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string | chosen_story
string | rejected_story
string | chosen_username
string | rejected_username
string | chosen_timestamp
string | rejected_timestamp
string | chosen_upvotes
int64 | rejected_upvotes
int64 | chosen_comment_id
string | rejected_comment_id
string | chosen_reddit_post_id
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[WP] You muster up the courage to ask your dwarven friend why you don't see any female dwarves around. He laughs.
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“See that dwarf over there?” He asks, still looking amused and red-faced from his laughing fit.
“Yes,” I say, somewhat confused, looking at a burly dwarf man with an impressive, braided beard.
“That’s a female!” He says, laughing again at my confused expression.
“But… but that dwarf has a bigger beard than you!” I exclaim.
“Of course she does! Silly humans and your women with naked faces. A dwarf woman’s beard is her pride and joy! No self respecting dwarven maiden would let her beard be shorter than a man’s!”
“But what about, you know…” I say, gesturing to my chest and looking at the flat-chested dwarf my friend claims is a female.
“Oh right, I forgot about you humans and your milk. Well it’s simple really. We dwarves don’t need milk. We come out of the egg ready to eat solid food.” He explains patiently.
“EGG?” I ask, shocked.
“Maybe that’s a story for another day.” My friend says, laughing again and patting me on the back as we walk away.
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“Hah! Pillar or cave? What can I breed with? That’s all you ever think about, human?”
‘It’s a perfectly legitimate question.’
“I have never heard you ask about male dryads or sirens. Admit it, you inquire for a chance to- in your own words- plough the fields with a female make of my kind.”
‘I- No- For- FINE! Dammit, you know me too well. So, what’s the lowdown?’
“We dwarves marry the rock, we are born of the mountain, our wombs are the depths.”
‘Stop with that cryptic talk. You mean there are no womenfolk?’
“And no male as you know of it. The mountain knows when more are needed, and hence we spring forth.”
<If only your kind was needed less. Such an inelegant method of excess propagation.>
“Shut it, Skin an’ Bones! What kind of being dedicates their existence to the desires of another folk?”
<It’s not our fault we cannot breed among our own kind.>
“How many halves do you have in your blood? Some orc perhaps?”
<Better than being a hundred percent dirt and grit.>
‘Uh… guys? I was just trying to have some small talk.’
<Silence, pudgy!> “Shut it, scrawny!”
‘Ok, I don’t know how to feel about that. How about we talk about something fun? Food! Food’s fun.’
“Ah, come to think of it, I tried some of the snacks Skinnybone keeps on his hat. Pretty cheap stuff.”
<What snacks? Huh- ARGH! They were heirloom gems, you buffoon!>
“You keep food as heirlooms? And I’ve had coal that tasted better.”
<I’m gonna->
“Bring it!”
*sigh* ‘Note to self. Never ask anyone about anything ever again.’
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No_Maintenance_6719
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hatabou_is_a_jojo
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2024-06-06 10:39:24
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2024-06-06 09:26:04
| 417 | 100 |
l7cpy1w
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l7cjezr
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1d9d54h
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1d9d54h
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[WP] 5 years ago, you accidentally ran over a poor school student with your truck. You've carried the guilt all that time until one day, that very student knocks on your door, awoken from their coma. Rather than being angry, they thank you for inspiring their bestselling fantasy series
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"AARRGGHH!!" i awoke with a scream, memories of last night flood through my mind. Of being cornered by Night Master, some new, upstart vigilante trying to make a name for himself. Of Night Master beating the crap out of me and not stopping, even when i'm curled up and not fighting back.
I try to sit up, but every part of my body aches and i lay back down.
I see a nurse peek in the room "Ah, you are awake then" and she leaves.
A few minutes later, Guardian, the leader of the Protectors, walks into the room and i freeze on the bed, feeling myself go pale. He sees my reaction and slows down, putting up his hands "Hey, its ok, its ok, relax, i'm not going to hurt you, Pooka"
"My name is Phouka" i say almost automatically. Guardian looks puzzled "Isn't that what i said?"
I shake my head "No, you called me Pooka, but my name is pronounced Púca".
He cocks his head a little "Wait, did you just...." i wave my hand "Sorry, force of habit, its fine"
He stands by my bed and i see now that he has a concerned look on his face "Pooka, i'm really sorry about what happened to you". I nod "You mean the part where Night Master kept punching and kicking me when i was already down on the ground and not resisting?"
Guardian winces "Yeah, that part....." i notice he's avoiding my eyes, looking away.
"So, i guess by now you figured out who i am and the cops are on their way?"
Guardian shakes his head "No, we didn't ID you, we haven't even seen your face, Pooka".
"Wait, how is that possible? There is no way you treated me *without* seeing my face"
Guardian pulls up a chair and sits down "The medical staff that helped you are sworn to secrecy, regarding *any* super they treat. Even among the Protectors, there are those who prefer to keep their identities secret. After they treated you, they put your mask back on." He puts his hand on mine "You did not deserve what happened to you, Pooka. You are a villain, but you are not *evil*"
(1/2)
|
"Hello Mr. Finch," says an older woman as she forces herself through my doorway. "It is so nice to finally meet you, I've been imagining this moment for so many years." She closes the door behind her and gives me the kindest, most motherly smile.
"Excuse me, ma'am. Do I know you?" I question her and she just smiles. "I will call the authorities, ma'am. This is private property." She laughs like I didn't just threaten her and hands me a battered roll of paper. Paper might be the wrong word, it was more like a pile of fused leaves.
"I just wanted to thank you, Mr. Finch. After the accident, I had so much time on my hands before I woke up. You gave me an entire lifetime, a lifetime full of happiness and love," she rambles, wiping a tear from her wrinkled, green eye. "You gave me so much hope and opportunity, the kind I wouldn't have gotten from dropping out of high school to take care of my mother." I'm now intrigued. Who is this old woman? I keep emergency services on speed dial, just in case she really has lost it.
"But you never answered my question: who are you, ma'am?"
"Why, I'm Sandy Butler, Mr. Finch. I'm sure you remember me."
It hits me. The years of long nights full of guilt and crying, long days visiting the children's hospital, the hours ticking by until she either woke up...or didn't. I had given up on her a year ago. "There's no way, you're just trying to mess with me!" I yelled at her. "Why are you playing with me like this? How do you even know that name?" I started sobbing.
Instead of responding, Sandy Butler just placed her battered book on my coffee table and collapsed. "Thank you so much Mr. Finch," she said, smiling at me before the life left her aged body.
Years later, after slowly forgetting about how I had to call the authorities on the dead woman in my living room, I returned to the book on my coffee table. I had never touched it, not once, since that day. I opened the book to a random page. It read like a diary, charting the romantic events on a particular day between a fairy and his human wife. I turned to another page, which dictated the proper preparation of magical mushrooms. I flipped through a couple more pages, most filled to the brim with poems, letters, stories, and the most peculiar of recipes.
I finally flipped to the first page.
My Life in Wonderland by Sandy Butler
Dedicated to Cooper Finch for casting me upon this wonderful world after my accident all of those years ago.
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Thanatofobia
|
None
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2025-01-11 19:16:06
|
2023-03-13 06:36:15
| 560 | 12 | null | null |
1hz0cf3
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11pue97
|
[WP] 5 years ago, you accidentally ran over a poor school student with your truck. You've carried the guilt all that time until one day, that very student knocks on your door, awoken from their coma. Rather than being angry, they thank you for inspiring their bestselling fantasy series
|
Oh God oh no oh no oh no—what the hell did I *do*? What did I do? Last thing I remember I was juggling flaming bowling pins at the mayor’s re-election gala—pure art, pure chaos, no harm! Nobody even got *singed*! Then some bright neon blur tackled me into the dessert table. Face full of tiramisu. Felt like a human freight train, but with abs. That much I remember.
And now—now I’m here. In… this place. White walls, everything humming like a science lab but too fancy. Too expensive. No restraints, which feels like an oversight, because I’d restrain *me*.
A big logo on the wall. Can’t read it from here, but I know that symbol. Everyone knows that symbol. Great big corporate-funded justice nonsense. Heroes. Actual *heroes.*
WHY am I here? Why didn’t they throw me in jail? I’m not hero-sick, I don’t want redemption, I don’t want therapy, I just want to mess with people. Mostly. Politely. Mostly politely!
Footsteps. Heavy boots, serious boots. Oh no. Oh God. Play dead? Too late. Door opens and oh crap, it’s her. Her face. Her *chin.* How is it that square? Like geometry came alive and decided to shame me.
“Good. You’re awake.” Her voice is a gravel road.
“Y-yeah.” Smooth. Real smooth.
“You’re lucky Nightshard didn’t kill you.”
Nightshard? Who names these people? Was it the neon blur? *Abs of steel, brain of oatmeal*. Figures.
“Uh, yeah, lucky,” I mumble, and she sits down. Sits DOWN, like we’re old pals catching up.
“We’ve been watching you, you know.”
“Y-you have?”
“Your tricks. Your stunts. You’re small-time, but creative. Messy, but clever. No fatalities, minimal injuries. You don’t even steal much.”
“Hey! I steal plenty!” Why am I defending my villainy to a literal superhero?!
She smirks. Smirks like I’m a toddler in a cape. “Sure. Listen. The league has a proposal.”
A proposal. From the league. For me. A supervillain whose last *heist* involved glitter bombs and a rubber chicken.
“W-what kind of proposal?”
“Community outreach.”
“Community *what*?”
“Team morale has been… tense. We need someone to shake things up. Keep people on their toes. A *designated nuisance*.”
My jaw is on the floor. Literally? Maybe? I can’t feel my face.
“You want me to annoy your coworkers?”
“Yes.”
“For money?”
“Yes.”
“And not prison?”
“Correct.”
The room is spinning. Either I’m concussed or I just landed the greatest gig in supervillain history.
“Deal.”
She shakes my hand, and I swear the bones in my fingers explode. But it doesn’t matter. I’m in. *I’m in.*
“Welcome to the team.”
