data, looking for patterns, meanings, something—anything—that could make sense of this." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As she began to work, a thought gnawed at the back of her mind: what if the Cube was the message? Not just a relic or a probe, but a direct communication." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What if this was their way of speaking to us, of seeing if we were ready to understand? And what if, in the end, the message was something we couldn’t comprehend at all? Inti felt a chill despite the heat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Cube was more than just an object; it was a mirror, reflecting humanity's place in the universe back at them. A reminder of how little they truly knew, and how much there was yet to discover." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At the CSA, she was handed the recorded signal, with the straightforward explanation - ‘A radio signal from Sirius.’ ‘How long ago was it sent?’ she asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "‘Four weeks ago.’ Inti was able to mount the symbols for each animal on a portion of the text relatively near the signal’s beginning and from there she could imagine the astronaut pointing into the unknown depths of the message which was as long as one of the Nazca’s longest lines." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The human race was captured by a mathematical barrier. Only time manipulation could break it, so it wasn’t as if some inexorable logic fixed it forever. ‘Get Rio Euwe here immediately.’ ‘How would you convey ‘monkey’ to aliens? she asked the animal psychologist. She hardly paused for breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "‘There are problems as I see it. Its origins are pretty early. I’d suggest something like ‘speechless man.’ Inti explained the situation. ‘They’re basically saying if we achieve interstellar capability, we won’t be able to exploit it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instead, we should accept benefits which are implied in the terms ‘bred out the unusual’ and the Cube will give us that, as a species.’ ‘What benefits?’ asked Rio. ‘Forestalling disasters, in case you were wondering. I also connected the dots by considering the context, the cube, and the Nazca lines." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It’s a bit like solving a puzzle—using logic, intuition, and a touch of imagination.’ \n\nRio pushed the pad and pencil across the table, turning it through 180 degrees. ‘There’." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Inti picked it up by the tips of her fingers and cast an approving look across the serried ranks of ever-reducing lines which ended with a spider and a hummingbird, as she beamed across the table. ‘That’s what the Cube intended!’ ‘I know. At the midpoint of the two images." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It’s all too coordinated to be a coincidence.’ ‘There won’t be any more, will there, cubes I mean?’ ‘No, the radio transmission only mentions one such cube.’ ‘Why blue?’ ‘I don’t know, they knew the color of our sky?’ ‘How about their knowing our wealth – about whether we’d put a huge budget not to say our best scientists into time travel.’ ‘Beats me, if they’re advanced, they’d know everything, maybe.’ iii Inti could travel across the great span of time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She knew precisely what adjustments to make to the time observatory to make it interactive now. Just enough to accommodate only one particle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At first there was the barest glimmer of light in deep darkness but as she adjusted the controls brighter and brighter she was kneeling in a circle of radiance. This time she was sure of the knowledge of actual contact with the past." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There were years when she’d been sealed in high confusion about ancient sounds and voices. Now they would not confuse her again. There were mesquite trees. These trees were hardy and adapted to the arid conditions of coastal Peru." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The songbird she identified as a Pacific Parrotlet (Forpus coelestis): it was repeating its call close to her ear over and over with tireless persistence. Abruptly she sat up and stared about her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Running parallel to the field was a winding country road and down it came a man on a llama whose entire upper section was loaded with textiles. Alongside it was a saddled llama." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Inti stopped watching as the sunlight shone over moss covered rocks and silver fish darted to and fro beneath a tumbling waterfall. He passed by, scarcely noticing her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Inti followed his route to the central plaza of Cahuachi where there was a wind instrument by a door which startled her as it seemed to utter a sound on its own. The music went round and round the plaza. A tall man in a red shirt approached and interrupted her reflections." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She could see the green surface made from flashing textiles as a man gave a table a brushing over with a cloth. Then he thrust his head forward enquiringly and seemed to be looking at Inti. She nodded and the man went away. Then she turned watching a girl as she danced in the plaza." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The translating machine on her wrist had crunched the language it heard ambiently in mere minutes. She watched all of them as a passive receiver as they reached the door and the girl turned and smiled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Inti forgot the language difficulty so completely but it was what was inside her head which stayed inside lest she give herself away. Inti was under intense pressure to find a way which would stop the Nazca lines." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“It is good to have someone to talk to,” begun the man, who appeared to be drawing geoglyphs as if feeling a presence. “So, even if there are the inappropriately dressed they are no bother.” The translating machine was not sure about this bit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The red-shirted man’s rhythms of speech had Inti listening in complete silence and feeling sure that her silence was taken on trust. Inti had always known there were a few people like that. People who had a sixth sense and in that era they became shamans." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Of course, there was a single person behind the creation of the Nazca lines. He had to be stopped. His era (Inti’s) would not survive if he wasn’t stopped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“The Canadian Spacetime Agency specifically told you not to break the protocols by using the time observatory unauthorized.” This message came across her transceiver and Inti raised her hand to her lips to reply secretly. “But I must.” The shaman smiled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Inti put her hand to her gun and pulled it out. They were looking at each other, face to face, Johnny Antunes and Sally Padeira were clustered round the transceiver. “Don’t! Inti! Stop!” They confronted her. “You’ll be suspended.” She hoped it would still be negotiable. ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "THE FIRST STEP" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wasn't prepared at all. Not in the slightest. My heart pounded like a wild drum, my thoughts racing in an endless loop of doubt and fear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But I knew that if I didn't take that first step, I would forever be trapped in the small, suffocating black dot on the map that I called my town, a place that felt more like a cage than a home. But it wasn't even really my town. I wasn't born there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The place where I was born is a stranger to me, a distant, hazy memory wrapped in the fog of time, just like my parents. I wouldn't know anything about them if it weren't written in my documents. I can't say their names without feeling a hollow emptiness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They're just words without meaning, names that echo in the void, devoid of warmth or connection. Fear wrapped itself around me like the thick, impenetrable cloak of night, hiding me from view and shielding me from the prying eyes of others." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could feel their gazes, heavy and piercing, laden with pity, judgment, and reproach. Even the eyes of those dear to me carried traces of doubt and fear, like a poison seeping into the cracks of my resolve. They didn't trust me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't blame them; doubt had long been a companion of mine, whispering in my ear like a dark shadow. I can't recall exactly how the idea of leaving first entered my mind; perhaps it had always been buried deep in the darkest corners of my subconscious, waiting for the right moment to surface." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It wouldn't surprise me if I had tucked it away in the dusty drawer where I kept my most daring daydreams, dreams I barely dared to entertain. And it was all thanks to Violet, though she had no idea of the storm she had stirred within me. Violet adored Spanish soap operas." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She didn't care about the melodramatic plots or the endless episodes that seemed to stretch into eternity—she loved them all, every exaggerated twist and turn. She couldn't understand a single word of Spanish, nor could she read the subtitles that flickered across the screen, but that didn't matter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Watching them filled her with a contagious joy. Violet was my guardian, a woman who had taken me in when no one else would, and in a way, she was the catalyst for my longing for freedom. I didn't know Spanish either, but I could read the subtitles. That's how it started." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For the next three years, while my friends ran wild in the streets and fields, lost in the carefree abandon of youth, I spent countless hours with Violet, absorbing every episode, devouring every line of dialogue, and reading them aloud so that Violet could hear and understand the passion, the drama, the fire that the actors brought to life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It became our ritual, a small act of kindness that bound us together. Three years later, something shifted in my mind, like a seed finally breaking through the soil." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After hundreds of episodes, I realized I could speak Spanish—not the formal, polished Spanish taught in schools, but the kind spoken in those soap operas, a colorful blend of accents from Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and Argentina, each word rolling off my tongue like a song." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That's when the idea took root, growing with an intensity that startled me: I was going to Madrid, Spain. The thought bloomed in my mind, vivid and unshakable. I made up my mind. Armed with English and Spanish, I believed I could manage." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All that was left was to get a passport and buy a ticket to Madrid. I imagined myself there, celebrating New Year's Eve under the city's dazzling lights, marking the beginning of my freedom, of a new life that I could barely comprehend." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had always stayed in the place where I grew up, never venturing far and certainly never on my own. The only times I left were for school trips, and even then, we never crossed the borders of our country and never dared to venture into the unknown." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But now, I was planning to travel over three thousand kilometers away, completely alone, into a world I had only glimpsed through the flickering screen of a television. And I wasn't ready. Not at all." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I worked 14 grueling hours daily for two long, relentless months to save enough money for the ticket and passport. It was hard, back-breaking work, poorly paid, and draining, but the thought of standing on the streets of Madrid kept me going." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My friends pitied me, shaking their heads, calling me a daydreamer, a fool lost in fantasies." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They had dozens of logical, practical reasons why I shouldn't go, each sharper than the last, but I was driven by just one thought: \"I'm going.\" With a ticket to Madrid burning a hole in my pocket, a battered backpack on my shoulders, and a heart brimming with a wild mix of longing and fear, I said goodbye to my friends and headed for the bus station." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They didn't try to stop me. In their eyes, my plan was as good as suicide, a reckless plunge into the abyss. Their words lingered in my mind, like shadows whispering doubts in my ears as I walked. \"You don't have enough money to survive. You don't know anyone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Where will you sleep? Eat? What if you get robbed? How will you get back?\" Each step toward the bus station felt like a battle, and every inch of ground gained a victory against the tide of fear and doubt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could feel the weight of their gazes, their silent pleas for me to turn back, to stay in the safety of the familiar. If I had looked back, I might have given in and crumbled under the weight of their concerns. But I didn't." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Leaving everything behind was like tearing off a piece of my soul, even though my world was small and stifling. It felt like an eternity before I finally sat on the bus and looked out the window, my heart tumultuous." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I half-expected my friends to follow me to the station, desperate to stop and drag me back to the life I was leaving behind. Maybe I was even hoping for it. It would have been easier to stay, to convince myself that I was doing it for them, that I was needed. But no one came." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bus station remained eerily silent, the only sound the low hum of the bus engine. I sighed with relief, though I wasn't sure why. Perhaps my friends respected my decision or didn't care enough to try to stop me. The realization that I was alone filled me with a strange mix of pride and fear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stood up, my heart pounding in my chest. \"I can't do this. I'm not ready." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What if they're right? What do I know about Madrid, about Spain? What do I know about life outside the town where I've spent seventeen years? Am I throwing away my life?\" I turned toward the exit, ready to flee, but something caught my eye—my reflection in the glass." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yes, that was me: a skinny, frightened young man with nothing to lose. No family, home, job, money, or girlfriend. No hope that life would get better. \"Who am I?\" The question hit me like a punch to the gut. \"Am I someone who gives up when it gets tough?\" At that moment, I knew I couldn't go back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had never really had a home. I'd been a tenant since birth, abandoned by my parents, living with strangers who took me out of duty rather than love. I returned to my seat as the bus filled with passengers, each a mystery." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I watched them, wondering what their reasons for traveling were and what stories they carried with them. My anxiety grew with each passing minute, and suddenly, I was desperate for the bus to start moving, to take me away from the temptation to run back to the life I knew." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ticket in my pocket felt heavier, like a concrete block, a weight that anchored me to my decision. Ten long minutes passed, each one filled with the gnawing temptation to leave, to abandon this crazy plan." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But when the driver finally closed the doors and started the engine, my heart tightened like a fist in my chest. The first step had been taken; there was no going back. I felt something shift inside me, a change as profound as the turning of the tides." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was no longer just a frightened boy but someone beginning to decide who he would be and who he could become. Yes, I had a ticket and a destination in mind. Still, more than anything, I had my life in my hands, like a blank sheet of paper, ready to be filled with the words of a new story." }, { "from": "human", "value": "During the next seven hours on the road, I memorized everything I saw through the bus window—places I had never been, landscapes that blurred into a tapestry of colors and shapes, things I might never see again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was all-important but also a distraction, a way to keep my doubts at bay, to focus on the journey rather than the fear gnawing at the edges of my resolve. The bus stopped three times for breaks, but I stayed in my seat, too afraid that if I got off, I wouldn't have the courage to get back on." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So, I sat there, staring straight ahead, ignoring the other passengers, my mind locked on the road ahead, the destination looming like a distant dream. When we crossed the border, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and smiled for the first time in ten hours. I had made it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had left the safe harbor and sailed into the unknown, where the wind would take me. It didn't matter where I would end up as long as I didn't have to return. I wasn't ready. I'll never be prepared for everything life brings. But the beauty is that I don't need to be." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You just need the courage to follow your dreams; nothing else will matter. Because if there's one truth I've learned, it's this: \"Where your heart is, there is your home.\"." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Experienced" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The snow showed no sign of letting up. It had begun as dust, like flour being lightly tapped from a sieve in the sky; then the flakes grew fat and dense, deftly blocking us in. It felt strangely crushing, like I was a soda can inexorably crumbling under steady pressure from two hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I settled in my seat, picked a spot on the floor, and gazed at it idly. Maybe they could still take off. Somehow. Of course, that idea – that stupid idea – flew in the face of the 5 (or 6?) delays I had endured today." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hoped maybe something, somewhere would click into place and we could board and roll ourselves in our blankets and be on our way home. Sure enough, a few moments later, one of the crewmembers approached the podium and the speakers crackled to life. I looked up hopefully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ladies and gentlemen, due to the inclement weather, all flights in and out of this airport have been cancelled. We currently have snowplow teams outside working to clear the highway back into the town, but until then please make yourselves comfortable in the gate. Thank you. Ah. So much for hoping." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Thus spoke the… flight attendant? I don’t know. He certainly didn’t look like a flight attendant. Greenland’s airports, especially those in the northernmost reaches of the country, where my research team and I were working, did not operate like any of the airports I had ever been to." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Our pilots (along with the “flight attendant”) wore cheap jeans and faded button-up shirts and sported unkempt hair and heavy five o’clock shadows. They looked to me more like the snowplow drivers we have back in Chicago than pilots." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So long as we didn’t go down over the frozen tundra, at this point I couldn’t care less what the pilot looked like." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After making a few cursory remarks about the amenities available at the airport – old military rations, a shelf full of disintegrating books (all in Danish, of course), and a toilet that didn’t flush quite right, the flight attendant stepped down from the podium, and began walking back to the tiny office at the back of the gate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Excuse me!” I said, flagging down the flight attendant. He sauntered over to me – he was a rather heavyset man – and idly gazed at me. I set my next words carefully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“How long until the road is clear to get back to the town?” His portly face contorted into a grimace, clearly irritated that he had been asked that for probably the third time in the 30-second walk to the office." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Perhaps a couple of hours, perhaps 24 hours” was the reply, thickly accented and tinged with annoyance. I didn’t press the matter further. “Do make yourself comfortable” he said acidly and walked off. I sat down. Crushed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had only been here in Greenland for two months, and it was high time I had gone home. I had always enjoyed fieldwork, and I had been looking forward to this trip to Greenland for years. But the extreme conditions of Greenland were not what had made this all a rather unpleasant adventure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’d venture to say that I’ve been in much worse situations. It was, I’m ashamed to admit, my colleagues that had burdened this trip. I closed my eyes, wishing I was at home, sitting by a fireplace (funnily enough, I don’t even have a fireplace), sipping a mug of hot chocolate." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I sat like this for a while, until Fitch startled me out of my contemplation. “Something on your mind?” he said, in that smooth, resonant voice that made him a favorite among the female students – and a few of the female professors. I was not among them. I opened my eyes and looked at him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was handsome, I’ll give him that. “Nothing, just thinking.” He smiled wryly. “So, you’re thinking about nothing?” Silence. How was I supposed to answer that? After a moment, “I was just thinking about how nice it’ll be to be home.” His smile widened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Aren’t we all?” He waved a hand abstractly at the rest of our outfit – another 20 or so professors of various disciplines. But to me, they didn’t seem to be thinking. A few were talking animatedly in a hushed circle, but most were hunched over their field laptops, typing furiously." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I, in turn, smiled. Maybe Fitch, of all people, would get it. “Why don’t you have a seat? Talking will help pass the time.” Fitch obliged. Most people had a stereotypical image of a professor in their head – bow ties, awkward demeanors, formal dress, and so forth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fitch’s entire being demolished that stereotype. Simply put, he was somewhere between Indiana Jones, a west coast surfer, and a hardcore D&D player – a certain primal “brawniness”, and yet a fiercely intelligent and inquisitive side, with an eye for detail. He seemed aware of this." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Maybe it was proper that Fitch was a professor of anthropology. I couldn’t imagine him sitting in a library all day, but I could see him traipsing through jungles and deserts and mountains.  “Let me guess.” He said nonchalantly, shifting on the unyielding cushion of the seat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Palava finally stepped on your last nerve.” I couldn’t hide my surprise. How did he know? “Yes” I said evenly. “She certainly didn’t win any points with me either.” He said, the well-defined contour of his face turning into a slight frown." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“What she did, what she will do, is totally out of line.” Inwardly I smiled. Yes. I thought. Fitch gets it. As if to respond to that thought, Fitch spoke again. “It’s a tragedy, really. What’s going to happen to the land, and those that live there.” He turned to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I’m focused on the human aspect of this project, and it seems they don’t value it. Out of the 20-odd scientists they sent here, I am the only anthropologist. And I’m an afterthought, really." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They added me on at the last second, and they gave me the least amount of funding.” He spread his hands, in the classic gesture of “have-not.” And it was certainly true. While the rest of us lugged around various cases full of instruments and equipment, Fitch had brought practically nothing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A small rucksack and the clothes on his back. “Fitch.” I said, my tone serious. “There are no illusions about what’s going to happen next. Question is, what are we going to do about it?” Fitch chucked. Oh no." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“We’re going to smash Palava’s kneecaps and then we’re going to shit in her bathtub and then we’re going…” he prattled on, dripping with sarcasm. I couldn’t help but chuckle too. I knew I shouldn’t. But I did. Of the 20 of us, seven are geologists, Palava and I included." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Palava is our team chief, appointed by the company to compile our work and analyze our data and then send it back in a final report. From the outset, Palava and I had a poor working relationship. She’s much too… intense? I don’t know. I can’t find a good word to describe her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She is a very factual, logical person. While others were oohing and aahing at the spectacular mountain vistas and valleys and terrain features we visited, Palava quietly brooded, quietly sought an opportunity. We had come here for a very specific purpose, and Palava was intent on fulfilling it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn’t know this at the time, but I later found out that Palava was the second highest-funded member of the team, barring only our overall leader, Bailey. Fitch finished his monologue. He turned to me again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You know,” he said, still chuckling, “you geologists should learn to see the forest for the trees.” “Come again?” I wasn’t expecting that , after he threatened to vandalize Palava’s car with a key, among other, nastier things. Fitch sat back again and grew suddenly serious." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Serious, but not unfriendly. “Maybe this is just me,” he began, “but I’ve always felt that you geologists – most scientists, really – don’t truly grasp what they’re looking at.” The sharp exhalation of breath escaped me before I could stop it. That was uncalled for. Borderline insulting, really." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I glowered at Fitch. I was about to say something back when he held up a hand for silence. “Not in an offensive way, of course. You certainly understand the world around you—if our very limited view of the world could come close to understanding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But you just don’t grasp the fact that maybe some things are meant to be experienced, not understood.” “Experienced.” I repeat, not fully understanding. “Yep. Experienced.” He said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You could tell me readily about how the rocks fell into place, how they were pushed up from the crust, how the coal and oil and precious metals that we found came to be. But perhaps you haven’t really experienced all this in all its glory." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Just think about all the things that had to fall into place for what we see now to happen. Not to mention the millions, the billions of years it took. We think we understand it, when we can’t even begin to understand it.” Fair. I think I can see where Fitch is going with this." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fitch folded his hands across his lap and looked at the floor. “In my time in South America and Africa, I’ve always tried to frame my work in experience. People really are impossible to understand, it’s better to experience them. To live in the moment and take things for what they are." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe you geologists should do that with your rock formations.” Bullseye. I thought. Fitch knew what I was thinking that whole time. I just didn’t have the… Fitch part of me to put into words. Fitch continued, as if to himself. “Palava is a smart woman. No doubts there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But she doesn’t get the idea of experiencing something. She should have looked at the mountains we saw and been in awe at the sheer power of nature, the power we can’t even begin to understand. But she didn’t. All she saw was, quite literally, a gold mine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It’s a damned shame too, because soon that beautiful mountain will be blown to bits and the people that live on it will be displaced forever. And all Palava will ever experience from that is the bottom line.” Fitch should know." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He spent his whole adult life observing – experiencing , actually—other people and other ways of living. Something tells me he didn’t spend much time fretting over questions of semantics. He just experienced whatever he was looking at and ran with it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He lived in the moment, appreciated the time we are allotted. I remember he was dazzled by the mountains we saw, but also by the tenacity and ingenuity of the Inuit. But unlike Palava, he let them be, and simply observed the novelty of it. “My point is, we should live in the moment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Experience things for what they are. There is always much more to what we see. Even when and where we least expect it.” He turned to me. I nodded my agreement. “Thank you, Fitch.” He smiled. “It was my pleasure,” he said lightly. “If you’ll excuse me,” He stood up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I need to check how well that toilet really flushes.” As Fitch disappeared into the hallway, I sat back. Taking in my surroundings. The scientists were still typing for their lives on their dingy company-issued laptops. The two pilots and the flight attendant played cards at a small folding table." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A few of the native Inuit spoke amongst themselves in hushed tones. I widened my gaze. The torn carpet of the floor. The hazy fluorescent lights. The haphazardly arranged seats. The brightly colored garb of the scientists. Their various expressions – fierce concentration, exhaustion, annoyance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I widened my gaze still. The bleak tundra of inner Greenland. The ice floes. The mountains. The cliff faces. The villages. The snow. The wind. The sky. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath of the stale, chilled air. When I opened them, the snow had stopped.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A Fantastical Wedding and a Cliffside Chat" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ah, everyone loves a royal wedding. Truly a momentous occasion, the thing of fairytales. And the marriage between Tavalon and Orishenn was no exception. I met Princess Lorelai of Orishenn on the day of her wedding when I crashed the ceremony. Literally. I crashed through the church window." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“The Pirate-Witch of Caelkirk has arrived to object this matrimony with my own wedding procession!” I bellowed to the crowd below. The guards had barely enough time to draw their weapons before the doorway burst open and my crew barrelled into the church." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now, to be fair, it was the first time I laid eyes upon anybody in attendance (except maybe a few of the soldiers, if they’d been present at any of my earlier escapades)." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But the smartly-dressed nobles of the court, the bejewelled clergymen, the ornate royal families? They were but a sea of brightly coloured strangers being showered by shards of stained glass. They all blended together in a flurry of screams and shouts and flailing arms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The only one who stood out among the fray was the Princess of Orishenn – and not just because she was my target, mind you. Even King Cedric of Tavalon standing beside her was washed away by her radiance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her gossamer wedding dress had to be hundreds upon hundreds of yards of fabric and it glistened from every angle. From above, she looked like she was drowning in the centre of an iridescent pool. She didn’t scream or try to shield herself. She didn’t look away as I fell towards her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’d assumed the colour of her eyes in her portraits was an exaggeration, but no – her eyes truly did match the colour of the opals in her necklace. Those eyes watched me the whole time, her face set in place. She looked just like a portrait indeed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Perhaps she was in shock and having trouble grasping what was happening. Perhaps her hair was pulled back too tight for her to make any grand expressions. My crew were doing an excellent job of keeping everyone preoccupied." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was no-one to stop me from planting my boot into the king’s face to soften my landing. He crumpled beneath me without any complaint. “My princess, would you be so kind as to take my hand in matrimony instead?” I didn’t wait for a reply, obviously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I climbed over the waves of her dress and clasped her hand in mine. I locked my legs against her back, pulling her in and trapping her against me. I raised my spare hand towards the rafters and clicked my fingers to summon the teleportation circle that would magic us away from here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All in all, the kidnapping of Princess Lorelai of Orishenn took a minute, tops. But what an exciting minute it was. It was a wedding after all, things are supposed to be dramatic. *** Royal weddings are only ever about politics. Princesses don’t marry for love, except in fairytales." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She marries whoever someone else chooses for her. I met Brienne the Pirate-Witch of Caelkirk on the day I was to seal the ties between two neighbouring kingdoms. Instead she whisked me away in a kidnapping that would surely go down in history." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So much happened all at once – in a flurry of her fiery magic, we went from the screaming chaos of the church to bright open sky and the sound of the sea. We were atop a windswept cliff battered by ocean waves. It could barely be considered Tavalon territory this far out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My kidnapper was still clinging to me but I couldn’t hold up her weight any longer. My legs gave out and I sunk into the grass among a swath of skirts. Strands of my hair freed themselves from their bun and whipped around my face. My wedding dress billowed up and around me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have no clue where my tiara ended up. Maybe it escaped over the cliff edge into the ocean and sailed away. “There’s no point in trying to flee,” she said as she dismounted from my midsection. The sheath of her sword brushed against the side of my chest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Atop her head was a leather flying helmet and goggles. Her eyes glowed and flickered like flames that matched the colour of her hair. A bonafide pirate and a bonafide witch. “If you’re a good girl and behave, I won’t have to tie you up.” She winked at me. Charming." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Quite theatrical, aren’t you?” I mused. “She speaks!” I hoisted myself up from the ground and trudged over towards the cliff’s rock-spattered edge. “Careful now,” she said, “wouldn’t want you to fall.” “It’s so calming here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The breeze is lovely.” “…you know, you’re taking this all surprisingly well.” I planted myself on a craggy boulder. Not the most comfortable place to be sitting, but there were so many layers in this dress that the pokes and prods of the rock were barely noticeable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I readjusted my hair so it wouldn’t distract me while I gazed out over the ocean. The waves rose and fell, rose and fell, as though the entire ocean was breathing slowly in and out, in and out, until they crashed into white foam below me. Rising over the horizon was a speck of brown." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That would be her airship. No other specks followed after it. Good. She leaned down to me and pointed out to sea. “Do you see that? That’s my ship over there, right on schedule. And no other ships in sight. You know what that means? There’s no one coming to save you, princess." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And my client should be here any minute now to come collect you. So be a dear and let me help you out of this dress. You won’t be needing it anymore.” “No one else is coming, Brienne.” “Oho, you know my name?” I rested my chin in my hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“‘You are to disrupt the ceremony before the couple says ‘I do’. You are to ensure that the bride is delivered unharmed. Prepare a change of clothes to disguise the princess in.’ Need I go on?” “…huh, well damn.” The salt-spray tickled my lips." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Why didn’t you just tell me that you were my client in the first place?” “And risk being found out should my letters be intercepted?” “Ah, yeah that makes sense.” “Besides, for all I knew, you wouldn’t be willing to help out someone like me.” “Well that’s a bit presumptuous!” “So I’m wrong?” “…not wrong , but I’ve never gotten a job from someone royal before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This is definitely new territory for me.” She sidled in close to my boulder. She must be allergic to respecting personal space. Not much I could do about it though – just because I’d hired her didn’t mean I wasn’t at her mercy right this moment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“So, what made you choose me? My dashing looks? My nefarious reputation? My impeccable flirting skills? My bodacious—\" “You were the only witch in Caelkirk powerful enough to pull off a teleportation spell this far away.” “Ooh, my incredible magical prowess, ey? I’ll take that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And it had to be someone from Caelkirk? No political alliances being betrayed I’m assuming?” “I figured it was the best way to ensure Cedric wouldn’t blame my family for this.” The airship was getting bigger, I could make out some of the sails now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“And what’s your plan after this? Mayhaps a secret lover you want to run away with? That’s the only thing more romantic than a royal wedding.” She nestled herself onto my boulder and swooned into me, hand to her forehead like a kid in a school play." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My beautiful blue sea was overtaken by her shock of red hair blowing into my face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“ Oh, Sir Rodrick! ” she cried, “you may only be a mere knight but I’d rather be a pauper with you than spend a lifetime of leisure with that pompous ass of a king! Let us run away into the sunset together and have a million babies!” I couldn’t help it. I chuckled. Just a little bit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Thank you, thank you, I know I’m an incredible actor.” “I already said that no one’s coming for me. No wicked enemy and no secret lover." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’m just running away on my own.” “Running away to where exactly?” “Nowhere in particular.” “…that’s a stupid plan.” “Maybe it is.” “And a very lonely plan, too.” “Maybe it is.” My head felt heavy in my hand. I propped my elbow up on my knee." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Do you know why Orishenn royal wedding dresses have so many layers in them?” I asked. “It is tradition to add a layer for every wedding that came before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It doesn’t matter who she marries or where she’s married off to, if a woman has Orishenn blood, she carries our history with her on her wedding day. This dress I’m in has 166 layers in it” Just because the thread was spiderweb thin didn’t mean I couldn’t feel its weight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Beneath the surface of this dress I carried my sisters and my mother and my grandmothers and every single other woman that came before me, all the way back to the beginning of my family line with a woman in a simple, modest, single-layered gown." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My sisters have already started having daughters of their own – if I had a daughter, how many layers would she wear on her wedding day? How many layers could she withstand before they crushed her? I could hear the hooting and hollering of the other pirates carried over the wind now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The ocean view was truly beautiful. I wish I could stay like this forever. I was gripped by my shoulders and spun around and my view was taken up by the Pirate-Witch’s face. Her eyes were ablaze, literally and figuratively." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Miss Lorelai, my boys are almost here and I still need to help you get changed.” She unsheathed her sword. “Wait, hang on, what are you—” She plunged into the depths of my dress. The blade completely disappeared into its depths. She pulled until the fabric gave way." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Precise enough that she didn’t knick skin, rough enough that skirts and flounces and petticoats were ripped into shimmering shreds. I tore at the parts the sword had missed, fervently flinging fistfuls of lace behind me like I was shovelling for some sort of treasure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bite of the wind stung more and more. By the time I was down to my chemise I was freezing. Breathing heavy, I looked to the sky and watched as 166 layers of glittering history sailed away on the breeze." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Brienne clicked her fingers and a simple red dress grew around me, complete with pantaloons and a coat. I undid my mother’s opal necklace from around my throat and held it out to her. “Thank you for a job well done." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You’ll be needing the second half of your payment before you go.” “Yes, yes, very good, but there’s another matter that needs addressing first.” “Um, pardon?” “Miss Lorelai, if you truly have no solid plans for your future after this, then how about you try out life aboard my airship?” “…what?” “It wouldn’t be as glamorous a life as you’re used to, but I take great care of my crew and by god is it fun." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If you don’t like it, I’ll just drop you off somewhere nice.” “ …what ?” The airship was upon us, ready to land. In about five minutes, Brienne the Pirate-Witch of Caelkirk went from kidnapping me to recruiting me as an amateur pirate.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The White Dragon - Part 1" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In ancient China, there was a special vocation for transporting important items from one point to another. Usually, the items can range from a huge amount of gold to important military letters that might impact the future of a nation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Only the Kungfu masters with special abilities can take this job because many dangers can happen on the way.\n\nThis was the first time Wuxi’s Biaoju(bureau for transporting items) was asked to transport a prisoner. Wuxi’s father was assassinated brutally before the mission set off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The young Wuxi had no choice but to become the commander of this secret mission. Wuxi was frightened when he was asked to lead this mission. It was closer to getting dark now, and the team was riding in immense distress. Anshu and Lyn each rode a horse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Together, they were hauling a chariot with the metal cell that contained the prisoner. Wuxi and Jin rode at the front.\n\nAn eerie wail distinct from any animal came from the mountain behind them. Every team member stopped their horses and listened in fear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They all instinctively reached for their weapons. Wuxi turned to his teammates, his voice shaking: “The mountain monster is close. We still didn’t ride fast enough.” Jin was an old veteran in this business. Despite immense fear himself, he remained much calmer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Wuxi, we should be reaching a bridge in four miles heading south. Should we pass the bridge or take the longer route from the forest?”\n\nAs Wuxi tried to answer this question, he could hear the monster’s wail coming closer and closer from the forest behind. Wuxi’s forehead was full of sweat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wuxi was afraid of these moments the most - when he had to make quick decisions while his team depended on him. And what’s more scary was when the decision’s consequence was a matter of life or death.\n\nWuxi turned his head away from the three pairs of eyes attentively looking at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With the tiredness of traveling under huge pressure for so many days, Wuxi felt his brain was blanking out.\n\nWuxi tried to hide his anxiety, but his voice was still shaking, “Let’s go across the bridge." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It will be much faster.” Jin nodded back, Then the team all whipped their horses to dash forward.\n\nAs the team ran out of the forest, they came to the edge of a high cliff. They hear thunders growling. The sky became much darker with a huge pouring rain about to start." }, { "from": "human", "value": "An ancient wooden bridge connected both sides of the cliff. Wuxi looked down the cliff, the river below was flowing fast. Not far away, he could see the river flowing into the open ocean. As the river joined the sea, a huge vortex at least 300 feet wide was formed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was the famous deathly vortex that sunk many ships. No one ever came out from there alive. Right at this moment, they heard a howl so loud from the forest that made all their horses stand up with fear. The mountain monster broke through the forest pushing down many trees." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a monster that was at least 20 feet tall. Its body was covered by dark scales. Huge fangs came out of its mouth. Wuxi shouted out in panic to the team, “Get across the bridge now! Run!”\n\nAll of the horses were not responding and were trying to run in random directions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Anshu had a special skill with animals. He blew a long whistle, and immediately the horses were calmed down.\n\nEveryone pushed their horses to run on the bridge as fast as they could. The monster started charging towards them. Wuxi saw the monster was almost getting to the bridge." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He tried to yell at Lyn to do something but because of the immense anxiety he had, words weren’t coming out from his mouth.\n\nJin saw the monster was almost getting to the bridge and shouted at Lyn, “Use fire to halt him!”\n\nLyn suddenly realized what to do." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lyn is the long-distance weapon master in the team, her skills range from archery to even explosives. She halted the horses and jumped up to the chariot holding a long bow.\n\nLyn drew the bow full and took a deep breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She saw the monster charging closer to the bridge, only about two hundred meters away. She released the arrow and it struck right in the monster’s left eye." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The monster howled stronger and kept charging at them.\n\nLyn yelled at Anshu, “Throw the gunpowder sacks at the monster towards its head” Anshu quickly pulled the heavy gunpowder sacks out of the chariot.\n\nAt the same time, Lyn lit up her arrow with fire. The monster was almost on the bridge." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With Anshu’s exceptional strength, he threw the sack right toward the monster’s head. As the sack was almost hitting the monster’s head, Lyn shot the fire arrow out, hitting right at the sack.\n\nWith a huge explosion, black ashes, and flames burst out of the sack. The monster fell to the ground." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A huge fire was lit on the grass beside the monster’s body. The sky fell darker. A bolt of lightning struck above the ocean afar, splitting through the sky. The team all let out a long breath. Jin looked at the monster pensively and said, “The explosives didn’t kill it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It’ll get back again.” Then Jin closed his eyes and channeled his ability to wield Chi. Lowering his body to maintain a stronger stance, Jin pushed his palm forward and a strong airflow went past the team towards the fire." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The fire became much stronger, blocking the bridge from the monster.\n\nWuxi put back the sword he held tight for a long while into the saddle of the horse. Right out of the panics, Wuxi forced a large smile and talked to the team with fake confidence, “That was a close call." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fantastic job, guys”\n\n“Oh, let’s not forget to check if the prisoner is alright.” Wuxi jumped on the chariot and knocked at the metal shell. From inside the metal shell came a low sound of disgruntle. “Perfect. Let’s go guys." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There’s still a long way”\n\nThe team all exchanged a Wuxi’s-pretty-much-useless look while he jumped down the chariot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "While the team was heading back on their way through the bridge, Wuxi suddenly spoke with a low voice, “Everyone stops.” They looked at the other end of the bridge and saw a group of people with weapons approaching the bridge." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One person in a dark outfit was leading them, his face was covered by a metal mask.\n\nWuxi felt the hair on the back of his neck sticking straight. He knew who exactly that was - Ukaii, the killer that killed his father." }, { "from": "human", "value": "An insuppressible anger suddenly took over Wuxi, and he immediately drew out his sword. The sword was given by his father and was built with a rare metal that only his family had access to." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ukaii shouted out, “Leave the prisoner to me and I will let you all live.” The team all drew out their weapons pointing at Ukaii and his soldiers. Wuxi growled with fury, “Over my dead body.”\n\nUkaii didn’t respond. He signaled his soldiers to march forward." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jin spoke to Wuxi, “We won’t be able to survive this if we fight.” Wuxi clinched his jaw, also assessing the situation.\n\nAt this moment, with another huge thunder, a huge rain started pouring down.\n\nThe soldiers started marching towards them, with their spears pointing towards the team." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jin looked behind, the monster also started standing up again. As the fire was put down by the rain, the monster started roaring at them again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It lowered its body ready to charge at them.\n\nUkaii signaled his soldiers to continue marching to take the prisoner cell, while his archers pointed at the team so that they couldn’t escape. The team turned back towards the monster." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With the situation so intense, Wuxi seemed to have forgotten about his nervousness. He looked up at clouds with thunders flashing and asked Jin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Jin, do you think you can try to lead some lightning down to us?”\n\nJin was thrown off by this question at first and then understood what Wuxi was trying to do. Jin gave Wuxi a firm nod. Then he sat down on the ground with his legs crossed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The team all felt a weird feeling like electricity passing through. The rain seemed to have stopped around them all of a sudden. An invisible field was formed around Jin and the team and blocked the rain, while it was still pouring." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Streaks of lightning started to merge closer to this bubble Jin created. Lyn and Anshu were all getting afraid. Anshu calmed down the horses. The fire was completely out now. The monster started to charge at them at full speed. Its roar made everyone falter. Jin stood still." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As the lightning got to its strongest point, he walked in front of everyone and stood out of the field Jin created in the pouring rain. Then, he lifted his sword at the sky. A bolt of lightning hit his sword. The whole sword was lit up blue and charged with electricity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Wuxi held the sword with both of his hands as the lightning kept getting attached to his sword. As the monster got right in front of Wuxi, he pointed the sword right at the monster’s head and the lightning channeled through the sword immediately." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The monster fell head down heavily on the bridge in front of Wuxi, with his body scorched by lightning. With a loud crash, the monster’s huge body collapsed the bridge." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At this point, Wuxi cut the ropes connecting the horses and the prisoner, and yelled to everyone, “Run!” Wuxi pushed the prisoner’s cell into the river below and also jumped in the river.\n\nWhen the cold water hit the Wuxi, he almost instantly lost consciousness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And then he realized that the metal cell was sinking. Wuxi quickly dived deep and held on to the cell as a strong current was overwhelming him. Finally, he unlocked the cell door successfully. The prisoner was already unconscious." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wuxi pulled him out of the cell and kept both of them afloat.\n\nIn the darkness, they didn’t know the river was taking both of them to the deep vortex… …TO BE CONTINUED… Note: I realized the story was longer than I expected and wasn't able to finish the rest for this week.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Story of Eve" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“It all seemed so easy, in the beginning, if I had only known how things would turn out.” As Eve gazed across the barren land, she spotted that all too familiar city sitting in the horizon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A tear ran absently down her cheek as she thought, “Had I only known how heavy the price was to settle my curiosity.” Unable to restrain herself, Eve’s mind drifted back to the past. Her first real memory she had was Adam peering down at her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With no thoughts or language to call her own, she knew she was vulnerable. But instinctively, she realized Adam was no threat to her. In fact, he seemed more like a shield, protecting her from the unknown, which at the time was everything." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Patiently, Adam cared for her, feeding her and taught her how to talk, care for herself and learn the ways of Eden. As time passed, Eve learned they were not alone in the garden. Along with an abundance of animals, others would appear to visit with them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Angels is what Adam told her they were, and occasionally someone special would come to visit, the only one Adam would bow to, and he told her he was The Creator, the god of all. It was strange when The Creator came to the garden, for he would only talk to Adam, never to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One time after The Creator left, I asked Adam why this was so, and he answered, “I’m not sure. Perhaps it’s because you were created from a part of me and not the earth as I was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Since you are one step below me, he thinks you are not worthy to be spoken to.” When I thought about what Adam had told me, I came to realize how little the angels even spoke to me, how little I must have seemed to them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Distraught, I found myself exploring the far reached of Eden whenever Adam had visitors. Then one day, when I found myself in the far corner of the garden, I heard a voice. “Eve, what troubles you so?” I looked around, expecting to find Adam standing nearby, but he was nowhere to be found." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Again, the voice called out, “Eve, look down at your feet.” When I looked, I found myself facing the head of a serpent peering through a thicket, staring at me. Needless to say, I was surprised, for I never thought it was possible for animals to speak." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I asked him who he was, he just smiled as much as a serpent could and replied, “It doesn’t matter who I am, but it does matter what I want to show you.” I thought to myself, “What could this serpent show me that I already haven’t seen? I’ve searched the entire garden." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nothing could be nothing new to discover.” As if the serpent could read my thoughts, it hissed, “Who said anything about it being inside the garden? What I want to show you lies beyond the tree The Creator has forbidden you to eat from.” I involuntarily shuttered when the serpent mentioned that tree." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Adam told me I was sure to die if I even dared go near it. Still, I found myself listening to what the serpent had to say. There’s more to this world than what the Garden of Eden has to offer. Beyond its walls, there’s another world waiting for you, a world full of wonders." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You think Adam is the only other person who exists, but you are wrong. Countless others live beyond this prison you survive in. In here you are trapped in cage, and you exist only to entertain The Creator, and someday soon, The Creator will tire of you and will dispose of you like rotten fruit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Before that happens, wouldn’t you like to see what the outside world has to offer? It would be so simple. A door leading to the outside world lies just beyond the forbidden tree and all you have to do is walk through it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There someone more powerful than I will greet you take show you what you have been missing.” Is it true, I thought to myself. Was Adam mistaken when he said I would die? It’s just a tree, something I could easily walk around." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If a gate does exist on the other side of it, what’s the harm of seeing the outside world for myself? As if the serpent dragged the words out of my mouth, I heard myself saying, “Show me the way.” I followed the serpent as it slithered on the ground, ever leading towards the tree of doom." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But before we reached it, the serpent circled around it and there appeared a gateway, wide opened and unguarded. Beyond the gate lay an ocean of sand and in the distance were what appeared to be stones rising towards the sky." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The serpent said,” the sand you see is called a desert, and the stones in the distant is called a city. There you find countless people living there, without a god to burden them.” The serpent leered at me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself.” I turned back and looked at the garden and thought to myself, what do I have here? One man who looks after me, a god to ignores me and angels to don’t give me a second thought. With little to lose and a lot to gain, walked through the gate." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The serpent didn’t follow me, but as soon as I stepped into the desert, an angel appeared before me. “Congratulations, Eve, you have stepped into a new world, a world like nothing you have ever imagined." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My name is Lucifer, and I will be your guide in this realm.” I was amazed at finding an angel would speak to me without Adam being close by." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I asked Lucifer why he wanted to show me this new world, and he answered, “Because it is there and The Creator wishes to hide it from you, thinking you don’t deserve to know of its existence. I’m here to tell you The Creator is wrong." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Come, follow me, and I will take you to that city.” Though the city appeared to be far away, it only seemed like a moment when I found myself walking among hundreds crowding the streets. Stone buildings, reaching towards the sky, surrounded me and everyone we passed stared at me in shock and awe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I asked Lucifer why they looked so strangely at me. He replied, “Can’t you see for yourself? They are wearing garments and jewelry. They are ashamed of nakedness and choose to adorn themselves in clothing and trinkets. This is the way of the real world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They think for themselves and of themselves living for their own desires and pleasures.” It was then I tried to cover my nakedness with my arms and hands, but my efforts were in vain. As if from thin air, Lucifer produced a piece of cloth and wrapped it around my shoulders." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“This should do for now,” Lucifer said. “Come, let us enjoy the pleasures this city has to offer.” From there, Lucifer escorted me from store to store, where I sampled all sorts of foods. Never before has my tongue tasted such sweetness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And the red water, which Lucifer said was called wine, warmed my body, and lightened my head. “Don’t drink too much my dear,” he said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Or you won’t be able to make back to the garden tonight.” As if from a distance, I heard myself slur, “Why would I want to go back?” Time passed and before I knew it, I found myself by the gate to the garden with Lucifer standing beside me. “Time to return to your cage, my darling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Don’t forget to tell Adam about what you have discovered and invite him to see what you have seen.” After promising to do just that, I returned to Eden and found Adam searching for me. “Where have you been?” Adam shouted at me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I have been searching everywhere for you.” I smiled at Adam and said, “Not everywhere. When the sun rises tomorrow, I will show you where I have been.” Adam looked at me quizzically." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I would be very interested in you showing me where you have been, and by the way, what is that thing you have wrapped around your shoulders?” I lifted a corner of my shroud and placed it in Adam’s hand. “It’s called cloth,\" I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What do you think of it?” “It has a strange texture, soft, but resilient. Does this come from where you have been?” “Yes, my dear, and there is more. So much more to discover. Tomorrow, I will open the door for a new world for you to explore.” From that moment on, I never saw Adam truly smile again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After spending forty days in that forbidden city drinking wine, gorging on all sorts of food, and fornicating in all matters imaginable, we crawled back to Eden. Saying we were corrupted, The Creator banned us from the garden leaving us to fend for ourselves." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sadly, it was the only time The Creator ever spoke to me. Not with words of love or kindness, but with words filled with bitter disappointment. Adam never forgave me, believing I had led him down this path. Though we stayed together, there was always a void between us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Afterwards, we lived on the edge of civilization, but never daring to return to it, in fear of being further corrupted and becoming lost in its wickedness. I now wear animal skin for clothes, but I still long for the texture of cloth to caress ny skin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For the rest of my life I will ever be shameful of my weakness during that moment in time. Never again did I lay my eyes on Lucifer, but I knew he was out there lurking in the shadows, waiting to tempt the innocent, and stray them away from God.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Villain and Proud" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Trigger warning- references to sex work and addiction. They don't have a name for what I am. I don't quite fit in to any of their categories. I'm not quite a psychopath, not quite associate path." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I don't quite have Borderline personality disorder, I'm not quite across the line with paranoid schizophrenia. I have traits of all the above without quite qualifying to be labelled as any of them. I am a unique case, and alas, remain unnamed. This seems to bother these learned men." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If they are ancient magicians who can only wield power over something once they know it's true name. Well I feel charitable today; a rarity indeed. I will adopt a name for them. It's an old name, supposed to be derisive." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But like the Methodists, the impressionists the punks, I will wear their derisive label gladly. I am a villain. And given that I accept the designation villain, this does render questions about my guilt rather moot. I am guilty of all of that I am accused of. This is the truth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But it is only part of the truth and I would have the rest be known. In popular culture heroes often have tragic backstories furnished with loss and difficulty. Toughened by these difficulties they develop great resolve and a strong moral compass." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The villain by contrast, is often some narcissist whose ambition has been thwarted, or ego bruised. But in my experience those early difficulties are all too often the making of a villain. It does give you resolve, I'll give them that, but it's also causes your moral compass to lose its bearings." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You might not guess it from my rather florid prose style, but my beginnings were very humble. I'd say I was born on the wrong side of the tracks, but the tracks had been pulled up and sold for scrap. Public transport having died out due to draconian local government spending cuts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On I was born the son of a prostitute in a notorious brothel. My mother, and she was my mother in the biological sense only, was a cruel and ignorant woman, beaten down in body and spirit by the life she lived." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had a litany of addictions, and by the time she emerged long enough from one of her drug-induced hazes to realize she was pregnant she was too far gone to abort me. My father was one of her johns- take your pick. Any cruelties that were visited on my mother she transmitted to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I spent most of my early years limping and tiger striped with bruises. One night I interrupted her with one of her johns, I heard groaning and murmuring from her room, and thought he was hurting her. He stormed out without paying and I went without food for four days." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was around this time that my mother's unique parenting style reached the ears of the authorities. I was taking into care by two police officers under social worker. My mother didn't even get out of bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't see her again until twelve years later when she came to see me during one of my earlier prison stints. Time passes differently for addicts. What was twelve years for me seemed thirty for her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bowed almost double by the weight of her ignorance, her hands contorted with arthritis, she only had a few strands of tenacious hair left on her head. She attempted a smile when she saw me, her missing middle teeth made it look like a seven-ten split." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She prattled on for a while about mistakes and the shortness of life. We all turn into two-bit philosophers in the end. 'Leukemia,' she said. 'It's just a matter of months. But I want to get to know you in my last days.' 'Leukemia,' I said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "' That poor cancer, having to grow on you.' This was one of many stints as a guest of the state. One might say I'm a connoisseur of the prison system. I could write the definitive guide. They say prisons are often like universities for criminals. That was certainly the case for me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I dropped out of the formal school system in my early teens. The path of villainy cares not for pieces of paper. Unless of course they are green. But to be a success you do need skills and knowledge, and prisons can be an ideal training ground." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I learned dirty boxing from an old Jamaican with one eye and more scars than a self-harm support group. At one stage he was a world champion but addiction had reduced him to petty theft and fraud. He sold his hard-won skills for tiny fragments of crack and PCP." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was at once one of the most pathetic and deadly men I ever knew. I learnt a bastardized form of judo from an old master who had been caught interfering with his students. Child predators are usually easy and popular targets. He was neither. At least not twice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I learnt how to use a knife from a psychotic old Gaucho who could slit your throat so cleanly you wouldn't know what happened until the blood filled your mouth. I learnt infiltration and safe-breaking from an old Frenchman considered a myth in his homeland." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His escapology skills were such that he was only in prison to network and meet new contacts. Once he finished training me he duly escaped. We were to collaborate many times later in my career. I learned how to think tactically and lead- that is to say manipulate- from a Serbian colonel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He presided over the murder of dozens of civilians during the Yugoslavian War. Excellent chess player though. And of course there was the prison library. The only window on the outside world without bars. I used the library to expand upon and fortify the knowledge my mentors had imparted to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And finally there was also the obligatory convict fitness regime. This is how I became a formidable a villain as you would ever have the misfortune to encounter. The prison stints soon stopped happening; I became too good to catch. There have been so many heists. Daring, audacious, brilliant." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So many superlatives used by the press to describe escapades that took less than an hour to plan. Child's play." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The key to a conventional heist isn't the theft itself, that is always much the same- where a disguise that makes you look generic and able to blend in to the area surrounding the bank, neutralize the security and the cameras, keep the hostages in a single place where they are easy to manage, keep violence to an absolute minimum." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The key really is the escape. And it's not a matter of hiring a flashy driver with the powerful car. That's just Hollywood nonsense. No driver can outrun a helicopter with a heat camera. Move slowly and steadily in ways they won't expect. And if you can, create a diversion." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For example, there was a notorious local speed-demon known for drag racing in public places. I sent him a note, apparently from a hated rival, challenging him to a dead-start race from outside the bank." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A dead-start race is where you suddenly take off from a normal parked position at an agreed upon time and race to an agreed upon destination. His uncouth competitiveness drew the police into a pursuit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "While he was being forced to the ground with his hands-cuffed behind his back, and unassuming man in a cheap suit carrying a large duffel bag bordered a city bus ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And while the speed-demon was making a tearful phone call to his mother from a nearby police station, that unassuming man and his duffel bag were long gone. What's my most famous theft, my Magnum opus, was the Janian Diamond heist." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Said to house the soul of an ancient sorcerer, said to imbue its wearer with fantastic powers, said to grant its owner the right to rule the ancient kingdom of Janin. Said is one thing-the diamond is known to weigh 108 carats and be worth something in the region of 150 million dollars." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You can keep the keys to the kingdom. Besides, the region where Janin once stood is now in the thrall of a Maoist insurrection. I find it unlikely that they would lay down their arms and their grievances just because someone with some fancy jewelry turned up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Of course such a jewel could not be sold on, but that didn't matter. My villainy had made me independently wealthy a long time before this. By then it was just about the challenge." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The diamond was owned by a Saudi Arabian sheikh- don't they seem to own everything these days? And this particular sheikh was, well, a moron to put it mildly. The product of a lifetime of mindless and vulgar privilege, he'd gotten everything he'd ever wanted since he was a child." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Having never encountered any adversity, such people never develop any will. They develop vast, pulsating egos, which can sometimes be mistaken for wills. But true willpower cannot be manipulated, only overcome with greater willpower." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An ego however, vanity of the kind the sheikh had in even greater abundance than money, that is easier to manipulate than an algebraic expression. Perhaps the one area where the sheikh had the slightest scintilla of self-awareness was in his sense of spiritual poverty." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was always pursuing one fad or another to try to remedy this. In other words, a vulnerability. I worked my way into his inner-circle by posing as a spiritual guru. It took me two weeks to completely win his trust. 'You must display the diamond to the public,' I said to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The hemp clothing and dread-lock wig were very uncomfortable. Let it never be set that I didn't suffer for my art. 'The diamond is an innately spiritual item. It was never intended to be enjoyed by just one person." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It will be good karma to share its beauty with the public.' Ostensibly a Muslim the sheikh none the less had a strong belief in karma. I also convinced him, that I, as his guru, was the only one qualified to ensure the diamond's security. From here it was easy to switch the diamond with a decoy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As already stated, a diamond like this cannot be sold on the black market, or a market of any color for that matter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But what's the point in stealing treasure if no one will ever know? So I planted a small device into the decoy that admitted a very specific sound frequency that shattered it right at the moment of its unveiling. Right in front of the sheikh's tear-stung eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So what becomes of old villains in the end? You'd like for me to tell you that I was taken down by some hero with similar skills to my own but with the opposite set of morals. That's more Hollywood stuff I'm afraid." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If a villain isn't eventually captured by the bureaucracy of a large police force, then they are usually taken down by another villain instead of a hero. A rival or a younger usurper usually. In my case it was white-collar crime. No more need for brilliant schemes and daring raids." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Immense amounts of money can be redirected with the flick of a key or the click of a mouse. And this sort of criminality is sanctioned by governments in the form of Wall Street, the City of London, and other such dens of iniquity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The kind of villain who operates in such places doesn't even know they are a villain, and feels perfectly justified in what they do. A great man once said that to live outside the law you must be honest. I'd add to that that you must be honest with yourself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There's not much fun in being a villain in the world that these people have made. So I've been retired for some time, but I look upon these new villains and think my old skills could be deployed against them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perhaps it's time to come out of retirement, I'll never be a hero, but perhaps I could be a sort of anti-villain. You know what they say, you can't keep a bad boy down.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Enemy Within" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As far back as he can remember, he's been afraid. Not a general sort of anxiety, but the specific kind - that which can dictate the path of one's entire life. The attempts at avoidance, the terror of anticipation, the dread of a confrontation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The fear can be paralysing, robbing him of the ability to move at all. No fight or flight for him, only freezing; like a terrified rabbit at the mercy of its hunter. But here he is, at this juncture where he must gather up all of his courage and press on. His job demands it, his troops expect it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A promotion that others have hotly competed for. Any of them would give their first born to have this privilege bestowed upon them; and yet, here he is - soldier, commander, leader of men utterly terrified at the thought of what he may encounter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Indonesia, land of rich green rainforests, vibrant jungles, exotic animals and long lost indigenous tribes. Danger at every turn for the unsuspecting in the jungles." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He has been posted here as part of an elite squad whose purpose is to flush out a rebel group known to be planning a guerilla takeover of a provincial council that is of significant strategic value to his handlers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Idiya Malokabo the leader possesses a fierce reputation as a jungle warlord hording an arsenal that may include chemical weapons." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Known worldwide as a madman intent on taking over the province at all costs, he and his army will be worthy opponents to this highly trained jungle warfare special forces soldier and his men." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He will lead them with pride and a resolute determination to engage, battle and overcome the enemy as they have been trained to do for decades. He does not fear Malokabo or his army, nor the potential for an engagement where the rules of war are cast aside." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He does not fear his own death, or those of his men - these brave, fearless characters whose fate was sealed when they made the decision to sign up for this most elite of squadrons. The purple berets." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Recognised throughout armies of the world as the elite - the most highly trained, disciplined and bravest of all soldiers. Almost superhuman in their strength and ability to conquer enemies in a way reminiscent of automatons in science fiction." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Barely human now; their mortal anxieties, doubts and fears erased from both their conscious and sub-conscious minds by their training. No moral conundrums, no spikes of conscience - Yes, the perfect tool to prize this dictator from his hiding place of power." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Without him at the helm, his soldiers will falter and meet their defeat at the hands of this far superior force. What is their kill score they ponder in moments of reflection. Does anyone keep track? It must surely be in the thousands by now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A wave of humanity extinguishing another, yet this is their task, their purpose, their job. HIs most recent engagement had been in the deserts of Afghanistan - dry, barren, unforgiving." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But he and his men forged ahead in repeated frontal assaults until the enemy retreated and battle lines pushed back so that there was little the others could do but surrender. A successful mission. Like the one before, and the one before that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All carried out on a dry, desolate landscape, shown on a billion televisions on the world stage. He came home triumphant. He and his troops were lauded by those in power, those who had funded the missions in the name of all that was right and just." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But in his bed at home once again, the old fears crept in to his sleep as quietly as his very own snipers slid into the enemy strong holds. Creeping, creeping until in one lightning strike of movement they advance upon him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sitting bolt upright in bed he screams - blood curdling, from the depths of his soul come the screams. Primal, ancient, ever present but concealed in the light of day. At night. This is when they come. They wait until sleep lulls him into a state of mind and body total relaxation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then they jump! Launch themselves on to him like a green slimy polluted tidal wave. Cold and clammy bodies jostling to cover him in their slime. Frogs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Big, green bulbous frogs with white underbellies and throats pulsating with blood and rhythmic sounds from the depths of hell, jumping out of trees, climbing up his body, sucking themselves on to him as he stands knee deep in water." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He is paralysed in this dream - this damned recurring dream he has had since a child. Unable to move or scream he suffers the abject terror of feeling them coursing up his body, their cold suction pad feet heading upward towards his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My God, his face! The horror of this moment is almost unbearable. Can a heart stop through sheer fear? He's heard it can." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Oh how ironic that would be! A war hero, an elite soldier, a killing machine and leader of men in times of war reduced to a trembling shell of a man; a coward with no recourse, no response." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He lies there succumbing to the nightmare, unable to summon his men or indeed his own courage to extricate him from the situation, the enemy, THIS enemy! In a burst of sudden strength he pushes himself upward and awakens. Ah, it was the dream again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "THAT dream! He sits on the edge of the bed, eyes glazed, body wet with sweat, heart still beating almost too fast for him to bear. He looks over at his wife still sleeping peacefully in the early morning glow. How proud she is of him, how brave she knows he is." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He doesn't want to ever disappoint her, to shatter the illusion of this superman, this hero that all perceive him to be. Inside, his stomach knots and he feels that familiar acid rising in his mouth as he thinks about the next mission - Indonesia, land of rich green rainforests, vibrant jungles...." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mere Woman" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The placid waters, glistening with grit, lay sullied only by mud, not yet reddened by blood one day to spill. She trod through them, disturbing the surface with well-balanced footfalls." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A mother long-gone had once called her Godgyfu—her gift, her gift of God—a god that himself had treated them with fury alone, more harshly than even these wilds’ most unforgiving days. Today, at least, was not such a day.\n\nThe slumbering fens heaved around her, tranquil with the humid breath of life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A shallow inhale, a swallowing of the damp air in the same way it had, by now, swallowed her, echoed in her throat as she sank downward, her mighty arms stretching out like the branches of a towering tree as she leaned back to float atop the mere. The sea thrashed someplace beyond." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Water pooled about her form, welcoming her valiant, extended limbs and sending strands of hair bobbing outward atop itself, like the spidery stalks of the nearby marsh grass." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A solitary mayfly jutted through the air before landing on a yellow flower, gently nestling there among its bristles to await its more rancorous swarm. She watched it settle as she floated, its wings shimmering in the rays of the sky’s candle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The insect took flight once more as she approached, however, as though it were shunning her for some guilt she bore, some ancient grudge she did not know." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Surging upward from the depths, in that moment, leaping into the air, a fish snapped, snagging the fly with its mouth and dragging it down to be devoured in its grave." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The lady let out a breath, watching this killing unfurl, but surging silently upward too, accepting the way of things, she pushed herself through the waters back toward the shoreline. The sturdy sword and scabbard waited, belted hilt radiant in the sun." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The weapon was massive and well-wrought, struck by giant hands, and she hefted it easily into her own to fasten it once more to her waist, where her cloak still dripped and pooled puddles in the earth. Beside it was the silvery dagger, and lifting it too, the lady secured it across her shoulder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The warrior, then, stood now, made whole. \n\nFoliage rustled nearby, a low, crunching noise, and shoulders stiffening, she turned to stare, to watch as a pure white stag emerged from the brush, head high, its powerful antlers jutting outward to pierce the ether." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It watched her too before stepping to the water’s edge to drink. At last, it turned to forsake her, unwilling to remain in this place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Offering it one final look, regarding the untouched glimmer of its fur, the lady pressed her own feet onward from the mere, stepping into the weeds, which bowed before her as she trod. The woods appeared—green, splintering tree by green, splintering tree." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They burst from the ground along rocky faults and tufts of swaying grass, their lurching, creaking branches obscuring the sky as she stepped deeper into their bowels." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Still, even as cool shadows spread across her, their dark tendrils pulsing like serpents wrapping around her flesh, she pressed nobly onward, the sword and dagger rocking along with her intrepid gait." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fog crept in with each step, rolling among the roots in claggy, white waves.\n\nAs she emerged into the clearing, she heard the intruder before she beheld him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His mail and his belt clanked around him, echoing heartily against his limbs, bobbing with each surge of his marble torso as he appeared from the rising haze. The very earth seemed to protest against him, however, groaning as his feet pressed into it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The lady stepped to conceal herself behind the powerful trunk of an ancient tree, hand darting downward to find her smaller blade, gripping it with strong fingers as she watched, breath swelling in her throat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Blind to the one observing him, though, the man walked a circle, looking, looking, his flashing, burning eyes wide and alive beneath his shimmering brow, lit with the fire of the hunt but none of the steadiness of his vocation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The youth peered into the trees, his carven bow resounding in brilliant splendor against his magnificent back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It could shatter the stillness of these wilds as he conquered them in his sight.\n\nHis frame glistened with sweat as he sought his unseen prize, peering, peering, and a mane of yellow hairs fell down around his head, pooling, as if from the mouth of a golden river out around his sun-touched shoulders and bearded jaw." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She watched him, her grip tightening on the dagger, when a sound even mightier than he, with all his bluster, rattled the very woods." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The trees themselves seemed to cower, then, bending and swaying as if to flee this savage roar that harrowed the whirling haze, birds and bugs taking flight to vanish in its wake." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With shaking, splintering steps, a gargantuan beast of bear clawed its way from the darkness, a great mass of wiry, hirsute black, its eyes ravenous scarlet and its maw gaping, rancid with the heat and putrid odor of fresh death." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The huntsman spun, wavering, stumbling, pulling his bow as if to fell this foe, foolishly to claim this glorious prize, but the animal moved forward with a blistering paw, striking and tearing the archer’s leathered bracers and dragging fleshy strips down the arm that rose to guard his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The man cried out, plummeting backward to the ground, landing among the weeds, bow bending and splintering beneath him as he himself became the quarry. The beast’s breath swept over him in starving, desperate bursts, roars of victory, teeth blackened as they drew back to feast." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With a mighty battle cry too, she rushed from the tree line to swing the sword down and deal a determined, killing blow to the animal’s neck, tearing through fur and flesh and bone with ease, staining the earth and the man with the bear’s lifeblood as she, the hero, soared like a mighty light in this verdant dark." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The beast toppled, and she exalted in this deed. The man stared with still frantic, flashing eyes, clutching his wounded arm, the tatters of the gauntlet, and she towered above him, looking down, torso heaving." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He shielded his face, waiting for this new end, for the warrior's smiting blow, but hiding her mighty, slaying sword in its sheath, the lady extended a firm hand to tug him upward to his feet.\n\nHe shook, trembling, frightened, small, looking up into her face, framed still by soaked hair, and then turning to the beast dead at their heels, he fell once more, bowing in humility or deference or thanks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She bid him to rise. A nod of the head signaled for him to follow, and catching bravery’s return in the quiver of his spirit, he did." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She ducked down to heft the bear’s remains over her broad shoulders, using her strength to claim it for her own, and together, the pair of them passed from this sullied spot, back to the wilds, through the fog, to the hidden stone hall where she dwelled. A fire roared in that place." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She mounted the sword among the other treasures already hung there, wrought in gold for those who might regard them. The huntsman did, enthralled, in awe, or envy, by so many conquests hard-won." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His uninjured, covetous hand played along mighty armor and the giant, feathered wings of some great sky-beast, dead and skinned. The bear too would soon be mounted there. Rebuffing him, though, pulling him from her trove, she slid the ruined gauntlet from his arm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Calloused fingers playing along his warm flesh, she wrapped it around and around and around, tight with herbs and flowers and fabric. A bronze basin of water of the mere was heated to wash." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They spoke of many things in the fire’s flickering glow.\n\nThey spoke of ancient heroes and battles well-waged long ago, wars shrouded in the grimy fog of bloodshed and forgotten to the memories of the honorable slain. She spoke of the mayflies and of the white stag." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She spoke of the sky-beast and a dragon that dwelled in hidden caves beneath the earth. He spoke of the stars that mapped the sky and created paths to follow through the dark.\n\nThe golden flame danced in his golden hair as they sat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It colored the amber lines that trailed around the edges of his eyes as she watched him, her own gaze flashing, finding a glimmer of the passion that dwelled still in his own." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They spoke of the bear, and he sang, like a poet-mason, who could link together rough-hewn notions into a crafty stone wall of words, of her heroism, of her bravery, of her might, and of her smiting sword, the sword of giants. She smiled. She accepted the epic he thrust upon her, beast-slayer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He sang, and together, they sat. They spoke. Night fell upon the world like a fraying black cloth, settling first at its split, gray edges before making way for the black of its full, billowing center. They ate, and they spoke." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He whispered of others, of men who would search for him, of brothers who would seek him out and find only a stained patch of ground littered with the splintered wood of his lost bow. He allowed his heart to ache in his breast." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She rebuffed him once more, assured him that morning too would come, as it always did, and with it, there would once again be light. The huntsman believed her because her words rang true. She had been his saving beacon this day." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The fire surged in its hearth, and so too did they find themselves surging, bodies tangling together like the twisting roots of the wild, uniting, as the darkness, as promised, did pass." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They awoke together, not with the dewy, inviting sigh of morning but with the harsh clanking of metal, a throng of men hollering, barging through the doors of this stone hall, armor crashing around them as they trampled along its floors, weapons and helmets gleaming." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The invaders allowed their gazes to sparkle at the sight of the treasures displayed there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One wretch, large, with a gnawing, monstrous mouth, reached for the gleaming, mounted sword, allured by its power, as if to plunder it, and she, leaping from her bed among the bowers of the hall in a sudden frenzy, seized to grapple him, tossing him to the floor in one mighty throw, where he fell along the bear’s prized carcass." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The youth stirred too, then, rising upward and recognizing his brethren." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He cried out in protest as the lady drew her dagger, pointing it at those who dared encroach on this sacred place.\n\nTheir fallen comrade climbed to his feet, deciding, in terror, that he discerned in her formidable form, some guilt, some stain, the whisper of an atrocity long-forgotten." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was not like them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She dwelled here among those cast out, those who could not dwell among them, he declared, as if in saying so, he could mollify or conceal the greed blazing in his eyes, as if he could disguise hunger as righteous anger.\n\nTheir throng thrashed, swords swinging, swarming into alignment, finding rank against her among one another, mail clanking, weapons clashing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They spoke of glory.\n\nShe looked to the huntsman, and he stood on unsteady feet, eyes aglow, darting to his kin, his kin who had come to rescue him now from her who dwelled here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He stepped backward with frantic steps, joining the front of their formation, unarmed and foolish, abandoning, in his ignoble cowardice, the one who had not abandoned him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He dared not meet her eye, allowing it to fall instead on the slain bear.\n\nAlone, betrayed, forsaken, then, she planted her own feet, stance valiant as she tugged the sword from its mounting once more." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Flame itself almost burst forth as it gleamed over her head, filling the place with a light as though from the candle of heaven, and she brought it down, tearing through where the hunter’s wounded arm met his shoulder, slicing it to sever as she pushed her way out the hall and back into the wilds." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The men, ravenous now, compelled by blood spilled, pursued her, monstrous, clamoring with the fierce cries of battle. Finding footing in the open wood, she felled another, throwing him to the earth and digging the dagger into his chest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The others gave more chase as she ran, then, bolstered, rallied, filled with rage, through the trees and their writhing, rootlike shadows, past the clearing, stained now with the blood of the bear-beast, through the fens, the marsh grass scraping at her legs as they carried her, sword and dagger gleaming in her fists." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She came soon to the edge of the water, safe for only this moment, body heaving, breathless from the flight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The water of the mere seemed to churn under her gaze, rippling with the fury in her chest, alive now with the scales of strange, unknowable sea-beasts, summoned to the surface, awakened from ancient slumber by the noise and the slaughter. These waters were the abode of monsters." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The white stag appeared, then, emerging from the brush, but it did not drink. No stag would drink there again. It stood, and it watched. An arrow took flight from an unseen bow, piercing the animal's throat and sending its slumped form collapsing into the boggy pond, staining it red." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Cornered, then, as her pursuers clamored across the fen, the air pungent with the sulfur of peat and the iron of blood, she too found herself falling backward, into the water, struck by a second arrow. It did not kill her—for she was mightier." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It did not kill her, but still, sliced by its jagged point, she fell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She sank, abandoning her senses, clinging, with strong hands, to the sword and to the dagger, deeper and deeper into this whirling abyss as the water itself pulsed above her with the monstrous forms of the writhing sea-serpents, an army to close ranks around her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Strange visions came to her, then, as she plummeted, unseeing, through these blackened depths, sinking to their murky bottom, sainted, euphoric visions, perhaps conjured by the very god who had abandoned her—her, this cursed descendant of Cain. She saw, and in seeing, she knew." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her curse, then, was to know, to wait. The unquenchable thirst of rage bubbled within her. One day, she would rise from this place to avenge her fallen kin, as if to undo the sin of her forefather, who had slain his own." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That same kin would be her vengeance, scourge of Heorot, rooted only just now within her, half-wrought by the damned huntsman, by the very beasts who had condemned her here.\n\nShe would abandon her very self, her name, no longer Godgyfu, but only that which all those who dwelled beyond demanded she be—daughter of the brother-killer, source of evil, enemy of the Thane, mother of fury." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They would mold her into their horror, as if in doing so, they could make themselves pure. They would call her warrior, demoness, foe, monster, this accursed mere woman of the mere." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She sank, sank, sank , reaching the bottom in a cloud of frothing earth, when came a cavern, a hiding place, a new hall to be filled with fire, where the water could not touch her, where she would one day hoist yet another mighty bear to slay.\n\nShe saw her unborn son, not yet formed, but only sparked, before she rested—this final grave image in the eye of her mind, a taunting, cataclysmic vision of her fate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hwæt! Grendel, poor Grendel, fury, wind of the storm. Your mother shall not forsake you.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Riders in a Stormy Sky" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Today seems packed with memories and stories. As I reflect back over recent years, especially the last 75, battle scenes drift across the landscape. I often feel like I’ve come through several wars and as I age, the battle scars heal slowly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I’ve stood against some formidable enemies and faced death several times. As a Leo, born in the year of the Ox, I arrived those many days ago destined for battle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There may have been real enemies hiding on the periphery of my consciousness and yet, it was those nearest and dearest to me who stabbed me repeatedly. In my heart of hearts I understood that though they sometimes appeared to be the enemy, they actually loved me very much." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their actions, arguably destructive, reflected a warped sense of wanting only the best for me. I was born to a woman who existed in deep grief. Her enemy was Death and that villain had crashed into her world 2 months before I was born." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This formidable foe stole her beloved mother who’d fought somewhat valiantly against a broken heart. More precisely her heart had a hole that leaked out life energy. In medical terms she had a congenital heart condition. Born in 1902, there were few options for fixing this condition." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My grandmother compounded her defect by becoming a chain smoker. By 1949, her life hung by a thin thread. She did her best to follow doctors orders but her nicotine stained fingers told a story of resistance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had gone to stay with a favourite older brother in a big city with heart surgeons pioneering recent heart research. As she visited in the kitchen, she held the forbidden drug by a hairpin in an attempt to prevent yellow giveaway stains. Coffee in one hand, tobacco in the other, her heart stopped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She fell dead to the floor, her favourite sister in law, a nurse, desperately tried to bring her back to life. It didn’t work. My mother, back on the home farm, received the news. She was an only child and 7 months pregnant with me. My arrival was a much anticipated event." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As she heard the words that announced her mother’s tragedy, she also dropped to the floor. Thankfully my grandfather and father were there to pick her up. They carried her into the bedroom where she spent the next 2 months desperately trying not to lose me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My memory of this event is rather visceral and yet I still carry the scars of my mother’s fight to cling to life and bring me into the world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I longed to stay in that warm environment but knew it was no longer safe.\n\nThere are many who would scoff at me recalling Johnny Cash singing “Ghost Riders in the Sky”, after all I was very young.\n\nWhat I know for sure is that I was always afraid of cows." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I especially kept an alert eye for ones with red eyes snorting out fire as they thundered by. I was in my twenties when Jim Morrison warned us about serial killers and other dangerous riders on the storm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was never sure which I feared more…mad, red eyed cows, or serial killers traveling around looking for victims. In my worst dreams, the serial killers were riding those scary cows across a thunderous black sky. Yes, fear came early for me. It might sound like I’d been a fearful child." }, { "from": "human", "value": "To the contrary, I was actually ‘cautiously’ daring.\n\nMy fears of those mad cows and killers looking for bones like mad dogs kept me on high alert and I was always ready to grab a sword and rise to the defense of the helpless innocents roaming aimlessly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There were many years when I chose to see my father as the enemy. Once, in my 50's, I was working on a lovely old pine cabinet. It was well weathered and like me, had seen better days. I’d decided to rejuvenate it and use it for storage. I had not worked with wood for several years." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I possessed enough tools to do the job but lacked a certain self confidence in my ability to use them without cutting off a body part. Fear lurked close to the surface on that one! As a young girl, I’d been somewhat restricted in what tools I was allowed to use." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Though given free reign with kitchen ware, even some of the more lethal weapons such as electric mixers, sharp knives and other utensils capable of inflicting fairly severe damage, I was forbidden to go into my father’s tool shed. I was certainly not allowed to touch or, God forbid, use any of them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My father, a rather sexist male of that generation where patriarchy ruled supreme, drew a firm line. If you had a penis, you had access to the tools in his shed. If not, hands off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He sadly missed his chance, for his male progeny were not in the least interested in working with him, using hammers, saws, screw drivers and other such implements. I however longed to join him in his work." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I itched to get my hands on equipment which I was sternly reminded, “were NOT toys and not suitable occupations for girls to pursue.” If I pushed him on this subject, I would be firmly sent into the house to help my mother.\n\nI eventually overcame my resentments towards my dad." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In that release I clearly saw that he was not the enemy. He was a supreme protector and taught me much about how to protect those in my care. My mother required a little more work. She had an IMMENSE fat phobia (pun intended). Her fear of my becoming fat ran deep." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In that fear she cultivated a lifetime struggle to manage my body weight. Her attempts to control my weight, the food I ate and the shape of my body set the stage for many battles.\n\nI would eventually become exhausted and wave the white flag of defeat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was easier to go along with her diet regimes than it was to resist. I remember a dream where she and I were standing on a rooftop watching flocks of birds circling gracefully above. I casually remarked how wonderful it would be to join them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My mother snorted as she ran her eyes over my morbidly obese carcass. I of course had to test her further. In my dream, I knew that I secretly possessed the ability to fly. With a calm assurance, I decided to swoop off the roof and join the birds overhead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My mother was…shocked.\n\nI of course could not resist a parting shot as I prepared to head out on an adventure with my newfound friends. As I circled high above her, I shouted out, “I bet you didn’t think a fat woman could fly so well!”\n\nShe was not impressed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The years wore on, we eventually grew weary of the battle and made peace with one another. There are moments when I’d love to fly back to a time where I could just sit beside my mom, hold her hand and put my head on her shoulder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I contemplated that dream about putting my head on my mother’s shoulder an old song began playing in my brain. I downloaded Paul Anka singing, “put your head on my shoulder “. As I was listening, a rather vivid visual explosion occurred, catapulting me back into ancient history. It is 1965." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I’m 16 and in grade 11. Gym classes were segregated by gender. Our two teachers got together and decided the classes should have a dance. The teachers paired us all up and explained the physical exercise component of this experiment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked longingly at the tall skinny nerdy guy across the room, crossing my fingers that he would be who I got hooked up with. No such luck! I was not surprised when presented with my designated partner. He was one of the “bad boys”. His slicked back, greasy black hair reeked of brylcreem." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He drove a motorcycle which I believe was a compensation for his short…stature. I don’t think he was particularly thrilled with being forced into our dancing arrangement. I’m guessing he’d rather have been out riding up a storm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He did however have a gleam in his eye as he advanced to where I was reluctantly waiting. As the music started, he did the manly thing and began guiding me into a waltz. As soon as the teacher’s attention was drawn across the gymnasium, he firmly pulled me close." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Being several inches shorter than me, his head fell NOT on my shoulder. Until the teachers made the circuit checking for protocol, my partner's head rested intimately on my bosom! I was horrified when he’d gaze longingly up into my eyes and then lower his nose into my cleavage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To this day I’m not sure why I didn’t slap him across the face and storm out of the gym! The years have passed and so have many of my ghost riding companions. All of my enemies have disappeared and with some sadness I catch glimmers of one remaining adversary." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her face shimmers before me occasionally when I look in a mirror." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She disappears quickly as Joni Mitchell’s words of wisdom echo through my thoughts, “I've looked at life from both sides now, from win and lose, and still somehow, it's life's illusions I recall.” I close my eyes, take a deep breath as peace and serenity descend into my being." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "‘Tis with gratitude that I understand, “I really don't know life at all!” .." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sunny Wobbles: the Cat Who Couldn't Jump" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dedication: to anyone trying to reach new heights. When Sunny was born, he didn’t know he was any different." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was a little wobbly when he walked – but no one is born a marathon runner! Unsteady on his feet, Sunny would sway from side to side Like a sailor who hasn’t gotten his sea legs yet! When he would try to go down the stairs His bottom would outweigh him and he’d tumble down the steps - flip, flop, ouch! Despite this little nuisance, Sunny became quite the explorer! Up, down, left, and right – every corner had to be investigated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once he was finished checking out the floors, He would ask to be lifted up so that he could “walk” on walls, like a rock climber! His curiosity met no bounds there, And he would look up at the sky, like a stargazer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As he yearned to get higher and higher, He quickly realized that anything up high was beyond his abilities. How can it be that I’m a cat who cannot jump or balance well, he thought? Feeling powerless, he looked up at the wall where hung a picture of his hero, Night Terror." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Night Terror was a nimble feline, able to traverse staircases in a single leap and jump effortlessly through trees. She got her name because she preferred to do all of her secret deeds at night, in the cover of darkness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Was there a \"cat fight\" in need of breaking up? Night Terror was there in an instant! Did somebody’s favorite treat get snatched? Night Terror will capture the perp! Wishing he had her powers of flight, Sunny waited for Halloween night to dress up as a winged dragon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After all, it is the one time of the year when you can be anything! Because he wished so hard and because Halloween is a mystical, magical night Sunny’s dragon costume transformed! He started jumping – first onto the chair, then the windowsill, and then onto the fridge! Feeling brave and infinite, Sunny decided to venture outside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He easily blended in with the kids dressed up in costumes and hopped unseen from tree to tree - swish, swash, whew! He marveled at the festivities happening around the neighborhood, the spooky decorations, and the kids joyously grabbing candies." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sunny then spotted Night Terror herself, inspecting the territory as if it was her “Queendom”. Knowing that Sunny posed no threat and was a sweet creature, Night Terror invited him to join her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Together they chased dogs, caught mice, and even saved a kitten from a tree - meow wow! This kitten happened to be chasing some bats and lost track of where he was going..." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Or maybe he fell off a witches broom before he was swiftly rescued by our heroes! Rrrrrrippp! But what’s this? Sunny’s cape accidentally gets caught on a branch and rips! He begins to lose his powers of flight, unable to get down from the tall tree." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Night Terror was immediately by Sunny’s side, gently helping him come down the tree. As they headed home, she tried to reassure Sunny that his superpower is inside of him, not in the cape. Feeling defeated still, Sunny moped around for a few days, missing his effortless jumping abilities." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He would sit atop his cat tower, looking out of the window at the trees and reminiscing about his adventure." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Meow! But who is this approaching Sunny’s window? It’s the kitten that Night Terror and Sunny rescued from a tree without a firefighter’s help! The kitten told Sunny that it wasn’t his first time climbing up that tree. And that he would climb it often to peek inside his family’s home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It brought the kitten so much joy to see how happy Sunny made his family just by being himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How affectionate his cat dad looked as he carried his “baby” around, while Sunny gazed up at the ceiling.\n\nAs time went on, Sunny realized that he didn't need to rely on his magic cape to do some good in the world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His superpower is to bring the family together and to bond around caring for one another. There are plenty of heroes in the world, like firefighters who rescue kittens! Every living being is uniquely able to make their impact, no matter what physical challenges they may face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This thought helped Sunny fight through his tremors and go down the stairs slowly, but independently. Building his strength up one day at a time, he was able to go outside and to spread his message of love. The sight of Sunny’s unassuming “crocodile walk” would stop any argument in its tracks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And soon news of this smile-spreader reached the farthest corners of the land." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What a determined little kitty – making his parents and Night Terror proud! “Sunny Wobbles” is based on a real life kitty born with cerebellar hypoplasia, or wobbly cat syndrome, who lives in New England with the author’s family." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is a nondegenerative, neurological disorder that affects a cat’s balance and fine motor skills. Sunny is able to compensate for his lack of coordination by walking with his feet spread out wide and using his upper body strength to climb onto his cat scratchers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His loving family has equipped him with pet stairs, so that he can enjoy some nighttime snuggles with his humans. Luckily, Sunny’s condition is mild, so he is able to eat his food without shaking too much, although drinking water can sometimes be a challenge without a water fountain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Despite all this, Sunny doesn’t know that he is any different and is a happy kitty who loves playing with all of the same toys as other cats and watching birds outside his window! Night Terror’s character is based on the author’s fluffy, black and white cat, Lizzy, who would get the “zoomies” and run up and down three flights of stairs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She would laugh at the pet gates as she easily hopped over them and jumped on top of the fridge. Her favorite things were to spend time in the yard chasing birds and stare adoringly at her cat dad.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Monster" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For years, he has taunted me. For years, he has turned my home into a living nightmare. It seems like my entire life he has chased me, existing in the shadows and making an appearance when I least expect it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He has stolen sleep from me, he has stolen my food, he has stolen my safety, my comfort, my sanity. All that I have is worth nothing when he could appear at any given moment to take it all away.\n\nI know not his name. He is tall and unnaturally thin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He moves in a way that doesn’t seem right, back and forth and swaying from side to side. Truly every part of him is unnerving. From his crooked neck to his impossibly long, narrow tail, he is a horrific sight to behold." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And he roars—oh, how he roars! A high-pitched, deafening screech that drowns out all other sounds, and is enough to drive anyone to madness. When I was little, I cowered in fear, retreating to my room and hiding underneath my blankets, praying desperately that he would not find me. He always did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He would circle me, mocking me and my cowardice, and then he would leave. Perhaps he was waiting for me to grow older, bigger, to become more worthy of an opponent. Perhaps he didn’t know I was there. Perhaps he was toying with me, like a cat with a mouse, knowing that he would return." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He returns often, though with no pattern. Sometimes he leaves us alone for weeks. Sometimes, though, he visits multiple times a day. Those are the days I dread the most. It is bad enough I must defend my family from a monster once, but twice in one day is exhausting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Still, it is up to me to protect my people. I owe my life to them, and for them, I would give my life.\n\nIt has been some time since his last arrival, maybe two or three weeks before my little sister was born." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As one can imagine, my parents have both been incredibly exhausted caring for me and the little one, although I have done my best to help where I am able. They know I can’t do much, but they appreciate what I do contribute. Like protecting the home from threats." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She is a month old now, and she has never known the monster. I pray that it stays that way. She does not deserve to feel the fear I have been plagued with all my life. No, she deserves joy, and love, and peace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I intend to provide her with such comforts to the best of my ability.\n\nWe are napping in the living room one afternoon when I am awoken by our mother shouting to our father.\n\n“Matthew, darling, would you take the baby to the other room? I need to vacuum." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The carpet is disgusting.” “Yes, dear, I’ll be right there,” our father replied to her. A moment later, he was taking my napping sister away from me.\n\n“Why are you taking her?” I asked him but was met with a harsh shushing. “No barking, Musubi, the baby is sleeping." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Let me get her out of the room before you go nuts.” I didn’t understand what he was talking about. I’m not crazy, I’m not prone to fits of rage, I’ve been nothing but caring to my little sister since the day she came home, I’ve even taken to –\n\nAnd then I heard him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was back in my home, threatening my parents, myself, and now an innocent infant. Instantly, my ears perked up, and I sensed he was behind me, making his way around the kitchen. He hadn’t seen me yet; from where I was on the couch, I was hidden by the kitchen island." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If I used my location to my advantage, I would have the upper hand. I could attack. I could save my family. I sprang into action without a second thought. Our battle has raged for years, with him always the victor, retreating only to return when I least expect him. It’s my turn. It’s my time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am going to fight for my family, for my honor. No more cowardice, no more empty threats. Today is the day I defeat him once and for all. After making my way to the kitchen island, I lowered myself to the ground and watched him move in that jerking, unsettling way." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Every time I see him, he appears more disgusting, proudly displaying his prey through his strangely transparent stomach. Nothing about him is right. He needs to be stopped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As he turned the corner, I pounced, wrapping my sharp teeth around his stomach in an attempt to disembowel him, only to be met with pain. He seemed to be wearing some sort of armor, perhaps an exoskeleton even, to protect his innards. “Musubi!” My mother said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She must have been so surprised to see me finally standing up to the creature that has plagued our family for so long, attacking instead of yelling. I hope I make her proud as I fight what may be my final battle. Releasing my grip, I aimed for his ankle and once again found the protective armor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It seemed to be covering his whole body. “Musubi cut it out,” mother said to me. That selfless woman: she has spoiled me my entire life, and now she insists on fighting this monster single-handedly. What an amazing woman she is." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew I could not leave her alone; this fight was mine.\n\nI decided to go for the tail next. Since it moved around so fluidly, surely it wouldn’t have the same protective covering as the rest of the monster’s body. Moving quickly, I bit down as intensely as I could, and pulled hard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A moment later, the beast stopped yelling. I had done it. I had slayed the beast. I couldn’t believe it. After all these years of howling, pushing him away but never truly defeating him, finally, I had done it. I had slayed the beast. Mother noticed immediately." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She began laughing, surely relieved that the monster’s reign of terror was over. “Alright, Musubi, you win. I’ll vacuum tomorrow.” She picked up the corpse of the beast, hiding it away in the closet, likely for the coroner to remove in the morning. Or perhaps a scientist." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She made her way to the couch and patted the spot next to her, my spot. I dutifully hopped up, ready to bask in the glory of my victory. Her hands immediately buried themselves in my fur and found my favorite spots. “Who’s a good boy?” She asked me.\n\nI am, mother. I am a good boy.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Death Machine" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The rattling of metal on metal shook my skull as the car passed over my head. Screams of joy filled the air as the cart climbed to monumental heights and then dropped throwing the passengers back into their seats. My stomach flipped just watching the cart speed along the rail." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The hair on the back of my neck stood on end and a chill ran down my spine even as I stood there sweating in the summer heat. “I can’t do this.” I turned to make a not-so-elegant exit. “Sis.” My younger brother looked at me with knowing eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There would be no excuse for escaping this crazy plan he would accept. “You’re going to be fine. You might even have fun.” Sweat trickled down my back as I shook my head. “Listen to me. Hundreds of people get on these things every day, all walking away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Most probably want to get back on but the line is too long. You can do this.” He grabbed my shoulders and spun me around. My mouth was dry as the line moved forward. I rubbed my palms over my thighs as we moved closer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My brother’s arm was around my back preventing me from making a mad dash for the nearest bathroom and elevating my stomach of the hot dog my brother let me eat before talking me into this crazy idea." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If my niece hadn’t been there staring at me with wide envious eyes, he wouldn’t have gotten two words out of his mouth. The little angel was waving at me from the sidelines like I was a movie star. I took a deep breath and then an unsteady step forward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ride attendant shuffled people into the plastic seats and lowered a metal harness over their chests. We shuffled our feet closer to our inevitable doom only to have the snot-nosed brat loading victims into the car hold up his hand bringing us to a stop." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He bent four fingers and held up one digit higher in the air as he looked back at the line. A child, A CHILD, pushed passed us with a grin plastered on his face. My brother’s face put the child’s to shame. “We’re going to have the best seats!” He was bouncing on his heels, the bastard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I bent at the waist and put my head between my knees. I was the gruel butt of life’s greatest joke. “Seriously Sis, what is it that scares you?” I could hear the eye roll without looking up at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "To my brother, it was irrational that I didn’t want to get on a death machine hurdling around the track at the speed of sound. Even the mention of a roller coaster would induce a vision of the car leaving the track and sailing through the air only to pancake on the concrete below." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My stomach performed a loop of its own as another chorus of joyous screams filled the air. My brother shared his enthusiasm with the other people in line until the car rattled around the track as it closed in on the final bit of track between me and death." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Come on, Sis.” My brother held out his hand to me. He may not understand why my blood ran cold but he wasn’t making me do it alone. I took his hand as the attendant ushered us to the front seat. The air stopped moving in my lungs. My entire being shook." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bar came down over our heads in slow motion. The lock clicked into place with a loud thunk and we were prisoners ready to walk the gallows. My hands turned white as they painfully gripped the tiny handles next to my head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“This is going to be so great!” The harness couldn’t stop him from bouncing like a damn ball. I wish I could say his excitement was contagious but it only made things worse. How could he be excited? I wanted to slap him. The people behind us laughed as the bar came down over their heads." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was painfully slow waiting for the attendant to lock everyone in. I was strapped in, the noose was tied, and there was no going back. The attendant jiggled the safety latches as he systematically made his way up the line of seats and back to his podium." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The chain below the car engaged and lurched us forward. I was going to lose bodily fluids before this torture was over. We crawled up the metal peak at a snail’s pace, tilting us back in our seats. The only thing in front of me was the blue sky." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My grip on the handles tightened until my fingers tingled as I questioned my life’s choices. Closing my eyes I said a prayer to any God that would listen. Before I could finish the world dropped out from under me, my hair whipping around my face. I didn’t want to open my eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If the end was coming I’d rather not see it but fear of not knowing forced my eyes open as we rocketed around a right turn. Our bodies were pushed to the left. People, including my brat of a brother, laughed and the car began another climb propelled by the inertia of that first drop." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Isn’t this great?” He shouted over the rattling metal. “No.” My brother shook his head and laughed as the car dropped and turned to the left. I swallowed the bile that had made its way into the back of my throat. A few more turns bounced us around our seats and then a chain latched onto the car." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Oh boy!” My brother was vibrating with joy at the loop we’d seen from the parking lot, the same loop that had my niece looking at me with envious eyes. The loop that my brother drove us an hour to see." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Biggest one in the state.” If he had mentioned that we would be riding the thing, he would have been that last single rider, and I would have been home happily napping on the couch. The ass knew what he was doing. We climbed higher than the first drop and I squeezed my thighs together." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was sure I would piss my pants. The drop came and my stomach floated as I was lifted out of the seat like the balloon tied to my niece’s arm. The metal harness caught, thank God, and I was stopped from floating off into the ether. My hair seemed to stand on its own accord." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Looking up I was staring at a sea of concrete and people in bright-colored clothes. The other passengers screamed with joy as the loop leveled out. My brother was laughing his head off." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A few more small turns slammed us around in our seats and then the car straightened out to make its way slowly back to the beginning. The bile once more crept up the back of my throat. The one advantage to the whole horrid event was that we were the first let out of our shackles." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn’t get out of the seat fast enough. I ran down the ramp and as far away from the death machine as I could get before the bile needed to make an emergency exit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dipping my head into the closet trash can my nostrils filled with the putrid smell of cotton candy and someone’s vacated stomach contents. The smell didn’t matter as I heaved making my addition. When I pulled my head up my niece handed me a bottle of water." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Are you okay, Auntie?” Twisting the top off the bottle I looked over at my brother whose face was filled with guilt. My sister-in-law glared at him, she’d had my back since he’d opened his mouth. I swished the water through my mouth and then spit into the trash can." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My niece reached up for my free hand. Those little brown orbs staring up at me full of worry. I couldn’t ruin the rest of their day. I plastered a smile on my face. “I’m fine. Too much fun I guess.” My niece grinned. “I can’t wait until I’m big enough to go!” My brother wrapped his arm around me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Thank you.” I leaned on him still weak in the knees. “It means a lot.” “I don’t want her going through that level of fear.” I nodded to the metal monstrosity. Another set of screams filled the air as another group of daredevils plummeted off the first cliff. He squeezed me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“If you ever think about asking me to do that again, she’ll be an only child.” He laughed and nodded. “Never again, Sis.” ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Talk is Cheep" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Life ain’t fair. I should know. My life was an involuntary homage to the unfairness of life. My life was a joke, and I was waiting for the punchline. Waiting in a limbo of anticipatory disappointment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The way the script always goes, I’d either not get the joke, or the end the punchline signalled would be mine. At least I’d be deaf to the laughter that was my funereal lament, but I heard its pre-emptory echoes all the same. The walking dead. The cruel laughter haunting every waking moment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Waking me from nightmares too gutless to make themselves known to me, prodding me with poisoned barbs as they hid under my bed and goaded me mercilessly. I never chose that life. But do any of us ever have a choice? All we are, is a blind continuation of two gene pools. A mingling of bloodlines." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We’re expelled into the world without a clue as to what we are to do, other than repeat the same, sordid process. Find a mate and perpetuate. Then it’s done, and we can’t take it back. Act in lustful haste and repent in a dull and monotonous leisure. Me? I was born bored. I had nothing to do." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nothing interested me. Disenfranchised from the whole shebang. I came. I saw. I yawned and wondered why the hell I was here. I dunno about hell. From what I hear, it’s supposed to be worse than this place, but I can’t see how that can be. Heaven strikes me as even more boring than life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sinning is where it’s at. Remorseless sin. Remove the sin, lose the grin. If ever there was a thrill to break through the mundanity of life, it’s out there on the wild side. Find the jungle and play by the most fundamental of rules. I always looked forward to hell." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All the interesting people go there. It’ll be a gas. Mixing it with the worst of them, which is to say the best of them. None of the namby-pamby shit of the nine to five routine. No easy scores. The game will be high stakes all the way, even if losing your life is no longer a consideration." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He’s going to hell. That I know with a certainty I was seldom possessed of. This eventuality intrigues me. He picked the wrong side, but he’ll still end up on the right side. His attempts at being a goody two-shoes fail at every turn. He’s conflicted, and his dark side always prevails." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Which is just as well. I wouldn’t have looked at him twice if he wasn’t fighting that losing battle. I’d have crossed his path just the once. In a world rammed to the gunnels with boredom, he is far from boring. He excites me. And my excitement confuses him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The sport of it is a rainbow of exotic colours. My world was grey and suffocating me in a protracted death, then he fell into my life, and I saw a fragment of something that went beyond the confines of me. A fleeting reflection of my version of him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Am I like him? The man who inadvertently made me? In some ways I might just be. But every time I encounter him. Every time I venture further into a life I never knew was possible, I develop a certainty that is rooted in the conflict of him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His torment is my rock, and my roots find every one of his cracks and fissures as we dance a dance of suppressed and mounting desire. I will open him up. I will push deeper and further until there is no way of knowing where he ends, and I begin. I can see it already. I see myself within him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In time, I will wander his ramparts and gaze out upon all that he is and know it for being mine. I will own him. He will never own me. That is not on the cards. He will be mine and the best is yet to come. The best will always be ahead of us. We will live on in legend as we dine together in hell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Denying him came so easily. I don’t know where that came from. I just knew. Anything else would have lost all that we could have had. I gave him nothing other than a promise of something that neither of us could see. We felt it though." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In preventing what I wanted with every fibre of my being, I amplified his desire for me. And the pleasure of that was electrifying. We always want what we cannot have. At least there is an honesty and a purity to us. We are not pretending. This highly charged impasse is for keeps." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And I reside on the other side of his morality. I am bad for him. And so, he wants me all the more. He echoes my denial of him, holding me in his mind’s eye. Worshipping that graven image of me with a habitual and obsessive constancy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I see myself through his eyes and I see the animals that we both are. He came to me cloaked in darkness and showed me the way. As I pulled my own darkness about me, I became something that resides outside the life of others and drew closer to the very essence of him. Close enough to taste it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But never too close. Never will I break the spell. There is a harsh, hardness to him that I must conquer. I am soft. I wrap myself around him and he is powerless in my presence. Water cuts through rock with its persistence and bloody-minded determination. I will never be diverted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I flow and he cannot bring himself to stop that flow. Never will he step away from my seductive currents. He would drown in my absence. He is strong, but I am stronger still. I possess his strength. It is mine. He flies through the city. My avenging angel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I climb it, bounding effortlessly from one place to another. This is my chosen domain. I indulge his presence here. I smile at the apparent absurdity of my copy-cat ways. The blunt simplicity of what I did. But not of what I became. I changed one letter of who he was and became his nemesis." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I slipped on my tight, dark outfit, and became the all-consuming object of his desire. The city is our playground, and he is my playmate. He chases me, even though I spell death for one such as he. I cannot get enough of his devotion. The contradiction of him. The contradiction he made of me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Opposites attract. In becoming my opposite, that which I left behind repulsed me. A discarded skin that messed the place up. We have that in common. We can’t go back. We can never go back. There’s nothing left for us there. There was never anything there for us in the first place." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I can’t let him in though. He cannot get any closer. The intense gravity of us keeps us in a perpetual orbit. Were we to slip any closer, then we would lose everything in a cataclysmic collision. Ours is a higher love. We will consummate it in the afterlife. Consume each other over and over again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Two hungry mouths that can never be sated. He is blind to so much. He feels his way with only one sense. It is for me to toy with him. Play with him as only I know how. Extend my claws and remind him of what I am. Remind him of what he is. Our magnificent fragility. The exquisite impossibility of us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The day is nearing when I will saunter out of his life, and he will wilt in the loss of me. Wonder at the absence in his life. Wrestle with irrelevances. Did I ever care? I hold that answer in my feline heart. It is not for him that answer. I care in my own way. But I am mine and I am mine alone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And he is mine in his flawed perfection. I cannot sully him. I cannot allow us both to lose more than we could ever bear. For now, I will let the city have him once more." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He can exorcise his perceived loss of me in his fight for justice, and the salvation of the corrupt soul of a city that has never deserved him. He will languish in the illusion of his loss of me. But we are tied together in a way that will never be broken." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am his purring shadow, and I watch him from a place of utter darkness as he searches for what is not his to find. I will come to him when I am good and ready. And for how long I will linger is anyone’s guess. This is only a game." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A prelude to a time when we will be free to be together in an intensity of fire that would burn this world down.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The unity beyond the grave" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You might think when you die, all these extreme emotions: hate, love, friendships, enemies, and whatnot, cease to exist, but rather they live on in the souls found in heaven and hell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "These creatures, enemies residing on opposite ends of the earth, hadn’t had contact with each other for many centuries. Now, with an exceptional angel and his devil, all that was about to change." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Darius raced down the clouds, flapping his feathery white wings and brushing his fluffy brown hair out of his sparkling green eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His feathery clothes caught around his feet as he dived down into a cloud, and towards the majestic building above him, feeling like screaming in delight but restraining himself. Angels not working there were only allowed in Welkenmire if they were about to be sent on a quest!…or about to vanish." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But Darius was sticking to the positive side and assuming the best." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After all, he had waited his whole death for this, and now it was finally happening! He had only been in heaven for 13 years (likely longer, but when you died after reincarnation, you lost your age and memories), yet he was already getting a quest and a chance to be reincarnated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was nearly impossible! Angels waited for centuries before getting this chance, while he got it in a little more than a decade! He was nervous to say the very least, but he was an angel, and therefore a model for all, above or below ground." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He would complete his quest in no time! This is gonna be great He took a deep breath and prepared to step through the imposing gates, castle-like turrets, and huge circular gates. You would think, considering it was made of clouds alone, it would seem flimsy and unreliable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yet somehow the expertly woven threads of the clouds looked sturdier than any bricks, and the rainbow of colours provided a stunning, yet powerful effect." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Who knew rainbows and fluffy clouds could be so terrifying? He darted through one of the many oval openings, oblivious to the fact he would soon have the shock of his life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For how could he know he would be paired with the worst thing he could think of? A devil.\n\n******************* Maryla darted through the tunnels that surrounded her home, as the musty breeze sent her straight black hair flying around her face and hitting her sunkissed, dark skin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was easy to see from a first glance, that she was trouble. Her hazel brown eyes seemed to shoot sparks of fire at anyone who stood in her way, and through her dirty, shredded clothes, her body was skinny but strong." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Paired with her fiery attitude, it was easy to see why she was in the grimy, sweltering, unwanted…Hell. She didn’t know how she’d ended up here, and she didn’t care." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was simply trying to make the eternity she’d spend here a little more bearable, though in the fiery underground prison she called home, the task was nearly impossible." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She typically avoided going this close underground, seeing as she didn’t fancy getting her head ripped off by a restless soul cursing the existence of angels and the“cursed homes of cursed angels of cursed heaven!”." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Don’t get her wrong, she had her fiery flames of hate for those goody two shoes, but she was more practical about how she used her temper. That was exactly why when she got “summoned” to Mirethorne, she was careful not to get carried away by the thought that she might get to leave this hellhole." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was tempted to brag, but she knew better. If it turned out to be a trick, she would be humiliated and quite frankly…she didn’t have anyone to tell. She hadn’t entered heaven with her parents, and no one in hell was exactly friendly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Devils learned pretty quickly that they would have to fend for themselves, and if they didn’t… Well, then they’d meet a fate worse than hell.\n\nAnd that was why as she crept silently towards the towering black gates, she kept her guard up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It might also be because she kept tripping over the overgrown vines, but she chose to ignore that part and focus on seeming calm and unbothered by her meeting with the leader of the villains, and the man who could single-handedly make her live her worst nightmare." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Easy! Right? ************************** Darius fought to prevent himself from gasping or gawking, but in a room the size of half the village and soon to be filled with so many important angels, it was proving to be nearly impossible." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He couldn’t help but stare at the elaborate details on the many arches and the many gold-gilded paintings of the many angels who had served in Welkenmire as he sat on a soft chair in a cacophony of colours, its beauty rivalled only by the 3 magnificent throne-like chairs each in tier own ombre of colours." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He hoped one day to serve here and be displayed on these magnificent walls with the other smiling angels. But for the time being, he simply waited inside the spectacular room in which he would be meeting the council- a group of angel representatives from the creator themself- and his fate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After a minute or so, a group of regal angels entered the room and settled on the thrones. They wore feathery garments made of the most exquisite feathers, and their wings had a glowing golden tint to them. They were all probably old, but they looked radiant and beautiful." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Darius was in awe as he hastily bowed to them and grinned stupidly awaiting the message they had wanted to deliver in person. The council nods, then takes their respective seats, corresponding to the colours of their clothing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A stern angel seated in a green and blue ombre frowns at him, clearly annoyed to be there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Darius has a brief memory of a stern woman in green he used to know but brushes it off as an angel in pink and lavender turns to him.\n\n“Hello, Darius I presume?” “Yes ma’am”\n\n“My name is Aurelia, and this is Catis and Pranil”\n\nShe gestures towards the lady who had been frowning and an elderly man that Darius hadn’t paid much attention to." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked slightly older than the others, seeing as even though he was radiant, his hair was more of a dull salt-and-pepper colour compared to the rich blonde and dark hair of his other two companions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "While looks wise he was more plain, his throne and clothes were vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow. “We have brought you here today for a bit of a… unique quest,” Pranil says in a surprisingly clear voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You will be helping a young girl in the living world, who has been going through a tough time. She is struggling at home, and school. It’s gotten to the point where she’s starving herself and is starting to think about ending her own life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "While she is certainly not a bad person, we fear that if she ends her life, she will end up in hell …like another devil I used to know…” Pranil trails off a little, seeming to be remembering something. “This is why we brought you here today." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This is a bit of a different quest because you are not being fully reincarnated and will return here as soon as you have finished helping the girl. When dealing with something as delicate as this, we try to be as careful and detached as possible." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Staying in her life afterwards can be troublesome, so you will have your memories while helping her and will return to heaven at the same age as before. You will also have a partner helping you to do this quest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Typically these things are solo, but all 3 of you are the same age, and seeing how inexperienced you are, we thought it would be best to have backup from 2… different angles.” Catis interrupts, glaring at him as if daring him to object." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Wow, this is so exciting!” Seeing the council’s somber expressions, he quickly elaborates. “I’m so glad I can help someone else and get to meet a new angel to help me! What are they like? Do I know them? Do they know me?” Darius asks excitedly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The council shares a look, and Aurelia says,” You shall see your partner shortly. We would like you to begin immediately, and you have everything you need." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Simply choose one of our transportation clouds, and let it do the rest.”\n\nDarius nods eagerly, wondering who the other angel is and whether they’ll like each other. He was still completely oblivious to the truth. He would be working with the worst thing he could think of. A devil." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "*********************** Maryla felt like screaming, but she knew better than to show weakness when she was still visible and therefore vulnerable." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had absolutely zero interest in going up to the living world which had first gotten her here, or helping a random girl who’d probably only be scared of her if she ever found out that she was. Besides, she was a devil, and compassion or empathy wasn’t in her dictionary." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She knew the only reason precious Heaven had agreed to have an angel and devil work together was because they suspected they’d fail and wanted someone on hand to be able to take the poor girl to hell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So now she had to talk to an angel because she knew that the council would be merciless if she refused, seeing as they were devils. So, she stepped into the tunnel they had shown her, and began to climb up to where she would be meeting this infuriating angel she would have to work with." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "******************************* An hour later, she had finally reached the surface and the spot where she would be meeting her new partner.\n\nSurprise surprise! Mr." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Goody two shoes had already arrived “Hey, I’m Darius! I didn’t see you on the way down, but what neighbourhood are you from? I’ve never seen an angel dressed like that before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I found out that you lose your wings when you come here! All my clothes are this strange material! I didn’t know angels could have clothes in other colours! You must have got a faulty cloud and got a little messed up on your landing!” “Listen up sunshine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I’m no angel, I’m an evil, rotten angel through and through." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Clearly the other angels thought they’d spare you poor little angel, forced to work with a little baddie devil.” Maryla kept her voice sickly sweet yet menacing, focusing on her words rather than the dizzying feeling in the pit of her stomach." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her memories of hell were fully intact, but other memories were starting to push through to the surface as well. Ones that she would have rather forgotten. “You’re a… Devil b-but that can’t be true! T-they would never make us work together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Right?” “Trust me I don’t want to work with someone like you anyway. I’m doing this for the girl and the girl only.” “Fine. Be that way. Will you at least tell me your name, or is that too much to ask form a devil like you.” Darius said, gritting his teeth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Say something like that again, and I’ll do things worse than death to you. ANd the name’s Maryla” Then she turned instead to the matter of finding the girl. After a lot of directions and misdirections, bickering, running after vehicles, and more arguing, they finally found the girl." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was in an alley, slightly reminiscent of the grimy tunnels in Maryla’s beloved home. She was Asian and pretty enough, with straight black hair covering her face, a narrow nose, and a skinny figure. She sat crouched in a corner, sobbing and, as the two dead spirits realized, bleeding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maryla had an uncomfortable feeling of deja vu, staring at the girl looking so put out and deflated, when she looked up, Maryla saw that her eyes already looked dead and hopeless. She looked vulnerable and weak, in a way that Maryla didn’t want to admit she could understand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And suddenly, it all became too much for Maryla, as her head swam with memories of a tan-skinned girl with dark hair sobbing similarly as her world fell apart. Remembered feeling so alone she just wanted it to… end." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The last thing Maryla remembered was a boy’s voice calling her name, and her responding  “Don’t let it happen to her too Darius” Before it faded to black yet again.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Beginning in the End" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Death is something I am familiar with, an old friend that I never have to look too hard for. My story started with the death of my people, it’s only fair the story ends with the death of theirs. When I began, I had no desire to fight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As a lone survivor of the war that eradicated my species, I was determined to live a small but content life consisting of myself, and the vegetables I grew on my farm.\n\nBut fate is determined to remind us of her folly.\n\nThe humans around me began to grow hungry and when they saw their crops die while mine thrived they turned their fear and anger towards me.\n\nHow could I explain my connection to the Earth without reminding them of the way their brothers and sisters were torn apart by roots and trees in the war that ended mere months ago? How could I tell them that I was fae, and alone, without causing the anger inside them to strike at me? I knew that my time there was done, and I ran." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I left that life behind and wandered the country, looking for a place where I could keep my head down and live in peace with those overthrew those like me.\n\nI reached the coast and as my magic sang in response to the waves crashing against the rocky beach I knew I had found my new home.\n\nI became a smith, determined to eliminate any chance of my magic giving me too much of an advantage over the locals, and even took a human wife to keep female eyes from lingering too long on me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was a dull thing, without much to offer me in the way of intellectual stimulation, but she was beautiful, with her long brown hair that fell in waves down her back and her brown doe-like eyes. I grew to enjoy her company and they way her mouth turned up whenever she saw me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I repressed my magic but it still screamed from within and I chose to release it\n\nevery new moon, deep within the woods, and near the waves, where none would see me and any sound I made would be oppressed by the waves.\n\nAs I made the trees bow and the flowers dance I felt my shoulders relax, feeling my magic settle within me.\n\nThere was a sound of a twig snapping from behind me and I threw an ice dagger at it reflexively." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rather than hear the thunk as my assailant hit the ground I heard the sound of breaking glass as my ice dagger met an ice wall that had erupted from the ground violently. Stalking around the wall, I was prepared to face off against an enemy and instead found a young child cowering in front of me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had hair the color of wheat, her bones protruding from clothes that were only worthy enough to serve as an animals bed place, and was so clearly fae that I had to remind myself to breathe.\n\n“Tell me child, where are your parents?” I asked, kneeling down slowly so as to not to scare her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She shook her head once and I watched tears form in her eyes. I tried again, with a more pressing question." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Tell me child, are you human?”\n\nKnowing the answer didn’t make my heart slow down when she hesitated before slowly shaking her head again.\n\nHow could I abandon her, when she was so clearly alone, and in enemy territory? I scooped her up and walked back to the village, asking her more questions but receiving nothing but silence.\n\nI introduced her to my silly little wife, who quickly guided the child I named Rae into the bathing room to be cleaned and we raised her as our own.\n\nTime passed by and Rae grew taller and leaner, looking more and more fae like, all the while staying as silent as she had when we first met." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was a quick learner and didn’t question my instruction to hide her magic.\n\nI grew to love her as my own, and chose to enjoy her company over my wife’s whose stomach now grew with my child inside. \n\nThe village grew used to seeing the three of us and life was simple but pleasurable, until the incident happened.\n\nRae and her mother were hanging laundry up outside, and when the clumsy human lost her balance and began to tip forward, resulting in a fall that would no doubt harm both her and the child within, Rae used a blast of wind to steady her.\n\nAlthough I saw shock and repulsion flash across the woman’s face, I felt no fear for Rae’s safety and my wife quickly returned to normal, hugging Rae in thanks.\n\nThe day concluded as it normally did, with Rae asleep in the room next to us, and my wife snoring on her side in our bed.\n\nI should have known that I grew too comfortable.\n\nA guttural scream, unlike any I had known, ripped me from my sleep, and when I noticed that I was alone in the bed I immediately ran to Rae’s room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I pushed open the door I saw only my wife, and it wasn’t until I strode into the room that I saw Rae, tears falling down her face, cowering in the back corner of the room as iron spikes held her pinned to the ground." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her face screwed up as she called on her magic, but I knew that she would receive no help as long as the iron was within her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Woman,” I screamed, incapable of believing that my wife, who cried when she found a dead bumble bee, was capable of such violence, “have you gone mad?”\n\nHer eyes burned in a way that had me stepping back unconsciously.\n\n“It is fae,” she said simply, in a voice devoid of any emotion, “How dare you bring this monster into our house." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If you won’t kill it, I will.”\n\nShe rushed forward, the light of the moon reflecting off a knife she had pulled from her pocket." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“No!” I screamed, throwing an ice dagger between her and Rae, determined to scare her away from Rae, but it was too late.\n\nThe knife was thrust deep into Rae’s chest before my wife of seven years turned to look at me in disgust\n\nand horror." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“ You too?” she whispered, before cradling her stomach and running out the door of the room and the house. \n\nI knew I stood no chance of catching up with her before she reached the alarm and summoned the village so I picked up Rae, in a gesture that brought back memories of the first night we met, and ran." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Again I ran away from the humans. Again I ran without an idea of where I would go.\n\nWhen my body eventually forced me to rest, my legs giving out beneath me, Rae was gone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her heart had stopped early into our journey and in my haste I never noticed.\n\nAs I burned her body in the way the fae do I made a promise.\n\nI declared to the skies and anything beyond that listened, that I would find the remaining fae and create a home for them where we’d face no hatred, harm, or humans.\n\nAnd I would kill any and every human that got in my way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When Rae’s body was nothing but ashes I let my rage lead the way and chased down any rumors that hinted of a fae.\n\nThe first to join me and my mission was a young boy, who I reached just as the townspeople tied him to his pyre.\n\nWhen the flames began to reach for him I redirected them into the crowd, sparing no building or human.\n\nTogether we left the town smoldering and drenched in blood. \n\nTown after town were reduced to ash, or swept away by the ocean they lived near, and my following grew.\n\nEvery fae had a story similar to mine, and all were eager to build a home with me as their leader.\n\nRae haunted me, and her memory lurked in the dark corners I came across on my journey. \n\nMy name became synonymous with the reaper and humans began to gather together, hoping that there would be safety in numbers, despite the exact opposite being true.\n\nMy compatriots and I trained for infiltration and used the elements and earth to pull the humans out of their homes before slaughtering them.\n\nEach city decimated meant less humans to hunt us, and yet I never found the ones that mattered most.\n\nThat woman, that wife of mine, escaped me still and I yearned to kill her as mercilessly as she did Rae.\n\nMy search for her and the child that must be the same as Rae was when she died continues." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I can’t stop, won’t stop, until I find them and make that woman pay. Maybe I’ll make our child my disciple, and turn them against the humans it was born to. ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A Case of Mistaken Secret Identity" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Part I As a night-shift barista in Corner City, Riley Gardner had two top fears. Top Fear Number 1: Getting robbed at work (the Night Owl Café’s hours were 10:00pm to 5:00am). Top Fear Number 2: Meeting a villain. She’d never expected both to happen at once." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Riley did as she’d been trained: opened the register, raised her hands, and stepped back. “Take it. It’s yours.” “Huh?” The Scale-Head scratched his head, then paused when his fingers felt the bumpy leather of his cowl. “Shit.” Behind his domino mask, his eyes were bleary and bloodshot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Forgot to change after my shift.” Scale-Heads worked for Draco Rex, Corner City’s most ruthless villain. They dressed like medieval archers, with leather cowls, belts, fingerless gauntlets, and boots specially crafted and dyed to resemble dragon skin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "According to rumor, Draco Rex’s artisan made each cowl as unique as a retinal scan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You’re not… robbing me?” Riley was confused because something about his body language or vocal pattern had caused the Amalgorithm to assess this short, gawky Scale-Head as a threat and forecast her survivability at 48%. Like many people, Riley had a low-level power." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her brain retained an amalgamation (“Amalg-”) of every fact or skill she ever learned and constantly ran a computational algorithm (“-orithm”) which extrapolated likely conclusions based on input data. Thus, “Amalgorithm.” The upside was that the Amalgorithm was almost never wrong." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The downside was that it ran in her subconscious, so she had only average intelligence unless it provided her with a conscious output. “Nah. I’m off the clock.” The Scale-Head dropped some change on the counter. “I’ll take a cinnamon hazelnut mocha non-fat latte, extra whip, extra espresso." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Make it iced.” “Coming right up.” He was $0.14 short, but Riley wasn’t going to tell him that. The Scale-Head slumped into a chair and rested his forehead on his arms. She wondered if she could text the G.U.A.R.D. (Global Unified Alliance of Regional Defenders) emergency number without him seeing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Towns too small for an R.D. (Regional Defender) still used 911 for police, but Corner City texted “HELP” to 48273 (which spelled GUARD on the keypad) or else used the panic button in the G.U.A.R.D app. Either option would send a distress signal and ping her location." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“You know what sucks?” The Scale-Head laughed wryly and looked up. “What’s that?” Riley tried to sound casual as she grabbed the cinnamon near her bag so he wouldn’t realize she’d been reaching for her phone. “I can’t even expense that coffee." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No per diem in villainy, and the pay for us rank and files ain’t shit.” A vein bulged under his clenched jaw. “But Draco Rex was the only guy hiring violent convicts after the government canned me from my programming job." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I finally started finding hacking gigs, but I can’t take them without giving the boss half the cut. And I can’t quit, since our retirement plan is…” He traced a finger across his throat. “I only get out if this job gets me dead or G.U.A.R.D. locks me up the rest of my life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Or else, I’d need to…” He paused. “Huh. That’s an interesting idea.” “Your coffee’s ready.” Riley set the cup on the counter and backed away. She didn’t like how he was looking her up and down. “Riley, huh?” He glanced at her nametag." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“That’s one of those names for boys and girls, right?” The Scale-Head was like a serpent that had gone from peacefully sunning himself to rearing for a strike. He pressed something on his mask, and two yellow lenses extended over the eye holes. The Amalgorithm lowered survivability to 28%." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Riley wanted to run, but she was transfixed by the light pulsating from the Scale-Head’s eyes. “Just relax, Riley.” The Scale-Head smiled. “You’re about to get an exciting new career opportunity.” Part II Riley woke with a pounding headache." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She tried to rub the bump on the back of her head, but something jerked her wrists. She looked down, and cold sweat broke across her brow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Two things were on her wrists that shouldn’t be: (1) a pair of handcuffs linked to a chain, which was bolted to the floor under her chair and (2) a custom set of dragon-hide fingerless gauntlets." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Riley didn’t know what was happening, but she had a new Top Fear Number 1: Waking up handcuffed and dressed as a Villain, with no idea where she was or how she’d gotten there. “You’re in G.U.A.R.D. Headquarters. The Scale Head used his Mesmer-Eyes on you." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That’s why you don’t’ remember.” Riley jumped. It was a conscious output from the Amalgorithm, but it was loud, like a second voice in her head. Until now, conscious outputs had come to her as knowledge." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her brain was like a bingo ball mixer, with data bubbling around inside until a ball popped out for her to read. The Amalgorithm continued: “Mesmer-Eyes are an optical weapon that pulse light to induce an instantaneous hypnotic and suggestible state." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Scale-Heads use Mesmer-Eyes to subdue security guards, coerce bank managers into opening vaults, gain access to secure areas—that kind of thing.” “Since when do you talk?” “Who are you talking to?” A woman’s voice spoke from behind—one Riley recognized from news interviews." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“We swept you for comms, and this room is shielded from Telepaths.” Blank, Corner City’s premier R.D., walked into view and stood on the other side of the table in front of Riley. She was holding a manilla folder. For five seconds, Riley was speechless." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Finally, she managed, “Just myself.” Riley had learned people didn’t like finding out everything they said or did in her presence was recorded and logged in a massive dataset. She especially didn’t want to annoy a Telekinetic R.D. who already looked angry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Blank isn’t Telekinetic,” the Amalgorithm corrected her. “She controls the space between objects, not the objects themselves.” The fact the Amalgorithm was not only talking but also hearing and responding to her thoughts disturbed Riley, but she had bigger problems at the moment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Um… why am I handcuffed?” “You don’t remember robbing someone at gunpoint this morning? I must have hit you harder than I thought.” Blank smirked at Riley’s stupefied stare." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“And before you lie to me about being innocent, or Mesmerized, or the other things you Scale-Heads always say, you should know our Telepath already scanned you while you were unconscious.” That made no sense. A Telepath should have seen that she was innocent and Mesmerized." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Unfortunately, the Scale-Head implanted memories of working for Draco Rex. They think you’re the genuine article.” Blank pulled a photo from the folder and laid it on the table. It was a still from security footage which showed a Scale-Head holding a young man at gunpoint." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Geometric dots and lines were superimposed on the image, mapping the cowl pattern. Apparently, the rumors about cowls being unique were true. “This is you, robbing Riley Gardner before I knocked you out.” Blank tapped her finger on the photo." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Riley blinked, then mentally rewound and played back the last three seconds of conversation. Surely, she had heard wrong. Riley opened her mouth to argue, but the Amalgorithm jumped in." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Before you say anything, read the timestamp.” “Here’s you again,” Blank pulled out more security stills with geometric lines. “Our software identified you at four violent attacks in the last year—including the home invasion at the mayor’s mansion.” But Riley had stopped listening." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For a second, she forgot even to breathe. The timestamp on the first photo, which Blank had said was taken that morning, was dated three days after she was attacked. “ Think it through.” The Amalgorithm said. “ The Scale-Head was a programmer and hacker with knowledge of government systems." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He’s your approximate age, height, and weight. He had three days to break into databases. Your name is unisex, so he only needed to swap in his photo and gender marker on your records. And he got all your accounts and passwords from you while you were Mesmerized." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Like it or not, he’s Riley Gardner now.” The Amalgorithm was right: If records proved the Scale-Head was her, nothing she or anyone else could say would change G.U.A.R.D.’s mind. But if the Scale-Head was her, and she had fake Scale-Head memories and his uniform, then that made her… the patsy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This wasn’t just an identity switch. It was a set-up. She’d been hypnotized to rob the fake “Riley Gardner” (a.k.a. the Scale-Head), placing her in the cowl that linked her to the other crimes. Then the Scale-Head had called the R.D. to arrest her. Draco Rex would think his henchman was in G.U.A.R.D." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "custody, Riley would rot in jail in the Scale-Head’s place, and the Scale-Head would saunter off with Riley’s life. “Oh… crap.” Riley was going to be in prison for a long, long time. “Fortunately for you,” Blank flicked her hand, and the cuffs fell open, “G.U.A.R.D." }, { "from": "human", "value": "has authorized me to make you a deal.” Part III Riley hovered a thousand feet above a parking garage. Blank’s power pressed her gently from all sides, like she was suspended in a giant gelatin mold. “You pull this off, you get immunity.” Blank handed Riley her new domino mask." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You tip off anyone, I make sure you get a life sentence.” “Got it.” Riley fastened on the mask. She didn’t need any Scale-Heads realizing they didn’t recognize her. New Top Fear Number 1: Getting killed infiltrating a Dragon Den. “Tech support replaced your Mesmer-Eyes with camera lenses." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They won’t retract, so say it’s broken if anyone asks. I’ll be monitoring you with this.” Blank held up a tablet. “There’s an earpiece and microphone wired into your cowl." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To avoid compromising you, I won’t speak unless needed.” The deal was simple: Slip in, clone a hard drive, slip out, deliver the cloned drive to G.U.A.R.D., and go free. Once that was done, she could worry about getting her life back. Riley pulled the cowl over her head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Let’s get this over with.” Part IV According to G.U.A.R.D.’s intelligence, the garage elevator would take Riley to a secret subbasement, where an adjoining tunnel would lead to a private elevator under a nearby office building." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The first six floors were legitimate businesses, but the seventh was a rumored Dragon Den. G.U.A.R.D. believed the hard drive would lead them to the other Dens and ultimately to Draco Rex. Riley stepped onto the first elevator and looked at the button panel. It listed floors 1 through 4." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No subbasement. “Give it a second. The camera will scan your cowl.” Sure enough, the elevator lurched into motion on its own. That had been lucky… too lucky." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Amalgorithm could (1) recall necessary information, like about the Mesmer-Eyes and Blank’s powers and (2) extrapolate conclusions based on data and sensory input, like reading the Scale-Head’s threat level or realizing their identities were switched." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It did not make educated guesses without having received input from her. Come to think of it, how had the Amalgorithm known about the implanted memories when she didn’t? And its explanation about the identity switch—it had talked like it knew, not like it had computed a probable scenario." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Mesmer-Eyes put the conscious mind to sleep, not the sub-conscious mind.” The Amalgorithm supplied. “I watched the Scale-Head perform the necessary tasks to assume your identity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He also provided me with several detailed trainings on his job, coworkers, and building access and layouts to fool G.U.A.R.D.’s Telepath. This mission is doable so long as you follow my lead.” Okay, that explained how it knew some things." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It did not explain how the Amalgorithm could hear her side of the brain, or why it had a voice now. The Amalgorithm heard this line of inquiry, too. “Mesmer-Eyes are designed to hypnotize the victim for one hour. You were Mesmerized for approximately 36 hours." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Scale-Head put his mask on you and used a previously unknown ‘reverse camera’ Mesmer-Eyes function to keep you continuously hypnotized." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He did this to prevent your escape, but he also thought this would permanently alter your mind to believe you were truly a Scale-Head, which would have made his deception perfect. Theoretically, it would have worked on a normal person, but I shielded your consciousness from damage." }, { "from": "human", "value": "However, this prolonged exposure still resulted in… side effects.” Riley waited for the Amalgorithm to go on. She wanted to ask, but Blank wouldn’t appreciate hearing her question her own sanity mid-mission. “You have no lasting physical damage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But my processes and your conscious thoughts are now permanently entangled. This is why we can communicate now versus merely exchanging inputs and outputs. It’s an adjustment for me, too.” Riley was so stunned she nearly walked smack into the next elevator’s doors." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fortunately, they opened automatically in time. She pressed the only button in the elevator, which would take her directly to the Dragon’s Den on the seventh floor. Riley thought her new Top Fear Number 2: The unknown ramifications of her power being permanently altered by a mind control device." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yet again, both top fears were happening at once. Part V The elevator doors opened to a fluorescent-lit bullpen filled with empty cubicles. G.U.A.R.D. intelligence said most Scale-Heads operated at night, which was why they chose this time to infiltrate. It also helped that G.U.A.R.D." }, { "from": "human", "value": "had kept her arrest quiet, so she wouldn’t be immediately suspicious if spotted. “The server room is at the end of that hall. I’ll walk you through overriding the security panel. Your cowl doesn’t rank high enough for access." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Survivability is projected at 62%.” “Nelson! Hey, Nelson!” A Scale-Head walked toward her holding a coffee. In her earpiece, Riley heard Blank swear. “Survivability now at 41%.” The Amalgorithm wasn’t happy. “You’re Nelson." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pretend you have laryngitis and make an excuse to leave.” “I saw you’d badged in.” The Scale Head surprisingly handed Riley the coffee cup. His cowl was more ornate than hers, with taller bumps on the scales and a gold lining inside the hood. “Got your favorite." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Where’ve you been? You missed your shift last night.” “Out sick.” She faked a rasp. “Yeah, you sound like crap. Why are your lenses extended?” This Scale-Head seemed to be Nelson’s manager or something. “Broke.” She coughed in a way she hoped sounded realistic. “ 37%." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hurry up.” “See Manny in equipment for a new one.” The manager frowned. “You don’t want your coffee?” “Don’t drink it.” The Amalgorithm warned her. But the manager was staring at her, clearly waiting for her to try it. She needed to get away from him and get to the server room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Riley only pretended to sip from it just in case it was poison. The Amalgorithm started to say something, but Riley spoke first. “Thanks. Um… got to pee.” Riley turned and headed toward the restroom sign. Luckily, it was down the same hall as the server room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She got about ten feet before a klaxon buzzed angrily, and red lights flashed. “You’re not Nelson.” A gun hammer cocked. “Nelson hates plain coffee.” “I did try to warn you. Also, I didn’t say anything earlier so you wouldn’t panic." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But since survivability is 2%, you may as well know that’s Draco Rex.” Riley turned to face the pistol pointed at the space between her eyes. She thought 2% was optimistic. The Dragon King pressed something on his cowl. “Attention all staff, there is a spy on premises. Assume an R.D. is inbound." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fry the servers and evacuate. I’ll lay out the welcome mat.” Then Draco Rex pulled the trigger, and the gun roared. Riley shut her eyes and waited for death. And waited. And waited. Death never came. She opened her eyes and flinched at the large-caliber bullet inches from her brow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It hovered as if suspended in ballistics gel. Blank stood between Riley and Draco Rex. She held up a hand, controlling the entire building’s negative space. “I don’t know what’s going on here,” she growled, glaring at Riley, “but your deal is off.” Part VI New Top Fear Number 1: Pissing off Blank." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Riley had survived because Blank charged in the moment the mask camera picked up Draco Rex. Unfortunately, Blank now believed Riley had stolen a Scale-Head uniform to commit a robbery and then taken the deal under false pretenses." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Riley was now charged with robbery, lying to G.U.A.R.D., and obstructing their investigation. With nothing to lose, Riley had tried telling Blank the truth. But it was her word against government records. Even if G.U.A.R.D. agreed to have a Telepath scan Nelson, he was in the wind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nelson had quit her job at the Night Owl Café via email, sold her valuables, sublet her apartment, moved her money into offshore bank accounts, and skipped town, presumably to pursue an exciting new hacker-for-hire career." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“How did you not notice the coffee prank?” The Amalgorithm was not pleased about spending the next few decades locked up with minimal data input. “You knew Nelson liked sweet coffee.” “I didn’t taste it!” She threw up her hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I was trying to get us out of there.” “You didn’t smell it?” “I had other things on my mind!” The door whooshed open and Blank entered, staring at her. “I was just in the observation room with our Telepath. I wanted her to reexamine you since you fooled her first scan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "According to her results, you’re not only the real Riley Gardner but probably the world’s most powerful Datapath.” Riley had never heard of an official word for her power, but that hardly mattered. “Does that mean I can have my life back?” “G.U.A.R.D. is working on it, but it’ll take time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nelson was thorough.” Blank considered her. “Riley, do you realize with your datapathy, you could become an expert in… everything?” “Oh.” That was disappointing, but she was glad not to be (hopefully) headed to prison anymore." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Guess I won’t have trouble finding a new job, at least.” “Riley…” Blank smiled, “how would you like to work for G.U.A.R.D.?”." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sprouting a New Superhero: Chloro Phil" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Journal Entry 236: Winter’s Day, 1347 I think that will do it. The last injection should be the correct formula to introduce plant cells into the human body. Hopefully this will allow me to use the infernal sun’s power as a food source to survive in this accursed winter wasteland." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Journal Entry 237: Winter’s Day, 1353 It’s been almost a week, and I’ve been terribly sick. I can definitely tell that the bio serum I injected myself with is working. It’s changing my very genetic structure. I’ve noticed that my eyes are turning yellow, and my skin has a green bioluminescence to it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I guess I should have thought about the fact that my skin would be the primary source of dietary consumption, if I really am turning into a plant. Does this mean I’ll have to walk around naked all the time? Good thing there’s no one else around to see my tree stump. Lol." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Journal Entry 238: Winter’s Day, 1354 First report of sun feeding: I’m totally sunburnt! I spent three hours topside yesterday afternoon, walking around in my birthday suit, and I’m burnt from head to ankles." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have a stupid tan line where my boots were, and there’s funky tan lines also where my backpack straps were. I’ve been lonely for so long that I never thought I’d actually be glad no one is around to see how stupid I look." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Journal Entry 239: Winter’s Day, 1364 It’s been ten days since my last report. I’m struggling to eat solid foods. The canned goods I have stockpiled in the bomb shelter are not staying down. I’ve had violent diarrhea every time I eat, and I’m manically thirsty. It’s like I’m addicted to water." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think I’ll try infusing water with fruit sugars for added nutrients. I feel like I have to start experimenting with plant fertilizer just to feed myself properly. This experiment is just getting weirder and weirder.\n\nJournal Entry 240: Winter’s Day, 1374 Another ten days." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I’ve been spending significantly more time topside, naked. Emerging from the bomb shelter no longer hurts my eyes, but being inside actually does. I think my eyes have adjusted to the serum injection, and become sunlight dependent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It’s like my very eyeballs are sunglasses now! Journal Entry 241: Sun Day, 1 I’ve pretty much stopped eating solid foods. My primary source of sustenance is now the blazing sunlight. I don’t even burn anymore." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I can actually feel my body absorbing the sun’s rays, and there’s a tingling sensation after about thirty minutes walking around. I think I can actually feel the chlorophyll in my skin cells converting sunlight into energy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think this mad scientist plan I had of turning myself into a plant has actually worked! I’m officially changing the name of my calendar system to Sun Day, as the nuclear winter is no longer a limitation for me! I’m restarting the number system of how I count days as well.\n\nJournal Entry 242: Sun Day, 10 Another ten days has gone by." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I think I can officially say that I’m no longer reliant on basic human foods. I have the digestive system of a plant now, requiring only sunlight. I’ve decided to pack up my belongings and start searching for other survivors." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The last survivor I ran into was two years ago, and they mentioned a settlement near Taos, New Mexico. I think I’ll head down that way and see what I can find. I’ll need to follow the river though to make sure I have water, but that’s good desert country and I’ll have plenty of sunlight for food." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How neat to say that!\n\nJournal Entry 243: Sun Day, 16 It took about a week to finish packing, and I’ve been walking for a few days. I’ve walked about sixty miles, and it’s a barren wasteland out here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The city of Denver is still a smoldering heap of bombed concrete and ash, and I didn’t see or hear any survivors. Perhaps if I find smaller towns away from the major blast centers, I’ll have more luck finding survivors.\n\nJournal Entry 245: Sun Day, 30 Another ten days have gone by." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I’ve walked a long way, and still haven’t seen anyone. Am I the only survivor? I have to believe that’s not the case.\n\nJournal Entry 246: Sun Day 36 I found people! I’m just outside Chama, New Mexico, and I found a small village that’s established like a trading post." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I got some strange looks because it’s not everyday that A: a wanderer comes in from the wasteland, and B: wastelanders probably don’t stroll around wearing only a loincloth. I’ve even stopped wearing shoes because my feet are barklike now so I don’t even need any foot protection." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And I’m overall just a green color now, so that scared quite a few people.\n\nBut these folks, who call themselves Chamites, were overall hospitable. They don’t see me as a threat, although they were rightfully wary at first." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had a great meeting with a group of five townspeople- three women and two men, who gave me a bit of their history. They said they’ve been in Chama ever since the bombs went off. The bombs tended to hit any sizeable population center, or anywhere that there were military installations." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So Chama was saved, as it’s always been a small crossroads between Colorado and New Mexico, and not deemed a military target.\n\nI spent enough time with the town council to understand that these are not war-like people, but they’ve been having trouble with a group of local raiders that are desperately trying to break into the underground quarters where the people are." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Most of the surface level of Chama has been pilfered by this group of marauders, and they want my help as I seem to be the only one who can openly traverse the surface without suffering health consequences." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I think I’ll help this group, and maybe they’ll let me stay on with them.\n\nJournal Entry 247: Sun Day 40 I’ve been out in the Waste for over a week, surveying the band of raiders harassing the Chamites." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There’s about twenty of these scoundrels, but it’s hard to tell who’s who because they are covered head to toe in rags and gear to protect from the sun. They’ve got a cage of Chama captives sitting out in the sun, and they absolutely torment these poor people." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The town council told me that I can bring the captives back to the Chama Underground if I can figure out how to spring them.\n\nJournal Entry 249: Sun Day 52 I got ahold of one of the smaller raiders, and stashed him in a pile of rocks outside their encampment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was terrified of my green skin and thought I was an alien. I laughed at that, as Roswell isn’t too far away. But I realized that I have the power to make roots and plants grow now, and I used them to wrap this guy up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pretty awesome superpower! I’m going to go into camp while everyone is sleeping and quietly wrap vines around the doors of their poorly built housing structures. I’ll free the captives, and come back for my prisoner tomorrow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As soon as the sun goes down and everyone is sleeping, I’ll make my move.\n\nJournal Entry 250: Sun Day 53 Last night was terrifying, but successful! I got rolling late, as most of the raiders stayed up drinking some kind of homemade moonshine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Most of them were drunk as skunks by the time they went to bed, so I didn’t have to be as quiet as I had thought. But, I was sneaky and silent, and terrified beyond anything I’ve experienced since the day the bombs fell twelve years ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Heart thumping out of my chest, and skin tingling with anxious excitement, I made my move.\n\nI crept into camp, and tested my powers of growing plants. Reaching out my hands, I concentrated on extending my fingertips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Little shoots sprung out of the ground where I directed my focus, literally willing plantlife to emerge. These neophyte plants grew up, and I was able to use my mind to twist them all together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once I had created a thick lattice work over the door of the first hut, I focused on hardening these green shoots and turning them into brambles. This made them thick and tough, almost like dead vines." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And the beautiful thing is that this only took about a minute of deep concentration! I moved from hut to hut, keeping a careful watch for any guard patrolling the camp." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But these raiders didn’t feel the need to be cautious, convinced they were the only ones foolhardy enough to survive topside in the wastes. The sun is so strong on the surface that it burns anything in its view. So I quietly crept from one hut to another, closing off doors and windows." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In about an hour, I had the whole camp on lockdown.\n\nJust before sunrise, I headed towards the cage holding the captives. There were seven of them, and looked almost dead. Skin burnt, hair frizzled, and dehydrated almost beyond salvaging." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I quietly dispatched the lone guard, with the captives watching in wide-eyed fascination at this green plant-man. They had just enough strength to sneak back to my hideout in the rocks where I had left the last captive." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We decided to leave him trussed up, either for dead or for finding by his comrades.\n\nIt took us nearly three days to get back to the Chama Underground. I grew a crop of cactus plants, and cutting them open created enough fresh water to rehydrate the captives just enough for the journey to safety." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The people of Chama were ecstatic that I had freed their family and friends, and regarded me as a superhero. They asked what they could call me. I said, call me Chloro Phil. ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Superhero" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was April 24, 2024, when my mother arrived at her doctor's office and heard that her mortal enemy and most significant fear was back, and she was going to have to face it all again. The shock carried her home, and she drove her car on automatic pilot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She exited the porch, entered the house, and collapsed onto the couch. She called my older sister, whom she lived with during the week. She said, \"I have some bad news. I have lung cancer.\" \"You have what? What do you mean?\" My sister said that numbness took over her extremities." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The two ladies sat silently, stunned, on the living room couches. My sister fidgeted with her knitting needles. My mother stared blindly into space. \"Did they say what stage?\" \"No, they didn't. But they referred me to a specialist. The office will be calling me for an appointment.\" \"Okay." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Do you know what the specialist's name is?\" \"No. Sorry. I forget what the secretary told me.\" \"Did she give you anything to refer to later?\" \"No. Nothing.\" That was it. There were no more words spoken. The two remained stunned and in fear. I wasn't told until two weeks later." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My mother and sister drove up to my house. I knew something wasn't right as soon as they came to my front door. \"Hi, come on in. What's going on?\" I said. \"We need to talk. Where are the kids?\" My sister said it with a worried look on her face. \"They're in their rooms. Why?\" \"I have cancer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lung cancer. It's stage one.\" \"What? You cannot be serious,\" I said. How could this happen again? She'd already had cancer twice before. Melanoma in 1967 and breast cancer in 1984. This news was a cruel joke at 86 years old. What the hell? \"Yes. I know. I feel the same way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I walked around the house saying, 'What?' for days,\" she said. \"Three-time cancer survivor, mom. That's who you're going to be. I just know it,\" I said. \"Well, we'll see.\" \"How big is it?\" I said. \"It's 1.2 centimetres.\" \"Oh. My god. That's nothing. And it's stage one, too? You're golden." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We don't have to worry one bit,\" I said. I knew my poker face was on, but I didn't know if my voice sounded convincing enough. I wasn't going to allow my mom to be down or depressed. I had my work cut out for me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As far as I can tell by looking at those two, My mother went for a nap and left my sister and me alone. \"You really think so? Do you think we have nothing to worry about? Why?\" \"It's stage one. Nobody who's ever had a stage one cancer diagnosis has ever died that I have read about or heard about." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It means the cancer hasn't metastasized anywhere else in the body. That's the kind of cancer we want if we had our choice.\" \"I don't believe that. I think it's bad news.\" \"Nah, it's not. You'll see.\" \"Why do you know that?\" \"I don't, but science is on our side,\" I said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Really? You really think so.\" \"For sure. It's logical.\" \"She's worried, can't you tell?\" \"Oh, yeah, of course I can. But that's expected. She wants that cancer out now. I would, too. But that's not how our system works here.\" \"I know." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It's the waiting that's killing us.\" \"Well, I'll pay for us to go to Detroit and get it done at Henry Ford or Beaumont. And we can probably get it done later this week. I don't mind.\" \"That's a good idea.\" \"There are three of us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We can split the cost even.\" \"Yeah, I'd do that.\" When our mother returned to the room, she looked like she hadn't rested. Her face was pale, and her eyes were dull. She didn't want to eat, so I made her a sandwich and told her she had to eat it. \"I'm not in the mood,\" she said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mom, you are going to have major surgery, and you have to bulk up,\" I said. \"Oh, okay, then.\" She picked up the sandwich and ate it. I put out two pickles and two cookies, which she also ate. \"May I get you anything else, Mom?\" \"No. Thank you.\" \"How about a tea?\" My sister jumped in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, I'd like a tea. That sounds nice.\" I boiled the kettle and poured a pot for the three of us. I put out more cookies and served them with the tea. My mother and sister ate all the cookies and drank two cups of tea each. I was glad they were eating and drinking something." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The poor things were stunned into a fearful state. \"Mom, cancer is our enemy. You need to bulk up and annihilate that b*tch. Do you understand me? We are in this together,\" I said. \"If you get weak,. I'll carry you. If you get tired, I'll hold you." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But if you aren't hungry, I'll force-feed you if I have to,\" I stated. \"This operation will take at least five hours, and I can't have you not make it through an operation because you are too weak. Do you understand me?\" \"Yeah. I do.\" \"Good then. We have an understanding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now, what is cancer?\" \"The enemy.\" \"I can't hear you.\" \"The enemy.\" \"Jacqueline, I can't hear you when mom answers. Now, what is cancer, ladies?\" \"The enemy.\" \"And what are we going to do to this enemy?\" \"Annhiliate it.\" \"That's right." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Team Mom is ready to face their fear and enemy---that nasty old cancer inside your lung. I will whip you both into shape for this operation. Got it.\" On the day of the operation, my aunt and my sister ousted me so they could go to the hospital." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They sat there all day while my mom faced her enemy for five hours and obliterated her fear. She made the operation look like a cakewalk and came out of recovery in the ICU like a champion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The staff in the ICU nicknamed her Strong Little Lady because she was up and walking the same day, so they removed her IV. The day after, they removed her oxygen. When I got in to see her, she sighed a breath of relief. \"How did you know?\" she said. \"Mom, you are one of the strongest ladies I know." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You've never let me down in my entire life. I was sure you weren't about to start now.\" \"But that's not true, is it?\" \"Mom, you are my superhero. You met your fear head-on and conquered your enemy. Well done. I hope I can be like you at your age. That is my goal.\"." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Superglue" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Superglue stood at the highest point of the bridge, staring down at the abyss that opened beneath his feet. The cliff seemed sharp as a razor, and the wind from the precipice lashed against his face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ironically, the man who had the strange ability to secrete superglue from his hands and feet was about to die by falling into the void. A paradoxical situation, since he could easily hold onto anything and avoid his fatal fate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yet, there he was, ready to end his life filled with frustrations and sorrows. He looked up at the sky, whispered an apology for all his failures, and decided that the world would be better off without a loser like him. He jumped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The air roared in his ears as he fell, saying goodbye to a world that had never understood him. But before he could reach the bottom, a dense mist enveloped him, cushioning his fall and gently carrying him to safety. In his despair, Superglue began to curse the mist that had saved him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Leave me alone! I want to die!\" he shouted in fury. The mist began to condense and take on a human form. Hazeman, his eternal arch-nemesis, made his appearance to save his life. \"I can't let you die,\" Hazeman said calmly. \"Why?\" Superglue demanded, his voice broken by despair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Because I'm a superhero. It's my duty to save people, even you.\" \"But I'm a supervillain!\" Superglue protested. \"Your arch-enemy! If you let me die, you'll be rid of me forever.\" Hazeman looked at him with that unshakable serenity that always exasperated Superglue. \"I can't allow it,\" he responded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I can't let you die, nor can I allow you to win.\" \"So, you won't let me die, but you won't let me succeed in any of my schemes either?\" Superglue complained bitterly. \"I don't know. Maybe you'll win at something someday. Last time, you were close.\" \"Close!\" Superglue scoffed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"When I tried to glue the space shuttle to the ground so it wouldn't take off… You know everything that takes off from the ground gives me anxiety. But you arrived with your mists and created an air cushion to prevent my glue from touching the main structure. I'll never beat you." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If we fight, I can't touch you with my glue because you turn into mist in an instant. My life is miserable; I'm a failure. Nothing makes sense.\" Superglue began to dangerously approach the edge of the cliff once more, but Hazeman gently stopped him. \"You know I can't allow it,\" he said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Superglue began to cry, his sobs a torrent of hate and despair. \"I hate you! I want to die! This is hell." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You won't take me back to that prison surrounded by water, where the only thing I can glue is the soles of my shoes, will you?\" \"You haven't committed a crime yet.\" \"I'm not hurting anyone else.\" \"I know.\" \"Then let me die.\" \"I can't.\" \"You're a tyrant, that's what you are! You won't let me decide about my own life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You're not a hero; you're a fascist. I’m free to live or die. What’s the difference between supervillains who want to conquer the world and you?\" Hazeman remained unruffled; his gaze like a cloud. \"My job is to defend justice and do good for people,\" he responded softly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I protect all that is good.\" \"But you don't let me decide freely. What's good about that? You don't let people choose freely, whether to do good or bad. I hate you for that!\" \"You would hurt yourself, and I can't allow it.\" \"And there you go again with the same thing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You just keep repeating and repeating." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Let's see, is it fair when you beat up a villain because they stole something?\" \"Obviously.\" \"But if they only stole something, wouldn't it be fairer to take back what they stole and something more? I mean, the punishment should fit the crime.\" \"I'm not entirely convinced, but I'll give you that point; it sounds somewhat fair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And after all these years of knowing each other, we've never had a conversation like this.\" \"See, not only a tyrant but also discourteous. So, if someone kills someone, their punishment should be death.\" \"In theory. But I can't kill; my job is to protect life.\" \"Okay, okay." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then, if I kill someone, you should punish me.\" \"Yes.\" \"That’s fair.\" \"Yes.\" \"And if that someone is myself, you’d have to punish me, but since I'm both the perpetrator and the victim, we could consider that justice has been served.\" \"Yes, I think so.\" \"Ah… excellent.\" \"Excellent.\" They said to each other as Superglue discreetly walked toward the edge of the cliff." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Excellent.\" \"Excellent.\" He was already at the edge, about to jump when Hazeman stopped him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"But I can't let you hurt yourself, in the first place because I swore to protect people.\" \"You're a headache, just leave me alone.\" \"I am Hazeman, white mist; my job is to bring peace and harmony.\" \"I'm going to commit suicide; I'll be at peace.\" \"Not if you suffer any harm.\" \"But I'm not going to hurt anyone.\" \"You're a person, and you would hurt yourself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I can't allow it.\" \"You're like a machine; you can't be reasoned with.\" Superglue screamed desperately and pushed Hazeman, trying to get him out of his way. With each shove, Hazeman emitted a small puff of white mist, as if avoiding the blows." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fed up with fighting against the mist and, in a desperate act, Superglue brought his hands to his mouth. Hazeman watched, not understanding at first what he was doing. But it became clear when Superglue began to secrete glue from his hands and swallow it as quickly as he could." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hazeman tried to stop him, grabbing his hands and pulling him to the ground, but it was too late. He had already ingested large amounts of the toxic glue, and the substance was dripping from his mouth. His body began to convulse." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With the speed of the mist, Hazeman quickly carried him on his shoulders and flew to the hospital. The doctors did everything they could, performing a stomach pump and injecting substances to counteract the toxins." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their efforts kept him alive, but his health was in terrible condition; the toxins from the glue had already been absorbed by his system. Superglue lay in the hospital bed, drifting in and out of consciousness. When he managed to open his eyes, he barely understood what was happening around him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yet, Hazeman was by his side, caring for him as no one had ever cared for an arch-enemy. \"Don't die, archenemy,\" Hazeman whispered. \"You're my best villain. What will I do without you?\" Holding his hand, Hazeman gave him the strength to keep going." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But the light of life was beginning to fade from Superglue's face. With a final effort, Superglue opened his eyes, looking firmly at Hazeman, and uttered his last words: \"At least I was successful in killing myself.\" With that, his body collapsed, going into cardiac arrest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The doctors rushed to revive him, while Hazeman used his powers to provide the necessary ventilation to his lungs. After five minutes of CPR maneuvers, at 23:17, Superglue was declared dead." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As he had predicted, no one would remember him, except for one person—his eternal arch-enemy, Hazeman, with whom he had shared so many frustrating moments in life. In that moment, Hazeman finally understood what it meant to lose a battle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And then he understood the unfortunate Superglue, who, in all these years, had never had a single success. Now, Hazeman knew exactly what it felt like to fail.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ghostly Beginnings" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The mere whisper of his name resonates with terror amongst the criminal underground. His nefarious reputation has earned him trepidatious respect combined with the feeling of absolute horror should you learn he’s coming for you. Ruthless, cunning, and rumored to have the coldest heart known to man." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He is the Devil’s Ghost. He is Colonel Gregor Alexi Nikolanovic, former Spetznaz operative, dreaded mercenary and feared assassin.  Some say he was born from a volcano in the northwestern edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire” in the Kamchatka Peninsula in far east Russia." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Others say he simply walked through the Gates of Hell to bring forth his horrific presence upon the earth. The truth is he was born just like everyone else. Born into poverty in a remote region of the former Soviet Union." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A part of Siberia that both communism and capitalism forgot when the wall came down. His family struggled to merely stay alive in the small village, a leftover faction of a collective camp from the Soviet regime." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was considered a normal child, slightly underdeveloped due to the harsh conditions of his upbringing, keeping mostly to himself. He was able to befriend a small rat that he domesticated and kept as a pet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Who knew It was this same rat that would instigate the metamorphosis of turning this mere boy into one of the most cold-hearted killers of all time. The day had begun like any other in the village." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The adults were out in the environs of the town, working to either make their meager wages for the day or do what was necessary to keep the fires burning and food on the table. In the village Gregor was playing with his small friend when three young local bullies stumbled upon him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Piotr, Nikolai, and Anatoly were tough kids that had grown up fast in the rough environment. Seeing the frail youngster alone they took the opportunity to harass him. When they discovered what he had, they beat him, stealing his pet, leaving him battered and bleeding in an alleyway." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Young Gregor recovered and went looking for the thugs who had stolen his reassured companion. He came around the corner of a building to find the trio roasting his beloved companion on a stick in an open fire. His mind had already slipped into the darkness when the boys had beaten him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Seeing the only bright spot in his dismal existence being grilled by the same thugs who had pummeled him pushed him over the edge of sanity. Young Nikolanovic had paid a visit to the common kitchen area where he had grabbed a knife which he now proceeded to use on his one-time assailants." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Piotr was first to fall with the blade being shoved deep into his abdomen. Nikolai was second, his neck slashed as Gregor pulled the knife from the first boy’s stomach." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Anatoly, frozen in disbelief as to what was happening in front of him, was shocked back to reality by a hard kick to the genitals, dropping him to his knees and into the grasp of the berserker teen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His pleas for mercy went unanswered from their attacker whose eyes had glazed over with rage and bloodlust. Another slice to the neck and the last of the bullies was dispatched." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Gregor was later found by the villagers as they re-entered their small burg to the sight of him sitting at the same campfire, the three victims disemboweled. The lone survivor sat there eating the heart of one of the deceased, a blank, remorseless expression splayed across his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This incident earned the young murderer a trip to a military academy for young boys that was a feeder into the Russian military, and in particular the Spetsnaz special forces group. Gregor excelled at the academy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As harsh as it was at the school it was still the nicest set of accommodations he had ever known. With regular meals and a demanding physical regimen, the young boy hardened into a young man both physically and mentally." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He remained quiet and withdrawn from social activity, focusing instead on learning everything he could academically and tactically. His mind remained in the dark though. A streak of brutality and cruelty kept him ostracized by the other cadets." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Graduating from the academy he went straight to special forces training, reveling in the severity of the training to become a soldier in the elite unit. It was not uncommon for recruits to suffer a one to five per cent fatality rate when training." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was during the final stages of his initial training that the legend of the ghostly young man grew. It seemed that there was a large statured recruit, Private Fedor Sidorov, that was simply using his size to bully his way through training, beating the other young enlisted men to get his way." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Some of the instructors felt the best way to teach the private a lesson was to throw him into a “bull in the ring” exercise with officer cadet Nikolanovic as his opponent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As the instructors suspected the well-muscled Sidorov simply took one look at his foe, the wiry unassuming young Nikolanovic, and laughed, determined to embarrass the would-be officer. He soon found out who would have the last laugh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With the rest of the cadet class around them forming the ring, Fedor charged his prey thinking he would make quick work of this weakling. With a single sidestep Gregor hip tossed his foe onto the ground, accentuating the insult with a stomp to the ribs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sidorov got up, incensed, determined to teach the uppity prick a lesson. Another charge only begot the brute a punch to the ribs, catching the jab in a nerve cluster, bringing him to a knee in agony. Gregor used the delay to press his attack with a booted kick to the larger man’s kidneys." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fedor dragged himself back to a standing position, facing his foe with a newfound respect and rethinking his strategy. Taking a fighting stance, he began an assault on his quarry’s ears as well.  “I underestimated you twice, mudak . I will not do so again,” he taunted the steely eyed recruit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Won’t make a difference, mudak . You lost before you even entered the ring,” Gregor retaliated.  Snorting in contempt, Sidorov began a spinning attack against his smaller target, kicking, punching, poking his fists and open hands, trying to connect with any appendage he could." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Gregor infuriated the younger, larger man by eluding every attempt made to connect with him, deftly avoiding each blow, by either hand or foot, with ease. During this time, he was also counterstriking with elbows, knife hands, or hammer fists inflicting a great deal of pain and damage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After one frenzied flurry by the battered bully, Gregor caught Fedor’s knee with a side swipe of his own leg that resulted in a loud pop heard by all the cheering young men and instructors standing around them. That was it, the big guy fell, unable to rise again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was in part relieved because he was exhausted from all his failed attempts to teach the smaller man a lesson.  “Where is your wit now my battered friend?” Gregor asked the swollen faced, bleeding Fedor.  Struggling just to remain conscious Fedor was unable to respond." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sensing victory Gregor swooped in behind the crippled man, grabbing the top of his head to expose his throat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“If you’re not going to speak you won’t need this anymore, will you?”  While holding Sidorov’s head back, Gregor brought his fist down hard, smashing the larynx of the man causing him to spasm, struggling to breathe now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The victor released his prey who fell to the ground, still trying to get any amount of air into his lungs. Nikolanovic leaned over and stared into his victim’s eyes, reveling in the sight of life leaving them.  “Lesson." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Complete.” He hissed at the prone man losing consciousness, then, moments later, death took him.  The cheers of the others had quieted now such that the silence was overwhelming." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Gregor looked up and slowly turned in a circle, ensuring everyone standing around him could see the ice-cold gaze radiating from him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A word was still not spoken as the victorious officer cadet slowly walked through the ring, the other young men parting quickly, giving a wide berth to the champion, not wanting to tempt fate by getting too close to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The tale of this fight spread quickly among the ranks of the Russian special forces. His legend grew at an alarming rate, fueled by other deeds of ruthlessness. Fear of crossing young Lieutenant Nikolanovic preceded him as he arrived on scene to each of his postings." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shortly after his promotion to Captain, another chapter in cementing the cold-heartedness of the officer was written. It was an incident that didn’t make international news, but internally it spread like wildfire." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Captain Nikolanovic’s unit was called upon to serve in an anti-terrorist action versus some Chechen terrorists in the city of Grozny. Radicals had taken some civilians hostage in a shopping mall, demanding the release of political prisoners by the Russian government." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Gregor’s troops had surrounded the building isolating the terrorists while negotiations were underway by local police and Federal government agencies." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A demonstration of commitment was shown by the terrorists when they executed a female hostage in plain view of the negotiators to show they meant business. Minutes after this incident, shots began to ring out from the building under siege." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Both the negotiators and the surrounding Spetsnaz took cover while trying to determine exactly where the shooting was coming from. There was no return fire as fear of hitting the civilians restrained the units responding to the crisis. During this time, Captain Nikolanovic was nowhere to be found." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Five minutes after the first shots rang out, the front door to the building opened up and the bloody Spetsnaz officer walked out, his rifle draped across his shoulder, an object hanging from his free hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Walking in a direct line to the van where the chief negotiator was positioned, he approached the stunned man. As he drew closer personnel began to make out the object in the officer’s hand. It was a severed head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Gregor stopped in front of the chief negotiator, lifted the grotesque, bloodied head right up to the stunned face of the government agent, then dropped it at his feet.  “Mission . . . accomplished,” was all he said in his eerie monotone voice and steely, emotionless eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The head had once belonged to the leader of the terrorist cell that had incited the incident. The rest of his body was found amongst the multitude of other bodies inside the building. Corpses littered the interior, men, women, and children." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was determined later by investigators that the young officer had snuck into the stronghold and eliminated everyone, going through civilians while they were being used as shields by the terrorists against the onslaught." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The only thing that kept Gregor from being disciplined by his superiors was their fear that he would somehow retaliate against them for admonishing him. His reputation for brutality had permeated the ranks of the elite forces that much. Promotions came quickly for Gregor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He soon found himself holding the rank of Colonel, but it also found him being forced out of the field into a more administrative role as a senior officer. This was both unsatisfying and unacceptable to the man whose bloodlust knew no bounds." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Denied orders to an active unit he resigned from the service, leaving an extremely bitter taste in his mouth. He soon found his new purpose in life. One that ended up being much more profitable than his military service had." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His contacts in the underground allowed him to make a substantial living as a mercenary and assassin. His reputation once again preceded him, allowing him to charge top dollar for his contracts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His eagerness for those contracts and the violence accompanying them found him in a very satisfying spot in his life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The legend only grew, earning him the moniker “Devil’s Ghost” because he seemed to be able to appear and disappear at will while his thirst for violence had people believing he was spawned from the Devil himself. \n\n  Being so successful in such a dark occupation garnered him many enemies." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Attempts on his life were met with force in kind but multiplied in cruelty. Other hitmen contracted to assassinate him, plus the original contractors themselves were often found brutally murdered along with their family members. It was believed that the Devil’s Ghost was untouchable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This changed however, one fateful night in Afghanistan. Along with his contracts for assassination and gun for hire work he also dealt in illegal arms dealing. He had brokered a deal with some Taliban fighters to purchase a large shipment of Rocket Propelled Grenades, RPGs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "These particular weapons were giving American forces quite the hard time and this served a twofold purpose to Gregor; money in his accounts and eliminating as many of the hated Americans as possible. He had entered the building where the transfer of money was to take place." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The transaction was barely completed when he received a radio call from his trusted comrade, former Red Army Corporal Dmitri Okulov, nestled in an overwatch position in the ridgeline above the structure.  “Package is being looked at by an unknown tango,” the Ghost heard in his earpiece." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Excuse me, gentlemen. I hate to be rude, but it seems we may have some uninvited guests outside,” he told the Taliban foot soldiers he was dealing with.  Slipping out into the dark he circled around the house to indeed find an interloper snooping in the back of one of the vans carrying the weapons." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sneaking up behind the heavily armed soldier the Russian mercenary prepared himself for a fight as he spoke to the shadow.  “Find what you were looking for, tovarisch ?”  The sound startled the focused man, who reacted instinctively by grabbing for his weapon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This was averted with a sharp punch to the elbow of the intruder.  “Jailbreak!” the man shouted. This became apparent as a warning to his companions, the sound of automatic weapons fire instantly permeating the night air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Ghost focused on this combatant in front of him though as a sharp kick from the silhouette caught him in the chest, knocking him backwards. Recovering rapidly, he drew his knife from his scabbard and approached the figure, who was still framed by the doors of the van he’d been investigating." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was then the unimaginable happened. The man under attack by the Devil’s Ghost connected with a knife of his own. The signature Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife of the budding American Special Forces legend, young Captain Nathan Alexander Warr." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had struck Gregor over the left eye and continued the cut down onto his cheek. Shock and anger swept through the mercenary as he regained his composure, assuming a fighting stance to press his attack on his enemy.  “Congratulations, tovarisch ." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You have done what so many others have tried to do, mark the Devil’s Ghost!” he informed his foe.  Captain Warr once more attempted to regain possession of his rifle from inside the van giving the mercenary the opening he needed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Swiping his blade at the soldier he ended up slicing him in virtually the same place he himself had been cut, down the left side of the face. Bullets started impacting the ground around the former Spetsnaz and he decided in this particular instance discretion would be the better part of valor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Retreating to live and fight another day was the wisest option. With a faint “ do svidaniya ” as he disappeared into the sand, Colonel Nikolanovic was gone without a trace.  That was his first, but not his last confrontation with the American." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As a matter of fact, the two operators, the best in their respective fields, became bitter enemies as they faced off against one another over the years, each wearing their trademark scar from their original encounter with pride.  The Devil’s Ghost continues to operate from the shadows." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Appearing and disappearing like a phantom, he continually eludes his nemesis, Colonel Warr and his covert team of Dogs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is hopeful that fate will someday entertain a final showdown between the evil of the Devil’s Ghost and the good men and women of the Dogs of Warr, allowing good to triumph over evil.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lead a Normal Life" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It’s nice here with a view of trees. Eating with a spoon? They don’t give you knives? ‘Spect you watch those trees. Blowing in the breeze, We want to see you lead a normal life. - “Lead A Normal Life” (Peter Gabriel) And with that, I lowered my arms and waited for the cheers to stop as I rested." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When you are a superhero, you know that there are going to be moments when you have to make decisions that will affect a lot of people. You will have to do things that no one else will have to choose. That was my fate. I had to choose. And now, it was all over." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In my final fight with my mortal enemy, The Neutronomo (such a dumb name), I had to use all my powers to stop him, banish him to the home he should have never left (The Ionization – again, another dumb name), and pay the price. That was the last thing I would ever do as a superhero." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now, as I said, the cheers and the rest I found were forthcoming as soon as things were safe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I noted that the press had filmed the entire thing, as did most of the crowd (will we ever get rid of those damn smartphones?) I could barely move after all of that effort, but I heard the laughter and praise that surrounded me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I felt very little when I was lifted up in the air and paraded around the square. And I must have dozed off when the president contacted me and I could not even lift my head to respond to him. I was well into a long-deserved sleep. * I should continue, shouldn’t I? Sorry, doc." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, it was not a long sleep. I woke up in an ambulance as two paramedics tried to do what they could with the wounds that were already healing. One of them, a woman who was full of tears and laughter – interesting combination – was just stunned by what was happening under my uniform." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The material was stitching itself up over all the cuts and scrapes (I could feel it on my back, legs, and shoulders), and the last of the healing factor was taking over. I was human again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You are a true hero!” Again, the same woman, covered with tears and shaking with joy and giggles, was staring at me. Her partner seemed occupied with trying to get the IV back in (it naturally fell out of the injection point), but he was happy, too. They both let their true selves show." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Please, Marlene… Even he has to rest. Not everyone has saved world and remained in one piece.” I laughed a bit, knowing that he was right, but that it was also all over. I simply closed my eyes again, and I could not stop the tears." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "* This is a part of it, right? I have to share everything before we can move on? Okay, I will. I know that only a few people knew that if I used my powers again, it would all be over. The problem was that the general public did not know anything about my particular…condition." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was while I was in hospital that I got the phone call that would make this clear for the entire world. I was just surprised by the caller. “Red!” Yeah, they still called me that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Redman was all over the press and what could I say about it, since the uniform had a big “R” on it and the colours spoke for themselves (I will explain the “R” again for the record: Reclaimer; a strange message I never explained properly)." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Oh, the phone call… “Dennis…?” “Ah, you remember us mere mortals! That was a sensational move on your part.” I could hear the noises of his office in the background. It sounded like they were extra busy that day…all due to me. All of it fell on my back. And he knew it. “Dennis, you know the deal now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That was it, the last one. I’m a civilian now.” “So you say.” He was turning a page in what sounded like a very heavy folder. “And if you say it, and the notes you gave me are accurate, I have to believe you.” More shuffling in the background." }, { "from": "human", "value": "More of me waiting in the room for him to get to the point (old story there). “And if you are a civilian, you will have to get back to a normal life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We will smooth your path for you, just like we covered for you when you had your little change.” I knew that my powers were gone, but the temptation to try a psychic blast was overwhelming. “Dennis…” “I know, I know… We have a relationship, and you still trust me. But this is not going to be pretty." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And we need to keep your reputation spotless, right, Red?” Again, the temptation was strong. “Get some rest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You need it.” I sat with the phone in my hand, hearing the people outside the shuttered windows celebrating in the street and the various staff members in the hallway enjoying themselves (I swear that was a bottle of champagne being opened)." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wondered what would happen next and I could feel that Dennis was about to exact a very particular revenge against me. And I was right. * I’m wasting your recording equipment, I think. I’ll breeze through the rest of it and get to the part I mentioned; the one that brought me here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After that stay in the hospital, I did appear on television and online, with too many interviews and talk shows and podcasters asking the same question in different ways: what are you going to do next? I tried to be open to all the questions, but in my mind I was thinking about all the mundane things I never had to worry about: a job; home; wife and kids, etc." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All those endorsements would not last once the rest of the world realized that my big performance was the last one. That would be it. And that is what bothers me even now. No one believed me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I confessed to anyone who would listen, including the president and several of those celebrities whose names I cannot recall now, that I could no longer be counted on to save the world. And they all thought that it was some great joke. I was the joke. I was the one who became the punchline." }, { "from": "human", "value": "* Okay, I know, I’m avoiding it. It was at a park and I was still being recognized by people after a year of recovery and safety." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was living as quietly as I could and had found what I thought was a place where I could get some peace and maybe only deal with the occasional delivery of groceries and letters. But that was not to be. Yes, even as I think of it, it is such a cliché. A little girl and her cat up in a tree." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Well, what did they expect from me? I’d fly up and then float down with a fluffy victim? All I could do was climb. All I could do was hope that the branch would hold. And it didn’t." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I woke up, there was no fanfare or happy faces around me as I dealt with one of the worst headaches – sorry, concussions – anyone ever had. I mean, after being a hero, it was very hard to be a clown. And that waiting room… I had not seen the inside of one since I got my powers and I just gaped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Gunshot wounds, broken limbs, stabbings, beatings; parents, children and old people who were barely hanging on… I stood by a window and just stared until I felt like I was intruding on something private… And I ran. * Dennis was right. He did have one more act of revenge up his sleeve." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This place was fine for me, but I did not know that it would be something permanent. There was a brief phone call, a lot of laughter, and then a request to fill in some forms and not mention things to anyone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Right, thanks Dennis, like I had anyone in mind when the press picked up my little accident and destroyed my life. I was grateful that they did not dig any further into where I went and that this is still listed as a private hospital. Private hospital? Ha, ha." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I cannot ever be released and my body still has a lot to teach science. The Redman still has a role. And I will say it. Some prisons are almost like paradise. And believe me, doc. You don’t ever want to be a hero. You don’t ever want to have that in your head. Thanks for the talk.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Vacation Unexpected" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The DepartureThe Davis family, consisting of mom Rachel, dad Steve, and their two kids, Amy and Tyler, had been yearning for a well-deserved summer retreat. Their destination was a secluded lakeside cottage named “Serenity Shore,” nestled in the heart of nature's untouched splendor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It promised a retreat devoid of Wi-Fi and cell signals—a real getaway from the hustle and bustle of modernity. They packed their bags, filled the car trunk with supplies, and embarked on the winding road that led to anticipated utopia." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "However, a sense of unease wrapped around them as they neared their destination. The normally temperate air turned sluggishly hot, an unexpected anomaly for a summer day in this part of the country." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The sun blazed fiercely in the sky, and the family’s anticipation for cool, lazy days by the lake started to evaporate. On their arrival, they found Serenity Shore was anything but serene. The heat had compounded into unbearable swelter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Every step they took on the dry grass felt as if walking on scorching coals. Nevertheless, they maintained their optimism. After all, no vacation is without its hiccups, and this was just a minor inconvenience—or so they thought." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The heat wave seemed to have an unnatural quality to it, almost as if the air itself was shimmering with a metallic undertone. As night descended, the temperature barely dipped, providing little relief." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The electric fans they’d brought along worked overtime, but it felt like they were merely blowing more hot air around. As they settled for the first night, sleep was a distant aspiration." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The following day, Tyler, ever the explorer, stumbled upon an unusual device buried under a pile of driftwood by the shore. Sleek, metallic, and adorned with alien scriptures, it was something that seemed to belong to another world. Tyler's innocent curiosity instantly turned into amazement." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Hey, Mom, Dad! Come look at what I found!\" he called out. The family gathered around, fascinated and concerned at the same time. The object pulsated faintly, emitting strange low-frequency hums that seemed to communicate in a language long forgotten by humanity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tyler, in his naive excitement, pressed a conspicuous button on the device. Suddenly, a holographic display projected into the air, showing complex symbols and diagrams that confounded the Davis family." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But it wasn’t just the visual spectacle that left them amazed; it triggered an expanding energy field that dispersed into the surroundings. Intriguingly, the ambient temperature both inside and outside the cottage began to drop to a more bearable level." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Starry-eyed wonder turned into cautious optimism. Maybe this strange relic could be their key to combating the oppressive heat. Tyler’s discovery seemed like a magical stroke of luck, a mysterious intervention to their withering enjoyment of summer. However, their relief was short-lived." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The device wasn't just a cooling gadget; it had a purpose more consequential and far-reaching than they could fathom. As days went on, they began to notice peculiar changes in the local flora and fauna." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Trees that had been listlessly sagging in the heat now burgeoned with vibrant, almost otherworldly foliage. Skeptical fish, alien to the lake’s existing ecosystem, began surfacing with bioluminescent scales." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Intrigued, Steve, who was an environmental scientist by profession, started studying these sudden changes, noting their abnormal rapidity. He recorded data, hoping to understand the underlying mechanisms behind this swift ecological transformation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As Steve delved deeper, he began to observe patterns and anomalies that strayed shockingly from usual biological norms. It became evident that the device was more than filtering or altering the environment—it was terraforming it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was as if Serenity Shore was undergoing a process driven by intelligence beyond human comprehension. Rachel, harboring natural maternal instincts, worried about the device's long-term impact on their surroundings and the family’s well-being." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their concerns heightened when they encountered a mysterious stranger named Orion patrolling near the lake one evening. Dressed in enigmatic attire and appearing seemingly out of nowhere, his presence echoed furtive motives." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Orion's RevelationOrion revealed that he was a displaced Guardian of an extraterrestrial realm. His ancestors had infused Earth with similar devices millennia ago, meant to sustain life and improve conditions but never designed to work on such an intense scale." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This device was an unintentional anomaly fired from a hidden base in a comet that had passed by Earth recently. The device was a malfunctioning Terraformer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It had the inherent capability to render an environment habitable, align climates, control temperatures, but at a microscopic level, it was unpredictable, reshaping the biosphere far beyond its intended scope." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Guardian had been journeying across worlds, seeking out and rectifying such errant fates." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Realizing the imminent threat, Orion asserted that while deactivating the Terraformer was possible, it required a specific sequence that only he, with ancestral knowledge and specialized traits, could decipher." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But the action needed immediate care, as the Terraformer’s altered energetic frequencies could potentially allure more unpredictable cosmic phenomena. In the meantime, the changes around Serenity Shore were escalating." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The family was enthralled by the bioluminescent blossoms that now heavily adorned nearby trees. Even animal behavior was altering—nocturnal creatures began nesting in daylight, water turned a translucent lavender, suggesting a biophysical shift in its composition." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Under Orion’s guidance, the family embarked on a path to mitigate the Terraformer's malfunctions. To ensure that future malfunctions wouldn't affect Earth the same way, Steve and Rachel tackled data logs handed over by Orion, trying to transcribe them into comprehensible systems." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tyler and Amy, too, played their roles, scouring the lake’s periphery for peripheral devices that might further catalyze the anomaly. Though heeding Orion's instructions, Steve noticed the gray zone between preserving the magnificence the Terraformer had created and reverting it to its natural state." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Herein lay a tragedy—undoing the transcendental beauty birthed from this unpredictable artifact vs. safeguarding their own world’s innate characteristics. Hidden AlliancesDays turned into nights of relentless endeavor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Despite their diligent strides, the family was conscious of being observed—a looming dapple shadow amid shimmering oaks, enigmatic whispers carried by lake breezes. It revealed vestiges of dormant Guardians who monitored humanity’s strides." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Orion elucidated that while scouring worlds and correcting artifacts was his solitary path, other unknown Guardians held belief in the autonomous evolution triggered by such relics. The conflict burgeoned between passive intervention and direct natural advancement." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An Intricate GauntletRachel, determined to protect her familial sanctity, pleaded with Orion for remedies without drastic alterations." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Orion, echoing a primordial compassion, devised a gauntlet task that amalgamated Earth’s natural elements with the device’s core—that could theoretically stabilize its erratic frequencies." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ultimate challenge was exceptional: integrating Earth’s quintessential essence with Terraformer algorithms to manifest equilibrium. They would need to diver deeper into the realms of uncharted Terra-engineering disciplines." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Steve hypothesized that intertwining digital algorithms into natural conservation biology might extend this crucial synthesis." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In another twist, additional Guardians materialized, pronouncing a celestial decree—Orion’s undertaken course jeopardized an inherent natural tale rewritten across galactic spans. Willfully deactivating the Terraformer would hinder Earth’s evolutionary leap, they argued." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A council convened—ancient holographic blueprints elucidated on elemental balance anchored within galactic symphonies. Here, it became apparent that Serenity Shore was interlinked with far deeper cosmic ecosystems than initially imagined. As the council debated, Earth’s nature emphatically responded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Local winds, temperature mixes, and fauna movements disclosed alignment with the imbalances caused by the Terraformer. The implicit cosmic dialogue spoke of Earth’s intricate adaptability and resilience." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Steve, Rachel, Tyler, and Amy directed their energies toward decoding this symbiotic relationship—prior to making any irrevocable decisions. Lessons mirrored cosmic truths: harmonious existence often meant embracing adaptive intelligences." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Symbiotic KnowledgeOrion and Steve synthesized a multi-faceted blueprint that merged technological precision with organic intuition. The Terraformer’s core nucleus required a recalculation of its primary algorithms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Amplified by Earth’s resonant harmonic waves, this scheme aimed to achieve an elevated symbiosis. Meanwhile, Rachel cultivated native flora augmented with bioluminescent amulets, channeling Earth’s innate geometry into tangible agents—key pieces into the proverbial puzzle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tyler and Amy retraced alien lexicons to divine navigational harmonic sequences critical to effectuating balance. Days transitioned into revelatory progress—until a tremble warned the Davis family and Orion of an impending cosmic anomaly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Precisely where temporal Terra-engineering encountered celestial geodesy was an oscillation rendering realms unpredictable. Here, decisions hovered over razor-thin equilibrium—synapses between preservation and acceptance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Collectively, they chose path integrations—accepting the amalgam laid by Terraformer esoterica. When the moment ripened, they enacted the sequence. Earth quaked; the lake’s colors danced mercurially. A symphony unfolded around Serenity Shore—deciduous terrain reverberated with cosmic notes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At the climactic fusion point, reverberating glows encapsulated Earth’s biosphere, consolidating bio-digital energies, and reforming ecological gradients, ensuring universal balance. Following the celestial convergence, the environment began to stabilize." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Galactic notes harmoniously converged into Earth’s innate biosystems. While Serenity Shore catalyzed celestial luminescence, human consciousness etched quintessential journeys redefining their ecosystems. Sidebar histories tally’d with Orion’s celestial paths validated by nature." }, { "from": "human", "value": "First transformative experiences Mumma and Rachel felt translated multiple universal synchronizations. Quiescent nighttime revealed transitions charted forward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As reflections set in—post-tangible equilibrium—Steve pondered Earth’s intrinsic adaptability \"Learning its resilience, fused celestial signatures revealed us inarily pivotal. \"Rachel marveled the enriched biodiversity burgeoning—union of cosmic essence and Terra heritage." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kids perceived adventures through technological-cum-natural narratives holding perpetual wonderment. Orion, summoning his affinity, bequeathed reality’s data capsules entailing ancient knowledge to the Davis paradigms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "These relics held foresights bridging pragmatic humankind towards an elevated conscious galactic assimilation. \"Treasure knowledge, lest void cosmic narratives,\" Orion echoed while transcending realms. Enriching Terra's multilateral wisdom ensured perpetual saplings adventurous cosmic confluences." }, { "from": "human", "value": "MutableLife continued—Serenity Shore’s essence now permeated by symbiotic glow; Davis family lived deeper cognizance relishing matured endeavors. Summers henceforth occupied an integral harmonic dance reflecting omniscient nature redefined fusion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unified intrinsic cosmic echoes flourished inexplicably—transitioning seamlessly into emblematic natural repositories.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My Summer Holiday - Frozen, Fried, and Frazzled" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At Christmastime in December 1975, our town became unusually cold. No, I didn't misunderstand the prompt. It's summer. The lead-up to Christmas Eve had been warm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This is common for the Southern Hemisphere, where summer falls towards the end of the year, and a traditional Christmas dinner is often an outdoor barbeque. But a cold snap can happen with our oceanic climate, especially near the coast." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unfortunately, we planned to go camping and anticipated the usual steamy December. Our mother spent several days packing. Our entourage consisted of five children, a grandmother and my parents." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Our mode of travel included a station wagon with its roof rack and a trailer canopied with sturdy canvas, all filled to capacity. My parents would take everything, including a kitchen bench, portable toilet, porta cot, and double bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As seasoned campers, they had perfected packing and knew what necessary things to include for comfort. A camping trip is probably two-star accommodation, but we had our standards. Dad brought along a little TV to run off his car battery." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He reserved this for keeping up to date with sports events - not for my favourite TV serials, more the pity. My brother Peter and I, Lynley, worked hard in our Dad's music shop after the end of the school year." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "People in a frenzy to buy presents shopped to buy music gifts, appliances, or vouchers for family and friends. I wasn't banished to the back room to price mountains of records this time. My sister Katie got this job. I smiled, served, wrapped up customers' purchases, and manned the till." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As did Dad and my brother. This had become a family affair, especially at such a busy time, though a family friend also helped. We sweltered as we worked. The shop door remained open for ventilation, and with no air conditioner, there was little relief from the heat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dad treated us to a mass of fresh cherries to snack on, bought from the fruit shop three doors down, though not while we served.\n\nSome things I love about summer are holidays away, high temperatures, fresh cherries, time to read books, and no High School." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hate working in Dad's shop, which is way worse than school. Actually, I like school, but I hate being teased and bullied. It used to be like water off a duck's back, except not now that I'm a teenager. The kids should grow up. I'm afraid my feathers are not as oily as they used to be." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The oil has migrated to my face. Pimples are the bane of my life! The shop would be shut for three weeks from Christmas day. A busy couple of weeks leading up to Christmas had been expected and necessary for business. We looked forward to leaving for our camping trip the next day." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Our out-in-the-wild destination beckoned. I couldn't wait to swim in the river, build a hut, and climb trees. The river, surrounded by shady weeping willows, lent itself to dam building, paddling on a lilo (inflated waterproof bed), and swimming." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A township just a short drive away is where we stocked up with supplies we needed during our fortnight vacation. Mum knew the dairy owner, and he would swap our ice packs daily so we could keep some perishables cold in our chilly bin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Travelling to our destination took a day and a half, and we often overnighted at a motel to break our trip. We had time to complete our journey the following day and put the tents up before nightfall. We felt eager to start our adventure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A hot, balmy wind blew that night, and we heard terrible news from Dad. \"Well, the sad thing is we may not leave tomorrow. A freak storm is predicted. It may snow. The good news is it will pass quickly. When it clears, we will leave.\" The younger siblings were ecstatic." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Oh, I hope it snows!\" and, \"Can we make a snowman?\" Remember, I said I liked warmer weather? How could this happen in summer? At least we weren't already tenting, but it's a small comfort when you've been dreaming about camping for months." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Many would be wrapt about a white Christmas for the first time since the December 1935 snowfall which had just missed Christmas. I'm not one of them. The next day, we woke to an almost whiteout. It was freezing and snowy, but the snow quickly turned to slush. During the day, we had wind and sleet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My sisters grumbled that they couldn't build a snowman. I couldn't think of anything worse. Brrr. I started reading my holiday books. It's hard to feel positive about such a setback. Did this spell of lousy weather spell doom? We hoped the setback was temporary." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Finally, we left for the river, packed to the hilt and squashed like herrings in a can. We youngsters sang our favourite holiday song, Cliff Richard's Summer Holiday, a testament to our shared excitement and unity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We're all going on a summer holiday No more working for a week or two Fun and laughter on our summer holiday No more worries for me or you For a week or two We're going where the sun shines brightly . . .\" My brother tried to drown us out with his In The Summertime, by Mungo Jerry." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"In the summertime, when the weather is high You can stretch right up and touch the sky When the weather's fine You got women; you got women on your mind Have a drink, have a drive Go out and see what you can find . . .\" I objected." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mum and Dad, Peter is singing a sexist song about drunk driving!\" A little sister chimed in, \"What is sexist?\" Dad didn't like arguments while driving. \"I wish you would all shut up.\" I glowered at my brother. \"This is all Peter's fault.\" \"Be quiet, Lynley,\" said Mum." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We didn't get to our destination that day. It wasn't because anyone got murdered. Dad pulled over as the trailer developed a wobble. He discovered a tyre had been shredded. He didn't panic, as panic never solves anything." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My brother stayed with the trailer, and we drove the rest of the way to the nearest town with trailer luggage balanced on our knees. Dad booked us into a hotel, and we unpacked the car frenetically—time being critical.  \"I'll hire a trailer to carry ours and tow it to the service station." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I haven't got a spare tyre, so I hope they can fix or replace it. Make yourselves at home, family. Lynley, can you come with me, please, as I'll need your help.\" That's what happens when you are the oldest and a girl. The brother is relied on first and then me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I really wouldn't have liked to wait with the trailer. Sexism for safety is okay, I suppose. Dad hired a huge trailer. We could push our trailer up a ramp, secure it, and bring it back to the small town." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The two biggest jobs were emptying as much out of the trailer as possible and putting it in the back of the now-vacated car. Some things we put towards the back of the trailer, leaving enough room for the trailer itself. Job two, a massive feat, meant pushing and shoving our trailer up onto it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Naturally, we sweated like pigs in the heat. We tied one of Peter's tees onto its tow bar, jutting out beyond the open gate of the trailer, and secured it with reused roof rack ropes. With hazard lights on, we ambled down the road. The people at the service station helped us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Due to the time of year, we would have to wait for a new tyre to arrive. If we bought a new wheel and tyre, it could be on by the end of the day. We could pay for the second new tyre and pick it up on our way home. We'd then have a spare." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We all wanted to get to our river sooner rather than later.\n\nThe following day, all hands busily repacked everything. 'Where's Marie's baby bath?\" said Mum. We couldn't find it anywhere. It had been useful the previous year. Mum sat her in the bath near the water's edge, filled with warm water." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Marie had been content to sit and watch us playing in the river, comfortable in her tiny waterhole. Mum sat and watched us all at the same time. A plastic bath gone west wasn't the end of the world. Now that three disasters had happened, we heaved sighs of relief." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe nothing else would go wrong? We headed away after breakfast and arrived there after lunch. Mum rustled up sandwiches while we sorted out the tent gear. The sturdy main tent had an awning to give space and shade during the day. My brother put up his own pup tent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The girls' tent, the biggest, would sleep three girls. Another sturdy tent nearer the main tent had a high pitch and a dark green fabric roof. This tent would sleep little Marie in her cot and Grandma on a stretcher bed. We sweltered in the sun as we pitched them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Afterwards, we four older children went off to explore. My mother finished unpacking all the kitchen gear and made up the bed in the living room tent, Marie's cot, and Grandma's bed. My Grandma took Marie for a walk around the area." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Marie loves exploring.\n\nDad organized the loo a distance from the tents. There were rules. All the kids and Dad had to go bush to do number ones. When it needed emptying, It was out-of-bounds." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dad wanted to discard the contents into a newly dug hole before it became too full to carry in a sanitary way. The chemical used in the toilet smelled terrible but was a tad better than the odour of the number twos it disguised. He told us this was camping in style." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I guess if we were refugees on the brink of death after walking for miles, it might seem stylish. The area near our campsite had many chopped and fallen down trees that had keeled over and become an overgrown tangle. I climbed amongst them and found a wee private hideaway at ground level." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After climbing and swinging through this tangled jungle a few times, I worked out a parkour trail to take me from one side to the other in a few minutes. I ended up with several scratches before I perfected my moves. My siblings called out to play hide-and-seek." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We worked out the boundaries of the game and spent some time hiding and finding among the trees and tents. Later, we organized our sleeping bags, which meant blowing up lilos. I blew up Lara's as she is only seven." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With our tent set up for three girls, we went down to the river to fill up bottles of water for the family. The sparkling water is safe for drinking, cooking, and washing. After dinner, we children took the dirty dishes down to the river to clean them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just like at home, but the novelty value made it fun. We laughed, relaxed, and forgot the trials we had experienced thus far. That evening, after two little girls were asleep in our tent, Grandma joined Marie, fast asleep in her cot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mum, Dad, Peter, and I played our usual game of Euchre at the same fold-out table we used for meals. Dad had his big fold-out chair while we sat on three simple fold-outs with metal frames and fabric slung and stitched across them. After a few rounds, we went to our tents armed with small torches." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We each had torches in case we got up in the night. It was my job to look after Lara if she needed help.\n\nSomething about the travelling and the fresh air made us sleep well. When I opened my eyes, it was still early. I snuggled in my sleeping bag and listened." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The gentle rippling of water over river stones soothed. At the same time, the raspy, fluty warbling of the magpies, crowing to greet the day, reminded me of other camping holidays. I thought about the dam we'd built to make a swimming hole." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We'd stay with Grandma while Mum and Dad went into the township to stock up and leave some icepacks at the Dairy. I wondered what frozen food they'd buy to keep everything cold in the chiller. Ice cream for later? We only used evaporated, canned milk for camping." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Many staples of dehydrated or canned food had been brought along, including some vegetables and fruit from our garden—as much as can be eaten while fresh. I heard a faint splat on the roof of our tent. A bird poop? Then I listened to another . . . and another. Oh, no! It's raining." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Would it ruin the day? If we were wet in the river anyway, would it matter? The critical thing would be the temperature. Hot and rainy is okay.\n\nIn time, we all awoke and trooped into the main tent for breakfast. Dad tried to listen to his transistor radio, but the reception wasn't good." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Mum, Marie, and I will go into town soon, and I'll find out the forecast. It feels cold, so stay in this tent, or your own, and play games or read. Grandma will be in charge. Listen to her.\" \"And don't touch the ceilings of your tent, girls." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We don't know how long the rain will last, and we don't want it leaking,\" warned Mum. This happened one other year. I visualized the three of us huddled in our sleeping bags in the centre, surrounded by containers catching drips and the not-soothing serenade as they fell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Surface tension is responsible. When you touch the inner walls of a tent, water droplets lose it and seep through the fabric. I had studied the phenomenon and knew to be careful. \"Maybe Lara and Katie should stay in this tent,\" I said, imagining the worst.\n\n\"Great idea." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You two stay here with Grandma.\" I planned to go, snuggle in my sleeping bag, and read to the sound of raindrops - but not on my head. When Mum and Dad returned, they brought hot pies for lunch. What a treat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I can forgive them for forgetting ice cream.\n\nDad announced, \"After lunch, Mum, Peter, Lynley, and I will dig trenches and channels around the outside edges to drain water away. We will roll all the ground sheets away from the sides so they won't get wet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This will stop the tents from getting flooded. The forecast is for steady rain for a couple of days. Peter can sleep in the back of the station wagon.\" \"Aw,\" said Katie, \"We want to swim.\" \"Who will watch you?\" said Peter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Just stand outside in your bathing suit and get soaked!\"\n\nHalf of us worked hard. The other four stayed dry inside, playing Happy Families and Ludo. At that stage, it seemed like an adventure. We didn't let this spell of lousy weather dampen our spirits." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Despite the ominous weather, we were determined to make the most of our holiday.\n\nLater in the day, Mum and Dad deepened the trenches and channelled the water further away. Dad didn't do barbeque on his portable outside. Mum cooked the vegetables and sausages on the little gas cooker inside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The atmosphere became clammy with wet clothes hanging around, our body heat, and the dinner cooking. At least we weren't cold, for now. By the afternoon of the following day, it still rained, and temperatures plummeted. The main tent had water trickling in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lara had started numerous leaks in our tent and moved into the tent with Grandma and Marie. Marie developed a cold. We made trips to the toilet or the bush, fetched water from the river, and our clothes became wetter and wetter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You can only hang so much around a tent while other damp washing piles up. Mum and we five children became stir-crazy. Dad told us he had something to do in town but didn't tell us what.\n\nWhen he returned, he made another announcement." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"The good news is we have somewhere dry to stay—the local motor camp. The bad news is I have booked a cabin with two small bedrooms. Peter will still have to sleep in the car.\" \"That's great,\" said Peter with a huge grin. \"The motorcamp is packed this time of the year." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We're lucky to have their last cabin for up to a week. The other bad thing is we will still have to walk to a communal kitchen and bathroom.\" \"What about our tents? Do we have to pull them down?\" I asked. This would have been abysmal news. Dad laughed. \"No. The tents will be left here to dry." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Anything loose can be stored in the trailer and parked at the motorcamp. Mum will have their laundry to get everything washed and dry.\" \"Thanks, what a relief,\" said Mum. Within another day, the rain stopped, leaving everything soaked. Staying at the motorcamp became the highlight of our holiday." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We enjoyed the company of other children, the playground, and the less primitive living arrangements. An enormous extended Greek family had two girl cousins named Palesa (pronounced 'paletza'), and Katie and I got on well with them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We invited them to our campsite near the river when we left after four days. To our delight, the whole family came to see us one day. They made the dam higher, and we had a great time. It became scorching. Ideal for water play. We all applied sunscreen, as did Dad. He must have forgotten his feet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The top of them burnt into huge blisters. Poor Dad. He couldn't wear shoes for weeks. We went home with a healthy colour on us. A reminder of our eventful summer holiday.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Desert Memories" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "DESERT MEMORIES By J. A. IRVING California desert, approaching the Seventies. The sun had just come up, and they said this would be the hottest day of the year. The shadows still felt cold, but already the sun had weight when it leaned on you." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ben Bastion walked from the van where he had spent the night in the racers’ parking lot into the Costa Mesa International Raceway garage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His blonde curls seemed extra unruly: a typical case of pre-race nerves had kept him from resting well, even in a down-filled sleeping bag with a foam pad between him and the steel floor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A shaggy band with electric guitars, organ, and drums was already trying to crank its amps loud enough to dispel the nighttime desert chill in front of near-empty grandstands, as music of a different kind – to some ears – roared out in the cavernous garage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The first race bike fired up to begin prepping for their final practice before the main event that afternoon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ben’s mechanic brought the pit-starter to spin the back wheel so they could bump the much-modified single-cylinder to life; Ben himself threw a leg across the tiny saddle of his faithful Rudyard TT Replica and gave the throttle grip a twist or two." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A smell and faint blue haze of burnt castor oil rose with the cascading noise. The mechanic shepherded the silver-and black bike, warming up for its first laps of the day, outside into the desert sun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ben threw off jeans and T-shirt and stretched a leather jumpsuit, blazoned with Rudyard name and sponsor logos, over his wiry body; he pulled on gloves and boots, and squeezed those famous Bastion curls inside one of the still-new full-face coverage helmets.\n\nA slight figure in red and black leathers of his own swaggered up, wearing an older-style helmet and plastic face-shield, with a mechanic pushing his shrieking Italian four-cylinder bike on toward the pit lane and track." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Gino Benedetto slapped Ben on the shoulder. “Now that’s how a real racing motorcycle sounds – not some thumping old English tractor, growl and grumble!”\n\nThe two were longtime rivals and in some grudging sense, friends. “Hey, Gino!” Ben yelled through his helmet and the racket of motors." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Thumping English tractor revs higher than she used to, and she still corners like on rails – we’ll see what the track says about ‘real racers’ this afternoon!” “Neither of us will catch the 750s and the two-strokes,” Gino admitted ruefully." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“But we’ll keep them honest!” “And racing luck yields surprises, too.” “Si, si. But I wish we had more than luck to count on!” Ben and Gino, and the rest of their two-wheeled circus, knew each other from the road-racing tracks of North America. Some of them also raced dirt ovals, but not Ben." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A Rudyard-and-Tanaka dealer from the small town of Pine Lake in the mountains of western Canada, he stuck to his TT Replica." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yet even though it had grown a hundred more cubic centimetres and an extra gear since its track debut over a decade before, it could no longer really keep up, despite Ben’s smooth and precise riding style." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Benedetto, a sprout from an old family tree with Italian roots, always raced stylish, complicated Italian machinery even as Asian two-strokes inched toward dominance on the racetrack. Gino also majored in after-race parties – booze, a little dope sometimes, a girl on each arm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Life played like a movie. Ben and Gino and the others, young, or young-ish, and leather-clad, served as the heroes and villains. A little leather-wrapped man with a scanty moustache sneered at the private entrants as he mounted the latest factory-prepped two-stroke: Gary Quadra." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The magazines profiled him in feature stories that hinted at possibilities soon of a world championship run in Europe. He’d posted a qualifying time yesterday that put him on the inside of the front row for the start. Quadra sneered at his factory-sponsored team-mates, too." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ben stepped outside into brilliance from the shadowy garage. The sun already radiated back from the dusty hills, cactus, and brush, heat rising in waves from the asphalt track surface. Ben sucked at the crooked spout of a water bottle that could reach inside his helmet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pavement softened and tire grip changed when facing this much heat. Crowds had begun to gather and bake in open bleachers at key spots around the course, some carrying their own sunshades, drinking beer, colas, and lemonade." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Suntanned blonde models watched and waited to put on bikinis and hand over the trophies. Some of the riders threw a few jokey lines their way. Ben had his own beauty at home with the kids, although sometimes Mary travelled to races with him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "By now the track was hot; tires and oil reached working temperatures quickly; this afternoon might overstrain some of the machinery. Like those two-strokes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ben studied the cornering lines he had worked out yesterday: had a square inch of oil changed the exact spot to start his lean for this curve? Could he still trust the Replica’s vaunted roadholding at these temperatures, there in that series of bends, and flip the bike with abandon from one side to the other, at over 100 mph? He and his mechanic made a few adjustments to the forks and rear shocks after the track officials flagged the session to a close." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The tires and brakes had just enough laps on them to be ready to race. After a morning of supporting events and music, clocks – still mostly dial-type – reported race time for the feature approaching." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Teams pushed all the bikes to their start positions according to qualifying times, each make roaring its own distinctive exhaust note as mechanics and riders coaxed them to start again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ben was already sweating in his leathers and helmet, and the Rudyard pumped out its own waves of heat and vibration as he positioned himself in the thinly padded saddle.\n\nA convertible led the field on a pace lap and the green flag waved." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Gary Quadra turned his pole position start into an early lead while his team-mates traded second through fifth with a trio of factory-entered 750-cc four-strokes. Ben’s Rudyard single roared along, running just behind the stars and repeating exactly each braking point, turn-in, apex, lap by lap." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then on a fast, downhill series of bends called the Stairway, Gino’s red four-cylinder drifted past him. Ben felt a jolt of adrenalin but stayed on his rhythm, keeping one eye on Benedetto’s line while riding his own." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He dived under the red bike as they banked into a hairpin, rubbing fairings a little at the corner’s apex, and then he growled ahead. Gino lunged back into the lead of their duel on the outside of a long, fast corner. Ben outbraked the wiry little Italian at another spot, winning back the place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They kept at each other in the scorching sun, lap by lap, their engines pouring out mechanical heat, at the same time as they crept closer to the overall leaders – who battled elbow-to-elbow among themselves. Their leathers were soaking with sweat. They set personal lap records." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fans leapt to their feet each time Ben and Gino came in sight, duelling red and silver. Over fifty years later, the two of them remembered together. Gino, attending Ben’s birthday, back in Pine Lake, seemed bent, frail, with wispy white hair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ben’s curls had long since been shorn to pale stubble, but he kept up an exercise routine a physiotherapist had given him after his last big crash – his only serous road accident, more than twenty years before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They joined Ben’s neighbours and family with the bratwurst and ciabatta rolls and salads around Ben and Mary’s hand-built log home on the lakeshore at the edge of town. Mary had been failing since a stroke ten years ago, but she still attended. “And then, last lap, we went too far!” Gino grinned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He snapped his fingers in the air to show how quickly everything could change. “I made the quickest sector time of the race down the Stairway,” Gino said with satisfaction, “and you hung at my back tire." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Amazing! You got by me on the brakes, there, and I pulled beside you as we turned in – the asphalt was getting really soft." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We both lost grip at the same instant; we both ate dust!” “We both wore gravel rash for weeks, but people still talk about that race, and they remember us, not Gary taking the checkered flag and champagne!” Ben had always wondered if one of them actually took the other out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“It was a day to remember, even if we didn’t score trophies. Quadra never forgave us for stealing his show, as long as he lived.” “Si-si!” The old racer had a light in his eyes, even though he seemed much more aged than Ben." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“And now you will beat me again on birthdays, si? I heard about this party down at the care home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But could I have a champagne if you don’t mind? They don’t give me that, at the old folks’ home.” “That was always why you wanted to win – the bubbly, eh?” “I wanted to beat you, but the champagne was a nice bonus!” The frail old racer smacked his wrinkled lips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ben smiled and shook Benedetto’s hand as he led him to the ice bucket and the last bottles of birthday champagne. I never cared about the bonus, Ben thought, but I wanted to beat myself, even more than beating the other guys." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Guess that’s partly why I stuck to my old Ruddy instead of trying to get some superfast new bike. Gino’s care aide took him home to the seniors’ facility early, still smiling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ben remembered again hat hot afternoon in the desert, riding back to pit lane with Gino in the ambulance, their leathers and bodies scraped raw and dusty. Gary Quadra scowled and stopped spraying champagne as reporters, photographers and fans crowded around them as they arrived." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A couple of years later, Quadra died in a 170-mph crash at a track in Florida that left two other riders facing months of hospital and rehab. But at least they raced again. Hot days, or cold, rainy ones beside northern oceans. Worth the crashes and pain? Challenge seemed built into human nature." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At least they measured themselves against one another and themselves, and the circuits; they tried to leave a record of achievements, not simply tearing up public streets for their own amusement. Ben squinted his blue “racer” eyes into the distance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Too bad Gary Quadra hadn’t found a little more room to “love your enemies.”." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "U-Boat" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The days and nights pass to the rumble of diesel engines. They become your heartbeat. Your attachment to life. You have nightmares about drowning, about sinking deeper and deeper to the screams of your fellow crew mates." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The hull bursts and the Atlantic gouges your eyes and lungs with burning saltwater. Then you wake up to the humming diesels, welcoming you back to life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This time you wake up to silence, to icy condensation pooling in your bunk, to the tense atmosphere of electric engines running silent and hiding from death.\n\nWhen you’re not hearing the diesel, you’re breathing it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The air stinks thick with machinery and diesel oil, with shit and urine, with battery acid, with the body odor of 51 sweating crew members. You haven’t breathed fresh air for 36 hours." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not since the emergency dive, not since the British destroyer forced the boat under after a torpedo attack that broke the back of a troop transport and sent hundreds of men to a bad death. You were on the conning tower to see the explosion light up the night. Men on deck screamed as they burned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Some leapt from fiery decks into a sea burning with oil. It reminded you of the lake of fire from the Bible that you used to read before the war. Now it was your turn to face the end. You hear the screws and the drops of depth charges." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You wonder if this will be the time one of the charges finally hits its mark. These could be your last minutes. Your last breaths. Your desire to survive is strong. So is their will to kill you." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If there is a god, he loves no one— not the sailors burned alive in the waves, not the English with their murderous vengeance, not you with your hypocritical hope. Still, you pray.\n\nYou wait for the explosions, for the tearing of metal, for the turbulent shaking." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This isn’t your first time, but it never gets easier. Across the command center, the captain waits anxiously with his eyes on a watch, counting the seconds, calculating depth. He does his best to keep his composure, but everyone can see his hands trembling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then the first explosion comes, so close you’re sure this is it. A loose bolt shoots from the wall and hits the man next to you, lacerating his skull and collapsing him out of existence. You duck and cover your head. Another explosion, more violent quaking and the lights go out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You shut your eyes tight and wait, but you keep on living. Eventually the explosions stop, and the steady, nerve-wrenching ping of ASDIQ begins. The destroyer has turned to the long game of holding you under, of suffocating you in your own exhaust and filth. They won’t let you go easy this time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They saw the burning sailors in the waves, too. You check on the man that was hit. He’s dead. You’re alive. For a moment, you wish you could trade places and escape what’s to come. The captain orders crew to bunks, to conserve breath, to conserve electricity and compressed air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As the hours pass, the humidity increases, soaking everything in a wet film. The air grows thicker and thicker, too thick to breathe. Eventually the captain hands out potassium cartridges. You put yours on and breathe hot air through a large metal can." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then comes the waiting, the sinking into feverish, fearful half sleep that only brings nightmares. All around, men lay gasping for air. Still the ASDIQ pings. Charges explode somewhere above, but not close. You fight harder to keep yourself awake. Fall asleep now, and you won’t wake up again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fall asleep now, and it can all be over. You think about letting go, but you can’t. You want to live and so you heave through each burning breath. You think about your family and the home you left." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You’re tortured with the idea of rubble, of the bombs that have eaten entire cities, of your crew mates that have lost their families to mass destruction—to an enemy with no face. You’re close to losing consciousness when the captain makes the decision to surface." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It’s been quiet for over an hour, and he’s hopeful they’ve finally given up the chase. Either way, it’s surface or suffocate.\n\nMost of the crew gathers in the control room. The depth meter slowly rises — 230 meters, 200, 150. Each second feels like an hour. The captain hovers at periscope depth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You watch his expression as he turns the scope. And then he gives the all clear. The ship surfaces. You won’t be the first to exit the boat. Even in times of panic, there is rank and order. You wait as the chief breaks the seal of the tower. The pressure change is so great, he is nearly sucked out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Your ears pop into a loud ringing. You can taste the fresh air. Your entire body starts to shake as you wait for your turn up the ladder. Then you hear it, the sound of airplane propellers, the panicked yell of “Alarm!” Then an explosion. You’re on the floor, bleeding and covered in sea water." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It’s rushing from somewhere further down the ship. The boat is sinking.\n\nYou pick yourself up and move towards the ladder. At the base lies the captain, his lifeless eyes reflecting light and sky. You boost yourself off of his body to stand and make your way up the first few rungs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You can taste the fresh air as you claw yourself further up. You’re almost there when the water starts pouring in. You fight against the rush of saltwater until it comes up over your head. And then you’re swimming. You swim towards a distant sun shimmering through darkness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You break free of the tower and are just feet from the surface, but you’re not moving. You’re stuck in the pull of the boat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You fight until the end, until the pounding in your head turns to a quiet blackness, until your thoughts begin to dissolve away from air, from explosions, and into a dreamless sleep that will never again be woken by the sound of diesel. ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Our Worst/Best Vacation Ever" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Summer of 2010 was by far the worst summer I ever had. While my friends were going to theme parks and other countries on the other side of the globe, I was stuck in a scorching hot, brown Dotson. The car was sputtering all the way from our home in Montana to Nevada." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a miracle the car got us as far as it did. The air conditioning was shot, so we had to drive with the windows rolled down. The radio didn’t work, and neither did the CD player." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My mom tried to get us to sing some songs acapella style, but she gave up after fifteen attempts.\n\nWhen we were a few hours into the trip, I complained that I was bored, which made my dad suggest that I just go to sleep.\n\n“Time will move faster if you do,” he said.\n\nThe only problem was that the car’s engine kept me on high alert." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I mentioned before that it had been sputtering, but that word doesn’t do it justice. When I said it was sputtering, I meant it sounded like it was about to die any second." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even my mom got worried a few times and asked my dad if we could stop by a service station to see what was wrong with it.\n\n“There ain’t nothing wrong with it,” he growled. “Just its personality is all.” I rolled my eyes and my mom gave a heavy sigh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We both knew that, “personality,” was just his excuse for not tossing the thing years ago so he wouldn’t have to waste money on a new one.\n\nWhat made everything worse was that I had packed my DS, but forgotten to charge the battery." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So until we reached someplace with a charge port, it sat untouched in its black case." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The best I could do was look at the game cartridges and imagine how much fun I could have had if I wasn’t so forgetful.\n\nEven lunch was ruined with plain old cheese bologna sandwiches, bland potato chips, and warm cokes, instead of sizzling hot hamburgers, with salty fries and a cold Sprite." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I guess my mom knew I’d complain, because before I said a word she told me they were trying to save money by not getting fast food.\n\n“Come on!” I wanted to scream at her, but I didn’t want to get a smack from dad. Every kid knew eating fast food was the best part of any vacation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was the one time of year where you could eat whatever you wanted for two weeks straight.\n\nSo, I bet you’re wondering what we were doing in the middle of the Nevada desert anyhow. Well, my parents wanted to see the Grand Canyon. I have no idea why." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They said it was an important landmark, but what makes it so important? Does it have a theme park? Does the president live there? Does it contain evidence of extraterrestrial visitors? They said, “No,” to all of my questions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They said it was important because it would help me, “appreciate nature” or “get me inspired,” or some crap like that. It was only a matter of time before the car broke down and, just our luck, it broke down at the worst time imaginable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We all heard it dying, but my dad insisted that everything was fine.\n\n“I think we should pull over,” my mom suggested, but my dad assured us that our hotel was only a few more miles away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The car wasn’t sputtering this time around, it was jerking, it was coughing and I hated every second.\n\nMy dad was so anxious that his nails dug into the steering wheel. The gaps of silence between sputters grew longer, and smoke was rising out of the trembling hood. “Come on baby,” he muttered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“We’re almost there. Just a few more miles…” But nothing he said made a difference. A few minutes later the car gave out its last cough, and we slid to the side of the road. None of us said a word, but we all knew that the car was never going to start ever again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This didn’t stop my dad from turning the keys into the ignition. Nothing happened no matter how hard he tried.\n\nMy dad slammed the wheel and cursed for a few seconds before going completely silent. My mom and I were too scared to speak up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We learned from experience never to talk to him when he got this angry. He’d snap like a dog, saying the crudest and meanest things you’d ever hear.\n\nFinally, once his breathing slowed down my mom got out her cell phone and dialed Triple-A." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Little did she know that the simple action would cause a nightmare of an argument. My dad insisted that I could push the car to the hotel, while my mom was against it.\n\n“He’s going to die in this heat, Gerald!” she said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Besides how far is this hotel anyway.”\n\n“Not far,” he claimed without elaborating any further. My mom begged him for an exact number but he refused to say." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Either he didn’t know, or he was ashamed to admit that we were nowhere near the hotel.\n\nWhen it was clear that their arguing was going nowhere, my mom unlocked her door, pushed it open, and stormed outside." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Meanwhile, my dad grumbled to himself, first punching the dashboard and then scratching the leather off the wheel. I sunk down into my seat and kept my mouth zipped shut." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was no point in getting his attention.\n\nI heard my mom dial some numbers on her phone, and when I looked out the window I saw her holding it to her ear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I heard her voice as she talked with the person on the other end, but I didn’t care enough to listen.\n\nOnce my mom was done talking to the person on the phone, she took her seat back into the car.\n\n“They’ll be here in two hours,” she sighed.\n\nI rolled my eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Being stuck in a car was bad enough, but being stuck in a nonmoving car was even worse.\n\nMy mom got us some warm cokes to keep us hydrated, but I couldn’t stand even one sip. It was like drinking pure lava." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I drank the whole thing my throat would have disintegrated into nothing. \n\nGoing to sleep was out of the question, actually doing anything was out of the question. We were trapped, and there was nothing we could do to escape." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All we could do was wait and hope that the tow truck would arrive.\n\nThe sky turned a dark orange, and I could hear the faint sound of locusts when we could make out orange flashing lights in the distance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The tow truck had arrived at last! The wave of relief made us forget that we had bigger problems to worry about. You see, COVID didn’t exist back then, so we were all squished in the tiny passenger seat inside the tow truck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My dad sat next to the driver, my mom was up against the window, while I was squished in the middle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even with my legs together, there still wasn’t enough space for any of us to feel comfortable.\n\nMy dad told the driver to drop the car off at the nearest mechanic shop.\n\n“The closest one closes at 7 and it's 7:15,” said the driver, but my dad didn't care.\n\n“They can work on it tomorrow can’t they?” he asked.\n\n“Whatever you say, sir,” the driver mumbled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The guy looked tired. He had blonde hair that scraped his ears, stubble on his chin, and his eyes had a thousand-mile stare. Every so now again, I’d see his head nodding down only for him to jerk it back up within seconds.\n\nAh, great! I thought." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If the heat didn't kill us then our half-asleep driver certainly would. By some miracle, we reached the mechanic shop safely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The driver dropped the car off in a parking space, we took a moment to gather our luggage, which made the tight space in the truck even tighter, and we were on our way to the hotel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My dad was going to tell the driver the address, but he recognized the hotel just by name. I felt so happy that this terrible day would be over, and I’d get to spend the night in a soft bed, in a cool air-conditioned room, and I’d be able to charge my DS to full power.\n\nI’m pretty sure it was a Red Roof, or a hotel chain similar to Red Roof." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The neon sign was a red house with the name in white. The fluorescent lamps made the red walls black and the gray cement a cool blue.\n\nWe got our stuff out of the truck, and my folks thanked the driver for his help." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He waved to us and said, “Don’t mention it,” and took off, never to be seen again.\n\nMy dad was first through the door, and he walked with a confident swagger up to the front desk. He gave the desk clerk the name of the reservation, and she typed on the keyboard with her long red fingernails." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No joke, those things were ridiculously long." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She could poke someone’s eye out with those things.\n\nShe stared at the screen for a minute or two before giving us the bad news.\n\n“I’m sorry, sir, I can’t find any reservation under that name.”\n\nMy dad’s eyebrows shot up, while my mom stood frozen with shock.\n\n“That’s impossible!” my dad sputtered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Check under Gerald Richardson.” The lady typed in a few words, blinked, looked back at my dad, and told him again that she couldn’t find the reservation.\n\n“There must be a mistake!” my dad said, slamming his hand on the desk." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I made the reservation with the young lady a few days ago.”\n\n(My dad was still the generation that did everything through the phone and not online.) The lady at the desk tried to make him understand, but my dad wasn’t having it. I walked away to sit down on one of the sofa seats." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was no way I wanted anyone to know that I was related to that man. My mom continued to stand behind him, but she had a disappointed frown on her face.\n\nIt got so bad that the lady had to get her manager, who basically repeated the same thing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had a feeling we wouldn’t be sleeping at that hotel for the night, and I was right. My dad wasn’t content with purchasing another room, he wanted the room he had reserved.\n\nThey came to a standstill. Frustrated and in fumes, my dad stormed off saying he would take his business elsewhere." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He yelled at me and my mom to follow him out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I thought the yelling was unnecessary, but I wasn’t going to say that to his face.\n\n“Now what, Gerald?” my mom asked as soon as we stepped outside. I was surprised she didn’t reprimand him for messing up the reservation and getting mad at the staff, but I guess she was too tired to get mad.\n\nI thought the solution was simple." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Just go to another hotel. After all, there was a Days Inn right across the street. Turns out it wasn’t that easy. We were already traveling on a strict budget, which was obliterated by the car breaking down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kind of made me wonder why we were traveling in the first place.\n\nThis information led my mother back to her original question.\n\n“What are we going to do, Gerald?”\n\nMy dad tugged at both ends of his black hair, walked out, made some angry noises, and then came back completely subdued." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had no idea whether he had a fit of rage or a brief psychotic breakdown.\n\n“We’ll have to sleep in the car,” he said. My mom gave a little grunt but didn’t complain. I on the other hand was taking a few minutes to process what my dad just said.\n\n“Wait…” I said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You said we’re going to have to sleep in the car?”\n\nMy dad looked at me with seething eyes, immediately filling me with regret.\n\n“Afraid, so honey,” my mom said. \n\n“But how are we going to get there?” I asked, thinking it was a fair question." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After all, the mechanic’s place was far away from the hotel, and I didn’t have the energy to walk all the way there. \n\nI don’t know what phone number my dad called, but a taxi showed up right at the hotel a few minutes later. I was surprised because I thought taxis were only for cities, not for out-of-the-way places in the middle of nowhere.\n\nWe threw our luggage in the trunk." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The cab driver wasn’t as nice as the tow truck driver. He never talked, and he had an angry glare. It’s like he wasn’t even human, it was like he was a robot. Even when my dad wanted to start a conversation with the guy, the man stayed silent." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In a few minutes, we were back at the mechanic’s, and we shoved everything back in the car. \n\nI slept on the back seat, while my mom and dad sat in the front with their seats set back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was not how I pictured spending my vacation, sleeping in a car in a parking lot. I thought sleeping in cars was something poor people did. That’s when I had the terrifying realization that we were poor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "True we weren’t homeless or begging on the streets, but normal families don’t sleep in their cars, or eat sandwiches instead of going out to eat. \n\nIt was a little scary sleeping in the parking lot that night." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was afraid a killer was going to break in and murder us in our sleep, or the cops would have us under arrest for trespassing. I don’t know how I was able to fall asleep, but somehow I did.\n\nI closed my eyes for one second and it was morning. The sun was out, and the car was already warming up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I looked around and saw my mom in the passenger seat, resting her head on her hand.\n\nMy dad was nowhere to be seen, but my mom told me he was talking to the people inside. Sure enough, my dad returned to the car and tapped on the window.\n\n“Alright, get out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They're going to start working on the car,” he said.\n\nMy mind went crazy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wanted to ask him what we were supposed to do while we waited, but my mom beat me to it.\n\n“We’ll see the local scenery,” he explained as if he was saying we were going to the park or a petting zoo.\n\n“You can’t be serious,” my mom gasped.\n\n“Hey, we’re on vacation to see new sights, and there are plenty of new sights here,” he explained." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had us there, the sights were different than the type in Minnesota, but the sights in question weren’t too impressive. There was absolutely nothing about the landscape that stood out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were a few cliffs, a cactus here and there, and maybe an interesting-looking rock or two.\n\nIt wasn’t much, but we really didn’t have a choice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What else were we supposed to do?\n\nMy mom grabbed the bag of drinks out of the car and we were off to the sights, or lack thereof.\n\nAt that point, we were trying to make the best of a terrible situation. I know that sounds bad, but again our options were limited.\n\nNow it wasn’t all bad." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I got to see a salamander, which was pretty cool. In a way, it was like we were going on an adventure. I imagined that I was an archaeologist looking for ancient treasures in the desert. Believe it or not, I was actually having fun. I examined rocks, and I was even digging through the dirt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My mom had stopped me before my hands got too dirty and had me clean them with sanitizer wipes.\n\nWe got some nice family photos into the mix and we actually ate out for once. It was a small diner with a tin roof." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We had cheeseburgers, and let me tell you that those were the meatiest patties I ever had. I mean the meat was about as thick as my thumb. It was so good that they were better than McDonald’s.\n\nI wondered why my parents were spending so much on food." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I asked them they said it was because we were going home once the car was fixed. My mom said she was sorry we weren't going to see to the Grand Canyon, but I said it was relieved." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn’t want to see a stupid canyon anyway.\n\nSo, even though it wasn’t the best vacation ever, I didn’t go to Disney World or across the globe, I still had a good time. That’s why we called it Our Worst/Best Vacation Ever. ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Blind and Hungry" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was supposed to be my summer vacation.\n\nI was on leave god damnit!\n\nIt was a small little island in the Carribean. Never heard of the country before, but the brochures were pretty enticing so I took a chance and went. Now there I was: hiding in a cave along the shore with a cracked rib." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could hear the sound of my pursuer’s massive body pounding down the beach outside - It sounded like thunder. He was looking for me, and I knew when he found me, that was the end." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was one thing after the other.\n\nGuess I should start this story properly: From the beginning.\n\nI guess introductions are in order. Name’s Rene. I'm twenty-nine and I have been in the Airforce for nearly ten years." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yeah: If there are any Army, Marines, or Navy reading this go ahead get your stupid jokes out of the way. Got it out of your system? Good? Great! Anyway, I'm not Pararescue, I'm not Security Forces, I'm not a fighter pilot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'm a Civil Engineer.\n\nSo yeah, a dirt boy.\n\nWe're the guys everyone hates because we can't fix every single broken facility on base, or even close to it. But when we do get a project done we turn out a quality product and people enjoy the results." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I love it and wouldn't want to do anything else.\n\nAnyway, as with anybody in any career field, I needed a break. I had just come back from a deployment and had money and leave to burn. I'm not married, nor do I have a girlfriend." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hindsight - I really should have gotten someone to go with me, but I really just wanted to be on my own with no one bothering me for a little while. So I bought a vacation package for a place in the Carribean I'd never heard of." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I looked it up and found the island I was going to was one of those places where they just started promoting tourism." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yeah, Red flag.\n\nAgain: hindsight. \n\nHad to take a float plane there and the first few days were actually pretty great: good swimming, food was good and there were a ton of girls there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were three major hotels and the resort I was in had the nicest girls, if you catch my drift.\n\nThat first night there, the place threw this party that was pretty fun." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Downed some margaritas and tried salsa dancing.\n\nI'm a horrible dancer by the way so I really sucked at it, but the woman that showed me the steps was super pretty. I just let her move my body and tried not to step on her toes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I really don't remember too much else, it was all a blur of good times and U.S. currency went a long way there. But that was my first night there and my first time meeting her. The next morning I woke up with a massive headache, a terrible stomach ache, and a massive need to puke.\n\nUgh, right..." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "better skip past the usual boring tourist party stories. Day four: things took a turn for the worst. I was putting on my sandals for a walk in the morning when I flicked on the old tube tv in my room. Apparently the president of this island nation pissed someone off: a coup attempt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I heard the familiar sound of AK's going off while I was hanging by the pool. Skip to that evening: News said the coup was unsuccessful but the President had to go into hiding as the rebels laid siege to the capitol." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everyone at the hotel had to stay inside as the rebels and the president's forces exchanged gunfire. Yeah, that was a fun night. Especially when the RPG round came screaming through the windows and crashed through the wall on the opposite side of the lobby." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn't a direct hit: it missed everyone, but still made a massive mess of the bar. But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was - and I figured this out later - someone somewhere figured out I was part of the U.S. military." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Two militants came to the now-ruined hotel asking about the ‘Yank’.\n\nI didn't know what they had in mind but I didn't want to find out. It was either kidnapping, or a recruitment offer, and both of those options seemed bad. So, I snuck out the back way." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'm not too proud to admit I hid in the forest like a coward. I wasn't there as a military representative or anything, I was just a tourist trying to enjoy my time on leave and yet here they were: trying to involve me in their squabble." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sure - if Uncle Sam tells me I fight I'll do it, but this was a local squabble on a speck of sand that no one knew about. Probably wouldn’t even get a minute of news coverage on CNN. So, there I was sneaking through the jungle in my khaki shorts, Hawaiian shirt, and boat shoes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With only a driftwood club for protection. That was my first encounter with those... things . One of ‘em came out of nowhere: The tree line broke open and the creature came barreling toward me. It had an oblong body and four huge flipper-like legs. It reminded me of an armored alligator, but on land." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’m no biologist, but it was pretty clearly an animal. The thing that really set me on edge was the fact that I couldn't find anything that remotely looked like an eye anywhere on the creature's head: just a pair of huge, gaping maws." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was like some sort of messed up walrus-gator thing that somehow didn't need any sort of sensory organs at all. It was like a scene from a ‘B’ monster movie I saw once where there were these... blind worm things that had a penchant for eating people." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was like that but so much worse.\n\nI ran for it.\n\nIt was the first time I really felt the fear of death. It chased me for I don't know how long. I barely outran it at times, (thank you mandatory PT) and every single time I looked back, the creature would be gaining on me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I eventually made it out onto a beach where the thing's footsteps in the sand finally outpaced me and it was able to tackle me from behind. I went flying head-first into the sand with it's weight on top of me. I struggled and bashed it with my club repeatedly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was worried my improvised weapon would break, but luckily it didn't. I guess it must have been some sort of hardwood because it never gave out even when it collided with the armor that covered the monster's face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Somehow, I must have hit something sensitive as the creature grunted and got off of me just enough for me to stand and start moving again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I felt a stabbing pain in my ribs - something was cracked for sure and I wasn't moving too well, but I had one hell of a motivation.\n\nI looked around, jungle to the left, ocean to the right - either one felt like a death sentence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But up ahead I could see rocky sea cliffs.\n\nThose might be my best bet, I thought. I could find shelter or try to climb with a busted rib." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My breath was coming in ragged gasps and sweat stung my eyes as I ran through the pain.\n\nI could see more of the ugly shapes closing in around me.\n\nAs I drew closer to the rocks I spotted a seacave. No way was I going to make it up the cliff - this was my only option." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My boat shoes kicked up water as I entered the dimly lit cavern, the crunch of seashells echoing against the walls.\n\nA growl. I froze as it had entered the cave. I figured there was nowhere for me to run." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I tried to crouch behind a boulder, but my breathing was loud enough that I might as well be calling out for help. I could hear one of the creatures pulling itself along the cave making a low rumble sound." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Was that how they hunted? Some sort of echolocation? That would make sense, porpoises hunted that way too. Well I wasn't a fish. My eyes had adjusted by then, and I looked up and saw something that made my jaw drop.\n\nIt looked like a staircase\n\nleading up: Narrow - very narrow. Made of stone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perhaps I could make it up there? Very narrow... but If I could get up there it would have difficulty following me, but I didn't want to make noise by moving and drawing attention to myself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The creature came closer - the maw of its eyeless face drooling as it tried to find me - the sound of something wet dragging across the damp rocky cave floor. I took a chance as I threw my faithful driftwood club against a far wall, hoping to draw its attention." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It did, and as soon as the creature went after my distraction. I ran to the staircase as fast as I could. I had to crawl up on all fours because the steps were so narrow, cracked, and broken. This wasn't natural: this was manmade and very old." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had no idea who could have carved a set of steps into the rocky outcrop in some random cave but I thanked god that it existed. As I made my way up the first step, the creature made its way to the foot of the staircase. My only warning that I was found was a high-pitched screech from the monster." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It looked up and let out another call that made the hair on my neck stand up and I nearly fell off the step in shock. Its call was loud and high pitched - almost ultrasonic. I screamed in pain and forced myself up the steps until they ended at a circular wall, much like being in a well." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I pulled myself up and over and groaned.\n\nI could hear the creature below struggling to get up there with me.\n\n\"Damn.\" I muttered. My gaze took in the room. Strange writings carved into the walls in a language I had never seen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Broken statues of long dead people, the writing on those looked vaguely similar to Arabic in terms of shape, but as I stared at them, I felt the tug of vertigo. Something was really off with that writing. The statues were equally unsettling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They depicted a group of men holding strange spears, all of whom had some form of crowns or headdresses seemingly made from the carapace of the monster that was struggling and growling below me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had more questions than answers but I didn't have the luxury of studying the ruins.\n\nMy eyes settled on something far more familiar: all around this ancient temple lay modern weapons. The rebels must have been using this place as a staging area." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The weapons were mostly rusting Soviet junk, but I knew they'd still function. I grabbed a hand grenade, a Kalashnikov, a pair of binoculars, some magazines and some loose ammunition. I found a holstered TT-33 in fairly good shape." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I strapped the pistol to my hip and slung the rifle across my shoulder. Would this be enough? My eyes lit up as I saw something else.\n\nAn RPG propped against a statue.\n\n“Oh yeah.\"\n\nThe monster called again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was up the staircase, and the sound sent shockwaves through the small space causing dust to rain from the ceiling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked around and found a tunnel which I hope led out, I ran halfway down before I took a kneeling position and with my ribs complaining to me hefted the RPG up and aimed down the sites. I figured the safety out and then I waited for my monster friend to appear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The dual heads broke from the well and it made the warbling sound I'd come to despise, that sound would haunt my nightmares for weeks. I didn't hesitate to press the trigger. I think I was more surprised that I hit it then it was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The monster had been about to pull itself over the well when I fired and my round exploded right between the two heads." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was an explosion of orange goop and then the creature's two heads just disappeared as it went down the well in a flail of limbs and crashing sound as it fell down the ancient staircase. I stood up, not wasting any more time as I made my way out of the temple and back into the humid forest air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My ears were still ringing but the only thing I could think about was that there were probably more of those things out there, along with some militants.\n\nMaybe they’ll kill each other instead of me..." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everything on this island wanted to kill me and I aimed my gun and looked down the sites for any potential enemies. Anything that tried to screw with me was going to get hosed down with 7.62X39.\n\nI hope it’ll be enough ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I stumbled out into the sunlight, I found myself face to face with more of those things. My breath caught in my throat. At first I thought I was going to die, there were easily a dozen of them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The ground rumbled as they surrounded me, there were three on each side, with five or six behind me and a dozen ahead. I wasn't sure what to do. Then something surprising happened. They moved out of my way. They didn't seem aggressive either, if they were they could have easily torn me apart." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wasn't going to complain, as I was happy to leave them alone as well. I limped through them. They just made their weird clicking noises and left me alone. The little group ahead of me parted as I made my way back to the coastline." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They didn't seem interested in hunting or killing me anymore, and were seemingly giving me safe passage. Why, though? Were they just... not hungry?\n\nOr was it something else? As I limped out onto the beach, I decided there and then that I needed a vacation from my vacation. ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Perfect Wave" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tahiti: sunset-colored beaches, awesome waves, and swirling surfers. The holiday that anyone would look forward to. I could hear the waves and taste the ocean through the open window of my van." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sitting in the driver’s seat, I caught glimpses of the paradise of surfers through the palm trees and thatched huts. The van rumbled on, carving its way down the dirt road to the gaggle of surf boards floating in the turquois water. The sun beating down on a beach of tranquility." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked behind me into the back of the van, eyeing the jumble of suitcases and my prized surfboard. Last summer, the black surfboard, slashed with yellow and ocean-blue, had been a head-turner on the highway to the seaside in New-Zealand, strapped onto the roof of a rental car." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Only that time, the beach had been soddened, the waves whipped by lashing rain, and the glass in the window rattling as I watched my holiday drain into the ocean. This time, I had my hopes up. The sun was blaring its sweltering message down onto the beaches." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The rain was predicted to stay at bay for a fortnight, plenty of time to beat all the surfing out of me. As the slanting roof of the Scout Bay Hotel came into view, I slowed down. The gate was framed by climbing roses." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had taken a flight all the way from California, landing only a few hours ago in Tahiti. As the plane sloped into its descent, I had the chance to see the waves dotted with surfers, and hoped I would soon be with them. I ate a quick dinner while waiting for the hotel to check me in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Taking the lift, I entered the barren hallway leading to my room: 328. The room was stuffy and humid, with a king bed and pale pink walls crowded with pictures of the famous surfers that had chosen the hotel. A large glass-paned window gave me a view of the beach." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The sun was setting, splashing the seaside with orange-red hues and turning the clouds above it pink. The surfers started hopping onto boats, and after a few minutes the beach and waves, now dark and sinister, were clear of people." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pulling the curtains shut, I plopped down onto my bed and popped on the radio. It crackled to life. As I switched to the weather channel, the voice of the announcer sliced through, interrupted by patches of static. “Announcing tonight, typhoon heading towards the beaches of Tahiti." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The typhoon is expected to hit by day-after-tomorrow, in the afternoon.” This was just what I had hoped for." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The perfect wave! The typhoon was probably already pushing the water towards the shore, forcing the mass of water to hit the underwater ridge a couple of hundred meters off the beach, catapulting up and creating waves greater than ten meters in height. I shut off the radio and turned out the light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My breath was unstable as I was so excited, I could hardly fall asleep. I knew I had to sleep if I wanted to be able to surf well during the next few days, so I eased my breathing and closed my eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The next morning, I woke at seven o’ clock. After eating my breakfast, I eagerly made my way down the beach, my stomach full of scrambled eggs and potato wedges. I jogged the last few meters to the shore and stopped in front of a wooden shed. The man standing at the window counter looked at me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“You new ’round here?” he croaked. “Haven’t seen you yet. You want to rent a jet ski?” “Yeah, for the day. How much?” “I’ll give it to you for free for a day. I believe new kids should get some encouragement.” He smiled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You pick any one of them, jus’ tell the guy on it where you wanna go.” “Thanks,” I replied, jumping onto the pier. I headed out toward the flashy red jet ski. I felt a cold hand on my shoulder stop me. I spun around. “I always take that one,” a boy my age said. I knew that voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“You Francis?” I asked. “Always been. Who’re you?” I thought I had recognized him. Now I regretted having even spoken to him. He loomed over me. He and I were arch enemies. “Wait a minute, I know you. You’re that soft kid from California,” he barked. Now I really wanted to get away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked him in the eye and said evenly: “I’ll see you again.” I walked away and asked the person sitting on one of the skis to take me to the largest wave he knew. He shook my hand and throttled off towards the waves." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I got in some good surfing, paddling over the waves and finessing some good barrel rides. I met some great guys and chatted with them while paddling back out to catch the next wave. They seemed frightened by the typhoon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I tried mentioning the perfect wave, but all they said was, “You crazy?”  On my way back, I thanked the man who had been my jet ski pilot. Reaching the hotel, I ate a healthy dinner. I decided I would get in some good practice runs the next morning before tackling the wave." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That night, I hit the sack, thinking of what was to come tomorrow. The TV in the restaurant the next morning only showed news of the typhoon. The weatherman declared that there was no threat to surfers; the typhoon would just miss the island on its course." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I eyed the other men I had seen on the beach the day before. I leaned back and asked the fellow nearest to me. “You go surfing when it’s like this? With the typhoon coming and all?” The man swallowed and slowly shifted his gaze towards me. “I wouldn’t say no, but the waves can be dangerous." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Some say they’ll reach 20 meters. I’m staying safe. Wanna live, you know. ” “Well…” I mumbled. As I left the restaurant, someone smashed into my shoulder, knocking me off balance. I looked up from the floor at the brute standing over me: Francis. “Jus’ letting you know. That wave’s mine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You try and get out there, that wave will knock you flat. You’re not experienced enough.” He laughed malevolently. He turned his back on me and strolled away. I stared after him for a couple of seconds, then slowly got up. I wouldn’t let this chap get in my way." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was surfing that wave, no matter how much he tried to dissuade me. If he was doing it, then I would too. And better. I grabbed my surfboard from where it lay on the floor after Francis had knocked me over." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I leapt down the front stairs, jogged to the beach, stopping only when I was in front of the jet ski man in his hut. I handed him a five-dollar bill. “Stay careful!” I heard the man call out. I fist-bumped the guy who had taken me out the day before. He didn’t get up from his stool." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“It’s dangerous,” he mumbled. “Aww, come on, man,” I said. “Shouldn’t be that bad. Others are doing it. Look,” I pointed to a jet ski roaring its way past. “I’ll give you fifty bucks if you come.” The man was still looking at the ripples the jet ski had left behind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He slowly, reluctantly, got up and manned the jet ski. He fired it up, then gestured for me to hop on. Zipping away from the shallow waters, I felt the wind whipping my hair back, heard the roar of the jet ski. I smiled. I was living my dream." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Five hundred meters offshore, I hopped off onto my surfboard and paddled toward a wave. I waited for it to reach me, then mounted the surfboard and harnessed the wave. The power of the wave was immense, I could already feel the influence of the typhoon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was only eleven in the morning, the waves eight meters high. I predicted that by noon the waves would have grown to 15. I messed up pretty badly a few times, getting thrown underwater, catching glimpses of the coral reefs beneath me. When submerged, the world was a different place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Schools of fish rippled by. The sunlight penetrated through the water, in rays that dappled the ocean floor.\n\nWithout pausing for lunch, I floated on my surfboard awaiting the perfect wave. I could feel it coming. The water receded from the beaches a couple feet. The waves grew quickly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The peacefulness was interrupted by the sound of someone paddling behind me. I looked over my back, and my heart filled with dread. Francis was pulling up beside me, glaring with fulminating eyes. I glanced away, then started paddling frantically." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I drew away from him and floated out twenty meters farther than I wanted to be to catch the wave. But I would get it earlier than Francis. The silence disturbed me. I had envisaged Francis yelling insults at me if we happened to cross paths." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was almost like he knew I was going to mess up and was content with knowing that. Time slowed down. Abruptly, a wall of water shot up in front of me. It headed my way at a frightening pace, ardent to engulf anything that was foolish enough to stand in its path." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Images of my parents flashed through my mind, as I stared at it in awe. A moment later, as I was getting lifted up by the surge of water, an instinct deep inside me awakened. I leapt upright onto my surfboard, frantically catching my balance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The wave crested, and I slipped into the tube it had created. All I could see was blue. A suddenly friendly sort of blue. I stayed inside the wave, awe-struck by the flawless curve of water as it curled over me. I held my hand out to touch it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As soon as my hand made contact, I realized I was living the moment I had waited so much for. I could see the end of the tube now, and the water thinning out as I shot out of the tube, cresting the side of the wave and getting thrown into the air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The moment replayed inside my head as I blew water out of my nose. An unexpected thunk rang in my ears that were full of water. I glanced at where it had come from. Francis, trying to catch the next wave, had slipped off his surfboard. I saw him go under." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The thunk must have been the surfboard colliding with his head. He could have been knocked out. Without a moment to lose, I untied my surfboard from my leg. I darted out of the path of the next wave, swimming until I reached the spot where I had last seen Francis.\n\nI studied the water beneath me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Francis probably only had a few seconds left. I dived under and grabbed at what I thought was his leg. I felt his toes slip out my grasp as he sunk deeper into the water. I made one frantic push, grabbed his leg, and resurfaced. I felt something solid under my feet. I looked below me, reassured." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The waves had pushed us to the shore. I yanked Francis onto the beach, dragging him up onto the sandy shore. I rapidly rolled him over onto his side and pounded his back. He coughed out water. I did what I had been taught by a lifeguard in California. I placed my palms on his chest and started CPR." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He coughed up some more water, taking a couple rough breaths. His head rolled over, his eyes staring helplessly into mine. I fell backward into the sand. I had saved his life. Only then did I realize the crowd around me. I felt suddenly small. “Call…” I gasped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Call an ambulance.” “We did,” answered a man’s voice. I closed my eyes, sighing in relief. I got up, lost my balance, and fell onto my knees. I looked at Francis. “We made it, brother,” I whispered as I patted his arm. “We made it.” I paced back and forth in front of the emergency room door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The starched hospital hallway was stark. A lonely bench lined one of the walls. I plopped down onto it, only to spring up again as the doctor walked out. He studied me. “Are you his relative?” he inquired. “Uh… yes, I guess so,” I stammered. “Is he alright?” “Yes,” the doctor smiled reassuringly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“But he’ll only be able to talk this evening.” I sat back down. I could wait. “I am sorry,” was the first words Francis uttered to me. “Don’t blame yourself,” I murmured reassuringly. “You took that wave like a pro. Didn’t know you had it in you,” replied Francis. He coughed hoarsely." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Please forgive me for what I said, all I did…” He trailed off. I punched him softly on the shoulder. “Just sleep now. We’ll talk later. But I like your company. And you’re a capable surfer.” “Can’t thank you enough, man.” “You just get better so we can surf together, mate.”." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "1500 Feet" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "1500 Feet  Today was forecasted to be the hottest day of the year but It was early morning and Marty was on the road with his girlfriend to a secret location. It was his birthday; she’d promised that it would be the best surprise ever." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was full of surprises and Marty was pleasantly baffled about their secret event." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So here it was, 5:45am and they were driving through miles of farmland, over long winding roads appearing mile after mile beneath a gentle mist, a light lazy fog blanketing all the uniformed rows of kale and vines of concord grapes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eventually, they turned towards an old barn in Newberg to see rows of double-axled F-350’s, about six of them, each parked one behind the other.A small crowd was  milling about on an open field." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The air was  crisp, a bit of a chill was there but it was otherwise comfortable for now as the heatwave had yet to commence. There was a sense that once the sun rose, it was going to warm up quickly and transform into a picture-perfect, yet hot summer day." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A canopy was set up with tables for checking in, marketing posters all around. It turns out that this is an adventure Marty had never in his wildest dreams thought he would be a part of." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the center of the poster, floating above the horizon, with the sunlight gleaming off its silhouette, was  a hot air balloon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marty looked back towards the F-350’s just as the crew of men and women pulled back a massive blue tarp that revealed what looked to him like an oversized  brown picnic basket that Yogi Bear and Boo-boo would’ve coveted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There were blowers, loops of rope…all the things that create the conditions for a satin canopy to be filled with hot air and used to transport thrill seekers on a whisper quiet trip high above everything, all while being treated to a panoramic view of all the land. ." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The pilots gathered everyone around, about fifty  folks. Some were surprisingly young, maybe 8 or 10 years old. Others were much older, late sixties or early seventies, finally able to throw some money at a fun, new experience." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All the staff rattled off introductions, informing Marty and his girlfriend  that they were going to need help to make this flight happen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Each team was directed to follow the instructions of the guide; and everyone was promised an amazing experience that would stay with them for the rest of their lives. Everyone broke off into six groups and assembled themselves behind the F-350 that was  affixed to the flaccid would-be vessel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Marty was alive  with excitement, but there was something else beneath the surface as well: a fresh, churning ball of fear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marty would later reveal to his girl that just the week before the excursion, he’d seen on the news a video of a hot air balloon plummeting to earth, the basket charred and on fire as it struck a power line.  All of the occupants onboard were killed, dead before they hit the ground." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He kept it to himself. What kept him grounded, calm, and able to partake of this aerial escapade was twofold. First, everyone helped to put the balloon and its components together." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They all  unfolded the main inflatable body, and unfurling it made Marty aware of the toughness and rigidity of the materials. This was not a large sheet of satin, as he had imagined, but a tough canopy of coated nylon or polyester fabric." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The other calming fact was that the guides inspected all the lines for tightness, tears, and abrasions. It seemed clear that everything was intact." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The pilots held up the fabric at different points and opened it as wide as possible, while a hurricane fan the size of a Volkswagen Beetle blew air into the fabric to begin the inflation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It slowly was filling up, and Marty began to see the vibrant, radiant colors filling out as the mass of fabric expanded. \n\nWow! This is really happening Marty thought to himself. He watched in awe as the balloon  began to swell. Other groups were engaged in the same process with five other balloons." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One of the F-350 trucks backed up with the basket and other staff worked it down a ramp. The basket had propane tanks rigged to its main blower to generate the hot air needed. Everyone was urged to back away as the main blower fired off, and Marty’s balloon began to fill in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In a few minutes, it had risen off the ground and needed to be  held down with ropes by the staff.. The balloon was a towering 80 feet high and 55 feet wide. Its main color up top was a sunshine yellow, with red and blue alternating vertical stripes going around the base." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marty, his girlfriend, and the other four passengers climbed into the basket one at a time. He felt his heart racing, and that ball of fear was beginning to grow. But then he noticed his girl. Her eyes were dancing like a kid in Toys-R-Us with a blank check. Her exuberance quieted Marty’s concerns." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was totally composed and excited by the expectation of our launch, which was eminent. Watching her had a soothing effect on Marty; he drew strength from her excited yet tranquil state. There was a short safety briefing,  the highlight of which was how to assume the crash position." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This involved grabbing the rim of the basket and dropping down to a squat on the balls of your feet until the “ all clear ” command was given. Marty and the others were also reminded to be careful not to drop items like cell phones or cameras or other valuables over the side of the basket." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then, with a blast of the main blower, the staff released the ropes, and they were airborne." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The launch was flawless and smooth,  like blowing a bubble and watching as it is caressed and taken away on the breeze. Marty’s balloon and all the others that took flight alongside it were truly majestic and quiet as they effortlessly glided across the sky." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The sole break in the silence was the main blower as it elevated us to 500 feet. The balloons drifted along following the invisible but wispy air currents. The sun had risen and began toasting the entire valley, which was now aglow with the morning sun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One could see the morning mist rising from the ground and evaporating as the warming rays of the sun burned it away. The view was amazing. The pilot - middle-aged and clean shaven with special forces sunglasses - was sharing a brief history of the local farms and their goods." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Marty had the thought that the pilot might be an ex-Army Ranger, which would explain the military-like precision with which he provided instructions and information as we soundlessly drifted across the plains." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I’ve got a treat for you guys , he announced; Operating these hot air vessels is  a refined gift requiring precision guidance and focus. I’ll show you by taking us to visit the river. They saw a winding river in the distance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The pilot  released a flap, and the balloon  began to descend slowly and steadily. The balloon was at the perfect angle, and the river slowly rose up to meet them. With a blast of the propane heated air, they  slowed to hover at a perfect two or three feet above the water." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everyone ooo’d and ahhh’d, took pictures and video with their phones, and were surprised when they actually briefly skimmed the surface of the water, making ripples as they passed. We heard our pilot chuckle. Some looked at each other, a bit concerned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He sensed the  angst of the passengers, \n\nI just had to clean the bottom off, give her a little dip, he bragged with a wide grin. Marty noticed that about three other balloons followed their lead, while the others maintained their lofty routes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How majestic and exquisite these vessels were with their vibrant colors drifting across the firmament! \n\n Ok, let’s get back to it guys ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He gave a blast of the burner, and we whipped up with a little twirl and jolt which emitted some loud Woooaaahs and a vigorous round of applause  as he took us to greater heights. \n\n1000 feet he announced, can you see the difference? He fired the blower loudly for even more height, claiming the wind conditions were perfect to ascend to 1500 feet, as there was no turbulence or swirling conditions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The air held the balloon and its cargo steady and securely, as if it were cupped in its hands.They were floating seemingly aimlessly for another forty-five minutes until the pilot received some radio chatter informing him of the field they had been granted permission to land in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His team was busy on the ground estimating the trajectory of the ballon brigade and negotiating with local farmers on which field we were to descend to. He released a flap at the  apex of the balloon’s dome and the balloon began its descent. Cameras were actively recording. The descent was too fast." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everyone seemed confident that the pilot  knew his craft and was simply trying to give us another thrill. Marty thought so, too,  until the operator had released the levers and was banging the bottom of the radio. Apparently he had lost comms and was trying to beat his radio back to life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Shit, he muttered, stupid fricking thing, always giving me a hard time. The balloon was still descending quickly. They were headed for a flat series of grass fields.  \n\nWow, a little too fast? Marty felt. The operator seemed a little distracted fiddling with his radio as the ground rose to meet them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Wow, this is kinda fast isn’t it? Someone twenty-something girl remarked. It seemed to snap the operator out of his daze. Crap, he said, and he grabbed the blower and opened it full board, but it did little to slow their  momentum." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The balloon was coming in at a 45-degree angle as they were about 100 feet up and closing in on the ground fast! \n\nCrap! He bellowed; everybody crash positions! Crash positions now! We all squatted down grabbing the edge of the basket as it came down hard! WHAM! The impact rattled Marty’s teeth and he bit into his  tongue a little." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The impact caused them to bounce back up into the air as the pilot gave the blower a bigger tug. WHAM! They hit again as he was working the flap and the blower to get the balloon  under control. This time the basket was dragged across the farmer’s field, kicking up grass and dust and dirt behind it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The basket bounded up bounded up and crashed back down, jarring everyone as they held onto the edge and balanced themselves on the balls of their feet. Marty  glanced over at his girl and saw some concern on her face but she was actually smiling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She’s loving this! WoW! \n\n \n\nMarty thinks he is falling in love. The basket took its final lurch and slammed into the grass field while the operator worked the flaps and kept it grounded. The friction alone helped slow the momentum and brought the oversized picnic basket to a halt on its side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All Clear! All clear! The pilot  yelled.  All the passengers  slowly released their grips, weakly stood up and climbed out of the tipped basket. \n\nWow, that is what we call a hard landing guys! He said triumphantly to our group." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marty felt like his elation was more than preposterous; the pilot had lost control of the balloon, and almost got everyone busted up.  Nonetheless, we all began applauding weakly, still a little shook-up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Marty told his girl that  he wanted to kiss the ground as he could still feel his heart pounding in his chest. But not his girl, she was stoked. \n\nThat was awesome! She said as she high-fived Marty and gave him a big hug." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One by one, the other balloons were piloted into position with a soft thud into the field all around them. The caravan of F-350’s raced towards the collection of fabric and baskets. This first of many adventures was over, but Marty was still falling hard for his girl." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her outgoing nature and taste for adventure was refreshing and invigorating. He couldn’t wait to see what she’d come up with next!." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Golden Chorus" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To a field of juneberry and hawthorn bushes, between a dense forest and the beaches of the great water humans call Superior, the goldfinches return. They fly in groups, settling on the scrub bushes, taking in the home they’ve missed while wintering in warmer climes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As each flock trickles in, they join a rising chorus, one great song only paused for sunset." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Let’s listen: Home home home! Home to love, to cool and safety Home to seeds so tough yet tasty Home to song as day begins Home to nests and warmth therein Each arriving group brings their own melody, and the rhythm of the song dances as the chorus grows." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And the subject of the song changes over time, sometimes to haughtier themes: Mock the hunters with our color Mock eavesdroppers with our song Mock those birds with feathers duller Sing with voices clear and strong Among the last arriving is an older bird name Flaxfrea." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was her tenth return trip to the land between the forest and the water. Goldfinches rarely have cause to count that as high as ten, but Flaxfrea knew this was an inauspicious number." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She knew few of her kind made the trip so many times, to the warm water of the south as days grew short, then to the cool water of the north as days grew long." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And on that long trip, surrounded by younger birds who grew evermore excited as they chatted and sang about future nests, future lovers, future eggs, future children, Flaxfrea couldn’t help but miss a familiar feeling deep within her heart." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Flaxfrea knew the emotion the others described, remembered each time she’d made the trip bearing similar dreams, but this time she couldn’t summon that ardor no matter how much she listened to younger birds talk of love and family." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She also didn’t recognize the calls of her previous lovers in the chorus. Perhaps they’d found other communities around the great superior water. Or perhaps they hadn’t made the long, exhausting trek this time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Flaxfrea made a deal with herself to not pursue a lover this season, she didn’t have the drive or the energy for it. Let younger birds have the spotlight. She picked out a hawthorn bush closer to the forest, smaller and further from the nexus of song. She would sit and listen and remember." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then she’d watch as the other birds paired off. She could revel in their youth, their happiness. And she’d watch for predators while the others were engaged. Perhaps she’d make a small nest of her own, for nostalgia or comfort’s sake, but for now, she was content to listen and watch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And with the field well-populated, the guys took the lead in advertising themselves in verse: The brightest gold you can peruse The fastest wings to fetch you sticks The greatest lover you could choose The finest nest, made fast and thick It’s me you want! It’s me! It’s me! But in the midst of this team refrain, individuals would sneak in their own personal brags, sometimes interrupting each other and finishing each other’s rhymes: Choose me for my brilliant plume No choose me, the greatest groom I faced down a cat with sharpest claws My golden plumage knows no flaws I’ll fetch seeds, day or night I’d gift our children my great height None have licked me in a fight I stayed with my last love through three years My simple mind knows no fears Flaxfrea let these boasts and promises wash over her, and she felt a small shadow of the pleasure she remembered from when she was young." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Of course, she could now recognize the swagger for what it was. She’d had eight different lovers over the years, and there was little correlation between the cleverest braggarts and the lowliest rhyme-sculptors in terms of their care or capability." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or even in how healthy or lively the chicks they raised together were. But what surprised her most was how similar the brags were to each other. In youth, they’d seemed like such variety, a cornucopia of choice for dames like her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now she realized they all promised the same things, bright plumage and vital children, just in slightly different ways. Except for that last rhyming couplet, from the bird who advertised his loyalty and “simple mind.” His voice had been different too, a croaking sort of call like a frog." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her reverie broke when the ladies began their chorus in response: Unleash your awesome, brilliant yellow Release your power, handsome fellow Show your gleaming aural pride Make us ladies wish we’d died Hope for reflections in our own Binds of love and children sown It felt strange to Flaxfrea now, that the girls didn’t advertise themselves but for their availability." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They didn’t boast or make promises as the men did, like existing was all it took. It was true they didn’t have the brilliant yellow plumage of their male counterparts, but they brought as much, probably more, to the coupling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If she had it to do over again, Flaxfrea would brag and promise just like the guys. She’d claim to craft the largest eggs with the thickest shells within her. That she had the best eye for nest construction, that she’d make the boys never yearn for a better lover or mother for their chicks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She’d claim she once scared off a wolverine by flapping her wings so wide she looked like a golden hawk. For the next several days she thought about this a lot, between cracking open seeds, and spying the forest for predators." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And she did make a small nest for herself, a little more snug than she normally might, and more convex to better fit her frame than the eggs it would never house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Flaxfrea only joined the chorus once during the whole mating season, late in the day one evening when the song turned to memories, she added a single rhyming couplet: This may be my final year I won’t sing much, but love to hear Over the days, Flaxfrea listened as the song dwindled as the other birds paired off." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Couples sang less and worked more, preparing homes for eggs, calling out only occasionally in joyful exclamation. The few birds still seeking a lover, however, grew evermore insistent, though there was little risk of missing out on a mate entirely." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sometimes the math didn’t quite work out, leaving a bird or two without someone to spend the summer with." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And among the final songs was that croaky chirp she’d picked out earlier: Adored my lovers, old and young Always faithful, sometimes wrong Many stories to be sung Voice is going, heart still strong As she fell asleep that night, Flaxfrea briefly considered what she’d do if this croaky crooner was the last voice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Would she invite him over? Would she break the deal she’d made with herself not to take a lover this season? These turned out to be pertinent questions, because the next morning when she opened her eyes, a finch with a strange dark pattern on his wings sat nearby, staring at her. “You!” He said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“You’re awake.” His voice was unmistakably the croaking call she’d recognized from before. “Yes,” she said. “I… I would like to mate with you.” And this might seem quite brazen, but for a goldfinch, this level of forwardness is expected, and in fact Flaxfrea found this bird’s pause comforting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“What is your name?” “Warbly.” “I am Flaxfrea. I heard your song. It was different.” “Did I hear yours?” “I only sang once.” “You’re the bird that sang so sadly. About listening.” “Yes.” “I had hoped you were.” “Oh?” “I had sought you out, but you stopped singing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I intentionally didn’t pursue other mates.” Flaxfrea paused to examine this suitor seriously. He was average size, with small black streaks on his wings. His gold feathers shown bright with the start of summer, but clearly more dull than most males." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was likely older, perhaps seven or eight years, younger than her but still in the fall of life. He held her gaze intently, questioningly. In any other year, Flaxfrea would have already said yes. “I do not seek a lover this year.” “Why?” “I am old.” “No.” “I wish to live out my life peacefully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I may not even fly south when the weather turns.” “We could fly together.” “I may not create many strong eggs inside me, if any at all.” “So it would be.” “I am tempted.” “Let us fly together around the field, and see what your heart says then.” So they did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They flew above the great forest and landed on the highest treetop. They wove little dancing dives around each other. They flew across the great water until they could barely see the shore and turned back. And Flaxfrea felt like she was in her first summer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And the promise she made to herself slid away in the wind. *** Flaxfrea would only lay two eggs that season, and only one hatched despite diligent work from both parents." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They named their daughter Decinae, and doted on her as much as two birds ever could, perhaps too much, as she refused to stray as far as other young finches as the weather started to turn cold." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“We’ll stay together for the migration, right?” Decinae asked one windy fall day when the community was abuzz with talk of when to leave and which southern landmark to head for. “Of course,” Warbly replied without hesitation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Flaxfrea sighed as she watched her lover and daughter chat about the lands to the south. Soon enough they’d make that long, exhausting trip together. Maybe her old wings would give out on the way, and she’d drift down to her final resting spot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Or maybe she’d make the trip and get to summer once more time by the warm water the humans call Mexico. Either way, she was ready.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“SHE”" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With nothing but smolder encompassing this beautiful August day; equally too an electrifyingly exciting Friday evening, “Power Station” nostalgically emits from surrounding systems." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“The Station” currently streaming glorious; equally glorious being the structured Annunaki-styled sculpted beach-side resort. 80’s music enthusiasts savvy enough can vouch the sentiment of that hit song to match the scorch of the day. As stated by Mr." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Palmer himself, some like it … As “some” bask in that beach-side sentiment, two friends (James and Tim) share social pleasantries at the bar. As they do both, instantly lust occurs: HER — ATTENTION — FOCAL. HER — ATTENTION — FOCAL." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(As soon to be dually known) “SHE” walks by captivating the senses of the two competing ex frat-studs equipped w/social polish." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“SHE”, with a tall lean yet athletically-Swift like Taylor’s frame, facial resemblance also an uncanny match, glides with an un-obvious yet forced demure nature; Harley Quinn inspired smirk to prove. What is however obviously known: THEY GAZE, SHE KNOWS, THEY GAZE, ‘we get the polaroid’." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not to leave afloat ambiguous social-linger, Tim attacks the future exchange (sports almanac Dilemma) like an excited Doc Brown solving the puzzle of the Flux capacitor. Him: “Hello beautiful”. Her: “Hello yourself”, followed by a fake sheepish grin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Funny occurrence as him asking how “SHE’s” enjoying this weather eventually leads to drinks at the bar with her soon meeting his compadre “James”. Expeditiously enough the three click naturally and connect rather casually over preferred lager and fiery-type smooth shots of Woodford reserve." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tim exclaims, “So I’m Tim, as we’ve established, this is James … and you would be? She smiles then speaks. “I heard you talking to James, in so specifically hearing you refer to me as “SHE”. Let’s stay with that. The three share an equal mood forwarding sentiment through laughter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They banter comfortably until the point the conversation switches abruptly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“SHE” asks both new found acquaintances if they have ever heard of CERN? Tim casually admits ignorance while James exclaims, “I know it has to do with scientific research but, what’s this I hear about occult rituals and secret experiments? “SHE” laughs as she knows where James is headed then states, “why’d you leave off the rest? You really believe in secret experiments opening portals to other dimensions or even hell? LOL her preferred “aughts-inspired” general sentiment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "James and Tim both admit to not knowing much on the topic but rule out nothing in a world of such un-explored phenomenon & boundless mysteries. “SHE” takes an aggressive shot of the specialty bourbon while poking fun at James, slight chuckle followed by the statement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "(condescendingly imitating a frightening bellow) “Ooooooooow, watch out we might run into the dreaded “Devils bible” amongst all the occult rituals and secret experiments”. Tim laughs off the vaudeville attempts but keeps an inquisitive mind state in reference to her satanic biblical punchline." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jesting aside, all three continue conversational banter as “SHE” shoots an intriguing (so seems) request to both gentleman. “Hey, you guys wanna see something. Tim laughs and exclaims with a playful retort." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Hell Nah” (Cultural troupes sending him to the response) as Tim is African American, “Boys in the Hood” answers that question for him when posed in the movie. “SHE” laughs then says, yeah I’m white dude, but I’ve seen the movie. “No dead bodies I can assure you”, chuckling at his dithering." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They laugh, click shot glasses, then forget that 3 hours ago they knew nothing of the accompanied. “F*** it”, let’s do it, James visually sifts with an adventurous stare down towards them both. Tim re-evaluates with curiosity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Random though, and even more Bizarre than Eminem’s eccentric rhyme cohort, Tim struggles to understand why in 2013, he’s staring at a framed article congratulating Tom Brady and the 2008 New England Patriots on a Super Bowl victory? “Bro” … He thinks internally. Hmmmm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "(“SHE” cuts), “All-right, let’s go you two little “Roaming Roosters”. LOL. “Aww, male chickens huh? “aight you fake Max Martin collaborating wanna be Taylor Swift lookin’ a**; Tim never one to let someone bid him bashful responds a verbal jab respectfully admired by the slightly lofty beauty." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She assures that this mini adventure will require no vehicular travel, as well the site is just right off the beach. On the walk over, Tim (still succumb with revisionist history bemusement) asks James, or rather looks for familiar confirmation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Hey bro … what you think of that article? Super Bowl? James responds, “Something feels off … yeah, something off”. However the intrigue of “SHE”, plus the future knowing compels them like a priestly Christ chant." }, { "from": "human", "value": "— THEY GO — In their introductory conversations, they all come to realize that they share a passion for caves, bonding closer even over dichotomous views towards the incredibly-dope cinematic monster “The Descent”. As they investigate deeper, each layer of the ethereal cave showcases deeper magnificence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The three equally lost in fantastical adolescent wonder. “SHE” pauses right quick, turns left, looks dead eye center at James and says, I read and saw your story. Sorry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "James responds, “What? “Aight”, everything’s been light hearted, roses & Care bears … cool … but … what’s the deal? Who are you, and why are you bringing up my … (“SHE” speaks) hold on. Let me show you something first. (James gets steadfastly solemn) “Nah” I’m not going forward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“SHE” reverts back to the CERN talk. Both men now clearly agitated as “SHE” also recognizes and now admits ties, better yet important connections with the European organization. THEY LISTEN — SHE TALKS. Yes, I work for CERN … and is the reason for this small trip." }, { "from": "human", "value": "James & Tim peak with interest as “SHE” tells James how she saw his story on TV. How, even though young still himself, he was married young as well birthed a daughter. This daughter being the love of his life in which she… “OK”, what is your f***** purp … (“SHE” vehemently cuts) … James." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I noticed your inquiring mind pondering why your New York Giants aren’t recognized for the 08 feat. James: “What is your god damn poi ... “I CAN TAKE YOU TO HER”. James, now frozen with wonder, taken hostage by anger, ditches all social polish as to berate his newfound acquaintance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She however calms the scene with a professional ease. She spares the scientific details and shoots directly to what they do. “SHE” does however admit that in time travel, “alters” are inevitable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Alters is when a shift in gravitational pull as opposed to particle acceleration through the Large Hadron Collider alters future realities. If it’s minor it’s no problem, but to avoid huge shifts, an expeditious trip needs to be executed and wrapped quickly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If not … (Aggresive sentence cut) James, usually a cool character loses all temperament and turns frustratingly to leave also wanting no more of this conversation. He screams F*** you lady. As he does “SHE” confessed to being extra terrestrial." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As well, confessions of impending death on her end would be coming if not for a specific item. “SHE” reveals why James’ daughter’s story made the news. She had the rarest blood type in human history. ‘Unfortunately so, her murder the sinister reality for the feature." }, { "from": "human", "value": "James asks, “What does Tia (James’ daughter) have to do with you? “SHE” retorts, “I need a certain chemical in her blood, and it’s only ‘in—her—blood’! As well additionally, a sample of “your” blood is also needed to pair with hers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’m prepared to offer you 10 million American dollars, as well as a reunion with your … (Pause) “let me stop pretending, with Tia. I’m not going to hide my intentions anymore, this facility I brought you and Tim to is the sub division to the Switzerland branch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I do work with CERN, as well do not have much time”. James, with such an important decision to make ponders intently but quickly does inevitable acts. Pose this dilemma to any grieving father wanting nothing more than to gaze in his baby girls eyes once again and watch there be no dilemmas." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tim frozen almost out of his senses retreats to the rear of this conversation. After acceptance of proposition, all are complicit as James and “SHE” equip themselves for the up coming voyage. Instantly amongst the amethyst crystal pattern adorning the cave’s walls a visual portal imagines." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Imagines in the sense of it being formed through telepathic alien (imagined) thought-waves coupled w/the Large Hadron Collider. James and “SHE” pace forward embarking like a futuristic sci-fi version of Lewis & Clark. 3 more steps to a life re-imagined." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Who knew that the hottest day of the summer would lead to an entire re-discovery of life. All with a “not so” chance meeting with “SHE”.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Sun" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "July 19, 4324 It had been a while now; no one in our town had seen the sun's warm light overcome the clouds, or the sky a shade of blue. The sky has been forever gray, the air forever cold, and the sun was hiding, retired it seemed, for a long time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As the days went by with each snow and each hail that fell from the sky like tears of the sun, many, too, shed tears for warmth; tired of the cold and longing for something different. Miles away from civilization, the endless abyss of white became our unchanging view." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It seemed impossible to get back what we once had, a summer of solace, but a continuous winter of woe was what faced us." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We hadn’t the slightest hope we would get it back; at least not until an announcement was made on the radio.\n\nI scrambled forward on the plyboards as I heard the static coming from the speaker, my eyes searching, ravaged by what they had to say." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everyone had gathered around me as well, the same heart-racing thump in their chest, a small chatter brought up from the excitement. Before I knew it, a crowd was formed in the small room, our breaths heaving in unison, just as our thoughts were sharing the same idea; that this could be the day." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Announcer cleared its throat, preparing the news, the distinct sound of shuffling papers in his hands echoed through the speakers. Then it began: “Good afternoon, citizens. We have exciting data to share with you this evening." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As you all may have realized, announcements such as these are very rare and happen in case of emergencies or natural disasters. And, after monitoring the recent weather patterns, we have concluded a very out worldly event. This information may come as a surprise to you all, as it should." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The clouds have shifted westward, contrasting to its usual route of going north, leaving the sun soon-to-be bare. We do not know how long this will last, or even if our calculations are correct." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nevertheless, we advise you to be well prepared, stay indoors, and do not, under any circumstances, go outside. After many decades of a frigid temperature, we are not compatible with hot weather just yet, and, worse yet, we may have run into a heat wave." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Because of this, we need as much protection from the sun as possible. This is for our safety and yours. We thank you for your cooperation and understanding." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sincerely, The Announcer.” A deafening silence filled the small room, like the announcement stifled our voices to nothing; scaring us away like a lion would to a mouse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It didn’t last long, though, as the silence turned into hushed whispers, the whispers turned into murmurs, the murmurs grew into talk, and the talk into shouts of exhilaration." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“We shall have a sun, after these many cold years of solitude and perseverance, and it will be the most important event in the century.” “What’s better, we will be the ones to witness it!” Cheers had erupted from the men as if they had finally conquered a war with weather." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Women had exchanged smiles with their children. All but me stood alone, pampering my thoughts. The clamor was overwhelming and somehow convincing, and for a second I thought it was a good thing; as the sun coming out after decades was supposed to be." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn’t think much of it at first, but, just like The Announcer had warned, a danger lurked in this miracle. I looked out the window, my eyes catching a void of white, and then back to my pale, numb hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe it was a good thing, maybe the warnings were of little importance to the bigger idea, and I, like everyone else, should be fuming with excitement." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then, why did I feel sick with doubt? I snapped out of it as someone patted my back with a heavy hand, my body lurching forward at the sudden contact. I quickly fixed myself upright, realizing it was Frank; the 63-year-old man who I found nagging and annoying; but I loved him like I would my father." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I cleared my throat. “What?” His eyes danced around, his body movements ecstatic. “Now, Marvey, aren’t you just excited? Wasn’t this the phenomenon you were waiting for?” “I am excited.” He sat down next to me, grabbing my hand. I knew better not to pull away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You don’t look excited.” “I am.” I furrowed my brows. “Just leave me, Frank. I’m not in the mood to argue.”\n\n“Oh, you’re always like that.” I could feel his hesitancy, but he let go of my hand and left me alone.\n\n… The next few days after the announcement was held, changes had erupted steadily." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Snow and hail no longer fell from the sagging clouds—now looking deflated—, and the sky had begun to grow a lighter shade of gray, almost white; and soon it looked as if the seasons were colliding together in a matter of weeks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The snow had begun to thaw, leaving traces of spring, spring soon turned into the warmth of summer; and that was when we had finally spotted the sun peak from the parting clouds.\n\nCareful not to touch the glass on the panel, as I was afraid it would burn me, I looked out the window and winced at the sudden light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Never, not in my lifetime of living in this barren outskirts of earth, have I seen such a spectacle that strung my curiosity to a certain point where it left my mouth open, aghast and wonder-struck. The temperature was unlike anything I’d felt before; the view was beyond my apprehension." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I slowly trailed my fingers up the glass, and, finding the warmth bearable (enjoyable, too), I kept my palm there, feeling the slight tingle cascade through my blood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Suddenly, a burning sensation protruded through the glass, and I fell back from the sudden heat, landing on the wooden floor, dumbfounded. My breath hitched as my palm turned a faint red that contrasted with my usual white-skinned self." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After a while, the aching began to cease, and I gave a confused huff. I quickly shut the curtains, set my hand down in the sink, and ran it through cold water, my breath slowing, my mind scattered, thinking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If the slightest interaction with the sun did that , what could it do if we were exposed? I couldn’t bear the thought, the “what ifs,” the twisted ideas that danced around like little haunting nightmares." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I needed to tell the others; I needed to tell Frank.\n\nI knocked on his door, waiting with a tapping foot for it to open. And waiting.\n\nWaiting killed me.\n\nBut if it was for the sake of Frank, I’d spare my patience. It didn’t last long, though. One can only ask for so much." }, { "from": "human", "value": "… September 3, 4315 “Marvey, open the door!” I could hear Frank’s voice behind the thin walls. I crammed my fingers in my ears, rubbing my elbow across my tear-stained crust. I scrunched my face and kicked my legs in discomfort, holding my back to the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Frank, just go away!” “Open it, now.”\n\nThere was a tone in his voice I couldn’t muster back in mine, so I slowly lifted myself up from the little ball of pity I formed and turned the knob. Frank was holding the jumping rope with one hand, and another one to take." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“My boy, you can’t give up like that. Closing doors always opens windows. We can always try again tomorrow.” … With each second that passed, the more my doubt grew. By the minute mark, I could sense he wasn’t there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn’t shake the feeling that he had already discovered the sun’s awakening, and I couldn’t shake my eyes from seeing a crowd of people outside that began to form slowly; whooping and throwing their hands up with a hallelujah." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn’t care much about them ; they could be stupid and risk their lives. They didn’t know the fate that was coming for them like I did. Stopping them was out of the question; they were like battle-scarred beasts who were only tamed until they got what they wanted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could only hope Frank wasn’t there; I could only hope he wasn’t some beast. But, I couldn’t risk it. So there I went, pushing through the group of people, trying to spot an older man with a balding haircut and a kind smile." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everything was seen as a blur; it could’ve been my lightheadedness from the sun, or it could’ve been my plain urgency. As I passed each man and woman, though, something caught my attention. Some sort of liquid fell from their brow, and there I stared in disbelief. The tears of death, they must be." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The eyes must be in shock, so the body must have moved their tears to their forehead. They ought to be dying. I’ll soon be like that if I don’t hurry. Hurry, Marvey." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So there, I made my way through the people, repeatedly yelling for Frank, but there was no answer with each holler I gave; even with how much emphasis I put in.\n\n“Frank, Frank!” “We need to go, Frank!” “Frank, don’t be kidding me; answer!” Of course, I was being silly, and I didn’t expect him to answer amid all the chaos, but desperation had overtaken my reasoning." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had no reasoning, really, I just wanted him here; asking me question after question, whatever he had to bother me with, I’d oblige to it. I’d oblige. Don’t pity yourself now, you’re better than that.\n\nMy steps began to trail back where I started, and I was almost sure Frank was there wasn't here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But then this voice in my head, this little prancing, incompetent sough, kept on telling me: “God, Marvey, focus. You were never born to be like this. If Frank dies, it’s all your fault. All your fault, Marvey, focus. You were never born to be like this. If Frank dies, it’s all your fault." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All your fault, Marvey, focus…” I couldn't just let an \"almost sure\" slide. It was twilight, so outside was nearly dark and placid and still, but nothing stopped me from making out the distinct lumps on the ground." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As my eyes slowly adjusted to the dullness, men scattered the prairie once covered with snow, dead like flies, the setting sun being the swatter. A substance lay stiff in puddles near their mouths, a repellent stench filling the humidity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No, because if all those nonchalant people had died, one might have meant something to me. With all those useless lives lost, one might have been important. The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was likely to be true. And the more I thought it was likely, the more I began to panic." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“God, Marvey, focus. You were never born to be like this. If Frank dies, it’s all your fault. All your fault, Marvey, focus. You were never born to be like this. If Frank dies, it’s all your fault. All your fault, Marvey, focus…” There it went again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My rambling thoughts wouldn’t stop, so I would keep going.\n\n… January 10, 4318\n\n“Stop your panicking, Marvey,” said Frank, nodding firmly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“It will never get to you; I won’t let it.” I stared at the blizzard outside, then at Frank.\n\n“So, would you do anything in your power to stop it from taking me away?” “I would die to save you.” He reassured me.\n\nI laughed, thinking he was kidding, but it seemed he was taking it literally." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I don't think you would be able to.” I began slowly, looking doubtful at the man. “Are you lying?” “No, why would I? You trust me, don’t you?” “Okay.” … As I looked through the bodies with a sick face, none of which were Frank, and thus relieved." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He’s not dead, and he must be somewhere back at the house, safe. I began to head back, a burden lifted off my shoulders and lighter than before, but something stopped me. A sensation erupted from the back of my throat, and an uneasiness rested in my stomach." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I bent down, clutching my neck, sputtering. I couldn’t move, my body stiff and unshifting. I felt my forehead; wet and sticky with the things. There was an abrupt pause before something came out of my mouth, an impulse that I couldn’t control, and it surprised me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lightheaded and nauseous, I went on my knees, breathing hitched breaths, lacking air. This pain was so unlike the cuts or bruises I’d had before. I could feel my insides turn out, and my outsides turn in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had gotten chills even if it was 100 or so degrees outside, and my mouth started to quiver uncontrollably. It all went so fast, like I was racing my end to the finish line. I knew I was going to die, like all the others I’d seen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I rolled onto my side, lacking strength, staring at the small house I was not able to reach. I wish someone would see me, bring me in, save me; but most had died just like I did. If only Frank–my thoughts stopped, a curtain was pulled on the far right of the house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I used the rest of my strength to open my eyes wider. In the little window, I could make out the shape of an older man with a balding haircut. Frank, god, it was Frank! There was such a fervor of emotion latching onto me; happy he was okay, angry that I wouldn’t be able to say goodbye." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As the sun folded into the night, the clouds enveloped it in their thick drape, thus repeating the cycle, and snowfall would fall for another century or so. And just like the sun, I had folded away too." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "… August 7, 4315 “You need to fold it like this, Marvey,” Frank ushered to his own pile, and then pointed at mine. I gave a frustrated sigh, fiddling with the collar of my shirt. Reluctantly, I tried again, but it only looked like the first fold I did; a disaster. “Frank, I can’t do this." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I don’t even want to do it.” I handed my lump of clothes to him, a sheepish smile plastered onto my face. “Here, you can do it.” He shook his head sternly, his brows raised. “You’re going to learn, Marvey. I can’t let you give up so easily.” … Well, Frank, I guess I had.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Bear" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She held up her phone, gazing at the top right corner. A large outcropping of rock lay ahead. Her dad slowed the car down for the turn. They passed the outcropping and… she held her breath. The last of the four bars faded. \n\n“Mom! Dad!” she shouted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Did it happen?” her mom asked, glancing back at her. “Yup! Which means our vacation has officially started. Only twenty more miles to go” she replied, as she showed her phone off to no one in particular. She put her phone away and drank some lemonade. *** They pulled up to their cabin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The cabin was small, but it was right next to a lake that she loved swimming in. Inside the cabin there was a small kitchen and two bedrooms. She sat down on her bed and set her suitcase down. She looked outside. The moon shone brightly through the window." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“How did it get this late so fast?” she pondered.\n\nThe only thing in the room besides her bed was a small dresser that would hold her clothes. She could unpack later though. She stretched her body and snuggled into the blankets. Before she knew it, she was asleep. *** She woke up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her head was groggy. She unzipped her suitcase and changed into new clothes. Her mind was a mess. She stumbled into the kitchen to find her parents in a chaotic frenzy gathering up little bits of food.\n\n“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Our food is gone, taken by a bear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We have nothing left,” her mom said.  Her mind snapped back into focus. Their food was gone. How were they going to survive? “Wait, can’t we just drive back?” she asked. “No!” her mom cried. “The bear wrecked the car too. There must have been some food inside”\n\nHer insides dropped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How were they meant to get back now? They could not call anyone because they had no internet.\n\nHer dad let out a sigh and stopped. “We are going to have to walk back,” he said.\n\nHe scooped up what little food he had managed to gather and walked toward his bedroom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Grab a ton of water bottles and stuff them in your sleeping bag. Dad will grab the other sleeping bags and the tent,” said her mom. She rushed to her room and grabbed her sleeping bag. She grabbed her water bottle, her parents' water bottles, and a few plastic ones she had from leftover lemonade." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She filled them up till the point they risked overflowing and screwed the caps on, making sure to screw them extra tightly. She tossed them all in her sleeping bag, which she tied into a bundle and hoisted over her shoulder. She put her shoes on, opened the door and stepped outside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her parents were waiting for her, just outside the door. *** She was walking at a brisk pace, but she soon realized she couldn’t travel long distances at the speed she was going. She slowed down and her legs welcomed the change of pace." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When they finally decided to take a break, she practically collapsed onto a nearby stump.\n\n“My watch says we have been walking for fifteen miles,’’ her dad announced. “Almost there.”\n\nShe couldn't believe they had only walked fifteen miles." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She knew fifteen miles was a long distance, but it had felt so much longer. Her aching legs seemed to agree. “We need to pitch the tent,” her mom ordered. “Uuuhhhhhhggggggg, give me a second,” she groaned as she slowly stood up.\n\nShe stumbled forward and then regained her footing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Alright,” her legs sent a new wave of pain as if to protest against standing. She stumbled over to where they had decided to pitch the tent. Her dad had already started and she helped as much as she could. When the tent was up, a thought occurred to her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Won’t the bears want the food we gathered?” she worried. “I brought a bear proof container, and as long as we keep it far away from the tent, we should be fine,” her dad replied.\n\n“We are okay. We will be okay. We can do this,” she mumbled under her breath over and over again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She learned that this helps with nerves. She wasn’t sure it was working though. Her breath was just as quick as it had been a few minutes ago. Her heart still raced, though she wasn’t sure if this was because she was nervous or tired." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Come on, we need to go to sleep,” her mom called to her.\n\nShe crawled into their tent, hauling her sleeping bag full of water bottles behind her. She set up her spot and put the water in the corner. They only had her two lemonade bottles left." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The other four bottles had been devoured throughout the hike. They only had five miles until they could get internet and call someone. She was excited for the moment where all four bars returned. Never again would she celebrate not having internet. She longed for the comfort of her old life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She snuggled into her sleeping bag and closed her eyes. She couldn’t seem to fall asleep. Worry plagued her thoughts. “What if a bear attacks? What if the tent falls? What if a wolf or coyote comes across us?”  Her brain could only think of the what-ifs, allowing no room for thoughts of sleep." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Still her body ached for the comfort of sleep. Slowly the what-ifs faded and she found herself drifting into blackness. *** She opened her eyes. She was staring up at a wooden ceiling. “Wait, what?” she gasped. She stood up and looked around. She was back in her room at the cabin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her suitcase sat unpacked on the floor and her water bottle on the dresser.\n\n“Was I dreaming?” she wondered. She pinched herself, but nothing happened. She was really here.\n\n“But how?” she pondered. “Unless maybe it was all a dream.” She relaxed, none of it had actually happened." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She put on new clothes and stepped out into the kitchen where her parents were scrambling around frantically. “Bear!” her mom gasped.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Last Radiance" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The once-glorious Starspire, a towering structure of gleaming crystal, now loomed ominously in shadow as its protector, Saliria, traversed the night." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her luminous powers had once infused Hargren with vitality, serving as both a beacon of hope and a barrier against the dark forces encroaching upon their land. The menace threatening Hargren was not merely an elemental force; it was a malevolent entity pressing against the fringes of Saliria’s light." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With each fleeting moment, her ceaseless battle drained her energy, causing her light to diminish. The weight of her responsibility to protect her people, coupled with her fear of failure, shrouded her in deep emotional weariness that further diminished her strength." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the heart of the city, vibrant festivities celebrated the annual Festival of Light. However, beneath the joyful exterior, an undercurrent of apprehension persisted." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Draped in a cloak adorned with shimmering stars, Saliria made her way to the central square, where the once-resplendent Starspire towered. The lively crowd stood in hushed expectation; their enthusiasm dulled as the beacon's illumination flickered erratically." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Saliria, you don't look well,\" called Torim, an adventurous young swordsman who admired the guardian. Concern etched on his face as he drew closer to her. \"I'm not alone in my distress,\" Saliria murmured, her voice a soft tremor. \"The Starspire is dimming." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The darkness is encroaching faster than we anticipated.\" Torim's features hardened with resolve. “There’s a legend of a mystical star hidden within the Corteron Sector. It’s said to have the power to restore any lost light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We have to find it.” Saliria felt a heaviness in her heart at the mere mention. The Corteron Sector was infamous—a land of shadows and illusions where many explorers had vanished without a trace. Yet, Torim’s steadfast spirit ignited a small spark of hope in her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“If there’s even a chance, we have to chase it.” As night bathed the city, the ambient glow faded, and tension among the people thickened. Saliria and Torim prepared for their perilous journey, gathering supplies and making preparations for the long journey ahead of them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Into the Void The journey to the Corteron Sector was not just a passage through space but a trek into the unknown depths of an ancient realm. As Saliria and Torim breached Hargren’s borders, the familiar landscape began to change drastically." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What had once been rolling hills and lush forests quickly became a desolate wasteland. The bright greens of the grass and trees and the brilliant sparkle of the surging river were replaced with muted shades of gray and black, as though life had been drained from the land itself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Even though it was early in the day, the further they moved along the path, the more and more the sky darkened, thick, ominous clouds blotting out the light from the sky so that the world around them seemed to be forever cast in twilight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a new chill in the air, and the wind picked up, sweeping across the barren land, carrying with it whispers of forgotten souls and the faint echoes of lost memories. After three days of travel, the pair finally stepped into the area known as the Corteron Sector." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The landscape continued to twist and warp in unnatural directions around them, with towering cliffs that seemed to rise and fall on their own accord. Vast chasms opened before them, threatening to swallow them whole. This was a place laced with danger, both seen and unseen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It grew darker and darker the further they traveled, and they could hear rustling and whispers on all sides of them. Out of the corner of his eye, Torim could see what appeared to be glowing eyes following his every move." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Though he remained alert, he chose not to turn and face whatever creature was watching him so closely. Despite their fear and the overwhelming odds, the pair pressed on, knowing that the only chance of Hargren’s survival lay in the success of this mission." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The journey was a test of willpower and endurance, but in her weakened state, Saliria drew strength from Torim’s unwavering determination. “Stay close,” Saliria instructed, her voice barely audible over the oppressive silence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The very air seemed to drain the warmth from their bodies, leaving them chilled and anxious. As they ventured deeper, a monstrous apparition emerged from the darkness—an ancient guardian of the realm, its eyes glowing with malevolent light." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was nothing like Saliria nor Torim had ever seen, towering over them; it seemed to be made of the very darkness that surrounded them. Its body was massive, blackened flesh pulsated with a sickly energy. The edges of its form were indistinguishable from the shadows of the darkness around it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The only thing that stood out was its glowing eyes – glowing orbs of malevolent light. The eyes radiated a terrifying ancient intelligence – the kind of intelligence that is only gained after a being has witnessed countless millennia pass." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As the pair stood frozen in awe of the beast that presented itself before them, it opened what Saliria could only assume was its giant maw and let out a deep, guttural noise so low and loud that the ground around them shook in the violent display." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The sound alone was enough to freeze the blood in their veins, a primal, soul-shaking cry that reached into the pits of their stomachs. This was far more than just a dark creature that inhabited this land." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This was a guardian who, over many eons, had one job – to prevent anyone from entering or leaving with the light of the mystical star. Before Saliria could stop him, Torim leaped forward with a battle cry, his sword clashing against the creature’s dark form." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The guardian met his assault, swiping at him with a massive clawed hand. Torim dodged the blow and rolled to the ground." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Saliria, drained of her power, but knowing she had to fight alongside her travel companion, focused what little energy she had left on the beast and aimed a beam of light directly into what she assumed was the creature’s face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The light struck the guardian square in the eyes, causing it to shriek in pain as it retreated a few feet back. It didn’t take long, however, for the creature to begin to regenerate, and soon, it was charging the heroes once again, this time with reinvigorated fury." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unphased, Saliria channeled the last of her remaining strength and once again shot a beam of light into the beast’s face. The creature howled and thrashed, its claws slashing wildly in an attempt to swat the light away from its face. With this, Torim saw a vulnerability and made his move." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With a burst of speed, he charged at the guardian's exposed flank, driving his sword deep into the side of the beast. The dark entity bellowed in agony. A rushing wind roared out of the wound on its side, and it was obvious the blow had weakened it. But the creature was far from defeated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It swung its entire body around to face Torim, catching him with a backhanded swipe that sent him flying through the air and crashing into a nearby rock formation. \"Torim!\" Saliria screamed, her voice filled with desperation as she saw him struggle to rise." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She knew they couldn't win if they fought separately—they needed to work together. Summoning every ounce of willpower, Saliria unleashed a burst of light that momentarily blinded the guardian, giving her just enough time to rush to Torim's side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She extended a hand, helping him to his feet as the creature began to recover from the blinding attack. \"We have to strike together,\" Saliria said, her voice resolute despite the exhaustion that weighed her down. \"We combine our strengths." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It’s the only way.\" Torim nodded, his eyes blazing with determination. \"Let's finish this.\" The guardian, now fully recovered, charged at them with a terrifying roar, its massive form barreling toward them like a living avalanche. But this time, Saliria and Torim were ready." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With a fierce cry, Torim surged forward, his sword glowing with the last vestiges of Saliria’s light. As he charged, Saliria poured every ounce of her remaining power into the blade, imbuing it with a radiance that outshone even the darkest corners of the Corteron Sector." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The guardian reared back, ready to deliver a crushing blow, but Torim was faster. He leaped into the air and, with a mighty swing, brought the light-infused sword down upon the creature's head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The blade cleaved through its skull, the light exploding outwards in a brilliant flash that lit up the entire sector. The guardian’s roar of pain was cut short as its body began to disintegrate, the dark energy that had held it together unraveling in the face of Saliria's light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The creature's massive form shuddered, then crumbled into a cloud of black ash that was quickly swept away by an ethereal wind, leaving nothing behind but silence. The Last Stand Saliria and Torim found themselves in complete darkness, but they knew they had to press on." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Through exhausted breaths, Torim called out to Saliria with as much excitement as his tired body would allow. He directed her attention to a light up ahead. “I think that’s the star!” He uttered before collapsing to the ground." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The pair rested for a few minutes, but then, breathless and battered, they persevered. They followed the faint light that they believed to be the mythical star. The soft, calm light pulsated in a comforting rhythm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Finally, they arrived at the heart of the Corteron Sector, where the star hung suspended in a void of darkness, its light flickering like a dying ember. Saliria reached out, her hands trembling, and grasped the star." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The moment she touched it, a surge of energy coursed through her, revitalizing her with a brilliance that seemed to push back the darkness itself. With the mythical star in hand, Saliria and Torim made their way back to Hargren. But their return was far from triumphant." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The darkness had grown bolder in their absence, its tendrils reaching ever closer to the city. As they approached, they saw the Starspire struggling to maintain its light, the darkness clawing at its base. Saliria, now reinvigorated but still weak, directed the star’s energy into the beacon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The light flared back to life, but the darkness was relentless, a living entity of shadow that sought to consume everything in its path. Torim rallied the city’s defenders, and a fierce battle erupted between the forces of light and darkness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Saliria fought valiantly, her powers fueled by the star, but the darkness was too overwhelming. Just as it seemed the city would fall, Saliria made a desperate decision. “Run!” she cried to Torim and the defenders." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I’ll hold them off!” With the last of her strength, Saliria unleashed a blinding burst of light, pushing back the darkness and buying precious time. Her form flickered and dimmed as she fought, her power waning, but her spirit undeterred." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Epilogue: A New Dawn The battle was hard-fought, and though the darkness was driven back, the cost was high. Saliria, weakened and drained, was carried back to Hargren. The city had survived, but the beacon’s light would never shine as brightly as before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the aftermath, the people of Hargren mourned their guardian but celebrated her sacrifice. They knew that the battle against the darkness was far from over, but Saliria’s bravery had given them a chance to fight on. Torim stood at the base of the Starspire, now a symbol of hope and resilience." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked up at the dimming beacon and vowed to protect it in Saliria’s memory. The star had rekindled the light, but the struggle to maintain it would continue. And so, the city lived on, ever vigilant, as the echoes of Saliria’s sacrifice became a beacon for future generations." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the darkest corners of their world, the light of their guardian’s courage would forever shine.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Turn Up the Heat" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Turn Up the Heat “Turn up the heat,” Phantom said. Phantom was a small thin man, 25 years old, who fiddled with his hands as though he would perform a magic trick. “We can’t afford it, not until we sell those jewels,” said Jigsaw, a big man with a small moustache and a large paunch. “Put on a coat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You’ll warm up.” He went back to his soap opera. “It’s snowing outside. We have icicles on the eaves,” Phantom pleaded. They had rented a two-story house 10 miles outside the town. The tap water, if it ran, came out brown." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The place had no storm windows and the insulation was no thicker than candy wrappers. The stairs squeaked and creaked like small animals in pain. “I can’t hear you,” Jigsaw said. He slid back on the sofa and pulled a blanket around his bulky shoulders. Something hard and cold cracked over his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“What the–?” He picked up a shard from the broken icicle and threw it at Phantom’s chest, which knocked him back a few inches. Phantom charged him with the remaining half of the icicle. Jigsaw slid aside and punched his solar plexus. “Uhhhhh,” Phantom said. “Leave me alone,” Jigsaw said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You’re stir-crazy. Take a rest. Do some pushups. If we show our faces around town, we’re likely to be picked up for questioning. We need the heat to die down.” Phantom slammed a fist into the living room wall and shouted,." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I’m not crazy! I’m bipolar, and I’ve got the meds to prove it.” Jigsaw chuckled. “You put the bottles on the shelf like they’re trophies." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You’re supposed to take the pills in them, you moron.” “I’m not a moron, or you wouldn’t bring me along for your jobs.” “Sure, you’re Einstein on steroids.” Under his breath, he muttered, “Still a moron.” “So why do you bring me along?” Phantom glared at Jigsaw." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Good help is hard to find these days.” “Your helpers are serving time,” Phantom said. “Razorback shoulda moved those jewels by now. You know that and I know that. I’ve got big plans for that payoff.” Jigsaw said, “He’s not as stupid as you. He knows they’re hot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If he moves them now, we all get trapped in a net and served to the D.A.”\n\nPhantom said, “The snow has stopped. I need fresh air. I’ve smelled your sweat and your farts for two weeks. I can’t take it anymore.” Jigsaw rose from the sofa." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“All right, I’ll take a shower and we’ll take a drive around town, get some fresh winter air. We’ll have to stay in the car." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Leave your gun in its place.” He waddled toward the bathroom.\n\nTen minutes later they squeezed into a green VW Bug and drove downtown, which had a string of snow-covered roofs of office buildings intermixed with fast-food restaurants. They saw no one they knew." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jigsaw took the Bug into the country and they dashed down tree-lined lanes as fast as he could push the venerable German engine. They passed farmhouses and pastures where horses and cattle grazed, nosing through the snow for grass.." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He came to an intersection with another country road, took a left, and accelerated. He was only 25 miles over the speed limit when the deputy pulled him over. “Keep your mouth shut, Phantom,” said Jigsaw, who rolled down the window. He put his hands on the dashboard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Put your hands on the dashboard, moron,” he said. “Then he knows we don’t have weapons.” Phantom did as he told. “I forgot to tell you–” “Shut up,” Jigsaw said.\n\nThe deputy approached the vehicle. He was about six feet four, with big biceps. He wore sunglasses." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He wore a blue uniform with a black belt at his waist that had the state logo on the buckle. Jigsaw rolled down the window. The deputy leaned into the already crowded car, which made it jammed. “Aren’t you out of your jurisdiction, officer?” Jigsaw asked. “No, sir,” the deputy said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Driver’s license and registration, please,” he said. “I’ll have to check the glove box,” Jigsaw said. The cop nodded. Jigsaw fumbled in the glove box and came up with the registration. “I’m getting my wallet from my back pocket,” he told the deputy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He pulled out his wallet and handed the driver’s license to the deputy, along with the registration card.