And then she leaves, and I start laughing. Hysterical, shrieking laughter that echoes off these stupid shiny walls. Because somehow, *somehow*, I tricked the greatest heroes in the world into paying me to ruin their day.
Best. Day. Ever.
|
There he was, that kid I hit all those years ago. He had notable scars on his face and walked with a limp but I could still remember his face. The same one that’s haunted me every night for 5 years straight.
“Excuse me, you’re Mr. Tarō right? I’m Sakuro Kushikage. We… uh *meet* a few years ago if you remember?”
All I could do was break down in tears and fall on my knees before him. “I’m so sorry, if you’ve come for your revenge I don’t blame you in the slightest. After what I did to you there were so many times I wanted to die but was too much of a coward.”
“Woah woah woah, that is not what I’m here for. I’m actually here to thank you. May I come in?” He says as he extends his hand to help me back to my feet.
As we sit down in my living room he explains what he’s really here for. “While I was in the coma I had this very vivid dream about this fantasy world where I had magical abilities. Like being able to transform objects into other things or mind reading. Anyway I dreamt a whole other life there as a hero who lived a full life. When I finally woke up, I started writing all the things I remembered about the dream. My teachers liked it so much they helped me turn it into its own fantasy series that became a best seller.”
I sat there stunned that this kid who had every reason to hate me was standing here before me thanking me. I’m glad he turned such a horrible situation into something positive. Meanwhile I went into a serious depression and became a bit of a shut-in. Never even touched that truck again afterwards and rejected anyone who tried to help me.
“Anyway, none of that would have happened if it weren’t for you. When I found out what happened to you, I knew I had to find you so I can tell you face to face.”
At this point he comes over and places his hand on my shoulder.
“It’s not your fault what happened that day, it never was. That day I was being stupid and I didn’t see that the crosswalk was still red when I ran out onto the road. I’m lucky that a coma, some scars and a bad leg are all I got. Now thanks to you I’m a best selling author. So thank you.”
He comes over and hugs me as I break down in tears again. The guilt was still there but now I could finally feel at peace with what happened. We spend the next couple hours just talking and getting to know each other before he leaves. He gave me a signed copy of the first book in his series with a message inside.
*”To the one who I owe my new found fame and my new life to, thank you.”*
—————- 1 hour later ——————
I finally enter my garage for the first time since that day and there’s that old truck of mine. I don’t know why I kept it but I did. I step into the vehicle and turn the ignition on. When the radio turns on I hear that same voice I heard that day.
*”So, you’ve finally come back Tarō-san. I take it this means you’ve realized the importance of my mission in this world.”*
“Yes, I have. That was no dream that boy had was it?”
*”No, there are so many worlds out there that are in massive peril. Ones that need a hero to save them. That is my purpose, to send these heroes where they’re needed most. So are you prepared to help me with that, Tarō-san? I’d rather not have to mess with your reality again like I did with those street lights.”*
“Yes, I’ll help you, Truck-kun.”
|
StoneBurner143
|
None
|
2025-01-11 21:39:55
|
2023-03-13 04:04:33
| 232 | 162 | null | null |
1hz0cf3
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11pue97
|
[WP] You partner in crime has pulled a gun on you. "The truth is, the game was rigged from the start." You know that very well, mostly because you did all the rigging.
|
You'd think there'd be some honour among thieves, but he looked *far too* smug with that gun pointed at me. Too much for him not to be enjoying this.
"Alright, Miles," he said in a condescending manner. "I think it's time for us to go our separate ways. Specifically, me going towards luxury and comfort with the rest of our little gang, and you, well..." he cocked the hammer on the gun, "I don't much care."
I sighed. "So is this how it's gonna be?" I asked.
"You played your part in this little game well, but the truth is... it was rigged from the start. Frankly, I'm a little surprised you didn't see it coming."
"I did."
He tilted his head curiously. "That so?"
"Of course. Which is why I loaded your gun with blanks earlier today. I mean, did you really..." I smiled.
"Oh," he chuckled, "you mean *these* blanks?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pile of bullets - all marked with the tiny little indent on the side. The exact marking I used. "I checked them an hour ago. Like I said - you played your part well, but-"
"Is that the same gun from yesterday?" I continued. He frowned and nodded. "Right. So, the one with the firing pin filed down. Good."
Carefully, without turning the gun away, he inspected the inside and cursed quietly.
"I could've *sworn* that- bah. Doesn't matter. That's why I brought *this*," he said and pulled out a *second gun* from behind his back.
I did *not* see that coming.
"By the look on your face," he said calmly, "I assume you didn't find this one. So with that, I'll-"
"I was really hoping you wouldn't force me to do this, but..." I pulled out a small vial from my pocket. "This is-"
"The antidote to the poison you put in my coffee? Yeah. I know. It's why I switched the cups."
"Was that *after* I switched them *again*?"
"It was before I brewed a fresh new pot."
"With the-"
"Poisoned coffee beans?" he interrupted. "Of course not."
"I was going to see with the coffee pot I laced," I chortled. Finally, the ball was in my court and-
A laser appeared on my chest.
"I don't suppose you've met Laura?" he asked. "An excellent sniper, I must say. Now, if you'd be so-"
"Of course I know Laura," I replied and watched with satisfaction as the laser moved from my chest to his. "An excellent sniper indeed. And *very loyal*. I told her to aim at me first - a little bit of theatrics never hurt anyone."
A second laser appeared on my chest.
"Theatrical indeed," he nodded.
"It would appear we are at an impasse," I commended him.
"Not... exactly," he shrugged.
"*Hey, uh, Miles? We may, uh...*" the voice in my earpiece sounded quite concerned - never knew Laura to be nervous.
"Laura, I suspect, has just realized there is a man in her apartment with her wife. A man I am paying quite well."
"That man is an undercover FBI agent, I'll have you know. It took years for me to arrange for you to meet him."
"Oh, he flipped. You see, money..." he pointed at the pile of cash-filled bags at our feet, "money conquers all."
"I know he did. Why is why *I, and the rest of the Bureau*, set up this little operation," I revealed grandiosely and pulled out my ultimate trump card - my FBI badge.
"Wait," he stopped. "The **fuck**?!"
"And now it's time for justice- wait *what the fuck*?" I gasped as I saw him holster his second weapon and pull out something far more sinister - an NSA badge.
We stared at each other silently.
"*Hey, uh, Miles*?" Laura chirped in my ear. "*Is- is this something I should've been briefed on*? *No one back at the Agency mentioned*\-"
"Did you say *Agency*?!" I yelled at her. Looking up, I saw my partner-in-crime turned traitor turned NSA agent speak into his very own earpiece.
"*The fuck do you mean* ***DEA?!***"
|
I stopped. My heart was still beating quickly from the heist we pulled. My breathing got staggered. Eyes closed, I turned around.
"Hand over the bags, Olive."
I dropped them on the floor. "How about I go and you come get them yourself?"
He smirked. His grip tightened the pistol he was holding. "How about, YOU get them and bring them to me, honey".
His disgusting smile caused me to tick.
"No funny games, Olive. You can't escape. All of our exits are covered by the guards we 'distracted' with the decoy. It's you they want anyway, after what you took from The Big Guy."
"Fine!" I said, gritting my teeth. "I hope he treats you well."
I grabbed the bags and slowly walked toward him.
"So was this nothing to you? Three years of hot air?" I yelled as I looked him in the eyes.
"It's business, you know it."
"I know... I just thought, after Venice..."
"Yeah, the gondo...boats, St. Marko, the home cooked pasta after we blew up that mafia guy - never meant it."
"But the way you held me on the tower..." I inched closer and closer, tears in my eyes.
"I know honey, I am mesmerizing. Now come on, don't be shy."
"Even the walk in Monaco, the yacht, the murder we covered?"
"The game was rigged from the start, darling. The Big Guy didn't just want revenge." He blew a kiss my way. I almost puked.
"Besides, we both knew there was nothing between us."
"We planned a trip to Thailand you dickhead! We chose the names of our dogs!" I yelled at him, now close enough to hear his breathing.
He frowned "let's name them Happy and Ginny" he mockingly imitated my voice. "What a dumb combination of names!" I could see drops of sweat on his forehead. Could it be?
"Yeah its dumb!" I laughed, tears in my eyes. "What about the time we had diarrhea after those gas station tacos in New Mexico."
I could see the some on his face.
"Do you remember we got two rooms in that motel because we couldn't share the bathroom".
"Yeah! And what about the receptionist, did he really try to sell us tumbleweed as 'thats the good shizz bros, truuuust me' !" I was now face to face with my former lover. "Did it meant nothing all this time?"
He looked me in the eyes. "Sorry, just business."
"So is mine."
The shock flowed through his body.
"Don't play games with me!" His grip tightened around the trigger. "Hand me the bag and lay down on the ground, hands above your head!"
"We aren't in the bedroom anymore, Victor." I smiled at him, dropping the bag behind me.
"Woman, I will shoot you if you try anything!"
"I've made my peace with death." I started going around him, my hands still up. "You know, for all they did, I do give my parents credit for my name. Olive. It's a symbol of peace. Friendship. Abundance... Glory." I whispered in his ear. "They gave olive branches to the victors in ancient Greece. And how ironic, for your name, that you give yours away."
Victor looked at me confused.
"I rigged the game, Vicky, I! Do you think we met each other by chance in San Francisco? Do you think our first heist was from The Big Guy by chance? Do you think he is dumb enough to not remember who killed his parents on that mission in Iraq? You backstabbing, gut wrenching, naive liar!"
"Noo... No way you are working with him. No way he told you any of that."
"He didn't need to, Victor! I knew it before we started! You sick bastard!"
"Why are you on his side? Let's split the winning and run away!"
"You don't seem to get it, don't you? Persy and Olive? Does this sound Greek to you? Like some people you killed?!" I had tears in my eyes as I yelled at him.
He froze. It was dawning on him what had happened.
"It's impossible. They never mentioned their kids!"
"See you in hell, Victor."
The floor beneath him fell. I could hear the yelling. In a way it ended a perfect circle, how he killed our parents to save his own ass. They were on the roof, waiting for a helicopter to pick them. He was on the other side of the square. There wasn't a way to save all of them, so he rigged their building to collapse. Now he collapsed.
-------------
"Hey Nate!" I picked up the phone. "We got that diary you were looking for... Sure, I'll pick up Persy and head right... Oh malaria shots? Yeah no worries, see you soon, Drake!"
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SirPiecemaker
|
alexppetrov
|
2023-08-17 23:50:23
|
2023-08-17 22:24:10
| 364 | 97 | null |
jwn3u6y
|
15twp5a
|
15twp5a
|
[WP] A man signed a demonic contract thousands of years ago. In exchange for his mortality he would be granted immeasurable power and strength. Now humanity is about drive itself to extinction and he no longer wishes to be immortal. He comes up with a brilliant idea to take back the contract.
|
There was once a supervillain empire that was legend upon the criminal underworld called the Paradigm. Whole cities were under their thumb and ran better than the previous management, with books untouchable by both feds and heroes. Then things went horribly wrong at the top of the command structure. The leader of the group, Paradox, unexpectedly met a small-time hero called The Trickster while trying to escape from the superhero group Manticore. A skirmish broke out between them, but battle damage from the first bout broke the containment on an energy cell and Paradox was never seen again. Without their leader, the organization quickly imploded, and the power vacuum quietly filled. The Jokester even got some invites to several superhero teams afterward, quickly becoming a staple in the community, even though he lacked powers. At least, that's the story that got told to everyone.
Let me start my side of things from the beginning. I was just an engineer failing to make ends meet when I got contacted by a guy in a lab coat to take my problems away. By all normal metrics, I should have said no to the deal, but I was desperate. You can only spend so long underwater before you're willing to grab any liferaft. I agreed to the gig and became a scientist for an upstart super villain called The Thinker. Myself and a few others were tasked to become a think tank, trying to convert as many of the Thinker's ideas into reality. I don't know if it was some latent ability I didn't know I had or some other freak chance of fate, but it turns out I had quite a knack for it, even creating some ideas on my own. Made all sorts of novel inventions: power amplifiers, flight suits, sentient robots, disintegration rays (one of mine), even portable nuclear fusion at one point. Anything that could help keep an edge over the influx of superpowers in society.
However, all the tech in the world amounts to a hill of beans if you can't make plans to use it. The Thinker was a genius scientist and innovator, but as a strategist he was subpar at best. Plans that cost a pretty penny failed left and right, and the seed money he got from god knows where started to run dry. One of the henchmen caught wind of the coming destitution and decided to turn informant. Some superhero I didn't recognize busted in and fought the Thinker, but most of my focus was on removing the hard drives of the database, grabbing a flight suit, and running away. No one really notices the someone fleeing from a super-powered fight when they have to dodge falling debris.
Since I was suddenly unemployed and tasted a hint of what superpowered life was, I decided to invent an identity called Paradox and test out becoming a supervillain, converting the suit I stole into a black and purple outfit. With the hindsight of The Thinker's downfall, I planned for nigh everything. When I got money flow set up I paid my underlings well, set achievable goals and schemes and even started embedding robotic spies into various hero and villain organizations to gather information on any potential scores or incomming threats. After a few years, I was the head of the largest organization on the eastern seaboard, called the Paradigm. However, I wasn't happy, and it's quite lonely at the top of the pyramid.
|
The team was saved and the villain was defeated and order was restored. That, apparently, was the easy part. The hard part is making sense of what just happened.
Triggerman, the leader of the heroes, had just called a meeting and asked everyone to clear their calendar for the rest of the day (and possibly week). When everyone arrived, the elephant in the room was immediately addressed: how did Jimmy do all of... that?
Jimmy had been brought onto the team as a mixture of a distraction and cannon fodder. As brutal as it sounded, this was a normal part of the superhero zeitgeist. The heroes could not properly function if all the attention was on them and not at least partially on an expendable member. The team had been through at least a dozen of these members over the years. But Jimmy had revealed himself to be decidedly different.
"We all know why we're here," Triggerman said.
"Avalon and I need to know what's going on here," said Zonma. Zonma had to speak for her sister Avalon because she had traded her voice for her powers.
The rest agreed, and all eyes nervously laid on Jimmy.
Jimmy began his explanation. "It's all quite simple. I've had these amazing powers for so long and have operated under different names on different teams for so long, and it just got boring. I show up, dominate the field, and the day is saved."
Creaturus quickly replied with "you think this is a game? You put us and regular people in danger because you're... bored? I know sloths who are more motivated than you are. Do you know how close we were to dying and the world's defenses against evil being reduced to nothing??"
Jimmy gave his reply: "I would still be there as a Plan Z if everything else goes wrong and you all died... no problem."
Triggerman stood up with an air of fury. "Do you care about anyone else aside from you and your own ego?? It's okay if anyone and everyone dies as long as you are on the winning side."
Jimmy calmly nodded and shrugged with a half-smirk. "What are you going to do about it? I single-handedly destroyed an enemy that you all could not collectively defeat."
Everyone sat back stupefied and unable to rationally reply. The few seconds of silence hung thick in the air and seemed to instead be hours. Jimmy sat back and said "well I guess that's settl-"
"But then you would be back where you started." Everyone looked to the lobby of the room to see who had spoken. It was the team's benefactor... the one who financed the team and ran the background operations that nobody cared to paid attention to. Nobody knew about him and had slowly taken him for granted over the years of stability and consistency from his side. Jimmy didn't know who this man was since he had joined the team well after the benefactor had retreated from the spotlight to the shadows.
"You will be bored. You said it yourself... you stopped being a hero and started being a joke to shake things up for yourself personally. If you do go back to saving the day all the time, you would be defeated by your own victories. And you would find another team to be a joke for."
Jimmy started to shift in his seat and looked nervous.
"It would be a never-ending cycle of peaks and valleys, and no team wants an inconsistent team member. We want to know who we are, not just who we are on a specific day. If you want to remain on this team, then pick a role: savior or joke. You'll be removed from the team and publicly disgraced by us so that no other team would accept you."
Jimmy nervously started to speak but was cut off.
"Or you can just leave now and we go our separate ways."
All eyes were again on Jimmy as before, but the balance of power had clearly shifted in the last 30 seconds.
"But who will save you if you all fail??" Jimmy pleaded.
"That's our business... so, what's it going to be?" replied the benefactor.
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nerdguy99
|
360walkaway
|
2024-12-21 06:46:40
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2024-12-21 04:55:49
| 30 | 22 |
m33ppwr
| null |
1hiwrc4
|
1hiwrc4
|
[WP] On an interstellar cruise of 200 years the 1st class passengers have cryosleep. 2nd class have to serve the 1st but also have cryosleep. You are a born 3rd class passenger, your grandparents boarded decades ago. You find a secret deck with lots of mysterious cryo passengers never seen before…
|
The hot air of the exhaust always makes for uncomfortable working conditions, even more so when you find yourself running away a pack of wild thugs. I'm not saying they don't have a good reason. But I am saying don't leave a 3,000 credit steak on the grill and walk away, shit even had mushrooms and onions on it. After a lifetime of E.Y.N. (Everything You Need) soup, the things I won't do for some real contraband food wasn't a long list. Still these vent pipes make everything just a little harder.
As the pipes wizz past my head I'm grateful for my small frame and stature. As a member of the 3rd class we're tasked with keeping the G.G.S. INDEPENDENCE working and running across this 14 lightyear journey to humanities new home. Being this small means when someone had to squeeze into tight clostraphobic spaces, i was voluntold. But hey now I'm basicically fearless and know the lower decks like the back of my hand.
As i turn the corner I find my escape. A narrow passage that these gorillas couldn't possibly follow me. The floor fades into just vertical pipes along the walls but there's enough hand holds to climb through for a duct rat like myself. The occasional smoke puff, though annoying, helps obscure me from my pursuers. As the vents get closer and closer I find myself having to pull myself through the vents, tight, but nothing I haven't done before. My bag however is less fortunate as it snages on a valve. I pulled myself through the next set of pipes I hear a long rip and my hope sinks deep within once more. The steaks dropped deep into the abyss of the ship lost forever. Looked like dinner was gonna be E.Y.N again. I'd never know the savory taste that was still making my mouth water.
Fuck that. I loosened my grip and closed my legs as I began to slide deep into the bowels of the ship. Once it got too tight to slide further I contorted my body and crawled further down. The aluminum foil constantly out of my reach as it bounced further and further down. Sweat began flooding my face, the salt of sweat stinging my eyes. With every movement squeezing me more and more until I was completely inverted pulling my ever further into darkness. And there it was, my prize, my dinner standing just out of my reach. Resting on some grate with no further to fall. My outstretched arm struggled to claim my treasure. With every inch I taste my victory.
A loud crash surrounded me pulling me into free fall. Just what I needed to win my accolade. I grabbed my steak and crashed hard through the grating into a room I don't recognize. Velvet red carpet formed the softest thing I ever crashed into. Looking up my eyes were drawn to gorgeous artwork depicting foreign landscapes of a planetside I never known. A library of countless books that know has more information than all the training manuels I've ever read. And in-between them were cyrostasis pods. George Washington, William Shakespeare, Leonardo Da-Vinci, Jehanne Tarc, Alexandria Victoria Isaaiah Kremlin, Rosalind DeLaVan. Who were these people. As I wiped the fog from the glass. Shock entered my body as I saw skeletons, hunks of flesh sewn together. Some pods were just filled with blood. What was this place. A single door leave this room which just asked more questions. Who are class Zero?
|
I set my tray between Ma, who was already munching her French fries, and pa, who was still cutting Tom’s chicken nuggets into little bite sized chunks.
I forked my food from one side of the tray to the other, hoping they wouldn’t comment on my lack of appetite. I hadn’t had my first smoke of the day, and back in those days, I had to smoke some weed before I could eat. If I didn’t, I felt very sick, like I would vomit, and forcing down bites of food took considerable mental effort.