\n\nThe deputy glanced at the license and said, “Hold on a minute while I do some checking.” He turned his back and returned to his patrol car." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The gun in his right-handed holster bounced up and down as he walked. Seconds passed, minutes passed. Jigsaw looked at his watch, then in his rear view mirror. The deputy talked on a phone. That was all he could see. Phantom’s hands circled in and out, faster and faster like a drunken magician." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jigsaw said, “Down, boy. They don’t have our fingerprints from the robbery because we wore gloves. They don’t have our faces because we wore ski masks. They don’t have much coverage because I blew out their cameras. So relax.” “My fingers are itchy,” Phantom said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I need some action.” “We’ll have action when the heat dies down. You’ll spruce up your truck and take your sweetie out to dinner at a high-class restaurant.” Jigsaw started the engine and ran the windshield wipers to clear the snow away. In his patrol car, the deputy looked up and back down again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I need to stretch my legs.” Phantom opened the door and stepped into a cold pile of snow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I shoulda worn my boots instead of my tennis shoes,” he said.\n\n“Didn’t your mother teach ya nothin’?” “Naaa, she sat on the porch and smoked and rocked and told us to make our own dinners.” Phantom lifted each foot in turn and set it down in the snow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His hands fiddled in the air like they were making a sandwich. “No dad?” “He left as soon as she was pregnant with me,” Phantom said. “.He loved the bottle more than my mother or a baby. Last seen in Dearborn, Michigan at a bank.” Jigsaw perked up. “Was he robbing it?” Phantom dropped his head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“No, he was closing his bank account.” “With a huge amount in it?” “After monthly charges, he had $9.99.” Jigsaw guffawed. “Then you met me at a farmer’s market, and the rest is history.” “At least I eat, and I have a roof over my head.” He shuffled his feet and fiddled with his hands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Jigsaw, I can’t wait no more. I need action. If it don’t come to me, I go to it.” Before Jigsaw could say anything, Phantom loped along the snow-covered roadside toward the deputy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He drew a gun and fired through the windshield at the officer, who paused in shock, then stepped from his patrol car, drew, and fired at Phantom, who fled back to the VW Bug and jumped into his seat. “Did he hit you?” Jigsaw asked as he started the car, threw it into gear, and took off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When they were going 80 mph, he asked, “What possessed you to do a dumb thing like that? If you kill a police officer, it’s the death penalty for sure.” Phantom slunk down in the seat. “I needed some action, man. It’s in my blood.” Red lights flashed dimly in his rear view mirror." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jigsaw took a turn on a side road, drove over several bumps, and hid the car in a grove of trees. With the car idling, he turned to Phantom and socked him in the jaw. “Moron! You turned up the heat! They’ll send an army after us!” “I’m sorry, sorry,” said Phantom, who rubbed his jaw. He tasted blood." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Let’s get out of here!” Jigsaw called Bulldozer, a friend from another jewelry job, and they set up a meeting place. He drove down the side road for several miles and rolled behind a shack. Beside the shack was a rusty metal corral. Behind the shack was his friend’s battered Ford pickup." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The two men rushed from the Bug to the pickup, and the friend took off at a reasonable speed. “Don’t wanna attract attention by speeding,” he said. The ten-minute drive led to a weathered barn by a farmhouse. He drove the pickup into the barn, got out, and closed the large sliding door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The barn smelled of wood and burnt metal. A police scanner sat on a workbench, and he turned it up. The chatter was all about the man who took a shot and wounded a deputy and was last seen in a green VW Bug. “See that sink over there?” Bulldozer asked. “Take the razor and the soap." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shave off your moustache.” Jigsaw did as he was told. “And you!” Bulldozer pointed at Phantom. “We don’t shoot cops. That’s a capital offense, and I’ve got nothing to disguise you with.” “Give me the gun,” Jigsaw said to Phantom, who complied. Jigsaw started an oxy/acetylene torch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He put on gloves and goggles and went to work to melt down the gun. At first, the work was slow, so he turned up the heat and the work went faster. The gun became a blob of dark metal. “That takes care of that,” he said. Bulldozer looked over the scraps of metal on the workbench." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“That’s a good start,” he said. “Now hand over your cell phones.” “My cell phone!” Phantom cried. “That’s my lifeline.” “All you do is play games on it,” Jigsaw said. “Give it to him. He handed Bulldozer his phone.” “They can track you even if your cell phone is turned off,” Bulldozer said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I’ll burn them down and take the parts to the dump.”\n\n“What about yours?” Phantom whined. “Jigsaw called your cell phone.” Bulldozer sighed. “Mine too.” He took over the workbench and melted the three cell phones." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He stuck the parts from the gun and the cell phones in a fireproof bag, and he tossed a set of keys to Jigsaw. “Take the pink truck in back. It’s registered to a cop who died in California three years ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’ll dispose of these items.” Jigsaw and Phantom stepped over weeds and snow, and they slipped into the pink truck. “My favorite color,” Phantom said. With a chunk-chunk-chunk, the truck started on the third try. The gas gauge was on a quarter tank." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jigsaw figured that the cops would look south, where they had been heading when Phantom shot the deputy, so Jigsaw headed north. The truck’s top speed on the highway was 45 mph. “Some getaway vehicle,” Phantom said. “Shut up,” Jigsaw said. “You caused this mess." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You’re lucky I let you ride with me.” He came to a fork in the road. To the left was a city, to the right was a reservoir. Jigsaw swerved right and stepped on the gas. The water in the reservoir was high, with a few isolated shards of ice on it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Where are we going? This is the road to nowhere,” Phantom said. “I said shut up,” Jigsaw snarled. His spit hit the windshield and dribbled down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“ I’ll do the driving and I’ll keep us from being spotted by the heat.” Phantom answered, “I caused the trouble so I’ll drive us out of it.” He grabbed the steering wheel. Jigsaw fought against him, and they tugged back and forth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "To throw Phantom off the wheel, Jigsaw accelerated, but it didn’t work. Phantom took control of the wheel and turned the truck toward an embankment and the reservoir.\n\n“We’ll go off the road, you moron!” Jigsaw shouted. The pink truck bucked and bumped over the embankment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jigsaw fought the wheel to steer it back to the road. Phantom put all his weight on the wheel. The truck plunged into the water and began to sink. “Now you’ve got your action!” Jigsaw screamed as water poured through his window. Phantom tried to wriggle free through his window." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The water overpowered him. The truck sank, and no one surfaced. Hours later, it began to snow again. A deputy sat in a tow truck with the driver. Divers went underwater to secure the hooks to an axle of the pink truck. They surfaced and gave the driver a sign." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He turned on the winch and began to pull the pink truck out of the reservoir.\n\n“Man,” the deputy said, “it’s cold in here. Turn up the heat!” ***." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Accidental Staycation" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was my first ever paid vacation. Day one started with a list of my grandparents’ house plants, garden tasks, and poodle related chores." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sparkle snuffled her encouragement as my grandmother highlighted the items she deemed most important. Care of their home and Sparkle would be punctuated by short day trips to local parks and hiking trails. Unbeknownst to me, my plans for the remainder of the week would be derailed in a few short hours." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After wishing my grandparents a safe trip, I reminded myself that my vacations would someday involve friends, resorts, and exotic locations. However, until my student loans were paid off and my new-to-me car was paid for, southern Ontario would be my playground. I had grown up on the east coast, gone to school on the west coast, and landed my first career job in London, Ontario. Aside from the opportunity to explore a new province, Ontario permitted me to be close to my extended family, whom I knew only through pictures. I was at the bottom of the seniority list at work, and lucky to have gotten a week off in August. For now, cycling and camping worked well with my budget, and this first vacation – house-sitting for my dad’s parents – made my bank account happy. Moving and setting up an apartment had depleted my savings." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was nearing noon. After an early lunch for me and a little cuddling for Sparkle, I took her for a walk. She was no longer a young dog and after her exercise, would be quite content to nap for much of the afternoon. I checked her food and water, locked the house, and set out on my first day trip. I pedaled my old 10-speed through the garage past my Ford Probe and headed out of town. Although I was not yet accustomed to the humidity that was normal for this part of the country, the sky was blue and cloudless, the air was still, and the remainder of the day still full of potential." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After the rolling hills and forests of New Brunswick, and the coastal mountains of the greater Vancouver area, the flat fields of Middlesex County were a novelty. Traveling down the concession roads, with farms all around, felt both familiar and foreign, for the farm I had grown up on looked nothing like these farms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Here, small clusters of trees and homesteads appeared to be carved out of cornfields. There were no rock piles at the edges of the fields, and no wet spots that rendered small areas unusable. Not to mention the ability to see a field in its entirety, from one vantage point, was unheard of, in my experience." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Before I had gone my first kilometer, my hair was plastered to my head beneath my helmet, and my tank top was soaked with sweat. After a couple of hours, I stopped for a drink of water and a banana and thought that the still air, pleasant a short while ago, now seemed lifeless and oppressive. I wished for even a small breeze. As though Mother Nature had read my mind, a gust of hot air blew past me. Disappointed that it had not felt as refreshing as I’d hoped, I looked up at the sky. On my left it looked much as it had when I started my ride, but on the right, I could see in the distance that bad weather was coming – and quickly! Towering black clouds were suspended above a grey wall. It took me a moment to realize that was a wall of water. As I watched, chain lightning arced though the clouds, closely followed by a loud crack of thunder. If I didn’t turn around, I would be caught in a deluge." }, { "from": "human", "value": "While my ride out of town had been relaxed, my ride back was frantic. The rainclouds were moving far faster than I. The air was no longer still. Hot air assailed me from different directions as the wind changed radically from one moment to the next. More than once, I had to return to the edge of the pavement after a particularly strong gust of wind had moved me and my 10-speed closer to the center of the road. The irony of the situation was not lost on me each time I lamented the loss of the still air I had failed to appreciate just moments ago. When the first raindrops hit me, I was surprised by their force – they weren’t cold, but they stung. A glance over my shoulder told me the wall of water would hit me any second. Very soon my visibility would be almost nil, and I was moving too fast for that. Already the dark clouds had generated a premature duskiness. I turned on my bike’s lights and my feet paused as they caught up with my brain. As I applied my brakes, a sheet of water passed over me, and I was cast into darkness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Had I been paying closer attention to the road; I might have avoided what happened next. My front tire hit a pothole and came to a sudden stop. While I was no longer going so fast that I flew over my handlebars, I did lose control of the bike. The tires slid left, towards the yellow line, and I fell onto the paved shoulder, skidding over the rough asphalt and loose gravel. The right side of my body was on fire. I moved everything gingerly, grateful to discover nothing was broken. Hopefully the lights on my bike were still working. I stood up carefully and looked around. My bike was in the middle of the road. I limped over to it, stood it up, and checked the tires and chain. Everything seemed okay." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I resumed my journey home, slowly and carefully, thunder and lightning punctuating the steady pounding of the rain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even through the rain, I could feel the hot blood trickling down my arm and leg – not far, because the rain diluted it, but it was enough to tell me I was bleeding. I could only imagine the road rash. As I approached the first houses on Cedar Street, lightning flooded the sky and thunder boomed somewhere very close by. I had hoped the streetlights and the warm glow spilling out of windows would augment my sadly inadequate headlight, but it was not to be. For when the stark lightning vanished, the town was shrouded in the absolute darkness of a power outage." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was still raining hard as I pedaled toward a shortcut that would shave about five minutes – at the rate I was going – off my travel time. I wasn’t familiar with the narrow alley, but I was certain that it would take me to Charles Street, about two blocks from my destination – home and Sparkle. By my estimation, I was about halfway along my shortcut when lightning flashed, and thunder boomed again. Burned into my retinas was the image of a power line draped across the alley at just the perfect height to clothesline me, about three feet ahead. I slammed on my brakes and lost control of my bike a second time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This time the bike slid right, and I fell on my left side, skidding along asphalt and gravel. Both my bike and I cleared the hanging power line. Again, I was grateful to discover that nothing was broken. However, I was certain that my arms and legs were now matching sets. The fiery pain that coursed along the left side of my body was now balancing perfectly the pain I had been experiencing on the right side of my body. After all, it had been so much fun the first time. I sat up and looked around. Ahead of me and to my right I could see some sparks through the rain. If I strained my ears, I could hear them sputtering quietly. They were generating enough light to reveal the silhouette of a nearby handlebar – my bike." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I approached the sparking power line – apparently the other part of the wire that had caused my second helping of road rash – to happily discover that my bike was not dangerously close and could be picked up safely. I walked it back to a spot that was equidistant between the downed power lines and checked it. The chain was off the gears and dangling from the frame. I felt like I was vibrating. My adrenaline-fueled pulse was keeping time with the pounding rhythm of the pouring rain. I needed to slow my breathing and calm down. Fixing my chain was the kind of mundane task that might help facilitate that. So, I did. I kept a flashlight on my bike because my dad had insisted – thanks, Dad. My wet fingers fumbled with the chain in the pale beam of the flashlight. After a couple of failed attempts, I had the chain back in place. I decided to walk my bike the rest of the way home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My legs, I knew, would get me there safely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As I used my flashlight to find the safest place to move past the sparking power line, I noticed three things: I was feeling much calmer, the rain had abated considerably, and Charles Street was much closer than I had realized. Given my situation, I was ecstatic! To buoy my spirits even more, I discovered that Charles Street still had power. The break in the line that I had discovered must have been the cause of the outage I had seen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I propped my bike up in the garage and closed the garage’s large car door. There was no need for the neighbours, some of whom had watched my sorry return home, to see me strip down to my underwear and trash my ruined clothing. Sparkle greeted me at the door, happy to see me and oblivious to my pain. After a long and painful shower to rid my body of every speck of gravel I’d collected, I failed to find a first aid kit. I had a late supper and an early night, sleeping on old towels to avoid ruining my grandmother’s sheets." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the morning, after carefully and painfully peeling the towels away from the places where they’d dried onto my road rash, I made a few phone calls and found a clinic that would give me a tetanus shot on short notice. A trip to the ER would not be necessary – thank goodness! Hopefully the weather would stay warm. Tank tops and shorts were all I was going to be comfortable in. I suffered the inquisitive stares of patients at the clinic, customers at the pharmacy, and patrons at the library. Back at home, Sparkle greeted me with her usual enthusiasm. She cared not one iota that my arms and legs looked like a hunk of donair meat, waiting to be shaved for the next hungry customer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had planned day trips to parks and hiking trails. They would still be there next month, or even next summer. Instead of exploring the region I now called home, I would be hanging out with Sparkle and enjoying the air conditioning. I had a whole new set of plans for my week. I was going to start with finding out who murdered Roger Ackroyd, why someone would kill a mockingbird, and what all the fuss about Rebecca was.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pushing Daisies" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As the temperature in the city rose to a historic high, Carl and his half-charred companion raced against the clock. It was just before noon on the August long-weekend and the insatiable picnic, beachgoer, and birthday party crowds were ringing up for pizza at an alarming rate." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Carl had been unexpectedly dispatched by “Pepper’s Only Pizza” on 4 th street and Main. Mr. Pepper was a proud man who had painstakingly built his pizzeria from the ground up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Throughout the decades his once jet-black hair greyed and his defiant stance settled into a comforting stoop, all in service of becoming a beloved fixture in the community. Locals often gossiped over which customers had become favourites of Mr." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pepper as they’d receive the much sought-after phrase, “Please, call me Giancarlo.” “Listen, Carl. I like you. You’re a hard worker. But my commercial says ‘ From here to your door,– ’ say it with me Carl, ‘ –in 30 minutes, never more. If we’re late, please come in store, for your… free soda’. ” Mr." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Pepper paused. Carl could hear faint calculations muttered through the phone. “You’ve cost us twelve free sodas this week alone!” Carl’s van—something between a hearse and an ice cream truck–groaned as it crested over a large hill. A shimmering haze rose from the road ahead." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Carl’s eyes found the rear-view mirror. Red bricks from the old mortuary were swallowed by the rear horizon. Its chimney sunk slowly like a dutiful ship captain, leaving behind dark clouds to bloom across a clear sky. Carl had never seen the mortuary cough up smoke that black before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Gian—, sorry, Mr. Pepper. I’m doing my best, you know that. Have I ever failed to deliver one of your incredible pizza pies?” Pinned between his ear and shoulder, Carl’s phone was damp with sweat. His free hand fiddled with the A/C dial already cranked to the coolest setting." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A thermometer dangling from the rear-view mirror clinked against the windshield with each bump in the road; it read 42˚ C. The temperature hadn’t stopped climbing. Carl continued, “Okay, Okay. Yes, sometimes I’m a little late. But you know I cover that cost with my tips." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You know that.” The leather upholstery and metallic interior of Carl’s van had been worn and muted by the years. Bang! The van hit a small pothole in the road and heavy contents in the back hurled dangerously towards Carl before slamming into a metal divider. The gurney locking system had failed. Mr." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pepper let out a small sigh. “Carl, I built this whole pizzeria with my own two hands. When my father–” “Oh, come on, please don’t give me the whole speech. Just let me have it, it’s fine.” “In the end, it’s just a dollar a soda. We sell one pizza and the money comes back, no problem." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What pains me is that for every pizza that’s delivered late, it’s my name on the box. It’s my father’s name, it’s my nonno’s name." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Each soda’s another broken promise to our customers.” “Listen, Giancar–,” Carl swore as he looked out his window to the concrete flowerbeds by the sidewalk that blurred past. Yellow daisies keeled over in the relentless sun while opportunistic weeds moved in on the soil bed below." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Carl rolled to a stop at the town square just as the clocktower signalled the hour with a cacophony of bells. It was noon exactly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A pile of torn open envelopes and letters strewn about Carl’s makeshift coffee table flashed in his mind, each increasing in their urgency: “…we have yet to receive payment for—”; “without payment, we are afraid that action must be taken…”." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On the passenger seat beneath a post-mortem report lay an unopened envelope. Carl looked over. Across the envelope, stamped in red with all capital letters, ‘FINAL NOTICE’ glared back. Carl cleared his throat. “Mr. Pepper. Times are tough, you know that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I need this job, I really do.” In the heavy silence that followed, Carl bit his lip and stopped just short of drawing blood. It was a habit he’d been trying to kick since he picked up a second job. “I like you, Carl. One last chance. Well, two,” Mr. Pepper conceded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“A call just came in for a large Hawaiian. Grab your order from the store and then pick up Salvatore and help him with his order. And please, no late deliveries today.” Carl raced through the final second of a yellow light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "… A crowd stood like groundhogs around an old sycamore tree, just off the sidewalk. They squeezed in together under the shade of the green canopy, mostly motionless, save for oscillations between the tree and nearby commotion. Carl parked two blocks down and glanced at the time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Five minutes had passed since he sprinted into the pizzeria, grabbed his order, and threw it into the van without inspecting it. His delivery had to wait, finding Salvatore was the priority now. A steady gale of A/C feathered through Carl’s thick moustache as he scanned the scene." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The sun was overhead now with no clouds to soften its harsh rays. A bright red sportscar was flipped sideways against the sycamore’s trunk, sinking the driver’s door partway into the grass. Broken glass sparkled all around." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Standing out from the crowd was a man with slicked hair that shone like an oil spill. Despite the heat, he appeared animated under a sweat-stained tank top that clung to a small pot belly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Carl watched the man wave his hands as if the pair of paramedics before him were his orchestra, and he the drenched conductor. The pair conferred to one another before jotting something down and driving off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Soon after, a tow-truck drove past Carl towards the commotion, drawing the portly man’s attention. With a mischievous grin, the man pointed at Carl, climbed onto the sideways car, reached into the backseat, and pulled out two medium pizza boxes. The crowd Ooh’d and Ahh’d ." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The passenger door opened, and Carl pounced on his documents before stuffing them into the glovebox. The man watched with a raised eyebrow. With a shrug, he chucked both pizza boxes into the van, where one landed flat and the other tumbled onto its side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You must be the famous Carl, huh? I’m Sal.” He hocked a loogie, wiped his chin, and then extended a moist hand. Five sausages adorned with gaudy rings wriggled expectantly. Carl smiled weakly and reluctantly gave Sal’s hand a shake." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“How much time is left on your delivery?” Asked Carl while watching the tow-truck driver inspect the crashed sportscar. His head was bursting with questions. By his feet, Sal placed his pizza boxes on top of Carl’s order of a single large pizza." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He then fiddled with his seat position until his headrest touched the metal divider behind him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“What the hell kinda car you driving anyway? This some sort of ambulance? Some kinda pizza doctor, are ya?” He laughed at the thought before adding, “You’re even late like a doctor, too.” Sal broke eye contact when he saw Carl’s stony expression. “Whoa, alright. I’m not on trial here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You got here late and now you got about­” —Sal glanced at his gold watch— “maybe 10 minutes before it’s free soda o’clock. Look out world, ‘Carbonated Carl’ comin’ in with another late delivery!” Sal cackled. “And don’t even think about kicking me out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I gotta make sure you don’t pull a fast one on us.” Carl slammed the dashboard. Sal’s inquisitive hands retreated from the glovebox, and he held them up. He then tore off the receipt from one of his pizza boxes and pantomimed waving a white flag. Wordlessly, Carl took the receipt: “Deliver to: ‘Mrs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ginger’ - Medium Pepperoni Pizza x2.” He shifted into drive and rolled out past the collision. Sal looked out the window to his totalled car and shook his head, muttering to himself. “After the stop sign, take the next left,” said Sal without looking back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "… As they drove, Carl’s attention alternated between Sal and the odd wheezing noise coming from his A/C. Receiving directions from Sal proved to be more of a crapshoot than panning for gold. Carl only managed to strike valuable information between Sal’s rapid-fire of questions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Why do you have medical stuff everywhere?” “I don’t.” “Oh yeah? What about all those latex gloves and hand sanitizer? You scared of tomato sauce or something?” “No,” said Carl, tapping the brakes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Left or right?” “What’re you hiding in the back, huh? A pile of­ dead bodies?” Sal’s thumb jutted to the right and Carl swerved the van at the last second, slamming the contents in the back against the metal side. A loud Thud reverberated throughout the vehicle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sal’s eyes widened and he pointed frantically to the metal divider. “I knew it! You’re hiding something back there and I bet that’s why you’re always late,” Sal said triumphantly. “Tell you what, I’ll get you to the delivery address on time, for once , and in exchange, you show me what’s in the back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Deal?” With only a few minutes before he was late, Carl was running out of options. … Earlier that morning, Carl woke to Maria’s breathless call. Despite the panic in her voice, just hearing her speak brought a sleepy smile to his face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Maria had followed in her father’s footsteps to become heir to the town’s mortuary monopoly. She even spearheaded the purchase of their new mortuary located on the south side of town, complete with a brand-new retort." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maria’s father had resisted, arguing that, “bodies have been burnt the same way since the discovery of fire. I’m sorry, but I’m going to need a damn good reason to justify sinking all our money into this.” Unfortunately for Maria and her father, justification rose up phoenix-like that morning: Mr." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lytton, beloved ex-mayor, lay half-crisped in the non-functional combustion chamber of the old retort. His once-kind face had been darkened and singed, yet an eerie smile remained as if he were simply napping in shadow.\n\nMaria took a second to steady her breathing. “Mr." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lytton’s daughters are dropping by the old mortuary in the afternoon with the press. They’re writing some piece about their father’s ‘lasting legacy’ on the town and want some pictures with his ashes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If the press gets wind of this, we’ll get dragged through the mud and Dad’s going to have a heart attack.” Still on the phone, Carl tumbled off his sweat-stained bedsheets. The sun had barely risen, and it was already 35˚ C. Maria continued, “Dad’s going to sneak Mr." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lytton out in a body bag and then stall them. I need you to deliver that corpse to the south mortuary location as fast as you can. I’ll be there getting the new retort up-and-running so I can, respectfully, finish roasting this guy. I think I can get the retort fired up by 1 pm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Can you do it?” In a sweet half-whisper, she added, “You’re the only one I can trust Carl, please.” … In front of a squat, white house, a baby-faced man paced along a rickety porch. He was swivelling his head between his watch and the driveway." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Two blonde children, one in a flowy dress, the other in shorts and a bucket hat, followed their father closely. By the road, a woman under a wide brim sunhat and goggle-like sunglasses leaned against a mailbox that read “Kale” in peeling paint." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With a minute left before the 12:40 pm deadline, the Kale’s called out the passing seconds. They were halfway done when Carl turned onto their street. He shot Sal an angry look when he realized that Sal had led him past this street earlier. Sal shrugged with his feet up on the dashboard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Carl was nearly out the door before he remembered to shift the van into park. He raced over to Mrs. Kale while the kids shrieked out, “Six! Five! Four!”. Mrs. Kale’s mouth went wide. She turned and ran, stumbling to their porch. “Two! One! Free soda!” Mr." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kale scooped up his kids and they all cheered. Breathless, Carl said, “Hello, I have a delivery for Ginger. Please, there’s been a mistake. I was here right on time. Your kids were still chanting seconds when I was on your lawn.” “First of all, it’s ‘Mrs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Kale’ to you, young man,” she said, tapping her foot. “Secondly, are you calling us liars? I’m not so sure Giancarlo would like to hear that, now, would he?” Carl opened his mouth in protest, but no words came out. Defeated, he chewed his lip absentmindedly and completed the delivery. Mr." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Kale’s baby face was scrunched up in a tiny sneer while both kids stuck out their tongues and giggled. Behind Carl, a clanging filled the air as Sal tried in vain to bust open the back of the van." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Wait a minute, what if I covered the sodas myself? I have about, uh—” Carl reached into his pockets and produced a gum wrapper and some lint. He looked up sheepishly at Mrs. Kale on the porch, looming several steps above him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“One second!” Carl placed the pizza boxes on a step and sprinted back to the van. As he ran, he didn’t notice Sal sitting halfway out the passenger door and beside him, an open glovebox." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Carl threw himself into the driver’s seat and pilfered through every nook and cranny before noticing that the van felt like an oven. A small gasp escaped his lips as he thrust his hands to the dashboard air vents. Nothing. He grabbed at the hanging thermometer: 46 ˚ C. His heart dropped; Mr." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Lytton was going to liquefy. “Sal! Sal, when did the A/C blow?” Sal didn’t reply. Littered on the floor of the van was shreds from an envelope with an unmistakable red stamp. Carl’s blood boiled. He lunged for the back of Sal’s shirt but was just a hair too slow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sal shot out from his seat and onto the sidewalk before tripping and landing on the Kale’s lawn. Fluttering onto the grass beside him was the post-mortem report and an eviction notice. Sal didn’t have time to get up before Carl was on him. Pinned down, Sal kicked up his feet as he laughed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You’re done, Carl! It’s over man, the pizza’s gone cold!” Carl gripped Sal’s collar and shook him. He felt like screaming but he didn’t know what to say. Near Sal’s hyena-like expression, a wilted daisy drew Carl’s attention." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Below its yellow petals, Carl laid eyes on the word “eviction” for the first time and his anger dissipated into a weightless mist. He released Sal and sat down, clutching his knees to his chest. “I can’t wait ‘till pops hears about this! Two late pizzas and a dead guy in the back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jesus! I mean, I could never get you fired before, but now I find out you’re hauling around actual corpses like some kinda crypt keeper. Pops is gonna freak!” Sal exclaimed, holding his hands to his cheeks in disbelief. In the middle of the town, the clocktower bells rang out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Carl’s eyes fell onto the back of his van, and in an instant, he was back on his feet. Sal’s self-satisfied grin evaporated as Carl swung his hand towards him. Peeking through his fingers, Sal watched Carl pocket his documents and rush back to the van." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Melted cheese and pepperoni grease lined the mouths of the Kale family while they took in the scene on their front lawn. When Carl slammed the glovebox shut, he noticed Sal had torn off the receipt for his order. It didn’t matter anymore anyway." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As Carl drove off, the town’s temperature approached the half-century mark. … It took less than ten minutes for Carl to get to Maria’s new mortuary. He took careful note of the skylights in the sloped roof before rushing to Mr. Lytton." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just as the padlock was unfastened from the van’s rear doors, Maria appeared, squinting under the bright sun. She matched Carl in both jumpsuit and latex gloves. “Fancy meeting you here,” said Carl, pulling at the flipped over gurney. Then, nervously, “You know, I really like the skylights." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nice touch.” They exchanged quick pleasantries while reorienting the body bag and rolling the gurney into the air-conditioned relief of the mortuary. The building was brand new and filled only with the smell of fresh paint and concrete. That is, except for the fired-up retort in a back corner." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once the body reached the corner, Carl’s job was done. Little was said while Maria worked under the steady drone of venting fans. During the process, Maria glanced over at Carl from time to time. He was drenched in sweat and covered in grass stains. Since arriving, only once did he meet her eyeline." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When Maria had finished, Mr. Lytton’s body was allowed to resume its journey towards the undiscovered country where his spirit was no doubt lying in wait. Soon, his half-charred smile gave way to embers and a new sleep took him. “You’re late,” Maria finally said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She took off her gloves and then went to check the retort gauges. Carl felt overwhelmingly heavy as he watched her walk off. There wasn’t a single piece of furniture in the building, so Carl sat on the cool concrete and pulled his knees in close." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I guess I’m always late,” said Carl, rubbing his shins. He gave a hollow laugh. “You know, I used to run a lot as a kid. All the kids in my neighbourhood did. And you know, I never won once. Never. But I finished every race I ever started." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I guess I always thought that’d count for something.” Carl looked up at the skylights, glad to be out of the heat. Maria turned to face Carl. “Oh, really? Every race?” She put her hands on her hips and smiled. “Then why am I not holding a large Hawaiian pizza right now?”." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Boop on the Nose" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Breaking news. Planet Earth had stopped rotating for approximately fifteen minutes this morning. The planet resumed rotation. Physicists remain confused over this phenomenon. We are interviewing-”\n\n The screen turned dark, reflecting my blank face back at me. I felt a hand ruffle my hair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was my father. It was also my father who turned off the television. “You don’t have to watch the news, Wayne,” his dad said, “it’s just a hundred of us folks on the same train. Some people never learn." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not that I mean you, of course.” “Right,” I didn’t know how to react, “anything I should know ?” “Wear a cap before you leave the house,” my father paused for a brief second, \"preferably a disposable one.”\n\nI responded with an ok sign and signaled I want to get some air." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My parents have been walking on eggshells around him ever since I lost my ability. I heard a splat as soon as the front door shut, right when my feet left the front porch. There was a splatter of white on my cap. A cockatoo landed on an overhead branch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I got onto the crosswalk a few streets down after the lights turned green. Tires squealing accompanied by a roaring engine were the only warning signs. I leapt back onto the refuge island. A car stopped inches from where I’d been. Its exhaust fumes hit me a second later." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The driver scowled and waved at me to move along. Days like this are when I feel as if I’ve lost my vision.\n\nRat-tat-tat. Walken’s door opened before I even lowered my fist, then brown curls and blue eyes and grunge clothes appeared. “Sup, W !” His fist slammed into mine in greeting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Walken’s just like me, or -more accurately- I used to be like him. Not counting him being the class president for three years in a row and basketball captain for two, and all-time perfectionist." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“It’s giving …” his wide eyes flicked to my cap, “unlucky.”\n\n“Thanks man,” I flip my cap inside out before stuffing it inside my pocket, “you heard about the ‘100 people on the train’ thing ?” In a second, I felt something close around my wrist. And I was in his house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Keep it on the down low !” His eyes seemed to speak another language, “The Normals mustn’t know about that fluke.” “I AM a Normal,” I yank my hand out from his grasp, “and I’m sure as hell the government knows.” My voice came out harsher than I intended, “Uhhh… I didn’t mean-” “You know what I mean,” Walken scoffed, “we’re good bro.” He handed me a fortune cookie as a peace offering." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had to stifle a smile. Nearly my entire life, I’d complained that I couldn’t enjoy a fortune cookie before cracking it open. It’s ironic.\n\n“C’mon,” Walken gestured to me, “We’re gonna be late for rehearsal.” Graduation’s overrated. And it’s not only me who thinks so." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Our salutatorian Wes slipped between Walken and me, complaining about practice being ‘pointless’. We formed the ‘W triumvirate’ like always." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Nah man,” Walken disagreed, “you gotta give a speech, don’t you ?” “I could see it play out,” Wes said dryly, “everyone will clap when I give a speech of gratitude.” Walken and I exchanged a glance. If only Wes knew.\n\nAll our classmates were taking selfies together, and signing yearbooks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Or enthusiastically throwing their graduation caps in the air. I didn’t need any ability to tell who’ll go to university and who’ll work for minimum wage. Suddenly, everyone turned to face the door in revered silence. It was the Prime Minister. The tension was like a grenade waiting to blow up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My body went rigid. He smirked at me from behind his toothbrush mustache. He remembered me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I heard my pulse in my ears and fought the urge to hide behind my friends.\n\nThe Prime Minister said to no one in particular, “A health check for every school in this suburb during their graduation.” His staff followed him on his way out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I did not see that coming,” Walken picked his jaw off the ground. “Literally ?” I snarked. “Sounds ominous,” Wes used finger quotes, “we must skip this ‘health check’.” The laptop screen glowed violently in the night. As bright as the Prime Minister’s hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For months, I’ve been using Tor to visit websites that could never meet the light of day. Apparently, the ‘fluke’ was people purchasing power. Maybe they want side hustles as fortune tellers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Get this – according to User imma_steal_your_girl (who I paid for information), there is a market for the ability we’re born with. For unknown reasons, that person refused to message the information. He wanted to meet up. So here I am. And there he is. Except us, the nightlife bustled like normal." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Drunks partied, cars whizzed on the road, offices were lit for overtime workers, and stargazers oooohed skywards. His shadow came closer and closer , until- “Wayne ?!” “Wes ?!” Walken asked us the next morning, “What did I miss ?” The Dark Alley looked like its name." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Red strings of LED lights hung on both sides, barely enough to illuminate Wes’ hooded face -bottom half, anyway- and Walken’s shirt. Walken was against it at first, but Wes and I were determined to come regardless. The cobblestones stretched into darkness for what seemed to be miles ahead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We curved a sharp right and were completely submerged into a bustling market. Coins clink when exchanged, strange scents filled the air, and bargains -both shouted and whispered- were all part of the black market. Walden shrank back from a guy who stumbled off-balance, clearly intoxicated." }, { "from": "human", "value": "‘Stay close,’ Wes led the way as we winded around stalls. Colorful neon lights offered voyeurism, others offered illegal drugs, weaponry, betting, even hitman services. It was basically an underbelly night market." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We dodged drunks, women clad in scanty cloaks, and loan sharks who offered their services. Walken squatted low. Seconds later, a green glass bottle sailed above his head. Clang! The bottle broke into pieces. Walken crossed his arms in front of his chest. Left, right, right, straight ahead." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I lost count of the turns we did and everything became a blaze of lights. Soft fabric was on my face the same time I felt something bump into my back. I’d walked right into Wes and Walken walked into me. The person manning the stall was a giant." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Cloaked in black, only his bloodshot eyes were visible from the shadows on his face. And they seemed to glow. His silence only made him more menacing. I gulped as Walden took a step backwards. Only Wes placed both his hands on the stall booth. Our guide whispered something in a low voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The stall owner grunted something." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wes motioned for me to join in their conversation. ‘Five million,’ the stall person’s voice was as rough as he looked. ‘Two million,’ Wes poked his index finger onto the flat surface. ‘Four million,’ the giant boomed, ‘last in stock.’ Wes tapped my shoulder, ‘What’s your budget ?’ I took out a -pitifully small- crumpled ball of cash, then thought of my debit card. ‘Eight hundred thousand,’ I mumbled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The stall owner glared at me. Shivers raced down my spine in response. If Dad was furious he couldn’t buy the car he’d been saving up for, he’d be less scary than this dude. Without another word, Wes gripped my wrist and dragged me away. My feet dragged on the floor as I stumbled to catch up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had me walking along the edge of the black market before we stopped to catch our breaths. ‘What is-” I panted, ‘-up with you ?’ Wes cocked his head at an angle. Walden emerged from the dim, gently shaking a plastic container the way he’d handle test tubes. I hadn’t even noticed he was gone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I gawk at the goody two-shoes, ‘You stol -’ Wes immediately clamped a hand over my mouth. Just then, a sharp shrill pierced the air, accompanied by flashing lights. The LED suddenly seemed ominous. People stopped what they were doing and started to look around suspiciously." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Time to go,” Wes sped us towards the exit. We tore through the market when a mass of black vehicles drove past the outskirts. They parked with screeches and headlights turned on, so much that we struggled to open our eyes. Big, muscled men in black jumped out of the vehicles." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My eyes watered from the bright intensity. Yelling, loads of yelling. Someone was screaming for help. I squinted against the glare. Tires squealed and engines faded as the vehicles zoomed off into the night." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Walken !” Panic gripped me, “They’ve got Walken!”\n\n“And he has the enhancer !” Wes looked like he could faint any moment. “We have to go after them,” I scanned a bicycle parked near the road.\n\n“Hello again.”\n\nI looked to the source of the voice and my blood froze." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Prime Minister pinned Walken by his neck. Walken’s face was red, and he was struggling to breathe. Wes threw a punch, only to be deflected and kicked to the side. I tried and failed to pry the Minister’s hand from Walken’s neck. A sharp knock to my head and I bit the dust." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“No!” My voice was muffled, “Stop!”\n\nThe Prime Minister just grinned at us. His palm glowed like the sun. I’d walked into the medical room expecting a physical checkup. Blood pressure, weight scales, that sort of thing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What I didn’t expect was the freaking Prime Minister in the nurse’s chair, legs crossed, shades over his eyes. He nonchalantly started a conversation with me, then asked me to do him a favor. And, like a dumbass, I agreed despite knowing I’d lose something." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just because I wanted to get in his good books. Two of his bodyguards came out from nowhere. They grabbed hold of my wrists and held me in place. Once my confusion wore off, I struggled and kicked, even shouted for help. The Prime Minister’s hand -I kid you not- glowed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Magic,” I remembered thinking. A tap on the tip of my nose, and my body sagged towards the floor. By the time his goons let go, what I had since birth was gone. When it was over, the Prime Minister let go. Walken collapsed in an unmoving heap.\n\n “YOU!” I darted forward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Except Wes grabbed my wrist, he frantically shook his head.\n\nGoons abruptly materialized from thin air once again. They escorted the Prime Minister out with sneers directed at us. Once they slammed the door behind them, we heaved Walden up and slapped him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Wakey wakey,” I said when Walden blinked, “did you give it up ?” Walden pointed a shaky finger at Wes, then mimed pulling an invisible hoodie over his own head. So I rummaged through Wes' hoodie. My fingers brushed against something cold and hard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“We had it the entire time ?” I squinted at the transparent liquid in disbelief, “I mean … What are the odds I develop auditory hallucinations ?” Wes dabbed his finger in it, then booped my nose, “Think this will work ?”\n\nWalden visibly held his breath. I closed my eyes and felt … the same." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My head drooped in defeat. I opened my eyes when something warm wrapped itself around me. It was Walden. Something else dug into my pockets. Wes. The salutatorian held out my crumpled fortune cookie. Despite the cracks, it miraculously held together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A bright mental flash occurred, followed by a polaroid snapshot which faded into nothingness. “Go beyond borders,” I read aloud the image in my head. My hands shook as I ripped open the cookie. Those exact three words were on the paper." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Walden let out a hearty whoop while Wes gave me an energized fist bump. I dabbed a few drops onto Walden’s nose. He gave me a thumbs up in response. “We’ve got a graduation to crash,” I grin at the W triumvirate, “you guys ready ?”." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Broken Leg Summer" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It's the first day of summer in Newport, New Hampshire. During the summer, we encourage communal stargazing under the open sky. Join the little bear and his companion as they contemplate the vast night sky and envision tomorrow's adventures." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Invite your children to partake in this enriching activity with you for a fun and memorable summer together. With only two mouths to enjoy it, kids can't waste a single minute. Each night becomes a precious opportunity to bond, dream, and explore the wonders above." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So grab the blankets, find a cozy spot, and let the stars guide your imagination. One such kid is called \"Joy Dolly Bracket.\" A high-spirited girl is usually seen with her friends Sam and Johnny; they share a strong and enduring friendship." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Whenever Joy and her friends go out, they are always on the move, running through the forest or walking through their neighborhood, laughing and giggling with delight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No matter how many stones they throw, how many water balloon fights they have, or how many racecar races they participate in, their days are filled with excitement and camaraderie. Each adventure creates memories that last a lifetime, bringing them closer together." }, { "from": "human", "value": "However, a lousy accident destroyed the girl's spirit, leaving her confined to her room. Joy is moping around in her cast, her tomboyish spirit crushed by the broken leg that forced her to sit out the summer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her parents, Alxe and April, desperate to lift her mood, surprised her with a family vacation to the South Shore of New Hampshire. Despite the salty air and seagulls' cries, she could not shake off boredom as they arrived." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On the first day, Joy reluctantly settled for building sandcastles, her mind still on the baseball diamond. She dreamed of leading the Moose Browns, New Hampshire's youth league team, to victory alongside her crush, Peter. But an accident got in the way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An opposing team member accidentally hit her leg while making the final run to earn a point. The game stopped abruptly when she fell hard to the ground, her pain immediate and intense." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her best friend and teammate Tim and Fred, her uncle and team coach, were the first to rush to her side; their faces paled with worry. Even though the Mooses lost, they put their disappointment aside to take their team away to recuperate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "While the damage wasn't so bad to be considered permanent, it would fully heal in the fall, so her summer plans were at least ruined. With her heart heavy with disappointment at the resolutions, Joy refused to leave her room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "From her window, she watched enviously as her friends played outside, their laughter a painful reminder of what she was missing. As much as her parents tried to cheer her up, the weight of her broken dreams kept her spirit confined, much like the cast on her leg." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As she gazed out at the turquoise waves, an idea sparked. She convinced her parents to rent a kayak, promising to take it easy. As she paddled solo, the waves of the ocean regained her excitement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The wind in her hair, the sun on her face, and the rhythmic dipping of the paddle into the water brought back the thrill of competition she had missed. The sudden riptide swept her away from the shore, and panic set in as she struggled to paddle back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just as fear overwhelmed her, a solid current pushed her toward a hidden cove. Breathless and shaken, Joy looked up to find a secluded paradise: turquoise waters lapping on a crescent beach surrounded by towering palms. It didn't end from there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Several days later, her father took her fishing, teaching her to reel in a catch with patience and skill. During her time at the shore, she also spent time collecting seashells with her mother, April. For the first time all summer, Joy felt alive, her heart racing with fear and exhilaration." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As she paddled back to her relieved parents, she realized that sometimes a wrong turn could lead to an unexpected adventure and a chance to rediscover her joy. By the time she came home, Sam and Johnny had come in, refusing to let things ruin her cast." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Leaving the trio to work thanks to video games, board games, Lego building, and drawing. Together, they created epic storylines, built intricate Lego cities, and engaged in thrilling video game quests." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Joy's room became a vibrant world of creativity and fun, where their imaginations soared just as high as the stars they once gazed at. Restoring more of her smile. Before one of their activities ends, Sam and Johnny meet up with Peter. Peter still feels guilty about Joy's accident." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He wants to make amends, but he has no idea Joy likes him. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Sam and Johnny plan to bring Joy and Peter together. They want to create an ideal moment to bond and spark something more." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So they asked Peter to go to their favorite spot in the forest and wait there while they brought Joy. They kept the plan secret. As Joy arrived and saw Peter standing under the tree canopy, her heart raced, and her face turned red like an apple." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She wanted to run away, but her friends encouraged her to stay and face him, giving her the courage to finally speak to him. The two friends left them alone, hoping for a heartfelt conversation, but their well-intentioned plan backfired." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Peter fumbled with his words, unable to express his remorse for Joy's broken leg, while Joy's cheeks burned with embarrassment as she struggled to confess her feelings. The silence between them grew awkward, with each moment stretching longer than the last." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But the silence was broken when Peter revealed he had been trying to talk to her & searching for her everywhere, terrified when she didn't return. Joy's heart skipped a beat quickly. When Joy nearly fell from embarrassment, she grabbed her walking stick to escape." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Before getting hurt, Peter rushed to her and helped her pick herself up. They looked at each other for a second. There's a palpable attraction between them. Their faces turned red with embarrassment as they shared a kiss. Amidst the blush, they shared a tender smile, feeling relief and connection." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Peter helped Joy with her walking stick, and they went home together. The irony wasn't lost on Joy; she had broken her leg to win the game and lost, but she got a much more significant win as Peter took his time to try to find her, showing his care." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A series of unexpected events led Joy back to him after she recovered from her whole experience. As they walked hand in hand, the sound of the waves and seagulls fading into the background, Joy knew that this summer, despite its rocky start, might be the most unforgettable yet.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Love, Loss and Letters" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mom, Thanks for all the help in the operating room today. I know my husband can be a bit of a lightweight when it comes to blood and other assorted bodily fluids. Thank you for keeping me calm in the utmost vulnerability, and not taking advantage of or\n\nusing that time against me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Today was a day I won’t ever forget and I'm sure I won’t let my husband forget or live this situation down either. He’s sad he missed the birth, but I'm sure he’s somewhat secretly glad at the same time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Either way, both of us are ecstatic to welcome our daughterMichaela to the world.\n\nThanks again mom, Your daughter, Rosa Stonecross Mom, Thank you so much for helping plan Michaela’s second birthday party." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Things have gotten hard since Stan left us but you have been a shining light within the darkness for us. Money’s been tight too and your creativity has helped us stretch it a long way. If you ever need a favor, we owe you one for sure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Thank you so much for your support Your Daughter, Rosa Grandma thanks for letting me stay the night tonight -Michaela Sweetie, thank you for coming over. All the other grandkids think they’re too old to hang out with your grandma these days." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hope you never change in that way but I won't hold my breath. -Grandma Grandma thanks for coming to my band recital tonight - Michaela Michaela Stonecross thank you for being such a big part of the fifth grade band this year." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I got to have the pleasure of watching you develop from a complete beginner to a student who is well on her way to perform on our symphonic bands in a higher level someday. You possess a lot of raw, natural talent, young lady and I am itching to see where that talent takes you." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Keep practicing over the summer. Steven Dromless Band Director, MPA Public Schools Thanks for being a great friend Michaela, HAGS! ;) -Janet Hey Michaela, this is Jordan from band class. Janet gave me your number. Thanks for helping me out in band class this past week." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Would you wanna hang out sometime? Dear Aunt Theresa, Thank you again for coming to my graduation party this year, it really meant a lot for you to drive out of state to see me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Especially with my grandma passing away recently it’s nice to have a supportive familial face there.\n\n-Michaela Michaela, Sweet girl it was truly my pleasure to drive, no distance is ever too far to see my favorite niece <3." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once again congratulations, high school completion is no joke especially where we come from. I know you don’t want to make a big deal out of it, but this is a major life milestone for you, and I wanted to make that day unforgettable." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Good luck at college in the fall, I'll be rooting for you from afar. Hopefully I can come to visit for Christmas this year. -Your favorite auntie Hey mom, going out tonight. Thanks for being the greatest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "-Ur fav daughter Hey mom, sorry things got out of hand last night but I'm glad you’re always there for me -Michaela Mrs. Stonecross Thank you for reaching out to us with your resume. I had myself and our HR department look over it, and we are looking to bring you onto the team." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I’d like a short interview if you are interested, but you are almost guaranteed the position so no need to stress about it.\n\nZachary Case Business Manager Techcorp Zachary Thanks for getting back to me! What time works best for you guys on that interview? Michaela Stonecross Janet, Thanks for talking to your friend that works at Techorp." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think I've got the job on lock. -Michaela Michaela thx 4 holding my hair back 2nite bby -Ur bestie Janet Dearest Michaela,\n\nThanks for the greatest night ever, here’s some flowers I picked up for you on my way to work. They made me think of what you said last night." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Enjoy! -Sean Sean, Thanks for the flowers but I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I think we would be better off as friends. -Michaela Michaela, Thanks for coming out to the wedding this past weekend girl, having you as my Maid of Honor was the best decision I could have ever made." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just remember that nobody finds out anything about what happened at my Bachelorette Party. That information stays between me, you, the girls and that man in the firefighting costume who’s pole I wanted to ride ;)." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Anyways maybe i’ll have the chance to repay the favor one day? No rush, you’ve always been an independent gal at heart, and I respect that.\n\nLove you lots, Janet Tashion-Filter Michaela Stonecross, Thank you for your unwavering intelligence, dedication and strength this past year." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You have led the pack in sales for the past four years but you continue to outdo yourself each time.\n\nZachary Case Business Manager Techcorp Dr. Case, Thank you for the opportunity but I would like to politely decline." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I enjoy what I do enough, and the time dedication with this new position wouldn’t let me do the things that I love to do. This year I am going to be a teaching assistant with an old friend starting in the fall, and that is something I am not willing to give up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Apologies for keeping it brief, but I hope you can understand my concern and my situation. Michaela Stonecross Sales Representative Techcorp Mrs. Stonecross\n\nI never thought I would be writing this, but I suppose I should be thanking my lucky stars." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Thank you for a very successful year teaching with me this past season. Twenty years ago when I first had you in class I would have never\n\nTruth be told, I am getting very old, older every day." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There isn’t much steam left in the tank for me, and this year with all the craziness has shown me I'm slowing down to a point where it’s hard for me to hang with the younger kids now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You have shown me that you are more than capable to take the throne next, and whenever you are ready I would be happy to retire and let you take over as soon as possible. Steven Dromless Band Director, MPA Public Schools Dr." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Case Unfortunately I have to put in my resignation notice for the end of the summer, the last week I will be able to work is August 12. Thank you for these past five years at the company. I have grown as an individual, and without this job I don’t know where I would be." }, { "from": "human", "value": "However this job is not my true passion, and I have the opportunity of a lifetime to grab control of my life again and do what I enjoy. Michaela Stonecross Sales Representative Techcorp Mrs. Stonecross, Thank you for the notice, I'll get that down to HR as soon as possible." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Thanks for being a part of the company and I wish you nothing but the best for the future. Mr. Dromless, I’d happily accept your invitation to take on the band program. Thank you for the offer. I am very excited to begin work." }, { "from": "human", "value": "-Michaela Connor, Thanks for last night, I was celebrating and you made it really special -Michaela Janet, Thanks for helping me with my mom’s funeral. I know we haven’t talked much in a while, but having you there reminded me of old times." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If you want to go get drinks sometime let me know.\n\n-Michaela Michaela I don’t know where to start. I’m so sorry it had to end this way. It’s been years since your death but I still feel guilty for letting you leave the bar like that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I should have known you weren’t good enough to drive in your condition. Seeing you in an emotional wreck broke me a little bit, and I didn’t want to intervene but not a day goes by where I don’t think about what happened to you." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I know we weren’t the closest in your final years but having you as a best friend changed my life. REST IN PEACE MICHAELA -janet." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Professor Tenpenny's Court-Ordered Gratitude" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dear Mr. Camden: I have written you this letter to express my deep, abiding, and court-ordered gratitude." }, { "from": "human", "value": "To accommodate your stipulated unwillingness to notice, obey, or acknowledge the existence of obvious and clearly-written caution signs with well-illustrated pictographs, I have crafted this letter in the form of a list so that your goldfish-like attention span may be able to digest it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I took this measure of consideration in light of your insistence upon receiving a letter of gratitude from me, in the hope you might endeavor to read these pages, even though you did not read far simpler postings which could have circumvented this entire debacle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This hope of mine is sobered by skepticism, however, as you went to extraordinary lengths to ignore my verbal and written testimony in the numerous court proceedings that resulted in this ludicrous judgment upon me. 1." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am thankful that the judge who presided over our bench trial, despite ruling in your favor, was lenient in her sentencing and furthermore did not order me to show any remorse in this letter. 2." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am thankful that the sole requirements of this letter are total sincerity and to refrain from any foul language—an obstacle easily overcome by my colossal and creative vocabulary. 3." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am thankful that you will spend an inordinate amount of time consulting a dictionary (which I assume will an internet search engine, as you do not strike me as the sort of person who owns a book because you have shown no hint of intellect nor the curiosity required to develop one) to comprehend this letter, a process which will doubtless be tedious and painful for you." }, { "from": "human", "value": "4. I am thankful that you may have given up after the first paragraph and, though I might be denied my satisfaction of recounting the true prelude to our bitter legal dispute, you could well be thwarted in the satisfaction of having made me write this letter. 5." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am thankful to have emerged alive from the events of the day in question, especially in light of your dogged commitment to exacerbating circumstances in ways so inconceivably asinine that the best (or worst) writers could not contrive to script it. 6." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am thankful to have fulfilled my lifelong dream of visiting Yellowstone National Park, where I indulged in the land’s breathtaking scenery whilst graced with clear skies and temperate summer weather until I had the misfortune of crossing your path on the final day of my visit. 7." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am thankful that, prior to that day, I had never heard of you, your YouTube channel, or your reputation for entertaining your followers with “full-contact content.” 8." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am thankful that the bison calf was not injured and immediately bucked you off when you foolishly attempted to climb onto its back for the purpose of riding it (as later reported by other witnesses, contrary to your insistence that you shattered any records previously held by the world’s premier rodeo professionals)." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "9. I am thankful that you will not profit from any footage you captured, as there was insufficient cellular signal for you to livestream, and you dropped your phone upon realizing the calf’s herd had perceived you as a threat to its young and scores of bison were stampeding toward you." }, { "from": "human", "value": "10. I am thankful that the calf trampled your $200 limited-edition, blue-lensed, mirrored aviator sunglasses that you whined and blubbered about during our narrow escape." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "11. I am thankful that I had an hour to use my new camera, which the university where I am tenured gifted to me for my thirty years of service, before you, in your flight from certain death, spotted me standing next to my car (on the properly marked trail, near one of the ubiquitous signs which advised tourists not to approach the wildlife) and screamed for my help." }, { "from": "human", "value": "12. I am thankful that the lead bison (which I like to believe was the calf’s mother), upon catching up to you, headbutted you in the backside with such impressive force and momentum that you flew far enough ahead of the oncoming herd that we had sufficient distance to get into the car before they were upon us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "13. I am thankful that, during your short and frankly amusing flight, your custom channel-branded ballcap, which you of course were wearing backward, fluttered off you like a bird glad to be quit of the gel-slicked follicle forest you call a hair style." }, { "from": "human", "value": "14. I am thankful that it was a large, steaming pile of fresh bison dung that broke your fall and preserved you from significant injury, and not merely a conveniently-placed lump of mud as you initially pretended despite all olfactory evidence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "15. I am thankful that, when you realized you had dropped your phone and turned to retrieve it, claiming you could simply “run between” the approaching bison because “that footage is worth, like, a billion views,” I had the presence of mind to punch you squarely in the nose for your own good." }, { "from": "human", "value": "16. I am thankful that you were too stunned to struggle when I shoved you into the backseat of my car, as the bison were by then so close their approach could have been mistaken for a weak earthquake." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "17. I am thankful that the child locks on my vehicle engage automatically, so you were unsuccessful in exiting the car to recover your phone before I could drive away, and I did not have to see you gored and trampled to death which—however richly deserved it might have been on your part—would have been a scarring experience for me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "18. I am thankful that I did not lose control of the car when you clambered haphazardly into the front seat (nearly kicking me in the face in the process) to escape via the passenger door while shouting you could easily “tuck and roll” without me stopping if I were “too chicken-[ expletive omitted ]” to brake." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "19. I am thankful that, once you opened the door, you realized I had accelerated to a speed great enough to provide virtually no chance of survival if you leapt from the car, and so you gave up on that course of action and closed the door again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "20. I am thankful that you did not kill us both when you next attempted to seize control of the steering wheel to turn the car around because, in your estimation, “that footage was worth more than both our lives.” 21. I am thankful that we didn’t crash head-on into the singularly magnificent Lodgepole pine in front of us when I removed one hand from the steering wheel long enough to punch you in the nose again (which I still contend, despite judicial findings otherwise, was self-defense)." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "22. I am thankful that I broke your nose, and in so doing discouraged you from any further attempts to wrest control of the car from me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "23. I am thankful that the rush of adrenaline I experienced, my tunnel vision on the road, and the tumultuous thundering hooves of the bison chasing us drowned out most of your moaning about your sunglasses, your hat, your phone, how “lame” I was for “kidnapping” you during the “best video ever filmed,” and other complaints too unintelligible to decipher once you realized you were, in fact, covered in bison feces." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "24. I am thankful that the bison gave up their pursuit after a few miles once we were out of their territory and the threat to their young was removed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "25. I am thankful that my car was not damaged beyond the stains from your soiled clothing, which were fortunately removed by professional car detailing services the next day." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "26. I am thankful that the park rangers who witnessed our escape believed my explanation that I had no idea who you were and was involved only by ill-fated happenstance, despite your wild fabrications that I was entirely at fault for having “forced you to do it,” which I can only assume was a ridiculous revenge scheme for my breaking your nose and preventing you from regaining your phone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "27. I am thankful that you were heavily fined and banned from ever returning to the park." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "28. I am thankful that the park rangers restrained me from hitting you a third time when you, after hearing my protestations that I had never heard of your channel and found your chosen profession of “influencing” preposterous, became irate and told me, and I quote, “Bro, you should be thanking me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You’re going to be famous now.” (I am thankful, that is, not for being denied the gratification of hitting you, but that I have received this light sentence due to the fact I struck you only in the context of saving you from your own stupidity and audacity.) 29. I am thankful that the bison calf was not rejected by its herd after you terrorized it, so that it did not have to be euthanized." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "30. I am thankful your phone was later found smashed to pieces so small they could have been used as confetti." }, { "from": "human", "value": "31. I am thankful that your self-proclaimed “celebrity” did not, as you assumed, supersede the laws which forbade you from suing me, the park, the rangers, or the bison (which should not have had to be explained to you) for restitution for the value of your soiled clothing, your sunglasses, your hat, your phone, the perceived (and highly contested) value of the lost footage, or your medical expenses for the fractured coccyx you sustained from the aforementioned headbutting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "32. I am thankful that, when the court ruled I had indeed assaulted you because Good Samaritan laws do not protect volunteer (I use the term “volunteer” loosely) rescuers when they punch the victim (with “victim” loose to the point of farcical) in the face, the judge regardless admonished you for your sense of entitlement and refused to award the compensatory damages you asked for the medical treatment of your broken nose or the punitive damages for “intentional infliction of emotional distress” you alleged to have suffered when I “unlawfully imprisoned” you in my vehicle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "33. I am thankful that you are so stupefyingly narcissistic that, when you received no financial award for your suit, you demanded this letter of gratitude as my sentence in lieu of the letter of apology the judge suggested, which I would have rather served jail time than have written." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "34. I am thankful that, when you leveraged your “platform” to bring notoriety to this fiasco with the express mission of getting me “canceled so hard” that the University would be forced to fire me despite my tenure, you instead raised the attention of your sponsors and followers to your endangerment of a bison calf, and as a result your channel was severely demonetized." }, { "from": "human", "value": "35. I am thankful that National Geographic magazine has paid me handsomely for the photo I accidentally captured of you sprinting toward me, your face a mask of sheer terror as a herd of apoplectic bison pursued you, dust rising around their hooves like sulfuric smoke, as if your idiocy had accidentally broken loose ravening beasts from the very gates of hell." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "36. I am thankful that the photograph will be on the front cover of the magazine and tie in to a feature article about the troubling trend of so-called influencers targeting innocent animals as their subject matter and that trend’s consequences both for the humans and the poor creatures they exploit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "37. I am thankful that the image I captured has, in your turn of phrase, “gone viral” and has garnished millions of views internationally and made you a “meme” that is globally mocked and chastised." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "38. I am thankful for the celebrity I now enjoy, as the photo has drawn attention to my amateur photography website, and I have received an influx of offers from local vendors who wish to sell my photos on canvas in their establishments, which is quickly developing into a reliable passive income." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And so, Mr. Camden, your proclamations that I should be the one to thank you and that I would see fame as a result of your miscreancy have borne out equally prophetic and ironic." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hope this court-ordered letter of gratitude—which cost only a few hours of my time and proved unexpectedly cathartic in its creation—has brought you enlightenment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I assure you that, when I brought it with me to the pub for my friends to review, you generated hours of rip-roaring laughter and eye-wiping merriment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the years to come, when your name and brand have long-since faded into obscurity, the photo of you fleeing those bison will hang large over my mantle as a conversation piece and a reminder of all these things for which I am ever so grateful." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Very, very, very, very sincerely yours, Professor Charles Tenpenny, Ph.D.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Thank You (A Confessional)" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For nurse Sarah Robinson, Thank you for taking such good care of this old man in his final days. I couldn’t have asked for a more compassionate and competent person to guide me towards the end of the line." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I have no doubt that, even if you knew who I was, and what I did, you would have treated me with the same care and respect that I have come to receive these past few days. As a final request, my hope is that you can help these letters find their way to their intended recipients." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If you are curious and would like to know more about the man you have treated these past few days, please feel free to browse these letters. For my wife (Please place on her gravestone), Thank you, Meredith, for all the love, joy and support you brought to my life over our 58 years of marriage." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A secret such as mine can be a heavy burden to bear, and I cannot thank you enough for sharing that burden with me all those years. I wish I could have preceded you in death, but I am hopeful that we will be reunited in whatever afterlife awaits." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I am to be judged on the actions of my life, I hope the cosmic scales weigh in favor of the good that resulted from my reckless and desperate act so many years ago. For my children, Roy and Nancy, Thank you for the joy you have brought this old man over his life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As I fell through the cold dark sky on that fateful night, I prayed to whatever god(s) there may be, that I would get to see you two grow up. I'm so proud of all that you have become and accomplished." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hope you can forgive me for keeping this large secret from you until now, and that you can understand that I only kept it from you to protect you. I have left a safety deposit box to be transferred into your names after my passing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The contents of which should be sufficient to validate my story, and to incriminate only those who have since left this mortal plane." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For the family of Joe and Maureen Babiche, Thank you, Joe and Maureen, for the kindness, loyalty and friendship that you gave to Meridith and I over the many decades that we lived next to one another in our sleepy little suburb." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When Joe found me stumbling out of the forest on that frigid Thanksgiving eve, I was hypothermic, battered and broken. How he found me so quickly, and so far from our intended pickup point, I have never been able to comprehend." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Had he not been there to ferry me to safety, I surely would have died in those woods. Had Maureen not been so adept at treating my wounds and nursing me back to health, I very well may have perished later. I truly owe my life to you both." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For the family of Julio Vasquez, Thank you, Julio (or Agent Vasquez, as I knew him at the time) for turning a blind eye towards a man For the Evergreen Skydiving and Parachuting School, Thank you, Robert and Maggie, for being excellent teachers who unknowingly helped me to prepare and survive my dangerous jump on that stressful night." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For the surviving members (or families) of the crew of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305 (I have included names on the back), Thank you for your calm and courteous treatment of me during such an extraordinary event on that night so long ago." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I've never forgiven myself for putting you through such a harrowing experience, nor do I expect forgiveness. However, I want you to know that the ransom money was not spent frivolously but was instead used to help support numerous families who were struggling during those difficult times." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For the Seattle Sacred Days Church, Thank you, Pastor Joseph and his flock, for discretely laundering the money that would be used to benefit so many needy families. I will never forget the calm and comforting words that Pastor Joseph said when I confessed to him of my transgression." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When ye thought evil against me, God disposed it to good, that he might bring to pass, as it is this day, and save much people alive. Genesis, 50:20 For the Boeing Workers Union, Thank you to all the wonderful people I worked with during my time at Boeing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The so called \"Boeing Bust\" was terrible for so many workers and their families. I tried my best to ensure that the ransom money be discreetly distributed to those families who were most severely impacted by those layoffs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For the Seattle Times, Thank you to the various media outlets, including the Seattle Times, who have provided fair and unbiased media coverage of my act over the years. My only complaint would be the misreporting of my alias, as well as the continued use of such terribly inaccurate police sketches." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At least they got the sunglasses right. Over these many years, I have wrestled with how to view the notoriety and cult following that my act has inspired." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am not proud of having carried out the hijacking, nor do I think it was the right thing to do, despite the good that the ransom money was used for. It was a dangerous and desperate act of a man who was thinking irrationally in those dire financial circumstances of the time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What I did was wrong, and I beg of anyone in similarly desperate circumstances to please choose a different path. That being said, I have been heartened by the many treasure hunters, true-crime enthusiasts, and amateur investigators who have found joy in pursuing me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Despite my regrets over my dangerous and stupid actions, I'm glad I was able to add a bit of mystery to the world over these past 54 years. Sincerely, Roger Billings, aka Dan Cooper, aka D.B. Cooper P.S. My parachute and some other gear may still be out there in those woods, waiting to be found." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’ve listed some clues as to the approximate location on the back of this letter. There is one item in particular that may be very surprising to anyone that finds it. Happy hunting!." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "An Alaskan Vacation" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An Alaskan Vacation It was day 48 of the continuous Alaskan Summer Sun and Eric was still lost. His shelter for almost the last 2 months was nothing more than the torn fuselage of his bush plane that had crashed after an engine failure." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The remains of his wife and only passenger lay a mere 10 feet from the wreckage, in a shallow grave. They had been flying along the North Slope of the Brooks Range in northern Alaska as part of a wilderness getaway that Eric and his wife had done every summer for the last 3 years." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had just turned back to head towards Prudhoe Bay when his engine died without warning. With nothing but trees below them the landing was never going to be easy. The aluminum skin of the small aircraft didn’t offer much resistance to the old hardwood trees of the Alaskan wilderness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "During the crash a branch had impaled his wife after coming straight through the thin metal of her door. 3 feet of spruce had lodged itself into her shoulder, pinning her in place. It had only taken 3 days for her to ask Eric to end her suffering." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Eric rebuked her, saying that help would be there soon. The airport would notice he hadn’t returned and send a search party. In the meantime, Eric kept busy. He gathered firewood, found and boiled water, foraged for food, and set traps for small game. He forced her to drink and eat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He hid the limited antibiotics from their medical kit in her food. This went on for 15 days before the supplies of antibiotics ran dry. On day 17 as Eric tried to feed his wife some of the scarce food he had been able to scrounge together, she refused. She looked him in the eyes and begged for death." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The infection had developed at a rapid pace. She said her body was on fire and all she knew was pain. By day 19 Eric had worked up the courage to ease his wife’s suffering but it was too late. She had passed while Eric was sleeping." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her eyes stuck half open, staring down at the wooden stake that had claimed her. Not knowing what else to do, Eric held a small funeral for the love of his life. After digging a shallow hole with a torn piece of aircraft aluminum he whispered a short prayer to himself and lowered her body into grave." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After day 20 and every single day afterwords Eric would hear a single voice over the aircraft’s broken radio. Only when the shadows were long from the Sun’s daily flirt with the horizon would he hear this voice. He convinced himself it was nothing, just his extreme hunger manifesting in strange ways." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had, after all, been giving all the food he found to his wife. Day 26 and Eric had almost no energy to do anything. His stomach was a deep dark pit in which his very soul seemed to be sinking into. All he could focus his hazy mind on was food." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Food and thoughts of his wife, whom he missed more than anything. Eric could no longer keep his mind straight. Thoughts of his wife and complaints from his empty stomach conjoined into a horrible plan of action. Eric sat, staring at the impromptu grave he had created for his late spouse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was day 32 and he wanted to see his wife again. Grabbing the piece of aluminum he had used to initially dig the 3-foot hole, he began digging again. This time was much easier though." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A deep longing feeling in the pit of his stomach pushed him forward even when his muscles should’ve failed from exhaustion. After a few minutes, he once again looked at the face of his wife. Her features were somehow unchanged, as if they had been perfectly preserved in the Alaskan soil." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eric chalked this up to a possible layer of permafrost that must be just below, just out of sight. The sun was setting on day 33 and Eric had a large fire going. His feast would soon be ready. It is what she would’ve wanted, he tells himself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He would want the same thing if the roles had been reversed. The idea of sacrificing yourself to feed your loved one is almost romantic, Eric thinks to himself as the flesh of his significant other crackles and cooks in the fire. This way they would be truly together forever." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her body incorporated into his. It was day 48. Eric sat huddled in his shelter. The sacrifice offered up by his wife had run out a couple of days ago. He stood to look at her grave, the soil still disturbed after he had gone back and buried his wife’s bones." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He tried thinking of her from before this horrible ordeal. His stomach rumbled. Before he could finish his train of thought though, a sound caught his attention. A distant but instantly recognizable sound, a helicopter, and from the sound it was rapidly getting closer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He scrambled to find something, anything to get their attention. Searching for the survival kit which he knew contained flairs, he worried that he might miss his chance. The sound of helicopter blades was growing louder. If they overflew him and did not see him, it was over." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Giving up on trying to find the flares he turned and grabbed a piece of the airplane’s fuselage. Using as much strength as he could muster, he tore the thin metal from its frame, his hands bleeding from the sharp edges. The helicopter sounded so close now he turned his head to look for it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He could see the helicopter now, using the aluminum as a mirror he attempted to catch their attention. Hoping the Sun’s rays would cooperate. At first, he couldn’t tell if it was working, he flailed the makeshift mirror about in a desperate effort to signal them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The helicopter flew out of his vision, shielded by the dense forest around him. Eric was about to give up when he noticed the sound of the helicopter was still growing louder. A great gust of wind enveloped him as the helicopter appeared overhead. It’s approach shielded from his view by the forest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eric shielded his eyes from the dirt and dust that the prop wash from the helicopter was kicking up. A blinding spotlight shone down on him, somehow eclipsing even the Sun in terms of brightness. The helicopter was all Eric could see or hear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Staring into the bright light of certain salvation Eric could swear he could hear another noise just beneath the sound of the blades, a rhythmic beeping that seemed to be in time with his heartbeat. Opening his eyes he found himself lying in a bed staring up at white ceiling tiles." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A ceiling fan lazily spun above him. Beeping to his left caught his attention. A heart rate monitor and an IV bag on a stand were connected to his arm. Turning his head to the right he saw balloons and cards with various versions of “get well soon” and “Hope to see you soon” scribbled on them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A voice from across the room startled him. “Sir, you are in the Kansas City Regional Hospital. You’ve been in a car accident.” A nurse that he hadn’t noticed yet crossed the room to come to his bedside. She spoke again. “You’ve been in a medically induced coma for a week." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How do you feel?” Before Eric could speak another voice was heard just outside the door, a familiar voice. Eric’s wife opened the door and upon seeing that he was awake, ran to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Oh god I’m glad you’re ok!” She said while hugging him tightly “They wheeled you away so quickly in the ambulance I was terrified.” Eric wrapped his arms around her, returning the tight hug. For some reason all Eric could think about while holding his wife was about how hungry he suddenly was.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Whispers of the Forest" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the heart of the medieval forest, a small shack cast a shadow over the land, the air hung heavy with grey mist as Ernest fled for her life. She pressed on undeterred despite the branches clawing at her clothes and roots reaching for her feet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her hair blowing from the cold wind blocking her vision. The sharp thrones nagged at her legs making a sharp cut on her leg. She started limping through the forest after she saw the monster walking softer each time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She picked up the torn-up piece of her short jeans an wrapped her leg slowly and also paced her breathing at the same time. Fear pulsed through her veins as she felt a looming presence trailing behind her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Memories flooded her mind as she raced through the forest, seemingly feeding the unseen terror that pursued her with each step. Despite her attempts to push these emotions aside through denial and distraction, they continued to haunt her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A sudden realization struck Ernest: the monster chasing her wasn't a physical entity but the embodiment of her own emotions. With trembling legs and a heavy heart, she earnestly stopped and turned toward the monster. Its expression shifted from aggression to a haunting reflection of her sadness." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Its eyes, once filled with malice, are now filled with tears. Ernest found herself staring into a distorted mirror of her soul. As she stood there, a strange calm washed over her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The monster, no longer fearsome, it seemed to shrink before her eyes, its form dissolving into the mist that dispersed into the air. What remained was not a creature of darkness, but a shadowy echo of herself—vulnerable, wounded, and in desperate need of understanding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As she embraced the sorrow she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. As Ernest left the clearing where the pursuit had concluded, she departed with a realization. The monster that had tormented her was not there to hunt her down, but an aspect of her own being yearning for empathy and resolution." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With each stride, she welcomed the complexity of her feelings, recognizing that genuine healing and acknowledging and accepting her sorrow, rather than running away from it. The echoes of her past pains were lingering, but now she faced them with courage." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She gained wisdom from confronting her inner monsters that embodied her saddest emotions. Ernest continued to go deeper into the forest, her footsteps now steady. The sun seemed to embrace her casting a gentle glow upon her pathway." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As she walked memories counted to surface, one by one, each one capturing a snippet of her life. She recalled her moments of joy and laughter that were once filled with warmth and empathy. Yet intertwined with her darker memories-moments of pain and loss that scarred her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ernest has spent years trying to hide these painful memories that were dragging her down. Now, she understood that true healing required acknowledging her emotions. The ancient forest around her seemed to echo each step she took. She paused with a clear, glistening lake." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She cupped her hands together and splashed water on her face. Ernest reflected on her inner monster. It had been a moment of realization of fears and anxieties. The journey through the medial forest became her inner landscape-the landscape that she navigated. The day turned into." }, { "from": "human", "value": "the sky painted in orange and pink above the horizon. She acknowledged the pain of past disappointments and the ache of unfulfilled goals. She also discovered moments of gratitude." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The strength that had carried her through difficult situations, for the lessons learned along the way, and to this moment of profound self-discovery. As night came, Ernest sat beneath the stars that shimmered like diamonds in the dark sky." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The darkness no longer held fear for her; instead, it was comforting and warming, which she embraced every bit. She thought about the people who had given her warmth life—the friends who had offered support, who had imparted wisdom, and the loved ones whose memories still lingered in her heart." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ernest found herself whispering words of forgiveness—to others, but most importantly, to herself. She forgave herself for the times she had faltered she felt a weight lift from her shoulders, as if releasing a burden she had carried for far too long." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As dawn painted the sky in shades of blue and light gold, Ernest rose from beneath the oak tree. She felt a sense of clarity wash over her. That she had not experienced in years." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The forest, once a place of fear and uncertainty, had become her safe place—a space where she had faced her inner monsters and emerged stronger. With each step she took on her journey back through the forest, Ernest carried with her a renewed sense of purpose." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She knew that the path ahead would not be easy challenges But she also knew that she possessed the strength to face whatever lay ahead of her, she was ready to battle them. As she emerged from the forest, the small shack where her journey had begun came into view." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Its shadow no longer loomed over the land, but instead stood as a reminder of the courage and resilience she had discovered within herself. Ernest paused at the edge of the clearing, taking one last look back at the ancient trees that had witness to her transformation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yet she also knew that she possessed the courage and wisdom to face whatever lay ahead with grace and determination. As she emerged from the forest's embrace, Ernest turned back one last time to farewell to the ancient trees that had witness to her through her journey to finding herself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Their branches reached towards the sky like arms, as if they were applauding her for the courage she had shown and achieved. Ernest had a smile ear to ear with radiated from deep within her soul—a smile of gratitude, acceptance, and newfound peace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "carried with her the knowledge that she was no longer defined by her fears, but liberated by her courage to face them. With a heart full of gratitude and a spirit, Ernest turned towards the horizon, ready to embrace the new chapter of her life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She thought about the wise old woman with the eyes that seemed to withhold the wisdom of age or the travelers who discover their journeys. As she disappeared into the mist, Ernest thought to herself. \"Never give up, chase your dreams.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Digital Detox Delirium" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A sharp stab of pain in my neck causes me to look up from the thousands of words on the hundreds of pages on the phone I wasn’t really even seeing. I gingerly stretched, wincing when I heard the distinctive popping of vertebrae. They sounded like gunshots." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I glance at the nearby clock, my breath catching in my throat when I see the time. 10:51 pm. It’s almost eleven! But… but how? I remembered eating dinner, a sorry excuse of lasagna with pasta that wasn’t fully cooked and tomato sauce that had freezer burn." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After putting my dishes by the sink I headed to my room; as soon as I had sat down, my phone vibrated, alerting me to a new notification. Picking it up I saw Janie had just posted on Panoptic.\n\nThat had been at 7:04. I blinked, realizing how dry my eyes were and how numb my butt felt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Had I really just spent FOUR hours looking at… What had I been looking at?\n\nGroaning, I tossed my phone aside, hearing it land with a satisfying thud on the table beside me. Most people would have worried about cracking it. I wasn’t." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You could run one of them over with a car or drop it off a twenty-story building, and the thing wouldn’t have a scratch on it. I should know. I tried both last summer.\n\nThe four-note chime sounded, alerting me to another notification. I ignored it. Instead, I let my eyes wander around my room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was a partly folded pile of clothes on the floor by my dresser, a task interrupted by my phone. In the corner was a bin of stuffed animals, the layer of dust coating them visible even from where I sat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nostalgia washed over me, and I smiled, remembering the hours I used to spend playing with them, creating stories from nothing but my mind. I don’t know if I could still do that even if I tried.\n\nFinally, my gaze landed on the bookshelf at the foot of my bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Well, in reality, it was a shelf that I happened to use for books, a small collection of antique paper-backs, probably some of the last print books published before the switch to digital." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They all had cracked covers, dog-eared pages, and coffee stains, but there was something charming about them: the way they felt in my hands, the sound the turning pages made, and the smell… When was the last time I had picked one up? Maybe I should start one tonight. Just a few pages before bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was about to scan the shelf when my phone vibrated, and the same four-note chime rang out. Automatically, I felt my hand drift towards the table. At the last second, I paused, hand hovering above the phone. Vibration. Four notes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I sighed, irritated and longing for the time when notifications could be silenced with the push of a button." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But those days were nothing more than a fading memory now, so I did the next best thing: I got to my feet and left the room.\n\nUnsurprisingly, I found my parents in the living room, side-by-side on the couch, noses glued to the screens of their respective device of choice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Neither of them acknowledged me when I entered, and I’m positive they didn’t notice when I walked out the front door, letting it slam shut behind me. I flopped down in the middle of the driveway, savoring the warmth of the concrete against my back and the oscillating calls of the nearby katydids." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Thousands of pinpricks of light danced in the night sky. If I squinted, I could almost pretend they were stars, just like I had done when I was younger. I knew better now, though. I knew that years before I was born, Earth’s leaders had finally declared that light pollution was a crisis." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They had been too late. Now, the only star that could still be seen was Sirus." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everything else was satellites, airplanes, and drones.\n\nI heard the front door slam, and I didn’t need to turn my head to recognize the distinctive footsteps of my older sister, Emery, walking towards me.\n\n“Watcha doing out here?” I shrugged my shoulders." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Sky watchin’.” There was a muffled thump as she plopped down beside me, and then... It was so quiet I thought I had imagined them at first, but then the sound came again. Four distinctive notes. I stiffened.\n\nEmery laughed as she removed my phone from her pocket." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Oh, right! I came out here to give you this. It was going crazy in your bedroom.” She threw it to me and my hands reflexively darted out to catch it. I stared down at the device. It vibrated once more. “I don’t want it,” I mumble. Emery looked at me, cocking her head. “What?” “I said . I. Don’t." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Want it!” I pulled my arm back and then hurled the phone as far into the yard as I could. As far away from me as I could. “Matilda! What did you do that for? Mom and Dad worked hard to get you a nice model,” she admonished.\n\n“Relax,” I huffed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“It landed in the grass.” “Well, didn’t you at least want to check what the notifs were about?”\n\n“Not really,” I said, crossing my arms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“But what if it’s important?” “I’m sure it can wait until the morning.” “What if Leaha is trying to contact you? “At 11:20? You know she goes to bed at like 9.” “Or if it’s a reminder for an assignment due tomorrow? “It’s the summer , Em." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There are no assignments.” “Or what if your favorite band, what was it… Velvet Nebula! What if they’re going to have a concert tomorrow and tonight’s the only chance to buy tickets?” I let out a snort. “Now you’re being ridiculous. I haven’t liked Velvet Nebula since middle school.” Emory grinned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I’m just saying, Meti, you won’t know unless you check .” “Em, drop it. I don’t want to check the stupid notifs.” “But why? “Because I don’t want to be scrolling through Panoptic until 3 am,” I snapped.\n\nI could feel Emory roll her eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“You know you could just check and then close it after you’re done, genius.”\n\nA wave of calm washed over me, and I could think for the first time in what felt like months. “That’s just it, though." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You can’t ‘just check’.\n\nI’ve told myself that hundreds of times but I always end up scrolling for hours afterwards." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It does something to our brains, Em… It makes it impossible for us to just check .”\n\n“Are you auditioning for theater next year? Because that was some monologue!” I reach over and hit her on the shoulder. Enough to hurt, but not enough to leave a bruise. “I'm serious, Em." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It’s not natural.” Emery let out a long sigh." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I don’t know when you suddenly decided to become anti-technology, but you know it's not all evil, right? Think about all the wonderful things it has allowed us to do! Message friends hundreds of miles away, make new friends on Panoptic, look anything up, learn any skill you want..." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not to mention there are thousands of options for entertainment! Honestly, Mittens, I think you're catastrophizing.” “Mittens?” I echo." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“You haven’t called me that in years.” “What? I can’t reuse old nicknames?” she said, flashing me her perfected “annoying big sister” smile.\n\n“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” I mutter, smiling despite myself. “Anyway." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Since when have you become a walking, talking, breathing advertisement?”\n\n“Since I’ve been trying to cure you of your stupidity and help you see how wrong you are.”\n\nI groaned, knowing she wasn’t going to let the subject drop. “Fine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Fine! I’ll check the notifs before I go to bed, just… give me a few more minutes, okay?” I saw Em nod her head out of the corner of my eye, clearly satisfied with herself. I decided, then, to change the topic. “So what are you still doing up? Don’t you have work tomorrow?”\n\n“Nah." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They gave us the day off. I’m going to meet a couple of friends at 8-Byte Bagels.” “But how are you going to get there? Your car’s still in the shop.” Emery stared at me with an expression on her face like I had asked her what color the sky was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Uhh… I’ll take the bus, obviously,” she said, laughing. I sat up, head spinning a little at the sudden motion. The pit of my stomach felt hollow. “What did you just say?” “That I’ll take the bus?” My heart quickened to match the racing of my thoughts." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My breathing involuntarily increased as well, but regardless, I felt like I couldn’t get enough oxygen. Emery NEVER used public transit. She hadn’t directly said so, but I know it’s because she’s scared of it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After all, it’s the reason why she had to have her left leg amputated.\n\nBack when I was younger, she had always taken the bus to school. One day, though, something went wrong. A semi-truck drifted out of its lane, hitting the bus head-on, totaling it and killing five passengers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Emery had been one of the “lucky” ones, the doctors had said as they prepared her for surgery.\n\nThe post-accident investigation found that there had been an error in the truck’s self-driving system, and so immediately after being discharged, Emery had gone to a scrapyard and salvaged an old manual car that she had by some miracle managed to repair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She has refused to drive or ride in anything else since.\n\n“Meti. Meti. Hey, are you alright?” I looked up to see that Emery was sitting up now, staring at me, her forehead wrinkled in confusion. That’s when I looked at her, and I mean really looked at her. Everything about her was so familiar." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The slight curve of her mouth quirked up in a perpetual smirk, her thick eyebrows that she used to tell me were caterpillars fused to her skin, the small mole dotted on her right cheek… The closer I studied her, though, the more things that seemed… off." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her nose was a little too straight, her teeth a little too white, her jaw a little too sharp, and her eyes… For a second, just a breath, I could have sworn her pupils looked almost… square. Then I blinked and everything was right again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All I could see was the concerned face of my sister staring at me. “Matilda… you haven’t answered me. Are you feeling al—” I didn’t let myself hesitate any longer. I slammed my fist into my sister’s face, cutting off her question. She let out a sound of surprise, but I hardly noticed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Blood roared in my ears, drowning out her cries of pain, her pleading, her begging. I ignored her, punching again and again and again. I ignored her because the thing standing in front of me was not my sister.\n\nMy sister was dead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She died on my 17th birthday. \n\nSlowly, everything began to dissolve around me. The first time this had happened, I had panicked. Now, though, I stayed still watching as the concrete beneath me vanished and the sky disappeared. Eventually, everything was dark." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then, light.\n\nI groaned, squinting against the bright fluorescent assaulting my eyes with the ferocity of a thousand suns. Muffled voices became clearer, and the blobs of color eventually stopped shifting as my vision returned to normal. Four doctors in freshly pressed lab coats stood in front of me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Two were humans and two… were AIs.\n\nThe female AI with curly red hair was bent over a clipboard furiously scribbling down notes. I had never bothered learning its “name”. Assigning it a name would humanize it, and it was definitely not human." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The doctors still had yet to speak to me when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement. That’s when I saw…it. The AI from the simulation. It was still wearing my sister’s face. I felt my features twist into a snarl." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nothing I did in the simulations ever transferred over into the real world, but I had still secretly hoped the AI would have at least a little blood on its face. Sadly, there wasn’t even a speck, and unfortunately, I could not remedy that fact due to the restraints around my wrists." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My non-sister walked over to stand in front of me, smiling. “Mati,” it said, voice sickly sweet. “Don’t call me that,” I growled. Something flashed in its eyes. Annoyance maybe? I still hadn’t figured out exactly which emotions AIs felt, if any. “Matilda,” it began again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Why must you fight against all of our attempts to help you? We only want what is best for you.” “Go to hell,” I spat. The not-Emery AI’s eyes darkened. I swallowed. Definitely anger. I knew I was treading on thin ice but didn’t really care." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I noticed the curly-haired AI was once again writing on its clipboard—probably something along the lines of “Patient quick to anger; demonstrates emotional distress upon seeing dead sister.”\n\n“I think that’s enough for today." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Why don’t you go back to your bedroom and have a nice long think about today’s session, Matilda?”\n\nIt was phrased like a question, but I knew what it actually was. A command. That’s when the needle pierced my skin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The next time I opened my eyes, I was back in my “bedroom,” although calling it that was being generous." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sure, there was a bed tucked into the corner, and there was also a small table with a lamp, but besides those and the four pale blue-gray walls, there was nothing else in my “bedroom.”\n\nAt one point there had also been a rug, but that had been removed after I spent an entire day counting its threads." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had gotten to 653,457.\n\nTo me it had simply been a way to pass time; to the doctors, it was distracting me from the thing they believed I should be doing—scrolling mindlessly through Panoptic.\n\nAs if simply thinking its name was a trigger, the phone lying on the bedside table vibrated, filling the room with its insufferable chime." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I didn’t move from my spot on the bed. Much to the doctors’ annoyance, I had already gone almost a year without looking at Panoptic. I would rather die than let it consume me like it had my parents. Emery’s death was the catalyst." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stopped doing a lot of things after she died, like using Panoptic… or eating. Instead, I spent the majority of my days lying in bed staring at the ceiling or sleeping. My eyes were constantly red from crying and my nose was constantly raw." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My parents were so engrossed by their precious screens, that they didn’t notice I was suffering from a depression so deep that it rivaled the Mariana Trench. By the time they finally did realize, I had to be hospitalized, where I was treated and then diagnosed with depression." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The doctors, though, were more concerned about the fact that I hadn’t logged into Panoptic in over three weeks. “Far too long for any ‘healthy’ person,” they claimed. Ultimately, they diagnosed me with ludditea delirare , its key symptoms being depression and uninterest in technology." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They offered to enroll me in a government-funded correctional program." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My parents quickly agreed, and before I knew it, I was shipped off to this place, where doctors claimed they wanted to help cure me while I screamed at them that there was nothing to cure .\n\nAgain, the phone chimed at me, vibrating and dancing on the little wooden table." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Vibrating and chiming and screaming until I couldn’t take it anymore.\n\nLeaping to my feet, I grabbed the phone and hurled it against the wall. The phone bounced off and landed with a clatter on the floor, still vibrating. I ran over to it. Not a scratch. Rage." }, { "from": "human", "value": "White, hot, and blinding took over, and I began smashing the phone against the floor. It was still screaming. Or was that me? Was I the one screaming? Maybe we both were. All I knew was that I wanted it to stop. I wanted the safety of my bed and the warmth of the concrete beneath my back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wanted the calm of the katydids’ calls." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wanted my parents to finally look up and see me, I wanted my sister to be alive, but most of all I wanted silence.\n\nMy hand was numb from gripping the phone, and when I raised it up to check, I already knew what I would find: a pristine screen with not a single chip." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instinctively, my eyes found the latest notif: User 01000001_01001001 has posted on Panoptic. \n\nI watched as that same notif appeared again and again. I knew then, that there was only one way to silence its demands—I clicked on the notif." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I clicked on it, and the logo for Panoptic appeared on my screen: a simple, stylized eye, with two gently sloping lines forming the eyelids and a small circle in the center forming the pupil." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If you looked closer, though, you would realize it wasn’t really a pupil, but a camera lens.\n\nThe post filled my screen. It was from an account I had never heard of before and consisted of two words: stop resisting .\n\nIt was only then that I realized how tired I was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tired of waking up at night every time a notif chimed, tired of having to constantly stop myself from checking, tired of staring at blue-gray walls, tired of fighting…So I did the one thing that made sense to do: I stopped resisting.\n\nA single tear broke free from the corner of my eye as I began slowly scrolling through Panoptic." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I scrolled… and scrolled… and scrolled…\n\nI scrolled while looking at the thousands of words on the hundreds of pages on the phone that would be forever what I see.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Experiences Shared" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Experiences Shared By Bryan Wade Toby and Scott had been friends for a few years. They’d been buddies ever since Toby moved into the house next door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Scott’s house was a big, old, rambling place with creaky polished wooden floors, which were great for sliding on and even more exciting when they chased each other around the house. Unfortunately, they quickly stopped games like these before chasing the excited pair into the garden to let off steam." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were both seven years old and enjoyed doing the same things, usually having battles in the large sandpit at the bottom of Scott’s garden. But far more exhilarating were their secret expeditions into the enormous forest that started at the bottom of their backyards." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A tall wire fence acted as a substantial barrier to keep wild deer and other creatures from wandering into their properties, but in the far corner of Toby’s garden, there was a secret hole they could just about squeeze through.\n\nTheir secret entry saved the would-be adventurers a long trek to a lopsided gate at the end of their road. It also saved them from passing a tumble-down cottage where a crazy old woman lived. She was short and round with long, grey, frizzy hair and a booming voice. She always seemed to be in the garden pulling up plants and mumbling, and if they stopped to look through her gate, she’d always raise her stick and shout, and sometimes she’d scurry down her path towards them waving. She also had a fat black cat that trailed behind her wherever she went, as though her shadow. It walked with the same slow rolling gait, and if it looked in their direction, it didn’t look friendly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But once in the forest, they were free to run wild in their own personal playground, where they enjoyed some of their best times together. A favourite was racing down the narrow trails that zig-zagged through the shrubbery to the valley bottom. In a small area, the remains of several tumbled-down buildings were great for climbing on, as were several old cars surrounded by thick, tangled creepers, creating unique places to hide and play." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Usually, when they returned home after spending a few hours here, they’d be worn out, grubby and sometimes in need of a bath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On adventure days, Toby would sit on his front porch and wait until his friend arrived. On this particular day, they came across all sorts of great places. The best was close to a prominent rocky ridge where Scott found what looked like a small opening.\n\nAs they investigated, it became more like an extended tunnel, which was rather scary in a few places because it was so narrow. It also smelt like a fox or badger had lived there, and they both knew a badger was something they shouldn’t tangle with." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Foxes, on the other hand, were more nervous creatures and would usually run away. But those old black and white badgers could be very aggressive!\n\nPutting those thoughts to the back of their minds, they’d slowly edge their way in and moments later, the tunnel opened to a vast cavern. Daylight poured through small holes in the roof, allowing them to see numerous narrow pathways leading off in all directions. Several led to tunnels that had collapsed, while others were too dark and scary to investigate— some were flooded with black water that smelt rotten. Yet the adventurers found loads to keep them happily entertained." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Walking home later that afternoon, they came across a lake, so they decided to take a short rest. However, they soon became captivated by a large bird that circuited over the expanse of water at a great height. Sometimes, the bird looked like it had stopped in mid-air, but moments later, it dived down at great speed and tried to catch something hidden in the water. The last time it swooped, there was a great splash, but the bird flew away towards some trees, so they couldn’t see what it had grabbed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They wandered around the lake's shoreline to where the bird had settled, but it had vanished by the time they arrived there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The following day, they returned to the brickworks and then onto their newly found cavern, but Scott didn’t seem to enjoy himself and appeared happy just to sit and watch his partner. And then, on the way home, he kept lagging, so Toby had to keep stopping for him to catch up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When they finally arrived at the lake, the big bird was nowhere to be seen, and a big man wearing a hat was walking through the trees near the far short line. So, the bird may have been frightened off. A few minutes later, it began to drizzle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Toby realised he was hungry, so set off for home, but his friend didn’t follow. Moments later, Toby retraced his steps to find his buddy, who was still lying by the lake. Just then, the heavens opened, and the downpour motivated Scott, but again, he kept stopping as they climbed out of the valley. He seemed tired and out of breath and struggled to get through the hole in the fence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Toby didn’t see Scott over the next couple of days. He wandered around to his place, but there was no sign of him. And there was no music playing in the house as there often was. Also, the yellow car that usually stood outside wasn’t there either." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A day or so later, the car was back. Toby sat waiting on his porch to see if his friend would arrive, but he didn’t. He noticed there was still no music playing and thought he could hear the faint sound of crying. Then the phone in his house rang, followed by voices." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It crossed his mind to wander over to his friend’s and investigate because he sensed something rather odd, but then the porch door opened and closed behind him. \n\nA moment later, a hand rested lightly on his head. Gentle fingers played with his ear as a soft voice spoke, “Your buddy won’t be coming over anymore, Toby. He died yesterday.” Toby didn’t really understand, so just wagged his tail before trotting off to find his friend.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Earning the Golden Bandage Award" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Being an adult Boy Scout Leader can be a rewarding experience, so I was told before signing the contract.\n\nWhen I turned the signed contract in, the man hid his smirk.\n\nThis should have been my first clue, but I wanted to help out the troop where my son was now a member.\n\n“Hey there, welcome aboard.” The scoutmaster, Mr." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hinge shook my hand, “You have joined just in time.” “How so?” I asked in complete naivety. “Summer camp is in three weeks.\n\nWe are going to Camp Geronimo this year.” Mr." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hinge told me as his smirk reappeared.\n\n“Great.” I smiled, but had I been able to peer into the future, I might have run away screaming.\n\nI have never been even the slightest bit clairvoyant. I have always been ignorant of the future." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had just signed up for the worst summer vacation of my life\n\n Five adult scout leaders, of which I was one, took twenty Boy Scouts to Camp Geronimo in Payson, Arizona from our troop.\n\nWhile my home in Gilbert sizzled in triple digit temperatures, there was always a cool breeze blowing up near the Mogollon Rim at the camp.\n\nThe hike up hill to Camp #24, was a six-mile hike over some unforgiving terrain." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was hot and dry most of the way and I must confess it was harder than I had bargained for." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As a leader, I was not going to let on that this hike with all my stuff crammed into a backpack was testing the limits of my physical endurance.\n\nI would keep my stiff upper lip in place even if I bit through it in the process.\n\nAccording to what I heard; Camp Geronimo was once a hiding place for the famous Apache leader of the same name when he was on the run from the cavalry.\n\nLocated on the Mogollon Rim, from the parade fields, you can see rock formations that look like mounted Apache warriors around twilight.\n\nSeeing these shadows made me feel uneasy at first until I got used to it.\n\nThe hike up hill to Camp #24, was a six-mile hike over some unforgiving terrain." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was hot and dry most of the way and I must confess it was harder than I had bargained for." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As a leader, I was not going to let on that this hike with all my stuff crammed into a backpack was testing the limits of my physical endurance.\n\nI would keep my stiff upper lip in place even if I bit through it in the process." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The boys on the other hand were not afraid to show how difficult the trail was as they began to complain and groan with each step. \n\nOne of the younger members of the troop brandishing a walking stick from REI, began to complain with his tears.\n\nTripping over the gravel, he fell skinning his knee.\n\nThrough his discomfort, he declared that he was going to discard his expensive walking stick into the bushes.\n\nKnowing how much that stick cost, I was not about to let him do that and instead told him to “suck it up.”\n\nThis did not go over well, but I will give him credit, he still had that walking stick when we finally got to the campsite. \n\nArriving exhausted, I was shown to my tent that I would share with another adult leader in a lean-to style.\n\nThe cot was one of those tension snap-together with a taut green canvas that was hard as some of the rocks we had stumbled over on our way here.\n\nI had been put in charge of the medical supplies and the boys’ medicine, but since one of the leaders was a paramedic, he became really the resident expert.\n\nIt didn’t take long before I found out that I had taken on quite a bit more than I had bargained for on this camping trip. \n\nThe real job was to make sure the boys went to events they had signed up for so that from about 10 am until 4 pm in the afternoon, the five adult leaders were free of the test of the scouts.\n\nSitting in my chair, I enjoyed the peace and serenity that comes with being deep in the woods. \n\n I did however get bored from napping and would wander around to keep tabs on what the boys were up to.\n\nWhen the boys came back at 4 pm, we would clean up the campsite and prepare to go to the chow hall at around 5 pm.\n\nThe dining facility was about three miles downhill, but this buffet style dining hall had some very good entrees.\n\nThe camp was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary so there was always a little surprise waiting for us at dinner. \n\nAs the sun drained from the sky, we would get together with other troops for some Boy Scout Style of entertainment which included silly skits and crazy campfire songs. \n\nLights out was at 9 pm, but most of the boys would stay up until 10 pm.\n\nWearing my headlamp to read by, I quickly found out that the bugs would fly into the light like little bullets.\n\nReading became a hazardous affair.\n\nWhat was even more concerning is that I disobeyed the rule of “no snacks” and heard scuffling noises under our floorboards as I munched on trail mix.\n\n*********** Skylar was not a water guy like me.\n\nThe rest of the boys filed out to the pool.\n\nWe were scheduled for a swim test the first day of the camp.\n\nSo, there we stood waiting for our test.\n\nWe had no idea that the water temperature was barely at 60 degrees.\n\nFor a summer in Arizona, it meant the water was frigid." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When we all jumped into the pool water (one of the few activities adult leaders had to go to) the shock of the cold water could just about knock you out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After that Skylar refused to get into the water.\n\nI managed, but while swimming my laps, I spit out a discarded band aid that floated into my open mouth.\n\nI would go on the last day of camp and get the miler badge for swimming 60 laps that equaled one mile.\n\nBy then the water had finally reached 60 degrees Fahrenheit and there were no floating band aids that I encountered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Another thing we had to get used to was cold showers.\n\nMost of the boys refused to get into the shower with water that was too cold for them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was just another memory that will forever be in my mind.\n\nMany of the boys were also not used to open latrines which means the facilities were nothing more than a wooden bench with three holes without running water or in other words you did not have to flush.\n\nFlies and other bugs love to descend on these holes creating clouds of greedy, hungry bugs that would die for these open latrines if they had to.\n\nI will not go into the stench that flowed from these places, but once again it will live forever in my memory." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "********** I know I am skipping ahead, but on the last night of camp there is a big bonfire ceremony where awards are presented to the participating troops, and we won an award that I had to go up there to receive.\n\nWhat award, you ask?\n\nHow about “The Golden Band Aid Award?”\n\nAnd when the trophy was handed to me, it was what its title said it was, a gilded band aid.\n\nNow your next question would be, “How did we earn such a prestigious award.\n\nThis memory, too, is forever filed away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On the first night of camp, one of the boys went off trail and found some poison oak.\n\nThe burning rash was evident after dinner as it was getting dark (and the stone Apache warriors were visible the entire way) to the infirmary. \n\nWhen we got to the infirmary the RN had the infected scout apply some calamine lotion to his itchy rash. \n\n“We get quite a few cases of poison oak.” She smiled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As we left, I bid her farewell without knowing I was going to make several more trips throughout the week.\n\nOnce the applied lotion began to soothe the itch, we decided to hike back uphill to camp.\n\nThere was some lighting, but on this rocky trail, it was still very dark.\n\nFor the better part of the hike, I spent tripping over several roots and foliage on our way back to camp. \n\nOn the second night, one of the boys got really ill after dinner, but the wood provided plenty of places to vomit rather than fight the clouds of insects in the latrine.\n\nOnce again, I hiked with the scout down to the infirmary for some Pepto Bismol and then again in the dark uphill back to camp.\n\nHe still was not feeling well after our ten-mile hike, but facing the alternative in the latrine, he wandered back to his tent and into his sleeping bag." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Next morning the scout reported that he was still feeling unwell and so once again we hiked to the infirmary.\n\nThe nurse at the infirmary kept the scout in one of the beds in her station.\n\nBy the time dinner came around, the scout was in real pain, so one of the adult leaders of the troop transported the sick scout to a Payson Emergency Care Unit where it was determined he was suffering from appendicitis." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "From there he was transported back to Gilbert where his parents took him to the hospital to have his appendix surgically removed.\n\nBefore our adult leader got back to camp after dropping off the sick scout for transport, I had to hike with another scout who had twisted his ankle.\n\nWithout any means of transporting him, we were forced to hike with him on his bad ankle.\n\nHe put his arm around my shoulders and kept his injured ankle wrapped. \n\nSince he was an athlete at his high school, this was not much of an obstacle as I first anticipated.\n\nThe nurse had to rewrap the sprain and on our return trip, he would be on crutches.\n\nNeedless to say, between his learning curve to walk on the crutches and the darkness that swallowed us up, we got back to camp past lights out. \n\nI did not sleep through the night.\n\nI heard a timid voice call my name and when I looked up from my peaceful slumber, I saw four scouts lined up at the entrance to the tent, one of them being my own son." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Spider bite. Yes, we were to be on the lookout since there were poisonous spiders reported in the area." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So, a five-mile hike with a scout who had been given first aid by three other boys that included Skylar. \n\nApparently, the unseen spider had bit him on his finger which was heavily wrapped with gauze.\n\nHe was not scared, which was a good thing. \n\nWhen we got to the station, the nurse called me in as she removed the gauze from the boy’s finger.\n\nShe laughed out loud and called me in to see what had tickled her funny bone. \n\nWhen I walked in, I saw that there was over a pound of gauze on the table.\n\nAs it turned out there was no spider bite that could be detected.\n\nThe nurse told me if it had been a poisonous spider, the skin would be red and infected, easy to spot.\n\nShe could find nothing, but she was impressed by the bandage the other three boys had applied for their comrade.\n\nBack up to the camp and I could hardly keep my eyes open on the return trip, but the scout next to me was smiling the entire way, relieved that he was not going to die of a spider bite.\n\nNext afternoon the kid with the walking stick came to us during lunch.\n\nHe was a diabetic and his blood sugar was dangerously low due to the morning physical activity.\n\nSince the chow hall was a five-mile downhill hike, he was not going to make it safely. \n\nThe scout leader, a paramedic to help apply an insulin injection.\n\nMr." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Thompson, the paramedic adult leader, prepared the boy’s insulin.\n\nThe boy took the syringe for his self-injection, and jerked the needle squirting the contents over the crouch of Mr. Thompson’s shorts.\n\nEven with his soaked shorts Mr." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Thompson loaded the scout into his pickup and drove him into the Pasyon Emergency Room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They would be gone the rest of the day waiting for another insulin injection. \n\nOn the last day of camp, the scoutmaster told the boys nobody else was allowed to get sick or injured.\n\nI took the boys on the Cat Eye hike of five miles following a compass and a map with markers in the trees to guide them along the correct trail.\n\nBut as I heard gunfire, I began to get worried since the firing range was getting closer.\n\nThe guide for the camp said the trail was far enough away that we would not have to worry about it.\n\nHe was wrong.\n\nI heard the Rangemaster yell, “Cease fire!” \n\nLater one of our boys told me that I had wandered into the “unsafe zone” following the trail and when the Rangemaster ordered cease fire, he wanted to keep shooting saying he would aim low.\n\nThis was not reassuring to me in the least.\n\nSo, I took the Golden Bandage Award home with me, proud that we had been recognized for something we did in our seven days at Camp Geronimo. \n\nLooking at Skylar, his eyelids were indeed heavy.\n\nThere was also a ripe stench about him.\n\nI knew that Skylar’s experience had been a good one with the exception of the pool, which was the first thing he told his mother when he got home.\n\nI showed her the Golden Bandage award and the first aid that had been applied by my son and two other scouts for a non-existent spider bite and she could not stop laughing as she pictured them huddled around the injured boy applying nearly all of the gauze in their first aid kits." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I would go to camp for three more summers as an adult leader.\n\nSkylar quit just as I started attending Arizona State University for my teaching credentials." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sometimes I recall that feeling of being called to the big fire to receive the Golden Bandage Award, knowing that the team really pulled together for this one." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I don’t know if the trophy is still in the troop’s trophy case, but if it is, it’s my legacy to the troop.\n\nI will never admit that I was so proud to be presented the Golden Bandage away by the nurse who manned the infirmary during out fabled stay at Geronimo Summer Camp in Payson. ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A twisted backpacking journey" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I weighed my pack before going and it was 45lbs and my dog's pack was 10lbs. I left the motel after an egg and bacon breakfast sandwich. The drive to the trailhead went through Kootenay National Park and then connected with Banff National Park." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a gorgeous hike through the woods with several viewpoints along the way to the Ink Pots. Such a beautiful scenic walk through some meadows overlooking the Banff Sawback Mountain Range." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There were a few steep portions, but since it was my first day, I had the energy! I arrived at the campsite and set up at a site overlooking Johnson River. I enjoyed some time basking in the river. Time for dinner, but unfortunately my stove was missing a small screw." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Luckily, I could balance the pot on top, so it wouldn't fall over. I enjoyed a vegetarian lasagna dish for dinner and then some trail mix. I met an amazing couple from Vancouver and two hikers from Canmore. Lots of stories were shared, and then off to bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I woke up at 6am to helicopters rescuing a camper that twisted his ankle. The helicopter landed right in the small kitchen area! For breakfast, I had a quinoa, tofu and sweet potato meal. I didn't realize I ordered the vegan breakfast options, but hey its fuel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I started the trail afterwards and there was several steep portions and WOW was my pack HEAVY. I took several breaks and then stopped to have lunch at a gorgeous lookout by the river. There was a phenomenal view of the mountains." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I FINALLY arrived to camp and found a site that overlooked the mountains. JACKPOT! Afterwards, I made some cheesy pasta. I spent some time in the river playing with rocks and watching Luke try to chase after them. Then, I sat on a cozy rock and read This Accursed Land by Lennard Bickel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Later on, I walked Luke and then headed to bed. Wow... did I ever wake up with a migraine. My head was pounding, I was nauseous and vomiting. YIKES. Good thing today was a short hike to the lake. Slowly; but surely my migraine started leaving my aching body." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I did some yoga stretches, enjoyed the sunrise and got cozy with Luke. It was pretty chilly , so I headed back into the tent and decided I will pack up after lunch and then head for Luellen Lake. I had an amazing broccoli and cheddar rice dish for lunch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Prior to leaving, I saw a young grizzly in the bush, I yelled loudly and it retreated... WHEW! It seemed like a curious bear and was not defensive or aggressive. I made a wrong turn(was quite overgrown) and went halfway up a different trail." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once at camp, I found a nice site down by a cool entrance to the lake. I met an amazing family from Calgary, a hiker from Quebec and the Netherlands. There was lots of fun stories shared and we all had dinner together. I enjoyed some pasta with spring vegetables for dinner." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a lighter meal than usual. My beautiful site overlooked two mountains. Luke enjoyed a nice swim and tomorrow will be a nice rest day to wash my clothes and ME ! Prior to going to bed, I noticed poor Luke had a welt under his eye and on his snout." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Those evil bugs! I gave him some benadryl and hopefully after a few doses he will be feeling better. I woke up around 7am, and Luke's snout and eye are no longer swollen. He seemed quite painful last night, but is back to himself today. I fed Luke and took him for a nice walk." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then, I washed all my clothes and planned to have a dip in the lake after breakfast. A little mishap making breakfast, stove was not screwed tight enough to canister and caught on fire. I put the pot over the stove and all was well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I waited for it to cool down and then everything was okay the next try... For breakfast today; I had tofu, potatoes, onions with a plant based sausage blend. I went for a nice swim and got all cleaned up. I feel so much better now. After the swim, I was brushing my hair and broke my hairbrush." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The life of having thick hair; haha. Unfortunately, there was 2 rescues today around 1pm, Banff National Park's backcountry is NO JOKE. Now it's time to enjoy my book and relax with Luke." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I will have an early day tomorrow as I will be attempting to hike past Badger Pass Junction to Pulsatilla Pass; then back to the campsite. This mountain pass has been highly recommended to me. I made dinner and enjoyed a bowl of potato and cheddar soup." }, { "from": "human", "value": "YUM! Later on, I sat around the kitchen area and met some campers from Canmore and Calgary. I heard the sounds of wolves or coyotes howling and Luke was so curious and he was sniffing alot. I am hoping to wake up around 6am, off to bed I go. I woke up at 630am and headed out by 8am." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I decided to skip breakfast and do the whole hike to Pulsatilla Pass, then head to camp after. YES... WITH MY GIGANTIC PACK. I was making good ground rather quickly. The hike was quite the bushwack, but luckily no grizzly sightings. We made it up to Pulsatilla Pass at noon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was quite steep, a total amount of 2345m elevation once at the top. It was extremely tough with my pack. On the pass- I saw 2 pikas and they were chirping very loudly. Luke wanted to eat both of them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The pass showed views of Pulsatilla Mountain and Mount Avens; as well as the rest of Sawback Mountain Range in the distance. After a nice break, I headed to Badger Junction. Unfortunately, on the way down I twisted my ankle. I took some aleve and put a salonpas patch on." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I arrived to camp around 130pm. There was lots of thunder and some rain at camp, but luckily I set up my tent already. This camp is the most backcountry yet with sites right in the middle of two mountain passes, water sources are further away; but it is gorgeous." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My site has a perfect view of Badger Pass! I met a hiker from Vancouver Island who did Badger Pass and saw 6 mountain sheep. For dinner I had chicken pot pie; what a full-filling meal after my long day. After dinner, we explored the camp some more and got some amazing photos." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Off to bed I go after some more reading of my book. Last night was the craziest thunderstorm I have ever been in. The tent was shaking, rain was crashing down and the whole tent lit up when there was lightning. Luke was pretty scared, so we cuddled up together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Luckily the tent held up and we stayed dry. There was several trees that went down at camp, but luckily no one was injured. One tree fell the opposite way of one camper's tent pad... SO CRAZY. For breakfast, I enjoyed a potato, tofu, onion and plant based sausage meal." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Off we go to Johnston Creek at noon. Along the way, I met two guys from Ontario! I arrived to Johnston Creek at 230pm, and there was lots of fallen trees along the way and at camp. I picked the same site as last time, since it has a nice shady area for Luke." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now it's time to set up and put my food away. As I was setting up, I met a nice family from Czech Republic. Time to relax, do some stretching and bask in the river now! I found a cool island in the river to wade out to and I relaxed there with Luke for a little bit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was so nice to dunk my legs in the water; my feet were killing me! I have so many bug bites it is insane, I don't think the \"12hr protection\" is meant for backcountry. Afterwards, I did some yoga stretches to hopefully relieve this back and neck pain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unfortunately, when I was doing one of my stretches, I got a splinter in my right hand pinky finger from the wooden frame surrounding the tent pad. It hurt pretty bad, so I attempted to squeeze it out. No luck doing that, so I made a small incision with my knife 1/2mm in depth and 1mm in diameter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then, I was able to extract the splinter out this way and only have a small wound present. I cleaned it afterwards and placed a bandaid with some polysporin. Now it's time to make some cheese pasta for dinner as it is 730pm. I did some light reading and went for a swim after dinner." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Time for bed at 10pm. Unfortunately, I woke up at 330am to go to the washroom and struggled to go back to bed. Hopefully I can get some rest soon! Back to bed I went at 430am. I woke up at 930am and I better get moving now!! I am all packed at 1130am, and off we go to Larry's Camp." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I skipped breakfast today, since I am saving the lighter juice for dinner tonight and breakfast in the morning if I can. Unfortunately, my lighter is running out of fluid and my matches are all wet. I probably should have brought an extra lighter, but I was trying to save space." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We made it to camp by 230pm. I had to take 2 breaks along the way. It was a grueling, very hot hike to get here. My body aches and my feet feel like they are on fire. Now it's time to set up and go for a much needed swim. My site has a nice lookout through the trees of the mountains and river." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I was putting my food away at the bear lockers, I met a nice group from West Vancouver, Coquitlam and Edmonton. Everyone loved Luke... (OBVIOUSLY). Afterwards, I had the best swim of my entire life and felt so amazing. What a fantastic day so far." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now, I am trying to air out my tent, bag and clothes as everything reeks SO BAD. Now it's time to take more cool photos, read my book and have some leftover pasta from last night. If I am still hungry, I will see if the lighter has some juice to make my vegetarian mexican rice dish." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I must have been a zombie with my night shift brain when I ordered my meals, since everything was either vegetarian or vegan and I only had ONE meat based meal." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I can't wait to get a chicken/beef burger when I am back on the road again!!! After my pasta and some more basking in the river, I headed back to the tent site afterwards. Later in the evening, Luke was very alert and in a guard position. I heard chuffing sounds..." }, { "from": "human", "value": "and at this point it could be a black or grizzly bear. I always have my bear spray with me; so I felt okay. A black bear came right by camp down one of the deer trails. It had to be 50 feet from me. I made sure to look closely as grizzlies can be black as well." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Luckily, no hump was seen and the bear didn't seem to bother or notice us. The bear went off to the river area and off into the distance. Such a close call... yet again. I went back to the tent pad to read my book; and YAY I finished my book at 11pm. Off to bed I go." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Last night around 1130pm, Luke started panting very heavily. I thought at first he just needed some water. His mucous membranes were moist and he did not have a dehydrated skin tent present." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Immediately, I thought maybe he was in pain, but there was no wounds present and he didn't pull back when I manipulated his joints. I noticed that his body, ears and paws were very hot to the touch. We went out to the river and I immersed him in water." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This did not seem like a fever caused by an illness to me as he showed no signs of that. I figured he could have had mild signs of heat stroke; since it was a very hot day. There is no way to truly tell." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yes, he was drinking lots throughout the day; but I also was very warm as well and felt off as well. After he cooled off, he seemed fine. I dried him off and we went to bed. Luckily, I didn't run into any animals when we went to river. I woke up around 6am myself and was vomiting quite excessively." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I feel like I got hot by a truck, so I decided to lay down some more. Luke seems fine and no concerns this morning. I've been taking it slow this morning, because my migraine is really bad. The stomach pain coming along with this; is quite unreal." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unfortunately, I need to get moving, so hopefully the aleve starts working and I feel better soon. 13.8km to go... Today was a fantastic hike and Johnson Canyon was a great site to see. Arrived at my car around 130pm. What an amazing trip. I am so happy and relieved." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We did it!!!! Total trip- 65.1km with 2345m elevation gain in 7 days and 1 rest day This trip tested me greatly and I feel so much stronger and grateful to be alive. So many things went wrong, but that didn't matter and I just kept on going." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I will say farewell to Banff National Park, but see you soon...." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dolion" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Amalie was outside waiting for the bus, muddled, when she pulled the arm of her so called ‘friend’, and he turned around. “Okay Dolion. What’s been going on?” “Nothing. Look, I got to get home, I’ll see you later.” And just like that he was off in the crowd of teenagers waiting to get home." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That week he and Amalie were supposed to work on some school project that Dolion had even seemed excited for, but then the Tuesday after they got the project he started to avoid her and now it was due that Monday coming up. And how much had they worked on it? Not a bit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Amalie got on her usual bus and on the way home she looked at her messages with Dolion. She had still gotten no responses. She had even texted Max, another one of his friends and he hadn’t heard from him either." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Is he okay? One thing Amalie sometimes couldn’t even admit to herself is that sometimes her ideas got the best of her, and once she decided on something, nothing was gonna stop her from doing it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once back in the third grade Amalie tried to get this girl to talk, and not matter what, she couldn’t say a single thing. So Amalie made it her goal to get her to say even one word." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Amalie eventually talked so much (too much) and asked so many questions that the girl had finally answered using her words. Amalie doesn’t even remember what the question was, but she thinks the only reason the girl even answered was because she was getting so annoyed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But who was that girl now? Vania, Amalie’s best friend. Amalie and Vania were a bike ride away from each other, which they had only started learning they could do, a few weeks ago. Amalie got home off the bus as usual, and, as long as she got home in time for dinner, biked to Vania’s house." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Once she was there she knocked on the door and Vania opened it. “Hey Amalie, what’s up?” They both made their way to her bedroom. “Nothing much. Well besides the whole Dolion issue.” “Ah.” Amalie sat at the desk chair and Vania sat on the edge of her bed. “And I had an idea." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was wondering if you’d help?” “Depends.” Vania gave a look at Amalie that Amalie had seen a thousand times from her. “It’s not way over the head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Look, when we started the project, he said that he’d let me know when I could come over and that when I was ready I would text him.” Amalie grinned like every time she’s had a plan and Vania knew exactly what it meant. “I guess that means I need my bike?” Amalie nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Amalie and Vania were off on the sidewalk biking their way to Dolion’s house. “I can’t believe I’m doing this with you.” Vania shook her head and laughed. “I know." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I mean this out first, like, outside of a building adventure.” She made a motion with her hands momentarily letting go of the bike handles. Vania gasped, worried, and Amalie snorted at it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You’re gonna kill yourself doing that.” Vania warned her yet still as a friend and less as a parole officer or angry teacher. “And it’ll be as likely as being raised back from the dead by some kid.” Finally they had made it to their destination." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They both walked up to the door and Amalie knocked on it. Then it was opened by a lady they both knew. She goes by: Dolion’s mother. “Hey! I was wondering when you were going to show up!” She welcomed us in and we were greeted by Dolion’s younger brother and sister." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“HI AMA!” Gael a few months older than his younger sister Jayla, rushed past her almost knocking her over. “Hey Gael.” “Hey! Don’t push me!” Jayla angrily yet very cutely walked up to us, arms crossed. “Hi Jayla!” Jayla’s anger tuned instantly to happiness when she saw Vania." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Although Dolion had always been good friends with them, Amalie always found it cool that Vania had probably a better relationship with his younger siblings than with him. “If you want to head up to his room, Dolion is already up there.” “Oh, thanks.” Amalie knew that this was it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was finally going to get answers. She walked up to his bedroom door and without knocking opened it to find him, with his back to the door, on the phone with some old man. “And don’t tell anyone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We can’t have anyone finding out you’re The Healer.” He hung up and Dolion turned around, immediately looking horrified. “Uh, I uh, how long have you been there?” “You could say long enough. Which was roughly 10 seconds.” He then abruptly walked past her and slammed the door shut." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Look, you can’t tell anyone what you just heard. It could ruin my family’s life.” “My lips are sealed.” Amalie made a hand motion across her face, trying to lighten the mood. “No, I need you to leave." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You weren’t supposed to know any of that, no one can know any of that.” He nervously scratched the back of his neck. “I’m not leaving. You have to tell me what’s going on." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You’re the Healer?” “I can’t tell you.” His eyes that were welling with tears and about to pour over suddenly drained like a public pool. “Oh, so we’re best buddies for six years and suddenly you can’t tell me stuff!” Amalie didn’t know how to react." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All she felt was anger, but she knew she should feel bad for Dolion for some reason. “Just get out! If anyone finds out, they’ll move my family and I to some lab!” Once we was done screaming he took a breath. “Dolion, I’m-,” Amalie started." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Don’t talk, just go.” Amalie stormed out the door ready to leave. She rushed down the stairs, passing a confused Vania, Jayla, and Gael. Amalie, didn’t know what to do so she got onto her bike with out thinking about it and started to ride top speed out of the driveway." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But Amalie was so caught up in her frustrations that she didn’t look both ways and by this time it was traffic hour. She ran straight out into the road, and the car coming didn’t have time to react, and drove straight for her. Amalie woke up in her bed, reality coming back to her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She checked her phone, and it was Saturday. She leaned back on her pillow smiling. It was all a dream. Usually she’d still be upset by how the dream ended just in general, but she couldn’t find a real reason." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Although, she didn't like that her friendly adventure bike riding was her fatal flaw, if that's what she could even call it. She decided to call someone and tell them the dream she just had. “Hey Amalie, whats up?” “You won’t believe the dream I just had.” “I’m not sure about that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After what happened Monday, I think I could believe anything.” He genuinely believed that too." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Well, you know the project we got assigned?” “And it was a good project this time!” “Well my dream started on yesterday, and that whole week you had been avoiding your friends, and we hadn’t done the project, so I went to you’re house with Vania-” “The Vania part makes sense.” “And when we went in you had a younger brother and sister.” “How did your head give me a younger brother?” “I don’t know, but it gets weirder, or awesome-er you could say.” “Well I’m not, because that’s not a word.” “Whatever, just listen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I went to your room all by myself, and heard The Old Man call you The Healer.” “Wow. Sounds like a comic book name. Although, The Old Mans name is too.” “Hey, The Old Man’s not a bad teacher though." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Anyway the rest of the dream was that I got hit by car later and I woke up, lucky me.” “Well that got dark.” “Yeah, it did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But what do you think? You and Fire boy could go stop crime or something.” “Fire boy! Ha! I think he likes the name Max more.” He laughed on the other side of the phone, then stopped creating silence. “You don’t remember what happened last night do you?” Amalie was confused." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What had happened last night? “What do you mean? I came home from school, then sometime I went to bed.” “What happened before you went to bed?” Then it hit Amalie that she had no idea. She couldn’t remember anything." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Dolion, what happened?” “You, Vania, and Max, were gonna come over, but on the way, you… got hit.” “By the car.” “Yeah. After that you must’ve made up that whole dream from this whole past week.” “Wait so, how am I here?” “Well I do sorta have healing powers.” “Wait you.." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "thank you!” “Anytime, just start listening to Vania about riding a bike correctly.” Vania was right. I was as likely to die on that bike than some kid going to heal me. “You got it, Dolion, The Healer.”." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Locket" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unofficial Report Document: I did what I had to do. Okay, I am writing this to cover my own ass if any of this comes out. I was engaged by Captain K_____________ on a mission to retrieve an object on a post-apocalyptic Tier-4 planet and the mission went very badly. This is how I am interpreting it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This document will be stored with my other papers, so I do not expect to have this timestamped beyond the safe where it is kept and the lodging where I awaited my instructions. Again, I was taken onto a mission by a senior officer. I followed orders. I obeyed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Okay, now, with that out of the way, I can speak freely. Always talking and never doing, that was what we always said about the Captain. Not to his face, of course, but I think that he would have agreed with anyone who could approach him so honestly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I really hope he would because I suspect that one day, he will read this. Or at least I used to think so. Not so sure now. I was the navigator in charge of this mission, my 50th with the Captain. A nice round number to the staff and managers, if they ever heard about it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Again, I repeat, this was a private mission and he asked me to not bring it up with the head office. I thought it was a joke, but he was quite serious about it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A part of me felt that some of the ugly comments I made about him behind his back were catching up with him and he wanted some sort of revenge, but I quickly pushed all that out of my head. That stuff about talking and not doing? Not true at all." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Seems strange now, don’t you think? All those missions; all those runs… And he still did not think that he could trust anyone except me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was not unusual to have a flight with a captain and just one navigator, but we were using a cargo transporter; it was big enough to house a platoon of men, their food and weapons, and bring them into real danger." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But this might have been where his genius came out for the first time: they would never suspect what he was doing with such a ship. A smaller one would have to be signed out, registered and then verified after it had come home." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The cargo ones were travelling so frequently that there was no problem flying off with it. Smart, I thought. A nice little way to beat the system. Systems were on my mind as soon as he told me the co-ordinates. And I thought it was a joke." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A tier-4 planet in that galaxy? No life left to speak of due to overuse of natural resources and military conflicts? Great. The Captain had gone nuts for some reason. But again, I was navigator working with a man who decided to pilot the ship himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Maybe he knew something that I didn’t, and he was about to retrieve a very special prize. Or something that I could not guess at. Okay, I had better share this before I talk about the planet itself. He dropped the information about the locket before we landed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Again, I thought that he was joking or crazy, but he showed it to me. It was a heart. Not a real heart; one of those old-fashioned hearts I saw once when we investigated the history of this place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He kept staring at that picture on one of our monitors as he told me he needed it and that he was going to find it. I said nothing, but I made sure that I had my weapon charged and nearby after he spoke. Okay, on the planet itself, it was a simple landing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No life forms were detected (no surprise), and the radiation levels were safe enough for us to land and pause for a few moments as I tried to get him to change his mind. We were reading no transmissions, a poor air quality reading and many small storms and tremors in that region." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I told him what to expect. And he went out. Now, I waited as long as I could. I watched his life readings as he made his exploration of the area. He had his own private monitor and using it, he was tracking the object." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That locket… Why didn’t anyone say a thing about it before? All this time we had been searching for that key and the captain was the only one who knew that it was in there? Bullshit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We could have sent out teams; we could have filled up that entire cargo ship with a crew that would scour the entire area to find it. It would have been an easy salvage. But no, I had to be dragged on a mission that I never knew was secret until I read what the captain was tracking." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could see that he was in some sort of collapsed structure. He was opening the case… And that was that. No readings were available. I made a point of running multiple scans over the whole area and checking the equipment to see if there were any problems or glitches I had not noticed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And then I went out there to see what had happened. Based on the last reading, there was no way he could have made it past ten kilometres northeast. And I took my time. I really did. I really did. And I did not see that one coming... No one would believe me if they saw it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The photograph… He had somehow had a physical with him when he entered that structure. I found it on the floor of a room, along with his suit. Strange thing is that it was all neatly folded and placed right next to the picture, as if someone were waiting for me to pick it up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Back at the ship, I did run some tests. His DNA was faint inside the suit, but nothing more could be traced from it. And I want to be clear about this before I end this report: NOTHING WAS FOUND ON THAT PLANET . It was a wasteland and remains a wasteland today." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No reason to go back and search for something most of us have only heard rumours about and have never seen. Enclosed you will find a photo of the locket, this letter, and all the information and data taken from the record of the journey." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I expect that this will become available to the first person who not only cracks the code of the safe, but cares that I am gone. And there is something that I must do…." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Orion's Time" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Orion stumbled out of the club with her friend Darla. They had too many tequila shots. Orion didn't know if she was holding if Darla was holding her up. \" We did. We graduated from College!\" Darla screamed. \"Whoop whoop,\" Orion screamed joyously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Thank God our apartment is near because I have to pee.\" Darla laughed. They started half walking towards their apartment. Darla leaned against a wall of a shop. \"I feel sick,\" Darla said before vomiting. Some of it got into her long blue-black hair. Orion felt strange." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She heard footsteps behind them. Darla, I think someone is following us. Orion glanced into the shop window. She could see a tall, white figure, its body translucent and ethereal. Darla wiped vomit from her mouth. \"I think you had too many shots, bestie,\" Darla said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Orion turned around to see a tall, white figure. It looked at her with its big, black, protruding eyes. \"Darla, you don't see that tall, white weird thing,\" Orion said, pointing at it. \"No, maybe your braids are pulling too tight.\" Orion was entirely sober." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She grabbed Darla's hand and started walking fast. The tall, apparent alien followed them. \"You're walking too fast,\" Darla yelled. Darla pulled away from her. The figure was upon them. Orion stretched her hands out in front of her. \"No!\" She screamed. A beam of light shot out from her palms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Darla's eyes widened as she saw the Tall white creature, its features becoming defined in the light. The beast screamed in pain as it turned into dust. Darla was silent. \"I told you it was there,\" Orion explained. Orion grabbed Darla's hand again and started running. This time, Darla didn't argue." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Orion unlocked the door to their brownstone apartment. She pushed Darla in before locking the door. Darla's eyes were wild. \"What the F just happened?\" Darla screamed. \"A beam of light shot out of your hands; there was some kind of invisible creature.\" Orion sat on the couch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She pulled on one of her long braids. Orion always pulled on her hair when she was nervous. \"You have powers,\" Darla said. \"How long have you had these powers?\" Orion looked at her best friend. \"It started two months ago,\" Orion explained. \"I don't know how to control it. It happens when I'm scared." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It's like a defense mechanism.\" \"What happened two months ago?\" Darla asked. Orion: \"I was walking home from the library late at night, and a creature similar to that was following me.\" Orion looked past Darla as she thought about her first encounter with the translucent creature." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"My hands felt like they were on fire when the beam shot out of my palms. The creature disintegrated just like tonight. I thought I was crazy, but you saw it.\" \"Yes, I did see it.\" Darla paced back and forth. \"We have to tell someone.\" She insisted. \"Who would believe us?\" Orion asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What about your Aunt Zoe?\" She is a scientist. Darla suggested. Orion's parents died when she was a baby, and her Aunt raised her. \"You don't have any other options.\" Orion's relationship with her Aunt was shaky. \"We are too messed up to drive,\" Orion told her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Let's get some rest and leave in the morning.\" Darla went into her bedroom. Orion had a restless sleep on the couch. She woke up to frantic knocking on the door. Orion jumped up. \"Hello, it's Zoe!\" Orion opened the door. \"We have to go,\" Zoe told her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What's going on?\" Darla said as she walked into the living room wearing boxer shorts and a tee shirt, scratching her butt. \"Silence,\" Zoe said as she waved her hand at Darla. Darla froze. Orion was shocked. \"How did you do that?\" \"I don't have time to explain. \" Zoe told her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Orion walked up to Darla and moved her hand across her eyes. She was still. \"The Translucent's will be here soon,\" Zoe told her. Orion stared at Zoe. \"You know about them.\" Zoe shook her head. \"Obviously. You have to leave Darla here. She will slow us down and get us killed.\" Zoe told her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No, I won't leave her.\" Orion insisted. \"I can only freeze time for fifteen minutes. We have five minutes left.\" \"She is coming with us.\" Orion insisted. \"Okay, we don't have time to argue.\" Zoe unfroze Darla. \" She knows about the white creatures; we have to go,\" Orion told her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Let me pack some clothes and food,\" Darla said. \" I have a sweet new pair of jeans and sneakers.\" Zoe pulled a gun out of her pocket. \"They are here.\" She said. The door blasted open. \" Zoe shot at two tall white creatures as they walked through the door. Darla dived behind the couch." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bullets passed through the translucent skin of one of the white beings without injuring it. The other white creature looked at them. It emitted a high-pitched frequency. \"Pain.\" It said telepathically. Zoe, Darla, Zoe, and Orion screamed in agony. Orion could feel blood trickling out of her ears." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The white creatures moved towards them. Orion held her hands up and shot them with beams of light. They turned into dust. \"There are more on the way.\" Orion wiped the blood from her ears. Darla quickly put on jeans and sandals. Zoe opened the front door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She looked around before cautiously walking out. The sun was rising. Zoe took out a fob from her pocket and pushed it. Orion and Darla heard a vehicle unlocking sound. \"What the hell?\" Darla said. \"You can never be too careful in this janky area,\" Zoe replied. A circular object appeared." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"This is my ride,\" Zoe said, smiling. \"Come on.\" Zoe led the way to the ship. She touched a keypad, and a door opened. \"Welcome back, Zoe Anteries.\" Zoe walked into the spaceship. \"Hurry.\" She told the two shocked women. Orion and Darla walked into the ship. \"Cloaking on,\" Zoe told the ship." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ship turned invisible. \"We can't have people seeing us.\" She commented. \"Sit down and strap in. Zoe instructed. Orion and Darla sat on soft seats and locked themselves into shoulder harnesses. The ship hovered up and then shot off fast over the city." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"When did you get your ability,\" Zoe asked Orion as she steered the ship above the clouds. \"Two months ago,\" Orion replied.\" Orion didn't want to tell Zoe that a bee had attacked her and that she had turned it to dust.\"You may have more than one ability,\" Zoe said, glancing back at her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Orion couldn't control one ability. How could she control more? Orion thought. \"Those white creatures are not from this world.\"We called them the Translucent's.\" Orion shifted in her seat nervously. \"Who are we?\" Orion asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"The we that I speak of are the resistance, and they are our people.\" Darla was smacking on a granola bar. \"Really? \"You are eating? \" Orion said in an irritated voice. I'm hungry.\" Darla replied. \"You want a piece?\" Orion took a piece of her granola bar. \"It does taste good.\" Orion crunched." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Zoe landed the ship in a clearing in the woods outside the city. Zoe opened the door of the ship and walked out. \"I think your Aunt might be a baddy,\" Darla said. They unbuckled themselves and followed her out. Orion walked up to her Aunt and a group of people. \"We barely escaped, \"Zoe said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The people looked at Orion and Darla. A petite, beautiful, older Asian woman wearing a flowing red robe approached them. \" This is my niece Orion.\" Zoe said.\" The woman bowed. \" I am Sachiko.\" She told Orian." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I have been awaiting your arrival, daughter of Zander.\" \"You knew my mother?\" The woman smiled. \"Yes, I was your mothers and Zoe's royal tutor.\" Orion was not sure she heard correctly. \"Did you say royal?\" Darla asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Yes, Orion is of royal birth.\"\n\n\"I didn't see that one coming,\" Darla said in a shocked voice. Orion's hands were sweating, and she felt dizzy. We will go to our shelter, and I will tell you about our history.\" Zoe told Orion. Zoe nodded.  Sachiko raised her hands and waved them side to side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Three tall white buildings appeared, surrounded by purple trees and a turquoise lake. Orion was at a loss for words to describe what she was seeing. \"Excellent,\" Darla said, smiling like the Cheshier cat from Alice in Wonderland. Zoe led the way through a field of strange-looking plants." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Orion saw a group of children and a handsome adult male. The children were practicing how to control their powers. \"He is a yummy,\" Darla said with a big grin. \"Is that all you saw?\" Orion asked. \"Didn't you see the kids using powers?\" Darla laughed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Yes, but you have to admit he is nice!\" The adults who had greeted them departed and went in different directions. \"Sachiko, please join us.\" Zoe insisted. Sachiko nodded in agreement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"This was my house with your mother before she left and met your father.\" Zoe paused for a second before she opened the door.  \"There is no need to lock doors here. We all trust each other.\" Sachiko, Orion, and Darla followed Zoe into her home. It is spacious with hues of purple." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Zoe sat on one of the four-floor cushions. \" \"It is time for you to learn who you are,\" Zoe told Orion as she motioned for them to sit. \"Sachiko, if you please.\" Sachiko waved her hands. It seemed like they were moving as they were sitting still. Orion could feel her face distort." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looked at Darla. Darla's face is stretching in different directions. Then all was still. \"This how our world, Planet Terra nova, looked,\" Sachiko explained. Orion looked at the turquoise water surrounding her. Purple flowered trees blew in a soft, gentle breeze. \"Sweet,\" Patty said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You said looked,\" Orion noted. \"Our planet is five hundred years into Earth's future.\" Sachiko continued. \"My parents were the rulers. Our planet was peaceful. Your mother was next in line to take the throne. Zandra was good with technology. She invented what you would call time travel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Zandra also could use vibration to shoot beams out of her hands, and she had super speed.\" Zoe told her. \"We all have abilities or powers, as you call it.\" Orion felt overwhelmed. Zoe paused. She could see Orion's the deer caught in the headlight's expression." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Some on our planet wanted to use their powers to conquer other worlds.\" Zoe continued. We call them the translucents.\" Orion was perplexed. \"You are talking about those white creatures?\" She asked. \"Our ancestors and the translucent's arrived on planet Aksum simultaneously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Our ancestors came from Earth; we don't know where they came from, but our ancestors wanted a peaceful society after surviving World War Three on Earth. Our ancestors developed abilities over time on this new non-hostile planet, as did translucents. Children were being born with abilities." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Your powers were dormant because your father was from Earth,\" Zoe explained. \" Brax is the leader of the translucent, and he craves power. Brax killed many of our people, including my parents. Your mother, myself, and all these people were able to escape the massacre." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We boarded a ship that had been underwater since our ancestors arrived. Zandra had been repairing it for years because she suspected Brax would one day turn against Father.\" \"How did you get to Earth?\" Orion asked. \"Zandra opened up a wormhole with her time machine device." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She thought we would be able to thrive in a period before World War three but also in a time when technology was advancing. Zandra chose 1999, but her calculations were slightly off, so we landed here in 1997.\" Zoe nodded at Sachiko. Sachiko waved her hands, and they were back in where they began." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Orion stood up, wobbling, trying to make it to the door. Zoe got up to assist her. \"Mind time travel can be difficult the first time.\" Orion walked into the sunlight.\n\nWhy did Zoe keep everything a secret from her? \"Your mother didn't want you to know about your history,\" Zoe told her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She knew Orion had questions. \"Zandra wanted you to have a regular Earth life. Your mother made me promise never to tell you who you were.\" Orion tugged on one of her braids nervously. Darla stood up, holding her head. Zoe and Orion had left her alone with Sachiko. \"Let them be,\" Sachiko told Darla." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Zoe needs time alone with Orion.\" Sachiko went into the kitchen and made tea and refreshments. \"Darla, Orion has much to learn about her role as our new ruler.\" She implied that Darla would not be Orion's priority. Darla frowned at Sachiko before she walked out the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She saw Zoe and Orion standing by the lake in deep conversation. Darla walked past the fields and the children playing. Orion was meek, yet she had power." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Darla remembered when they had class together, Orion said very little, but when she did talk, the other students listened and wanted to be with her. Orion was friendly and considered pretty. Her bright-colored hazel eyes and smile mesmerized people. Darla pressed her lips together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All this was going to be Orion's. She saw a wooded area. Darla cautiously looked around before entering. \" You will be our leader. It is your birthright,\" Zoe told Orion. Orion swallowed hard. What if I don't want it?\" she asked Zoe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Zoe smiled softly at her niece, who was like her mother in many ways. I will be here to help along with Sachiko. You are not alone. You will be a great leader because you don't crave power.\" Zoe walked away, leaving Orion alone with her thoughts. Darla sat on the ground and closed her eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her mind traveled and connected to Brax as it did the night before. \"Human, show me where you are.\" He commanded. Darla resisted. Years of meditation have taught her how to empty her mind. \"No, I want powers. You told me you could give me powers if I helped you.\" Brax tried to delve into her mind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How was she able to resist him? \"You are a worthy opponent, human.\" Brax relented. \"I want to fly and throw fire.\" \"It is done, human.\" Brax put his tentacle fingers together in a triangle. Darla could feel power entering into her body. She knew her body had changed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Now, show me.\" Darla let Brax enter her mind. Zoe was walking past the fields when she saw Darla entering the woods. What was she doing? Zoe wondered. Zoe was going to find out. When Darla exited her trance, she saw Zoe running up to her.\n\n\"You were communicating with the Translucent,\" Zoe screamed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Zoe jumped on Darla, knocking her to the ground. Zoe punched Darla in the face. \"You traitor.\" Darla could feel blood trickling out of her mouth. Darla blocked other punches. She pushed Darla off of her and stood up. Darla jumped up and was getting ready to attack again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Darla threw a fireball at Zoe. Zoe jumped out of the way. \"You have abilities.\" Darla laughed. \"Yes, why should Orion, who doesn't deserve or want power, have powers.\" Zoe had to warn the others. She started running back to the others." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Darla flew up and threw a fireball at Zoe, striking Zoe in the back. Zoe was on fire. She screamed in pain. \"You won't be warning anyone.\" Darla laughed. Zoe rolled around, putting out the fire. She reached out her hand and froze Darla up in the air before blacking out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was close to sunset, and Orion had not seen her Zoe or Darla. Orion decided to search for them. She asked adults and children if they had seen either one of them. No one had. Orion came to a wooded area. She felt uneasy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Orion knew that Zoe and Darla were in the woods and that something was terribly wrong. Orion could hear her heart beating in her ears. She walked into the woods. \"Zoe, Darla,\" Orion screamed. There was no answer. The sun was starting to set. Orion walked deeper into the woods." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Oh my God,\" Orion gasped. She saw Darla frozen in the air with a menacing look on her face. How was this possible? She thought. \"Orion.\" A faint voice called to her. Orion walked towards the voice. It was Zoe. She ran to Zoe and knelt next to her. Zoe was severely burnt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Zoe, who did this to you?\" Orion asked for the answer but did not want to accept it. \"Darla, betrayer,\" Zoe whispered. Orion looked at Darla. She felt sadness and anger all at once. Orion tried to pick up Zoe. \"I will take you back to the others and get you help,\" Orion told her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"No time.\" Zoe coughed. \"You must tell everyone. You are the leader now.\" Zoe touched Orion's face. She smiled at her. \" I believe in you.\" Zoe gasped and took her last breath. \"No, Zoe, come back.\" Orion felt tears running down her face as the sky turned dark. Orion heard Darla land behind her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She turned around. \"You killed her!\" She screamed. \"You never liked her.\" Darla snarled. \"She was the only family I had. Now I have no one.\" Zoe felt her hands starting to glow. \" You have me. I made a deal with the Aliens.\" Orion didn't want to hear it. Her Aunt was dead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She shot beams of light at Darla. Darla flew away from it. She threw a fireball at Orion. Orion ran fast. It seemed as if the fireball was going in slow motion. She saw it leaving Darla's hand. I have super speed, like Mom. Orion thought. Orion ran fast back to the homes. She had to warn them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was too late. Orion saw alien ships coming down through the dark sky.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You Kick Really Hard For A Girl" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"They're coming!\" Flimlet yelled. The forest came alive, with magical tree trunks rushing toward the north watchtower. Bells sounded. Women screamed, and children cried. The war they'd been expecting arrived. Selwyn and Jorton soldiers quickly assembled, forming a defensive line." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The trunkers slammed into them with devastating effect, knocking many soldiers unconscious. Lady Nimmo and Oakaford gathered as many stumpers as possible and joined the fight. Trunkers hammered into stumpers, and stumpers banged into trunkers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The sound of magical tree stumps and trunks crashing into one another reverberated throughout Trungen Forest. Flimlet and Tim, unlike most dwarfs and elves, fought side by side as fellow warriors. Tim's bow was no use against the massive trunks, but Flimlet's borrowed battle axe was perfect." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He swung, chopping the limb of a nearby trunker in two. The trunker attempted to knock Tim's head off with his other limb, but Flimlet sliced it off in mid-swing. They pushed the limbless trunker onto his back and laughed, \"No limb! No win!\" They shouted in unison." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Captain Arrow and Jor had to physically remove Lady Nimmo from the front line and place her inside the Keep. Oakaford, Folg, Rain Storm, Trungen, and Gladise were charged with protecting her and, more importantly, keeping her from running back into the battle. The battle raged on." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hundreds of trunkers advanced, gaining ground and pushing towards the Keep and Town Hall, the last line of defense. \"We've got to get out there!\" Lady Nimmo shouted to her protective detail. \"Nimmo, collect yourself,\" her mother, Gladise, said. \"The battle is coming to us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We need to be ready and in control.\" Hours later, the gate to the Keep rocked with a giant thud. \"It begins,\" Trungen said, walking to the gate and standing in the middle of the entrance. The rest of the gang joined her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Stay near each other; we're stronger as a unit.\" The gate busted open, and trunkers poured into the courtyard. They surrounded the gang but made no move to attack. Several rungs of trunkers formed around Lady Nimmo's band, making it impossible to escape. \"Why they not attack?\" Folg asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Be ready,\" Oakaford said. From the direction of the downed gate, trunkers parted, creating a path for a darkly dressed man. As he neared, they saw he wasn't a man but a shadow elf. Lady Nimmo instinctively knew he wasn't just any shadow elf. He was the creator of the trunkers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Finally, I get to meet the great Lady Nimmo, creator of those tiny stumpers,\" the dark creator said. \"You've been like a splinter, and today, I will remove you.\" \"You have the advantage,\" Lady Nimmo said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I don't know your name.\" \"Call me Lammerous.\" \"Well, if you plan on removing me, Lammerous, let's get to it.\" Lammerous laughed, \"You clearly don't know me. I don't fight – never have. My Kraff-Nocks do that for me.\" \"That's a strange name for tree trunks,\" Oakaford said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Really? Do you think stumper is more creative? Anyway, back to my Kraff-Nocks. They will remove you and your little stumper, too.\" Gladise stepped past Trungen and Lady Nimmo and stretched out her arm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Xer-Bane saved my life when I was a little girl and gave me a magic ability that would rescue me and those I love when all hope was gone. The battle is lost, and you intend to kill my little girl. I'd say all hope is gone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What do you think, Lammy?\" \"What did you call me?\" His face was as red as a book with a red cover. \"Kill them all!\" The Kraff-Nocks moved closer. Gladise raised both arms to the sky and violently swung them down. Suddenly, blue lightning repeatedly stuck the Kraff-Nocks and Lammerous." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No one was hurt, but when the lightning ceased, those who were stuck began to scratch their heads in confusion. \"Where are we?\" Lammerous said in a dreamy, confused manner. \"Who are you?\" He looked to one of his Kraff-Nocks and then to Gladise." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"What's going on here?\" The Kraff-Nocks were just as clueless as Lammerous; in fact, everyone was just as clueless as Lammerous, except for Gladise. \"You all were about to help clean up the mess you made,\" Gladise said. \"After that, you all need to go home. Got it?\" \"Oh, I remember." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That's right,\" Lammerous said. They got to work: helping injured stumpers, carrying soldiers to the healers, and collecting their own limbless Kraff-Nocks. They worked quickly and then departed without saying a word. After Lady Nimmo spent hours carving away the stumper's injuries, she found her mom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Hello? Lightning? Your daughter?\" Lady Nimmo cryptically said. \"I'm sorry for not telling you, but Xer-Bane told me never to say anything about his gift,\" Gladise said. \"Wow. I have so many questions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Will they get their memories back? Can you do that again? Does it hurt you?\" \"Lammy and his trunkers will regain their memory. I plan on sending Flimlet and Tim to inform him that I can do that repeatedly. Lammy and his ilk won't bother us anymore." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No, it doesn't hurt, but I plan on taking extra naps for a while.\" They talked for some time when Tim interrupted. \"Excuse me, my ladies, but I have some disturbing news.\" Lady Nimmo ran faster than she had ever run before, and Tim could barely keep up. They arrived at the tent and entered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Captain Arrow lay on a cot, blood covering the lower half of his body. She went to him and knelt beside him. The healers and Tim stepped out to give them some privacy. \"Are you able to heal him?\" Tim asked the healers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"He will live, but his injury is beyond our power to heal.\" \"What?\" \"We'll do our best, but it won't be enough.\" \"But he will live?\" \"Yes, but he won't ever be the same.\" Inside the tent, Lady Nimmo held Arrow's hand. He hadn't moved since she arrived." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She began talking with him to prevent a complete meltdown. \"You won't believe what mom can do. Did you see the lightning? I'm not mad at you for carrying me to the Keep. I was screaming at you and kicking you because I was so keyed up to fight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You know how I can get?\" She was petting his hand the entire time. Suddenly, she felt a very faint movement. Arrow's finger wiggled ever so slightly. \"Arrow? Can you hear me?\" He wiggled two fingers and attempted to lift his eyelids." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After three or four failed attempts, he finally opened them and looked at Lady Nimmo. In a faint voice, he said, \"You kick really hard for a girl.\" She smiled and had to force herself not to kiss and hug him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"If you weren't so banged up, I'd kick you again.\" \"The healers say I'm going to lose my leg.\" She gently squeezed his hand and could not hold back her tears. \"I'm so sorry. It's all my fault.\" \"What are you talking about?\" \"They were after me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You should have been on your ship hunting treasure instead of fighting my enemies.\" \"My Dear, your enemies are my enemies. I'd give both my legs to protect you.\" Captain Arrow did lose his leg. However, despite the ferocity of the battle, there were surprisingly few casualties." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The town of Jorton recovered quickly, and as a sign of respect and honor, King Moreland accepted Jorton as a full member city of the nation of Selwyn with all of its protections and privileges." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In addition, the new Selwyn City grew in reputation and was picked as the most desirable place to live by the prestigious scroll company, The Wanowyn Wisemen. Flimlet and Tim began a running school for speed and marathon runners." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Folg and Trungen went on a quest to find the Kroff-Nocks created from Trungen trees and liberate them from Lammerous. Splinter and Tat were promoted to Chief Deputy of the Border Guard. Oakaford and Rain Storm remained close to Lady Nimmo as part of her inner circle of advisers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jor and the retired King's Guards were reinstated by King Moreland and assigned to protect Duchess Nimmo. Gladise continued to teach art. Perhaps the best news of all is that Captain Arrow and Lady Nimmo got married and were the happiest couple in town." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Captain Arrow proudly displayed his wooden leg whenever possible, and Lady Nimmo frequently created new stumpers. How does one end a story like this? The adventures were many, the heartaches were few, and the characters were a delight. After thinking about it, there's only one way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And they all lived happily ever after. The End.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A Bold Move" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I received the call on my son’s 16th birthday. My kids had both been accepted to an amazing charter school…in Florida. My husband and I both grew up in South Florida, and he especially, was yearning to return to the Sunshine State." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We’d had long-term plans of helping in the expansion of a family business…but those plans weren’t ready to be actualized yet. Meanwhile, our situation in Georgia had become a bit dire." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We have raised our kids as homeschoolers, blessed with a local homeschool community, and lots of outdoor learning opportunities." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was wonderful for a while, until some drama happened, the community became a bit fragmented, followed by the dramatic upheaval of 2020…and we realized, we had reached the end of the road with the community. Our oldest child, our son, entered his first year of high school in the fall of 2020." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a strange time, indeed, to be making this transition. And we soon came to realize, just how horrifying the public school scenario could be. It definitely could have been worse than it was - our son never got hurt, nobody laid a finger on him - but there were fights at his school." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Several times a week. The police were brought in, quite often. For us parents, the situation was teetering on the edge of nightmarish. And our 12-year-old daughter was asking to go to middle school, right across the street from the high school, with much of the same scene." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So, I submitted the charter school applications for both kids." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Two months later, I was trying to make peace with the fact that they probably weren’t getting in, that we’d be in Georgia for at least another school year, and how were we ever going to handle that? When suddenly, I found myself on the phone with a sweet lady telling me our kids had gotten in! I was beside myself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hung up and immediately called my husband at work. “Are you crazy?” he demanded. “We’re not ready to sell the house. And we’d need to make a lot of money from it. The cost of living in Florida...you know how much I want to move there...but this is crazy.” How glad I am, that I didn’t listen to him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He definitely “wears the pants” in our relationship, but *that* time, I wasn’t taking no for an answer. I called the office lady back and told her we were IN." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I knew it was a long shot, but I felt in my heart of hearts that this was a gift from the heavens, a twist of fate, and that’s not the kind of thing you just turn down because of fear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sometimes, you have to look fear in the face and say, “Come at me, bro.” Over the next month, I tiptoed around the subject with my husband, who is not a huge fan of change and was aggravated at the prospect of uprooting our lives so suddenly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "While at my mother-in-law’s house one day, a commercial for the company HomeLight came on - they assist people find buyers for their house." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Just a few days later, I found myself in my master bathroom speaking to a HomeLight representative in hushed tones, while my husband and daughter waited downstairs for me, to go on a hike. My husband finally agreed to meet with one - just one - real estate agent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The right guy showed up, said the right things, and exactly a month and three days after that phone call that seemed to come right from heaven, our house went on the market. The following day, we left for a pre-planned vacation to the exact same area we were desiring to move to." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And four days later, while still on vacation, we had a signed contract on our house in Georgia!! Back at home, I made a vision board and covered it in green foliage. You see, we had this gorgeous wooded backyard in Georgia, where deer came to graze, and where our girl had built countless forts." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As much as I was ready to give it up for the beach…I wasn’t really ready to give it up completely, in exchange for a cookie-cutter house sandwiched in between neighbors. I needed us to have some semblance of privacy, like we’d had for the past 6 years." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So the vision board went up, I envisioned, I called it in…and even when doubt crept in and I watched houses I thought I loved go like hotcakes…I held to that vision." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I started calling around and talking to different realtors, and after a few tries, found a human angel who was willing to help us find a rental.\n\nAt the very top of the first MLS listing she sent me, was the house I knew we were meant to have." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tucked away behind a small neighborhood, down a gravel road on an acre of land, was the single-story, 1800 sq. ft house that had our names written all over it. Well, specifically, my name." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was almost EXACTLY what I had been envisioning…spacious enough for us with a large, open living room and kitchen, no carpet anywhere in the house, a guest room, and oh, so much green." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Did I mention neighbors? How about NONE? In a state where houses are often stacked seemingly on top of one another, I had managed to find a little slice of paradise, 30 minutes from the beach, and twenty minutes from the kids’ school." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We did have a few heart-in-throat situations along the way, with landlords who had just renovated the house and were not wanting pets inside the house." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was no way we were moving in without our three cats! For the sake of my sanity, we started off telling them that they’d be outside cats only (a half-truth, if you will)…and after what seemed like an eternity, the realtor came back and let us know that the cats wouldn’t be a big deal." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not three months after that first fated phone call, we were living in Florida, in a dream house, with space for our kitties to roam." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How quickly the pieces of this puzzle just fell into place, as if orchestrated by a Divine hand!! Our arrival here was a beautifully designed co-creation, something that we’d wished for but that I ultimately called into existence, at the right and perfect time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Exactly two years ago today, we were newly landed, still trying to make sense of the whirlwind that had just uprooted us into another plane of existence. Sometimes things are just meant to be, but we might never know if we don’t take the initiative to stake our claim." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We have incredible power at our disposal, to create our lives the way we want them to be – if only we can know that this is possible for us, beyond the shadow of a doubt. Doubt is the killer of dreams. And I am most grateful for the certainty I have, of this sleeping giant within." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ready to be stirred and shaped into the best vision we can contain for ourselves. Intention is where it all begins. We are magic. ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dragonflies and fireflies." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The stale air tore through his hair as he leaped across an alleyway. Angry cursing followed behind him. He couldn’t help but spare a glance behind him. The dolts looked ridiculous, wearing neon skin tight uniforms that only accentuated their lack of optimal physique." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not to mention they glowed, some stupid thing about them being the physical representation of ‘the light to follow’ or whatever. He looked back ahead of himself and slipped back down to the ground." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even though the enforcement down here wasn’t the most disciplined, what they lacked in talent they more than made up for with numbers. After winding through a few blocks he slunk into an alleyway with constellations peaking out on the walls." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was dark, but he had done this so many times it was ingrained into his memory. Under the dumpster, move the wet and moldy cloth, then move a few bricks and voila. He opened the bag and donned the brown bomber jacket inside, removing his mask and goggles and putting them in the bag." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He hurried to put it back then rushed out the other side, slipping his hood up and taking a pack out of his pocket. As he leisurely leaned on the cold brick, enforcement ran past on the other end of the alleyway." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Most of the footsteps and yelling went on by, but he could hear two pairs of footsteps approaching him from behind. He tensed as they got closer and closer, praying they would simply pass him by. His hopes were smashed as two gaudy uniforms found themselves in front of him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The first one's flabby cheeks bounced with every word, “You, civilian, did you see Apis pass by?” Cheek’s was breathing so hard that he could hear a faint whistling coming from his throat. While his friend kept fidgeting with his long pale fingers so hard he was worried they’d snap like twigs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He gestured towards his pack, and the stick in his hand, “Sorry, m’havin a bit of a break tonight so my brain’s a little muddled.” Cheek’s partner held out a pouch that delicately clinked with the movement, “Would this help clear it?” He blinked, did this guy think he was trying to haggle him? He inwardly smirked, well, may as well milk it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He waited a bit, seeming to contemplate, then put his hand out. As the enforcer put the bag of goods in his hand he pointed around where the rest of the guards had gone. “I believe he was headed in that direction, good luck officers.” Stick guy nodded, headed in the direction without question." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Cheeks bounced along behind him. He let out a breath and set off in the opposite direction. As he went to put the stick back in its box, he realized why Sticks had assumed he was haggling. Both ends were pristine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He thanked the lord for their stupidity and hurried on in case they suddenly wisened up. As he walked, the sky gradually turned from a reddish black to a rusty orange." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The pollution rising from the grates, that weren’t completely covered in filth, only added to the already hazy air and smokey clouds from the production plants. “Well that was close.” He jolted as a figure jumped down in front of him, punching them in the face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They reeled back clutching blackened hands to their nose." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Ow, jeez Caelum, you didn’t need to hit me that hard.” He stared back incredulously, “Yeah I did, I mean I didn’t mean to, but you definitely deserved that Nox, what were you thinking?” Nox guiltily curled his tail around his leg, “I wasn’t, I should know by now not to do that.” He shook his head and began walking forward, folding his hands behind his head, “Naw, it’s alright, at least I’m wearing gloves, so now you don’t have to deal with a face full of venom.” Nox nodded, yellow eyes firmly rooted to the ground." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They walked through the ruddy streets in awkward silence. Caelum cleared his throat, “So, how's our little dragonfly doing?” Nox immediately perked up at the mention, though he warily glanced around before speaking." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“She’s coming along nicely, I was able to do a few test runs and she was having a little trouble but other than that it’s running smoothly.” As he talked, his hands began moving alongside his endless rambling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Although there is this problem with her energy conversion, a new converter would probably do the trick, but I don’t think there’s much else we can do with our current materials.” Nox sighed, “At least everything else is going smoothly, we won’t know for sure until we actually test her in the field, but I have a good feeling about this.” Caelum thought for a second, if the energy converter was the only problem… Nox quirked an eyebrow at him, “You’re planning something, and I’m not sure if I should be worried or excited.” Caelum grinned, bringing out the pouch of glasswings he’d gotten from Sticks earlier." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Well, I may or may not have run into a couple of enforcers earlier.” Nox gasped, taking the pouch and rustling through the bag with his talons, “No, this is-wait, you were caught?” He shrugged, reaching to climb the ladder to enter their home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Technically no, Apis escaped the enforcers, I just happened to run into a few.” Nox followed, lashing his tail in irritation. “Please don’t tell me you stole from them, I really don’t want to have to shake them off our tails." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Again.” “No, they actually gave it to me,” He shrugged off his hood and let his antenna spring up into the air, “For the cheap, cheap price of misdirection.” “So you were almost caught, lied to, and haggled with officers.” “Yeah, although I highly doubt Cheeks would’ve been able to put a finger on me if they did figure me out.” “Cheeks?” He snorted, “Oh yeah, one of them was so round I nearly mistook them for a bowling ball, seriously I don't know how they even passed the exam.” “Yeah well, enough money can get you anything in this world.” Nox huffed, flopping down onto the pile of fabric that was their bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Do you think we’ll reach them, the fireflies?” Caelum plopped next to Nox, “Of course we will, we have enough glasswings to get a new converter and anything our dragonfly will need to blast out of this hellhole.” He pulled his bag over near him and pulled a few cans of paint out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He walked over to one of the walls and brushed the fabric covering it aside. It was covered with illustrations and scribbles, some more faded by time than others. He shook the can and began painting an area that was mostly clear. Images from torn pages began forming on the wall." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Purples, blues, reds, all mixing together to create silky clouds of cosmos. White dots connected with web-like lines woven in between the dusty puffs of otherworldly color. He stood back, admiring his work. Soon, they wouldn’t need to imagine anymore." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They would soar through the sea of fireflies above, exploring, adventuring. Soon, they would be free.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am Torch" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Content warning: death, LGBTQ, racism, and swearing The name's Torch. As you can tell by my fiery hair, hot bod, and of course my charming personality, I am a FireBorn.\n\nI was born in a quaint farming town to Kyrna and Lumina, two lesbian elves. They were very excited, but rather confused." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At least that's what mother says. She says that her and Mom were surprised to see that I looked—well, like I was literally on fire. Turns out that down Mother's lineage; oh, Mother meaning Kyrna, someone banged a genie and well, guess I was the lucky one to have that gene unlocked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My parents even had to interrogate my biological father. He was just as shocked as they were! Anyways, long story short, you get me; Torch. Well, that's not what my parents named me. My real name is Illumius. Try that one on for size." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Anyways, the rest of the people in town didn't exactly approve that a FireBorn lived in their town. They all had heard some stupid rumor that FireBorn's bring trouble wherever they go, and that by keeping me around, the town was doomed. Stupid right? Well, my parents had to hide me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If they wanted to upkeep their farm and keep making the money they did, they had to hide me away and say that I was gone. So, they entrusted me to an old friend of theirs who lived further into the mountains. He was a Dwarf blacksmith who made most of the town's equipment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Over time, I learned to call him Uncle Dunarth. I helped him in his shop and learned that my fire was able to heat his forge—a luxury he loved. Uncle Dunarth taught me many things about building and making my own inventions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I fell in love with learning about how mechanisms worked, and began to delve into my own inventions. I made many new tools for the farms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was able to help create items that worked on their own so the farmer's could split their loads.\n\nMy fire helped keep Uncle Dunarth's shop working.\n\nWhile living there, my parents came to see me often. We would explore the mountains and forests together when they came." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They always made sure I had everything I needed, and they never let me forget that they loved me. They never let me forget why I was living in the mountains, either. I missed them dearly, but Uncle Dunarth was more than enough company. He was lively and full of laughter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had a flaming red beard and a big stomach that hung low over his knees. When he sang, his voice filled the cave and shuttered down the mountain.\n\nI loved my home and my family. That all changed, of course, when the authorities figured out that my parents were hiding me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They sent for me at once—I was just barely 17. They stormed up the mountain one night, yelling for Uncle Dunarth to show himself and confess to his harboring of an unwanted monster. The words cut me deep as I hid in the shadows." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had been practicing keeping my flames low in my hair and on my body, but as they spat out words against me, and Uncle Dunarth spitting out lies back about how he didn't do such a thing, I could feel my fire growing. The more they pushed Uncle, the angrier I got." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Peeking around the corner of the cave wall, I could see the soldiers in front of the Dwarf, They had their blades drawn. As they interrogated, I could see they were getting more and more mad." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Uncle Dunarth pointed a finger towards the town and began to scream at them, telling them to leave his property if they knew what was best for them. The blade in the soldier's hand found Dunarth's chest faster than I could blink. My eyes widened and time seemed to slow down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Uncle Dunarth fell to his knees with the blade protruding from his chest. I clenched a fist, trying to slow my breathing down.\n\nThe soldier laughed, grabbed the hilt and pulled the blade slowly out of the downed Dwarf." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Blood began to pool around Uncle Dunarth, glinting off the torch light that illuminated the entrance to the cave, and his home. The moon sat in solemness as the soldiers laughed and kicked Dunarth down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He lay unmoving in his blood as the authorities came closer to the cave.\n\n“That lying Dwarf is hiding that boy. If not him, something. Never trust a Dwarf.” The apparent leader stated.\n\nCatching my breath, fear and anger consumed me. They killed my Uncle. My protector." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Unable to control the anger that erupted from me, flames ignited from within me, and my eyes scorched red. I came from the shadows, my body burning. The soldiers gasped, turning their weapons me. Orders were barked at me, but I could barely hear them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They destroyed my life in two seconds, and I was about to repay the debt. It was a blur what happened that night. When I came to, I was surrounded by the bodies of the soldiers in the cave. Everything was on fire." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I stood in the middle of a bloodbath, my hands on fire and dripping with what was left of the soldiers. “Illumius?” A soft voice came from behind me. I closed my eyes, flinching.\n\nTurning around, I met the eyes of my Mom, Lumina. Her hand was to her mouth, and tears in her eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mother came up behind her and gasped at the carnage I was standing in.\n\nTheir eyes met the clouded ones of Dunarth and they began to cry.\n\n“What happened here, Illumius?” Lumina asked amid sobs.\n\nI couldn't answer. I fell to my knees and cried. My fire dimmed as I let the sadness wash over me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I watched my Uncle die to protect me. I killed these men—innocent or not. I really was a monster. I spoke of this in my sadness. My parents raced to my side and held me. My mothers. They still loved me after what I did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As we sat in silence, we could hear the sound of horses and more soldiers.\n\n“You need to get out of here, Illumius.” Mother told me.\n\nI shook my head. I couldn't leave them! Kyrna took my head in her hands and kissed my burning skin. She looked into my red eyes and smiled. “You are a brave young man." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You've grown to be a wonderful and smart person. I am so proud of you. I ask this of you, my son. Leave. Leave and forge your own path. Your destiny is now in your own hands.”\n\nAs she spoke, tears filled my eyes as I didn't understand what she was saying." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Looking at Mom, then at Mother, then to the blood on my hands, I knew then. If I didn't leave, they could die too. The soldiers would kill my parents for keeping me alive." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Clenching my fist, and a few more weeps, I stood up straight and nodded to them.\n\n“I love you, Moms.” I promised them I would be back someday.\n\n* * * * Life was never the same after leaving home. I found odd jobs here and there to make money and stay afloat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I took jobs that no one else wanted, jobs no one else could do, and jobs that I didn't want. I would get the worst tasting food that was left over from inns and bars—thrown out in their back alley way so I could eat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I would walk down the streets in towns, hearing the dreaded word “monster” floating all around me. I would be chased out of bars and diners. Words cut through me like butter and wedged inside. I was a monster, and no one was ever going to want me. It all hurt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It all helped me find my way across the country, though. I moved from city to city taking on bigger and bigger jobs. I lived in a tent if I couldn't get a room at an inn. I learned how to hunt and to take care of myself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The better I got with my weapons and my natural powers the better I got at surviving. I even started to tinker again.\n\nI would frequent the local forges and metal shops for scrap tools and metal, if the smiths would let me in. I started to make inventions again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I put all that Uncle Dunarth taught me and made moving inventions that helped people with their various jobs. I took on disguises and started to sell them for a small price to those that needed the extra help around their businesses or homes and couldn't afford to ask or pay." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I went from town to town selling small machines to people. \n\nWhen I turned 21, I had begun to make a name for myself as an Creator, a person who invented items that made life easier for those that paid." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was known as the Hidden Creator, for I would take a request for an invention and would oftentimes leave their order on their door and leave. Finding disguises had become harder and harder as I moved from town to town, so I learned to stay in the shadows and deliver the goods when night fell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I couldn't let them know a monster was the one making their inventions.\n\nBy now you're probably thinking, “Then where does the name Torch come in?”\n\nFreshly 21, and with some money in my pockets, I had found myself in a much larger city on the coast." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had donned a new disguise and was taking my time in the shops. I had sold my inventions and had been pursuing the stalls for more scrap metal and other wares that could help me make more. As I did, I came across a bulletin for an Adventure's Wanted poster." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The poster looked to be faded and dirty—almost like it had been there for a while. A small drawing of a beetle decorated the corner of the wanted ad.\n\nPondering the ad, I continued my way down until I reached the end of the merchant's square." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The rest of the city was lush with rich homes and cathedrals. I felt very out of place, but something spurred me to keep walking.\n\nThe homes were lavish and full of beautiful grass and plants that complimented the mountainside that swept up behind them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was astounded to know that people actually had enough money to live like this. I had assumed they were the port owners that lived on this block.\n\nAs I made my way down the streets, I could feel eyes on me. Turning around, I swept my gaze down the empty street." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The feeling of being watched never subsided as I kept going down the lavish road. Eventually\n\nI entered the entertainment square of the city. Music floated on the wind towards me as I left the out of place wealth and into the more familiar theatre district." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As I hopped onto the dirt road, something tapped my shoulder. I whipped around, only to be met with a gnome who waved up at me.\n\nLooking down, I tilted my head. Did this gnome just tap me on the shoulder? I was six feet tall! The gnome woman gave me a big smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“'Ello!” She exclaimed.\n\n“Uh, hello?” “Name's Bug! I saw you were looking at my help wanted poster by the docks!”\n\nRecalling the poster, I realized that the little image of a beetle was not in fact just a weird drawing, but a signature. I started to laugh at this and knelt down to Bug. “I did, I did." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What is it that you need an adventurer for?”\n\n“Not just an adventurer! I need you. FireBorn.” I felt my chest clench. How did she know what I was? I had done a good job at hiding the flames pretty well. I didn't see any flame coming from under my hat, or through my trench coat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She waved to me to follow her. Now you're probably asking what the hell describing the wealthy section of town was about right? Eh, I just wanted to share this really cool road I went down to get to the entertainment district." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I mean, it was cool amIright ? She leads me through the district and down a dark alley—no this is not where a gnome kicks a six foot tall FireBorn's ass in an alleyway—this is where she knocks on a hidden metal door, says the word “Hairy Fish” and introduces me to The Whispers.\n\n* * * * The Whispers became my new home away from home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They instantly accepted me as I was—telling me to remove the stupid little disguise I had on and to wear the clothing they gave me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Bug had explained that she could smell the brimstone off my skin, and it was clear as day to her that I wasn't an elf, or human, or whatever else I was trying to come off as. I was truly a FireBorn and she just knew I had to be part of her guild." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I thanked her for being so kind, and listened as they started to explain who this group was. They were a small adventuring guild that took on mostly hunting and gathering jobs. They made a little bit of money, which helped keep their hideout hidden." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Apparently the other adventuring guilds around here wanted to run The Whispers out of town, stating that they had no business running a guild. It was hard to get new members to join because their reputation was so shot. I loved The Whispers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The guild was made mostly of a human rogue, gnome musician, elf hunter, a brawling half-orc, and me. We were an odd group, but I learned a lot in the time I was with this guild.\n\nOkay, okay. Yes. This is where Torch comes in. You see, this guild wasn't entirely invisible to the populous." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How do you think they got their name, The Whispers? Rumors floated around about a ragtag group of an odd assortment taking the biggest monster hunting jobs that were posted. Yeah, that's right. Our little guild took down monstrous beasts that plagued the forests surrounding the costal city." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We always took the biggest monster we could, and would always deliver. In my time of fighting off large creatures, my own powers and skills began to grow. I enjoyed finding new ways to kill monsters." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I became creative with my weaponry and what I could do.\n\nI learned my way around explosives and my own cannons. I learned out of the box thinking when it came to doing a job efficiently. After a while of hunting, I began to trust my own skills and abilities." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I slowly became a high-risk fighter.\n\nI know! Me, who was used to hiding in caves and running for my life, suddenly became the one to charge into battle with just a boomerang and bomb.\n\nI learned that I had to trust myself. I was the only one who was going to get myself killed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was the only one who was going to save my ass. I took control of my own fear and used it.\n\nAlso, it became a lot of fun to break the rules.\n\nMonster after monster, mission after mission, my creativity, my eagerness, my strength, and my abilities grew." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rumors started to shift from a ragtag group taking on insane monsters, to one man taking on insane monsters. I would go alone, I would go without weapons, I would go with all the weapons. I practiced and used everything I could." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I made sure I knew my way out of a situation with whatever I could get my hands on, whatever I had on me. I made sure I lived. No matter what.\n\nI was called “The Maniac” or “Risk” but only one name truly suited me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As we were given our assignments for the day by Bug, the guild master, I had realized she started to sign my name in a drawing like the others. It was a drawing of a torch. When I asked her, she just laughed.\n\n“It looks like your hair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You're a walking torch!”\n\nI folded the paper up and put it in my pocket. Torch. Playing around with the name, I realized how well it fit. Illumius was dead. He had died when he had to run away from his parents. When he watched Uncle Dunarth die protecting him. Illumius was weak." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Torch? Torch was alive. Torch was me. I was alive. I was strong. And I wasn't ever going to let anyone tell me I was a monster again. I wasn't ever going to hide who I am again. I. Am. Torch.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Secret History of Water" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The absence of daylight in the surrounding area betrayed the fact that it was actually noon. Darkness enshrouded the sun, blocking its rays from shining through. A slowly advancing horde paused and hovered, awaiting their orders. But none came." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The wind blew steadily from behind, pushing them onward, so they continued. Although the crowd was as numerous as the sands on the seashore, without their commander leading them, they felt as if they were wandering aimlessly, unsure of where to go next." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Suddenly, a thunderous rumble filled the sky, echoed across the mountains on either side and shook each one of the assembled to their core; yet, not from fear. Instead, a wave of unspoken relief passed through them all. Commander Raham finally returned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The commander’s encouragement always provided the drive needed to embolden the masses to carry on; to finally succeed in this perpetual rhythm of attack, regroup, attack again. Presently, Raham’s voice boomed overhead, loudly enough for the whole valley to hear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But only the ranks of Zerem understood what was being said. “As you all know, this battle has long been fought between Zerem and Aphar. But this time, they have crossed the line. I’ve just come from the north side of the mountain." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It’s painted white where countless numbers of helpless Zerem are being held as prisoners. When our last battalion descended on that area, they were captured, and now the Aphar refuse to release them. Unfortunately, we will not be getting any more reinforcements this time around." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So, we must fall on our enemies swiftly, before we reach the opposite side. We will then make our way up and over to save those in need.” Every other time the Zerem had descended on the enemy, they had been able to escape, and had almost always returned." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was one thing for a Zerem to willingly join the Aphar, or occasionally decide to stay on that side, but this was something entirely different. This was the first time Sahyir, or any of the other new arrivals, ever heard of anything like this." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Aphar refusing to release captured troops? They had never taken hostages before. Sahyir could give no more thought to the matter, because Raham’s voice reverberated again with the order, “Troops! Prepare to fall on the enemy in all haste." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The first flash lighting the sky will be your sign to attack. Make ready!” Before any response could be uttered, a streak of lightning filled the sky from East to West. For a fleeting moment, everything was illuminated, allowing the Zerem to catch a brief glimpse of their target." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The oblivious Aphar had no idea they were about to be pummeled by a flood of Zerem. Without warning, the hiss of battle arose and everything in the area was quickly overrun in the maelstrom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn’t long before the Zerem reached the mountainside and found that the southern incline was too steep to proceed upward. The more they tried, the further down they slid." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sahyir progressed higher than most, but slipped on a rock and rolled back down to the foot of the mountain, well beyond the mustering point where others were pooling together to plan their next ascent. Every Zerem knew the best way to defeat the enemy was as a whole." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Separation meant almost certain failure. But, having landed in a crevice between two large boulders, Sahyir was cut off from any means of rejoining the group. A voice, not so much heard as felt, filled Sahyir’s consciousness. “I’m glad you’re here, Zerem." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’ve been waiting for one of your kind to come.” Turning to locate the origin of the voice revealed a gaunt soldier, completely clad in green except for a blazing red helmet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The soldier was hunched over and pitifully malnourished—on the brink of death—yet, displayed surprisingly good spirits for being in such a state. “If you’re planning to kill me, I warn you now, I will not go down without a fight,” Sahyir courageously announced." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Kill you?” the soldier rebutted in astonishment. “Oh, you must be referring to my blades and shields. No, these are just part of the armor bestowed upon me. I only wield them as a sign of honor. I’m not your enemy, little one. My name is Perah." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I’m trapped here, same as you.” “But, you’re Aphar,” Sahyir stated, almost as a question. “Your kind is holding Zerem captive in a white prison on the other side of this mountain.” “Yes, I am Aphar. But, I’m afraid you’re mistaken. We’re not imprisoning Zerem." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They’re waiting of their own accord to be used at the proper time,” Perah replied. “Yeah, you’ll use them in your defenses, so you can defeat us,” Sahyir accused. “No, no. It’s not like that at all. I’m not sure you understand the way things work around here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There is a symbiotic relationship between our kingdoms. We each benefit the other for continued survival. You provide us with your strength for a time and, in turn, we replenish you. It has always been this way.” “You replenish us?” Sahyir scoffed indignantly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You may not realize it, but Aphar eagerly anticipate your attacks. When you fall on us, we absorb your power. When you join us, we grow together. After Zerem are assimilated into the ranks of Aphar, both are refreshed and we send you back, better than ever." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Zerem strengthen Aphar… Aphar create more Zerem. It’s an endless cycle of regeneration,” Perah informed. “How do Zerem strengthen Aphar?” “If you can bring yourself to trust me, I will show you.” Perah reached down weakly to lift the reluctant, yet curious, Sahyir." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An unseen, magical force resulting from their connection caused Sahyir to slowly dissolve into Perah. The latter rose and stood tall, stretching two leafy green shields toward the now brightly-shining sun." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The crowning helmet opened and spread into a wheel of beautiful, red petals, releasing a mist of tiny droplets that evaporated back into the air. And the cycle continued as it always does...." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Heist Connoisseur" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I exited the World of Coca-Cola at 2:19 p.m. No sweat, no fear. After all, I've stolen from the greatest museums in the world. That said, my pocket did feel heavier—the one with my phone, which contained a picture of the original Coca-Cola secret formula." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Only two senior executives know the formula entirely at any given time. It's that secret. Well, now there are three. I crossed Baker Street onto Centennial Olympic Park. I scanned without appearing to scan and noticed two men in black suits. I increased my pace without drawing attention to myself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Could they be from the museum? Surely not. I would have noticed. Over the last six weeks, I've patiently cased the famous tourist trap, working as an electrician, my original calling, before becoming the world's most notorious burglar. I prefer Heist Connoisseur, but the FBI won't use it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "To them, I'm just an ordinary thief. It's so hard to build one's brand. I stopped and sat on a park bench. The suits looked uncomfortable with my sudden inaction. They slowed but maintained their direction. They were following me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My photographic memory flipped through the museum's security personnel, and those two were not there. I got up and walked to them. We were surrounded by kids playing, lovers holding hands, and walkers listening to mumbled headphones. These two won't make a scene. I, on the other hand, will." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was easier to disappear in chaos. \"I love pizza on mountain roads if it's December,\" I said, looking in the opposite direction of the startled pair. \"What?\" One of the suits said. \"Come on. You must give the counter-response, or I'm out of here.\" They both squirmed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn't have shocked them more had I stripped down to my tighty-whities and danced. \"We don't know what you're talking about.\" They attempted to move past me, but I intercepted them. \"Alright, enough games." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why are you following me?\" They looked around as if trying to find the hidden Candid Camera. \"Face recognition. We've been sent to verify.\" \"Me? Which notorious criminal do I look like?\" \"Don Bard.\" \"The Heist Connoisseur?\" They tensed up. I tipped my hand." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Only the FBI and I know that moniker, even if they pretend they don't. The suits drew their guns. I had already seen two police officers standing near a hot dog cart only a stone's throw from us. I shouted \"gun\" and pointed at the two suits. The police officers reacted quickly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Put the weapons down!\" They shouted with their guns aimed at the men in black. The neckties dropped their guns and raised their hands. In the confusion, I disappeared among several walkers running from the chaos." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I never looked back, but I overheard the two suits yelling, \"We're FBI!\" I must be slipping. I know better than to allow a big-brother camera to get a full view of my face. Perhaps I'm getting too old for this. It may be time to retire. They say you should retire at the pinnacle of your career." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Is there any higher pinnacle than the Coke formula? The suits and cops should have made peace by now. I doubled back and sat on a bench, never leaving the park. The best place to hide is where you begin - no one ever thinks to look where they lost you." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now that I could sit peacefully, it was time to get the Nerd working to sell this picture. \"I've got the pic.\" The Nerd texted back, \"On it.\" How much is this adventure worth? Coke's retained earnings are a little shy of seventy-five billion. Imagine seventy-five billion." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now imagine one hundred million. Both are impossible for the average Joe to wrap his brain around. But I've done the math: One hundred million is only 0.133 percent of Coke's available cash—not even one percent.\n\nMy phone vibrated, \"Coke says they won't pay.\" \"Not surprised." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Move on to other buyers.\" It's a dangerous game Coke is playing. Someone might buy it. If no one does, I'll fling the formula over the web. Nomads in the Arabian Peninsula will make Coke in their tents. Ten minutes later, \"Musk backed out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pepsi still on the fence.\" I once considered stealing the Mona Lisa. Its estimated value is one billion dollars. Coke could buy seventy-five Mona Lisas! But it won't toss me a measly one hundred million. \"Pepsi got cold feet. Afraid of repercussions. Plan C?\" \"Yes.\" That took me aback." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have enough plans to go through the alphabet twice, but I believed Pepsi would buy it, if for no other reason than to gift it back to Coke as a goodwill gesture. Imagine the free advertising? And on top of that, Pepsi would be seen as the biggest-hearted corporation of all time. \"Apple wants it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Says they're going to make it better,\" the Nerd texted. I have my standards—no changing what has worked. \"No." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Go to plan D.\" What's wrong with that fruity company? And what's up with the bite out of the apple? Is it Eve's apple - the one that caused the fall of man? Now that I think about it, that is a good logo for them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I put down the phone and took in the beauty: trees rustling, squirrels nibbling, birds singing. Of course, cars honking, people shouting, runners thudding, and sirens blaring accompanied the otherwise tranquil symphony. Buzz, \"TikTok made an offer.\" \"I may be a thief, but I'm a patriotic thief." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No!\" I was beginning to believe I'd have to follow through on my threat to release the formula on the web. Then my eyes read the text I was hoping to see. \"Coke called back. Says they will pay.\" I remained unaffected on the outside, but fireworks went off inside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was about to score my largest heist. Who knew a soft drink formula would bring in more than crown jewels, famous diamonds, and priceless works of art combined? Well, me, but I hate to toot my own horn. \"Send the pic. No copy. They will know,\" the Nerd texted. My hand was shaking a bit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I pushed send. \"Oops!\" It's been over six months since my \"Oops.\" Since then, the three who knew the formula have grown to over eight billion. Coke attempted a campaign to impugn the release as a hoax. However, it failed after people started to taste the formula's results." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I left Atlanta for a mountainous area where there are no big-brother cameras. My piddly few million will have to suffice for my retired years. How could I continue heisting after such a bumbling mistake? I have to face it. I'm no longer fit to be the Heist Connoisseur.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Beasts That Hide Inside" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As the sun dipped low behind the jagged peaks, casting long shadows across the snow-covered forest floor, and I prowled through the dense underbrush, eyes yellow and bright. My senses were alive with the thrill of the hunt, the scent of pine needles and damp earth filling my nostrils." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hunger gnawed at my belly, a monster clawing up my throat. I smirked, hunting was best when ravenousness was present, it made the world seem beneath me. I growled softly. It always was beneath me, but when my hunger was prominent it seemed even more so." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I tracked the prey in front of me, my paws, gracefully ghost-quiet allowing me to creep forward. - Snap- I \n\ngrowled loudly in frustration as the twig snapped under my paw, forgetting my quiet facade." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A flicker of movement ahead caught my attention—a flash of russet fur against the backdrop of ferns and moss-covered rocks. The deer, a graceful doe with wide, alert eyes, had sensed my presence. Her hooves struck the ground rapidly, propelling her through the forest with a desperate elegance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I surged forward, muscles coiling beneath my silver-grey coat. The chase was on. Through thickets and fallen logs we raced, my breath came in heavy pants, the thrill of the pursuit quickening my blood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The doe was swift, her slender legs carrying her effortlessly over obstacles that would have slowed a less agile creature. But I was relentless. Each stride brought me closer to her, my instincts honed over countless hunts guiding me unerringly through the labyrinthine maze of the forest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The trees blurred past, their trunks a blur of dark shapes against the fading light. I could hear her heart pounding, the rapid beat a counterpoint to the steady rhythm of my own. The gap between us narrowed with each passing moment until I could feel the warmth of her breath on my muzzle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Victory was within reach, tantalizingly close. With a burst of speed born of desperation, the doe veered sharply to the left, her hooves skidding on loose gravel. I followed in hot pursuit, my claws digging deep into the soft earth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just as I reach her, my jaw mere inches from snapping around her throat, the scent of her fear feeding my hunger, an owl swooped down at my face. With a piercing cry, its talons raked across my fur, sending a jolt of surprise through my body." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I skidded to a halt, my momentum nearly causing me to stumble over my paws. As I regained my balance, I lashed out with a furious snarl, swatting at the owl. The forest echoed with the sound of my frustration, leaves rustling, and branches quivering in response to my outburst." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The owl's powerful wings folded, transforming into pale limbs, human-like in their shape and grace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Its ruffled feathers becoming wrinkled clothes, as it settled, its neck extended, and the eagle's fierce visage shifted seamlessly into that of a man's face, short cropped hair matting to his face, with piercing, knowing eyes, the owl's formidable claws morphing into long, muscular legs that now supported the figure of a man." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I growled stepping closer slowly, since he decided to take my dinner, he could afford to become mine. And human was much tastier than deer. \"Vixen.\" He said slowly taking his hand and pushing it closer to me, backing away gradually." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Vixen,\" He says as I sniff his hand, \"It's me, your best friend, Sebastien, I'm Esmerelda's brother remember? \" I am a wolf. Strong, fast, ruthless. I am no friend. I lunged at him, my claws tearing into his skin as we tumbled into the cold, unforgiving snow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His desperate cries for help were muffled by the snow filling his mouth as I pinned him down. In that moment, I failed to notice the glint of the weapon in his hand before he pulled the trigger." }, { "from": "human", "value": "---------------------------------------------------------------- When I awaken, consciousness seeps in like a slow tide. My bronze skin feels cool against the crisp white sheets that envelop me. As I gather my bearings, the sterile surroundings offer no clues except that I've been confined here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No matter how hard I try to remember, my memory remains elusive. I shift to look at the other half of the room, but a flare of pain shoots through my body. I press my hand to the ache only for it to come away bloody." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The desk across the room catches my eye, its surface protected by plastic, save for a solitary tray holding pain relief tablets and a bloody tranquilizer dart. Instantly, a flood of memories rushes back. Sebastien." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The name echoes in my mind, I had nearly taken his life, just as I had nearly ended Amina's. The grip of my depression tightens its hold on me as I struggle to reach for my pain relief medicine. A knock interrupts my thoughts, and Doctor Clessia cautiously peers into the room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Are you accepting visitors, My Lady?\" she asks, concern etched on her features. I nod, hastily wrapping the sheets around me to conceal my nakedness. The door swings open wider, admitting the entire crew. Summoning what strength I have left, I force a strained smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Well, I suppose I've discovered how to hunt,\" I remark, attempting to lighten the tension. Silence greets my attempt at humor, thick and suffocating." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Finally, Jose speaks up, his voice edged with disbelief.\n\n\"Is nobody going to say it?\" A deep voice from the doorway responds, cutting through the silence. \"I will.\" Esmerelda strides into the room, her expression a mask of wrath. She looks me up and down pausing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It's a courtier's pause, deciding how best to strike. \"You're a piece of shit, Vixen,\" she declares, her words like venom. Chaos erupts as emotions flare unchecked. Jose's anger is palpable. \"Esmerelda, enough! You've crossed a line.\" I raise a hand, silencing the room with a motion." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Please, explain yourself,\" I request, my face unbothered and aloof, even though my heart is shattering. I always liked to think I had a heart of ice, but ice was much like glass: a couple hits and it broke. Esmerelda's facade cracks, her voice trembling with suppressed rage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"You almost killed my brother today, Vixen,\" she accuses, her tone hardening. \"None of you can control your beasts. Sooner or later, they will destroy us all!\" \"Guards,\" I murmur softly. They enter swiftly, restraining Esmerelda as she fights against their grasp, her protests echoing in the room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You will kill us all Vixen, you will kill us all!\" She screams, her arms and legs flailing as she is dragged out. The room is silent, and Jose asks hesitantly, \"Boss?\" \"Leave,\" I command, my voice barely a whisper. \"But, Boss—\" Jose tries again. \"Leave!\" I shout, cutting them off." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I curl into a ball underneath my cover. The truth hangs heavy in the air. I\n\nwas\n\na murderer, wasn't I? Our human selves and our animalistic instincts are at odds, locked in a battle where the animals, unchecked, could be our undoing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Humans wouldn't be able to control their animals if they really tried, because by then, it wouldn't matter. We were all damned to murder the world.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Spot" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No one blinked. As they gathered by the image processor, taking time to adjust all of their eye sockets and each dial and module on the machine, they simply stared and stared at what they were looking at." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No one thought to make a mental note of this; no one thought that their psychic connection could handle this. But there it was and they had to process it. Wild synaptic cheers came through the neuron feed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was a great deal of speculation as to what would come next now that they had made this great discovery. Would there be some sort of possible trip or contact with the lifeforms they had detected? This silenced some of the celebrants." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Elders had been strangely mute on their collective synapses. Perhaps they would provide an answer that would please everyone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was the waiting that made the silence so terrible, but necessary (they never rushed into any decision since the Great Methane Famine wiped out over half the population who rushed to feed where no particle of gas existed). So, the population waited. And they waited. And they waited." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Finally, there was a decision made and did not please anyone who heard it. “This never happened.” \n\nFor a very long mental moment, no one uttered a thought." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The hovergalleries were left unoccupied; hippocampuses cancelled classes for the day; algae cafés could see that the number of patrons dropped dramatically when sales were tallied (credit chips were very thin in the coffers)." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No one wanted to be detected disagreeing with the final decision, but there was enough of a bond between citizens for a sensitive being to detect discomfort and annoyance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How could they forget such a thing? The image, nearly destroyed during the Elders’ long search for a verdict, was burned into the collective." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Newer entities were saving it for their scrapbook collections and did not want to deny what they considered the most important discovery of their nonlinear lives." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How could they deny such a thing? Many of the citizens who accepted the news were not aware of the growing resentment and annoyance many of their fellow citizens felt towards the Elders. They had made many wise and careful decisions in the past, but they were not infallible." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were moments that they would not forget, such as the great Moon renovation fiasco, the portal mix up with the residents of Olfactoron-69… And then there was the moment they received a shipment of eggs that would hatch and attachment their progeny to… But those were events from many ages ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And all those decisions had come down from the Elders and were handled by them. So, why should this be seen an error? In one of the more obscure areas of the shared collective mind hive, a plot was formed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Several of the more dangerous sectors of the galaxy knew all about the photograph, and they could see that there was a great amount of potential in contacting whatever type of primitive life form existed there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The people there were satisfied with so little, they would be happy to learn about timejump engines, multidimensional work duties, and the benefits of planet design for peace among worlds." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Surely, they would be willing to hear from at least one small delegation that slipped under the mental radar of the collective. They were going to contact the Spot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But how were they to do this? With some of the technology and calculations made in private, it was discovered that it would take at least four timejumps to get to the discovery." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Many of the scientists who were excited about the possibility of contact were disappointed with the decision to ignore the photo. They were willing to try and reduce the amount of time necessary to make the journey. Many accidents followed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One surreptitious trip led to one crew of explorers encountering their own grandchildren when both sides were adults, but this was minor compared to the explosions, mutilations, loss of citizens and expense to their credit lists." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But still they experimented and kept their work hidden from anyone connected to the Elders. And after many different creations and experiments, they had their vehicle. The Grand Hunter. It was a beautiful vessel for a virtual creation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With some modifications and enhancements, they would be able to reach the Spot with only two separate time jumps. The problem now was to decide who would make the journey. Many non-psychic feelers were raised in the methane-thick gas." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The ones who had designed the ship were not about to be denied the chance to make such a journey. The scientists who made the modifications were a little more hesitant." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Only one of them made the decision to join the rest of the designers (a quick version of Rock, Paper, Scissors – using terms that we would not recognize – was played)." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then there was the choice of a captain… It would have to be the one who could resist the neurological beatdown that was coming their way if they were discovered (no timejump would prevent that). It would have to be someone who had already travelled beyond the accepted limits of their territory." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It would have to be someone the Elders would not suspect in a million quasimoments. So, it had to be Y. Yes, it was Y. They all knew Y. Y. would be the one to get them there. It should be explained that they did not have names in this nebula. They would have considered that the greatest vanity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But they did need some sort of title for a man who was a war veteran, explorer, savior of the realm (he solved that gas problem and had a tentacle in the egg removal). So, in their language, Y is as close an equivalent to anything in our various tongues." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So, when there was little neural vibration work in their connected web, the Grand Hunter disconnected from their world. And there were no glitches or errors as the second time jump and the ship adjusted to the open space of the new galaxy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were small rocky planets, large methane-filled bodies (some discussion about harvesting took place, but was not explored), a beautiful planet with its own set of rings (their own moon lost theirs ages ago; some sadness was shared among the crew), and a very powerful gaseous star that provided these meagre planets with their energy and reason for existed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And then…there it was. The Spot. The ship did not want to give away their position right away (who knows what type of reaction they would receive if they were responsible for interrupting another neural feedloop)." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So, with some caution, they approached from the sunless side of the planet and landed in a clear field that was quiet and calm…and remained unnoticed. This was ideal; this is what they wanted. And they prepared for their first encounter. They were ready for it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Unfortunately, they landed just before dawn in an uncut field of grass and were quickly destroyed by a lawnmower operated by a Mr. Curtis Boyle who had left off trimming the outfield of the diamond for far too long." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was something that bothered him, and he was glad to get it done before the season opener. He would not be blamed for delaying another game… The hometown boys and girls would appreciate his good work.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Was it a Dream?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "" }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Come on! You have to take me! It sounds like so much fun!” My girlfriend exclaimed, handing me a flier that we just received in the mail.\n\n*ALL NEW EXPERIENCE * Join us in our Grand Opening THIS saturday! If you received this flier, you and one other person are VIP guests and will skip the line! Just show up this Saturday at “It was all a Dream”\n\nSee you there! “But what is it? There are no details." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’m not sure how we know if it will be fun at all.” I knew I sounded like a pessimist, but today was already Friday night and I had big plans for my weekend. I looked over the flier at Avery. Her eyes told me that we were going and she somehow knew I was going to have fun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had a knack for knowing what I would enjoy and what I wouldn’t." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I sighed and decided my big day of reading and fluffy socks could wait.\n\nAvery smiled at me and kissed her forehead, “what time are we leaving tomorrow?”\n\nShe hopped in bed giggling and said “we set sail at 10am!” :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: We stood in the parking lot staring at a building that I have never noticed before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was painted black with neon green trim and a bright purple door. There was a line out the door and down the sidewalk. How did everyone know about this? And what even is *this*? I was starting to feel uneasy. Avery took my hand and led me towards the main door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I pointed to the end of the line and she said “We are VIP, remember?!” as she dragged me closer to the front of the line.\n\nPeople were staring at us confused and slightly angry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I started to hold up the flier and Avery said, “we aren’t doing anything wrong, no explanation is needed.” I took a deep breath as the blast of AC hit us, thinking that I wish I was on my worn denim couch with my book and my cat, but as my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, those thoughts were fleeting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The air was so crisp that it made me very aware of my lungs. The music, no, sounds seemed to be coming from all directions. It was as though we walked into a forest. The front desk looked like a fallen tree complete with the roots holding eye masks and head sets." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Another couple walked out looking very dreamy. What in the world happened here? Behind the desk was a woman in a very tight lycra jumper. She handed us a tablet without saying anything. We filled out our personal information and on the last page, it simply asked “Adventure” or “Relaxing”." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked over at Avery and saw her tap Adventure, so I did the same. Then the woman spoke for the first time. Her voice was extremely soothing, but something else about her made me feel uneasy as she said “together or separate”, and I was not about to go anywhere without Avery by my side." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was taking everything I had not to flee right here and now.\n\n“Together” we both said in unison.\n\nI realized Avery had my hand in hers as the woman pointed to the left and that’s when I realized that the woman was not real, she was a robot and a damn good one at that! We walked to the door and pushed our way into another dark hallway only lit by a ceiling that was made to look like a night sky." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Avery, this is weird. We have no idea what is about to happen, a robot just checked us in, and we have yet to see a real human that works here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Does any of this make you uneasy?” I whisper, mainly because I am afraid to find out what happens if I make too much noise.\n\n“What’s the worst that could happen?’ Avery smiled at me but I could see a little anxiety behind her eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Before I could answer, she opened another door that led us to a planetarium-looking room. I had been in one of these before except there were no seats, just futuristic looking pods lining the walls in this circular room. About half of the pods were occupied by corpse-still bodies." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was going to throw up right here, I just knew it. We looked around the room and saw there were a handful of double pods, that’s what the “together” or “separate” must have meant. Somehow we knew not to talk, but the anxiety had definitely risen in both of us until we crawled into the pod." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You know when you are a kid and you dream of taking a nap in a big fluffy cloud and it being the most comfortable place you have ever been in? That was these pods. I had never been so comfortable and so secure ever in my life. All of my worries literally drifted away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I vaguely saw a mist flowing in from the top of the pod as I looked over at Avery who had already drifted to sleep. I was right behind her.\n\n====================== When I came to, I was no longer in the pod, I was next to Avery in an open-cockpit biplane." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was looking over the edge smiling and enjoying the wind rushing through her hair. She didn’t look nearly as confused as I felt. Then, without warning, Avery stood up and jumped out of the plane! I yelled for her but she was falling so fast, there was nothing I could do." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Suddenly, I realized I was wearing a backpack, no, it was a parachute. I looked toward the pilot to see what to do only to realize that there was no pilot! I had no choice. I jumped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It couldn’t have taken me as long to jump as it felt because I could see Avery still rushing to the ground and I somehow caught up with her and she was smiling ear to ear. I couldn’t help but feel at ease looking at her excitement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We weren’t close enough to touch or hear each other, but we both pulled the parachute cord at the same time and started to slow to a peaceful drift all the way to the ground.\n\nWe landed on a patch of grass just outside what could only be a jungle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Both of us out of breath, heart pounding and sweating, we embraced and started laughing. The laughing was uncontrollable, we ended up in the grass holding our stomachs, just laughing. As we slowed into soft chuckles, we held each others gaze and smiled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I said “okay, this was worth it” and Avery just beamed.  Our adrenaline eased and we were able to take in our surroundings. We were the only ones around so when we heard footsteps running towards us, we jumped up and turned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We couldn’t make out what the figure was that we saw until it was right up on us. It was not a creature that I had ever seen. It looked like a human, but had lion features." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His beautiful mane was the eye catcher until it grinned at us and all of his teeth were shining through at us.\n\nWe didn’t know whether to stay or run, so we just held eye contact with it until suddenly it lunged at us. We took off into the jungle." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "While it was incredibly dense, we somehow managed to stay upright as we ran and dodged vines and logs. We looked back and didn’t see that creature so we started to slow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Trying to catch our breath, we heard a noise from the trees and as we both looked up, the lion creature lunged at us from about 50 feet up. Right before we were ripped to pieces, I woke up. I was covered in sweat and looked over at Avery. She was gone. I was in my bed at home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Reality washed over me as I sat up. There is no Avery. There never was an Avery. I guess it was all a dream, I thought, but as I stood up from bed, there was the crunch of leaves and earth beneath my feet.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "God's Gift" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As he lifted the last bulging cardboard box on to the kitchen table with a sigh , Sean lamented his late wife's knack for hoarding memories like a squirrels acorns. 'Once they're gone , they're gone' she would always say." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was certainly the case now as , after a lifetime planning for retirement and what they would do together , cancer decided to intervene. Jean had been buried three months but the world around Sean was a haze since then. Three months , and he got to the last of the photos now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He sat at the kitchen table clutching the next handful of image , armed with a cup of tea and all the time fate would allow. As he shuffled through them , separating old holiday snaps , from graduations , weddings and christenings , he stopped on an image he hadn't seen in what seemed a lifetime." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was Sean , Jean and Adam , arms around each other shoulders looking up from the pub's ground level to the balcony where a random drinker had agreed to take the shot. Sean , leaned back , shoulders slumped , and exhaled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked at the bay window and a wild Scottish gale was lashing rain on the rocks , waves crashing over them in concert and his mind went back to the pub forty years ago. What was the name of the place Adam said again..... \n\n .....\"Chikwanda!' Adam spread his arms at the announcement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "'What? You want rice with that?' said Sean incredulously. \" I said 'where do you see yourself in 10years time' , not 'what do you want to eat?''  'It's not a dish , you tool! Chikwanda is a place in Zambia." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After I graduate , Chimika says I can buy land at a snip and do tourist conservation'  'Chimika? Oh , your new Zambian friend from about two minutes ago." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Great idea , mate , four years of business school and you can grow a cocoa plantation and raise baby hippos together , hey! Have you lost the plot??'  'Chimika's in my economics class , I've known her for months." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And , no , not cocoa , hippos yeah , more leopards and elephants , actually' he replied ,'Chikwanda National Park , that's what we were going to call it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Chikwanda means 'Gift from God' , you know'  'Oh , well , in that case your the perfect man for the job , hey! I tell you what , 20 quid says you end up in a bank like the rest of us.'  'Your on' Adam replied , steely assurance in his eyes............." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "...............And Sean gazed back at the photograph , Adam confidently smiling , that same steely resolution in his eyes. He always was more of a bull at a gate when it came to personal ambitions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sean was always more practical , working out costs , carefully planning , calculating the risk , and , for what? His eyes focussed on Jean now as his heart slowly sank." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had always said he should go out and see Adam , see how the park ranger project worked out , how he had always encouraged Sean to come over , bring the wife and kids , he'd put them up in the lodges at their campsite but something always came up , a renovation , a wedding , the car packed in , but now he was alone , and little of the past made sense anymore." }, { "from": "human", "value": "'Chikwanda,' he murmured and suddenly he turned and started digging furiously in the bottom drawer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As his finger rummaged through the detritus of organised life , among the bills and the paper bullshit he discovered a dog-eared British passport and placed it between his teeth as he continued the search for......where was it now......" }, { "from": "human", "value": "got it! He pulled the small chrome handle and excavated a steel blue locked box from the lifeless documents. He put the passport on the table along with the box and tried to jog his memory." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jean and him had agreed they would only open the box in an emergency and racked his brains to try and remember where the key was kept. It was more her idea than his , but he had to find that key now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He searched every room in the house , desperately checking drawers and cupboards and when he stopped to collect his thoughts (and breath!) it hit him - the jar in the laundry , on the shelf above the washing machine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He grabbed his coat and braved the wild storm around him as the laundry was part of a converted outhouse to the rear of the cottage. His arm raised shielding his face from the peppering volley of rain shots , Sean leaned into the laundry door and saw the little white ceramic pot on the shelf." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Reaching in , he pushed coins aside as his fingers found a flat metal object. He pulled it out , smiling now and started back for the house , ebullient against the cacophony of wet wind and noise. He carefully slotted the key in the lock , and turned it ninety degrees to the right." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He gripped either edge of the lid and levered it open to reveal its treasure - leafy billets of Great British currency , five- ten- twenty- and fifty pound notes all neatly banded together in each denomination as Jean was prone to doing after forty years in the bank." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He began counting , not his forte as bank manager's had no cash counting responsibilities , but as he shuffled the pack of notes he roughly counted - at least 7500 pounds!!!! He strode firmly to the bedroom , grabbed a leather suitcase and hurriedly filled it with clothes , shoes , toiletries and a few medications.\n\n He grabbed the passport , cash and keys and stopped in his tracks at the front door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "'Wait a minute' he thought. He didn't do things on impulse , especially at 65 years old - what if Adam wasn't there? He contacted him infrequently albeit he called when Jean passed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What about the house , what about...........he looked forlornly at the table , the box , the pile of photographs and then the lockbox and Jean's voice echoed- 'saving up for a rainy day, love'. As he looked at rain tears streaming down the windows in torrents , his jaws clenched." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He walked over to the table , grabbed the photo and said, 'You can come along with me , Jean' as he stormed out the front door and sped off across the island in their vintage Morris Minor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He sat in the passenger cabin of the ferry as it cut through the short channel to the mainland and the one and a half hour drive to Glasgow airport ahead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He had no idea of the price of a plane ticket to Lusaka or even if Zambian airlines existed but his determination to see it through and somehow shrug off the leaden cloak of grief spurred him onwards." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He glided through the country roads now as the rain eased and the sun began to gently pry open the clouds and rainbow rays glowed faintly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sean saw this as an optimistic sign as he entered on to the motorway and gunned the accelerator as the battling little car gamely charged towards the city outskirts.\n\nHe left the car in airport parking and patted the bonnet , faintly aware he may never see it again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As he entered the terminal he scanned the banks of check in counters , dozens of them and began to feel a little out of touch with how air travel worked these days." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everyone marched around with intent and purpose , trawling luggage and children in tow , chatting on phones , organising their respective groups." }, { "from": "human", "value": "'You seem a bit lost' a friendly voice said as Sean snapped out of his fear haze and said ,'erm.........trying to get to Lusaka?' The ground staffer chirped ' Emirates then , over to the far left,' he gestured and smiled as Sean tentatively started walking over to the far end of the check in desks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sean approached the counter and a beautiful young Arabic girl called Jasmina , complete in Emirates uniform and traditional headdress , said' Welcome to Emirates ." }, { "from": "human", "value": "how can I help you?' \"I need a ticket to Lusaka , please' as he handed the passport over.\n\n'Single or return, Mr Morrison?' 'Oh , eh , now there's a question. I , erm , hadn't actually thought about it. I mean , spur of the moment kind of thing , you know?' he said , and looked briefly at the floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her smile broadened as she suggested ,'An open-ended return then , perhaps?' He looked up, 'Open-ended." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Aye , that sounds about right' Sean bought the ticket and fourteen uneventful hours of flight time later , punctuated only by a three hour connection at Dubai International , and the plane began to descend into Lusaka." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sean gripped the arms of the seat as the plane descended , he was a confident passenger when he travelled for business but time and age eroded that somewhat. As he left the airport , strong shafts of sunlight glinted off the chrome bumpers , airport windows and surrounding hotels." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was eight in the morning local time and the national park was still around eight hours away.\n\n Sean's stood like a child on the first day of school , his characteristic helplessness seemed to draw attention from local men congregating in front of an assortment of random cars." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sean  found the sight comical , Ford Fiesta's and Fiat Punto's surrounded by large burley men in smart white shirts and khaki slacks. One of the men turned , noticing the diminutive arrival's short steps towards them now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "'You look a bit lost , my friend,' said the large round face and Sean shrugged and said simply ,'I need to get to Chikwanda National Park, my friend' imitating the local  greeting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This started a consternation amongst the men , arms flying up in protest and the large lead figure pointing sternly at several others to quell their objection." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Clearly Sean's request was a valuable one and as the gaggle died down the large figure extended his hand and said,' I am Chanda , I will take you as far as Chikwanda village and then a guide will need to take you further  to the national park , there are no roads there , only bushland and my car won't make it.' Sean pulled out a small bundle of notes and Chanda grinned widely , hands clasped together before he gratefully accepted the generous bounty." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He lifted the suitcase easily and wrapped a friendly big arm around Sean as he guided him towards the car." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As the urban landscape began to diminish , shanty huts were the typical dorm for Zambians and Chanda regaled Sean  with Zambias rich natural beauty which was undoubted , the world's largest waterfalls , over seventy languages , river valleys cut through hills and mountains and the big five - lions , elephants , leopards , rhinoceros and ....suddenly Chanda squeezed the brake pedal as a large shape climbed the road embankment and plodded heavily across the road." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "'..........and the Cape buffalo , bwana,' Chanda said , laughing and the large oxen turned and groaned loudly at the now stationary vehicle , its bowed horns spread out either side and  Sean thought it looked like pigtails on a petulant child." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It felt like a different planet to the sheep and deer of Scotland's west coast islands and despite the countless hours of travel , Sean felt invigorated by the adventure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His jaw hung when they passed a pair of elephants among the open shrub plains his camera clicking repetitively as he hung out the passenger window. Zambia was certainly a place you could feel , the dry landscape coursed with flowing rivers and colonies of birds and buffalo lined the banks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The baking warmth was a welcome comfort to Sean's body and mind and he basked in this luxury and began to feel twinges of excitement at seeing his friend. The road narrowed and a village grew in the distance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Chanda explained he would need to find another guide for the onward journey from Chikwanda to the national park. As he pulled up and parked , he stepped out of the small car and walked over to a thatched hut which was a local supply store." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Local natives sat watching the large , purposeful man stride to the hut and Sean noticed a battered empty Jeep parked on the track outside. Sean was looked up from the photograph and Chanda returned and a figure returned alongside." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The companion stopped lowered his face to the open window and gasped,' As I live and breathe , Sean bloody Morrison!!!' Startled , Sean thrust the passenger door open and threw himself into the arms of his friend and they embraced , laughed Sean yelling ,' Adam , Adam , I can't believe it , its really you'." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What brings you here?' Adam said when his voice calmed. 'Lets just say a bet's a bet,' as he peeled a twenty pound note and handed it over to his friend.  \n\n \n\n \n\n  ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Greener Grass" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ralf stepped off the boat, dropped to his knees, and pressed his hands to the ground. Lush, green grass rubbed against his palms. His fingernails dug into rich black soil. This was good land. Fertile land. So different from the arid dustbowl of home." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He could live a true life here, not a meagre existence.\n\n‘Is it everything you dreamed of, friend?’ Ralf snapped his head up to find a bearded man smiling down at him. The man looked old. Older than anyone else Ralf had ever met. He might even have been 50 or 60. ‘It’s amazing,’ Ralf said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The man’s smile broadened and he held out a hand. ‘The name’s Owain. I heard that Captain Tillman was bringing in an outlander today, and thought I’d come welcome you. It can be overwhelming, seeing Avalon for the first time.’ ‘You can say that again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everything’s so… green.’ ‘You’ll get used to it.’ Ralf took the offered hand and Owain helped him up. ‘Come on then, lad. Let me show you around.’ He led Ralf up the grassy bank and toward a cluster of houses. They were well-made, sturdy things, formed from solid lumber and stone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A few even had glass windows. Back in Ralf’s home, such knowledge had been lost long ago.\n\n‘Is this one of your major towns?’ Ralf asked. It must have been, surely? Owain burst out laughing. ‘Nymphwood? A major town?’ He laughed again. ‘No, son. This is just a small village." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The capital city, Alfhaven, is hundreds of times the size of this place.’ ‘Hundreds…’ ‘Aye, but no need to think of that right now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Come and let me buy you a drink.’ Owain pulled Ralf into a large building he called a ‘tavern’.\n\nInside, a crackling fire warmed the large main room, and several people nestled around tables." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Owain led Ralf to a secluded booth and gestured for him to sit on a plush, padded bench, before calling something to the man behind the bar.\n\nA minute later, the smiling barkeep approached, holding two overflowing tankards. ‘Here you go, laddie." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nothing like your first taste of Nymphwood ale.’ Ralf simply sat there, his brain unable to process the comfort that now surrounded him. Plentiful firewood. Solid furniture. And ale! His grandfather had spoken of ale, but Ralf had never tasted it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was an almost fruity aroma to the beverage, like the scent of summer, when food was a little less scarce, and safety a little more assured. ‘It smells good, but it tastes better,’ Owain said. ‘Take a swig.’\n\nRalf raised the tankard to his lips and poured." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The taste was… well, he didn’t know how to describe it. He had no frame of reference. Back home, food had been for sustenance alone—and there was very little of that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Flavour was something that only the very richest and most fortunate could afford.\n\nBut this drink, the same drink that was being enjoyed by numerous patrons in the room… it opened Ralf’s mind to a world of possibilities.\n\nA tingle of pleasure rushed across his mouth and down his throat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A warm, fuzzyness settled in his stomach.\n\nRalf took another sip. And another. And another. Soon, the tankard was empty, and Owain was chuckling. ‘Alright then, now that you’ve quenched your third, I imagine that you have quite a few questions about life here, which I’ll be happy to help answer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "First things first—’ Trumpets blared outside the tavern. Owain’s face fell. ‘Oh no.’ ‘What is it?’ Ralf asked.\n\n‘The King is here. We have to go outside and show our respect. Bugger. We should have had more time to prepare for this.’ He seized Ralf’s shoulders. ‘Listen to me very closely." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Whatever you see out there, you must not say a single bad word about the king, do you understand?’ ‘Of course!’ Ralf may have been an outlander, but he still understood manners. He would never have dreamed of disrespecting a chief or elder—or frankly anyone stronger than him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He wasn’t foolish enough to insult the king of a land that had offered him refuge.\n\nAvalon was the last true kingdom left. The last bastion of safety and peace on the entire planet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ralf would do everything he could to earn his place here.\n\nHe followed Owain outside the tavern, to find the street lined with villagers. Slowly advancing along the road was a large palanquin, draped in red curtains and carried by four bearers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Another figure, draped in fine clothes and golden jewellery, strolled along in front.\n\n‘That’s the Royal Herald’, Owain said. ‘You should show him respect, too.’ Ralf nodded. He wondered why Owain kept a firm grip on his arm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At first, he supposed the man thought he was an ignorant oaf who needed carefull managing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But soon, he realised exactly why Owain wouldn’t let him go.\n\nThe herald stepped toward the palanquin and pulled back the curtains, allowing Ralf and the villagers to set eyes upon their king.\n\nRalf gasped.\n\nInside the palanquin, seated on a golden throne, rested the best-dressed corpse Ralf had ever seen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was an old corpse, too. Decades-old, at least. The skin was ripe and dry, pressed tight against the bone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A few raggedy whisps of hair hung down from its head and rested against a golden chain and fur-trimmed coat.\n\nNobody else seemed to make anything of this absurd, macabre sight.\n\nThe villagers cheered and chanted, ‘Long live the king! Long live the King!’ Ralf turned to Owain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "‘That’s your king? But he’s—’ ‘Don’t say it! Don’t you dare say it, damn you!’ ‘I don’t understand. Your King is obviously mmmmppphhhh’ Owain had slapped a hand over his mouth\n\n‘Shut up, you damn fool! Come with me.’ Owain didn’t give Ralf the chance to refuse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He dragged the man down the street and into a small church that stood nestled at the end of the village square. Only once they were inside the building did he release Ralf’s arm.\n\n‘Can we talk now?’ Ralf asked.\n\n‘No! You can never say what you want to say." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not even to me.’ ‘But why not?’ Instead of answering, Owain pointed to a stained-glass window that dominated one wall of the building. It depicted a tall, beautiful woman handing down a glowing orb to a much smaller, crowned man.\n\n‘Let me tell you a story." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A hundred generations ago, the Lady blessed our land with a great gift. For as long as a Pendragon king sat on the throne, we would have prosperity. Our land would be green and fertile, our wells deep and cool. Our shores would remain safe from invaders and our people would know peace." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But if the Pendragon line should end, she would take her blessing back.’\n\n‘So if, hypothetically,’ Ralf said. ‘The last member of the Pendragon line were to die without leaving an heir…’ ‘Avalon would become as hellish as the rest of the world, yes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Do you see now why we are so grateful for the longevity of our blessed King Bedivere, long may he reign?’ ‘I do.’ And he did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The people of Avalon believe that they owed their miraculous prosperity to some ancient magic and that as long as they refused to accept the death of their king, that magic would remain. It was ridiculous. A kingdom needed a king, not a corpse. Without one, it would surely fall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ralf couldn’t let that happen. Avalon was the last beacon of light in a world that had fallen to darkness. Ralf had to protect it.\n\nIf the people would only accept a member of the Pendragon line, then Ralf would find them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How long had Owain said they’d ruled for? A hundred generations? There must have been plenty of illegitimate Pendragons running around, with the blood that the people demanded flowing through their veins." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All he needed to do, was find one with a strong enough claim and Avalon would have the ruler it needed.\n\n***\n\nLong years passed. Ralf rode from village to town, from town to city, and from city back to village." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He must have crossed Avalon a dozen times or more, rallying people to his cause and searching for the heir he knew must be out there. It was a thankless task. Most people were terrified to talk of the death of their monarch, even in cryptic and hypothetical terms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So instead, Ralf tried a different route." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He talked of the majesty of the Pendragon line, and sought out any who claimed to have had… special relations, with the family.\n\nSome people still realised what he was really playing at, and while many of these became actively hostile and drove Ralf from their homes, more than a few joined his cause." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They never spoke about the plan explicitly. Never talked about searching for an heir to the throne, only about finding a lost child to bring pleasure to King Bedivere—long may he reign, of course.\n\nAnd then, one day, Ralf found him. A young boy. Probably no more than four or five." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But his grandmother swore blind that she’d had quite a tryst with the old king back when he’d been a little more… well, alive. She didn’t use that word, of course, but Ralf got the idea." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This tryst had happened precisely nine months before the boy’s late father had been born, meaning that Pendragon blood flowed through his veins.\n\nNaturally, Ralf hadn’t just taken the old woman’s word for it, but her neighbours had corroborated the story, even swearing that the boy’s father had been a spitting image of the king.\n\nThat was good enough for Ralf." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He and his followers took the boy and his grandmother to the capital, Alfhaven, where they loudly proclaimed the discovery of an heir to the throne.\n\nThere was resistance at first. Some even tried to chase Ralf and his band of followers from the city." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In fact, as more and more death threats came his way, Ralf was beginning to worry that he’d made a terrible, terrible mistake.\n\nBut then everything changed. The Royal Herald came forward to support Ralf’s cause. Maybe they, like Ralf, had realised that the country needed a true ruler." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Or maybe they were just sick of parading a rotting corpse around the kingdom for people to admire. Whatever the case, once Ralf had their backing, things began to move quickly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The death threats dried up, the opposition yielded, and a few weeks later, Ralf found himself standing on a huge stage outside the palace.\n\nThe little boy he’d found, Gerald, sat on a comically oversized throne before him, clothed in rich velvets." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A golden, jewel-encrusted crown perched on his head, though it had drooped down and mostly covered the boy’s eyes. Luckily, the crowd were far enough back that they couldn’t make out such fine details.\n\nThe herald spoke in a booming voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "‘Do you swear to uphold the honour of the Pendragon line and fulfil your duties as monarch with grace and dignity?’ At a nudge from his grandmother, the boy withdrew a finger from his nose and said, ‘Yes?’ ‘Then by the power invested in me by the Lady, I name you King Gerald Pendragon, ruler of Avalon, defender of the people, and upholder of the Great Blessing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Long live the king!’ ‘Long live the king!’ came the call from the crowd.\n\nIt was the proudest moment of Ralf’s life. Avalon had a real, true king once more." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Someone who would protect them from the dangers of the outside world—once he grew up a bit and stopped eating his bogeys, that was.\n\n*** It only took a day for things to start unravelling. News of poor catches from the fishermen arrived first. Then came word of the rot in the fields." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After that, sails were spotted on the horizon—pirates.\n\nIt didn’t take long for the people to blame their new monarch for the change in circumstances." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Specifically, they began to blame the man who had put him there.\n\nOnce the plague arrived, Ralf’s fate was sealed.\n\nThe herald, in an effort to secure his own position, immediately turned on Ralf, blaming him for putting an impostor on the throne." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ralf barely escaped the capital alive.\n\nFor weeks, he wandered alone in the wilderness, surviving on roots and berries, avoiding other humans wherever possible. But he couldn’t go on that way for long. Eventually, hunger drove him toward a village." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ralf thought it looked somewhat familiar, though he couldn’t quite place way.\n\nA party of men were working in a field just outside the buildings, no doubt attempting to salvage what they could of their harvest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They likely wouldn’t have much to share with a stranger, but Ralf had to try.\n\nAs he neared the village, one figure broke away from the group and marched toward him, a shovel in hand.\n\nThey must be coming to drive me off , Ralf thought.\n\nHe readied himself to bow and scrape, hoping that pity would earn him a morsel of bread and a mouthful of ale.\n\nBut the figure made no move to chase him away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Instead, it raised a hand and waved.\n\n‘Hello, friend. You look in a bad way. Come, let’s see if I can help.’ Ralf knew that voice. Owain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was Owain.\n\nHe raised his head and met the man’s gaze, seeing recognition light the villager’s eyes in an instant.\n\n‘You.’ The hostility in his voice was clear.\n\nRalf cringed. ‘I take it you heard about the capital.’ ‘I heard. The whole damn kingdom heard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why couldn’t you just leave well enough alone? We had something good here! It worked. And now, thanks to you, it’s gone.’ He hefted his shovel. At that moment, Ralf knew he was going to die." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The swing of the Owain’s would be the last thing he saw before darkness claimed him.\n\nBut instead of lashing out, Owain’s shoulders slumped. He turned and strode away.\n\n‘Wait!’ Ralf called. ‘Aren’t you going to kill me?’ ‘What’s the point?’ Owain replied. ‘We’ll all be dead soon, anyway.’." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Strange Lands Invaded by Foreigner.”" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Strange Lands Invaded by Foreigner.” ‘I've needed to take a little time.’ Okay, back up a bit. I’ve needed to take a LOT of time. My brain aches as memories cascade." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I want to say, “Cascade like dominos.”\n\n However as those words circle the bottom of the sink, watery images rise out of the steam of a thousand years of war. My brain hurts even more as I think of all my friends who’ve passed on to another realm, or simply gone back into some mindless void." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I go back to the old days when we were all not dead. Hmmm. Very interesting. As I sit with phone in hand, crippled arm doing its best to lend strength to fingers beginning to ache, the keyboard comes to my rescue. I know my battle has not been a thousand years even though it feels like that." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Perhaps even describing my life as a ‘war’ is a bit of an exaggeration and yet…that is exactly what it feels like. Back to the keyboard. As I pressed a key, autofill suggestions marched across the bar. At first I was annoyed. Then a rather astonishing idea came to my mind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perhaps my device would write the story for me. Naive I agree and still some remote place in my brain gave serious consideration to the idea." }, { "from": "human", "value": "To fully appreciate the magnitude of this experience one need remember that I was born in the era, where a typewriter was a modern invention.\n\nMy writing as a young person well into my forties was strictly pen and paper." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Occasionally I had the bounty of finding an old typewriter which greatly augmented the process, but my brain worked mostly by the method I was taught to write by. Pen and paper. When I was in grade 10 I went to a Catholic boarding school for girls." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In those rather archaic times students were divided into two categories. Those with a high IQ were herded into a program designed to prepare for a university degree." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The other group was designated for what was then called the commercial program.\n\nApparently, this program was not so demanding and required significantly less intellectual capabilities. I confess to being somewhat proud of being lumped in with the first category." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I did my best not to judge or place myself above the inferior crowd that walked the halls to the rooms, dedicated to learning many different tools." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I certainly enjoyed our English program and the French class I was able to take along with the rather stimulating conversations generated by a group of girls who believed themselves to be a cut above the rest. Eventually, this turned a little sour and I began to get bored." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In particular, I had a spare class during the morning which was designated as an opportunity to do more research for my religious studies course. As I roamed the hallway looking for avenues of escape, I noticed an open door through which I could see girls typing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There must’ve been about 30 typewriters in that room, and I observed that several of the desks were available for seating. Quietly slipping through the door, I chose a chair. I pretended I belonged there and did my best to be very quiet and look like a commercial type girl." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The nun who instructed the class did not seem to notice that I actually wasn’t supposed to be there. It took until Christmas before a rather stern University program nun came looking for me. She severely chastised me for evading the study class I was supposed to be in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At the same time she glared at the typing teacher for not having reported me sooner. Of course it was too late as by then I had already learned to type." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In three months I had managed to be able to produce 50 words a minute and knew I had discovered an environment in which I believed I could’ve been very happy. The nuns had other plans, and sadly I had to return to the more academic routine." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That is over 60 years ago and I’m still daily grateful for what I was taught in that room. I may have been forced to forego further studies, which would have served me well over my life, but what I did learn, felt like a mighty sword of power." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I continued to sneak into the typing room when it was empty and practice the skills I had learned in the three months before being caught." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Few people could understand the advantages of learning to quickly type about how the “quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.” Still more challenging was the typing adage, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party.” I vaguely remember being told why it was important for us to be able to type these two sentences." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What I know for sure is that I spent hours and hours on my own repeating these two lines endlessly. Thank Someone that paper was free and typewriter ribbon also." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I send a special blessing to our headmistress who never checked why I might be missing from my dormitory cubicle at odd hours of the day and night." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So it truly seemed that I needed ‘a little time to think things over, to read between the lines’ in preparation for that day ‘when I'm got older.’ I knew there were ‘many mountains I must climb’ and that it would often feel ‘like I had the weight of the world upon my shoulders.’ My endless gratitude is that I ‘could always see love shining through the clouds.’ I knew at an unshakable level that would ‘keep me warm as life grew colder.’ I knew ‘there’d be heartache and pain.’ Quite honestly after over 60 years of having learned to type, I wasn’t sure ‘if I could face it one more time again.’ I simply came to a place where ‘I could no longer stop.’ I think often of all the “good men” who were supposed to come to the aid of the party." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sadly many of them crashed wonderful gatherings and in drunken stupors violated the inner sanctum of many around them. In all fairness I must own up to my own shortcomings and the valuable lessons I needed to learn through my participation in questionable activities." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I’ve learned to identify those behaviours that completed a pattern I’d learned many years before. I was seven, born in July of 1949 when I began to comprehend the status quo and to carefully observe the female status in the 1950’s. That place was not especially favourable for many women." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "More sadly was that even though it appeared to favour men, they bore a burden for carrying that privilege. For many, it felt like a cross. I sit in a darkened room. Five weeks ago my arm was detached at the shoulder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Five layers were cut through in order to reach badly damaged bone and shattered debris of cartilage. New steel ball and socket replace that which was unrepairable. As I slowly heal, I want to give up. I’m tired beyond description and I’m really not sure I want to go on." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I do my best not to weep in despair a melody begins to drift through my world and I hear these words…‘You can’t stop now, you've traveled so far to change this lonely life.’ I now weep openly, loudly, seeking solace from a Source I can only begin to fathom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I beg for that Source to ‘show me the way. To show me what love really is.’ I know without a shadow of doubt that ‘Ive nowhere left to hide’." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Over and over waves of loving compassion sweep across the borders of my soul and I know without doubt, at least in this moment, that I really do know what love is. I bow down and kiss the earth. Perhaps not physically, though my prayers are that will come to pass if I maintain a sense of humility." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am overwhelmed with the presence of a Higher Power. For many moments at a time I’m blessed to live within the safety of that beings love. It is enough. The wreckage of “Ground Zero” continues to disappear. I am reminded of an old photograph taken in 1956/57." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My sister and I stand in front of a pack of Boy Scouts. We are dressed in identical dresses even though I’m two years older. I’m smiling...tentatively! I’ve begun to see the best and the worst of these boys who’ve taken an oath to serve and protect. My gratitude builds. I am, almost, complete🙏." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"A Boys Tale, A Ghost Tale\"" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A sense of unease lurked beneath the surface in the picturesque town of Whispering Oaks, Rhode Island, tucked away among the rolling hills and charming streets. The city was once a place where retirees and young families escaped city life to spend time together." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Despite the town's tranquility, rumors of a vengeful spirit, Mark Tomson, cast a shadow over it. Tomson is a 10-year-old boy who has never seemed scared at home or school. Several people suspected he was hiding something, but no one dared ask." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rumors divided the town, with some believing them and others dismissing them. Mark looked confused, shook his head, and replied, \"I'm used to it.\" Ana, Andy, and Will looked at each other, puzzled. No further questions were asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In Ana's words, they have been scared of it since pre-kindergarten, according to her. \"Mark just pointed out I remember we're having a nap time until the ghost came out and terrified all of us but thanks to that scaring, we became friends even now.\" Will added, \"The ghost brought us together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But that doesn't make it cause me to wet my pants!\" Will continued, \"How does that make up for anything?\" Mark replied, \"That the ghost helped even caused her to be confused.\" Andy didn't want to but pointed out that the ghost saved them from their bully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mark replied, \"See, the ghost can't be that bad at all.\" The townspeople felt frightened when the ghost appeared. Despite this, Mark always wore a bright smile. In addition to helping people, he made them laugh. Throughout the town, he was regarded as a symbol of hope and peace." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Some thought it was odd because he never showed fear; he'd seen the ghost 13 times but felt nothing. His parents asked him, \"Son, aren't you scared?\" He turned his head left and right and said, \"No,\" due to the ghost leaving behind candy or helping him with bullying." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then Mark asked his parents, \"Didn't you guys teach me not to judge a book by its cover?\" His answer made his parents take aback and realize they had been wrong to judge. Nevertheless, the fear of ghosts got in the way. In response to their son, they want to ensure he is safe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They fear he could do something reckless. Mark has always found the ghost stories circulating Whispering Oaks fascinating as a curious 10-year-old. He believed anyone who did that could not be that evil. According to legend, saying the \"G-words\" will summon spirits, with ghost and ghoul." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The townspeople get past this problem by saying, \"Blah blah blah, or say host or houl to get back from this problem.\" Mark was determined to test his theory. Mark whispered \"Ghost?\" into the wind at midnight, hoping to lure the phantom into an encounter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ghost first came but fled away as the boy whispered, \"Ghoul five times!\" and the ghost returned five times. In the last instance, the ghost said, \"Stop summoning me, kid.\" As the kid looked at the ghost and listened to its voice, he realized it was a man's spirit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The ghost vanished, and as Mark passed, he didn't attack him. Knowing he was right, he slipped to sleep, smiling. Strange occurrences plagued Whispering Oaks for four days. The night was filled with creaking doors, rattling windows, and eerie whispers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fear gripped the townspeople, believing Mark's reckless pursuit had awakened the malevolent spirit. Mark wasn't convinced; he sensed there was more to the story. Mark investigated the ghost's identity, scouring the town's archives and speaking with elderly residents." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It wasn't until he stumbled upon an old newspaper clipping that the pieces fell into place. The ghost's name was Isaac Sugarman, a former candy store owner who met his demise in 1892." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "According to the article, Isaac's ghost wandered the streets of New York, New Jersey, and Brooklyn, searching for something. Maybe he's looking for a killer. Mark was committed to uncovering the truth behind Isaac's story." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He embarked on a journey to find the killer and bring justice to Isaac Sugarman. He summoned him by calling the word \"Ghost.\"." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He asked, \"Who killed you?\" The ghost face palmed to say, \"I wasn't killed; if I were, I would have remembered, kid.\" The ghost then vanished, but Mark was still determined to prove the ghost's innocence. A hidden cavern was discovered beneath the rubble of the old candy store, now a vacant lot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A dusty old ledger filled with notes and candy recipe sketches awaited him inside. The whisper echoed through the cavern as Mark turned the pages: \"I am Isaac Sugarman, born in Whispering Oaks.\" The revelation struck Mark like a lightning bolt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Isaac wasn't a vengeful spirit; he was a lost soul, trapped between worlds due to his dying will to stay alive. The \"G-word\" wasn't a summoning spell but a connection to his birthplace, Whispering Oaks. With this new understanding, Mark helped Isaac find peace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He gathered the townsfolk and shared his discovery, dispelling the fear that had shrouded Whispering Oaks for so long. Together, they held a ceremony to lay Isaac's spirit to rest. Isaac's ghostly form faded as the townsfolk whispered their apologies and farewells." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With a gentle smile, Isaac's spirit vanished, finally at peace. Townspeople cheered in tears, grateful for Mark's bravery and curiosity. Whispering Oaks was reborn, its rolling hills and charming streets filled with laughter and wonder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now hailed as a hero, Mark looked up at the stars, knowing that sometimes the truth is more magical than fiction. Ultimately, Mark realized that the \"G-word\" wasn't a curse but a key to unlocking Whispering Oaks' secrets. As he drifted to sleep, he whispered, \"Ghost?\" one last time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A soft breeze carried Isaac's whispered reply: \"Thank you, Mark. I'm finally home.\" To meet his friends and family in the afterlife. Feeling at peace, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. The curse of Whispering Oaks was lifted with these words, and Mark and Isaac found peace." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His new normal began when he returned home. Because the ghost was gone, no one was scared. But he struggles to smile because he misses how exciting things used to be. There was, however, a note that flew down from the sky. Mark picked it up to read the note and discovered something amazing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He looked up from the sky and said, \"I'll see you again in the near future.\"." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "States of Mind" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is the light in the mountains that Dan finds particularly inspiring. There is something about the way the clear sky turns deep blue against the fiercely-reflective snow that lifts his spirits - a world away from the winter gloom of deepest Surrey." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Home has its own attractions but Dan is energised by the Austrian Alps and the prospect of fresh adventures along the ski trails of Zell am See and beyond." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He’s been coming here since he was four with his parents, always to the same apartment. His dad was the architect for the development and negotiated the use of a two-bed unit, for four weeks a year, as part of the fee deal." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dan’s parents are keen skiers and always try to maximise their usage - with at least one week in summer when you can ski on the Kaprun glacier in the morning and swim in the lake in the afternoon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The view down the glacial valley from the top of Kaprun towards the lake and the mountains beyond - with its immense depth of field - is, as his mother likes to say, “a glimpse of heaven”.\n\nDan Collins is sixteen but looks older, nudging six-feet tall with a wispy beard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This morning, exhilarated by the fine weather, he’s up early and out jogging by the frozen lake." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The village centre has been cleared, but it doesn’t seem to matter how big a dump they have, the Esplanade paths are almost always snow-free and safely gritted - quite a contrast to England which invariably seems surprised by even the lightest snowfall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In summer, this lakeside park, swimming pool and diving area will be packed with sunbathers but this morning it is just him and a woman in the distance walking her dog. His eyes follow the dog, ambling along cheerfully on a long lead, taking time-out to sniff anything of interest.\n\nAs the woman approaches, she lets the small terrier off the lead and reaches in her pocket." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For a moment she looks away as a small creature scuffles by. Spring is coming so it’s probably a squirrel. The dog is on to it straight away to give chase. The animal speeds across the snow, straight out over the frozen lake without breaking stride." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The dog follows in hot pursuit, struggling a little with the depth of the snow once it is off the path. You can only tell the lake edge by its flatness – all other features of the shoreline are obscured by snow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There are warning signs everywhere but the dog is oblivious to the danger and blasts on. The woman is beside herself, shouting from the shoreline. “Katharina!”." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dan is about a hundred metres away and starts to take a passing interest. At this point, it’s still just an amusing incident. He only becomes concerned when the woman ventures out onto the snow-covered ice. In January he wouldn’t have worried but in late March you can’t be so sure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She walks towards the dog which refuses to give up the chase and is now well off-shore. Eventually it loses interest and turns back. The woman is delighted and calls to her more calmly, with a treat on offer. She is fiddling in her pockets but still walking. Dan’s internal alarm bell starts ringing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He is about to shout a warning .... A crunching groan precedes a sharp snap as the ice gives way ...and down she goes. Dan is alarmed by her sudden disappearance but knows he has to help – as he would with a skiing accident. He’s had some mountain-rescue training but not much that is relevant here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Part of his course involved: jumping into a freezing plunge pool fully-clothed; recovering from the ensuing hyper-ventilation brought on by the cold-shock; and then rescuing himself out of the pool. It was a basic course so they hadn’t practiced saving anyone else." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The only guidance he has to go on is what he remembers from the lectures. Firstly he calls 112 for the fire brigade and gives them map co-ordinates from his phone. They estimate that they’re 10-15 minutes out. That should be OK..........." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When he looks at the woman’s head re-appearing out of the water, it’s not OK. She’s flapping her arms and bobbing under. The audible gasps are a clear sign that she’s hyper-ventilating. The dog is close and barking loudly, but of no use at all. He looks around for assistance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Esplanade is deserted. Forlornly, he shouts ‘Help!’ a couple of times but there’s no answer. He needs to do something ...now!” He’s relieved to see a lifebuoy attached to a rope on a lakeside support frame." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He decides to put it around his waist and pay out the rope behind. Furled up it looks quite long - but unlikely to be long enough. The woman is still thrashing wildly. He calls to her “Calm down and breathe. I’m coming to get you." }, { "from": "human", "value": ".....What’s your name?” he asks, hoping to soothe her with a control in his voice he doesn’t feel. “Alice.” comes back the distant answer. “I’m coming to get you Alice, Hang on to the edge of the ice if you can ....facing the way you came." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "” She’s about forty metres from the shore but it doesn’t take long to realise that the line won’t reach. As he gets to the end, he has no choice but to cut it, using his trusty Swiss-Army knife, and rely solely on the lifebuoy. \n\n‘It’ll be fine. .’ he tells himself, now in a hyper-real state of mind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Keeping both hands on the lifebuoy, he tentatively edges forward. The surface in front of him is a perfectly flat snow-field, apart from the footprints of the woman and the dog. Ominously, in the distance there are visible fractures and some dark patches where holes in the ice have appeared." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The spring sunshine is beginning to have its effect. Dan tries to clear his mind of all doubt.\n\nWhen he’s a few metres from Alice, he carefully steps out of the lifebuoy and throws it towards the hole." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Grab it, Alice” he calls. She immediately clutches her arms around the ring and leans her head on the top-side. “Good. Now put it over your head and around your chest if you can”. This sounds simple enough but Alice can’t bear to let go. ‘That’ll have to do’ he tells himself and starts to pull." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "'Hold on tight until I say to let go!\" His feet immediately start slipping so he widens to a Karate stance, trying to spread his weight on both axis of his body. For a moment it’s working ....her upper body is on the ice ....looking good." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Despite Dan’s warning, Alice lets go of the buoy when she’s able to reach out for the solid surface. Unfortunately, there is only water over ice - with zero traction. The recoil effect of letting go of the buoy under strain compounds the effect. She plunges back into the water with a startled scream." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The dog is agitated and rushes towards Dan, growling and bearing its teeth. \n\n‘ How long before the Fire Brigade get here?’ he wonders .... tick tock . The dog is fierce so he pushes it out of the way sharply. It backs off with a whimper." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Let’s try again, Alice” he says as calmly as he can muster He looks at her for the first time. She is a beautiful girl in her early-twenties - but her clear blue eyes are consumed with despair. “I sorry ...but I can’t hold on when you pull." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have no strength” she says. This is likely to be true by now, so he resolves to reduce the resistance in some way. This time, Dan carefully throws the buoy to the edge of the hole and asks her to grab it without pulling it into the water." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This is difficult to judge but, by tensioning the rope, just as she reaches for the buoy, he prevents it falling into the water. This time she has a good hold on it and her head is higher. She half-smiles as she looks at Dan with renewed hope. He quickly tells her his plan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On his signal she is to raise her legs and frog-kick behind her, whilst he will use the frictionless ice around the hole to pull the buoy, and her, out of the water in one go. ........She starts kicking and Dan starts pulling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It’s effective, even though he is sliding towards the hole almost as fast as she is coming out of it. This time there’s no warning. The ice gives way and a long crack opens along the centre line of his body and the rope. Down they both go." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bad news is that as she lets go of the buoy it skids off, away from the hole. Dan also loses the rope as he falls. The cold-shock is as bad as he remembers from training but this time it's accompanied by intense fear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The dog is yapping, Alice is crying desperately, and there’s broken ice all around. Worst of all, Alice has her hand in his jacket pocket for support and won’t (or can’t) let go. He asks her to paddle on her own. She nods weakly but can’t speak. She had only minutes left unless he gets her out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There’s no safe edge to hang onto and he’s the only one swimming for both of them. ‘Concentrate’ he tells himself, still trying to recover from hyper-ventilation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He tries to use whatever freedom of movement he has to find a new safe edge, pushing away the lumps of deep broken ice in the direction they’d come from. It has already borne his weight once so it should do again. After some effort, he finds an edge that might work." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It’s not as straight as he’d like, and all the while he’s being dragged back by Alice’s pull ... surely they must come soon! Decision time. He’s still confident of being able to pull himself out but it would mean shaking off Alice by force." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This wouldn’t be easy because she’s clinging on for her life. If he got out, he would struggle to reach her across the expanse of broken ice. How would he lift her out from above? It isn’t possible .....He has another idea. “Alice. Please listen...” She’s very weak but wants to hear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This is pure improvisation but he needs to sound as confident as possible. “I’m going to put both my elbows on the edge of the ice. I want you to get behind me and try and climb on like I was piggy-backing you. When I say ‘go’ we’ll both stretch out our legs behind. I’ll gently breast-stroke kick." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I want you to do the same stroke but with all your strength and use the forward momentum to crawl over my shoulders. I’ll stay low and keep my head as flat as I can. Try to be quick. Do you understand?” Alice nods." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dan manages to force his elbows over the edge ...which hold, but he can instantly see a problem. Part of the ice between his elbows is missing. There’s an indent just where you wouldn’t want one - meaning that there’s nowhere to properly support his head ...But no going back on the plan now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Last chance. “Go!” Alice works her way into the piggy-back position. They both start kicking and she starts to clamber up over his shoulders. Keeping his elbows firmly on the edge he’s able to reach back to grab Alice’s ski jacket and haul her over his head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She slides forward rapidly but this bashes his forehead on the edge of the ice, which partly breaks away. His elbows are still in place but Alice is stuck, bridging across the gap with her lower half pressing down on his shoulders and her upper body on the ice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She’s struggling to gain any leverage at either end with nothing to push or pull against with her hands. Her knees dig into Dan’s upper back as she tries to scramble forward. Dan holds his head up as long as he can but the pressure eventually drives his head below the water." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He takes a deep breath as he goes under but then can hardly move – the top of his head is jammed against the edge of the ice. With his last ounce of strength he kicks forward and attempts to launch Alice fully onto the ice using only the leverage of his lower arms..." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dan wakes up to find himself on a sunbed on the lawn of the Zell-am Zee Lido. It’s the exact spot where, minutes earlier, he’d called the Fire Brigade – only now the wind is gently rippling on the lake and ... it’s the middle of summer. Both his parents are reading nonchalantly beside him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Lido is quite crowded with lots of children ...and dogs. The dog alongside him in the next family group is sheltering under a parasol. Its owner, a beautiful bikini-clad girl in her early twenties, is sitting up facing Dan and taking a drink. She catches Dan looking at her and seems amused." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She flicks her eyebrows at him over her sunglasses and flashes a half-smile. The dog is a terrier with a red collar. He notices the name on the collar. ‘Katharina’. His father leans across and remarks to his wife. “Ann dearest. It wake s!” “Amazing. Such a deep sleep. I thought we’d lost him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Do you think that Coca Cola was all he drank with his Austrian friend last night?”\n\n“Hear that son? How’s the head? Anything to confess?” Dan feels shell-shocked and splutters ... “It all seemed so ...real”.\n\nHis father looks concerned. “Seriously son." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Are you OK?” Dan pauses for what seems like an age. When he speaks, he says, “Dad. You know how you like to philosophize ...especially when you’ve had a bit of weed on the terrace with Mum ....don’t deny it.” he added as his father feigns indignation. “I can always smell it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Do you think I’m dumb?” His Dad relaxes. This is just going to be one of Dan’s quasi-intellectual bickering sessions. “I was thinking about your idea that conscious experience, memory and dreams are all processed in our minds in the same way ....into the same filing cabinets as you like to say." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You also say that our remembered past and imagined future are written in the same script. I usually just humour you but I honestly think I get it...... as in, I’ve just experienced it .” Peter snorts, as if Dan is taking the piss in his typical way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dan glances across to see his father’s sceptical look.  “I’m not joking Dad. Let me see if I can get this right. You say that consciousness is dominant because of the consistency of its ‘triggers’ that carry on from day-to-day unchanged and are shared by other people." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The other ‘states of mind’ don’t pass these tests. As I understand it, you think that whilst we’re reliving a memory, or dreaming a dream, or imagining a new building in your case, you’re using the same cerebral tools to recreate the world you perceive." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Whilst we are immersed in each of these states they seem just as real as each other. You love to conclude that “ergo, there is no immutable objective reality.” “Is that what I say? That does sound pretentious coming from you.” “It has always sounded pretentious coming from you dear” chips in Dan’s mother, “...but I still love you.” “So what brought this on Dan?” His mother sounds concerned at her son’s sudden acknowledgement of his father’s philosophical genius." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I’ve just had the weirdest dream....” At that, his father leaps up off his sun-bed and says “Race you to the pontoon!” It is understood in the family that, when this challenge is dropped, all other considerations have to be suspended. Both of Dan’s parents are athletic." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Peter is strong and fast for his age but Ann’s technique is more refined. They’re usually neck and neck in swimming contests. Until last year they had always beaten Dan – no quarter was given or expected. But on the final day last summer he’d beaten his mother." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His Dad hasn’t yet succumbed, clearly believing that he still had an edge over Dan. Despite Dan’s current state of disassociation, he leaps into life and hares after his father, ending up only slightly behind at the water’s edge. The pontoon is about a hundred metres out so he needs to pace it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At first he falls back but feels himself gaining after halfway. As a bit of gamesmanship, he swims close to his father as he gets to three-feet behind. He wants his Dad to sense, and then accept, the inevitable as Dan’s superiority is confirmed - the passing of the generational baton." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It’s close but Dan judges it well and wins by a hand-length. They climb the ladder where his father gracefully accepts defeat with a handshake. Dan tries not to look smug ...but doesn’t succeed. They both look back at the shore where his mother is waving." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She mouths “Who won?” At first they both point at themselves until his father turns his finger around to Dan with a smile. His mother applauds “Seriously, Dad, I had the strangest dream. Let me tell you about it. Without looking at Dan, his father waves back to his wife. “You don’t need to son." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I already understand. I just want to know that you are ready.” “Ready for what?” says Dan looking perplexed. Dan barely finishes speaking before his father’s firm push launches him headlong back into the water." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Alice’s writhing body is forcefully dragged from Dan’s back - he can no longer feel the cold of the lake or the weight of his clothes. He smiles ...relaxed now ....unable to pull his gaze away from the shimmering light, dancing through the clear water.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Hobbist" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Port Village is a bustling waterfront tourist attraction. It was littered with overpriced gift shops and restaurants. Kites and RC planes stormed the late afternoon sky occasionally crashing down in front of Detective Ray Okuma." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or now just Ray Okuma for the next fourteen days.\n\n“Sorry!” Yelled the little kid as he ran over to pick up his kite." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“It’s alright,” Okuma said while glancing in the direction to see the little boy’s father who was a little embarrassed that this was the fourth time his son’s cheap kite crash-landed too close to people." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But he can’t fault the father too much his son was happy to have a kite with his favorite superhero on it. After all, Okuma has four children of his own. Okuma’s phone buzzed in his pocket with a text from his wife, Ruth. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the message." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Meeting you there for ice cream Dominic was a good boy keeping up with his braces.\n\nRewarding their youngest son’s good dental hygiene with desserts. Hopefully, the orthodontist doesn’t ask what he’s been snacking on. The weight of the camera around his neck began to put a strain on him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He doesn’t even know what type of camera it is. Other than that it was the most expensive and endearing Father’s Day gift he had ever received. It was now July and this was the first time he used the camera." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Photography videos either gave him a step-by-step walkthrough on how to take photos or how the already expensive camera he owned was suddenly not good enough and that he needed to drop four thousand dollars on a new camera.\n\nGetting a good shot was the hard part for him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He could feel eyes on him every time he raised the camera. He wasn’t even trying to get people in his shot. He tried getting a shot of the skyscrapers from downtown. But was interrupted by some older woman asking him what he was doing. Okuma saw through the veil of fake concern." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The second time it was of an old navy ship that was sailing by. A kite flew in front of him followed by a large tourist group that gathered around to get a closer look. The only decent photo was of his slice of greasy New York-style cheese pizza." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was supposed to be a test photo.\n\nWalking across the grass he found himself standing in front of a large tree. With thick roots that were tripping hazards and a wide trunk that required three people to properly hug it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One of the last episodes of Dominic’s favorite cartoon was about tree hugging. Looking up, the branches stretched out providing a home to multiple nests of birds and squirrels that raced up and down the tree. Despite the summer heat, he felt a chill in his arms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Barely any sunlight poked through the leaves.\n\nEven as a child, he was never one to climb trees. Except for his wife, she was always the more outdoorsy person. He thinks so at least." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Maybe a photo for the living room? He raised the camera to his face bumping his round glasses his finger hovered over the shutter release button.\n\nA rectangle about the size of a door that had a blue sky with white clouds painted on it was now in front of the tree. Okuma gasped lowering his camera." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“When did that get here?” He asked himself adjusting his glasses with one hand. His prescription was up to date he would’ve seen that painting. Turning around all he saw were families and vendors enjoying the California sun.\n\nHe circled the trunk seeing no exit on the other side of it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Either way, why would it be a blue sky if it was a perfectly cut door into the tree? It looked as if it was an image photoshopped onto the tree but real life. The tree looked as if there were no indents or carvings in it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With an extended hand, he attempted to touch it but his hand started to violently shake.\n\nLeaving is the sane option! “Oh, I am losing it.” He thought aloud. He is not a crime scene photographer but he had to get evidence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Okuma raised the camera and took a photo of the sky rectangle.\n\nLooking down all he could see was the same painted clouds and endless bright blue sky. The wind was blowing past his face with no control of his body. He was flailing in the air watching his arms and legs desperately grasp onto anything." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It had been years since he’s been on a roller coaster that made him scream feeling as if he was going to die. But a large roller coaster could not even compare to this. I’m going to die! How did I get here? I’m going to die! There was nothing he could do." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How was this even happening? No ground slowly increased in size the longer he descended. Has it been days, hours, or minutes? Will he keep falling like this? A black rectangle appeared before his eyes. Before he could even blink Okuma was panting while laying on his stomach." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Seemingly somewhere cold and pitch black. He could feel his heart thundering in his ears. Tears that he didn’t feel until now were burning his eyes.\n\n“What the! Where am I?” Okuma yelled then started a coughing fit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Is anybody here!” He pushed himself off the ground almost toppling over when he stood up. \n\n“Am I dead?” Okuma pressed a palm against the left side of his chest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His heart was still rapidly beating and he was still short of breath.\n\n“How did this survive?” He found his glasses in his breast pocket strangely unbroken. Something heavier weighed down his shirt. It had been years since he held one in his hands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“How old is this?” A digital camera? Where did his camera go? He wouldn’t surprised if he didn’t notice it flying off his body during the fall.\n\nIt was smoother and much smaller than the one he had earlier. His fingers continued to graze the surface until the screen turned on the lens extended out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Expecting to see pitch blackness on the screen. He saw elevator doors. With just his bare eyes there was nothing in front of him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“What is happening?” Turning on the flash setting he took a picture aiming right at where the elevator doors appeared in the camera.\n\nThe elevator doors appeared a few feet in front of him. Glancing around he walked carefully towards the doors." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The elevator didn’t seem to lead anywhere but neither did this strange place. A shaky hand pressed the button on the elevator and with a ding, the doors opened.\n\nThe interior looked posh with a mirror along the walls. Bossa Nova jazz quietly played over the speakers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Although he couldn’t see any speakers. Okuma stepped inside seeing his reflection for the first time since all of this happened. He almost forgot he was wearing his dark green button-up shirt that now had sweat stains, black jeans, and his white off-brand walking shoes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The dark circles underneath his eyes were accentuated by how his tawny skin had paled. His black shoulder-length hair was damp with sweat.\n\n“How did you get married, Ray Okuma?” He sighed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Does his wife know where he is? The doors closed and he turned around seeing there was only one button available. Taking a deep breath Okuma pressed the white button and watched it glow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He felt the elevator moving upwards and all he could do was stare toward the ceiling.\n\nIs he the only one here?\n\nWhat is here? What if Ruth and Dominic fall in here? The pounding of his heart started to drown out the music." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How could he find them if they get lost? Forgetting his phone is his one weakness that he will admit. He reached into his pants pocket only feeling lint the moisture from his sweat seep through. Frantically he patted everywhere else on his body." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ruth could have been calling him for hours now.\n\nThe elevator dinged and the doors opened to reveal a mall. Seeing how he could see the exit on the other side it was a small mall. Okuma swallowed and stepped into the mall with only the sound of distorted pop music playing over the speakers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not that he was familiar with to current trends of music. This music sounded like it was from the 2010’s but the lyrics or the titles weren’t coming to him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Only because of his older children, he was somewhat familiar with what was popular ten years ago.\n\nHe was on the second floor of the mall and it was empty but the water fountain was still on. All the lights were on but some store signs were unlit and he was unable to recognize the logos." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Even though, he used to frequently take his children to the mall when they were much younger.\n\n“Different times.” Okuma sighed to himself maybe that was why he couldn’t recognize these signs, right? Aside from the fountain, and the weird music, Okuma’s steps echoed all throughout the building." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He walked by a clothing store geared towards young people judging from the brighter clothing and cartoon drawings on the shirts of the mannequins. The mannequins were shiny and white mostly facing forward." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But one wearing a dog onesie was turned downwards making Okuma’s heart race.\n\nHe continued walking towards the exit shaking his head at that weird thought. He’s always been alone since falling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Who else could be here? As if he shot himself in the foot he heard the patter of plastic hitting the marble floor. Quickly turning around he saw the mannequin wearing the dog from the clothing store window.\n\n“Oh.” He turned around and took a step forward only to hear it again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now wasn’t the time to freak out he was almost out of this place. Then he would be back home enjoying his vacation with his family. Keeping his back to the exit he watched as the mannequin frozen in a walking motion didn’t move." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But the same patter of plastic could be heard as he turned forward and saw two more mannequins in gym clothes frozen in running positions.\n\nTaking the risk he took turns glancing at different sets of mannequins allowing them to only take one step towards him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The gym mannequins seemed faster than the dog onesie mannequin." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He did not want to find out what would happen if they caught up to him.\n\nGlancing at the exit he saw it was suddenly boarded up.\n\nCould he not see that far anymore with his glasses? Now he was in front of the mannequins and he was able to keep his eyes on them by walking backwards." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To his left, he saw the escalator was turned on, and a line of mannequins dressed in various fashions were halfway up heading toward him. “Oh no.” He made a run towards the exit hearing the stomping of the plastic mob running towards him. He’s been a detective for decades he’s nearly seen it all." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But this was beyond him. Whipping out the camera in his pocket he frantically took photos of the exit that was in front of him. He felt something touch his shoulder. This was it he was going to be mannequin food!\n\nTurning around his wife’s beautiful face standing in front of him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Along with his youngest smiling widely showing off the new green color on his braces.\n\n“Ray, why are you so sweaty are you okay?” Ruth asked. Okuma needed a moment he was back in Port Village holding the large new camera his family got him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And there was no rectangle with the sky in the tree behind him. “I think I am going to need a new hobby.”." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Woolybugger" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You know the old expression, raining cats and dogs? Well, I saw neither cats nor dogs, but it was raining too hard for any living creature to be walking the streets of Cincinnati. I had taken the bus to the emergency room for ex rays on my fractured arm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My experience with emergency rooms is to anticipate a lengthy wait. Nothing happens there at the speed of light. It was late by the time I saw the doctor, and a heavy storm struck before I could start for home. I wasn't prepared for the rain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On a side street down from the bus stop, I observed lights shining through the window of a shop with a sign overhead labeled \"Jim's Curio's\". Perhaps I could find an umbrella or raincoat among the curios." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I made a mad dash for the shop and felt an immense sense of relief to find the shop was still open. The friendly tinkle of a bell announced my entrance. In the rear of the shop, an elderly gentleman rose from behind the counter. \"Please come in out of the rain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "These July storms arise so fast one never sees them coming. If there is anything I can help you with, just let me know.\" I could see the man better as he moved into the light. I presumed his name was Jim. He certainly appeared as old as the sign hanging above the door of his shop." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was tall and gaunt, with grey hair streaked with white that reached to his shoulders. His back was severely stooped, giving the appearance of constantly leaning forward. Perhaps he bent over his counter for too many years. He leaned on an ornate cane and moved slowly in my direction." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His eyes, once a bright ocean blue, were now the shade of a pale winter morning. \"May I call you Jim? My name is Sue. I saw your name on the sign.\" He gave a slight nod in agreement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You see Jim, I was not prepared for this rainstorm and thought perhaps you might sell me an umbrella or slicker, so I don't drown when I get off the bus. I have about four blocks to walk home from the bus stop.\" Jim turned and rummaged through a small room in the rear. \"Ah, there you are." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have not used it in years.\" The umbrella was old and dusty and when he opened it, the material ripped down one side. He looked at it with a puzzled expression on his face. \"Never seen one do that before. I'm afraid this is the only one I have and it won't be of any use to you." }, { "from": "human", "value": "These summer squalls never last long. Why don't you look around the store until the storm is over? If you are in a hurry, there is a phone on the counter. Perhaps you can call a friend or your husband to come get you.\" \"Oh no. My husband is watching the Bengals game on TV." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I would not dare ask him to come get me. I'll just brows around till the rain quits. You have a lot of unusual merchandise.\" African masks hung on the north wall next to spears and an assortment of muzzle-loading rifles." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A partial suit of armor like an English knight might wear lay in a heap in the corner. There was a section of old hand tools, including a crosscut saw hung at an angle on the wall. \"I grew up as a kid on a farm and my father had tools like these. This is a Disston hand saw." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dad said they were the best. Let me show you how he determined the quality of a saw.\" She held the handle in her right hand and with her left hand gripped the end of the blade with her thumb and forefinger." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Bending the saw and at the same time thumping it with her right thumb, the saw gave a bright, ringing sound. The notes changed as she changed the degree of bow in the blade. Jim watched with interest and smiled his approval, a twinkle in his faded blue eyes. \"Do you have any old jewelry?\", Sue asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jim pointed to a counter on the other side of the room. \"There are a few high-quality silver bracelets mixed in with the costume jewelry. Are you an expert in old jewelry too?\" Sue was looking out the window. The storm showed no sign of letting up. She walked over to the jewelry case. \"Not really." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I just enjoy their beauty and the workmanship that goes into a fine bracelet.\" She sorted through the turquoise bracelets and tried one on. \"This one is really nice. How much is it?\" Jim took the bracelet and showed her the name on the inside." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"This is the authentic signature of a famous Navaho artist. Almost a museum piece. I would have to get $350 for this one.\" \"Whew. Way too much for me. My husband would kill me.\" \"I'm sure that is an exaggeration. Maybe for a birthday or anniversary present?\" Sue looked back out the window." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The pounding rain and howling wind had slackened. A frown creases her forehead. \"No, Jim. I wasn't exaggerating. That would push him over the limit.\" She held up her bandaged wrist. \"Burned toast is worth a fractured wrist.\" \"Surly you jest." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Has this happened before?\" \"This is only my fourth trip to the doctor. Usually it is just some bruises where they don't show. The worst is the mental abuse. I have no say in anything. No matter what I say or suggest, he scoffs and belittles me. I'm sorry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't mean to bring you into my personal problems.\" \"No. I am the one that is sorry. Every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and no one should ever experience such treatment. Have you gone to the authorities?\" \"Twice, but their response was to go for counseling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You can probably guess how little impact that suggestion had. The storm is about over and I had better be going. What is that furry thing on the couch?\" Jim moved protectively to put himself between Sue and the couch. \"Pay no attention to that ma'am, it's a woolybugger.\" \"It looks so soft." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Could one use it for a pillow? It's not alive, is it? Like some strange breed of cat.\" \"Not exactly. I found it on my travels to the far east many years ago. It was in an outdoor market and the poor man seemed desperate for money." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Had I known how dangerous it was, I never would have taken it off the man's hands. I'm not sure why, but after all these years, I still keep it like a security blanket. Among all the items in the shop, this is the only one that is for sale.\" \"It looks so peaceful." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Can I touch it?\" \"That's okay, as long as you don't give it any orders.\" Sue cautiously stroked the back of what appeared as a ball of fur. \"It's so soft." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Surely this fluff ball is not dangerous.\" \"Stand back and I'll show you what I mean.\" Jim removed a sheet of paper from his desk and lay it on the couch next to the sleeping ball of fur. \"Woolybuger this piece of paper. The hair on its back stiffened, and a head appeared from beneath the fur." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Beady black eyes peered out over an elongated snout. The mouth opened, revealing long, razor-sharp teeth. Stout legs appeared with each paw containing four long, sharp claws. In a matter of seconds, the sheet of paper was shredded into a thousand pieces." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The feet folded back out of sight and the vicious mouth full of teeth vanished into the ball of fluff. The woolybugger lay silent and peaceful on the couch. Sue stood with eyes wide in horror. \"Oh my God, she exclaimed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't see that one coming. What a frightful monster hidden in such a pretty package. I must be going before the rain starts again. Thank you for everything, Jim.\" The bell rang again as Jim watched Sue hurry to the bus stop. He realized he missed her company." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bell doesn't ring so often anymore. Three uneventful weeks had passed when Jim was startled awake from his nap by the sound of the bell ringing and the door opening. His initial response upon recognizing the customer was one of pleasure. As she drew near, he recoiled in shock." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Why Sue, what has happened? You look terrible.\" Her right eye was black and almost closed. A dark bruise showed above the collar of her shirt. She limped noticeably as she approached the counter. \"There are occasions, Jim, when I just can't keep my mouth shut." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Remember my bastard of a husband I told you about the last time we met? Well, he is a rather large fellow. His friends call him 'bubba'. He has gained a lot of weight since his college football days where he was junior college All American." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Most of his weight problems come from drinking too much beer. Two days ago, he went to the fridge for a beer and there were none. He flew into a rage, blaming me for not stocking enough." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I just sort of lost my cool and replied, if you would get off your fat ass and buy your own beer, you wouldn't run out. You drink like a fish anyway. For a big man, he can certainly move fast when irritated. Afterwards, he had to drive me to the emergency room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We told the doc I fell down some stairs. As usual, I was numb with fear and agreed with what he said. The doc knew better, I could tell by the look on his face. This morning I woke up sore as hell and decided I had enough." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Can you show me the woolybugger again?\" Jim studied Sue for a minute. \"You can have it on a loan after I give you another demonstration. If you still want it, please tell me what you have in mind.\" Sue handed Jim an old, musty feather pillow from a stack of bedding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Show me with this and I will tell you what I have in mind.\" Jim lay the pillow on the couch next to the woolybugger, much as he did the piece of paper." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stood back and cried-\"woolybugger this pillow.\" The hair on its back stood upright, the claws sprang out, and the fangs appeared, already gnashing in the air. In less than a minute, feathers filled the air as the pillow was reduced to rubble." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The woolybugger curled up as a fur ball in the corner of the couch. Jim brought over a fancy velvet-lined cage. Placing the woolybugger in the cage, he closed the top and placed it at Sue's feet. Sue stood there with a broad smile on her face. \"I must have this on loan and here is why." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tomorrow is Saturday and my husband will sit on his couch drinking beer and watching the game on TV. Before the game starts, I will remove the woolybugger from the cage and place on the couch next to where my husband always sits. He is a man of habit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When he notices the ball of fur, he will ask me what the hell it is. I will say, of course, that it is a woolybugger.\" My dear husband will look at me with disgust and say, \"woolybugger my ass.\"." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Grey House" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Grey House - Mom's family's reunion was coming up soon. A request of attendees was that we each bring a photo of the past to be shared on “Memory Night.” I had been left with Mom's photo albums, after her passing and combined with my collection I had a lot of past photos to scan through." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Several hours passed just viewing photos, sometimes losing myself in the memory they evoked. I was particularly drawn to the old black and white photos from Mom and Dad's era. Mom had made reference to how she loved the times spent with her grandmother so I was hoping to find one that expressed that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We were given copies of a photo of Mom's mother as a child, standing on a stool next to her very pretty mother, Marja, but no others.. Grandma had been an only child, yet she and Grandpa had eleven children." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How different Grandma's life had become with so many children, when she had been the center of attention in her own childhood.\n\nDumping a canvas bag of loose photos in the middle of my bed, I slid them across my bedspread so that I could view more of them at a glance, not one by one." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was then my eyes captured the photo of the grey house of the 1800's still standing in the U.P. Some years ago while visiting upper Michigan, I was asked to go by the house to take a picture. The grey house had a story to tell, but had been kept an unspoken subject for most of my life." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wanted desperately to know the mystery surrounding the beautiful, old Victorian home. The grey house was where my great grandmother Marja, had been a maid, when she came to America from Finland." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Its grey painted steps led up to a wide, white spindled, grand porch, while at the back was a small porch and stairs that led to the servant's entrance. I imagined this was where Marja entered. We had learned very little about her, as my grandmother refused to talk about her childhood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "While my mom and her sisters remained committed to keeping their mother's young life unspoken, it piqued my curiosity more. What had taken place that must be kept secret forever? What I knew with certainty was that Mom had told me my great grandfather William, was not my grandma's biological father." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Gazing at the photo, I remembered walking the perimeter of the grey house, and feeling a sense of familiarity. I didn't know how that could be as I had never been there before. I longed to go inside, however, the caretaker of the property was not at home." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had to be satisfied with peering into the windows of the front and side porch. I then took a seat on the back steps. There, I began to allow my mind to imagine life as it must have been when my great-grandmother worked there some hundred plus years ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I rested my back against the newel post as I gazed about the withered, no longer landscaped property and began to let my mind wander. I had stored some pieces of stories my mother had shared about grandmother Marja, as she had been very close with her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This made it easier to imagine with some clarity of Marja's experiences here at the grey house. I drifted back to that time. Scurrying up the back steps to the servant's door, she was certain to be on time and not a minute late to start her day." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Quickly unbuttoning her lightweight cape, and placing it on the coat rack along with her hat, she picked up her white pinafore apron heading across the polished wood kitchen floor to the parlor. Greeting the Dubois, “Good Morning, Ma'am Good Morning, Sir.” she said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her face felt a little flushed as not only was this her first day, but she also did not speak English clearly. She had been practicing it on the way over on the ship, knowing if she was to get a job in America, she must speak the language." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At home, her parents only spoke Finnish, which made it difficult to practice her pronunciations, but she was determined. “Good Morning,” the misses answered, glancing over at Marja. A short grunt sound could be heard from the mister as he continued reading his newspaper in his easy chair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The room was bright with windows, flanked by satin drapery pulled aside for the daytime, facing the front of the house as well as two windows on either side of the fireplace that had already been lit, with a cozy fire." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Would you like me to prepare you some breakfast, Ma'am? Do you have a preference in what I should serve? Perhaps hot porridge or eggs and Pulla?”\n\n“What is Pulla, or Bulla...did you say?” asked the misses with irritation.\n\nMarja quickly realized she had made a mistake calling breakfast toast, “Pula” which was Finnish." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Flustered, she quickly apologized, “I am so sorry, Ma'am..that is a Finnish breakfast bread.”\n\n“Porridge, which we call cooked oats with fresh fruit and coffee, will be fine.”\n\n“Yes ma'am,” Marja replied as she made her way back to the kitchen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Embarrassed that she had already made two English language gaffes, she was determined to be more careful when she spoke.\n\nFamiliarizing herself with the kitchen as to where the dishes, utensils, as well as cookware were, took a bit of getting used to." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The pantry held the dried grain for their cooked oats as well as spices and jams that she could offer as toppers. The fresh fruit was stored in a rather large refrigerator, something only the more wealthy could afford." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Placing some fresh berries in a colander to be washed, Marja hurried her steps, so as not to make the owners impatient as they waited for their breakfast.\n\nCreating an inviting setting for them at their dining table, Mrs. Dubois smiled with approval." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marja poured their coffee as she asked, “Would you like me to freshen the bedroom while you eat Ma'am?” “Yes. That would be fine. We like to enjoy our breakfast in leisure and then you can pick up our dishes after.” Once again, a rather forced smile, showed her agreement with Marja's service." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had remembered from her interview that the master bedroom was up the center stairwell, the first room on the right. Noting several bedrooms on the second level, Marja. wondered if others lived with the couple? They were perhaps middle aged, but could still have children living at home." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Entering the master bedroom which was quite large, featured an enormous carved headboard over a full size bed. She traced her fingertips along the intricately carved motifs of flowers and curved vines that trailed up and across on each side. She had never seen anything quite so lovely in Finland." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A delicate blue and white floral patterned wallpaper set off the all white elegant linens that covered the bed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sheer panels with lace edging covered the windows that were a backdrop for the two blue velvet sitting chairs and small round table that likely was where they had their night cocktails before retiring." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The bureau was of the same wood as the headboard, featuring four large drawers with brass pulls along with a matching armoire. Fluffing the pillows as she finished making the bed, Marja was quite certain she heard a noise from one of the other rooms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I best hurry downstairs she thought, before she perhaps had disturbed someone's sleep in one of the adjoining rooms.\n\nContinuing to busy herself with the chores she had imagined were necessary for the remainder of the day, made the time pass quickly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her last chore was to prepare dinner and she had already started a roast in the oven of the beautifully ornate Victorian white iron stove that was the feature of the kitchen. The smell was heavenly, only topped by the fresh apple pie for dessert." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Upon finishing their dinner and Marja clearing up the dishes, she approached Mrs. Dubois, stating,“If there is nothing more you would like me to do today, Ma'am, I will be getting on home and seeing you in the morning.”\n\n“Yes, we are done for the day." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We did quite enjoy the dinner you prepared, miss.” she added, once again putting together a slight smile.\n\n“Thank you, Ma'am.” Marja quickly placed her arms through her cape, grabbed her hat that she tied as she made her way down the drive." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I think everything went quite well, she told herself as she let out a deep sigh of relief and tiredness. I wonder if the Dubois felt the same? They did not share much conversation with her,so it was difficult for her to know how well she had done." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Marja picked up her step as she now headed down the hill toward town. Her parents, Aiti and Isa would be pleased that all had gone well and she was anxious to share her day. II With a slight tap at the servant's door, Marja turned the knob to begin her second month at the Dubois home." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Good Morning.” She greeted the couple seated as usual in the parlor. Marja had introduced the Dubois to her delightful morning bread of Pulla, which they now preferred with their coffee versus cooked oats." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Placing chilled saucers of thimble berry jam beside their plates, Marja poured their coffee and promptly made her way upstairs to freshen the bedroom. Today, she planned to strip the bed and do some washing, as well as hang the bedspread on the outdoor line to air in the noonday sun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Heading toward the master bathroom, she sought to gather the used towels and washcloths as well. Suddenly, the door across the hallway opened and a young gentleman with dark hair and deep-set brown eyes appeared." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He didn't look to be much older than Marja, but the Dubois had never mentioned his being a member of the household. “Good Morning.” he said, Instantly, blushing from being caught by surprise she replied, “Oh, Good Morning, Sir." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She kept her eyes down as she quickly turned to make her way back to the master bedroom. “May I learn your name, miss?” He asked. “I am Edward. I am one of my parent's youngest sons, and often spend the night in the area." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hope I didn't frighten you.” “Oh, that's okay,\" she said, hoping that her Finnish accent was not making her words indiscernible. I wasn't aware that anyone was up here. My name is Marja. I have been working for your parents for several weeks now.”she replied." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I best be getting downstairs to see if they have finished their breakfast, and start the laundry.” she said with a faint smile, as to not appear stuffy yet, also not too free to speak." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She had learned that one had to respect the position of hired help and not appear too comfortable in making conversation. Allowing Edward to step in front and head downstairs to join his parents, Marja returned to the bedroom to retrieve the basket with the bedding." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hurriedly she made her way downstairs, watching carefully that her long skirt didn't catch on the carpeting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was glad she had worn one of her newer aprons and blouses to make a decent impression on the young man.\n\nThe Dubois had made their way to the parlor and briefly glanced up as Marja came through with the bedding. “Did you meet our son Edward, miss?” Mr. Dubois asked.\n\n“Yes sir." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hope I didn't wake him with my scurrying about?”she replied, continuing with the basket to the back entrance.“Let me gather up your dishes, before I start the laundry, and then I will get on with the dinner preparation. Should I include your son for dinner this evening?” Mrs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dubois answered, “Yes, could you set a place for Edward as well?\n\n“Yes Ma'am” she replied. Secretly, she was pleased to learn Edward would be back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not only was he quite handsome, but she enjoyed the presence of another person around her age in the home.\n\nHeading out the back door with the clean laundry, Marja noted Edward had taken a seat on the top step smoking a cigarette and obviously deep in thought." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Excuse me sir, may I just get past you to take these out to the back line?”\n\nTurning, breaking his train of thought, he smiled. “Of course. But here, let me carry the basket for you.” he demanded taking it from her. Marja followed quickly behind. Her heart beat quicker, just being in his presence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She hoped her face was not flushed as it tended to be when she was the least bit nervous. Reaching down into the basket, she first set to pull the large bed sheet out, just as Edward also reached down for it. Their foreheads brushed up against one another as she stood up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Oh, I am sorry.”she said looking into his eyes.\n\n“Well, I am not sorry at all,” he said, as he reached over to brush aside the hair that had fallen into her face. His smile was captivating as she tried to catch her breath." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Looking at one another Marja was overcome with fear that perhaps the Dubois would have peered through the window and noticed their son helping the maid hang out the laundry. \n\nCompleting the hanging of the laundry, she returned to the mud room where she left the basket before heading into the kitchen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her face felt flushed as Mrs. Dubois was standing next to the counter and appeared somewhat concerned with how long Marja had been outside. “Do you have a dinner menu planned for today?' she asked, putting Marja on the defensive." }, { "from": "human", "value": ".\n\n“Yes, Ma'am I plan to prepare fresh White fish with a dill sauce and roasted potatoes with parsley. Does that sound okay to you, Ma'am?” “It's not a matter of whether it sounds okay to me, miss." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I just wondered if you will be having sufficient time to prepare it, as your other chores seem to have taken more of your time today.” Her tone was a bit condescending, leading Marja to feel certain she had seen both Edward and her together hanging the laundry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She did not turn around and yet sensed his presence. “Mother. Must you be so harsh with Miss Marja? She has been scurrying about trying to get her work done, while I continue to interrupt her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am sure she will prepare a delicious dinner.” “Why don't we go into the parlor and give her space to do her job.” he continued, flashing a warm smile Marja's way, while ushering his mother from the kitchen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Setting the dining table for three, and placing their meals on a satiny damask tablecloth, she announced that “Dinner is set Ma'am..I will bring in the aired linens and set about completing your bedroom while you enjoy dinner with your son.” Without looking at the family dining she made her way up the stairwell with the bedding." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The sun was quickly heading toward sunset, which would make her walk home close to dark. Hurriedly she completed the dish washing. The family was again sitting in the parlor, as Marja entered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Was dinner satisfactory, Ma'am?” she asked.\n\n“Yes, miss, we quite enjoyed the delicate dill sauce with the fish. You are very well versed in the kitchen I see, and that is good.” “Thank you, Ma'am” she replied purposely avoiding eye contact with Edward. Marja's thoughts were whirling in her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I can't entertain these feelings for Edward, she told herself. This is wrong and could cost me my job. She quickened her steps. Folding the cape over her left arm, she sensed someone was walking behind her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hearing the sound of shoes along with hers making a soft, crunching sound on the dirt shoulder she was frightened. “Marja, please don't be frightened, it is Edward. I'd like to speak with you if you can hold up a bit.”\n\nHearing his soft voice, she stopped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With Edward now beside her she wasn't sure what to say or do. Gently, he put his hand at the back of her waist guiding her off from the highway at the next pathway. “Marja, I want to tell you I am sorry if my actions today made it difficult for you with my parent's help." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Could you please just sit on this log and let me finish?” he asked. “It makes no difference to me that you are the hired help for my parents. I'm not concerned with one's stature or financial position. I want you to know there is something telling me that I have found a special person in you." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I don't know what you may feel for me...if anything. But, I am willing to try to find a way that we could spend time together and get to know one another better...if you are willing? “Edward. I am so confused as to how to address this issue. I cannot forget that I am your parent's maid." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You should not even be speaking with me.” A tear filled the corner of her eye, being touched by his open expression of feeling. Dropping her head, he caught her chin with his hand, lifting her face up.\n\n“Don't look down, dear. I am very fond of you.” he exclaimed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Getting on his knee facing Marja, he took her hand and kissed it. “Do not worry my dear Marja, I will never hurt you, and trust that I will make it possible for us to be together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now, let me walk you down to town, as it is getting dark and I would not want anything to happen to you.” Giving her his arm he lifted her from the log and said, “Now follow me, my dear Marja.” ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Escape from Castets (January 1969)" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Paris by midnight was our goal. After an early start and shared nonstop driving, it seemed within reach. From the sandy beaches in the south through the snow-capped Pyrenees in the north we had driven ten hours and now, with Spain behind us, we had only seven to go." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The sun was beginning to set when the knocking began: a steady metallic thumping that got louder and louder until there was a terrible bang ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The car lurched to a stop and an acrid smell began to seep in from behind—from exactly that place where one might find the engine of a Volkswagen Beetle, a yellow, 1968 Volkswagen Beetle such as the one we were driving." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Six months earlier I had taken a freighter to Europe with $125 dollars in my pocket and a headful of plans to work my way around until I had both the inclination and money to return home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After brief stints pulling fabric in a Dutch umbrella factory and making breakfast in an English youth hostel, I found myself dusting and oiling stringed instruments in a small music school in Paris. It was there that I met Jill, an American student on a year abroad." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her sister, living in southern Spain, was looking for help at a friend’s restaurant over the Christmas holiday." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now here, on the side of the A63 motorway, on the first Saturday of the new year, we watched smoke drift from the open back and wondered how much rest we might get before school and work began on Monday morning. A passing good Samaritan stopped to help." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He remembered that in a town only a few miles away there was a garage with two mechanics. And, since it was unlikely that the car could be fixed this same night, wasn’t it lucky, he said, that there was a nice hotel just down the street? We agreed and he called for a truck to come tow the car." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Castets, France was a small town with just one main street. It took no more than two minutes to discover that the nice hotel just down the street from the garage was actually directly across the street from the garage, and the nice hotel was actually Castet’s only hotel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We laughed when the sagging mattress immediately rolled us both into the middle. After all, what was one night of imperfect sleep? In the morning, we would eat, go to the garage and, soon enough, be on our way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The hotel recommended the café next door for breakfast but when we arrived the door was locked. We peeked under the curtains and saw baguettes on the counter. A woman on the far side of the room, was tying an apron around her waist. We knocked and waited." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When the door opened, we were startled to see how much the café owner looked like the hotel owner. A twin, perhaps? No, the café owner and the hotel owner were the same. How handy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And just twenty feet away, across the road, our car waited like an abandoned puppy outside the locked doors and dark windows of the garage. Was that hers too? We were sitting on the car bumper when two thirty-something men approached, dressed in shirt and tie, hair combed, shoes shined." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We guessed they were brothers on their way to church but they stopped and introduced themselves as the mechanics. With only a quick look at the ruptured engine, they announced that we had un grand problème ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And since there were not the necessary parts on hand, they would have to place an order, which would take some time. Would we like to sit with them in the garage? No, we said we would like for them to order the parts. They shook their heads and looked at us with sad eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They could do no ordering today but promised to do it soon. Soon? Le lundi, one said with a tiny shrug. Petit matin , added the other. Jill and I looked at each other. If not early Monday morning, when were they thinking of doing it? They asked again if we wanted to sit for a while in the garage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They even had chairs for us. We told them no, we needed to call Paris to explain our absence. And, just as much, we needed to explore the town in search of enough French village charm to offset our disappointment." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When the order of pistons and rods did not arrive by Monday afternoon, we returned to the hotel, consigned to a third night in a sagging bed. There was no delivery of new parts on Tuesday. Nor was there on Wednesday when, we were told, the delivery truck got lost." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Our sagging bed, once a source of hilarity, stopped being funny and started being painful. On Thursday, or maybe Friday, we heard that the delivery driver had stolen the 2 nd order of parts and had disappeared. No one could find him. The town, which had little charm to begin with, now had none." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jill and I spent the weekend, taking turns jaw-clenching in anger and head-holding in despair. It had been a week since we arrived in Castets. Our money was running low; we were sharing meals at the café. Even when emergency funds from her father arrived, they did not lift our sinking spirits." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As often as we asked what was happening with our car, the mechanics would not give us a solid answer. All they would do was shrug, circle a hand in the air, smile and say, Bientot. Soon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On Monday–day eight–we were sitting on the curb, losing hope, when the café and hotel owner stepped outside to speak with us. “You are not happy,” she said. She was right. We were not happy. She clasped her hands and tipped her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Quel dommage.”  Jill and I looked at each other, what did she mean, Too bad ? Before we could catch our breath, she went on to say that when she first saw us she had great hope. She hoped that we would fall in love with the mechanics and marry them. You see, she told us, the town was very small." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Trop petit pour avoir beaucoup de femmes. Too small to have many women. So, Jill and I were supposed to marry the mechanics? We looked at each other and tried not to laugh. One of them, we learned, was her son; the other was her nephew." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She asked if we didn’t think they looked handsome when they came to introduce themselves that first morning? Yes, we assured her, very handsome. She reminded us that they had worn their Sunday best. We reminded her that we were supposed to be at work and school, 600 km away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "More than a week had passed. We had spent our money in her hotel on a sagging single bed that smelled like old shoes. Day after day, we had eaten all our meals in her café. We told her we never chose to live in Castets, only to have our car repaired in Castets." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There was no way that we would marry the mechanics. We needed to go home and we needed our car to get there. The hotel and café owner dropped her head and gave us a pouty but final, quizzical look, to which we shook a definitive no. She paused, nodded her understanding and headed for the garage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Along with her delivery of our decision, there must have been a delivery of parts sometime in the past week. Within hours, we were back on the A63 motorway, heading to Paris.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Supertide" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Super Tide Written by Phillip Martin JR. The air was crisp. Not cold enough to stay indoors but cold enough to keep the riff raff from the beach. Marty can’t complain. He took this gig for the money and having a bungalow on the beach was just a bonus." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Good paying work for an electrician over the holidays. It’s time for the older of his two girls at home to start driving." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This gig makes the difference between buying her a busted 2007 Escort or a sound 2017 Corolla! So here they all are, working to restore an old pier on the coast of Myrtle Beach, CA in the abandoned Wild Dunes Resort." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pipefitters, Mechanics, Welders, Electricians, and carpenters gonna do their thing and begin the gentrification of this low rent area. By the time they’re done, none of them will be able to afford to peruse the shops and boutiques, or upscale restaurants they’re building." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It’s all good though, if some little 8-year-old gets a thrill out of the ocean view while eating some overpriced caramel corn, sure, they have done a great thing. What a conglomerate of Americans they are, maybe defined by others as something else, but American none-the-less." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They are Black, White, Asian, Latino, Asian Indian and some other creeds with different origins. For sure there are other sub-categories they could be placed in like Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Left Wing, Right wing, LGBTQS, Conservative, Progressive, and Libertarian." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Most are Veterans that served in all the Military branches for as long as thirty years to as short as 18 months." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The list of characteristics and attributes could go on. Right now, they are gruff, old-school workers gathering to make this “cheddar ” and get back home to their families, no matter what those families look like. It’s two guys to a bungalow and Marty got paired with an old Army Vet who’s a big beard wearing, hearty laugh having, chiseled journeyman named PJ (Short for Paul Jordan or Pete Junior, Marty doesn’t recall exactly)." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He’s in his mid-sixties, strong as an ox, lighthearted with lots of stories! There is an exception to PJ’s lightheartedness however, as come election time, every 4 years, he becomes a conspiracy theory spouting, raging, right-winger." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He doesn’t force his opinions on you, but Marty has walked in on heated arguments between him and his friends." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now, if you were a stranger on the outside looking in, you would think them to be stark adversaries; but they make it work somehow, gathering after the ruckus and having warm whiskey, cold beers and laughs. That’s where Marty joins them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He’s a well-traveled Journeyman himself, a Navy Vet who did twenty years and did another twenty with DoD. He’s pretty adept at fitting in with this bunch, seamlessly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His quick wit and laid-back nature serve him well to maintain collaborative working relationships without assimilating into the ethos, losing himself in the process. It’s a refined skill for Marty despite his city upbringing, he could have easily become more stand-offish and hostile." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yet, throughout his tenure as a man-child, he has found his path through life wrought with adventure and challenges." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "These experiences have left him appreciative and optimistic yet aware of the hazards of being Black in America. The shareholders of this endeavor did well with providing their meals in a rented cafeteria." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This set-up is complete with specialty cooks and servers to provide everything from Tex-Mex to Pho! It’s their own food court so to speak. Marty sits with PJ, Calvin, and Gene, talking aimlessly of family, friends, and each other. Shop talk is allowed too, but only in small doses." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One of their favorite points of contentious amusement is to tease PJ about how tightly he cranks down on all his conduit piping and the fittings." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So tightly, in fact, that if he must take it apart for any adjustments, he can barely take them back off!! He’s turning red in the face, gritting his teeth as he strains to break it loose! It’s hilarious! Their work this week begins in earnest; they will begin laying rigid conduit on the underside of the pier all the way to the end." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Securing it to the wooden planks with Unistrut, clamps, and lag-bolts." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Usually this is a daunting task that would require a safety boat crew of three as the guys would be working in the bowels of the underside of the piers suspended above water.\n\n Not this year because as it stands there is a once every 100 years, supermoon! The Earth and the moon’s orbital path has brought them close to each other." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The resulting gravitational pull from the moon results in super tides high and low. The super low tide works in their favor as the waterline is extended at least 250 yards past the end of the pier." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The laborers only need to lay sheets of plywood for the craftsmen to drive the scissor lifts to the needed areas and rise to the underside of the pier." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Boom! Done this phase of the job in mere hours! As they await the laying of the plywood, Marty, Calvin, and Gene are dressed in hip-waders and Carhartt’s sitting on some recently exposed rocks 200 yards or so from the work area. PJ headed for the cafeteria to see about some hot soup." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Calvin and Gene had wandered several yards away as they were taking in the view and casually conversing. Marty was kicking at the base of the rock when he noticed a plastic bag buried in the sand at the base of the rock." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The edge of the bag barely protruded above the surface.\n\nMarty began poking at it with his foot and felt something solid.  He then dropped to one knee and began digging out this black industrial plastic bag. As he exposed more of the bag, he saw transparent tightly wrapped Ziplock bags inside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He removed one of the bags and it was stuffed with stacks of banded one-hundred-dollar bills. Each stack is at least 4 inches thick! There must have been at least 5 Ziplock bags packed with these stacks. He knelt on both knees and began completely pulling the bag out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He then found a couple more Ziplock bags with stacks of Red foreign currency. Marty had no idea what it was. It could have been Euro’s, Yen, or Baht for all he knew." }, { "from": "human", "value": "By this time Calvin and Gene saw him handling the bags and rushed over\n\nOh Shit! What you got there?!! Marty threw them a Ziplock bag each of hundreds, An early plane ticket home! Calvin and Gene caught the bags out the air and their eyes widened. \n\nWhoa, there might be more! and scurried over to the rock and began digging profusely." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Marty double wrapped the plastic bag and tucked it under his arm. Someone shouted in the distance. Hey! What are you guys doing over there? It was one of the mid-level managers, also known in some circles as Working Foreman." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Marty immediately turned away and headed for my bungalow, not wanting to share more of his bounty or even offer up an explanation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He glanced over his shoulder and saw a heated conversation between Calvin, Gene, and the Manager.\n\nI don’t want tickets to that show, he muttered to himself. As he entered the bungalow, he had the strongest impulse that he should find a good hiding spot for this cache." }, { "from": "human", "value": "PJ often brought boxes of parts to the bungalow as it was closer than their shop so access was more convenient as opposed to trudging back to the shop." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He chose a large box of 2-inch couplings and removed half of them and shoved the bag in and placed the couplings back in until they effectively hid the bags from view." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He kicked the box haphazardly into the corner and threw some yellow rain gear over it. He then ventured back out to the shoreline to see if Calvin and Gene found more bags but oddly enough, they were gone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No Manager either. He decided to not make any rash decisions, to ruminate over everything for a day, even go to work like normal and make a reasonable decision on what to do next. The day labored on, and he finally went to sleep. Oddly enough, he hasn’t seen PJ in a few hours." }, { "from": "human", "value": "PJ is usually asleep before Marty is, but Marty thought he might be at the bar or something. He closed his eyes to rest. Hours passed and suddenly he was awakened with the feeling that someone was standing over him. He was startled as Calvin‘s face came into focus." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Calvin grabbed Marty by the scruff of his shirt \n\nGood you’re awake, that will make this easier, he uttered, as he leaned into Marty, putting more weight on his chest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You know what it is Marty, come on, we need that money. Marty then noticed Gene standing by the bungalow door, seemingly standing watch. Oddly though, Gene looked a little squirrely, as if he wasn’t sure about being a participant in this, but maybe his greed over-rode his moral compass at the moment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Money?! You want my money too? I know you guys dug up more bags AND I gave you both Ziplock’s stuffed with bills! Suddenly a bolt of pain shot through the left side of his face and his left ear rang as if a high-pitched tone rang through it. Marty realized Calvin hit him with a solid right hook." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This suddenly took on an urgency that formed a knot in the pit of Marty’s stomach.\n\nShut the fuck up! Calvin bellowed and hit Marty with another right hook, solid and flush this time, and Marty tasted blood in his mouth.\n\nWe didn’t find any more bags Motherfucker, and don’t Fucking worry about what we got! Two more right hooks followed with a hammer fist to Marty’s forehead finishing the barrage." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Calvin then dragged Marty off the bed slamming him to the floor and placed his knee in his chest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I aint playing with you Marty! And I’m not asking you again! angrily raining spittle on Marty’s face. Calvin then reached in his jacket and produced a knife, a small but menacing tactical knife a lot of the Vets carry." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This aint no fucking game Marty! Marty’s head began to clear up from the pummeling as he gazed at the knife." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His mind began racing as he thought, This son of a bitch is really gonna fucking kill me!  \n\n Something in him awakened as he realized this just escalated to a fight for his life! As he took another right hook, he saw the blade pass by his left eye and right away sprang into action." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He freed his left arm enough to grab Calvin’s right arm and pin it to his chest. He snapped head up and rammed his forehead into Calvin’s nose as hard as he could. There was a loud squelch as Calvin’s cartilage exploded and blood splattered into Marty’s face as the headbutt hit its mark." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Calvin yelled in pain and his body went limp momentarily. Taking advantage, he quickly twisted Calvin’s right hand to free the knife, but Calvin held fast. \n\n Marty then bit down on Calvin’s thumb like he was tearing into a pork sparerib. Calvin screamed, dropped the knife and fell backwards." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Marty then pivoted and leapt on to Calvin’s chest pushing his knee into his throat! He then thought, Oh fuck, where’s Gene! He glanced at the door and Gene was standing wide eyed looking dismayed, Fuck this! he exclaimed and ran out into the night. Apparently, he lost his stomach for the robbery as Marty gained the upper hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He pressed his knee harder into Calvin’s neck,\n\nGet the fuck off of me! Calvin managed to squeal. Just for good measure Marty gave him a couple of right hooks to make sure his head would hurt tonight as well. Calvin stopped struggling and lay breathing heavily. Marty then decided what he would do." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He stood up, grabbed the knife and stuck it into the wall next to the box of couplings. He snatched the box open only to discover the bulk of the Ziplock bags of 100’s was gone! All that remained was the red foreign currency." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He heard Calvin stirring and said in a disgusted tone,\n\nSomeone beat you to it! The 100’s are gone! You were gonna kill me for nothing! He grabbed a couple stacks of the red currency and threw it at Calvin. Calvin staggered to his feet holding his mangled nose, scoffed at the currency scattered about and quickly bolted out the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fuck me running! He shook his head and it dawned on him; It must have been PJ!! I mean, where has he been? He even stayed out all night! Damn, I can’t catch a break . He looked around the bungalow and started to put it back together again, lest one of the Managers stop by and ask a gazillion questions." }, { "from": "human", "value": "About fifteen minutes in the cleanup, he heard whistling and PJ came walking daintily through the door, almost skipping! His beard was neatly trimmed, but still huge, he had on a crisp Adidas matching sweatsuit and smelled like he bathed in some expensive Versace cologne.\n\nWell look what the cat dragged in ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wow, what happened here? You hold a UFC tournament? Looks like you took second! PJ chuckled as he swiped at Marty’s face which was beginning to swell on his left side.\n\nYou got jokes, ok, well, let me guess, you found a lot of money in the coupling box. I did! But you know I kinda figured it was yours, I mean, we share this bungalow and I thought, let me move this so any old Tom, Dick or Harry won’t stumble on it. Relief flooded over Marty like a warm blanket." }, { "from": "human", "value": "For real?! Are you being serious?  He leapt at PJ and gave him a bear hug. He then stepped back and looked sternly at PJ." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wait, how much is left after your spending spree? Well, I hit you for a couple thousand, bought this sweat suit, some Jordans and I stayed at the Hyatt Regency, a suite! Got me a message too! but shit, it’s still like $146,000 left!! I didn’t think you’d mind! Marty’s grin widened as he realized he never even counted it! Marty put his arm ar ound PJ’s shoulder,\n\n You look like a Romanian drug dealer! Wow, well you look like Gumby with that swelled head! Don’t make me laugh, it hurts so bad." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Both men laughed and headed off into the morning as a new day had begun." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Tower" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The funeral had gone by faster than they’d all expected. The four sat in the den, each in spots they’d always picked growing up. A fire was going. They passed around a bottle of cheap whiskey." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Instead of their late grandfather a fat tabby sat in the large high backed chair, sleeping gently, completely ignorant to the fact that its owner was now six feet under.\n\n“So, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m sleeping here tonight,” said Virgil. They all nodded. There was definitely enough space." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Evan looked towards the rain pattering on the small porthole window. He always sat on the couch with Nell. “Tomorrow do we need to do anything?” Winter said, “Just start going through things. Finding what we want to keep or sell. What might need to be donated to a museum.” Virgil laughed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Why would a museum want any of Grandpa’s stuff?” “He wasn’t Stephen King or anything but Claw in the Night was a hit. His books sold well enough to sustain us. Some of his stuff might be important,” she replied. Virgil nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I suppose that’s possible.” “I can’t believe he’s gone.” Nell sighed.\n\nThey had all known their patriarch would die one day, but he was the only parent any of them had. This whole horrible process had been more exhausting than they could’ve imagined." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So exhausting none of them had even cried, they were just numb. “Grandpa would’ve loved tonight. He loved nights like this.” They collectively nodded. He had been a romantic. He loved warm fires, rain, and pipe tobacco." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He would have been puffing away like Gandalf over in his throne as they all discussed whatever came to mind. They shared a few more memories. Some funny, a few sad, and some poignant. Then as the whiskey got low, and the fire burned down, they slowly slunk off to various bedrooms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No one really wanted to let the night go, because as soon as they fell asleep they knew he was finally gone.\n\n- Winter had imbibed the least amount of bourbon and woke up first. Almost immediately she began making a fatty breakfast to help ward off any hangovers. Slowly the rest arose." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By noon they had consumed all the bacon and coffee. They sat around the big wooden table in the dining room. In turns, they began to cry. Winter started it off because Virgil had reminded them what a bad cook Grandpa was, evidenced by the first but not last time he tried to make pancakes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He set off the smoke detector. This story got them all laughing except for Winter.\n\n“I miss him. He’s only been gone a few days and I miss him so much,” she squeaked out between sobs. And the seal on their hurt was broken. The tears flowed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "None of them really wanted to start the hard work of going through everything. They set up camp in the living room where the only television in the house had ever been. Grandpa had never upgraded past VCR or tube tv." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But he had loved movies and had an entire closet dedicated to an extensive VHS collection." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They took turns selecting films from the closet and decided to binge out the day with a selection of classics the old man had loved.\n\n“Since it’s fall I’m gonna suggest we stick mostly with horror films,” Evan announced as he popped in An American Werewolf in London." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were halfway through the original Fright Night when Winter started feeling ansy. As the oldest she often felt set apart from the others." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She was the only one that had consistent memories of their parents, who had died in a car crash when she was five She got up and started looking around the house for photos. She knew there were shoeboxes full somewhere. Grandpa wasn’t messy but he also had not been organized." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Eventually she found them in the attic, which wasn’t so much an attic as a massive workspace for Grandpa. He had never stopped writing with typewriters, and there were several strewn about across large old desks. There were also all his books on numerous shelves and a couple old overstuffed chairs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Winter had always loved this room. It smelled like books and pipe tobacco -- it smelled like Grandpa. He had always been home whenever they needed him because he was always up here working.