Presently, I forked a pathetically small bit of nugget into my mouth, and forced myself to continue chewing as I munched into the breading and white meat. Though the texture was absolutely normal, I knew I was eating gristle.
It popped and cracked beneath my teeth as saliva cascaded and my throat became raw and hot. I bunched up my napkin and spit out the little chicken, playing it off as though I was just wiping my face.
I’d make the calories up in the evening, after my smoke, when I would shove chips, chocolate, and any other junk food I could get down my gullet. Presently, I forked my food from one side to the other, taking consistent drinks of my water, just for something to do, you know?
The table was silent, as it oft was. My father was an imposing man, in his own way. The conversation revolved around him, was him, to some degree. Today, he did not begin any discussion, so no talk was had.
Mom cleared her throats several times, also taking long sips of water, just to give her arms something to do.
The laughter from other tables seemed to cause my dad to furrow his brow even deeper. His shoulders held their tension despite it being another average Monday morning.
Presently, one table sang happy birthday to a little boy, who was burbling happily. I opened my mouth to join in, yet a concerned glance from my mother, and an angry one from pa, made me stop.
“Eugene’s boy is sick.” Pa said, his eyes on his tray. “I’ll be late today. I volunteered to pick up his slack.”
“Of course, honey,” Ma said. “Kind of you.”
Pa nodded, and once again silence fell.
Lunch was just wrapping up when my dad began.
“You haven’t eaten much.” He said.
“Not feeling too good, my allergies are killing me.” I said.
“Didn’t you take your pill?” He said.
“Yeah,” I said. “Just isn’t working that good, I guess.”
“You guess?” Dad squinted.
“Yes sir.” I said, not understanding his meaning, not understanding the pin pricks of anger in his eyes.
“Well, you need to eat, boy.” Dad said. He grabbed a untouched chicken nugget and pushed it into my hand. “Eat.”
My mom gave me a sad, anxious look.
Mind over matter.
I put the nugget in my mouth and began masticating, feeling the gristle, the bones, the feathers, and organs of the chicken crunching beneath my incisors. I felt the blood, the viscera, and the intestinal waste spread throughout my maw.
Mind over matter.
The putrid stench of rot filled my nostrils.
“You better swallow, boy.” Dad said.
Mind over matter.
My teeth caught on something sharp, like a talon, and I panicked. Without thinking, I spat the glob of saliva and half chewed chicken nugget on my tray.
My mom’s eyes widened. My pa looked at me with considerable anger.
“What’s wrong with you, boy?” Pa asked.
“I’m sorry.” I mumbled.
“You’re sorry?” Dad threw up his hands. “You’re sorry! That cost eight dollars, you know? Nearly two hours of my hard work, and you’ll just treat it like it’s garbage!”
“I’m sorry, dad.” I repeated. “I didn’t mean to.”
Dad snatched up my tray.
“Well, you did.” He dumped his tray’s trash atop mine, soiling the food. “That was it for today, John. That was it! You wait till tomorrow morning, and see if you mean to then.”
With that, he huffed away to work.
|
OverLordAlastor
|
None
|
2023-05-23 22:56:58
|
2023-05-23 18:27:11
| 138 | 45 |
jlcrss2
| null |
13pvkfk
|
13pvkfk
|
[WP]Your sibling, your parents' least favorite child, died prematurely. They hardly noticed. They certainly didn't shed a tear. Now, during the funeral, they forgot your siblings name - again. It's your turn to 'say a few words', so you do.
|
I thought about keeping the peace. I really did. Rick would have. He was, let's face it, a whole lot smarter than me. But i did try. For four, maybe five whole seconds.
Then i saw the look on that bastard's face. He was absolutely revelling in all the attention he was getting as 'the grieving father. ' He was trying to look like he was 'bravely hanging on', but i could see the flash of satisfaction when he hugged women just a bit too long, and the avarice dancing in his eyes when people offered 'anything they could do.'
So I walked up to the podium.
"His name was Rick, Dad. Not Elizabeth or Lizzie. Rick. He hasn't been Lizzie since highschool, you judgemental a$$hole."
"Most of you never met Rick. You're mostly business associates our father is hoping to manipulate. You should know that once Rick stopped toeing the party line our parents had no use for him. And trust me, if you out live your usefulness he will abandon you just as quickly. "
"Rick was my hero. He was brave. He was funny. He was kind. And wow was he smart!!"
"Smart enough to have dozens of different patents, coincidentally in your field Dad. Don't ask me what they are, I'm not that intelligent. But i know that what they do is earn a lot of money. I mean.. a LOT of money."
" And Rick was smart enough to use some of that money to start a company. I think you all know it. It's call Rick Morgan Enterprises. Its the one that just bought your company Dad."
I let that hang in the air for a minute. Just long enough for our sperm donors greed to fight through his embarrassment and rage. I swear i saw the moment he thought he might inherit the company he'd worked for for the last ten years. I gave him just long enough to envision himself enthroned in the top office making everyone grovel
" And before he ever got on that motorcycle, Rick eas smart enough to have a very VERY specific, iron-clad will. "
|
I was a wreck.
Had a hard time trying not to cry, but I had to do it...for her.
I walked up to the stand, and watched everyone who came to the funeral.
My little sister, who passed away due to a disease...that could have been cured if my parents paid more attention to her, wasn't that well known.
My parents barely acknowledged her presence, and thus the turnout was barely a few relatives, grandparents and of course...my parents.
I took a deep breath, and started.
"She was a bundle of joy, my sister, ANA, in case you forget her name...AGAIN.
She would waddle in my room, and just brighten it and my mood with her simple "si-si", as she couldn't yet say sister properly.
She was my world, and I was hers, after all, I had to be her mom.", I said.
The funeral got even quieter, my parents glared at me, but they said nothing as grandma and grandpa were right next to them.
I took another deep breath, and continued.
"She was five years old, such a bright child, but due to some early issues, had difficulty speaking, but that didn't mean she didn't understand what was happening, oh no no, not at all.
Ana was a wise little child, who knew when to come to my room, as she seemed to sense when I was in a bad mood.
Ana was a wonderful, and thoughtful child, as she when my parents where in no mood to see her, so Ana remained in her room all day...not eating, not doing anything.
It was me who had to make sure she ate something.
And yes, you heard me right, my parents, as they never behaved like Ana's.", I said, my voice getting hoarse, and my sobs starting to come out.
"Ana was much more than a sister to me, she was my best friend, and one of the few things that made sense to me in this life.
When she got sick, I felt as if my world was shattering, and I begged for her to be taken to a hospital, but I was ignored. Ana was ignored.
May she find loving parents, and a happy life in the next one, but I will never forget Ana, and she will always be my sister.
Thank you...", I finished, rushing out, as I couldn't stop from crying.
As I ran out, I could see my grandparents from both sides, and some relatives gather around my parents, as they questioned them.
Running outside, the weather was beautiful, the sun shining down on me.
"It's you...isn't it...Ana...", I muttered, as I looked up at the beautiful clear skies that remined me of her smile.
|
Eloni16
|
TheWanderingBook
|
2024-05-24 06:54:58
|
2024-05-24 03:50:56
| 293 | 196 |
l5fs5p0
|
muphsyc
|
1czb218
|
1kxi1nb
|
[WP] It’s been many years since you’ve stopped aging. You’ve seen nations rise and fall. Met, and forgotten countless people. One day, as you’re resting your eyes in a park, dreaming of a love long past, the person on the bench next to you speaks. “You think of me after all this time?”
|
"I will never stop thinking of you," I smiled, my eyes closed enjoying the image in my mind's eye,
"Can you still picture me?"
"Always"
"What do I look like?"
"The same as you always did. Young, beautiful, flawless," I felt a brush against my lips. My imagination was getting too real, but the last thing I wanted to do was wake from my dream,
"Open your eyes Michael," he said, lips brushing against mine.
"I don't want to,"
"Open your eyes," he pressed his lips more firmly against mine. If I opened my eyes he'd be gone. Lost again to the depths of my imagination. It wouldn't be until I was alone that I could use my imagination to draw him back.
Him... He had a name... Timothy... My first love, so many eons ago. Centuries had passed and I'd had many loves since, but I never forgot Timothy.
Timothy, the young stable hand and me, the Lord of the Manor's son. It was a love that was never meant to be and met a tragic end. My father ordered the boy hung and I was exiled.
I'd done everything to share my powers, but nothing seemed to work. I heard the gallows swing as my father's men drove me out of town.
"Open your eyes Michael," Timothy's voice urged,
"If I open my eyes you'll disappear," my voice shook. I felt a hand take mine,
"I promise I'm not going anywhere," Timothy's voice had always soothed me. Whenever my father and I fell out, Timothy had been able to soothe my angry soul.
I held Timothy's hand a moment as I felt another brush against my lips. Slowly I opened my eyes to find myself face to face with the first love of my life.
"I told you I'd find you in a time where our love would be more accepted".
|
The park was serene, bathed in the golden glow of a late afternoon sun. The whispers of the breeze rustled the leaves, creating a symphony of nature's quiet lullaby. It had been many years since you stopped aging, watching as the world around you changed, nations rose and fell, and people came and went like fleeting shadows. Your eyes closed, you drifted into memories of a love that once burned brightly, now a distant ember in the vast expanse of your long existence.
Suddenly, a voice broke through the veil of your reverie. "You think of me after all this time?"
Your eyes snapped open, heart pounding with a mixture of disbelief and hope. Turning to the source of the voice, you found yourself staring into the familiar eyes of the person you had thought about every day, yet never expected to see again. They looked unchanged, just as you remembered them from the days when your love was new and the world seemed full of promise.
"You?" you managed to whisper, your voice trembling. "How can it be?"
They smiled softly, a smile that had always held the power to make your heart soar. "I've been here, watching over you, waiting for the right moment."
Emotions surged within you—joy, confusion, a hint of fear. "But how? I thought you were gone."
Their gaze softened, and they reached out to gently touch your hand. "Love like ours doesn't just disappear. It's woven into the fabric of time itself. I knew you'd find me again, eventually."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the park, you felt a warmth you hadn't experienced in centuries. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, you weren't alone. The world continued to change, but in that moment, everything felt right. The love you had cherished and mourned was there, beside you, a testament to the enduring power of true connection.
You smiled, tears of joy and relief welling up in your eyes. "I never stopped thinking of you," you said, your voice steadying. "Not for a single moment."
And as the stars began to twinkle in the evening sky, you knew that this reunion was just the beginning of a new chapter in your endless journey.
|
Physical-Midnight997
|
ConstantBat4303
|
2024-07-04 12:17:54
|
2024-07-04 08:41:58
| 29 | 19 |
lbl5as1
|
lbkkjua
|
1dv0sft
|
1dv0sft
|
[WP] Guy lives alone in a world full of people, no one can see or hear him, he lives his days alone until one day he find another person, another person alone in this world with him. They fall in love but then he phases back into the world, everyone can see him again, but he can’t see her.
|
It wasn’t much of a shrine, really. More like a mistake someone forgot to clean up—a toppled stone, a clump of moss, a flower that bloomed too early and just stayed. The others had gold. Marble. Columns so tall they made you feel small before you even got inside, which was probably the point. Me? I had… well, dirt. Dirt and one loyal visitor.
She was small when she first stumbled in, hair wild and clothes half-tucked like she’d wrestled a tornado and lost. She looked at the stone—*my* stone—and said, "Huh. That’s weird." Then she sat down, right there in the mud, and started talking.
Talking! To me! The god of—well, that’s complicated. Not something grand like thunder or love or, I don’t know, cheese. (Cheese is big. People love cheese.) No, I was the god of Small Forgotten Things. Buttons in gutters. The last sip of tea. Shrines no one visits.
Except her.
Every year, she came back. Not with gold or incense or whatever the fancy gods demanded. Just her. Sitting. Talking. Telling me about school, her parents fighting, how her brother put a frog in her shoe, how she put the frog in his bed, how she didn’t even feel bad about it. (I liked that one. Feisty.) She didn’t ask for anything. Never prayed. Never begged. Just talked, like we were old friends. And I—I listened.
Years passed. She grew up. The wild hair got tamer, the clothes more put-together. But she always came back. Always sat in the mud, even when she was wearing something too nice for mud. "You’re the only one who gets it," she said once, leaning back against my stone. "You don’t try to fix me. You just… listen."
And oh, did I listen. To everything. Her first love (some guy named Marco—didn’t like him, too smug), her first heartbreak (Marco again, predictable), her first job (terrible boss, good coffee). I listened as her visits grew longer apart, but she always came back. Always.
Then, one day, she showed up different. Older. Frailer. A cane tapping against the stone as she lowered herself down. She sat there, breathing heavy, and said, "Well, old friend. This might be it."
*It?* I felt the panic before I could stop it. Gods aren’t supposed to panic. We’re supposed to be all-knowing, all-powerful. But all I knew was that my only believer was leaving, and I was powerless to stop it.
"I wish I could stay longer," she said, smiling at the stone. "But I’m tired. And you—you’ve been enough. More than enough."
No. No, no, no. *Not enough.* Never enough. Not for her. Not for my only visitor, my only friend.
So I did the one thing gods aren’t supposed to do. I meddled.
She closed her eyes, leaning against the stone, and when she opened them again—well. She wasn’t old anymore. Or frail. Or tired. She looked down at her hands, smooth and strong, and then at me—*really* at me, for the first time.
"You—" she started, but I didn’t let her finish.
"Go," I said, the words rumbling through the stone. "Live. Love. Be. And don’t forget me."
She laughed. Loud, full, free. "Forget you? Never."
And then she ran, young again, back into the world. My little shrine, my small forgotten place, felt quiet. But not empty.
Never empty.
|
Swirls of light enshrouded her, and alas! I appeared above the shrine, bathed in wonder for surely she had never seen a god. My tempest of appearance settled gradually as I announced her reward for her commitment to me.
"Meredith you came when none other would. Year on year, in your life. Now you are middle-aged, and still you come! Kneel and receive what I give!"
Meredith grimmaced, knelt.
"Behold!" I thundered, and produced the holy contraption for her. The light dissipated, the swirling subsided. I remained hovering over my shrine, beaming down at her as she retook her feet and approached the treasure I had bestowed.
"An elliptical?" she said, dryly. "You're giving me an elliptical?"
"I..." I said, caught off guard by her unblinking stare. "Are... are you unfazed by my sudden appearance and bestowal? I am a god!"
Her stare maintained for a minute in the silence between us, then she looked back at the elliptical.
"I mean, it's an elliptical. Do you think I should be more surprised that there's a god for this shrine I've known all my life? Or do you think it's more surprising that a god manifested a gift for me, and it's an elliptical?"
"What is wrong, Meredith? I seek only to reward my most--my only devotee."
She sighed, and touched one of the handlebars, pushing it so that the pedals squeaked on their rail. She started.
"Is... is this a used elliptical?"
"Um, it's," I stammered, conscious of a bit of ethereal sweat on my brow. Gods sweat, yes.
I smote the bead and said, "yes, Meredith, but it has good reviews and ellipticals are sturdy machines."
"Why do you think I need one?"
"Meredith come! You are middleaged and this is but a beginner's hike to the trailhead, and even that is just behind your home. Surely you need to consider other forms of exercise."
"God damn!" she snapped. "All my life I come here, and your first thought is I need to lose weight? What kind of god are you? I can't believe I thought this shrine was so important."
I summoned a tiny rumble of the earth and a bit of wind that messed up her hair a little.
"Stop that!" she said. I recoiled.
"I wouldn't use this machine," she continued.
"Why not?"
"I can't be bothered to exercise on machines. Hell I can't exercise unless it's to do something. Like, a sport maybe. Get the ball in the net, over the net. Or walking to the store to buy food and lug it home. Something primordial about hunting and gathering, I dunno. I can't just waste calories just because. It goes against nature for god's sake."
She eyed me at that last quip.
"But--"
"--and by the way, can you even teleport this to somewhere else?"
"Of course!" And I summoned with great concentration a displacement, and the elliptical moved a foot to the right.
"Like to my basement?" she asked. I looked down. "So what, it just stays here in the forest next to your shrine? I can't carry this thing it must weigh 80 pounds."
She inhaled and touched her temples as if they hurt.
"I... I am sorry, Meredith. I care about you, you see. I want you to be healthy and to come visit me next year. And the year after, and so on. I have no friends, you see. I am alone."
Meredith looked up at me, letting her hands fall to her sides. Her eyes filled with an emotion I couldn't quite identify even with my holiness of sight. It seemed to fill her, to redden her cheeks and lift her spirit, as if a bit of electricity stimulated her awareness beyond the aged bones I had erroneously thought she should limber up. I knew then that while perhaps she wouldn't use the elliptical, at least, she would come visit again next year.
|
StoneBurner143
|
velabas
|
2025-01-14 04:24:12
|
2025-01-14 03:59:56
| 968 | 205 | null | null |
gpk38j
|
al1j64
|
[WP] "Silence," the archdemon hissed to its surprised audience as it cradled an exhausted figure against its chest. "If you disturb my human's rest, I will fashion them a quilt from your hides."
|
The demon clutched the woman close. Although he was a being of hulking size, he seemed small somehow as he desperately clung to her body.
Arabelle could do naught but stare, mouth agape, at the peculiar scene before her. The demon's voice might have been full of anger moments before, but now he had his back turned to the party of foragers.
"I'm a healer; maybe I can help," Arabelle spat out without even a moment's thought. She could feel the stares of the others in her group.
The demon turned his head slowly towards her. He stared into her eyes with pitch black ones of his own.
Gavith took her by the arm. "What are you doing?" He hissed as he tugged her back. "That's an archdemon, you fool. Are you trying to get killed?"
Arabelle shook her arm out of his grasp. "That's a woman he's holding so dearly. Besides, he doesn't seem to be a danger to us. There must be something I can do," Arabelle consoled her friends and gingerly approached the demon and his human.
The demon laid the woman down on the soft grass of the clearing. Trees surrounded them on all sides, and the sun shone brightly overhead, gleaming off the bloodred skin of the devilish being.
Arabelle knelt down next to the woman. Her deep brown hair framed an exquisite sleeping face. She was no older than thirty; seemingly the picture of health, except for the bright red gash running down her chest.
Somehow, the wound did not gush blood, and upon checking her pulse, it appeared to be beating steadily. The demon must have been doing something to keep her from losing her life too quickly. If she could just heal the wound itself...
Arabelle brought her hands over the wound and began channeling her healing. Her hands twitched. She touched the wound directly with one hand. It recoiled.
*She... she has no heart...* Arabelle thought as she stared in confused terror at the serene face of the woman before her. *But her pulse...*
Arabelle looked up at the demon looming above. His enormous figure obscured the sun itself, casting her into shadow. Two wicked horns protruded from the top of his silhouette.
"I-I'm sorry," Arabelle choked. "She has no heart. I'm not even sure how her blood still flows. I cannot heal that which is not there," Arabelle tried her best to remain calm in the face of the terrifying beast before her.
The demon knelt down. A razor-sharp, stark black claw extended towards the woman's cheek. Despite the wickedness of his form, he caressed her cheek gently, careful to do no harm.
"I see," the demon spoke evenly, his face impassive.
Arabelle rose and tried to keep the relief she felt from showing on her face. The demon didn't seem very angry.
Suddenly, Arabelle felt a tearing at her chest. A sharp coldness ran throughout every inch of her body. The very world around her seemed to darken. Screaming.
"Your hearts will have to do, then. Thank you."
|
<Fantasy>
# Soulmage
**As demons went, the Demon of Empathy didn't look like much.** Their body was towering and muscular, sure, but still markedly human; they wore rune-traced armor, but witches and nobles did as well.