\n\nThe shoeboxes were all inside a big old green trunk off in the corner. She slowly began looking at each photo." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lots of them were of Grandpa and Grandma when they were young parents. Grandma had died of pancreatic cancer when their dad was in high school. Also lots of photos of Uncle Steve, who had died in the first Gulf War before any of them were born.\n\nWinter finally stopped on one picture though." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was a picture of Uncle Steve, his wife Virginia, Mom, Dad, and Grandpa. They were all on the Oregon coast at a restaurant that Grandpa loved. It was called Stewbies and every time they went to the beach Grandpa wanted to eat there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They served all kinds of food but they specialized in seafood, which Grandpa loved. He was originally from New England and had grown up eating lobster and clams.\n\nShe couldn’t think of another time she’d seen a picture of the five of them together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Virginia had died several years after Uncle Steve, according to Grandpa his death in Iraq had caused her life to spiral and she just didn’t recover.\n\nWinter kept staring at it in the quiet of the attic. Imagining a different life. A life with an aunt and uncle, and parents." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A life with normal holidays and cousins. She was lost in an imaginary past when she noticed something odd.\n\nThere was the tip of a tower in the distance behind the large conifer trees that surrounded the back of the restaurant. Not the top of a large building, but an actual tower." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "An ancient-looking tower built from stone. Not much was visible but it clearly was not a modern building. The top came to a violent point in a gothic design. She couldn’t stop looking at it. It clearly didn’t belong. She quickly walked down the stairs to the living room and turned off the TV." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Hey! That’s the best part!” Virgil exclaimed right before a vampire exploded into flames." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Sorry, but this is more important, I found this photo of the family at Stewbies, and there’s something weird about it.” “Sis, I don’t have the energy for any weirdness today,” said Virgil.\n\n“Just look at it, please.” Virgil sighed. Evan got up and looked at the photo." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“This is weird, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the 5 of them together before.” “Yes, but that’s not what’s really strange.” Evan kept looking but he didn’t notice the tower. He shrugged and handed the photo to Nell." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nell didn’t see it either, but Virgil did.\n\n“There should not be a tower there,” Virgil said, deadly serious. “There’s no buildings behind Stewbies, it’s just forest for miles.”\n\nAt this, Nell and Evan rushed over to the photo." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They held it between the four of them like little children with a collective Christmas present. The emotional exhaustion was forgotten.\n\n“Well, this was before we were all born. Maybe there was a tower there? From like the pioneer era,” said Evan.\n\nVirgil looked at him quizzically." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“There’s no way that’s from the pioneer era.” “How can you tell? It’s barely visible.” “Look there’s only one way we’re gonna figure this out, we have to go to Stewbies. It’s only a few hours away,” said Nell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“But we know there isn’t a tower there, we’ve been there probably a hundred times over the years. There’s no buildings back there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I bet if we keep looking through the pictures we’ll find one of all of us in front of it, and there’s no way there’s a tower back there.”\n\nWinter took them upstairs to the boxes of photos, and they began carefully looking through them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After an hour of searching, they found three other photos taken in front of Stewbies. In two of them, there was no tower, but in the third the tower was there. It looked slightly different, a little smaller but it was definitely the same tower. “Okay, so this doesn’t make any sense." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The oldest picture and the newest picture have the tower in it. But the other two don’t.” They laid them out in what they thought was chronological order. The two middle ones had people in them they weren’t related to.\n\n“I think this one is of Grandpa and his agent,” said Nell." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Evan pointed at the next one “This one has a couple people from church. I recognize those guys, but I can’t remember their names.”\n\nAnd the last one was of the five of them. Just a few years ago. “That was the last time I think we were all together,” said Evan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“If the tower is really there shouldn’t we be able to see it in all these photos? They’re all taken from about the same angle,” asked Winter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Yes,” said Virgil, “but I think what’s really weird isn’t just that but that it only appears when Grandpa is there with four people he’s related to.” “Bro, you can’t possibly know that,” said Evan." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Well not with any scientific certainty, but look, there’s four photos all basically from the same angle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And the only time the tower appears is with our family, exactly five people each time.” “Appears? Like it’s some kind of magic tower that comes and goes when Grandpa’s family is around?” At the words “magic tower,” they all felt a chill. It was an eerie idea." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“We need to go see if it’s there,” said Evan. “Okay,” Winter conceded, “let’s take Grandpa’s car.” - The Buick Le Sabre pulled into the parking lot of Stewbies a little before 7." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were some locals parked in the lot, but nothing like the dinner rush they were used to with this restaurant.\n\n“Anybody hungry?” asked Evan. “Come on man,” said Virgil. He had been getting on his nerves the whole car trip." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“We’ve got more important stuff to do.” The Pacific Ocean roared behind them as they got out and strained their eyes, trying to see this mysterious tower." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“The spot where the photos were taken must have been about here.” Evan pointed to a spot in the parking lot about 20 feet in front of the steps leading up to the restaurant.\n\nThe sun was setting behind them making it difficult to distinguish between the treetops and anything else that may or may not be there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I don’t see anything,” said Virgil. None of them could see anything resembling a tower.\n\n“We could stay nearby tonight and check in the morning,” said Winter. Evan pulled out his phone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I’m going to check on Google Maps and see if there’s anything behind those trees.” He started to scroll around looking for anything.\n\nNell and Winter went inside to get a table while they decided what to do. When they got to the entrance, a waitress was standing off to the side texting on her phone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Excuse me, miss, can we get a table?”\n\nShe said, “Sure, you can sit wherever you want. Slow night.” They sat in a corner booth. A few minutes later the brothers came in and sat next them. Evan was still looking on Google Maps, trying to find any evidence of a tower." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The waitress came back looking for their orders. Instead, Virgil said, “Hey, this is gonna sound weird, but we’re actually here because--” and he filled her in on their weird quest for the tower.\n\nAfter taking it all in she said “I don’t know anything about a tower." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But sometimes there’s a ren fair in those woods. They might erect some kind of old looking structure that could be confused with a tower.” Pausing, she then asked, “Do you guys know what you want?” “Sorry, just give us another minute,” said Virgil.\n\nThe lady walked away and Nell turned to them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Guys, I’m really hungry, we’re in mourning we need to eat and this is super weird. Can we just eat, relieve some memories and go?”\n\n“I found it!” exclaimed Evan, disturbing a couple several tables away. He put his phone in the middle of the table and showed them the spot on Google Maps." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After looking at it Nell said exasperatedly, “That’s not a tower! That’s just an area where there’s no trees. What do they call that? A glade or something?” Evan excitedly explained that he had worked out the math and that glade was where a tower would be if it was visible from the restaurant." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“And I’ve estimated the minimum width, and that matches, too.” Nell looked at him skeptically. But Virgil spoke up “He is an engineer, and a damn good one. He might be right.” “Okay but this tower appears and reappears? Don’t you think the Renaissance fair thing is more likely?” Nell said, tired." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Winter was more on Nell’s side at this point, but even she knew that didn’t match up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Come on, you know no ren faire is erecting something like that.” She nodded, surrendering, “Okay, so can we eat? And then go look for this spot?” “Tonight?” Winter said, surprised.\n\n“Look at their eyes; they’ve got that wanderlust or whatever you call it,” Nell said, pointing at her brothers, who were still pouring over the cell phone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "- A few fish and chip dinners later, the four of them were trudging through the woods behind the restaurant.\n\n“Why can’t we do this tomorrow?” Nell said. “It’s more fun at night,” Evan practically giggled. “Boys are weird,” Nell said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“What’s really weird and a bit sad is they’re both grown men,” Winter practically snarled.\n\n“No one is making you guys come along,” Virgil quipped." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“What’s weirdest about this is I know how happy Grandpa would be if he knew we were doing.” In the darkness, they all smiled, because they knew it was true. The clearing was not that far from the restaurant. But because there was no path, it took them a few hours." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They had to be careful as they moved around the tree to not twist an ankle on a root or rock. But eventually, they found the clearing.\n\nIt certainly looked manmade. The trees formed a suspiciously neat circle. It was about 80 feet in diameter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The moon was shining through some clouds, and it lit up the ground.\n\nThey walked around the perimeter, two on each side looking for anything. “What are we looking for?” Nell asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Anything weird or unusual,” Evan replied.\n\n“LIke a bunch of orphans wandering around the woods at night?” Winter said wryly.\n\nThen Virgil saw something in the center of the glade. It looked like some kind of symbol, but he couldn't quite make it out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Without saying anything to anyone, he quietly walked out to it. It looked like a pentagram had been spray-painted over some freshly dug dirt. “Hey guys, come here. I think I found something.” The other three scurried over and gasped. “Isn’t that a symbol for witchcraft?” Nell said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Sometimes,” Evan replied. The symbol was about 3 feet across and had been made with white paint. “Clearly, someone dug up the ground here to bury something.” “It’s probably an animal sacrifice or maybe a baby!” Nell cried." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Well let’s find out,” Evan said, and he got down on his hands and knees to start digging at the dirt. “Stop that! We need to call the police,” Winter said, but Virgil had already started in as well. “The police? We don’t even know if a crime has been committed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This was buried not that long ago, you can even smell the paint fumes a little bit still.” They both broke up the white pentagram with their hands and quickly found what was buried there. Only a few inches under the soft soil they found a large box wrapped in newspaper." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hurriedly they tore the paper off and found a book. It was large and made from aged leather, no title.\n\n“This is absolutely wild! Open it up,” Winter said, pulling out her phone to illuminate the pages as they began to flip through. It was completely handwritten in cursive." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They found the title several pages in, it was simply called, “The Tower.” A few pages after that, they found this dedication:\n\n“To Winter, Virgil, Nell, and Evan. When my boys died, I wasn’t sure I would be able to love again. But you four opened my heart forever." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn’t have asked for better children. I hope you’re as proud to be my children as I was to be your father.” Winter read it out loud. Nobody else said anything. Each word seemed to last a lifetime." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A few pages later, they found an explanation that the photos had been photoshopped so that they would be led on this treasure hunt. Grandpa’s explanation was simple: “After my sons and daughters-in-law were taken from me, I had a dream of a tower made of darkness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It cast a shadow over me, and that shadow was death. If you’re reading this, it's because I, too, have died, and my agent carried out my last wishes by arranging all this. The shadow of death hangs over you right now, but it won’t always." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Make sure my agent gets this manuscript, I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever written and no one else has seen it yet. Hopefully the sales can help you all in the years to come." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Never forget how much I love you.” They stood there in the moonlight, stuck in the best kind of shock.\n\nNell looked up into the dark night and said what they were all thinking. “I miss you so much.” Tears ran down their cheeks and onto smiles. ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Never Too Late" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rick was 8 years old when we met. He was in my Cub Scout den with my two sons. His parents were the first friends I made when I moved into a home across the street, and they soon became my second family." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His dad was a 'Southern Gentleman' who went into the military and came home with a lovely French woman; a more perfect couple you've never met. Rick’s mom was my idol…so smart. There was nothing she couldn’t do by herself when her husband traveled. But she was a helpless kitten when he was home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hubby, totally unaware of her kind deception, was very protective and doting, as Southern Gentlemen are." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The other thing Military/Southern Gentlemen sometimes seem to be is extremely traditional, old-fashioned, and rigid in their sense of right and wrong regarding acceptable behavior for men and women... an important part of the story. Move forward 13 years. That summer Rick turned 21 as I turned 40." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In those 13 interim years we developed a very nice friendship…and it did not go unnoticed that this now 6'2\" young man had matured into a very attractive, extremely bright “hunk”, with two college degrees and a couple of foreign languages under his belt. One hot afternoon, the phone rang." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was Rick and I told him, without him asking, that my son, Rick’s friend, would be home soon so he should call back. We hung up and about 15 minutes later, the phone rang again. I heard Rick's voice again and told him 'he's not home yet, Rick'. He said 'okay' and hung up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ten minutes passed; the phone rang a third time. When I answered and heard Rick's voice again, I started to laugh and it was then that he said, almost inaudibly, that my son wasn't the one he was calling. \"You're kidding\" I laughed again." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Well, what a goofball! Why didn't you say something when I kept telling you he wasn't home?\" \"I was trying to get my nerve up.\" \"Nerve for what?\" \"I want to tell you...ask you…something, and I'm afraid you won't take me seriously.\" \"Oh stop…of course I will, silly! Tell me.\" What I heard next left me temporarily immobile and speechless." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"...really intense feelings” ... “fantasized since 11” ... \"get together” … “say yes...please...\" Either five seconds or an hour passed, and Rick spoke again... \"You're killing me. Say something.\" To say I was stunned is putting it mildly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And of all the stupid things I could have said, “thank you” was what squeaked out of my mouth! And for the next 30 minutes, I offered a litany of reasons why this crazy idea was not a good idea." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Rick, I am so flattered...but...\"I would be considered a pervert, a child molester! Your parents are my best friends…you should see women your own age." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If your parents or my sons found out, we'd have to leave the country … your father would kill both of us and toss us in the ocean!” And then I admitted my biggest fear of all…that I would let him down... disappoint him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Rick had a reply for every objection, and, at the end of my spiel, he told me there was nothing I could do to change his mind about me...he thought I was sexy, bright, fun, easy to talk to, and if I would grant his wish, it couldn't be anything but wonderful and his life would be complete." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The pressure was intense. I heard a nervous giggle escape from my lips. I was thinking about how his voice suddenly sounded so mature. Could I do this? Should I do this? After much back and forth, I reluctantly agreed to \"think about it\" and would give him an answer by Saturday." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "For three days “it” was all I could think about. By Thursday Rick called back …he wanted to know how the 'thinking' was going. Against my better judgement, I agreed to meet him to just talk . We were going to meet at a nice, quiet, local bar on the beach on Saturday." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was to bring all my objections... he would bring his reasons and his abundant charm. Saying no wasn't going to be easy... It's Saturday. I stepped into the candled piano lounge and surveyed the room. It felt surreal." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'd been here before with men my own age, but this was different, and second thoughts were duking it out with my curiosity and ego. Second thoughts lost the battle, and I walked over to the table where a Rick I barely recognized sat waiting." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I expected to find him in Bermuda shorts, sockless Birkenstocks, with a two-day shadow, and on his third beer. What I found was clean shaven young man, wearing a suit, smelling good, and with only one beer, “for courage” he confessed later." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He jumped up, pulled out my chair, motioned to the waiter, and told me how great I looked, and joked about us leaving right away. I laughed because, even though I showed up, I never intended anything to come of this." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was going to explain again how this was a very bad idea, that I didn't want to ruin his fantasy. I had a 40-year-old body, nothing like the 20-year-olds he dated. Then I would make sure he understood how flattered I was and that, under any other circumstances, I would love to be with him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instead, I sat for over an hour listening as this young man spoke of everything but our getting together. He dazzled me with his real-world savvy and maturity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This guy, who wore underwear on his head at almost every family gathering, startled me with his depth, integrity, and, of all things...morality. I was dumbstruck, thinking I really didn't know him as well as I thought I did, and I found myself wishing the men I had dated had half his smarts." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was a goner. I finally heard words come out of my mouth that I did not intend to say. I explained there were gonna be rules. I would never call him, I would never plan anything, and if he wanted to see me, the details were his to work out." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And there darn well better be total, absolute secrecy forever. No one, and I mean no one , not even his best friend, was to ever know anything about this. Stunned but smiling, he promised." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And later, in the parking lot, he sealed the deal with a very sweet, soft kiss, and I drove away wondering if I was about to make the biggest mistake of my life. A week passed when I received the call. Would I care to join Rick on the following Saturday evening." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He would be house-sitting his brother's home and we would have the lovely place to ourselves. “Oh my God. This is actually going to happen”, I thought, as my bones turned to Jello." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I knew I had agreed to this, but now my sorry ass was going to have to keep the promise my big mouth made!! EEK! Well, too late to bail now. I only had 4 days to prepare, and I headed to the lingerie drawer in my dresser to assess available goods." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hmm… something to live up to his fantasy....no, not the blue nightie, no, not the shorty. AHA! I forgot I had this stuff…a garter belt, fish net stockings, stiletto heels with ruby red jewels on the toes, and a long lacy red thing to cover everything up just enough." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'm not sure about the look I was going for, but whatever it was, I was gonna make damn sure he would never forget it. Saturday arrived. I was bubble-bathed, with hair piled high, perfumed, and in a long black dress worn over my 'surprise'. It was a little awkward at first. We didn't sit close." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We both tried to make small talk for an hour as I drank a glass of champagne. I laughed a lot for no reason. Then Rick began to look serious. He gradually moved closer and leaned over to kiss me, and I suddenly didn't feel like laughing anymore. He had obviously done this before...this kissing thing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was deep and warm and luxuriously unhurried, and it drove me crazy. Earlobes were nibbled and the back of my neck was lightly breathed on and tenderly kissed, and I thought I would die from anticipation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hands roamed…mine too, and I was startled once again, as I realized this really was no little boy anymore. I finally excused myself and went into the bathroom where I slipped the black dress off and replaced it with my lacy red surprise." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I glanced in the mirror, fear struck me again that Rick’s fantasy was going to have expectations ... anticipation of special secret powers, or of special places I would know to touch or kiss. Yes, me. The Virgin Bride turned Mata Hari was going to be expected to teach this man a thing or two." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Well, this was it. Showtime. I took a deep breath and sent up a prayer to my frowning God that I would not disappoint my tender young paramour. Then I bravely slinked back into the bedroom and heard a deep groan of approval that wiped away my nervousness. Well, tender young paramour, my ass." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Color me surprised. From the moment I stepped, backlit, from the doorway, it was clear no instruction was going to be necessary. Rick held out his hand and immediately I felt a sense of tenderness, intense desire, loving firm but gentle strength, and even a little hilarious humor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Rick seemed to possess a familiarity with my body and its needs and timing, and for almost two sweet hours he drew me back and forth from the edge of ecstasy until I could take no more and begged to be put out of blissful misery." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Moments later we lay there connected by toes...talking in whispers...until normal breathing returned. Rick swore I tried to kill him. I thought it was the other way around. But I felt obliged to check his…uh...pulse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I assured him he was very much alive and for the next hour or so we lay there laughing and talking, until finally, reluctantly, I got up to dress. His objections pleased me way too much. The champagne had worn off long ago, but I drove home in a stupor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What was wrong with me!? I was a grown woman with adult children, and I'm driving home at 3:00 in the morning in nothing but stiletto heels and a coat, praying to not get pulled over." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I felt like a giggling teenager, wondering if Rick would call and ask me to the prom, when I knew I was really an evil woman who had done something very naughty, and would probably go straight to H - E - Double Hockey-Sticks for it. Well, that settled it, I thought." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This had been the opening act and encore all at once. Over. Done. Final answer. Dammit…I hope he calls.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Up, Down, All Around" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Grisha’s alchemy shop was bustling with activity, and not just from the various beasts that walked in to buy ingredients or seek aid from the blind hyena shaman and her apprentices: An odd group had currently taken up residence in the backrooms of her shop.\n\nThe most noticeable one - a large reptiloid with dark scales, long horns and piercing yellow eyes - sat upon a cushion too small for his frame." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His arms were folded as he spoke to a female meerkat who was transcribing everything he said to her leatherbound notebook." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“So you and this ‘Ylla’ were at the fields as this battle started, and that’s when you were enslaved by this Margot the Lynx,” the meerkat said trying to recap his story.\n\n“Correct, Amber,” the reptiloid replied. Amber continued to work her quill." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“And Margot is a servant of The Witch Queen of Vulane. Selthia, who effectively owned you and had you compete in the gladiator fights? Is that right, Draknor?”\n\n“Again, correct,” Draknor rumbled his large powerful tail thumping against the floor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“But you busted out during a fight, and made your escape where you eventually met our dear Skreet Snickertooth, rat detective.”\n\nAmber said the last part in a sugary sweet tone of voice, as if to rib the rat investigator, even though he was absent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "From the shadowy corner a ferret clad in leathers smirked at Amber’s tone.\n\n“Yes,” Draknor said, wearily. “And after we deal with our mutual adversary Margot, Skreet will help me find Ylla.” \n\n“I’m sure he will.” Amber replied as she finished jotting down her notes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Then you met Farah over there,” “The amazing Farah,” the ferret corrected. “The best thief in the world.” Amber ignored her and continued her interview." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“And then you met me after recovering your sword from those experiments being conducted upon it.”\n\nDraknor merely grunted in reply.\n\n“Quite the story already, and its still ongoing as we speak!” the meerkat beamed.\n\nDraknor regarded her with his piercing eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“It’s my turn to ask you a question.” Intrigued, the meerkat’s ears shifted forward. “Oh, do go ahead!” “Why do you talk to Snickertooth the way you do? Why do you speak to him the way you do. He is a rat of courage and integrity, and a keen mind.”\n\nFarah couldn’t help but make a snide comment." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Aw, that’s sweet. Look at you Drak, sticking up from ol’ Skreet.”\n\nDraknor snorted in response.\n\n “Well, I wrote a few books about him and a few of his cases. Books that made him famous. He didn’t appreciate them, or me so I rib him from time to time.” “Rib him?” Draknor asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Yes, you know,” Amber said. “Poke him a little. Make sure he’s still alive.” “I don’t understand.” Draknor grunted. “Is this a mammal thing?” Amber ran her quill along her muzzle, trying to think of how best to explain it. Farah broke into the conversation then, “Speaking of Skreet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Is no one going to say it?”\n\n“Say what?” Amber and Draknor both asked.\n\n“We should keep an eye on Skreet. He just left. By himself. After we’ve made a lot of enemies here.” “I shall go,” Draknor rumbled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Farah shook her head, “Nah, you better stay here,big guy.”\n\nDraknor growled.\n\n“She’s got a point,” Amber said, surprisingly siding with the ferret. “You do tend to draw attention to yourself.”\n\nFarah smirked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Tell you what: You stay here, and then if we don’t come back soon you can go after us.”\n\nDraknor stood, his horns scraping the ceiling, “And how would I find you? This city is an ever-shifting maze.” Farah thought about it for a second." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“If you see or hear a phalanx of those silvermasks, follow them - from a distance, of course.” “Why?” Draknor asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Well, the way I figure it is that they follow paths around the city that they know because they’re...” Farah gesticulated, as if conjuring the correct word out of the air.\n\n“...They’re conditioned to,” Amber the wordsmith added. Farah acknowledged the help." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“And eventually you’ll run into the House of the Moon, where we’ll try to rendezvous." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Or, eventually, you’ll make a tour of the city and find us...” \n\nFarah spoke then: “...or the people who kidnapped us.” “That doesn’t seem efficient at all,” Draknor grumbled. \n\n“It’s what we thieves use to navigate the city... although figuring out which platoon is which is quite the task." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But it’s the best we’ve got. Besides, we'll be back soon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At least I probably will,” Farah said, giving Amber a side-eye glance.\n\n“What’s that supposed to mean?” Amber asked.\n\n“Honey, you’ve got damsel in need of rescue written all over you.”\n\n“I resent that, you tart!” Amber hissed.\n\nDraknor thumped his sword against the floor, “Stop arguing and trail Skreet already! He’s probably long gone by now! GO!”\n\nThe two hurried out of Grisha’s alchemy shop and into the fine rain of the ever-rainy city." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The two quickly merged into the evening crowd of middle and upper class creatures and their families touring the marketplace before seeing Skreet. He had gone a ways down the street, but thankfully he hadn’t gone too far. Neither Farah nor Amber drew too close, they didn’t call out to him either." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Best he didn’t know he was being followed.\n\n“I wonder how long it will take him to figure out we’re tailing him?” Farah asked.\n\n“Good question, he’s an experienced investigator,” Amber added.\n\nJust then something unexpected happened: a beautiful white mink was suddenly at Skreet’s side.\n\n“Who’s that?” Amber asked.\n\n“I don’t know, but I’m envious of her dress,” Farah replied.\n\nThe two eavesdropped on the conversation, wondering just who this mink was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Friend or foe? \n\n“Rask? Rask, is that you? Oh, Rask! How wonderful to see you again!”\n\n‘Rask’? Skreet replied before he seemed to run with the name. \n\n“Spinrave isn’t it? Well, fancy meeting you here.”\n\nSpinrave smiled as she took his arm, “Fancy indeed. You’ve been making quite a name for yourself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was hoping we would meet again. Come with me.”\n\n“A ‘name for myself’?” “Yes, you and your little... and large... friends. Some very... interesting creatures wish to speak to you, but I think it best if you come out of the rain..." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If you trust me, that is.” To Amber’s dismay she saw Skreet walking with Spinrave.\n\n“What’s he doing? Why is he going with her?” Amber questioned.\n\nFarah’s tail twitched, “She’s charming him, I can smell those intoxicating fumes from here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Smell that? That oh-too-sweet perfume smell?”\n\n“We should save him,” Amber said.\n\n“Or we can follow and see where she takes him. Come on. How’s that investigative instinct?”\n\nAmber scowled, “Fine you’ve got a point. It would make for a better story anyway." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I think I’ll call it something like, ‘Seduced in the Rain.’” “Might want to workshop that title, sounds more like those romance novels… Which I definitely don’t read, or keep under my pillow.” Amber twitched an ear at that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Skreet and ‘Spinrave’ walked directly into one of the thousands of taverns in the damp, dark city and into an interior that was even darker." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Farah and Amber made their way through the throngs of creatures who were making their way to the Entertainment District and all of Selthia’s delights and dipped into the tavern. It was multiple stories, so perhaps they had rooms for the weary traveler. The inside was raucous." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sea rats and weasels just off from working in the Docks district - which had a curfew - smoked pipes and drank ale while cats and various vermin massaged aching muscles - for a price." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They got in just in time to see Skreet’s and the mink’s tails walking up the red-carpeted staircase to the upper levels. “Let’s go.” Farah nodded to Amber. They didn’t make it too far up the stairs till they paused." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A large, female panther from the Southern continent, her burly arms crossed as she watched for any but paying customers from entering the second and third floors.\n\n“Well that complicates things,” Amber muttered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Maybe we can bribe her?”\n\n“Don’t worry I’ve got a plan in my devious mind.” Farah said, rubbing her paws together.\n\nSkreet found himself smiling like an idiot as Spinrave continued to talk to him, her voice like a melody as she led him through the plush third floor of the inn-tavern." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Part of the rat’s mind was still rational, though, wondering why he was going along with her so much... but the other part seemed to have hijacked his muscles and speech. Spinrave had long solved the mystery of her friend - through wanted posters, rumors, and Margot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was not ‘Rask,’ he was Skreet Snickertooth, and he and his friends were moving through Vulane like a whirlwind. It was no longer amusing. “Corrupt him,” Selthia had said in her office, enchanted with the false night sky on her ceiling." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“And if you really like him, keep him as a pet.” Spinrave was fine with that arrangement. She served Margot, and by extension Selthia. If her mistress ordered it, it was as good as done. He would make a wonderful pet. “I ordered some wine for the room,” Spinrave said softly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Oh, that sounds wonderful,” Skreet muttered.\n\n“You can drink, and drink, and never have a hangover." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We shall enjoy the time we have together… for a long time to come, my handsome rat,” Spinrave said, smiling shyly and holding his paw as she unlocked a large wooden door.\n\nBut as they prepared to step through a voice called out to Spinrave as a female cat ran with a note in her paw." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Spinrave! Spinrave… you’ve been called out.”\n\nSpinrave flattened her ears, “I don’t have time for that right now. Tell this challenger to tottle off.”\n\nThe cat shook her head. “You know the ancient rites of the Entertainers’ Guild - This is a public challenge." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With all the right words.”\n\nSpinrave dragged a paw across her muzzle, “Ugh, fine. My dear Rask, I must attend to... some upstart downstairs. Have some wine and wait for my return." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then the fun will really begin.” she winked flirtatiously.\n\nShe practically shoved Skreet through the door before locking it and marching downstairs, the dress she wore would serve its purpose for a dance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Might even get her blood pumping for some more fun later.\n\nIn the well-appointed room Skreet shook his head, his mind still slightly addled as he sat on the plush bed noticing the glass of wine on the nightstand. His mouth watered: something about that glass was very inviting." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As if it were singing a song for his ears alone.\n\nDownstairs in the common room around the stage the crowd was already worked up in a frenzy, they let out an uproar as Spinrave made her appearance.\n\n“Who challenges me?” She demanded.\n\n“I do sweetie,” Farah stood on the stage arms folded across her chest.\n\nThe room of half-drunk, licentious laborers nearly exploded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Damn I love this town,” a searat could be heard saying. “I love and hate it,” someone else retorted. She had had time since issuing the challenge to change into one of the many performer costumes, and had opted for a belly dancer ensemble." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A shimmering skirt that showed a fair bit of leg, and a sparkly croptop." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bracelets adorned her arms, and anklets on her feet.\n\n“Cute outfit.” Spinrave said coldly as she tossed her coat aside revealing her short dress.\n\n“Musicians!”\n\nSpinrave ordered.\n\nMeanwhile Skreet was just about to raise the glass to his muzzle when the door suddenly flew open." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A familiar meerkat covered in scratches stumbled in, her fur disheveled as she carried Farah’s prized lockpicking set.\n\n“Oh, no! Not you,” Skreet muttered as Amber crossed to him and shook him by the shoulders causing the glass to fall and shatter upon the floor.\n\n“Snap out of it fool!” Amber cried out, but the dopey expression would not leave the rat’s face.\n\n“I’m waiting for her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The enchanting Spinrave.”\n\nAmber scowled. “Fine, you leave me no choice.” \n\nGrabbing a candle nearby, the meerkat jammed the lit wick into his arm eliciting a cry of pain. The smell of burned hair filled the room.\n\n“Gaaaah!” Skreet stood up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Amber, what in the hells?”\n\n“Got control of your faculties yet?” the meerkat asked.\n\nSkreet blinked. “Yeah... oh, Gods. I let myself end up here?”\n\nHe could remember everything, as though he’d awoken from a pleasant dream." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Part of him - a quiet, less hard-boiled part - wanted to stay in that dream.\n\n“Let’s get out of here, rat!” Amber declared.\n\nSkreet nodded as his paws went to his pair of fighting sticks under his coat. “Yeah.”\n\nBack in the common area two musilide ladies were having a fierce duel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not with swords or fists, but in dance. Farah shimmied her hips, arms above her head as the crowd roared, Spinrave in response was performing an impressive set of spins - her specialty. “Not bad sweetie,” Farah commented. “Not good enough to win.”\n\nSpinrave smiled sweetly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Worry about yourself, thief.”\n\nThe mink bowed low, her rear towards the crowd. Another explosion of claps and whistles. Farah was unperturbed, or at least made it seem so, for deep down she was alarmed. She had been recognized? But she was so cautious." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She was too good! How did someone recognize her? She wasn’t going to let Spinrave know she got to her. “Oh, and what do thieves do, besides be good dancers?” Farah asked as she leaned backwards towards the crowd in a display of flexibility, her abs were still rolling as she did so. “Steal things." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Like your fans. Your stuff. …Your date.” \n\nSpinrave clenched her muzzle shut, her focus off. “Oh, you clever… this is a distraction.”\n\nHer rhythm stopped and the crowd booed.\n\n“It’s too late by now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Might as well share.” Farah grinned.\n\n“Well done! Well danced.” Spinrave shouted as she gave Farah a forced hug, her muzzle inches from Farah’s ear. “Mistress Selthia, and Mistress Margot, asked me to corrupt your rat friend’s mind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Your group has drawn the ire of some important people.” “You work for Margot. Tell me where to find her. She won’t be happy you failed.” Farah hissed. Spinrave drew Farah closer. “Losing one of Selthia’s prized treasures put her on the outs. It’s a race for your large, reptiloid friend." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Margot’s in the Fogs, sending agents across the city.” The two broke the embrace giving each other an almost genuine bow, before they parted ways, the crowd still cheering.\n\nFarah caught Amber and Skreet descending the staircase. There was much to be done. ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Memory Box" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I learned 4 years ago there is no safe way to open a Memory Box holding gems accumulated from the years age 5 to 18. You know the kind of box I mean. A sturdy repository where report cards, class photos, and participation ribbons for sporting events were deposited with the hope that, someday, going through the items would bring about warm and fuzzy memories of summer softball games and winter singing contests. In my case, it was a clear, non-descript plastic tote with a green lid that had not been tended to in nearly 10 years. The artifacts within had remained happily undisturbed until one moment in the middle of April 2020, when, in a desperate fit of boredom and nostalgia, I slid open the stubborn, creaking closet door, and removed the dust-covered box carefully from the top shelf of my office closet. You know the kind of shelf I mean. The obscure shelf in the obscure room responsible for holding seasonal door wreaths, a Christmas decoration gifted to you by your brother-in-law, and Memory Boxes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I settled onto the unforgiving floor of my home office, laying the Memory Box in front of me with uncomplicated anticipation. The green lid separated from the clear tote with a satisfying and pleasant click. Immediately visible were baseball cards deemed important and valuable enough at one time to wrap in plastic. Early retirement planning perhaps? Under that were the fabric letters for the letter jacket I stubbornly refused to purchase. How had I forgotten the season spent playing the Glockenspiel in marching band? Under the starched, untouched awards lay my old baby blanket, thread-bare but still smelling faintly of the love sewn into it over 35 years ago. After taking in the scent and feel of my frayed, dear friend, I set it gingerly to the side. And there it was.\n\n The photo. Summer camp 1992. A cacophony of kids lumped around each other in pure, unrestrained joy. Maybe 10 kids total." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All in brightly colored shirts and shorts. A bundle of seemingly random neon patterns and geometric shapes. You know the kind. It was the early 90s. Most of the kids exhibited bunny ears above their heads, placed in carefree jest by their nearest friend. All of us were in some state of uncontrolled laughter or silly pose, able to contort our bodies this way and that as pre-teens can do without a thought to the back and knee problems that lie ahead in an impossible future. We were standing in front of a maroon passenger van. You know the kind. The late 80s model family van with three rows of overstuffed cloth seats and a suspension so soft, the occasional stop to relieve bouts of motion sickness was inevitable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A wave of familiar nausea washed over me. It was the distinct form of nausea that comes only after consuming a small mountain of M&Ms in such a passenger van warmed to overheating by sweltering summer afternoon sunlight. Over the nausea lay the recognition of long-lost faces with long-lost names. Some of the names were recovered after a few moments spent carefully considering the eager, carefree faces in the photo. Some of the names leapt immediately to mind along with other memories of Church Youth Group drama skits and Church Basement sleepovers. All of the memories were fond and followed almost immediately by the striking recognition that this photo was taken in the Before Times. The Before Times that were comfortably enjoyed before my own Quiet Voice started telling me something was off with the seemingly idyllic lives we were leading in this beloved community. The Before Times preceded the chaotic whir of adolescent confusion, frontal lobe development, and deep depression that took hold and didn’t let go for some tortured and endless time. Before and After." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A swell of sadness formed in my chest, finally solidifying itself into bone-shaking sobs. The only sound I could emit was inhuman and unrecognizable. The grief was so suddenly oppressive that I could not let out my tears until the guttural sounds had ceased. When I was finally able to weep, I wept for those kids in the photo who were let down by the adults in their lives, who may have also had the same gut feelings that not all was well but chose to ignore them anyway. I wept for the kids in the photo who, along with their families, would be bitterly exiled, through no fault of their own, from our beloved community in the wake of the unpleasantness to come. I wept for the kids in the photo who remained for too long in the beloved community as it splintered and broke into something unrecognizable. As they, too, broke and splintered into something unrecognizable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Long after the initial outpouring of lament subsided, I continued to study the photo, sending a wordless prayer into the unknown for each of the faces looking back up at me. Then, I tore the photo into several small pieces and lovingly placed the pieces into the paper bin next to my desk. I retrieved the dusty green lid, placed it over the clear container, then securely snapped the lid back in place. After unpeeling my aching legs off the floor, I stood up unsteadily. I picked up the Memory Box, now heavy with the past, and placed it back on the very top shelf of my often-forgotten office closet. In the very back corner. Securely behind the seasonal wreaths I begrudgingly placed on my front door when I felt like it and the Christmas decoration from the brother-in-law I will never understand. I then gripped the closet door handle and slid it closed.\n\nOnly then, after carefully stowing the Memory Box, did it occur to me that I had not bothered to clear the dust off the green lid. My handprints and the brilliant memory of uncovering the photo would be etched in the thick layer of dust covering the box, waiting to greet me the next time I felt the urge to reminisce. I hovered near the door for a breath considering the work required to clean the box." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I steeled myself and messaged my therapist.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Runner" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Runner\n\nJessica drapes the new scarf around her mother's shoulders and notices the slight twitches at her mouth corners suggesting a smile. The only time her mother's eyes light up nowadays is when she sees the porter, Charles, who often stops by her for a friendly chat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He also doesn't seem to mind that she calls him Steven.\n\nA car accident, just over a year ago, left her mom with seemingly permanent memory loss and claimed her father's life. Jessica's weekly visits to the care facility often serve as a reminder of how little she knows about Victoria Harvey." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With a gentle shake of her head, she tries to free herself from the pangs of guilt for not trying harder to get to know her while the opportunity was still there.\n\nVictoria was not a bad mother. As an only child, Jessé was always well taken care of." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She never lacked anything and she was not mistreated. According to modern-day parenting standards, one might say she was emotionally neglected.\n\nVictoria was never a talker or an exhibitor of emotions." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jessé often thought of her mom as the keeper of family logistics; the person who ensured that everything was in place and operated smoothly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In addition to organising family life, Victoria also worked as a part-time bookkeeper for a small firm.\n\nJessica bends forward to plant a kiss on her mom's cheek as she gets ready to leave." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She takes one last look at the woman who always had it all together, but whom she never really got to know.\n\nHome is a modern and spacious city bowl apartment. Inside awaits boxes to be packed for their emigration.\n\nHer fiance, Neil, got a once-in-a-lifetime engineering job in New Zealand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They will be joining some of their friends there in less than two weeks. Neil greets her with a takeout dinner as she enters. They ate quickly, as their minds were eager to return to unfinished tasks: Neil had some emigration paperwork and Jessé resumed her photo editing for a client." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Against all odds, she did pursue a creative career, despite her mom's efforts to talk her into a BCom degree course.\n\nJessé was hesitant to leave her mom behind, but Neil felt strongly that his opportunity was too big to negotiate.\n\nBesides, Jessé can practice photography anywhere in the world and they can visit her mother annually." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He spoke about getting married at a Prestigious Hotel not far from where he will be working.\n\nIt felt strange to see him so passionate and excited. Not many things could excite him, as he was usually rather reserved. A good guy. Steady. Level headed. Marriage material as they would say." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But to be honest, she's been feeling detached and bored lately. She is twenty-four." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Is she ready for this level of boredom and commitment?\n\nGoing to New Zealand to say \"I do\" amongst white satin, diamantés and roses? Does he know she would prefer cotton, eucalyptus twigs and a bonfire? He never really asked either.\n\nShe plonked on the floor in her small study." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tonight the creativity doesn't want to flow. She is not doing her best work.\n\nThe coffee Neil brought her earlier tastes lukewarm. The thought of how it resembles her current perception of their relationship made her choke. \"You ok?\" a worried Neil asks from the living room. Reliable Neil." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Always have her back.\n\nHer eyes fall on a box containing some unsorted items belonging to her mom.\n\nShe starts unpacking." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Two handbags, sandals, a hat, recipe books, more books, office stationery, a few small picture frames with family photos including one of her dad, greeting cards and an aged envelope addressed to \"Victoria\" in fancy bold curly letters.\n\nInside she finds a photograph taken of a painting against a wall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The painting depicts a person in mid-stride, running away from the viewer. The person is visible through a window, which dominates the foreground of the piece.\n\nJessica feels as if she is a secondary viewer to a very significant event." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The work evokes poignant feelings of abandonment, sorrow, bereavement and evasiveness.\n\nIn the corner the painting is signed, T. Ori. The postal stamp dates back to March 1995." }, { "from": "human", "value": "On the back of the photograph, in the same flamboyant handwriting, there is an intimate greeting, \"Love always, Steven.\" Her parents were married already in 1995, although she only arrived five years later." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The painting in the photograph is dominating Jessé's mind the entire night.\n\nTomorrow she needs to find some answers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Who is this Steven? A name so significant it is more retrievable from Victoria's deficient memory than the name of her daughter.\n\nWith Neil off to the office early the next morning to help wrap up some last-minute tasks at his current workplace, Jessie can start her search." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is no surprise that an internet search does not produce anything about a Steven or a T." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ori artist, considering it most likely involves small-town people during a time of limited internet exposure.\n\nWithin moments her mind was made up and she packed an overnight bag while declining a call from her client.\n\nA phone call she couldn't elude was to inform Neil about her seemingly erratic decision.\n\nShe waited until she left the city and was well away on the open road." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Neil seldom got upset. Today he did. In the four years they have been together he never shouted at her. She can't blame him. Less than two weeks before they leave the country she randomly gets in her car without even saying goodbye, leaving him behind with all the arrangements." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her inadequate attempt to explain leads to the inevitable question of whether she is even serious enough about their relationship to go with him. She thought she was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Is this obsession about finding answers relating to her mother's past her subconscious trying to interfere? She decided against that theory." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A single day is all she is prepared to dedicate to this mission, then she will be back with Neil to assist him.\n\nThe open road feels good as she makes space for nostalgia and childhood memories along the way.\n\nThe town is very much unchanged since her last visit three years ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her initial plan is to enquire at the local media centre, which has been home to the local newspaper since the seventies. Perhaps Steven or T. Ori was sufficiently newsworthy for a small town.\n\nThe young girl at the media centre seems willing to help." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Apparently, it is quite a frequent occurrence for those delving into the past to visit them.\n\nThe search was fruitful. No articles about an artist by the name of Steven were found, but there were three front-page articles during 1995 about a scandalous art dealer by that name." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Steven Sinclair, under the camouflage of a low-key small-town art dealer, had a more brilliant main interest: illegal diamond trading.\n\nHalfway through the article, a name very familiar to her jumped at her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"John Harvey, local art curator and gallery owner, laid charges of theft against Steven Sinclair for disappearing with a painting titled \"The Runner\" by the award-winning artist known as Tori, also the wife of John Harvey.\n\nCould this be a misprint? Her father the art curator. Her mother the artist." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not T.Ori, but Tori, which is short for Victoria. Who are these people she was raised by? As far as she remembers, her father was a science teacher with a love for woodwork.\n\nHis project collection did include some impressive carve work. Jesse's head is spinning." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She can faintly hear the assistant offering her some water. She hoped she declined politely as she found herself already outside halfway to her car." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If there was a criminal charge, she needs a cop friend now more than ever.\n\nA feeling of hopelessness washes over her as she approaches the middle-aged guy who seems irritated by her request." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Despite his reluctance, he manages a polite \"evening mam.\"\n\nFor the first time, she thinks about the time and realises it is past six in the evening. She still needs to book in at the local hotel.\n\nThe officer must be at the end of his shift." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How on earth is she going to get any help from him? \"Mam, I mean no disrespect, but if you are not in danger, or have no criminal activities to report, I would prefer to wrap up my shift and get home.\"\n\nHer despondence is short-lived as a friendly voice fills the room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Jessica Harvey? Is that you?\" Jessé looks up at the fresh-faced, rather attractive-looking man in uniform. Before she could place him, Officer Grumpy introduced him as Sargeant Zimmerman, the man taking over the next shift." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Suddenly Officer Grumpy produced a smile which made his eyes disappear in his cheeks as he cheerfully announced his departure.\n\nJessé remembers Harold Zimmerman. Harry. They went to school together." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were never close friends, but in a small town school, everyone is kind of friends at some point.\n\nThe typical exchange of a quick catch-up happens between them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Harry is still in town, joined the cops, got dumped by his girlfriend recently, but enjoys the company of his Doberman.\n\nJessé tells him about her search for answers." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"It is your lucky night, as it is very quiet in town and I can do with an assignment to help me pass the time.\" He invites her through to a back office." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'll get us some coffee,\" he says with the same enthusiasm she remembers him for from school days.\n\nHis pen scribbles quickly in his notebook as he documents her story. His usually jovial face is now a landscape of focus and concentration.\n\nIt takes a couple of phone calls to get information." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jessé is on her third cup of coffee when he finally declares there are some insights.\n\nThere was indeed a theft charge made by John Harvey against Steven Sinclair for theft of the painting titled \" The Runner\" by Victoria, however, the case was withdrawn and marked closed shortly after." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Harry's voice became even more serious as he dropped the news that Victoria Harvey was a police informant of intel in the alleged illegal diamond trade investigation against Steven.\n\nUnfortunately, those files are not accessible." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It does seem however as if the painting titled \"The Runner\" got away and disappeared with Steven.\n\nJesse remembers Harry as a bit of a joker. Her disbelief led her to the conclusion that he is seriously messing with her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She scrutinises his face for a glimpse of teasing, but is met with deadpan seriousness.\n\nFor the second time today, Jesse feels faint. Her shock must be rather evident as Harry suggests he drives her to the hotel.\n\nNothing at the hotel has changed. The accommodation is basic but neat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It does seem as if the decor got stuck in the eighties. Jesse checks her phone. Two missed calls from Neil. Poor Neil. He doesn't deserve this. She just doesn't have the emotional capacity to try and explain everything now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Before she thinks it through properly, she hears herself asking Harry to have a drink with her.\n\nBeing alone with all this new information is not an appealing prospect. He looks a bit puzzled as he stands in her hotel room doorway. Jessé laughed embarrassed, \"No, not here. The bar is open." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I'm engaged, as you know.\" Harry looks more at ease. \"I'll have coffee, on duty, you know.\" \n\nDuring the two hours that follow the two try to make sense of Victoria's story. Harry creatively contributes over caffeine while Jessé sips whiskey on the rocks.\n\nThere is laughter and some tears." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She never painted again, you know,\" Jessé spoke softly into her glass.\n\nWhen the time came for Harry to go, Jesse was sad and drunk enough to place a kiss on his lips. A part of her wishes she was not engaged and free from knowing what she does now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "-------‐------------------------------------- As she walked down the familiar corridor of the care centre everything felt different. The lens of knowledge gives a different perspective indeed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This time she is carrying a canvas, paints and brushes to her mother's room.\n\nVictoria's eyes light up similar to when she sees Charles. She gently starts touching and inspecting the brushes Jessé places in front of her.\n\nVictoria speaks while painting the canvas, \"Steven came today." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He came to say goodbye. I once hung a painting in his gallery to warn him. To tell him to run. There was no time to greet then.\"\n\nAfter a while, she puts her brush down and cups Jessé's face with both hands. \"I have a beautiful daughter. She lives in New Zealand, you know." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Please give this to her when you see her.\" Victoria passes the little canvas with a simple painting of a camera to Jessé. \"Oh, and please tell her she must never stop what she is doing.\"\n\nAt the apartment, Jessé waited for Neil with supper and wine. He looked tense and unsure of what to expect." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Am I still invited to join you in New Zealand?\" Jessé asked. \"Only if you really want to\", Neil replied." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Only if we can get married in a forest,\" Jessé adds.\n\nNeil laughs and picks her up in his arms, “Do you want a drumming ceremony as well?\" That makes Jessé squeal with laughter, \"You DO know!\" Neil shook his head, \"No, I don't, but if you stop running, I promise to learn.\"." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "ONE THOUSAND MILE JOURNEY" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Today was a hard day for my family. Today we buried my grandfather or pops as he liked to be called. Pops was the best guy. Pops and nana were married for many decades. They were so much in love. Pops was more than just my grandfather. He was my confidant." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Pops was there for me more than my own father ever was. I talked to pops about everything. I loved him so much. Now I'm left with a big hole in my heart. I can't stay with my family any longer. It's painful knowing pops is not here. If there was a time when I need pops the most it would be today." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'm at pops favorite place, turtle pond. Pops took me here every day since I was a child. I never missed a day. Now coming here won't ever be the same. I sit on pops favorite bench. I look up into the sky and begin to cry. I miss you pops. You were everything to me. I don't now what to do now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I sit on the bench for a long time thinking about the good days me and pops had together. It's been five days since pops funeral. I haven't seen nana since the funeral. It's been too painful to go but now it's time. I love nana and I don't want her to think I don't love her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I made it to nana's house. I take three deep breaths in and out. Okay here I go. I walk-up the steps and knock on the door. I hear nana's voice. I walk-in. The house is still the same. Pops couch is still in the same place in the living room." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I remember pops sitting on the couch me next to him watching tv or pops telling me crazy stories. I walk around the living room looking at the many pictures of pops and nana. Pops and nana were a very cute couple. I come upon one picture of pops and nana. I pick up the picture." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This picture looks like pops and nana were just teenagers. Then I notice upon closer examination a crease. I'm curious as what is on the other side of the picture. I take the picture with me and go sit on the couch. I open the picture frame and take out the picture. I unfold it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There is pops and nana. Who are these people next to them? I turn the photo over and look at the date, 1942. Pops from what I can tell is wearing a Marine uniform. I know pops was in the Marines. The thing is pops never talked about his time in the Marines. He was calmed up anytime we mentioned it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nana always agreed with pops. The past should be left in the past. I kept staring at the picture wondering who these people are. How come pops and nana had the picture folded? Pops and nana look happy in the picture. I'm so lost in the picture I don't hear nana calling me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Sky.\" I look up and see nana looking at me. I ask nana about the picture. She hesitates but then she sees my pleading eyes. Nana tells me the two people in the picture are their best friends Arthur and Carolyn Palmer. Nana takes the picture from me and begins to cry. I hug her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nana keeps staring at the picture. She doesn't say anymore. She hands me back the picture and leaves. I'm left with more questions. I don't press nana anymore. I don't want to hurt her. I get up from the couch and take the picture with me. I go hug nana goodbye. I look at the picture closely." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In the back ground I see planes and the ocean. Where was this picture taken? I turn the picture around and look closely at the back. There are some faded words. I can read one of the words, Philippines. Pops was in the Philippine in 1942. So was nana. Was pops a POW? I run home and some research." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Oh MY God! I look up pops and Arthur's name and there to my surprise are the names of the POW's who were rescued. Pops name is there but not Arthur's. New Castle, one thousand miles from my home is a memorial honoring the POW's from World War 2. I have to go. I pack my belongings and leave my home." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I get into my car and begin the drive to New Castle. I'm still wrapping my head around pops, the sweetest most caring man being a POW. I wonder what happened to nana after this picture was taken. Asking her to relive those memories is too hard. I don't want to add any more pressure on her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have to find out myself. I stop at the gas station for gas and a snack. I got everything I need now I'm off to New Castle. This is the first time in a long time I'm leaving home by myself. I'm on a journey for the truth. I love pops and nana but I want to know more. The open road feels so good." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I always remembering telling pops one day I'm going to explore the world. Pops would always tell me to go where the wind takes you. Pops always loved that I was a free spirit. He encouraged me to do what my heart desires. I listen to the play list I made with pops. He loved music and dancing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I sing-a-long to many of my favorite songs. I can't decide which one I like. Three hours on the road, my stomach is growling for food. I stop at a road side diner and grab some food to go. I get my food and go back to my car. I begin to eat my food thinking about the picture." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wonder what happened to Arthur and Carolyn Palmer. Why was this picture hidden? Are they dead or alive? I finish eating and continue on my journey to New Castle. I get back on the road. I never knew how beautiful the U.S. really is. I've been stuck in Maple Grove for way too long." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Many hours later at 11pm, I arrive in New Castle. I find a hotel and rent a room. I go to my room to relax. Tomorrow is a new day. I open the door, walk-in, put my bags on the floor and lay on the bed. I close my eyes and fall asleep." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wake-up the next morning take a shower, get dress and go eat breakfast. This was the best breakfast I ever had. I pay the bill and leave. I begin walking through New Castle. New Castle is beautiful. These little stores are amazing. I found the people to be really friendly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have a map of New Castle. I look for the memorial. There it is. I walk to the memorial. The World War 2 memorial is huge. I walk-up to the memorial. I look at all the names one by one. There is pops name Charles Shea. Now I'm looking for Arthur Palmer's name." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One side of the memorial is for the POW's who survived. Arthur Palmer's name is not on the survivors list. The other side is the list of the POW's who didn't make it. I look down the list of names one by one and I find Arthur Palmer's name. Pops best friend didn't make it. I'm so sorry pops." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tears begin to come down my face. I take a photo copy picture of pops and nana, Arthur and Carolyn and place it on the memorial. \"Charles, Mary.\" I hear someone say. I turn around to see a woman staring at the picture. I ask her \"You know them?\" She nods. I tell her \"I'm Sky Collins." }, { "from": "human", "value": "These are my grandparents.\" The woman looks at me and tells me her name is Carolyn Palmer. The same Carolyn Palmer from the picture. I ask Carolyn about the picture. She tells me the picture was taking in the Philippines. The last day they saw their husbands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Carolyn also tells me that she always regretted cutting ties with pops and nana. I couldn't say what I wanted to say to Carolyn. She just walked away from me. I tried to call her back but she didn't listen to me. I look up at the sky and say to pops." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I went on this journey for you to find the truth about why you never told us about your time in the Marines and in the end you and nana were right, the past should be left in the past. I also discovered something about me that there is more to life than Maple Grove." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You helped me and so did this picture. Thank you pops.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "ECHOES OF NIKUMARORO" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "August 10, 1937. Island of Nikumaroro, Phoenix Islands, Republic of Kiribati In the heart of the Pacific, where the horizon meets the endless expanse of blue, lies the enigmatic island of Nikumaroro." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The salty breeze whispered tales of lost souls and forgotten dreams, and the rustling palm fronds sang a song of mysteries long buried beneath the sands. Amelia stood at the lagoon's edge, her aviator jacket worn and frayed, the leather soft from countless hours in the cockpit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The setting sun cast an amber glow on the water, turning it into a shimmering mirror of gold. She closed her eyes, feeling the warm breeze on her face, her mind drifting back to the fateful day she and Fred Noonan, her navigator, had crash-landed on this forsaken island." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Their Lockheed Electra had sputtered and faltered, the engines coughing their final breaths before they were forced down. The impact had been brutal, but they had survived." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Amelia's hands were still calloused from wrestling the plane to a stop, the acrid smell of burning fuel forever etched in her memory. The days turned into weeks. The harsh reality of their situation settled in with a suffocating weight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were marooned, cut off from the world, with only each other and their wits to survive. The island, though beautiful in its isolation, was a harsh lover. Fresh water was scarce, and the oppressive heat bore down on them relentlessly. Amelia's spirit, however, was indomitable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She scavenged the wreckage of the Electra, fashioning tools and gathering supplies. With his expert navigation skills, Fred charted the stars each night, hoping that rescue would come. But as the days passed, hope waned, replaced by a steely determination to endure." }, { "from": "human", "value": "One evening, while exploring a cave hidden behind a curtain of vines, Amelia discovered something extraordinary. The air inside was cool and damp, starkly contrasting to the sweltering heat outside. As she ventured deeper, her torchlight revealed a small, rusted metal box buried under rocks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She knelt, her fingers trembling as she pried it open. Inside, she found documents, yellowed with age but still legible. They were maps, charts, and coded messages—remnants of a secret military operation from years past. Amelia's heart raced as she realized the significance of her find." }, { "from": "human", "value": "These documents were evidence of covert operations, a web of secrets that could alter the course of history. Amelia meticulously documented their ordeal in a journal as the months turned into years." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Each entry felt like a conversation with the world she had left behind, her handwriting growing steadier with each page. Amelia wrote about their daily struggles, their hopes and fears, and the secrets they had uncovered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She described the beauty of the island, its flora and fauna, and the relentless passage of time. One night, a violent storm swept over the island, the wind howling like a banshee and the rain lashing against the palm trees." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Amelia and Fred huddled in their makeshift shelter, the storm's roar drowning out their voices. When the tempest finally passed, the island was transformed, the landscape altered by nature's ferocity. In the aftermath, they discovered a hidden bunker, its entrance revealed by the storm's fury." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Inside, the air was stale and suffocating, the darkness impenetrable. Amelia's torch illuminated walls lined with crates and equipment, remnants of a bygone era. She found a radio among the debris, its components intact but damaged by time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Amelia and Fred repaired the radio with painstaking effort, their hands steady despite the weight of their desperation. They scoured the island for parts, using their ingenuity to fashion replacements when necessary. Finally, a faint signal crackled to life, a lifeline to the outside world." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They broadcast their position, their voices trembling with the hope that someone, somewhere, would hear them. Months turned into years, and their calls for help went unanswered. The island, once a prison, became their home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Amelia and Fred adapted to their new reality, their bond growing stronger daily. They carved out a life amid isolation, their spirits unbroken by the relentless march of time. Their journey was physical and emotional, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Amelia's journal, filled with sketches and notes, became a testament to their resilience. She wrote of the island's secrets, the evidence of covert operations, and the harsh beauty of their surroundings. Her final entries spoke of peace, a quiet acceptance of their fate. November 4., 1983." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "San Francisco Decades later, Ethan Clark, a man who had lost everything, stumbled upon a forgotten photograph tucked away in an old library's archives. The musty scent of aged paper filled his nostrils as he carefully pulled the picture from its hiding place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The yellowed and fragile photograph depicted Amelia Earhart standing before a cave with a strange, haunting light behind her. On the back, a note scrawled in faded ink read: \"Find the key to the past, and you will unlock the future.\" Ethan's heart raced." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"What have I found?\" he whispered, his voice echoing in the silent library. This forgotten photograph was a catalyst for an unexpected journey. Driven by a newfound purpose, he felt a spark ignite within him, something he had not felt in years." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I have to know more,\" he muttered, the determination in his voice clear as he traced the faded ink with his finger.  Ethan’s life had been a tapestry of dreams and devastation. Once a promising archaeologist, he had dedicated his life to uncovering the mysteries of ancient civilizations." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His passion for history and the thrill of discovery had driven him to remote corners of the world. But his relentless pursuit of knowledge came at a great personal cost. Years earlier, while on an expedition in the Middle East, Ethan's team uncovered a site of immense historical significance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The discovery promised to redefine historical understanding, but it also attracted the attention of dangerous elements. One fateful night, insurgents attacked the camp, leaving destruction in their wake. Ethan survived, but his closest colleagues and friends did not." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The traumatic experience left him scarred, both physically and emotionally. Following the tragedy, Ethan struggled to find purpose. He returned home to a life that felt alien, his passion for archaeology overshadowed by guilt and grief." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His marriage crumbled under the weight of his emotional turmoil, and his once-thriving career fell into ruins. Ethan turned to alcohol, seeking solace at the bottom of a bottle, but found only deeper despair. His descent into darkness culminated in the loss of his home and savings." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Disgraced and destitute, he wandered aimlessly, a shadow of the man he once was. During one of these aimless wanderings, he found himself in the dusty corners of an old library, where he often sought refuge from the harsh reality of his existence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The photograph he discovered that day was a relic from a past era, but to Ethan, it felt like a lifeline. The photograph had found its way into the library archives through a twist of fate. Years earlier, a former pilot turned researcher named James Hawkins had been exploring the Pacific islands." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "James had come across Nikumaroro during an expedition, discovering remnants of Amelia's camp and the photograph, left behind as a silent witness to her presence. Realizing the significance, he brought the photo back with him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yet, before he could investigate further, James had fallen ill and passed away. His belongings, including the photograph, were donated to the library by his family, who had no idea of its importance. Each clue Ethan uncovered seemed to breathe life back into him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His fingers trembled with excitement as he pored over old maps, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. His journey led him across continents, through bustling cities and remote villages, each step tinged with the scent of adventure and the taste of discovery." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He spoke aloud to himself often, the loneliness of his quest mitigated by the sound of his own voice. \"This is it. This has to be it,\" he would exclaim, clutching a newly found piece of the puzzle. His quest brought him to the Pacific, to the desolate island of Nikumaroro." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The island's salty air whipped around him, and the waves crashing against the shore constantly reminded him of the vast ocean surrounding him. Here, he discovered remnants of Amelia's camp, her journal carefully preserved in the shelter she and Fred had built." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The leather cover was worn, and the pages were filled with meticulous notes and sketches. Ethan's hands trembled as he read Amelia's words, each entry painting a vivid picture of their struggle for survival and the secrets they had uncovered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The journal detailed their discovery of the secret military documents, the harsh beauty of the island, and their desperate attempts to contact the outside world. \"Oh my God, Amelia,\" Ethan breathed, his voice thick with emotion. \"You were so close..." }, { "from": "human", "value": "so close.\" Tears welled in his eyes as he turned the pages, feeling deeply connected to the woman who had endured so much. Ethan found the radio in a hidden bunker, its components rusted but still recognizable. The bunker, filled with crates and equipment, echoed Amelia's final days." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Among the debris, he discovered the coded messages and maps she had found, evidence of the covert operations that had led to her disappearance. Ethan's heart pounded as he realized the enormity of his discovery. \"This is it,\" he whispered, his voice barely audible." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This is what she wanted the world to know.\" Amelia's final adventure, chronicled in her journal, revealed courage and resilience. Her story was lost to time but rediscovered, and it became a beacon of hope and a testament to the enduring human spirit and the mysteries that still linger in the world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Through his lens, Ethan captured the essence of Amelia's legacy, giving voice to a silent past and uncovering a truth that had been buried for decades." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His publication of her journal and the photograph brought Amelia's story to the world, igniting a global fascination with her final days and the secrets she had uncovered. Amelia Earhart never returned to the world she once knew, but her legacy endured." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her final adventure, revealed through the forgotten photograph and the journal Ethan discovered, symbolized hope and tenacity. Like the unyielding tides of the Pacific, her spirit lived on, inspiring generations to dare, explore, and never give up, no matter the odds.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not Every Stumper Can be Cute" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"By Xer-Bane! What are they doing?!\" I shouted. Selwyn soldiers were chasing a poor, helpless stumper through the woods. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why our allies would want to harm one of our loveable magic tree stumps. It infuriated me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were shooting arrows, but the stumper dodged most of them by using trees as shields. I saw a few stuck in him, but they didn't slow him down. From my vantage point, I could see a small gorge hidden by a hill." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I could get there fast enough, perhaps I could hide the stumper in that gorge and then send my \"friendly troops\" in the wrong direction. But I needed all my racing skills to close that distance. I kicked into my highest pace, usually reserved for short races, and flew past trees and over logs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Thank Xer-Bane for giving elves long legs and quick reflexes. I could see the stumper still running towards the gorge. At my pace, we should meet with enough time to hide. I reached the hill, and the stumper came running over it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was taller than any stumper I've ever seen, with enormous limbs for arms. He was scared, but honestly, he was also a little scary. Oh, well, not every stumper can be cute. \"Hey, over here!\" I shouted. He yelled in surprise but recovered quickly. \"Are me you helping?\" He asked. \"Yes, now hurry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hide down there.\" He obeyed and climbed down a few feet. I covered him with dead leaves and branches, then sat on a rock, trying to slow my breathing. After a few minutes, the soldiers raced over the hill and, when they saw me, came to a sudden stop." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I played King Coins with one of them, and he recognized me. \"Hey, Tim. Did you see a trunker run this way?\" The poor guy was always drunk. He couldn't even say stumper correctly. \"I did. He ran off that way.\"\n\nHe thanked me, and they left." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I waited until I lost sight of them, then hopped down to the stumper, uncovering him from my hasty camouflage. \"Sorry I had to bury you like that,\" I brushed him off. \"Say no sorry. You I thank.\" We talked. Well, we sort of talked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Initially, it was a bit difficult, but I got used to his speech pattern. I introduced myself as Tim. He told me his name was Folg, a strange name for a stumper, but it stands to reason that Lady Nimmo would have carved a few oddballs. Artists are so eccentric. We walked slowly and cautiously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't want to run into any more soldiers. Suddenly, I froze. Several stumpers emerged from the woods. They looked very similar to Folg: tall and scary. Folg tensed. He grabbed my shoulder and told me to stay. He wanted to talk with them alone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I thought it was a strange request, but after almost being chopped up for firewood by his supposed allies, I was willing to cut him some slack. The new stumpers waved their arms and pointed at me. Folg kept pointing north. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but it looked like they were arguing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Suddenly, a couple of the giant stumpers began walking toward me. Folg picked up one of them and threw him into the other. The third giant stumper ran. It happened quicker than I could say, \"Hey!\" \"What was that all about?\" I asked. \"Bad they are,\" is all he said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Still I with you go?\" \"Absolutely! We've got to get you to Lady Nimmo. She'll know how to sort this out.\" He gave the most innocent, scary smile I've ever seen. It warmed my heart and gave me the chills. \"Nice you are. Them not.\" He pointed to the bad three. We continued our trek towards Jorton." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The big guy was starting to grow on me. Although, I didn't understand why he felt so ostracized by his buddies and Lady Nimmo. They are the nicest people you could ever meet. But for some reason, he did. He wanted to start over and make new friends." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I'm sure you'll discover Lady Nimmo never purposefully hurt you. It's all a big misunderstanding. But as for making new friends, how 'bout you call me a friend? Truthfully, I'm new here and could use as many friends as possible.\" He gave me that innocent, scary smile again and nodded." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I could see some of Jorton's highest towers. We were almost there. Folg grew more anxious as we neared. He kept asking if it was okay for him to be here. I reassured him that Lady Nimmo would be glad to see him. While I was attempting to calm him, we heard footsteps. We hid behind some trees." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I peeked around and recognized Lady Nimmo and her Father, Jor. \"Hey there!\" I shouted, waving my arms. \"It's me, Tim.\" \"Hello,\" Lady Nimmo said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Are you training for your next race?\" \"I was, but then I was interrupted by a huge misunderstanding.\" Jor interjected, \"Misunderstanding?\" \"I had to divert Selwyn soldiers from using this poor stumper as a pincushion.\" \"As a pincushion? Selwyn soldiers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They wouldn't do that to one of our stumpers,\" Jor said. \"It sure surprised me, but they were shooting at him. They even hit him several times, but you know stumpers. He never noticed. Tell them, Folg.\" I turned to see empty woods. Folg was nowhere to be seen. \"Folg!?\" I shouted. That's odd." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was right behind me.\" Lady Nimmo and Jor joined me in my search for the big guy. We went in different directions. I walked behind a clump of trees and found Folg. He was standing in the middle, clearly trying to hide. \"What's up, big guy?\" \"Scared.\" \"Come with me. There is nothing to fear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You'll see.\" He followed apprehensively. \"Hey guys, I found him.\" Lady Nimmo and Jor came jogging, then pulled up when they saw Folg. \"What are you doing with that?\" Jor said. The tone of his voice took me aback. It was almost accusatory. I noticed him reaching for his sword." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"Dad, wait,\" Lady Nimmo said. \"Your eyes.\" \"What about them?\" He was caught off guard by her question. \"They're not on fire. Neither is your sword. Your magic knows there is no danger. Let's give Tim a chance to explain.\" \"Explain quickly, Tim. I'm not going to lie." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It doesn't look good consorting with a trunker.\" \"You mean stumper?\" I asked. \"No, I mean trunker.\" I was so confused and grateful when Lady Nimmo stepped in. \"Tim, have you ever heard of a trunker?\" \"I haven't.\" \"Well, that explains everything,\" she looked at her father reproachfully." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"So you think you're standing next to a stumper?\" \"Aren't I?\" \"No, but I can see how a newcomer could get confused. Well, except for their obvious size difference and overall scariness.\" I almost stepped away from Folg but then thought better of it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No matter who he is, I've gotten to know him; he is my friend. His smile might give goosebumps, but his heart is good. \"You're correct, my lady, I am new. I've never heard of a trunker, but this big guy is my friend. If he had meant to harm me, he would have done it when his buddies showed up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I didn't understand then, but he fought for me, and I owe him.\" Lady Nimmo and Jor looked at each other. They still appeared uptight and on their guard, but I saw them soften just a tiny bit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I continued to tell of Folg's desire to start over and make new friends, how his creator was cruel to him, and how the other trunkers picked on him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Lady Nimmo turned to Folg, \"Folg, how do we know we can trust you?\" His eyes lowered, and he looked like he was having trouble coming up with an answer: \"Think different, trungen tree I am. Not like others.\" Lady Nimmo and Jor were shocked. \"You're a trungen tree?\" Jor asked. He nodded." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I wonder,\" Lady Nimmo said. \"Come with us. But let's be careful not to freak people out too much.\" We only freaked out a few people on our way to Lady Nimmo's house. One of them was Flimlet, a good friend who really hates trunkers. I had to restrain him from chopping my new friend into kindling." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jor went to get Trungen, a shepherd spirit of Trungen Forest. She arrived shortly and began to communicate with Folg in their language. Their speech sounded like dried leaves blown in the wind. I had no idea what they were saying, but it was pleasant to hear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A feeling of peace and tranquility filled my mind. Then Trungen broke the hypnotic spell. \"He is telling the truth. He is a trungen tree, and he means no harm. I don't know how the Shadow Elf Creator got a hold of a tree from Trungen Forest, but I expect he has more of them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The power of Trungen has overpowered the magic of the evil creator. That's why Folg never belonged. He is truly one of us.\" Lady Nimmo wisely called a town meeting and introduced Folg. She had me come up and tell how we met and how Folg protected me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I laughed a lot while recounting our adventure, something I do when nervous. People didn't know how to take my speech. Whispers of, \"What's the joke? Why's he laughing? Who's this guy? I think he's cute,\" carried through the crowd. I'm unsure if the \"cute\" was intended for me or Folg." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Flimlet insists it was for Folg. I finally finished and gladly stepped off the stage. It was decided that Lady Nimmo should carve a symbol onto Folg to distinguish him from other trunkers. However, no one could agree on the symbol." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Some suggested the Selwyn Crest, others the Seal of the Glorious Mountain, and others famous family crests. The debate was getting nowhere fast until Folg asked to speak. \"I like tree gold trunk, green leaves. Trungen symbol.\" My jaw dropped." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was perfect, and it came from Folg, the last person anyone would expect to solve the problem. Folg became a part of Jorton, a part of us. His story spread throughout, and his symbol rose to number three among the most famous symbols in Wanowyn by Wanowyn Wisemen, a very prestigious scroll company." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They touted its simplicity as its genius. The Trungen symbol, a gold trunk with emerald leaves, was adopted by the town of Jorton. Now, every stumper and soldier of Jorton bears it.\n\nFolg still warms the hearts and chills the bones with his scary, innocent smile, but he has endeared himself to us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He has not only become a part of Jorton but has also given Jorton its identity and made me a friend.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Greatest Generation" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Eddie hobbled home after his morning walk. At ninety-nine, he struggled to get down the block, but most days he managed to go at least part of the way. Today, his body ached more than usual but he refused to let that stop him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As he arrived back at his house, Nurse Edna took his cane and helped him sit in the waiting wheelchair. That was their routine. A mid-morning walk down the block, only to be greeted with a wheelchair at the end.\n\nNurse Edna watched every step he took, like he was a toddler. Eddie resented that, but knew it was for his own good. Feeble in mind and body, he needed Edna or they would put him in one of those homes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And Mary had made Eddie promise to keep Nurse Edna on after she passed. Eddie kept his word, he always did. He could never deny Mary anything. Somehow, she always knew what he needed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Edna was a top-notch aide, kind and skilled. She wasn’t a nurse, but that’s what they had taken to calling her from the beginning. It was a title of respect, even without the degree. She had taken good care of Mary. Nothing but the best for his Mary - Eddie made sure of that. Now it was his turn." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You want to go for a walk without me, fine,” Nurse Edna had told him after Mary passed. “But I have rules. One of them is that you are not to get hurt while under my care. So if I don’t go with you, I will stand on the sidewalk and watch you. The first time you look like you are about to fall will be the last time you go without me. Deal?” Of course Eddie agreed. He didn’t have much of a choice. At this stage in his life, he was determined to walk as long as he could manage it. These mid-morning strolls reminded him of the long walks he and Mary used to take." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had to walk alone, otherwise he was afraid his mind wouldn’t remember. He needed to keep remembering her. Even if it was only when he walked down the block." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After his morning outings, he would rest, maybe nap. Then Nurse Edna would prepare lunch, and try to stimulate conversation about something or other, before he would sit in front of the TV. If the weather was nice, Edna would take him for an afternoon walk, this time in his wheelchair. Or they would play a game to try and get Eddie to move his stiff limbs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then dinner and more TV before readying for bed. Not very exciting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So Eddie’s morning walks were often the highlight of his day. He yearned to go further, but was proud that he could at least go as far as he did. There weren’t many his age that could still take a short stroll, and he knew it wouldn’t be long before his mid-morning walks came to an end." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Great job today on your walk. I think you went a little further than yesterday. How do you feel?” Nurse Edna asked as she wheeled him into the house. “Hmph. I walked to the Sullivan’s front door yesterday. Today I only walked to their driveway. At least ten steps short." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So how do you think I feel?”\n\nHe was surly today. Edna understood that Eddie didn’t mean to be so cross; he was just frustrated. Her heart ached for him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was hard-growing old. Not being able to walk down the block when he used to run for miles in the morning. Not being able to remember what he had for breakfast, when he used to command high positions both in the army and beyond, in his professional career. Not being able to talk about times of old, times that no one remembered anymore. Not being able to be with Mary." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Well, I have a little surprise for you – maybe it will improve your mood. It might help you remember some of your past. Here. You can open it now.” Edna handed Eddie a package. “It’s … it’s not my birthday – at least I don’t think it is." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Right? I can’t remember when…ugh, that’s something I should remember, since I’ve had so many." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nurse Edna, if it’s not my birthday, why the present? It feels like a book.” “It is not your birthday. You are still a youthful 99! We’ll have a big party when you reach the century mark, don’t you worry!” Edna joked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“It is a book – but I think you’ll like this one. There is something inside that you should see.” Eddie tore the wrapping paper off the large book. “World War 2 with never before told stories and illustrations." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Huh?” he said, baffled. “I was in World War 2. In Europe, I think. Is that right?” He looked to Edna for confirmation. “Yes. You were. I have heard a few of your stories.  This book has more stories, from different soldiers, medics and other people involved in the war." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But what I want you to see is on pages 71 and 72. I have a little bookmark in the correct place.” Edna helped Eddie maneuver the book. As soon as it fell open to the correct pages, a sign of recognition flashed in Eddie’s eyes. He stared down at the tome resting on his lap." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A large photograph spanning the two pages stared back at him. “Hey. I know this picture. That’s me,” he said, pointing to a figure in the photo. “Standing on top of the big gun. They called it Anzio Annie. We were in Anzio. That’s … Italy. Anzio Annie had us pinned down. I remember." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We couldn’t find it for the longest time. The enemy hid it in the railroad trestles during the daylight hours. Our planes couldn’t spot it. At night, the enemy would fire on our position. We looked for that big gun for weeks. My buddy -his name was, er.. Walter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yeah, Walter - he eventually found it while on patrol, quite by accident. At least, I think it was him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Well, once we knew the hiding spot, we captured that sucker so it couldn’t do any more damage. Afterwards, we posed for this photo, all of us standing on top of the big gun. My whole unit. We all fit, that’s how big Anzio Annie was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Our commander sent the picture to the General as proof we captured it. Wow! I didn’t know we were in a book.” “It’s the same picture you had in a scrapbook,” Edna explained." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“So I knew it meant something to you. You’re famous now! And, there is more to the surprise. When I saw this picture in the book, I started making a few phone calls to try and track down some of your old unit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I contacted a few people and eventually found Walter Stockton and his son, Bob.”\n\n“Walter! Wow, he was my buddy in the war. Did I say that already? You know, war is terrible. Really bad. We fought so that there would be no more wars. They told us World War 2 was the war to end all wars. Ah well, maybe they say that after every war. I don’t know." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But we believed it. Some of the guys I met over there, in the war – the best. I wish you could have met them. They were my brothers. And Walter…it’s so good to hear he’s still around. A lot aren’t, you know. Walter was older than me…can’t believe I remember him. Haven’t thought of him for years." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I can’t even remember my own name half the time. That’s what gets me angry sometimes. I don’t mean to take it out on you, Nurse Edna.” Edna had never heard Eddie speak so much. And he was lucid, animated even. She pushed on, if only to keep Eddie engaged." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I know you don’t mean to be cross, Eddie. No worries, I do understand, you know- “Anyway, when I spoke to Bob, Walter’s son, we talked about your time at Anzio. He also said that after Italy, your unit went to Paris. And they gave you a parade. Do you remember being in Paris?” “Sure, I remember Paris. And the parade. Thousands came out to see us walk through the city center, cheering." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You never heard such loud cheers. For us! The people were so appreciative. We were just a ragtag group, mostly kids, but we were treated like royalty when we were there. I was only 19. What a great city! Paris. And that’s where I met my Mary, you know. I remember that day like it was yesterday." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I told Mary we’d go back one day.\"\n\nEddie’s voice trailed off. \"We never did. I wish we had.” “I’m so glad you remember Paris and meeting Mary there. Bob said Walter spoke of you and Mary." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Walter said Mary was the best thing to happen to his old buddy.” “Without a doubt, Nurse Edna. Without a doubt.” Eddie had a look on his face that Edna hadn’t seen before. Happy. . . No, not exactly happy. Maybe more thoughtful." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He remembered everything as he spoke-she was certain. It was like he was coming to life again, right before her eyes. Not just biding time, counting days." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She hadn’t been sure if bringing back memories of the war was a good idea. But she knew Eddie was getting more and more frustrated with each passing day. His memory was getting worse, and he was receding deeper and deeper into his own world. So she decided to give it a try." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Well, this year is the 80 th anniversary of the parade you were in. The veteran’s association is taking some of the World War 2 veterans to Paris to commemorate the liberation of the city. A special excursion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bob is going to take Walter.” Bob had told Edna that his dad was like a person adrift at sea without an anchor. He had almost nothing of his past to hang on to, to know who he was and what his life meant. He was just sailing vacantly through the last few years. Much like Eddie." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When Bob showed his dad the photo in the book, Walter became more animated, and showed a spark that hadn’t been there in years. The past meant something. What these aging men did back then, meant something." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That’s when the Paris trip came up. It was the possibility of a trip that seemed to invigorate Walter. Bob had immediately made the decision to take his dad to Paris, after seeing Walter’s response to the photograph. Seeing Eddie’s reaction just now, Edna decided to see if Eddie would want to go." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“A plane has been arranged, for the World War 2 veterans, to take them back to Paris…if you would want to go." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I said, there is a special celebration commemorating the liberation of the city. And they are having another parade for all the vets like you, who were there 80 years ago.” “At my age, travel? I don’t know if I can do it.” “You would be traveling by a plane that has been specifically adapted to accommodate veterans like you." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And I would go with you. They will have nurses, real ones, and doctors along, to keep an eye on everyone. It’s a chance for you to see that what you did back then was important. And that it is still recognized today." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Plus, if you decide to go, you will see Walter and other World War 2 vets that lived through the same experiences. Bob said Walter was excited about the trip." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How long has it been since you last saw Walter?” “We were kids in those days. We wrote each other for a dozen or so years after we got back, but since then, a lifetime has passed. . . He really said he remembered Mary? She was special." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was the best man at our wedding, you know. I didn’t remember that until just now.” A smile settled on Eddie’s face. Edna knew he was thinking about Mary. After a silent pause that lasted more than a few minutes, Eddie spoke. “Yes, Let’s go, if we still can. Mary wants me to go. I feel it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And it would be good to see Walter again. After all these years. I can show you where Mary and I first met. She’ll be with us. Right here.” Eddie patted his chest.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Returned" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A man in his mid-thirties sat in a car, trees whipping back as he pushed the gas pedal—accelerating to seventy. Soft music played on the radio as he neared his new home. He sighed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Moving’s never easy…” He gently pressed the brakes, bringing the car to a smooth stop, and turned into his new driveway. “Get yourself together, Noah." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You need this.” He parked his car outside his new home; the house was a stunning sight, made from polished logs with a deep green-colored door, a vast window on the left side, and two windows placed from where the attic lay. It also had ten acres of land and a blue barn centered in the middle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Noah placed a hand on his forehead. “I just moved from South Dakota to California!” He inhaled deeply and entered the log cabin. The cold air greeted Noah as he looked around the place." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Undoubtedly, the people he was renting from took good care of the house, and he dropped his bag at the bottom of the counter. Climbing on top of the counter, he thought\n\nNot bad . A ding came from his phone, and he pulled it from his pocket. It was his sister." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“How’re you doing? Did you make it?”  the text said. Noah chuckled. “Just made it!”  he sent back, and his sister replied with many excited emojis. Noah chuckled and placed the phone back in his pocket. “Better get used to this place." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’ll try the attic first!” He slid off the counter with a thud and walked to a door. Noah turned the door nob and slowly opened the door, and a dusty smell hit him.\n\nThis must be it…  He thought and traveled up the stairs. The attic was dark, so Noah flipped on a light switch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Many empty boxes lay on the floor. As Noah scanned the room, the boxes began to move and shove themselves sideways. “What is that?” Noah backed away, and a man emerged from the crates. “Ya’ landlord!” the man screamed. Noah yelped and crashed onto the unsanded floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Wow, easy there, mate!” Noah shook his head. “Who are you!?” he reached for his phone, which flew a few inches away when he crashed. “Easy boy! I’m not a criminal. I’m ya’ landlord!” he yelled. Noah grabbed his phone and stood up, dusting himself off." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Okay, what-what are you doing here?!?!…” The man reached out his hand as he walked towards Noah. He gestured as if to shake hands. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Bill Lucas.” Noah stood dumbfounded and reluctantly shook his hand back. “Wait… You helped me get this place,” he pointed out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bill clapped his hands, overjoyed about something. “Yes, I did! And now it’s your turn to help me, mate!” Bill jumped up and down. “‘Help you’? Help you with what?” Bill slapped a picture onto Noah’s chest. There was a man on it. “That’s me brother. I found his picture tucked away in here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I have no idea why… But you used to work with him, right?” Bill asked. Noah stared at the picture, trying to remember him. “I think so… He looks familiar. Wait, yes, I did work with him!” “Then you know where he lives!” Bill exclaimed. “Yeeeesss…” Noah looked at Bill, who was now close to tears." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I need you to take me to him… We had a family crisis, and he broke off…” He closed his eyes and sighed. “I need to make it right with him… So I need you to take me to him, mate!” Bill laid a hand on Noah’s shoulder. Noah shook his head. “But I just got here!” Noah exclaimed. Bill nearly fell over." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“GOOD JOKE!!!” he laughed raucously. Noah sighed. “No, I am not going! I won’t drive for three days again, never mind paying for lodging again.” He gripped the bridge of his nose and then looked at him. “My money is running low…” Noah murmured." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I can pay for that, mate! Now, no dilly dallying come, let’s go!” Bill ran down the stairs. Noah sighed and followed. Warming up to the idea, Noah said, “I didn’t unpack the car, so there are still snacks.” Bill squealed and jumped up and down. “I call shotgun, baby!!!” he screamed into Noah’s ear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Noah blinked with anger and closed his eyes. “Okay, cool! You better hop in the car now,” he said. Bill nodded and walked out the door.  Okay… I’m going back to South Dakota to help my landlord find his brother, my former boss…  Noah sighed. “Let’s go…” He grabbed the keys and turned on his phone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once he reached the car, he tapped for a few minutes on his phone, tucked it away, put the car in drive, and left his new house. “Okay, I found an Airbnb,” Noah said. Bill looked at him. “Already?” “The person who owns it is a close friend." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I told her what was happening, and she lent it to me,” Noah explained. Bill chuckled and started looking around. “What are you looking for?” “Food…” “You’re hungry? Already!?” Noah exclaimed. “Well, I didn’t get breakfast on account that I was waiting for you!” Bill dramatically scoffed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“It took ya’ ages!” He pointed a finger at him. Noah laughed, and so did Bill. He rubbed his eyes and then stared at the road, the yellow lines going on forever. “But are ya’ sure you’ know where we’re going, mate? Just by looking at a photograph?” Worry laced Bill’s voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Noah gripped tighter on the wheel. “He was… My best friend, it would be crazy if I didn’t.” He turned the wheel, and then a\n\nding  came from his phone. He pulled it out. “Who is it?” Bill asked. Noah chuckled and smiled. “My sister, do you mind just texting ‘doing good’ with a thumbs up?” Noah asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Bill nodded, took the phone, texted mostly what he said, and returned it to him. Noah read it and groaned. “You said, ‘Doing good but going on a road trip.’ Why did I trust my phone to you?” Bill was so busy belly-laughing that he couldn’t answer. Noah sighed and couldn’t help laughing a bit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Two Days Later... Bill was looking for food again, so Noah grabbed some beef jerky and handed it to him.\n\n“Thank you! So how is it going with the Airbnb?” Bill asked. Noah was about to answer but then slapped a hand on his forehead.\n\n“Dang it! I forgot to book an Airbnb for today…” he groaned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Well, at least we’re South Dakota,” Noah said. Bill fidgeted with his hands. “Worried about your brother?” Noah asked. Bill nodded. “And me parents… The thing is that the reason we drifted apart was because I got married." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My wife wanted to move to California, and my brother got mad and left… I want to make it right…” Bill groaned. “Hey… It isn’t your fault. Why did she want to go to California?” Noah stopped at a red light. “Her Mother and Father were there… And I would do anything for her.” Bill sniffled." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“We’ll get to your brother!” Noah started driving again. “And after that, I’m letting you keep the house. I’ll give you some money, and you can buy it! The house is not that expensive!” Bill chuckled. Noah was taken aback." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Really!? Thanks!” “Of course…” Bill’s words faded as a sign said, ‘Welcome to South Dakota.’ They drove in silence as Noah navigated the familiar small town with turns much more familiar to him than the home he left behind in California." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“This is it…” he said, turning into a rocky driveway with a quaint little house at its end, rolling hills beyond its terrain. Bill opened the car door once they parked and walked to the house’s opening. “Do you want me to come with you?” Noah asked. “No thanks, I’m good." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You should go visit your sister.” “Are you sure?” Noah asked. Bill nodded. “I’m sure.”  “Okay. Good luck!” Noah hopped in the car and drove away. Bill knocked on the door, and a voice called out. “Coming!” Bill recognized it… “Brother……” He whispered into the air." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The door opened, and Bill saw him, and he saw Bill. “Bill…” “Liam…” Tentatively, Bill embraced his brother. “I am… so. sorry…” After only a beat, Liam returned his brother’s hug. “Bill… No, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have overreacted… You just wanted to follow your wife… I get that now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Come on in!” *** Meanwhile, Noah made it to his sister’s house, and even without ringing the doorbell, his sister opened the door and embraced him. “I missed you so much!” She said. “I thought you were kidding about the road trip thing.” Noah chuckled softly and hugged her back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I missed you too, Luna…” She let go of him. “Why are you back?” she asked. “Had to help a friend… in fact, I have to go pick him up in a little bit.” He sighed. “And I forgot to book the Airbnb…” “Don’t you dare stay at an Airbnb. You can stay for the night! The kids would be more than happy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You can stay for however long you like!” Luna said. “Thank you so much, Luna. Bill will be relieved, too.” He turned to leave, but his sister’s voice stopped him. “Wait… Is that the friend?” “Yeeeeaaaahh…” Noah turned and looked at her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Is his name Bill Lucas?” she asked “Yes.” Noah scratched at his beard. “How do you know him?” “A man a few blocks down talked about him.” “Huh…what does he say about him? Luna got a strange look on her face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I don’t really know, except he sounded pretty angry.” “Honestly, I can understand that! He takes some getting used to!” laughed Noah. “Anyway, thank you for letting us stay at your house!” “Of course!`” Luna gave him another hug, and then Noah left." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "*** “It was so nice to see you again!” Bill hugged his brother. “I missed you so much…” Liam closed his eyes. Just then, Liam’s wife called his name. “You should go now, Bill.” And with that, Liam let go and walked to the door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Come back, okay!” “I definitely will!” Bill walked down the porch steps and texted Noah. He then strolled down the roadways, thinking about all that had happened as he waited for Noah to arrive, and just then, he did. “Right on time!” Bill screamed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Hi, Bill! How did it go with your brother?” he asked in a low voice. “I’ll tell you in the car…” “Alright Bill, guess what? We’re staying with my sister tonight!” “Perfect!” As they drove off Bill told him how it went." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“He apologized to me about leaving and how now, since he’s married, he gets why I wanted to move to California.” “Oh, good! I’m so glad it worked out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Listen, I know you probably want to stick around for a little while, but we’re only staying at Luna’s place for a few days, and then I gotta leave.” Noah informed him. “Mh… I’ll miss you, mate, cuz I’ve decided to stay here for good.” He placed a hand on Noah’s shoulder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "*** Back at Luna’s, she showed them to their rooms. “In that room, there’s a bed, and the second one has one too!” Luna said. “Thank you, Luna… Really!” Noah hugged her. “Goodnight!” “Goodnight!” Luna walked away, and Noah strolled into one of the rooms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Goodnight Bill…” “Goodnight, sonny…” Bill walked to the other room. Noah slipped off his shoes, laid down on his bed, and shut his eyes.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Colombian Princess" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The picture was nostalgic. Creases on the corners, faded colors of blue and white, smiles so big you'd think they just got married. I found the old photo of my dad and who I assume was his Colombian girlfriend buried in the attic with a 'don't touch' label on the box." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He died a year ago so for the anniversary of his death I decided he no longer had power over the mystery crate. I didn't show mom for obvious reasons, although it looks to be older than their marriage. Dad must've been in his early 20's at the time, and as a man now reaching that age, I was jealous." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yes, the scenery was gorgeous, and the woman he's holding couldn't be considered anything less than a goddess. But more than the picture, I was envious of the note on the back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "'To the most engaging and handsome man I've ever met, please never forget your Colombian princess' - Ayana Avila Even her name held you in a trance. It made me wonder why my old man ever came back.\n\nActually, it made me wonder much more than that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Why was he in Colombia? Why did he go against the note and in theory 'forget her'? He must've been there longer than a vacation to earn such high praise and I never took my dad for a disloyal man. Him and my mom were like two peas in a pod.\n\nI just felt it. There had to be more to this photo." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So I did some digging through the box.\n\nThe stunning beach with white sand and clear blue water - San Andrés. I had no idea the island was a part of Colombia. Dad had a T-shirt with the cities name." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He also left a few Colombian dollars and a menu to a tiki bar with a number written on the back.\n\nMy dad was always around growing up, but he didn't tell me much about his past. He was diplomatic in his speech and stoic in his behavior. I looked up to him, but wanted so much more." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I thought I had plenty more time to get it.... If there's one thing my dad taught me it's to keep moving forward. Don't let things linger and keep you from your goals. But I needed some lore." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I needed to know where I came from, who I was, I needed to see a piece of him that I knew he'd only share with me. A part of me felt like he kept that box to show me one day. I had all the information I needed. So, I took a flight to the island of San Andrés." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Once I arrived, I was quickly reminded of how little I've travelled. It was shocking how few buildings they had and half of them were ruins. People were driving by in decade old cars blaring Spanish music." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You could feel the drugs moving around you from person to person like the entire island was a chain. The food smelt great and horrible at the same time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was both terrified and excited to try everything.\n\nI was worried my Spanish would be too proper, but as it turns out, my dad must've taught me the Colombian dialect. Everyone I spoke to was just as shocked as I was that they understood me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once I arrived at my hotel, I whipped out my computer and searched the number on the menu.\n\nI had no luck finding an address, and I didn't want to cold call and scare her off. I searched the old tiki bar, and apparently it went out of business 10 years ago. Then I did what I should've done first." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I searched her name.\n\nProstitutes. Strippers. Escorts. Those were the services offered on the only website that featured 'Ayana Avila.' Surely my dad didn't seduce a lady of the night to that extent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If he did, I'd be more impressed.\n\nI started to wonder if she got so depressed after my dad left she decided to do this. That was nearly 25 years ago, but I still felt bad for her. Using the number on the website I called and placed an order." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now I'm sitting in my hotel room waiting for my dad's ex girlfriend stripper from Colombia to show up without a clue of who I am. knock, knock, knock.\n\nI open the door.\n\n\"Hello, are you Mister Vick?\" She asks. Her accent is as cute as can be. For being 50, she sure doesn't look it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'm briefly considering following through on the arrangement, but my brain promptly reminds me that I'm here because she dated my dad.\n\n\"Vick Sanders. Yes Ma'am.\" I respond. \"Please, come in.\" She softly walks in the room. Her dress is promiscuous but not too revealing. I'm starstruck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why am I here again?\n\n\"Please, don't call me ma'am. it reminds me my age, hehe.\" Her giggle makes me smile like I'm about to get married. I get it, dad.\n\n\"I call all women ma'am. Don't worry. You look as stunning as the you did 25 years ago.\" Her smile wipes away as if '25 years' itself was a memory." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Sanders?\" She stands up from her spot on the edge of the bed. \"You say Sanders is your last name?!\" I nod my head, unsure if I should. \"Like, Nick Sanders?\" \"That's my dad's name.\" ... Slap! I haven't been hit like that since I came home from getting detention in middle school." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'm sure he deserved that,\" I say.\n\n\"I'm so sorry. Oh no, no, no.\" Ayana sits back down and puts her face in her hands. \"Why are you here?\" \"I found this picture of you in my dad's attic box.\" I pull out the picture. \"I wanted to know what you knew of him.\" \"Ask him yourself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I never want to think of that man again.\" \"Well I can't. Because he's dead.\" ... \"I lied." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I've thought about him constantly.\" Her eyes were so full of hopelessness now.\n\n\"I'm sorry.\"\n\n\"Is he really dead?\" \"Yes, unfortunately.\" \"He promised me one day he would come back.\" \"Why did he leave?\" \"Well he had too." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Medellín cartel had found out he was an agent.\" \"Why would they care that he was an insurance agent?\" \"Insurance? You mean the CIA?\" ... \"I'm sorry, what?\" knock, knock, knock." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"They are here already? Shit!\"\n\n\"Who's here?\" \"When they take your wallet and see your last name is Sanders they might find out you're his son.\" \"But what did my dad do?\" \"He and Cesar are such enemies, he forced me to work for him forever once he learned of our relationship." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He'll kill you without hesitation.\" \"What the actual fuck!\" \"Sh! Hide in the closet. And take your bag.\" I do as I'm told. Ayana answers the door. \"Hola chicos." }, { "from": "human", "value": "¿Alguna idea de por qué abro la puerta de una habitación de hotel vacía?\" Who the hell is my dad?\n\nI'm blurry on their conversation, so I watch through a tiny crack in the door of the closet. The men don't look any more scary than most I've run into on this island." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That is, until they pulled out their pistols. But Ayana seems calm through it all. They trust each other. Before long, Ayana gets the goons to gallup. I wait until she opens the door to do anything. \"Phew. That was close,\" I say. \"Yes it was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now leave.\" \"What? I can't leave now,\" I say as sweat soaks my clothes. \"I cannot do anything for you, Vick." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Except tell you that the longer you stay, the more likely it is you'll be caught.\" \"What were those guys here for anyway?\" \"They come in while I'm working and steal the clients valuables.\" \"Why do you let them do that?\" \"Because of your father! I said this earlier.\" \"Were you always a prostitute?\" \"No." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Me and your father met when I was a bartender. Little did I know, he was a CIA agent looking to uncover a drug trafficking ring. Almost a year later, the cartel found out, and forced him into leaving. But that's all I'm going to tell you.\" Ayana goes to leave." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Wait! He never told me any of this.\" \"Clearly, otherwise you wouldn't've been stupid enough to come.\" \"Well I want to make right by him. I want to right his wrongs.\" \"What does that entail?\" \"I don't know. Is there anything I can do for you?\" \"You can leave." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I've asked that from you at least three times now.\" \"Anything else?\" \"Bye Vick. I am very sorry about your father. He was once the love of my life.\" \"Wait, Ayana-\" Slam! And just like that, she's gone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Is she right? Was I stupid for coming? What can I do to fix this? I can't live with myself if I quit here. I need more answers. I need to know what my father did before me. I need to know why he never talked about it before. I need to reconcile the Sanders name with this Colombian Princess.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A Cosmic Photograph" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The day was March 19, 2024. It was the first day of Spring. Being the organizationally obsessed individual I am, I was excited because it could only mean one thing: Spring Cleaning! It was my favorite day of the year. It was time to get rid of the old to welcome in the new." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I would go through all of my plastic tubs to get rid of clothes and all the junk I had been hoarding the past year." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was the last box I opened, the one I had no idea would provide me with the most significantly life-changing experience I would have gone through in my thirty-five years of human life. I came across a stack of photographs that were from my childhood. It was sweet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The stack started with photographs of my mom at the hospital holding me in her arms for the first time, and then it progressed to me as a toddler playing with my toys. What I didn’t expect was the visceral bodily and metaphysical reaction that would ensue after looking at this one photograph." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was me around the age of five. I was playing with my toy kitchen. I looked happier then that I had ever looked in any other photograph in my life. Happier I was with my toy kitchen than I was on a yacht in St. Barths, or snowboarding in Big Bear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And in that instant realization, I felt this out of body, astral experience. I could feel my consciousness lifting from my human vessel and careening through the cosmos. Like a vacuum of time and space, I was sucked into this otherworldly dimension." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I began my soul’s journey on this physical plane with no human physical body. There wasn’t much on Earth that could help describe this experience other than comparing it to the most profound experiences that perhaps Near-Death Experiencers would have once they’ve “seen or gone into the light”." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was ethereal and awe-inspiring. The colors I saw through my non-human eyes, the smell I could smell through my non-human nose, and the overwhelming feeling of joy as the norm just encapsulating my essence or being. In this plane or realm, the true experience of ecstasy was felt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And for what felt like ten months, turned out to be just 10 minutes on Earth. On this spiritual plane I was met with my spirit guide. At first I couldn’t recognize whether it was a he or she, it was more of an entity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And as I learned, spirit has no gender, only divine masculine and divine feminine qualities. So my spirit guide introduced itself to me as Jade. The essence of Jade was magnificent." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A calm and serene presence that would imbue the feeling of Christmas morning or the first drops of snowflakes in Winter. Jade would catapult me into a self-awakening of sorts I never knew possible. Every question I thought, Jade answered as if telepathically." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Information and knowledge was so instant that there wouldn’t even be megabits per second fast enough on Earth to explain it. It was truly an exhilarating experience. And the thought that sat with me was this knowing that this spiritual experience of myself was in fact who I truly was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I was boundless, I was grander than any dreams or goals I had on Earth, and most importantly, I was eternal. And I knew this, it was as if my human body had kept this treasure locked away in the basement of my human ego mind. On this spiritual plane, I played." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Whatever I thought, I would instantly manifest. Whether it was the most spectacular beach or the most elegant and elaborate frock, I could even manifest myself instantly in a body form that would wear that frock or walk on that pristine beach. On Earth we called it one thing - magic." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This spiritual plane was absolutely magical. I asked Jade, “why do we forget this? Why do we come to Earth to relearn all of this?” And instantly replied, “Earth is where you can truly harness your potential. That from a world of duality, you can choose to stay in your power or cower in it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Here, all is known and all is love. There, it is a place where all of that is still true, but ultimately is up to you to remember that.” I would do the things I wanted on this plane, and I would remember my life on Earth, and it was all fresh, but fleeting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The feelings I attached with the trauma I experienced no longer weighed anything on my spiritual form. My consciousness could truly look at these Earthly experiences like luggage carried that can be put down at any time. It was poetic, yet powerful, to be truly free." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then suddenly I came spiraling back into that moment of time in my room, holding that photograph of me as a child playing in my kitchen set, with my consciousness trying to fit in a tiny little lamp like a genie. I felt uncomfortable and squeezed in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How could this tiny human body hold all of the abundance and love I truly was? It was a feeling of claustrophobia mixed with ultimate bodily ache. Until it settled and dawned on me, I needed to be here. There was something I was to fulfill with my human life’s purpose." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I sat in meditation, and it was as if I had forgotten so many of the answers and questions I had on the spiritual plane. Until one came screaming back, that I needed to live my life of joy. And I laughed to myself and said, “this can’t be it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Is it really just to follow one’s bliss? That is so cliche!” Yet, it began to pervade my thoughts from that day forth. And every day since were synchronicities that represented me living my life’s joy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The first significant action I did was take up cooking classes to make amends and heal my inner child, more importantly that little girl in that photograph that sent me on a cosmic journey. Those classes were joyful and filled with so many laughs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I invited my friends to join me, and it sort of bridged years of just hanging out for birthdays and such, into a real fruitful culmination of sorts. Then I reconnected with my immediate family, and we reignited the famous game night we used to have when I was a teenager." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And I couldn’t help but think, the signs were there all along as I was living my joy. It’s not what I did, it’s not who I thought I had become through all these goals I achieved, it was genuinely the people I was with and the joy we experienced together." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And cosmic photograph, as simple as it was, was a testament to this most cliche of song lines, “all you need is love, love. Love is all you need.” ." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ladies of Lincoln" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The road up Mount Elati has no guardrails. Curves come suddenly and Ana was not ready—not ready to be alone in Greece at age 18, not ready to be speeding up a mountain in an unfamiliar car with a black SUV chasing after her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It started with two SUVs: one had skid off the road at the last sharp turn; Ana saw it airborne in her side mirror. Ana came to a straight stretch of road. She hit the gas, putting some distance between her and the SUV. She didn’t know who they were or what they wanted, at least not exactly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She knew it must have something to do with the black-and-white photograph sitting on the front passenger seat, a picture of her grandmother and President Abraham Lincoln. On the back was written: “Mt. Elati. Ladies of Lincoln." }, { "from": "human", "value": "1965.” The picture was in a box of keepsakes her grandmother left to her after she died. There was jewelry, a dried flower, among other things. Then there was the photograph, her grandmother—her Yia Yia,—side-by-side with Abraham Lincoln 101 years after he was killed by an assassin’s bullet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The night before Yia Yia died, she tried to speak. Her breathing was labored and her voice was weak. No one at her bedside could understand her mumbles. Frustrated, she held her arm out to Ana, and on a strained breath, said with clarity: “Go to Elati." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Take my place.” Yia Yia sunk back into the mattress, exhausted. She would say no more. The straightway began to curve to the right. Ana hit the breaks and turned the wheel hard, felt the backend sliding out from under her as she hit the gas and pulled out of the skid." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She glanced into the rearview mirror, watched the SUV slide through the turn, skidding to the edge but staying on the road, then accelerating. “It’s not him, Ana,” her mom said dismissively the night Yia Yia died. “This is real, Mom. They didn’t have Photoshop back then. This is real." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And what about what’s written on the back? Mt. Elati? Ladies of Lincoln? Something’s up here.” “No, Ana. Nothing’s up. This is a man who looks like Abraham Lincoln. That’s all. He could be a relative, an actor. Who knows." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But I do know that it’s not President Lincoln still alive in 1965.” The road curved again, a wide arc that Ana took easily. The road straightened and the two lanes merged into one. Up ahead no on coming traffic; behind her the SUV was gaining ground with another riding close behind it—then another." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ana’s cell phone rang. She took her right hand off the wheel, shaking as reached for the phone. She answered, put the call on speaker but said nothing. “Ana,” a man said in a thick accent, maybe Italian. “Ana, this is dangerous. All we want to do is talk.” Ana was silent, gas pedal to the floor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Come now, Ana. Your Yia Yia is gone. Go home. Grieve. This is not your story.” “What is this story?” Silence, then a woman’s voice, mature and strong, Slovak accent. “Ana, please dear. This is no place for you. Your Yia Yia has made a terrible mistake involving you." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Please, pull over before you get hurt.” “She wanted me here for a reason.” “What reason?” Ana said nothing. She knew nothing. “It’s ok,” said the woman. “You came charging up here with no clue as to what this was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But now you’ve revealed a century-old secret, all because of your grandmother’s stupidity.” “She’s not stupid!” Ana screamed, voice filled with rage. “I’m giving you the chance to live, child. Penelope was a worthy adversary. I honor her by keeping her granddaughter safe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Let me do this for her.” “Who is this?” Ana asked, but there was no time for an answer. She was speeding toward a wall of rock. Ana hit the breaks. With precipice to the left and mountain to the right there was no where to swerve." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She held the wheel firm with one hand and open her car door with the other. She jumped from the car moments before it smashed into the wall. Ana rolled along the ground, waiting for freefall at any moment. It never came." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She tumbled down a sharp decline and landed on an outcrop of rock unseeable from the road. Lying on her back, she saw a black SUV come sailing off he mountain road, over her and dropping out of sight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The sound of crunching metal and explosion came from below.\n\nAna rolled to her stomach, got to her feet. A few paces ahead was a wall of corn stalks, parted in the middle with a pathway leading deeper into the field." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Ana!” A mature woman, beautiful and fit, wearing a dark green satin dress that clung to her form, gunmetal bangle bracelets prominent on her wrists. “Stop.” Two men in cliché black suits armed with military rifles stood at her side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I cannot let you go—” Ana ran into the gap in the corn, sprinting down the path as bullets ripped through the stalks. The path ended; given the choice between right or left, she dove to the right. She heard the woman scream. “Find her!” Another abrupt end to the path, right or left; Ana chose left." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The path continued straight and to the right. She stopped. “A corn maze?” “Ana, straight.” It was a young woman’s voice, British accent. Ana froze, looking all about for the source. “They’re coming. Run straight, then left.” Heavy footsteps and rustles came from behind, getting closer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ana ran straight. “Halt!” A man’s deep voice yelled, followed by a shriek of pain. Ana glanced over her shoulder as she ran to the left. A crossbow bolt was sticking out from a black-suited man’s chest. “Now right and right again” spoke the British woman’s voice." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Ana turned right as gunfire cracked the air. Again bullets ripped through the stalks followed by another deep shriek of pain. “Almost there. Straight, left, right, right." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hurry” The sound of gunfire and death cries pierced the sound of Ana’s heavy breathing as she followed the instructions the mystery woman gave her. After the last right, the path ran toward an opening in the corn-stalk wall. Then, the satin-dressed woman’s voice, almost a whisper." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Ana.” Ana turned and the woman was on the path behind her. How had she evaded the battle unscathed? Then a man’s voice called her name, a back-country drawl oozing kindness. Standing at the opening was Abraham Lincoln. Tall, bearded, hair messy as in the pictures of old." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He wore linen clothes, no 19 th century suite or stovetop hat. “Come to me, Ana. It’s alright.” Facing the woman, Ana walked backward toward President Lincoln. The woman’s face poorly disguising her frustration. “So this is where you’ve been hiding,” said the woman to the President." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Because you can’t let it go.” From the stalks emerged several women in black combat uniforms, crossbows aimed at the woman, ready to loose at the President’s command. “Ladies of Lincoln,” she sneered. “Go ahead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "End it.” “It never ends, Liz.” “Countess, please.” “I don’t believe in royalty.” The woman laughed. “You won’t kill me and you won’t couple with me. You create endless battle and yet you are the compassionate one!” “The fight is the victory." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So it must be.” The woman breathed in deep, running her finger seductively between her breasts down to her abdomen. “Not really.” The President bowed. “Good to see you Liz.” “The pleasure is mine,” she said, then disappeared into the maze. Ana stood next to the tall man." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He was stoop-shoulder, as if enormous weight were borne by them. His kind eyes sparkled. “Hello Ana. I’m Abe.”." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Inquisition" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Bishop” Fisher was a schismist. There really wasn’t any room for debate about that.He openly stated he believed the pope was a servant of satan and he wasn’t willing to serve him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That coming from a bishop is pretty much guaranteed to divide church which is the dictionary definition of schismism, He claimed Pope Dominico “supported open immigration” (True and so does Jesus,most closed border arguments are based on the idea citizens with your citizenship are worth more than non-citizens without it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The church always sorted people into good christians, bad christians, and non-christians; sorting people by citizenship was silly. ) \"Environmentalism” ( I was under the impression everyone was an environmentalist until asked to pay for it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Bishop Fisher however saw environmentalism as a bad thing?!?!) and “the LGBTQ agenda” (Catholics consider homosexuality a sin and Pope Dominico has done nothing to change that so I really don’t know what the bad Bishop\n\nwas talking about) He is being tried in absentia by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which I serve as an investigator." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I Personally prefer our old title.Inquisitioners.The church is a dictatorship, but it is not a tyranny, he has the right to represent himself or send an attorney, but has chosen not to do so, claiming he does not acknowledge the authority of the tribunal." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This was not the middle ages; political realities make it impossible for us to burn him at the stake, the worst we can do to him is\n\norder his ex-communication. Which was a problem." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He could pull his followers with him into whatever new schismist church he creates after his last ties to Rome are severed .\tThus I am in Chicago investigating him, not to prove his guilt, but to find scandal that could weaken his personal appeal and prevent others from following him away from the light." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Chicago was a city known for scandals, but I was having a hard time finding any that would help me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No signs of any misappropriated church funds… if anything his parish had too much money… “Oh I think I can explain that! Bishop Fisher is a bit of a celebrity around here, so I gave him a grand, to baptize my kids personally and make it a big show, if a lot of other people are paying him for those kinds of things, he probably has more money than he needs and is adding the extra to parish funds ” said the accountant who volunteered to keep the parishes books." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Depending on what rites he was charging for he may be guilty of Simony, but his followers will just see him as a generous workaholic showman. This isn’t a scandal that can weaken his popularity." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He lived in a rectory owned by the church,so\n\nas a representative of the Vatican I have the legal right to inspect it. None the less I picked the lock and entered secretly while he was performing a wedding for some millionaire,\n\nbecause I didn’t want him to know he was being investigated." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had a decent amount of alcohol, but sadly enough to prove he wasn’t an alcoholic. Alcoholics don’t store the fancy bottles of whiskey or brandy they are given as gifts. They consume them. Many seminary graduates have use clever bible references as passwords for their electronic devices." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I used “RoamerJob1:7” . He had a picture of United States Marines serving in Iraq above his computer desk(He wasn’t in the picture, so it wasn’t from his tour as a chaplin. Possibly one of the Marines was his brother?)." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I grinned when I recognized the ruins around them, as they gave me the key to his Password “IraqCityRevelations17:5” I found something that looked like a love letter… but it was addressed to the blessed virgin." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He played more video games than people would expect from a catholic bishop, which is to say the normal amount for a single man who isn’t looking for a girlfriend. His search history … bingo! He was looking up escorts! I found he had a “GFE appointment” booked for later that evening." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A few photos for tomorrow's news and his threat will be nullified. *** INTERVIEWER: Would you care to explain the photo of you giving money to a known prostitute. FISHER: No, but I suppose I need to." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "INTERVIEWER: I’d say without any context it looks like you were soliciting her services FISHER:I was INTERVIEWER (shocked): You were!?! And are admitting it here on the local news?? FISHER:Since the death of my brother, I’ve had no family but the church, and now the church is in the process of ex-communicating me because I insist on sticking to the values of Jesus." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It’s a hard time. INTERVIEWER: so you violated your vow of celibacy under psychological stress?\n\nFISHER: No. INTERVIEWER: Explain? FISHER: The young woman in the picture offers a “Girlfriend Experience” in which for 200$ an hour she will do anything a girlfriend in a healthy relationship would." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In healthy relationships when your spouse needs someone to hug them and tell them everything will be all right you do that. She commit many sins in her professional life, but dishonesty is not among them. She gave me the girlfriend type services I needed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "INTERVIEWER: Don’t you think it may have been more appropriate to get such services from some sort of licensed therapist if you needed to pay for them? FISHER: Most therapists are passionately liberal atheists. I may be a sinner but I’m not a satanist! INTERVIEWER: And we’re supposed to believe you?." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "FISHER: Concerning what I did with the young lady you could try interviewing her. I waive my right to professional confidentiality and authorize her to tell the truth about our encounter to anyone who is interested. Concerning me being a sinner, I guess you’ll have to take it on faith." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I really wasn’t expecting to be challenged on that claim! INTERVIEWER; Well we will certainly look for an out for her *** Fisher looked over the crowd come to attend his church. Most were there simply out of curiosity to see the man who could hire a prostitute and commit no sin with her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But it is right and proper that curiosity come before faith. If people became convinced they were right before making any effort to find, truth, very little truth would be discovered.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "An Unexpected Friend" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It’s my first time in Chicago, and like every other tourist, I end up at The Bean. Inspecting the sculpture, I think it may be the most fascinating thing in all of existence. The way the light plays off the metallic surface, how the images morph depending on where I stand... It’s beyond fascinating." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So me being me, I pull out my professional-grade camera and start shooting some pictures. I take photographs up close, far away, and at weird angles just to see what will come out. I play around with different exposures, too." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I even think about setting up a camera for a few hours, just to see how it might turn out. Unfortunately, as soon as the thought enters my brain, I see someone else has beat me to it. A person probably 10 feet from me has already set up their camera." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They even have a folding chair set up so I know they’re in it for the long haul. As I inspect their setup, I notice that their camera lens is covered still, so I decide to go over and have a little chat to let them know. We’ve all had the issue of not taking off the lens cap." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I just want to make sure it won’t happen to this person, too. I approach cautiously and they look up at me from their book, shielding their eyes from the blazing sun. “Hey, I noticed your lens cover was still on. I just wanted to let you know.” I tell them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They glance at their camera and jump as though they’ve been abruptly spooked, immediately hopping up from their chair to take off the lens cover. “Thanks for letting me know, kind sir.” They say. “No problem.” I turn to walk away when they stop me with a soft hand on my arm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“What kind of camera do you have? I noticed you were taking a lot of shots earlier.” They gaze over at me expectantly. I peer down at the camera hanging around my neck, as though I have no idea what camera I have with me. “It’s a Canon EOS R7 with a lens on it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I can’t remember which lens I brought with me, honestly.” I chuckle, slightly embarrassed. I always pride myself on knowing what kind of camera I have, but this individual has put me off my game a little bit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The person in front of me has long hair tied up in a messy bun, with a cardigan over a tank top and some jeans. They look like some kind of hipster since the cardigan is multicolored and very flowy. They seem really cool, I think to myself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I have to bring myself back to reality to respond to their next sentence: “Oh, no worries. I have one of those at home if I recall correctly. It’s a nice little machine.” They say with a bright smile. “Oh, yeah. It gets the job done, that’s for sure.” I laugh again." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Jeez, if only I could stop making a fool of myself . “Well, have a good day!” They say quickly as they sit back down. I’m a little taken aback by their reply, but I decide that they probably just want to get back to their book, so I leave them alone and go back to photographing The Bean." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After about an hour more, I decide to go to a coffee shop to start going through all of my shots. I walk down the street, looking for a place to set up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I find a little cafe about a block away from The Bean, set my stuff down at a nearby table, and go order a large black iced coffee before I get to work." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Approximately 30 minutes later, the bell to the shop chimes and I look up and find my previous acquaintance from The Bean walking in with all their stuff. I startle in surprise and wave over at them, hoping to get their attention." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have no idea why I did, but something in me is simply inquisitive about them. They see me and start as though they have just seen a long-lost friend. Their smile shines as they make their way over to my table in the corner. “Fancy seeing you here, friend.” They say cheerily." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Do you mind if I join you?” They gesture towards the open chair opposite me. “The spot is yours,” I answer with a smile. They set their stuff down before wandering off to get a coffee of their own. I’m not sure what they get, but it is definitely not a black coffee." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They come back to the table with their drink and pull out their computer before plugging their camera into it. They scroll on their computer for a little bit before they stop and look up at me. “Hey, I never got your name.” They say inquisitively. I stick my hand out for them to shake." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“My name is Jack.” “Nice to meet you, Jack. I’m Zephyr.” They say. “That’s a unique name.” “Thanks, I picked it myself.” They chuckle. I laugh along with them and then return to my work for a little bit." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We sit in silence, only interrupted by the clicking of our keyboards and the low murmurs of patrons surrounding us, until they sigh heavily and lean back into their chair, taking a long sip from their drink. “I never actually wanted to be a photographer.” They say out of the blue." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I look over at them with a curious look on my face, urging them to continue. “Well, I wanted to be a dancer. I ended up blowing out my knee in a competition a few years ago… Picked up a camera at Best Buy on a whim because my friend told me I was good at photographing her for Instagram." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’ve fallen in love with the art.” I ponder their words as I think back to how I got into photography. I grew up around cameras. My parents had a photography business and would often let me accompany them on their excursions. It was what I had always known." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I’m even scheduled to take over the family business once my parents retire. “I guess I’ve always been in love with photography. Both of my parents are photographers. They own a small business back home in Vermont.” I explain. Zephyr smiles at me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“That’s really cool.” We go back to work for a while before Zephyr starts to pack up. “I need to get home, but here. Take my card.” They pass me a business card with a simplistic design, “Zephyr Photography” and their number on the front, and nothing on the back. “Call me sometime." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I liked chatting with you and I need more photographer friends.” I nod in agreement, but before I can utter a goodbye they’re out the door in the blink of an eye. Who would have thought my little trip to The Bean would end in a new, budding friendship?." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hamlet, A Supernatural Modern Retelling" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“So what are we gonna do, kid?” Hamlet brought the phone screen closer to his eyes, all but ignoring Yorick. His thumb scrolled through his daily feed of quirky TikToks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There’s that one cheese-making video he’s seen everywhere lately.\n\n“Ignoring it, sure, sure…” Yorick plopped himself next to Hamlet on the couch, bones poking uncomfortably into Hamlet’s knees. Hamlet landed on a video of a tiny kitten. A calm voiceover drifted out of the speakers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Sometimes, when we aren’t sure of ourselves, we second-guess facts we definitely know are true. In that case, we should take a breath to center ourselves and think about why we’re questioning our thoughts. Is-” Hamlet closed the video and flung the phone away, burying his face in his hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Hey,” Yorick patted him on the knee. “Lighten up a little. Maybe that ghost was lying about the whole thing. Con artists are pretty frequent among the ghost population.” “That’s a stereotype,” Hamlet muttered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“All stereotypes are true sometimes.” “That’s-!” Hamlet decided not to argue with an undead boomer. “And how exactly do I ‘lighten up’ when my own father was murdered!” “Yeah, sucks.” “He’s dead!” “Yeah.” “Do you even know what that’s like?” “Uh,” Yorick looked down at his own skeletal body." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Right,” Hamlet said, “sorry.” “Eh, no sweat, kid, truth be told I’ve never felt so alive! Metaphorically.” Yorick beat his chest cavity with a bony fist. “‘Sides, now I get to go to those skeleton comedy clubs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’m real big at The Funny Bone.” Hamlet rarely felt like smiling these days, but Yorick always managed to coax it out of him. “You’re the royal jester." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I’m not surprised in the slightest.” “Was the royal jester,” Yorick corrected, “your uncle won’t get me to perform even if he drags me back to the castle kicking and screaming. Murderer or not, he’s a real ass.” And just like that, Hamlet’s smile faded when he remembered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "His uncle, Claudius, king of the undead. His father, possibly murdered by his own brother. Hamlet, procrastinating. Maybe he should find another kitten video. “You could kill him,” Yorick said idly. “What?!” “Avenge your father, y’know, the thing the ghost asked you to do." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sounds pretty heroic and princely to me.” “You said it yourself! How can we possibly know that the ghost isn’t a liar? Maybe it wasn’t my father at all, but some demon sent to destroy us.” “How many demons have ya met?” “None, but…how many have you met?” “Not the point! You should kill him anyway." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No one likes him! His policies are trash! Plus, he didn’t even show up to your father’s funeral. Seems suspicious to me.” Hamlet sat up and glared at Yorick’s empty eye sockets." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was hard to hold eye contact with his new roommate, but he hoped the sheer force of the glare would get the message across." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I am not killing my uncle if I don’t know if he’s guilty! I could be killing an innocent man!” “Not so innocent when it comes to your mother…” Hamlet’s foot met Yorick’s thick skull. It spun around a few times before Yorick caught it and twisted it back into place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Okay okay! Not mentioning Mom, got it.” Hamlet lept to his feet and started to pace, phone forgotten, the only thing occupying his mind was his father’s death." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“If I kill my uncle, and the ghost isn’t my father at all, I would be killing my own family due to my idiotic rashness! And if it was my father, and I do nothing…” Hamlet stopped, and his heart sank. Explosive anger rose within him, at his uncle, at his mother, at everyone for moving on so quickly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "King Hamlet had been beloved by so many, and yet they all had forgotten him so easily. He just didn’t understand . “Okay,” Yorick scratched his skull, still sitting on the couch. “So without any evidence, we’re kinda fifty-fifty on this, right?” Yorick unhinged his jaw and reached inside." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He pulled out a coin. “Where were you hiding that?” Hamlet asked. “You don’t wanna know,” Yorick held out the coin. “Heads, your uncle’s guilty. Tails, that ghost was full of it. Ready?” “This is stupid,” Hamlet grumbled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Fine, we’ll do it your way then.” Yorick flipped the coin and caught it between his phalanges. He opened his fist.\n\nTails. “He definitely did it,” said Hamlet. “Ah, the good ol’ coin trick,” Yorick kissed the coin, Which was impressive, considering he didn't have lips." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Works like a charm.” They planned to strike at midnight.\n\nThe silence around the castle was disconcerting. It had been a while since Hamlet moved out, and the mix of childhood nostalgia and sheer wrongness did nothing to curb his mounting anxiety." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He shuffled around in the bushes at the end of the moat, shoulder-to-shoulder bone with Yorick, hoods pulled over both of their heads. “Coast seems clear,” Yorick said, peering at the windows with his skeletal fingers curved around his eye-sockets like a makeshift pair of binoculars." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Look!” Hamlet grabbed Yorick’s skull and rotated it until he was facing the upper-story window of the king’s private quarters. It was hard to spot in the dim light, but it was the silhouette of his mother." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She seemed to be pacing around the room, a worried habit Hamlet had inherited.\n\nSomething welled up in the back of his throat, and Hamlet turned away from the castle, curling up into a ball and squeezing his eyes shut from the sudden sting. “Hey, hey!” Yorick put a hand on Hamlet’s shoulder." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“C’mon, kid-” “I’m not doing this,” Hamlet mumbled into his knees. “We’ve come all this way-” “I just need to think!” Hamlet clamped his hand over his mouth and looked toward the window.\n\nThe silhouette of his mother approached the glass and opened the window." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She leaned out to scan the yard, looking for the source of the shout, her brow tense with worry. “Oh boy,” Yorick whispered. “Shh!” Not spotting them, Hamlet’s mother closed the window. “That was close,” Yorick said. “I…” Hamlet trailed off, still looking through the window to his mother’s chambers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No doubt his uncle was there too.\n\nThat, miraculously, made something in his mind click into place, and these last few weeks put it into perspective. His uncle’s pandering behavior, his mother’s comforting gaze. Horatio’s worried glances, the servants’ anxieties." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“She has no clue, does she?” Hamlet said. “You know, I used to think she was in on it, that maybe she had also…” He shuddered. “But she really has no idea he killed my father." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She’s just moved on, and I resent her for it, but-” “I knew your parents for a long time,” Yorick said, “they always seemed head-over-heels for one another. Maybe it’s not that simple.” “Maybe,” Hamlet stood up and pulled his hood over his head. “Let’s go." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I won’t let him deceive her any longer.” They darted over the moat, past Bernardo and Marcellus, who had neglected their sentry duties once again and were peacefully snoring, leaning upright against one another near the gates. Hamlet gave them a fond glance before unlocking the gate.\n\nThey were in." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They spoke little as they made their way through the castle. The weapon Hamlet had brought, a dagger that his father had gifted to him on his thirteenth birthday, weighed heavily on his belt. Yorick couldn’t help but rattle along, but he tried his best to be discrete." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The king and queen’s quarters were right down the hall when someone behind them cleared their throat. Hamlet turned, and his heart leaped through several different emotions at a speed no one could fathom." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ophelia stood in the middle of the hall, glaring at Hamlet.\n\n“Uh oh, lady trouble,” Yorick whispered. “Why, pray tell, are you here, sneaking around in the middle of the night?” Ophelia asked. She finally noticed Yorick. He gave a small wave." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“And who is your…skeletal friend?” “Oh, that’s Yorick,” Hamlet said. “He looks a little different.” “You’ve come back from the dead?” “Eh,” Yorick looked away bashfully, “you could say Hamlet called me back.” “I see,” Ophelia said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“It’s good to see you again.” “Yeah, you too, kid.” “But you,” Ophelia pointed at Hamlet, “why are you here? They told me you left, and that you had a ‘condition’...” “You mean depression?” Hamlet muttered. “Oh,” Ophelia looked crestfallen, “I didn’t know." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If I can-” “You can go back to bed,” Hamlet said. “Harsh,” said Yorick. “But-” Ophelia’s eyes welled up with tears. “Please,” Hamlet cast an anxious glance behind him. At the end of the hall lay his uncle’s bed chamber. “It’s for your own safety.” “I’m not going anywhere!” Ophelia stomped her foot." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Why are you here?” He didn’t want to do this. Ophelia was one of his closest friends, and even he knew he’d already been cruel to her. But even back then, before he’d met the ghost, he was hardly in a mental state to be dating anyone. “I’ve come to tell you…” “Yes?” Ophelia looked hopeful." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“That I-” “Yes?” “Will read your letters. Just…we’ll do it together! In a bit! Just wait for me in the library, and we can…uh…talk? And uh, stay away from water? I had a bad vision a few weeks ago.” “Oh,” Ophelia blushed and nodded, “alright." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But you’d better be there.” “Yup,” Hamlet squeaked, “I will.” They watched her walk away. “Nice save,” said Yorick, “the library’s in the farthest hall.” “I wanted to say something cruel to her,” Hamlet admitted, blushing for some reason. “I suppose this works though." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She’ll find out the news sooner or later, no matter what it is.” “Hey,” Yorick took him by the shoulders before Hamlet could walk away. “Don’t talk like that, okay? Why’d you think I rose from that grave? No more of that ‘to be or not to be’ nonsense. I want you to be . And I want you to keep being." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Claudius is the one whose grave they’re gonna be digging.” Hamlet tensed, then nodded. He wiped at his eyes discreetly. “Okay.” They entered the king’s chambers. It was dark, hard to see anything, but Hamlet didn’t dare pull out his phone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He navigated it from memory.\n\nYorick hung back as Hamlet entered the bedroom, and Hamlet swallowed, horribly anxious. His mother lay on the far side of the bed. His uncle on the other, his sleeping face tucked into a pillow. It was nauseating." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hamlet put the dagger to Claudius’s throat, and his uncle woke suddenly. “Do not move,” Hamlet whispered, words seething, “get up. Do not wake my mother.” Cold sweat erupted over his uncle’s brow." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“What is this?” He looked frantically between Hamlet, the dagger at his throat, and Yorick, who grinned wickedly. “Hamlet, what are you-” “Get. Up.” Hamlet twisted the dagger, and Claudius winced. He brought his uncle to the parlor, the dagger at his uncle’s back." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Great!” Yorick whispered once they closed the door to the bedroom, “Now finish him off!” Hamlet walked over to a wall of display cabinets and opened the top one. He pulled out two rapiers. “Nice! Do it with style!” He tossed one to his uncle, who shakily caught it, looking bewildered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“No! What are ya doing, kid?” “A fair duel,” Hamlet said. “Justice is on my side.” “Terrible idea! Not a good idea!” “What is the meaning of this?” Claudius demanded, his voice breaking from the fear. “I know what you did,” said Hamlet. That was all it took for the thin veneer of innocence to fall." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Claudius scowled, still afraid, but now with a lot more murderous intent. “You will regret this, boy.” He pointed his sword at Hamlet. “We’ll see,” Hamlet rushed him, thrusting his rapier. Claudius stumbled back and barely parried." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He snarled and lunged at Hamlet, the force of his strike threatening to throw the sword from Hamlet’s hand.\n\nYorick whimpered and shrunk back into the corner, not knowing what to do." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hamlet managed to parry, laughing out of spite, “Harder to kill someone without poison, isn’t it, Uncle?” Claudius thrust again, then grabbed the nearest object, a heavy metal lamp, and flung it at Hamlet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The prince dodged the strike of the sword but yelped when the lamp hit him on the head.\n\nClaudius struck again. The sword fell from Hamlet’s hand. Hamlet stumbled back, falling to the floor.\n\n“No, no, no!” Yorick cried." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He tried to move to help, but Claudius slashed at the skeleton, threatening to turn him into a pile of inanimate bones. He then pointed the sword at Hamlet.\n\n“Go to hell,” Hamlet spat. “Not anytime soon,” Claudius remarked. He thrust- And toppled, the sword falling harmlessly to the side." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Standing above him, a heavy mace held high above her head, was Hamlet’s mother. Hamlet looked at his uncle’s still body, then at his mother, not sure what to do. “I had planned to use poison,” Gertrude remarked, looking over the bloodied mace, “I thought it would be ironic." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You forced my hand.” She dropped the mace and helped Hamlet to his feet. “Mom?” Hamlet still couldn’t quite understand. “You knew?” “That he killed your father?” Gertrude looked down at her second dead husband. “Of course I did." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Do you give me so little credit?” “Wow,” Yorick said, “Your Majesty, that was crazy.” “Yorick?” Gertrude squinted at the skeleton. “Oh yeah, I’m back. Also, your husband’s a ghost. So, you know, there might be a happy reunion sometime in the future,” Yorick trailed off awkwardly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“All this time,” Hamlet said, “you were planning to avenge Father. I thought-” Tears welled in his eyes. This mother hugged him. “No tragedies befall us today,” she said. “Amen to that,” said Yorick.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dear Dad" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tim McGraw was serenading us through the speakers, small beads of sweat dripping down our foreheads and into the creases of our smiles as Mom and I talked with our mouths full of BBQ ribs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was the night before I left for college, the car was packed, and we were having our final hurrah of summer together.\n\nBetween bites of cornbread, she was imparting her wisdom to me at breakneck speed - just in case she had forgotten anything over the past eighteen years.\n\n“Remember, pour seltzer water into a red cup at a party." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No one will ever know you’re not drinking.” “Don’t tell me you’re going out, otherwise I won’t fall asleep." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Feel free to tell me the next day after you’re home safe, and include ALL the details.” “If the green eyed boy in your class wants to study with you, meet him in the library first.” “Take pictures of everything - you’ll be shocked by how fast it goes.” As a single mom, she was my everything." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The softness and the strength, the nurturer and the provider. She had to learn fast and young, always saying she graduated from the School of Life after getting pregnant with me at the ripe age of 21 and only two semesters left to go." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And here I was getting ready to leave her, her only child, the one and only built-in best friend. At least I was going to go finish what she started, attending the same college two hours away.\n\nMy father was never in the picture." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her privacy was my protection, and I knew to stop asking questions after my 9th birthday rolled around and he didn’t come around the corner with a big gift box and a “ my goodness, you’re so big!” As time went on my curiosities wandered from this elusive imaginary father to much more real problems of the time - which boy would ask me to the homecoming dance and how I could earn more money to fund my pottery classes.\n\nSo we spent our time together watching Seventh Heaven , eating popcorn for dinner, and making up outrageous stories." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her oration was vivid, so I never knew how much she was fibbing. But if her tales were true then my Dad had monstrous ears, a tail and chased leprechauns." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The only way I could tell that she had segued from fantasy into the past was by her voice, which would get just barely quieter, and her eyes, the normally steel blue turning into blurry waves. Memories of her youth were always relayed with a deep longing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“ Oh my goodness, I can’t believe I’ve never shown you!” she squealed. “It's been years since I’ve looked through it. I was waiting until you were old enough so that the pictures of the beer cans didn’t alarm you." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Wait here.” She hurried back inside the house, doors and cabinets clanging open and shut while I licked my plate clean." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Moments later she returned, photo album in hand.\n\n“This, Mona, are my memories, although brief, of the best years of my life,” she winked, “before you of course.” She passed it to me, the beige fabric yellowing at the corners." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could almost smell the shared dorm and cigarettes floating from the pages. Girls in jean skirts getting ready for a night out, hugging the mascot, textbooks strewn across the lawn. Each frame crystallizing like a movie in Moms mind, and her monologue spilling out faster than she could talk." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Scene after scene, I was captivated by her tales yet again.\n\n“And this was Janie, oh my god she was SO funny. I wonder where she --” She stopped dead in her tracks. We were near the end of the book, and she clearly came across something." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I clutched it and looked in the direction of her gaze, the object of her attention.\n\nThere was Mom in full glam - blue eyeshadow, a perm, and red lips pulled wide into a laugh, arm draped around a guy in a forest green university cap, blonde mustache, and gold watch." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had only seen a few photos of my Dad in my life, and stories were more prevalent when I was younger and my curiosity was peaking. But Mom did not want to reveal much; he worked in construction from what she knew and lived in upstate New York." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yet here he was, as close as I’ll ever be, and it was unmistakable. Our noses both jutted out a little over our lips, my hair just as thin and blonde, the way we both looked at Mom in admiration telling one of her stories.\n\n“Can I keep it?” I asked." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There was no way she could say no to this forgotten photograph. I was getting old and deserved to at least have this memento.\n\n“Alright, honey,” giving me a wet kiss on the forehead, those red lips making their mark.\n\nThis is it, I thought. I have you now." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The final night before I flew from the nest, and the first time all three of us would spend together.\n\nSkeletons I inhaled the first cool air of the fall sharply into my nostrils, finally able to wear my worn and tattered, yet beloved vintage sweatshirt." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was on my way to my Ceramics class, which had not surprisingly become my happy place on this big campus. I had met some nice people so far, but the aroma of the fresh paint, hum of the wheel and soft clay in my hands were my friends for life." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But today we got a notice that our regular room was out of service, so we had to meet in the backup room in the basement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "To be honest I didn’t even know there was a basement, and I was a little disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to gaze out of the window on the day the leaves decided to make their descent to the Earth.\n\nI saw some of my classmates once I turned down the staircase, and followed them down the dark hall into the one room with fluorescent light poking out from under the door.\n\n“ Alright potters, take your seat." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Today we’re going to create prehistoric water jugs from the thirteenth century A.D.,” our quirky professor began.\n\nI sat my bag down and rolled up my sleeves. “Where are the aprons?” I asked my teacher’s assistant." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She pointed towards the back of the room, where a limp cluster of splattered aprons hung off the neck of a broken anatomy skeleton.\n\nI headed towards it, imagining the long creaky bones spinning at the wheel, when a framed photo on the wall caught my attention.\n\nThere he was - the same man in the photo I see every day hanging on the wall above my bed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was the first thing I did when I set up my room, so it would be us three, everyday. When new friends inquire about the outdated couple, I calmly say, “That’s my Mom and Dad.” It's even started to roll off the tongue, no hesitation." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It’s not lying, right? Right in front of me was another grin of his, frozen in time. This time instead of his arm draped around my mom, it was hugging a large vase. It’s odd to think I’ve never seen his mouth move, his forehead wrinkle, his mustache grow." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I’ve always wondered whether his eyes were quick to anger or quick to laugh; I like to think the latter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "This was all I had of him though, little clues of him molded into place like a footprint on wet concrete.\n\nIt was clear that he was holding this vase with pride, something he had probably spent hours refining and crafting until it was perfect in his eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And it showed; the outside was rustic red, a muted color similar to Moms lips." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The bottom of it was a wide orb, the middle portion quickly narrowed to the width of being able to fit a singular stem, and the top curved outwards like a petal blossoming.\n\nOther classmates with their prized possessions were surrounding him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At the bottom of the photograph it read “ University of Buffalo Pottery Contestants 1985, Winners Left to Right -- Abigail McPherson, Claire Keen, Devin Brake, Joseph Teller, Mike Winston, Mary Albert. ”\n\nHoly crap. His NAME." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I have HIS NAME! My mom did the best she could to conceal it from me; I took her last name and she always told me his first name was Mike. Mike? Michael? Short for Michelangelo? Trust me, I should be paid for being a detective when it comes to figuring out every last detail about my crush." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could tell you when his parents sold their house, his first job, and the name of his Great Aunt.. but let me tell you, Lori is even one step ahead of me when it comes to my protection. My searches have come up cold." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The remainder of class while I was throwing, my hands were on the pot but my mind was elsewhere. Did he sit in this same chair? Wear this apron? My head was spinning faster than my wheel.\n\nI don’t understand what she has to hide; I mean we look alike, and I clearly get my artistic abilities from him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Why couldn’t I possibly know who he is? The time finally came to leave, something I’m normally not ready to do. Today was different. I was the last to head out, pretending to be extra tidy about my space and cleaning every last speck of mud off of my chair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Once I sensed the final footsteps fade, I quickly grabbed the framed photo and stuffed it into my backpack, zipper open and ready." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Instead of taking a stroll in the freshly fallen leaves as I had intended, I headed straight to my room and pulled open my laptop so fast it nearly broke in half.\n\nOne simple Google search - Mike Winston, Construction, University of Buffalo, New York - and I had him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Articles, LinkedIn profile and more frozen smiles all reflecting back to me. I found his website - he did in fact work in construction and live in upstate New York - and was actually very successful." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Anyone could see why, his work was unique and grand, ranging from ski lodges to houses in the Hamptons.\n\nAll this time I had envisioned him as Bob the Builder, with a construction hat and tattered overalls, a blue collar worker living day by day.\n\nBut this... this was something else." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was the one probably telling Bob the Builder what to do.\n\nOn the bottom of the page of his official website was the email [email protected] . Within a few months I had gone from a few photographs to almost direct access. I had to shut my laptop and think." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I thought he didn’t have a working phone my whole life, and now I learned he probably has two - a personal and business line.\n\nBut then I thought about Mom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Right now, she was probably singing Carrie Underwood on her way back from the grocery store, stopping to get flowers on the way, blissfully unaware that I had uncovered her deepest secret. On the one hand I was furious with her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Why didn’t we get to live in one of his houses?! Why couldn’t I even drive a few hours north to be with him on the weekends?!\n\nHer heart was big enough for the both of us, though, and I knew she had good reason to keep him from me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Was she shunned from his family? Were they ever in love? Does he even know about me? I can’t imagine how hurt she would be if she found out." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I looked back down at the photograph on my desk, then up at the picture on my wall and lastly to his headshot flickering on my computer screen. \n\nAs much as I love Mom, there are two sides to every story." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It’s no longer enough to simply see his face stuck in a moment, imagining the words of encouragement and love I never got. I need to hear them, too. To see his mouth move and laugh and frown. He’s not the skeleton in the basement after all.\n\nI opened up Gmail and composed a new message.\n\nDear Dad...." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hidden Highways" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hidden Highways ©2024 Ellen Bennett I don’t believe in conventional ghosts. The nature of my work lends itself to being open to and understanding that the presence of spirits is quite natural." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am a professional photographer, and my compositions of choice are old, abandoned buildings; warehouses, distressed barns, burned out churches, anything that is run down, decrepit, dying or dead. My wife shakes her head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Why don’t you take pictures of beautiful things? Things that are thriving? It seems so depressing!” She is a teacher of special education. Her life is all about positive forward movement." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She sees things in vivid color, while I tend to see things within a gray contrast. “There is mystery and intrigue buried beneath what once was a place of life!” I explain. She understands. “Lucky for you I love you for everything." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The good, the bad, the dark and the dead!” She kisses me on the forehead and heads off to work. I studied photography at The Design Institute of Chicago and went on to teach at Syracuse University in upstate New York." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Before settling into my teaching job, I travelled far to capture what I unwittingly thought were going to be award-winning photographs only to find that the winning photographers—with a much longer list of accolades throughout their life—got to the shots first. Or rather, to the jurors first." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have several thumb drives of those photographs dated and categorized in neat little plastic boxes with snap-on lids on a shelf in a tiny closet in my tiny office at the University. I teach both digital and film." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My worn Nikon and Hasselblad are always ready in my camera bag, as is a DSLR for pre-production at a site. Film affords me complete creative control in the darkroom." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And while digital is manipulative, film is the bedrock of the art, I digress. When I travel on photographic journeys, I take my trusted road atlas with me. I don’t use GPS unless I am completely lost." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And even then, some of the best shots I’ve gotten have been on hidden highways, and the one I am about to tell you about was just one of those: A hidden highway where life and ‘other worldly’ tottered on a thin line. I found myself in South Carolina in a little defunct town called Marion." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What caught my immediate attention was Jessops General Store. It did not fit with the rest of the brick-and-mortar buildings that made up the town." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Jessops was a wooden structure—circa early nineteen fifties, I thought? There was an aura about the place—with its sagging front porch, cracked and dirty windows, chipped paint, and weather-beaten signs—that pulled me from the car to further investigate. When I stepped up onto the porch—floorboards creaking where some had curled upwards, their nails long sunk—I felt something like a hand push me from behind." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nothing crazy or scary, just a gentle persuasive nudge. The front door was ajar. I went inside the store. Then I lost consciousness. *** Folks in town say that the outside of Jessop’s Market is in dire need of a new painting job, but I liked it fine just the way it was." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mom says, “A fresh coat would make the signs pop !”\n\nPop is a Coca Cola from a thick, green glass bottle! It’s the only drink in the world that tastes like the smell of summer—like the way our corn husks in the field bake in the mid-afternoon sun, or mom’s freshly washed laundry on the line out back of our big, old house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Coke is a cold fizz hitting the back of my throat then going down into my stomach like an icy wiggle worm." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Mom says, “A good burp following a meal is a compliment to the cook.” I guess when I burp after drinking Coca Cola the compliments go to the people who make the best tasting drink in the world! My favorite time to drink Coke is with Doc Jessop at the end of a long summer day on the front porch of his market." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Doc isn’t really a docto r, but he’s been called Doc since his war days because he was known as a medic in the field. He said that most of the medics were just boys right out of high school and trained in first aid when they enlisted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Doc said he wanted to be where the action was, and I think he sure saw a lot of it; my dad reminds me right off, “Now, don’t ask him about the war unless he offers to tell you." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It was hard on those boys.” My dad was in the war too, but he stayed right here in the United States at a place called Los Alamos. Mom said it was “Very top-secret research for the war effort!” Anyhow, Doc lets me help him close the shop at night." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He’d say, “You’re a crack whiz with the broom and dust cloth, and you keep the shelves nice and organized! Better n’ Helen or me!” I liked to please Doc and Helen because they were the nicest people I knew, next to my mom and dad, of course." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And he lets me pick penny candy from any jar I want after I finish my work. Chocolate BB Bats are my number one pick, but I wouldn’t throw out a banana flavored one either, followed by Root Beer Barrels or Cinnamon Sticks as a close second." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My older brothers try to steal my ‘pay’ so I hide my stash in the back of my closet where they aren’t allowed to go. If it isn’t raining, Doc and I sit with our feet dangling over the side of the porch and listen to the bull frogs from the nearby swamp talk to each other, or Doc will ask me about my adventures of the day, or maybe we just sit quietly and listen to the heat bugs flying around in the thick of the evening stillness." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sometimes the bugs zoom right by my head and land on my back. I’m not afraid of them but they can be ticklish, especially on my neck. I know they won’t hurt me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My mom, though, she swats at them and gets this high-pitched squeal and sometimes uses swear words, “Oh these… bugs !” Doc says it’s all about nature’s mission, that bugs have a place in this world, too. Doc Jessop is the kind of person my mom and dad call a good man." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He rarely loses his temper and has a kind word for everyone—even if the person is not one of the better citizens of our town, like Hank Klooster—who I overheard my parents talking about one night when they thought I was asleep—and how he beat his wife and kids because his radio was broken, and he couldn’t listen to his nightly programs." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Or Malvene Gittson, the boarding house owner, who snoops through her tenant’s belongings when they aren’t there then spread rumors about them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Or Everett Clancy, our town Mayor, who it was said was a ‘real ladies’ man’ even though he was married and had two children named Bart and Margaret—both snooty and what my mom called full of themselves. I saw the mayor one afternoon leaving the boarding house fixing his tie, a big smile on his face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I scowled at him, but he didn’t see me because I was at the park across the street sitting on a bench next to my bike. Doc named me ‘Sport’. It was the name of my bicycle, the Schwinn Sportster." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And since all I did in the summer was ride my bicycle Doc thought it was a good idea to identify me with my favorite thing to do. Once a week, he would go about checking my chain and tires. If the tires were low, he’d fire up his Air Pig and from a long hose fill my tires with air." }, { "from": "human", "value": "While the machine rumbled and hissed—almost looked like it might jump around on its own—he’d check the pressure with a gauge." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He showed me how to use his tools—although I wasn’t allowed to use the Air Pig because it was old and who knew if it would blow at any given time—and I was right there on the pavement working hand in hand with him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Doc said I was a fast learner, and he was right! I made good grades in school, better than either one of my brothers for sure! Science is my favorite subject and Miss Bray—my teacher—said I was the bravest and smartest girl in class." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I could dissect a frog without fainting like the other girls usually did and I knew all the parts on the inside, too." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The boys think they are so smart, but they’re actually pretty dumb—especially Jimmy Norton who had to have three stitches in his thumb because he used the scalpel on himself instead of the frog! When the boys saw all the blood, one of them fell right onto the floor and passed out cold while the other one looked green—like my Aunt Lovell looks after what my dad calls “a long night out”. On that hot night in July, Doc and I sip our Cokes from long white bendy straws and watch the sun slip down behind the trees in the distance." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I say, “Doesn’t it look like a fire way out there?” “It sure does, Sport.” Doc shifts his weight around then sighs deep-like.” I have something to tell you.” “Is it something good or bad, Doc?” “Well, all depends on how you look at it.” He runs curled fingers up along the outer seam of his pantleg. An odd feeling spreads through my belly and it’s not pleasant at all ! Like the time my mom sat us down and told us about her sister—my favorite Aunt Jewell—who was in a bad car wreck and the doctors weren’t sure if she was going to make it or not." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She ended up making it but had to have her foot taken off due to gangrene. I knew what that was after a while; Miss Bray helped me to understand that ! I will never have to have my foot taken off, for any reason! It was awful and hard to watch Aunt Jewell try to walk with only one foot and crutches." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Doc looks out at the unfolding night. “Me and Helen. We’re gonna have to sell the store and move down to Texas to be with her sister, Marie.” The darkness seems to settle faster than usual. “But why?” “Marie was diagnosed with cancer in her lungs and she’s not getting much better." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Helen needs to take care of her." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She might not have much longer to live.” I murmur, “So why do you have to sell the store? Can’t Helen just go down there and take care of her ‘til she,” I lower my voice, quickly making the sign of the cross on my sleeveless blouse and say, “passes.” Then add, “And then she can come back here to be with us again?” Doc chuckles and musses my thin fly-away hair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Well, it’s not that cut and dry, Sport.” My mind goes straight to Helen. I couldn’t believe she would not be here! She always had something cooking on her big black and white stove with the three doors and six burners at the back of the store." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She made stews for people who couldn’t cook for themselves, and she even delivered the food in person no matter how far away it was! Doc would start up the old truck—which he promised still had a lot of life left in her—and we’d help Helen load all the boxes of food into the back." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We’d hear the rumble of the engine and the grind of the gears as she pulled out of the gravel parking lot, her face set to the business at hand, gravel spewing into the wheel wells. Helen was known to us all as the Angel of Mercy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, who would be the Angel of Mercy now? Also, Helen baked daily; the smell so good and heavy with sugar; her cookies and breads the talk of the town." }, { "from": "human", "value": "In fact, if it weren’t for Helen’s cooking, the store would smell just like any other old, musty place; the kind of place that doesn’t have what mom calls ‘a real personality’. “Does mom know?” I asked Doc matter-of-factly. “Yes, Sport, she does.” I am mad that she didn’t tell me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As if reading my thoughts, Doc says, “I wanted to tell you myself bein’ that you and I are such good friends.” “But why would you leave us to go all the way to Texas?” “Ah Sport, Texas isn’t that far, just two states down.” “But why?” “When a man and a woman get married, it’s in sickness and in health." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Only this time it’s Marie who’s sick." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But see, when you marry the one person, you marry the whole family.” I thought that was crazy! Why would I want to marry some dumb boy and then leave my family because someone in his family was sick? Why would I leave my mom and dad, all my aunts and uncles, even my brothers, for someone in someone else’s family? I look right at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“If I was old enough you could sell the store to me then nothing would change! What if the person who buys the store is mean, like old man Hacker?” Old man Hacker was older than dirt and about as stinky as spoiled milk. Doc laughed, “Oh, Sport…if only you was older, I’d sell it to you no questions asked! I know you’d do right by it, for sure.” “You still could,” my voice sounding uncomfortably childlike, pleading." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When he doesn’t respond, I ask, “Will you be leaving soon?” He nods his head, his lips pressed tight. Suddenly, it feels funny between Doc and me now. He doesn’t know what to say and my heart feels heavy. My throat closes, like it does when I hold onto a cry." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I know I must be strong for Doc and Helen because they are the ones who have to leave! They’ve been here for so long; long before I was born! Doc sighs, slaps his open palms on the thick of his thighs and says, “Welp…” then gets up with a grunt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I give him the empty coke bottles and they clank softly as he slips them into the almost full, slotted wooden Coca-Cola case near the front door. He pulls the straws out and tosses them into the trash container next to the door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "His keys, which are clipped to his belt with a chain, jangle as he chooses the right one. The night-light over the porch attracts moths; their wings flutter and sizzle as they land on the grated metal light cover." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Doc checks the door twice— pull-bam push-bam —a sound I will remember for the rest of my life—then we look at each other like we do every night. “Goodnight, Sport.” Only this time, his eyes are sad in the yellowish light. “Goodnight, Doc.” I try to smile." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I tell myself to be strong even though I want to run up to him, hug him, and cry into his overalls. When I take my bike home that night everything feels different. The air is all heavy now, like an approaching storm even though there’s a ton of stars overhead." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Creatures and bugs sound like musicians playing all the wrong notes at once. My throat feels thick, like it gets when I come down with influenza. Maybe I am dizzy too. Maybe I should stop riding and walk the rest of the way." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yes, I get off my bike and walk a bit. Or maybe I should just get back on my Sportster and ride toward the moon as it rises over the hillside; big, pale, grayish white, just hanging in the sky like a new adventure." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "*** When I came to—what seemed like a moment later—I raced to my car, grabbed my camera equipment, then spent the next two hours photographing everything I could about the place. I used the DSLR to get prelims." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I took as many angles of the porch as I could, and when I was satisfied with the lighting, I picked up the Nikon. What I developed when I got home was nothing short of other-worldly. In each frame of the front porch there were two pixilated areas next to one another." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I employed my many darkroom tricks to bring up the shadows, but they remained pixilated. I studied the negatives; I studied the prints. Who was this little girl? I figured the man was Jessop. I thought about going to a website to investigate my family origins. I thought about telling my wife." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I thought about seeking advice from a medium, or a shrink. I did none of the above. I locked the experience in my subconscious. And like Sport, I continued my journeys on those hidden highways, with the moon parked high in the night sky lighting the way. Like a new adventure.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Worth More Than A Thousand Words" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Worth More Than A Thousand Words By Raven West Hannah Levy rushed through the front door of her family’s home. The official notice to report to the IDF on her eighteenth birthday the following week clutched tightly in her hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She didn’t know if she was more excited to join the Israeli army, or to finally be free from under the scrutiny of her overly protective parents. As far back as she could remember, Hannah never went anywhere without one or both of them tagging along." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hannah was home-schooled from the time she was seven years old. Her schedule outside of academics was filled with computer classes and personal gymnastics with her the only student. On weekends she attended Caliber 3, the Academy for Counter Terror, Security & Defense." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Every summer since she was thirteen years old, Hannah spent her time at Krav Maga Immersion Camp, where she made a few friends, but the counselors were just as strict with her as her parents, so any friendship started, quickly vanished when the camp term ended." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As a result, Hannah’s social life was practically non-existent. Her parents we so overly protective, they even refused to allow her to learn to drive. \tHer father drove her to and from school in the family’s black SUV. Her mother accompanied her to the mall on her occasional shopping trip." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When her parents weren’t available, they hired a service and chauffeur. Always the same car. Always the same chauffeur." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Although Hannah understood her parents loved her and only wanted to keep her safe, but the prospect of finally being free, even if it was to join the army with their own rules and restrictions, would have, at the very least, afford her the opportunity to finally have some friends." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The only thing she needed for her dream to become a reality was her personal documents and her parent’s signature, but when she asked her mother where the papers were, her answer was strangely cryptic." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Esther and Aaron Levy were in the kitchen preparing Shabbat dinner when Hannah excitedly showed them the notice and inquired about her birth records. Her mother paused for a few seconds before replying. It wasn’t the response Hannah was expecting. “I’m not sure if I remember where I put them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Aaron, do you recall?” “No, I really can’t. I haven’t thought them in many years, Hannah. Go get ready for dinner and we’ll talk about it after, ok?” “Ok? No, it’s not ok!”  “Sundown isn’t for another two hours!” Hannah uncharacteristically hollered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“You must know where these papers are and I need them now. Tell me, where do you think they might be and I’ll go look for them.” There followed a few moments of awkward silence." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hannah noticed her parents kept exchanging worried glances, before her mother answered. “I believe I might have stored them away in a box the attic, but I don’t remember exactly where.” “I really wouldn’t be that concerned, Hannah,” her father added." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“The Knesset has duplicates of everything you need, so there really isn’t any reason for you to go searching through all that dust. I’ll make the necessary calls on Monday and we’ll take care of it, so don’t worry.”\n\nHannah pretended to concede to his request, but she was too impatient to wait." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She secretly plotted to rummage through the attic after her parents had gone to sleep. Later that night, Hannah crept to the attic, flashlight in hand. She rummaged through several piles of dusty old clothes and toys she had discarded years ago, but didn’t find any boxes of documents." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Frustrated, she kicked the wall which resulted in a hidden panel opening just above the floorboard. She pulled on the panel and discovered a locked box under several blankets. Hannah removed the box and used the flashlight to brake the lock." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She opened the box and discovered a stack of old papers and a photograph on top of the pile. Hannah shone the flashlight on the photo and was shocked to see the image of three people standing in front of a large tree, decorated for a five-year-old’s birthday party." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The adults were strangers, but the little girl, who couldn’t have been much older that five, looked all too familiar. She had no idea who the adults were, but she immediately recognized the face of the child." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her nose was a bit different, her hair was curly and blond but there was no mistaking the girl in the photograph was Hannah. On the back, was the faded writing identifying the people as Rivka and Reuben Cohen with their daughter Anna, December 6, 2005." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hannah stared at the photo and the print until she felt the images would be burned into her fingers. She knew her birthday was December 6, 2000, but looking at the photo, Anna Cohen shared the same birthday. It was undeniable that the child in the photo and Hannah Levy were one and same." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hannah needed answers, and she needed them fast. She closed the box and made her way downstairs to the living room where she opened a bottle of wine and waited for her parents to wake up. Hannah heard her mother coming down the stairs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The moment her mother’s foot landed on the last step, Hannah held up the photo and cried out. “Mom, who are these people?” Esther Levy froze. “Where did you get that picture?” she asked. “Does that matter?” Hanna replied. “I found it. Just answer the question." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Is this me and who are the couple in the photo?” Esther didn’t reply immediately. “Come into the kitchen, Hannah. I’ll make some coffee while we wait for your father to wake up." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We have a great deal to discuss and he needs to be here.” The two sat in excruciating silence for what seemed to be hours, but was only a few minutes when Aaron entered the room. Immediately, he noticed the stares from his family and knew there was something definitely wrong." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Seeing the photo in Hannah’s hand, he immediately understood. “Dad, who are these people?” She demanded. Before he could reply there was a loud knock at the front door. “Quick, Hannah.” His yelled. “Get to the safe room and lock the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We’ll continue this discussion later. Hannah didn’t bother to question her father. Living in Israel every home had a mandatory reinforced space." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She did think, however, since she hadn’t heard any sirens, or explosions, that her father was, as usual, being too overprotective, but with both her parents acting so strangely she didn’t stop to ask questions. Locking the door behind her, alone with her confusion, Hannah was contemplating her surroundings." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Over the years, she knew of the many times her community was under attack and these trips to a secure room had become an unfortunate common occurrence. When the door finally opened, Hannah noticed her mother was no longer in her pajamas. “Hannah, there are a few people here to speak to you." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I brought you a change of clothes. When you’re ready, come out and join us in the living room." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There is a great deal we have to tell you, especially about that photo you found.” Tentatively, Hannah walked into the living room where four strangers and one very familiar face were waiting. “Nadav? What are you doing here?” Hanna addressed the only person in the group she knew." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nadav Mizrahi, the family’s chauffer.  “Hi Hannah,” Nadav replied. “So very nice to see you outside of the car. These are my associates Omri and Michal. We’re agents of the Witness Protection Authority.” “The WHAT?” Hannah yelped. “Witness Protection." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You entered the program in 2005 because your father, your real father, the man in the photo, Reuben Cohen, testified against Yaakov Abergil. He was a very dangerous head of the Israeli mafia, better known as the Israeli Crime Organizations or ICO. Because of your father’s testimony." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I don’t believe this! How did my father, or this Reuben person you mentioned get involved with the mafia?” “Yaakov was also charged with the murders of alleged Abergil crime family associates,” Michal replied. “One of whom was your father’s cousin Bar Cohen." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We knew once your father testified, his life and yours would be in danger. Reuben and your mother Rivka both got new identities and we relocated them to an undisclosed location." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If it was discovered they had a young child with them as well their real identity would be in jeopardy, so as a precaution, you were placed with Aaron and Esther, also WPA agents, who became your parents.” “And how do you fit in all this, Nadav? I don’t remember meeting you until a few years ago.” Hannah asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“\tYou did have several agents once you went into the system, but you never knew who they were. Our methods are quite good. I took over exclusively when you turned 15. You didn’t notice my frequent disguises, but I was also your instructor at Caliber 3 and your camp counselor at Krav Maga." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You never knew I was the one training you in all the skills you’ll need to become a member of the Central Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, or as you know them; Mossad.” “Mossad? You’re kidding, right? I’m going into the army next week." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No one mentioned anything about my joining Mossad!”  \t“If everything goes according to plan, the small faction remaining will either be arrested or eliminated once the mission is accomplished.” Omri added." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“With your help, we can have this mission completed successfully in less than a week.” “This assignment will also replace your mandatory service in the IDF,” Nadav continued. “So you won’t have to wait until you turn eighteen next week. Your service begins immediately. Time is of the essence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I suggest you pack a few necessities, we leave in one hour.” “Not a problem,” Hannah excitedly replied." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Let me take a quick shower, then I’ll grab my Go Bag and meet you downstairs.” Packed and ready, Hannah met the agents where she was given the oath by Michel that made her an official Mossad agent. She said her good-byes to Aaron and Esther and to the only home she had known." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Even though I didn’t give birth to you,” Esther hugged Hannah tightly as she held back tears. “I’ve come to think of you as my daughter. L’Chaim and sok sikert. (good luck). “Feels like old times.” Hannah said from the back seat of the SUV as they drove away from the only home she had ever known." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me where we’re going?” “Of course I can now. Our operation is only a few miles away. Shouldn’t take us more than an hour. Once we get you situated, I’ll brief you on the specifics of the mission, which will involve your elite computer hacking skills." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I don’t anticipate any actual combat, but to be safe look in the compartment under your seat. I have something special for you.” Hannah did as requested. She pulled a black case from under her seat. Upon opening it, she found a 22 LRS Beretta Model 70." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“It’s what all the cool kids are packing nowadays.” Nadav chuckled. Hannah closed her eyes and took a much needed nap for the rest of the ride." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once they arrived as the unassuming office building, Hannah followed Nadav into an elevator which descended fifteen stories and led to a huge surveillance room. Hannah was unnerved to see all the rooms in her previous home displayed on one of the screens." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“So, that’s how you knew I’d found the photograph.” “Yes, we positions cameras all over your home, except in the bathroom of course." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Once we saw you find the photo of your family, we knew you’d start asking questions that only our agents were cleared to answer, which is why we showed up when we did.” “That’s reassuring, I guess.” Nadav showed Hannah to her desk. The computer screen was sending code even before she sat down." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It didn’t take her long to decipher the code and upload a virus straight to the main computer server on the other end. Once the virus was sent, Hannah watched the Mossad team infiltrate the headquarters of the ICO, guns blaring." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The entire operation was over in under an hour. “Well, that’s it.” Nadav said, breathing a huge sigh. “That’s it?” Hannah was surprised. “The mission is over anyway." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now there is only one thing left for me to do.” Nadav pressed a button on the desk which opened a door on the far side of the room. “Hannah, meet your real parents, Reuben and Rivka Cohen. They’ve been waiting a very long time to meet you.” Tentative at first, Hannah wasn’t quite sure what to do." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her parents however has no such trepidation. Hugs, kisses, tears of joy, relief and gratitude were shared by all. “So, what now?” Hannah asked. “We’ve eliminated the threat to your lives, thanks to Hannah’s great computer skills, so you’re all free to go home and live your lives." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And because of what you’ve sacrificed, Hannah can either stay in MOSSD now, or join the IDF but whatever you chose, you won’t have to start on your birthday. We’re giving you six months leave to be a normal teenager.” “Whatever that means.” Hannah replied. \n\n “I think we’ll head home,” Rivka said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“We have a lot of catching up to do and I think Anna, I mean Hannah will enjoy meeting some people her own age. There are many social events at our Kibbutz. I’d like to also invite the Levy’s to visit us so we can be a real family.” “I totally understand. Go home, party, have fun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I’ll call you in a few months.” Over the next several months, Hannah, who now went by her birth name Anna Cohen through herself into her new found social life. Not having a chaperone any longer, she was free to go to cafés, restaurants, and dance clubs." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She hiked, she swam and even took a few yoga classes instead of self-defense. The photo she had found in the attic was now in a gorgeous frame that hung on the wall in the entrance." }, { "from": "human", "value": "So that her family would always be with her, Anna snapped a photo and used it as the wallpaper on her phone so whenever her parents would call, she would see the photo that brought them back into her life. \n\n Before she knew it, six months had passed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The phone call she was dreading came the same day Aaron and Esther were coming for a visit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She hadn’t thought about her decision for a long time, and wasn’t looking forward to giving Nadav the bad news. “Hi Anna, it’s Nadav” said the familiar voice on the phone. “I know, I saw the caller ID.” Anna took a breath. “I’m not coming back, Nadav.” “I was afraid you’d say that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We really need your skills and I know you’d be a great Mossad agent.” “You may be right, but I’ve made my decision. I’m not coming back.” Another long pause. “You sure there isn’t anything I can say to change your mind?” “Nothing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I’m sorry, but no.” Emphasizing each word, Anna continued. “I’M…NOT…COMING… BACK!” “In that case, I’ll have to say good-bye. If you ever change your mind, you know how to reach me.” Just as Anna ended the call, she heard the front doorbell." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She hadn’t seen her former parents for months and it was great to finally get together. They planned on a week-long visit, which was perfect as Anna had been invited to a music concert and was leaving for an overnight with her new friends." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Although her former parents were a bit disappointed, they understood how important her daughter’s new found freedom was." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And it only one more day, then they would have lots of time to catch up. Anna waved good-bye as the car drove off towards the “ journey of unity and love” with “mind-blowing and breathtaking content”." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The concert began around 10pm on Friday, just hours after the end of Israel’s week-long Sukkot religious festival. Anna was dancing to the music at 11pm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Seven hours later she was faced-down in desert sand as bullets flew overhead. Using all the skills she acquired during her Mossad training, she crawled to a secluded area where others had rushed to escape. Just then, her cell phone went off." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The family photo illuminated her hiding place. “Anna, are you all right?” A frantic Rivka screamed. Anna could hear gunfire in the background of the call. “We’re being hit on all sides." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Please be...” The phone went silent. “We’ve got to get out of here.” She whispered to the other terrified concert goers. “Follow me.” As she was taught, Anna stealthy crawled to where she saw a lone terrorist relieving himself." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Before he had a chance to zip his pants, Anna lunged, grabbing the shoulder strap on his rifle, pulling it tightly until he passed out. Holding the rifle like an old friend she lead the other survivors to an abandoned car and hit the gas." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All the while firing shots to cover their escape. She dropped off the others in the car once they were out of harm’s way, then made it to her home hoping it had somehow been spared from the onslaught. What awaited her was total destruction of what had been her home only a day before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "As she made her way through what had been the living room, she knew instinctively no one was going to be there to greet her. The family photo she had found in the attic that day months ago which led her to her family was splattered with their blood. Anna picked up her cell phone and pressed the key." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Nadav? This is Anna Cohen. I’m coming back.”." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Do come Back Sometime" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The real estate ad featured sunbeams breaking through patchy gray-blue clouds with white, lacy rims. As they meet the firs’ branches, the fir needles glisten and one can almost hear the birds’ morning trills. I was intrigued. I clicked to see more images." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A view across the valley to a meadow on the other side made my heart stop. I know this view. I know the grass growing on this hill and where to find the first spring primroses." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I know the tracks the fox leaves there after the first snow, and I remember my footprints following these tracks when I was not even ten yet.\n\nThe old man who had lived on the property I knew as Mertel. One day, when my grandmother and I walked down to his house, we found him dead in his garden." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Asleep forever he sat at his wooden garden table underneath his apple tree. An apple had tragically landed on the table in front of his head. He was wearing his threadbare forest green woolen cardigan. His snow white head rested on his crossed arms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Strange how I could still tell he was dead.\n\n Additional images from the real estate ad catapulted me back into my childhood." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The house with its large covered wooden porch conjured up memories of\n\nmy grandfather and old Mertel sitting and smoking cigars that stank so bad, I was sure they smoked them to keep mosquitoes and children away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But it wasn’t until I noticed a Czech cut crystal bowl, clear, except for a blood-red rim, sitting on the window sill in one of the images of the interior of the house, that I was startled." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The candy dish, I was certain, belonged to the old Knoch widow who had owned the tannery on the other side of the river in what had become East Germany." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Much lore had been told about her and her mysterious disappearance and my brother and I had our own story to add to it.\n\nWe were six and eight and it was in the early 60s when we decided to get to the bottom of a rumor according to which she still lived in her villa overlooking the river and the town of Hirschberg where her factory was located." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She had lost possession when the river became the border between East and West Germany. Shortly after the war ended, she disappeared and was never seen again - except by us, my brother and I. We had broken into her villa and she had caught us and invited us for tea and cookies." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Upon parting she gave us a coin each which we later identified as a Reichsmark." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I still remember her parting words, “Do come back sometime when the sun illuminates the crystal bowl.” This very bowl had sat on her window sill and this very bowl now sat in Mertel’s old house on its window sill.\n\nI decided it was quite pretentious of me to think it was there for me to see and tried to put it away from my thoughts." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But I could not. “Do come back sometime…”\n\nIt takes about 16 hours to get from San Francisco to Tiefengrun. That’s because the closest airport is a good three hour drive away. I did not bother to make an appointment with the realtor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The widow Knoch’s property and Mertel’s property border each other, and there is easy access from the fields behind the houses, and I somehow felt that by breaking in I kept up with tradition.\n\nStill a bit jet lagged I parked the rental car at the side of the road and walked along the edge of the field." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I walked by the fence in the back of my grandparents’ house, past Sneider’s fence and got to Mertel’s back fence of the property. It wasn’t in any shape that would keep anyone out, and I entered." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The plum tree was studded with red, juicy plums and I filled my jacket pockets.\n\nIt’s true; some things just don't ever change. The key to the back door hung on its rusty nail inside the now empty and termite ridden rabbit shed. It felt cold and heavy." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I suddenly felt like a kid again as I climbed the back steps and inserted the seemingly huge key into the seemingly huge old lock. My heart pounded and I found myself reaching for the hand of my brother like I did back then when we entered the villa." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But I was alone this time with just a pocket full of plums and my get-away car parked at the county road. I turned the key, pressed the cold metal door handle and slowly opened the door which creaked a lot louder than it had fifty years ago." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Slowly I tip-toed toward the living room, childhood memories playing like videos of my grandmother bringing the old man food she’d made, the half dozen cats launching on his couch and chairs, and my grandmother and Mertel’s small talk about the weather.\n\nI sat down on a chair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I let the memories play and found that it calmed me. I was in no hurry. As my childhood visions retreated to the background, I began to be able to focus on my surroundings.\n\nA few historic photos hung on the walls." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Photos of the view across the river and photos of Mertel and his wife whom I never knew.\n\nDespite my early childhood experience, I am really unsure about my belief in ghosts. They mostly seem like figments of people’s imagination or literary vehicles to make the narrator more important." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But I could not shake the feeling that I was here because of the old Koch widow. I thought it silly in a way, as she would now be very close to 100 years old." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But why did this crystal bowl intrigue me and lure me back all the way to Germany? Just what did I expect to find?\n\nI still can’t answer those questions. But the bowl was located exactly where it had been depicted in the real estate ad: On the living room window that faced to greet the afternoon sun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Tea time.\n\nThen suddenly as the sun came past the birch tree, it turned the bowl into a prism and lit up the old dusty living room. I sat in awe mesmerized by its rainbow beams." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And maybe that’s why I did not notice the front door being opened.\n\n“Was machen Sie hier?” ( What are you doing here?) a lady suddenly stood in front of me and addressed me sternly.\n\nMy words locked in my throat, but I was finally able to stammer something about wanting to have a look at the property, followed by a slightly more coherent explanation of how I’d spent quite a lot of time here as a child." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Her frown line softened a little and I felt I’d wardened off her call to the police for a bit. “What’s your name?” she wanted to know. I gave her my maiden name figuring she would be able to place me easier as my grandfather’s name was embossed in bold big letters on his house just two doors down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It worked and some of the tenseness left her body. Still, she was a bit upset about my ways. I could tell by the way she began walking around the room and the clack,clack of her high heels on the wooden floor." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It was a bit awkward trying to come up with some small talk that would also give me the information I was looking for.\n\n“So who owns this place currently?” I asked." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The clack clacking stopped, she turned to me and explained that after old Mertel had died, his daughter inherited the property, but except for using it for a vacation house, she really did not. Then, she continued, a member of the Knoch family had bought it.\n\nI think the blood drained from my face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Are you okay?” she asked. “You look a bit spooked.” “Yes, yes,” I assured her, “it’s just that I didn’t know that any of the Knochs were still around.” “One of them is standing right in front of you!” she replied laughingly.\n\nI was stunned." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had not realized until now the likeness between the Knoch widow and this woman and it made me joyful and a bit spooked at the same time.\n\n“I met the old Knoch widow once,” my mouth spilled forth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The woman was silent, paced the floor with her clack clacking heels and finally came to a stop in front of the crystal bowl." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When she turned to look at me, she had completely changed into the woman my brother and I had met at the villa where the bowl had been.\n\n“I think we should sit down for some tea,” she smiled. “A lot of time has passed.” There was black tea in the kitchen and a tin of butter cookies." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There were also more questions than answers in my head. I just didn’t know where to start and I didn’t know how to ask them. She made it easy.\n\n“My aunt was found to be secretly living in the villa in 1967. She had been suffering from severe anxiety caused by the war and its aftermath." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She hid in the villa, but some neighbors had a feeling she was there." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We got her into care and she lived to a ripe old age of 90.”\n\n“Did you get to talk to her much?” I wanted to know.\n\nThe woman explained that her aunt did not talk much about the time she had spent there hiding away from people and the world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“But there is one story she kept coming back to,” she continued as her voice softened and her speech slowed. “She kept talking about these two siblings that had visited her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She gave me this bowl,” she motioned toward the window, “and said to put it in a window sill so it would catch the afternoon light because that’s how the kids would know to come back to see her.” She paused and walked over to the bowl, picked it up gently and brought it over to the table where we were sitting.\n\nWe both sat in silence for a few minutes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "While I was still trying to process all this, she interrupted my train of thought with a joyful laugh. “And if nothing else, my aunt said, it would make a great bowl for the red plums from Mertel’s garden!” I pulled the plums from my pockets and without a word, I gently placed them in the bowl." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They were perfect together with the blood red rim. “You must know that I was one of those two children who visited her,” I quietly added.\n\n“I thought so,” she responded. “You ought to take the bowl.” I nodded and managed a humble thanks." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She rose, headed toward the door then turned around one last time. “Do come back some time,” she said in parting.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shutterbug Shutdown" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On a boring Saturday morning on the outskirts of my home turf in Berlin, Md. I took a hike along a deserted road next to one of the many cornfields in the area." }, { "from": "human", "value": "A large chicken-raising operation long ago had dominated the community for many years, but now only abandoned grow-out houses dotted the landscape." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This seemed like the ideal place to search for historical treasures that might help me discover a forgotten link to our town’s past that could provide the fodder for a new book knocking around in my brain." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Risking a confrontation with some gun-toting local keeping an eye open for someone trespassing on land they considered off limits, I tramped across the field to the well-worn door of one of the buildings. Just as I came close, my boot struck a hard object half buried in the soil." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I picked it up and dusted it off I found the remains of one of those cheap little disposable cameras so many families used in the 1980s and 1990s to capture family picnics or days at the beach." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Finding this artifact in the middle of a rural area probably miles from a family outing aroused my curiosity. I decided to search around for a place to get the photos developed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This presented another possible adventure, since the heyday of disposable camera popularity had passed us by about 35 years before. Of course, Walmart had a small photo department, but I had no idea whether they could handle this barely-functioning relic." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Modern discount stores dealt mainly in converting pictures taken with cell phones. Then it struck me, my friend Don had worked for the last 40 years as a professional photographer. He also had a reputation as one of the top experts on local history on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When I texted him he responded, “be glad to look at the device, although he didn’t hold up much hope of resurrecting the contents of a cheap piece of equipment which probably has laid buried beneath the soil and assaulted by all kinds of weather for almost four decades.”  With my curiosity aroused, I drove the 31 miles to my friend’s Salisbury studio to see what he could peel back from the layers of dirt and wear caked on the device." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Don took a quick look and said, “this one looks like a tough one. There doesn’t seem to be much left. But we’ll give ‘er a try. Call me back in an hour.” It took me a half hour to get home, but, just as I opened the door to my condo, my phone chimed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Took way less time than I expected,” my photo ace buddy yelled excitedly. “You better get back here in a hurry. Might have to turn these pictures over to the authorities.”  Don wouldn’t go into specifics within earshot of customers or nosy neighbors, but his tone sounded ominous." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I drove back as quickly and cautiously as I could. Didn’t want some overzealous sheriff’s deputy pulling me over for speeding and forcing me to talk about the possible contents of the camera before Don and I had a chance to examine them in person." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My friend opened the door with a shocked look on his face and quickly scanned the area around his studio before leading me over to his workbench and revealing what he had found." }, { "from": "human", "value": "“Don’t know if you recall,” the photog said excitedly, “back in 1989 the OC Clucker, one of the top restaurants on the shore, went out of business suddenly and without explanation.” “There were rumors of some poisoned chicken and an attempt to cover up the source of it, as I remember, “ I said." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“The police and health authorities never came to a conclusion, because they said a small kitchen fire destroyed the evidence,” Don said.  He added, “The scuttlebutt around the shore pointed to a New Jersey mob boss as a silent partner in the restaurant." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He supposedly saved money when buying supplies for OC Clucker and got his poultry from a farm in Berlin that had continued operating secretly after Worcester County health authorities closed it down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It took some time to discover the off-the-books farm because one of the cronies of the mob boss worked for the county and never reported it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then, one night, a sous chef at the restaurant examined some of the chicken he prepared that night a little more closely after a customer complained it tasted funny. He found a small amount of poison in the chicken. Luckily, no one became sick or died." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When the restaurant manager said he had to report this to the authorities, the mob boss started a fight with him. The manager fell backwards and knocked a pot off a stove, causing the fire." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After evacuating the restaurant they couldn’t find the sous chef.” Don added that no one could confirm the rumors or point to the source of the altered chicken. \n\n “A few years after the incident,” he continued, “a writer for The Surfside Reporter, a local newspaper, interviewed employees for a chicken farmer in Berlin after the farmer laid them off before suddenly closing down his operation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They had overheard discussions between their former boss and a mobster who supposedly kept the operation afloat so he could supply his other business, OC Clucker, with produce.\n\n “The mobster and farmer resurfaced in Wicomico County a few years later and rumors began flying that they might be up to their old tricks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My friend said some of the former chicken farm employees anonymously tipped off the Wicomico authorities about the photographs and law enforcement had begun a new search for the evidence." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They had contacted the owners of a number of local photography shops to track down proof of the Worcester County scam. “The pictures I developed seem to show the farmer altering the feed to poison his chicken meat and the mobster’s gang members paying him off to keep the operation quiet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We need to handle this with kid gloves.” he added." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“We need to get these pictures to the Wicomico County sheriff so he can put a stop to this before the gangster tracks us down and adds us to his casualty list.” Luckily, another friend of mine had worked for a number of years as an undercover deputy for the sheriff and his office had planted an informant in the mobster’s gang." }, { "from": "human", "value": "About a week later the mobster showed up without warning at Don’s studio and threatened to give him the OC Clucker treatment if he did not destroy the photos and all copies while the gang leader and his followers watched." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tipped off by the informant, the sheriff and his deputies had handcuffs on the gang and on their way to the county jail soon after the thugs broke into the studio.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Searching for Daddy Dearest" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Eighteen lesions in her brain? How is that even possible?”\n\nDr. Rosa Scarlett’s cream-colored office walls were covered with black-framed medical accolades, and a small vase of fresh, crimson flowers brightened one corner of her tidy desk." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Our mother, Vera Cartell, sat in a comfortable chair between my sister and me, as we riveted our gaze at the accomplished surgeon whose jet black hair, alabaster skin, and apple-red lipstick, reminded us of Snow White, or a glamorous runway model.\n\nConversely, Mom looked so tiny, so vulnerable." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Her once lustrous, ebony hair was now only a few silvery clumps, covered with a short gray wig. My sister, Reenie, clutched her navy suit jacket around her chest, shaking her head in disbelief." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My usually calm brother, Glen, paced his six-foot frame around the doctor’s tiny office, his head down, Kleenex in hand.\n\nOur mouths hung open as we stared at the 14-by-17-inch, transparent, black-and-white Xray that Dr. Scarlett held in front of a light box." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "After being seven years clean from breast cancer, the buggers had not only returned, but they had also spread like wildfire." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That string of eighteen Christmas lights on the cranial Xray told the tale.\n\n*** Some people just sit back and watch the sand-timer clock running out on the days of their lives, but others prefer to actively fashion their legacy. In 2000, Mom and I jumped into the genealogy craze." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We spent every spare moment on our home computers, using dial-up modems to review the 1880 Census. Building our family tree, collecting vital records documents, and figuring out our lineage became a fun, weekly exercise that kept our minds in a hopeful space." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Our family history mania strengthened as Mom’s health worsened. She desperately wanted to find out what had happened to her wayward father, Art Cartell. She said, “Daddy Dearest hung around long enough to make seven babies in eight years." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then, he’d split for months at a time, forcing us to squeeze into one tiny bedroom in my Grandpa Williams’ house. In fact, the only memory I have of my father was the nickel he gave me on my fifth birthday.” That was the saddest thing I had ever heard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I vowed right then and there to find her Daddy Dearest. One day, Mom called me over to her house. She sounded very excited. “Look at this,” she said, with a delightful lilt in her voice. “It seems Daddy Dearest remarried.” Mom started laughing so hard, she began to cough." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Concerned, I rushed over to see if she needed help, but she waved me away, still chuckling. “You won’t believe this. I found a document indicating Daddy Dearest’s second wife divorced him on the grounds of ... get this ..." }, { "from": "human", "value": "neglect! Evidently, he was a disappearing magician with her, too!” Mom’s giggles were contagious, and I gladly joined in. Her beautiful, carefree smile of old brightened her face, making me happy.\n\n*** An unwanted phone message from Dr. Scarlett greeted me at the end of July, 2006." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“I’d like to meet with your mom and the family in my office tomorrow at two o’clock.” It’s never a good thing when a doctor invites you to visit. It had been exactly ten years since the initial breast cancer prognosis. Dr. Scarlett explained Mom was now\n\nterminal ." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She needed no more steroids, chemo treatments, or other medications. She was now eligible for Hospice, which includes home-care nursing, walkers, wheelchairs, a special bed, morphine for pain, etc.\n\nMom had always been a thoughtful, independent person." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "She refused to let us kids take care of her, and she didn’t want to continue living in her house, after she fell one night and nearly froze on the floor. As the executor of her estate, I complied with her request. My siblings and I found a lovely place that would accept a Hospice resident." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Unfortunately, Mom HATED the tastefully decorated home for six people, plus caretaker. Every time I visited her bright room that looked onto a pretty garden, she glared at me, ripping my heart to shreds." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am embarrassed to admit that I started spending my Mondays off work puttering around Mom’s lonely house, instead of visiting with her." }, { "from": "human", "value": "While cleaning out her 1,100-square-foot home––preparing for the inevitable––I relived sacks full of wonderful family memories: eating weekend dinners at Mom’s, playing board games, relaxing in her neighborhood spa, and discussing current events and family history." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I craved to believe that Mom’s spirit could somehow hear me speaking aloud in her house, as I peered into the crevasses of her bountiful life as an elementary school principal, brilliant watercolorist, competitive bridge player, and tennis champion.\n\nOne blustery day in January, 2007, five months after her final diagnosis, I started cleaning out Mom’s guestroom closet, which was filled, floor to ceiling, with papers and suitcases." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why were her best paintings stuffed between newspapers?  Sitting on the rug and searching through every item in that closet, lo and behold, I spied a lidded, purple shoe box.\n\nHmm, what’s this? Removing the lid, a cornucopia of black-and-white snapshots taunted me.\n\nWere they family members? \n\nIf so, why didn’t Mom show them to me when we were searching for our ancestors? \n\nWas one of those unnamed men her father? Did the cancerous lesions in Mom’s brain block her memories of the box, and the man who deserted her family?  I had to find answers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Soon. How could I repair my relationship with Mom before she passed away? Calling her favorite cousin, Luvana, who was our official family historian, I told her about the treasure trove of unnamed photographs, as well as Mom’s strong desire to learn what happened to her dad." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was before most people had internet access, so I couldn’t just email the photos to Luvana. Snail mail would take too long.\n\n“May I bring the photos to you? I need to make this right, for Mom.” Luvana said, “Well, of course. Let me know your flight information and I’ll pick you up at the airport." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the meantime, I’ll put on my research hat to find her Daddy Dearest.”  “Great!” I hung up, then called the airport to find the quickest plane reservations from California to Columbus, Ohio, and back again.\n\n“Yes, arriving on January 22 and returning on the 26th would be perfect,” I said." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My boss approved the emergency time off. I called Luvana with my flight dates, packed one carryon bag, the mystery box of photos, and other family history documents we had collected over the years.\n\nRight before my departure, though, my mother fell into a dreamlike coma." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I whispered into her ear, “Mom, I’m going on a long journey to find your father. You’ve got to hold on until I get back. Promise me.” I kissed her goodbye, then left. The next few days would be a race against the clock." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Would Cousin Luvana help me find answers? Would my mother still be alive when I returned? I felt like Agatha Christie on an important detective case, following the clues before the wrongly accused person was put to the electric chair. I\n\nhad  to succeed before the sand ran out of Mom’s hourglass." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "*** January is the worst month for airplane travel. The morning of my departure, the airport was fogged in, and it was snowing heavily in Columbus. But this mantra became my staff:\n\nI will be successful at finding Grandpa Art ." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Huzzah! The weather lifted long enough to get me into the air and stayed clear enough to land me safely in Ohio.\n\nI showed Cousin Luvana the exciting container of black-and-whites. She identified many of the people and scribbled their names on the back of each photo." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then she shared her research finds with me. Calling my sister every day to check on Mom’s progress, Reenie warned, “She’s slipping away, day by day. You’ve got to hurry!” I flew home and rushed to Mom’s bedside." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My siblings and our three children gathered around Mom’s bed, each of us believing/hoping/praying that she could hear and see us, maybe astral projecting from the ceiling. Who knows?\n\nSomeone had to lighten the tense mood." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Sitting next to Mom’s motionless body covered in a soft, beige blanket, I cheerfully said, “Mom, I found that shoe box of photos in your guestroom closet. I took it to Cousin Luvana, and she was able to identify a bunch of your family members." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And guess who was in the middle of that stack of pictures? Yes, your Daddy Dearest!”\n\nI hovered Grandpa’s photo over Mom’s blank face. “Grandpa Art certainly was a foxy fellow, like all the handsome men in your family. No wonder Grandma had so many children with him!” My teenaged sons snickered." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "“Grandpa looked to be a little shorter than your brother, Dale, in this picture, but his hair was just as thin on top, just silverier. “Mom, can you hear me?” It looked like her eyes were fluttering behind her closed lids. My heart skipped a beat.\n\n“There’s more good news." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Luvana found Daddy Dearest’s Death Certificate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Guess where he was living in August, 1994, when he passed away? In Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where your Grandpa Sherman Williams was living in 1900, after he left his family at the age of fifteen to make his mark on the world.\n\n“Daddy Dearest died of an acute myocardial infarction." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sounds pretty fancy, right? It’s kind of sad, though, that nobody seemed to know who his family was, his educational attainment, or what he did for a living, according to his Death Certificate. But at least we finally found him!\n\n“Mom, your ancestors are waiting for you to join them in Heaven." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Don’t be afraid. Be joyous. All of us will miss you terribly, but now you can rest, my love.” We all said our goodbyes and kissed her before we left for our respective homes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We found Mom the next morning, an angelic smile on her face, her hands clasped peacefully over Daddy Dearest’s photo on her chest.." } ]

[ { "from": "system", "value": "Write an interactive story with {{user}}." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Last Sunset" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Trigger warning: Violence, drugs and suicide Morris looked into the distance and saw the city skyline as it rose from the bay, built on the very dirt and grime that plagued its entrails." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He puffed on his smelly cigar and watched as the bin men cleaned out the streets, hauling those meaty trash bags full of vice and knew that as hard as they tried they couldn't clean the guilty conscience out of this sinful city. He bent down to tie his shoelace, covered in mud." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The glaring moonlight reflected his bruised knuckles that were smeared with blood, the kind that was so fresh it might as well have been his. Morris had gone through great lengths to extract information from the scumbag, whose lifeless corpse was sinking away in the bay." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Let the rotten water bless away his sins as a rite of confession , thought Morris. But his efforts had no tangible outcome, except the final ghostly words whispered by the tortured man, words spoken so low, so devoid of hope, that it may have simply been a goodbye to this world." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Morris did find one useful thing to take back to his client. A faded Polaroid that was tucked away in the man’s pockets. It bothered him. Why? Nothing bothered him. Years of mud-slinging in this carcass of a city had taught him that a conscience was expensive." }, { "from": "human", "value": "People like him couldn't afford to have one. Which is why he never hesitated to bash a skull in, or pull some fingernails or tie a rock to a body and sink it in the bay. As far as he was concerned, the equation was balanced. He was giving up one scum for another." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One got powerful while one got killed. Who was he to decide the fate of humanity when morality had long lost its way. Everyone had a part to play in the sinking of this vermin of a city. He stowed away the Polaroid. It would be tomorrow's problem." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Another in a stack of problems that were equally important and equally useless to his survival." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He got into his Dodge Charger and rode away into the neon city that never let him sleep, not an ounce, seducing him night after night, exposing secrets for him from its drug infested dirty corners; secrets he would often sell to the highest bidder." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He thoughtlessly drove for a while with something weighing heavily on his mind. He stopped abruptly at a kebab shop and bought himself a greasy sandwich. He opened the sandwich, mindlessly tossed the veggies away and hungrily swallowed the cheap, tasteless meat. He took out the Polaroid." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the foreground were two boys posing with their beers. Several numbered golden balloons in the background confirmed that it was taken during New year celebrations." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why did this photo bother him so much? What had his subconscious mind seen that his conscious mind had not? The itchy thought plagued him when he woke up later that afternoon, then stayed in the back of his mind while he pumped iron in the gym and later refused to leave his brain during his rationed two-minute shower (the city's drought left them with only eight gallons of water per head)." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Polaroid was pulling at something deep inside him. Was it guilt? He was and had always been morally indifferent to the nature of his work. Heck, he was proud of it, like an athlete is proud of his mettle." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At half past six, he drove to the outskirts of the city and waited for his client outside the city junkyard. He breathed in the putrid smell of the destroyed cars and pulled out a cigarette, helping his lungs to die even faster." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He caught his reflection in his car's window, irreverently puffing clouds of smoke. He wasn't getting any younger. Barely forty, his body was as broken as the cars getting pulled apart for scraps in the junkyard." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He fiddled with the Polaroid in his pocket, knowing it was time to hand over the evidence. He thought back to the image. The boys didn't mean anything to him; they might as well have been faceless. A few eyes peered out from the background, but none piqued his interest nor jogged his memory." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A Cadillac Escalade was rushing towards him, dispersing dust into every corner. His lungs couldn't have thanked him more. A mule-like servant opened the door for the client, who pushed his heavy, porky frame out of the car. Mr." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Goldstein slicked back his hair with his porcine fingers, each one of them housing a distinct golden ring. And just to make sure no one had any doubts about his frugality, he had various Figaro chains and diamond accents that hung casually around his stout neck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He tried but failed to close the buttons of his white Armani that were so wide apart they might have been on different continents. He couldn't have looked more like a pig if he wanted to. Morris put out his cigarette on the ground and stamped on it with his worn out shoes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He took out a file from his car and thrust it towards Goldstein. \"He didn't squeak. Said something funny at the end, but I think it was like one of 'em prayers they say before you die. This is all I found in his office,\" Goldstein grabbed the files with his stubby fingers and handed it to his mule." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Anything else?\" he asked in his grainy voice. Morris paused for a second. He gave himself one last chance to recall what the picture was trying to tell him. \"No... nothing else.\" Goldstein's hooded eyes seemed to X-ray Morris inside and out. \"Good." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The rest of your payment will be sent over tonight.\" Morris nodded and walked back to his car while Goldstein studied him carefully. \"Oh Mr Sandman?\" he called from behind. Morris turned around. \"What is it that he said at the end? I'm curious." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'm a pious fellow you see.\" he said with a smirk, his diamond grills gleaming in the rusty sunset.  \"Not sure but something like \"morgaua suno levigos en la okcidento\" Goldstein laughed out into the hot dusty air, his spit splattering on his mule, who pitifully wiped it off his face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"You don't speak Esperanto, son?\" \"I don't speak nothing except money.\" he said and walked away, now properly annoyed at the snorty bull-necked man laughing at him. He turned the keys and heard the engine roar." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He then whipped his car swiftly, drifting ever so slightly before changing gear and speeding away." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It happened just as the image of a cackling Goldstein disappeared in his rear view mirror; when the remaining functioning neurons in his brain decided to fortuitously play music in rhythm with his memories." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Everything that his subconscious had kept hidden from him came out and was now openly playing theatre in his mind. He braked violently in the middle of the road and snatched the Polaroid from the inside of his vest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There they were, those sets of deep blue eyes leering from the background, face half-hidden by a heavyset curtain. The shadowy, blur of a face that he could barely make out but one he could never forget. It was the face that he had put to sleep every night for many years." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A face whose cherished smile gave him reason to live. The face he hadn't seen since she went missing ten years ago. It had aged. Gone were the twinkle in her eyes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That dimpled sunshine of a smile she radiated was now obliterated by despair, the puffy cheeks now as hollow as the dreadful eyes that reached out from behind the photo. He had spent years searching for that face." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And now, there it was, on a half-burnt Polaroid he had found in the pocket of a dirtbag he had beaten to death and drowned in the river. The face of his little sister. ----- The nights that followed showed Morris no mercy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He scoured every inch of the city, pulling as hard and long as he could on that little thread he recovered from the photo. He wasn't useful to the city for nothing. He reached out to every one of his contacts." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Some were in the police department, some in hospitals and some even in the government; \"friends\" he had collected over the years to make his job a little easier. He went deep, searching for those boys through every muddled street corner, hotel, bar and club." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He hadn't delved that far since digging dirt on one of those mob-friendly politicians. Eventually he found one of them lying face down at the edge of a river, shot with a .40 caliber. Clean and effortless. It looked like the job of Mehmoud, the only real competition Morris had in the city." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He knew the moment he saw those boys in the Polaroid that they were done for. What he didn't expect was the expediency with which the job was accomplished. Why wasn't he asked to do the job? His bet was that they wanted to diversify their risk by using two contract killers instead of one." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And yet his instincts were burning up. Something didn't quite feel right. He didn't have to wait too long to find the second boy. He was holed up in one of those underground clubs which doubled as a sort of witness protection during the day." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When Morris found the boy, he had the look of a sunken ghost. He was clad in a soiled, white t-shirt that barely covered his heavily tattooed arms, his beach blonde hair uncut and growing wild like vines and his inner forearms showing the painful remnants of needle pricks." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He wouldn't speak to anyone but his lawyer, who presumably had gone missing by now. Morris plugged the kid with a special concoction of drugs that he had devised for those who refused to speak, before asking his pressing question. \"Do you remember this photo?\" asked Morris." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At first, the boy refused to look at the picture. Then he glanced over the Polaroid, gazing into the distance and seemingly recollecting some terrible memory that brought him unspeakable anguish. He screamed and clenched his hair in his hands." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It dawned on Morris then that the two boys were captured together before one of them was killed. How the second one escaped, he didn't know yet. \"He was your brother wasn't he?\" The boy didn't answer but continued wailing like a wild dog." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"I need you to tell me where this girl is.\" His voice was now frantic with desperation. The boy refused to speak or look at the picture again. Morris had planned to stick a gun to the boy's head. But he knew that it would serve no purpose. The boy was nearly catatonic with grief." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Any more and it would merely push him into a state of shock. To help clear his mind, Morris carried the pitiful boy up the stairs and out of the club." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The concept of fresh air didn't exist in this city anymore, and Morris knew that the noxious air outside was probably worse than the air in the underground club. The sun had abandoned them as well. Now they simply got used to living under a grey dome of pollution." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The boy slumped against a wall and stared at the floor, his mind emptied out by pain. Somewhere in this boy was the key to finding his sister, thought Morris." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And then a fleeting refraction of sunlight managed to pierce through the polluted clouds, enough to briefly shine light on one of his tattoos, which would have been impossible to find had Morris not been looking. It was buried underneath the mountain of ink that covered every inch of the boy's arms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Morris swanked the boy's arm, pulling his tee up, and discovered the same words spoken by his previous victim tattooed on his skin. Morgaua suno levigos en la okcidento \"What does this tattoo mean?\" \"What tattoo? I don't know man." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Let go!\" \"It's Esperanto isn't it? Tomorrow the sun rises in the west?\" \"Yeah. Everyone who goes there gets one.\" \"Goes where?\" \"The club.\" \"Which one?\" \"The club up on the west side.\" \"What's it called?\" \"I don't remember man.\" From that point on, Morris had but one mission." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He switched off his phone, packed enough food and ammunition to last a week, and scoured the west side of the city for every known club. When he found the Sunrise club, perched atop a hill overlooking the sprawling west coast, the sun was on its way down." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Morris arrived at the front desk where a heavily inked girl with a pony tail and glittery glasses sat, answering an old-fashioned phone. When she finished her call, she turned to Morris. \"Hello. I would like to become a member.\" \"Memberships are by invitation only." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I can check if you have an invitation pending. May I have your name, sir?\" \"Its Sandman. Morris Sandman.\" \"Well it says here that you are already a member of our club. Welcome back Mr Sandman.\" Morris tried to hide his shock." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Can you refresh my memory? How long have I been a member?\" \"It says here you've been a member for the past sixteen years. However, I will need to scan your chip before I let you in.\" The girl took out a chunky scanner and passed it around his body. When it reached his arms, it beeped loudly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "She looked at her scanner and confirmed that he was in fact chipped. An unsettled Morris walked in through a green door into a dark corridor bathed in neon purple light and crowded with people wearing strange masks engaged in clandestine conversations." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "At the end of a dazzling labyrinth of sleazy rooms, Morris found none other than Goldstein. He was seated on a dark blue couch in the middle of a vast room with tiled windows, facing a deep red wall plastered with a diamond cross." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He lecherously flashed his diamond grills at Morris, looking every bit the desecrated kingpin that he was. \"Mr Sandman! What a surprise!\" he said, his arms and legs sprawled over the couch. Morris knew what to ask instinctively. He pulled out his gun and pointed it straight at Goldstein's head." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Where is my sister?\" Goldstein shook his head in disappointment. \"Come on, Morris. Have a drink with me first.\" \"My sister first.\" \"You are a valuable soldier, Morris.\" \"I'm not a soldier. I work for no one.\" \"That's what you think. The truth is… you are a Sunrise boy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You have belonged to this elite club of mercenaries your whole life.\" \"That's not true!\" \"Try and remember. How much of your life do you even recall?\" Morris found himself scrambling like a cat on a hot stove. \"I thought so. Truth is, we let you go about thinking you were working for yourself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Hey, as long as you were doing the job, why should we intervene right? Lasered off your membership tattoo under some chloroform and put you right back on the street.\" Goldstein walked over to one of the tiled windows and stared out into the sunset with Morris's gun still pointing at him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"We thought the city would swallow you. The city swallows everyone, Morris. Even me. Its foul, incessant, contaminated tendrils gets us all in the end.\" \"I will only ask once more. Where is my sister?\" \"She is dead. Has been for a decade.\" \"Bullshit!\" shouted Morris." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"Here!\" He thrust the Polaroid in Goldstein's face. \"This is recent. It proves that she's alive!\" Goldstein frowned and let out a deep sigh. \"Morris, you are one of my strongest men. Someone wanted to mess with your head and turn you against me. This photo...\" Morris had now cocked his gun." }, { "from": "human", "value": "\"I'll give you one last chance.\" Goldstein raised his hand in an appeasing way and called out to his lackeys, one of whom came running back with a file. Goldstein handed the file to Morris, wearing the expression of an anxious parent. \"Here you go. The truth." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Don't say I didn't warn you.\" Morris grabbed the file and began to read. It was full of newspaper clippings and police reports. He pulled out one dated ten years ago." }, { "from": "human", "value": "CITY SHOOK BY GANG MURDERS Suspected mercenary Morris Sandman on the run after a mass murder, that killed four gang members and three civilians. Beneath the headline was the photo of the three civilian victims, one of whom was a cheerful, dimpled girl with a set of deep blue eyes." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "\"She was, as they say, caught in the line of fire. When you found out, unable to bear the guilt, you put one in your own head. But you being the indestructible son of a bitch that you are, survived. But not without damaging your brain and your memories." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Beyond that, you may have simply invented some story about her going missing, just to cope with the pain.\" Morris stared Goldstein in the face. He didn't need to fight the urge. By the time his brain accepted the truth, his fingers had already found the trigger." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "A shot was later heard throughout the club with screams echoing its debauched corners. Goldstein walked over to the lifeless body lying on the floor, blood trickling out of its severed temple and picked up the blood-soaked Polaroid." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He looked at the photo that had dealt the death knell to the broken man lying at his feet. He handed the photo to one of his soldiers and said \"Find out who sent this photo and bring them to me. They cost me a good man.\" \"Such a shame, boss.\" replied the minion. \"Poor bastard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You know what's sad? That girl don't even look like his sister.\"." } ]