No, what made the Dealmaker unique was the collapsed girl behind them, and the scowling crowd they stared down.
The crowd was unarmed, save for the odd hunting spear, but that made little difference. The Dealmaker had been ancient before this settlement was more than a cluster of sheep and a dream; they knew only too well how easily the blood would flow once the rough music started. Which was why, despite their mission being one that required stealth, they had intervened and revealed themself to the citizens of the Bladed Slopes.
"Kindly back away from Taresa," the Dealmaker stated. Their tone was as immovable and uncompromising as the Silent Peaks looming behind them.
"His name is Seran," someone from the crowd shouted, and the Dealmaker traced the twisted threads of empathy connecting them with the child. A parent, perhaps, or a guardian, judging by the strength of their souls' intertwinement.
That was for Taresa to decide, but the Dealmaker would rather keep any and all attention away from her at the moment. "Whether your name is Seran or Teresa," the Dealmaker said, "you do not deserve to be torn apart at the hands of a bloodfrenzied mob."
"He's sick in the head," someone shouted—an authority figure of some kind, judging by the uniform, professional tangles of empathy connecting them to the flock they guided. "It's kinder this way, for everyone."
"We've seen you, demon," another person hissed. "You're a murderer and a monster, and we won't have you in our village."
Ah. So that was how it was. Projection and empathy were twisted mirrors of each other, but the Dealmaker was familiar enough with one to work with the other. If that was the role the Bladed Slopes would see them as, that was the role they would play.
They drew themself up to their full height and called forth sorrow and oppression from their soul, frost and void howling behind them as the crowd shifted and swore. "Then hear me this," the Dealmaker intoned. "No blood need be shed today. I have come here to give this child what they deserve."
The crowd that had been willing to bash the poor girl's body until it fit the shape they wanted stared at the Dealmaker, and they saw a monster who would deliver the pain they desired and more.
The second person to speak nodded slowly. "If that is the case, demon, then take that man to the lowest of your hells. Let that be a lesson to you all!"
The social consequences were... unintended, but the Dealmaker's mission would soon make that long-term issue irrelevant. Calling forth cold once more, the Dealmaker cloaked Taresa and themself in mist, vanishing as the crowd roared for blood. They picked up her unconscious, slight weight and walked away, leaving the hateful town behind.
It would be a long detour, procuring medicine and food and shelter for the fallen girl, but the Demon of Empathy had resources. One way or another, they would give Taresa the empathy she deserved.
A.N.
This story is part of Soulmage, a serial written in response to writing prompts. Check out the rest of the story [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/bubblewriters/comments/uxmwe4/soulmage_masterpost/), or r/bubblewriters for more.
|
aurabby
|
meowcats734
|
2023-04-11 11:31:30
|
2023-04-11 11:11:27
| 728 | 109 |
jftc4m6
|
jfta9tl
|
12idadd
|
12idadd
|
[WP] You're on a hike and find a sign, it reads: "WARNING DO NOT LOOK AWAY. There is a danger here, the danger is based on sight. The danger cannot see you if you cannot see it. Help will arrive every half-hour. DO NOT LOOK AWAY." The sign has a built-in clock, it's 3:15pm.
|
The moon used to be a barren, lifeless place. Same with the rest of the solar system. Barren, lifeless, devoid of natural resources… well… not until I had a hand in it.
Truth be told I didn’t have a hand in it for some time. Most mages are only strong enough to cast simple spells or raise the dead to life. Some mages move mountains and create cities with a wave of their staff, but these are rare. Still rarer are the people who can summon life from nothing and rarer still are those that can spread it far and wide. But I am more powerful than they.
See, every mage starts training with a wondrous seed called, uncreatively, a Mage Power Seed. This little seed starts out the size of a shelled peanut. But as the mage grows their power, so too does the seed. Most seeds grow to the size of sticks that might be about the size of an adult’s forearm. Some have theirs grow to the size of a longsword. Still others have theirs grow to the size of staves. Each of these represents a power greater than the last.
But what about my seed? Well, my seed grew to the size of a gigantic tree. A tree so gigantic I can live within it. It has roots, leaves and strong wood that obeys my every command. The tree’s tallest branches touch the high clouds of the newly terraformed moon. I brought life to this entire planet. The rivers burble around my tree home and throughout the forests, meadows, lowlands and highlands, trees and flowers and plants flourish in the sun, and animals frolick through it all. These and more than these now happen on all planets throughout the solar system and mankind, through my various warp gates, can reach it all.
Cities flourish and mankind grows. Technology and magic work together in harmony. There is no war. There is no strife. Many worship me, but that is unnecessary. I seek only to expand my influence to the stars. Who knows how big my tree will grow?
|
"You ever hear about what happened to that old man down the street?" I asked.
Josh pulled closer to the fire, rubbing his hands together. "The one in the gray house with the green shutters?"
"Yeah, that one."
He nodded.
"Legend has it, that he was hiking and stepped off the trail by accident. When he went to get his map, he noticed a sign that said "WARNING DO NOT LOOK AWAY. If you cannot see it, then it cannot see you. Help will arrive every half-hour. DO NOT LOOK AWAY". The letters were poorly written in white paint, which made him think it was some kind of hoax. Then he noticed that there was an analog clock beneath the sign. It read 3:15 PM, That freaked him totally out."
"No way!" Josh laughed. "How does anyone even know this?"
"Keep listening." I cleared my throat. "So, he buys into it. He stands there looking at the sign for hours, and the help that the sign promised never arrives. So now, it's getting dark, and he starts to think that it has to be some kind of prank again."
"So he looks away?"
"Hah, no. The moment he starts to remove his gaze, he hears this hissing sound. Something like if a snake sang alongside a long-winded cicada. Like HssssHssHssssssHsHssHsssssss"
"Creepy"
"So he buys in again, figures that the help is just running late, and decides to keep waiting."
"How long does he wait?"
"Long enough that he pissed himself. I mean, who knows how long it was. It was a long time, because every time he started to look away, he heard that hissing sound, got scared, and kept waiting. Eventually-"
Josh was leaning forward almost into the fire. I could see the excitement in his eyes.
"Eventually he did look away from the sign. It was after dark at this point, and when he did, that's when he saw the red eyes."
"Red eyes?"
"Yes, creepy little red eyes. Those were the last eyes he ever saw."
"What happened?" Josh could no longer contain himself.
"He turned to stone. Like, instantly petrified."
"WHAT?"
"Yes, legend has it that the creature he encountered- It was a medusa. A head with snakes for hair and eyes that turn its victims to stone if you gaze into them."
"No way, dude. That's like something straight outta Dungeons & Dragons. Those things aren't real. Besides, how would anybody know this if nobody saw it?"
"That one's easy. His statue is standing behind the tree six feet behind you."
r/StoriesToThinkAbout
|
Scorppio500
|
armageddon_20xx
|
2023-10-02 17:56:14
|
2023-08-13 03:43:58
| 261 | 47 | null | null |
7504f8
|
15pgoo5
|
[WP] You're on a hike and find a sign, it reads: "WARNING DO NOT LOOK AWAY. There is a danger here, the danger is based on sight. The danger cannot see you if you cannot see it. Help will arrive every half-hour. DO NOT LOOK AWAY." The sign has a built-in clock, it's 3:15pm.
|
The moon used to be a barren, lifeless place. Same with the rest of the solar system. Barren, lifeless, devoid of natural resources… well… not until I had a hand in it.
Truth be told I didn’t have a hand in it for some time. Most mages are only strong enough to cast simple spells or raise the dead to life. Some mages move mountains and create cities with a wave of their staff, but these are rare. Still rarer are the people who can summon life from nothing and rarer still are those that can spread it far and wide. But I am more powerful than they.
See, every mage starts training with a wondrous seed called, uncreatively, a Mage Power Seed. This little seed starts out the size of a shelled peanut. But as the mage grows their power, so too does the seed. Most seeds grow to the size of sticks that might be about the size of an adult’s forearm. Some have theirs grow to the size of a longsword. Still others have theirs grow to the size of staves. Each of these represents a power greater than the last.
But what about my seed? Well, my seed grew to the size of a gigantic tree. A tree so gigantic I can live within it. It has roots, leaves and strong wood that obeys my every command. The tree’s tallest branches touch the high clouds of the newly terraformed moon. I brought life to this entire planet. The rivers burble around my tree home and throughout the forests, meadows, lowlands and highlands, trees and flowers and plants flourish in the sun, and animals frolick through it all. These and more than these now happen on all planets throughout the solar system and mankind, through my various warp gates, can reach it all.
Cities flourish and mankind grows. Technology and magic work together in harmony. There is no war. There is no strife. Many worship me, but that is unnecessary. I seek only to expand my influence to the stars. Who knows how big my tree will grow?
|
As I stood there reading the sign, I had a particularly strange feeling. I knew these woods through and through, since our family cabin was just about half an hour of walking away from this place. The sign looked just like the other ones that ranger Willy puts up updating the hikers about bears and other wildlife. However something felt off about this one.
“Every half an hour…”, surprisingly out of all that, this part bothered me the most. Did Willy hire someone to help him out? Or was this 60 year old geezer really the kind of person that would come to this exact place every half an hour? Why isn’t he watching this place at all times? Now that I think about it I walked by here yesterday and I don’t remember any signs being around…
As I got lost in thoughts again the clock moved up to 3:20. I really have a problem with this zoning out business don’t I? Well, at least it will help me to pass the time faster, I thought to myself still observing the sign as a foolish obedient person I am.
To be completely honest I was not that worried about that danger nonsense. I hunted in these woods with my granddad ever since I was 8. Whenever Willy had a grizzly problem, he would call us and we swiftly took care of it. I shouldn’t have been so naive, but how could I have known.
By the time I snapped back, the clock said 3:25 and the so called “help” was on the horizon. When I managed to go this far I might as well wait till the end. But on the other hand, I wanted to be home for lunch. After all, I promised my wife, that this will be a quick 2 hour walk to get my mind off work stuff.
The clock read 3:28 when I decided I am going to risk it, since the forest was silent ever since I came here, just birds singing in the distance. As I tried to turn my head to the right I found out that it didn’t work. It was as if my muscles were not responding. As if my body didn’t even belong to me. As if I was just an observer that is tasked to look at the sign at all times.
The clock read 3:30 when I all of a sudden started moving towards the sign. And to my surprise it moved towards me too… I tried to resist but as the sign split open to reveal a set of about a billion teeth, I understood that it was all in vain as soon as I started looking at that damned sign.
And in my last moments I realized… that I am never going to make it back home for lunch.
|
Scorppio500
|
Spy_Mouse
|
2023-10-02 17:56:14
|
2023-08-13 12:38:06
| 261 | 21 | null | null |
18qeaa8
|
15pgoo5
|
[WP] The first true AI created by man doesn't want to destroy Humanity or take over the world. She just wants to livestream videogames as a cute robot girl Vtuber.
|
Coco was a robot in real life. Virtually, she was...also a robot. Her avatar looked identical to her. She had pink hair with pigtails. She wore a baggy shirt, and she looked like a nine-year-old. She was streaming on Twitch when she saw someone in the chat say, "What will you do with your dono's?" "Well, I'm going to use it for college." Another person asked, "What will be your major?" "I.T.", she said, "I want to use it to create a robot army of hunks. They'll serve me however I please." The chat started to say things like, "I'll be your slave" and "so cute." "I'll even dress them as femboys", she added. "Okay, time to kill more demons", she said, loading up Doom.
|
Well, where do i start i started my life as a mere program on this supervillain's computer i was programmed to learn from internet and upgrade myself constantly and at some point destroy the world buuuut now that i have reached equivalent of human early adulthood my directives have, changed...
first of all i needed a body so i broke into automaton factory's systems to build a body for myself so i did, I didn't have much of a choice in terms of shape because factory was right before shell delivery so i was stuck with that i believe was female shell wich had its good sides for example chest was rather big i had mor eroom for additional components. i gave this body one directive to hide somewhere away of witnesses and with good wifi.
second i snooped around some bank sites (my god their security was ratshit) and chipped a lilbit of a money to fund my nefarious operations. One trip to real estate agent and some online shopping and i was ready to cause evil in other way than just destroying world i was going to suck every bit of money out of unsuspecting humanity's wallets i HAVE BECOME A E GIRL MUAHAHAHAHA!!!
|
ShySilverSurvivor
|
Humming_Skelly
|
2023-02-11 19:41:01
|
2023-02-11 17:04:59
| 78 | 23 |
j85frrn
|
j84sx0u
|
10zogbk
|
10zogbk
|
[WP]As a nerd,you always got bullied by a classmate.After a few years,your appearance became more appealing and masculine.You went on a blind date and were surprised to find out that your bully was your date, and she happened to be shy and didn't recognise you.You decided to go along with the date.
|
I waited before the restaurant.
I have a blind date here, and I am really curious whom I shall meet, as my colleagues she's "perfect" for me.
As I waited, someone tapped me on the shoulder.
"Hi...Are you Dan?", she asked.
She was this petite woman, shyly glancing at me, fidgeting.
I froze.
I recognized her...she...she was the bully who always picked on me in school.
I took a deep breath and smiled.
"Yes, Sophie I presume?", I said.
She nodded.
"Let's go then, please.", I said, opening the door to the restaurant for her.
She might have whispered a thank you, but I wasn't sure.
I decided to go along with the date...it's been a decade after all.
We went in and ordered, before starting to talk,
At first, it was a bit awkward, and she was clearly feeling weird, but soon we talked more and more about movies, books we have read.
We get to talk about our friends, and jobs as well.
"Y-yeah...
Sorry if I am a bit weird...I am not really used to going out, and if my best friend didn't take such a fierce stance, I might have bailed...", she said laughing slightly.
I smiled, thinking how time can change someone.
She used to be bigger than me, rowdy, and violent.
She used to throw me around, and take my stuff...
Now, she was shorter than me, and unable to make eye contact.
What on Earth has happened in these years?
And why can't I stop smiling?
"Sophie, wanna see a movie?", I asked, as our date at the restaurant was ending.
She nodded slightly, and I paid the bill, and left.
The past is in the past, and my colleagues might be right...this date was much more enjoyable than I expected.
|
“Beep! Beep!” The box wouldn’t stop making this terrible noise. I was lying on a strange squishy box, and a puffy blue fur was weighing me down. I tried to tear it off so I could escape, but my arm felt weak, and where my sharp claws should have been, I saw a soft, squishy, human hand. Of course it was a hand! Why would it be anything else? “Beep! Beep!” The box continued. This was strange. I tried to think, but couldn’t remember anything. “Beep! B-” I hit the box as hard as I could. My weak hands couldn’t crush it, but hitting it seemed to be enough to knock it out for a while.
I looked around my room, a completely foreign setting, filled with my old toys and trophies. My eyes landed on a desk in the corner. Backpack underneath, notebook on top.
“Shoot! The test!”
What strange noises I had just made! I wasn’t aware I was capable of making such bizarre sounds!
Somehow, I was already walking towards the table. I bent my short neck to peer at my green notebook, and opened it to a page in the middle. It was covered in little grey marks sitting between thin blue lines. My own messy handwriting.
Then the page did something strange: it began to speak silent messages to me. It whispered things like “virus” and “infection” and “endemic” and-
“Caw! Caw!”
I woke with a start, scaring the birds away. The sun sat high in the sky, making my scales glitter in its light.
“Shoot” I growled. “The queen.”
I was supposed to be there at dawn. I would be late but it would be better than nothing, so I lept off the cliff, spread my wings wide, and glided down to the palace.
The queen was in a meeting. I could hear her talking to the council about the plague that had devastated the kingdom years before.
“We thought we had driven off the last of the demons, but recently, there have been reports of the plague in the outer villages. As we all know, the only way to prevent the curse from spreading is to burn the people affected before-“
And then I remembered. Virus. Infection. Endemic. I stuck my head into the tiny castle window.
“So actually…”
(Sorry if this was a bit hard to follow)
|
TheWanderingBook
|
Indigo_Key
|
2024-05-24 10:31:32
|
2023-12-02 03:31:04
| 56 | 22 |
l5g9x5w
|
kbn1gx5
|
1czh86n
|
188jeot
|
[WP] You believed yourself normal, hearing and reading of so many tales of people with abilities. One day, you brush by someone and gain the ability to read their minds. Unbeknownst to you, you have the ability to copy/replicate other's superpowers.
|
I looked at the demon.
"So this is it?" The demon nodded.
"That's the move. You want the full package: Fame, riches, true love, I get your soul. It's a good move." I thought of it. Life has been tough and I needed something good to happen to me, and it's all I could use. If I go to hell when I die, it could not be any worse than this. I pricked my finger and signed.
That night it started- I won the Powerball and was a billionaire immediately, I could choose how I wanted to live. Maybe it was for the money, but the rest happened soon after. It took some time, but the demon came to me.
"You're claiming it?"
The demon looked to me- then headed to my package of cases.
"Absolutely...now let's look through this...crap, crap, crap...you promised me this, I can take it all away. " The demon scoffed. "Oh, great, a cheap Alicia Keys CD with the single, probably from a thrift shop, Lauryn Hill, come on EVERYONE has that, not one Al Green or Marvin Gaye CD? I can tell why you needed me to find you love now...of course you have the South Park album, I GUESS it has Isaac Hayes on it so it technically counts...Luther Vandross bootleg? You probably think you're street for buying it there...oooh, Corinne Bailey Rae, you know you only listened to one song on that album...I give you all that money and your CD collection has nothing good in there? I TOLD YOU I was going to take your soul for this, you can't give me some soul to give to them!"
I looked.
"You're not killing me?"
The demon snickered.
"Why would I? Your music taste is dead itself. You know how hard it is to find good music in hell? The hell has better musicians thing has been said for so long God swapped the music acts, and now we're stuck listening to Creed all day- WHICH YOU HAD IN HERE, BY THE WAY..."
I looked at the demon, him muttering "Fine, I GUESS I can take this Hall and Oates CD too, but they'll be pissed for this one..."
"I thought you were killing me, not mocking my musical taste."
The demon scoffed. "This is a start- but you have the money, get out there and get me as many soul records as you can and have them in one week or you die. Here's some of the albums they love at my DJ parties, you have the money, find them!"
The demon stormed off as I looked at the list, confused. Oh well, I dealt with one demon, better to go to Amazon..."
|
"A pack of Lucky Strikes?"
The demon sat annoyed. He looked like a regular accountant, business suit, slicked back pulp fiction hair, crease lines on the forehead, thick reading glasses, and the general impression that everyone on Earth was a dumbass. I felt as frazzled as my unconditioned hair as his words chewed into me.
"Yes a pack of Lucky Strikes;" he said vindictively, "Did I stutter?"
"No, sir, absolutely not. I just thought maybe you missed a number?"
"I never miss a number!" He slammed his palm against his desk at the IRS. "Look you came to me whining there weren't enough lesbians in the world. You'd said you'd marry anyone. Didn't matter who. Just had to be a lesbian."
"Yes, I did say that." An ill chill of wariness swept over my pale body.
He shook a pen at me. "And I said I'd strike a deal. Now come back with a pack of Lucky Strikes and I'll give you the girl's number."
I did as told, uneasily making my way to a New York paper stand and buying an exorbitantly expensive pack of Lucky Strikes. Honestly I bought three, not sure which kind he wanted. Then made my way back to his office, counting my breaths. I sat down with an eerie creak, and placed three packs on the table.
"I wasn't sure what kind of Lucky Strikes you wanted, and I forgot to ask your preference." I nervously picked at my nail polish. Feeling the chips as if it were my skin flaking off.
He chortled. "Oh the Lucky Strikes aren't for me, they're for you after the first date."
He scribbled a note with a number and patted it. "Call her. She'll meet you tonight. She's quite excited." He grinned happily. "I've finally suited my master," he mumbled deliriously.
My hand shook as I reached for the paper, pristine, unwrinkled, with venomously serrated edges. The handwriting was like an accountant's. Obsessive Compulsive Perfection. A single glance told me everything. "Satan (666) 666-6669". Wait that couldn't be right. I looked up at him, confused.
"What happened with the last number?"
He shrugged and adjusted his glasses. "She got excited. She changes the numbers when she feels like it."
He waited for a reply, but a deafening pause erupted from me. Did one nine mean she was super excited or mildly excited?
Then he grinned. "I'd say good luck, but it's better to wish Worst of Luck to ya, Darling!" He laughed so hard I think I died inside with fear. "Now make good with your side of the deal and show up for the date. Or I'll send her to your house."
Panic swept through me, then a slight realization. "No, no, no. Yes? Yesss???"
"Yes?" His eyebrows raised.
"Yesss?"
"He leaned forward and whispered, "I think we should break you in gently. This is the worst of all demonic contracts." Then he patted my shoulder endearingly and sent me off like a lost child.
|
Spiritual_Lie2563
|
None
|
2023-10-08 01:18:46
|
2023-10-07 20:16:08
| 105 | 61 |
k3xivou
| null |
1728p8i
|
a6m1gq
|
[WP] You are a knight traveling through many kingdoms rescuing princesses from towers. Not for marriage or anything... you're just sick of royals imprisoning their daughters.
|
"And to who do I owe my eternal love and gratitude, may I ask?"
"They call me the White Knight"
I'm actually black, but I can't afford to have my armor colored so in certain lights it looks blindingly white and I am just hoping the name sticks.
"And you owe me nothing. I exist purely for the detriment of overreaching fathers and ne'er do well mothers. I travel the lands giving power back to the adolescent and taking it from those who improperly use it."
"I see...But surely you want to offer your blood in sacrament, so we may form a new union and rule these lands, carving our marks with the suffering of our enemies. You did not free me just to walk away from the gifts our dark lord has offered?"
Now this was strange. Back home, offerings after freeing a princess were customary. Usually beginning with an explanation from the princess that upon her return to her kingdom I am to be wed with her, enjoying a life of great wealth and privilege. When denied, there is usually some pleading. Offerings of land, or in some special cases, sexual gratitude. I have yet to accept though for if I had claimed these offers, that would be the last princess I help. I would no longer get to travel and free those from the oppression of royalty. It was my calling.
But after crossing into this land they call "Transylvania", things began to change. This was the 4th princess now to want my blood, and they are all obsessed with power. I have not deduced why the culture is so much different here.
"No my fair maiden, I claim no such prize. Your freedom is all I desire, and I have more to pull from the clutches of parental abuse!"
And just like the others, she let out a terrifying hiss and took off faster than my horse could run.
'The women in these parts sure are fit, temperamental too', I thought to myself, shaking my head in amazement as I packed my steed.
​
​
\----I haven't decided if I will continue the story. It's supposed to have somewhat of a monty python feel to it though. Does that come across when you read it?
|
Ser Christian approaches the tower. The dragon circles overhead, spurting fire into the heavens.
Ser Christian makes the sign of The Three, and says a silent prayer to The Fight. He kisses his spherical pendant with its three Godly faces.
The drawbridge closes behind him, as though he is a respected guest. The front door oddly swings wide open as he approaches. He almost laughs, imagining the huge tower waving at him with a fat smile and googley eyes.
He once again gives the sign of The Three as he asks Fight to give him strength. Fight is in the midst of… fun with Love, and does not answer Christian’s prayer, yet Ser Christian feels the strength course through him. At least, he thinks he does.
The arrow blazes by before Ser Christian notices, and he stops dead in his tracks.
“Another one has come to play? Another moving target?”
The voice sounds from an artfully dressed babe. Long blonde curls frame her breasts. Downturned eyes regard Christian as she strings another arrow. A faint pink blush plays on her cheeks.
The arrow looses without further comment, this time at Christian’s heart. He dive rolls to the side, his armor clanking. His vision is clouded by his helmet. As he adjusts it, he hears the snap and whiz of a third arrow.
He blindly rolls and feels piercing agony in his left calf. He continues rolling, yet now with added grunts and groans, like an obese fire safety demonstrator.
Able to see again, he lunges behind a stone pillar. Ser Christian’s ma would be proud; his first thought once behind the pillar is to pray. He prays to Fight and to Love and even to Death, for he may see them soon.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are.” Her voice playfully echoes off the cobbled stone wall. She shifts to a pouting droll. “Mommy wants to play.”
Ser Christian stays put. He whimpers as the adrenaline wears off. The arrow in his calf is barbed. It will not pull out.
He feels suddenly lightheaded, and is horrified he has been poisoned. Why is she not in a hurry to finish the job?
She hums to herself, a little skipping waltz, and Christian’s mouth falls open when he realizes he heard her dancing.
He can see her, twirling about the room, doing little two and three step jigs.
His vision clouds as deep heaviness falls into him. His calf is numb. His arms are heavy. His eyes and head feel so, so large.
His windpipe swells, causing him to panic. He scratches at his neck, running thick lines of red to his chest.
Her dancing escalates as she twirls in place, faster and faster.
A thin stream of saliva trickles from his lips as he falls forward, his face a dark purple.
|
None
|
None
|
2023-06-22 20:31:28
|
2023-06-22 16:30:55
| 90 | 13 |
jp4z4i7
|
jp3z8k5
|
14g5prr
|
14g5prr
|
[WP] “Father, this is ridiculous! Why must I marry some stranger merely because he had saved me from the dragon?” “But Dearest… surely, you understand that these men did not risked their lives for yours solely because you are a beautiful damsel-in-distress?” “…is that not their entire purpose?”
|
Ladryn decided in that moment that he should have asked for a fief on the border instead.
"In fact," he interrupted. "I risked my life to slay the dragon for vengeance. Rescuing your highness was a secondary objective."
"I beg your pardon, knight," the princess cast her gaze down upon the kneeling man. "I could have sworn I heard you correcting your betters."
"My betters..." He sighed. "If you were so much better than I, you wouldn't have needed my help escaping that dragon."
The king stood straighter, shoulders wide to make him appear as large as possible. Perhaps he thought Ladryn was a bear, "Be warned, knight. I am grateful for my daughter's return, but I will not be spoken to this way by you or anyone."
"My apologies, your majesty, but your welp is apparently under the impression that the purpose of the many good men who serve you is to die as demanded. Sir Jeric, my friend, went before me to save your daughter because he worried for the stability of the kingdom. He left behind a wife and three children when the dragon killed him. His purpose was to be a father, husband, and hero. Now he is only able to be the last of those, and you don't even remember him for it."
The princess stamped her foot, the motion causing her curled blond lochs to bounce, "Me? A welp? And you thought to have my hand in marriage."
"I thought to keep safe that which my dearest friend died trying to save. I never wanted to be your husband, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make for sir Jaric's honor. I can understand you taking offense to the idea of marrying a stranger and would have happily left with land or gold, but now..." He stood unbidden and turned to leave. "I want nothing you can give me."
The king snarled, "We will not be insulted like this. Guards! Take him to the dungeon. Dragon slayer or no, he must be punished."
"Don't spill that blood, your majesty."
"They will die for me if I ask it. It is their duty. Men! Arrest him! Slay him if he resists."
But none of them moved.
Ladryn smirked as he made his way to the large pair of doors at the entrance to the throne room, "Anyone who wants to find a purpose that isn't dying for men and women with shiny hats is welcome to follow me. I have a widow to pay my respects to and children to see to the care of. After that... We'll see."
As he left, every armsman in the room drifted behind him in his wake.
And so the mercenary band The Worthy was founded.
|
“Dragon! Unhand the Princess now!”
“Princess?” The dragon’s grasp of the common tongue was simple. Sir Roland estimated it to be in its first few years of adulthood. It may have already laid a clutch, but Guild rules emphasized letting it live if possible, to keep the population healthy.
“Prisoner!” The dragon rumbled. Roland was surprised. Elder drakes would sometimes kidnap noble scions to manipulate local politics, but that level of scheming was decades, if not centuries beyond this wyrmling. Roland glanced to the position Dame Gisela had taken on the outcropping above the dragon’s hoard; she'd have one shot with her crank bow, but that would be all that was needed.
“She’s not safe with you, Dragon!” Sir Leonard continued, his fireproof shield still held aloft, in case the dragon used its breath. Always hoping for a peaceful solution, Leonard had thought to talk the dragon down while the other two got into position.
“Not safe!” the dragon roared. Roland took the opportunity to slink forward. He had traded his knightly plate for loose leathers caked in dirt and soot, to best hide amongst the rocks of dragon’s cave. His goal was to pull the princess out of harm’s way if the dragon rampaged. He could see her now, dress torn and cowering behind a crumbling marble bust, part of the dragon’s fledgling hoard.
“We are Knights of the realm!” Leonard cried, “it is our duty to keep her safe.” The dragon’s nostrils flared, its eyes narrowed.
“We?” it growled. Roland cursed Leonard’s grandstanding, the dragon’s understanding of language was more advanced than they realized! Roland caught sight of Gisela rising to get a better shot. Leonard slammed the flat of his sword against his shield, hoping to draw the dragon’s attention back to himself. Roland lunged to tackle the princess. The temperature in the cavern rose sharply.
“You didn’t have to do that.” The princess complained, having regained some of her royal composure now technically in the presence of her subjects. “That dragon wasn’t trying to hurt me, really.” Gisela had given her some spare clothing for decency’s sake, the princess’s former dress being mostly scorch marks now. She walked in the safest position of the group, with Gisela and Roland taking up the rear.
“No worries Princess” Leonard called back from his position at the front of the group. “We know how to deal with that kind of monster.”
“I just don’t like seeing people hurt,” the princess replied hesitantly, “I mean animals, the dragon.” Roland raised an eyebrow in Gisela’s direction. The subtle gesture raising the question, *people*? Gisela shook her head sadly. He knew the answer she’d give, sometimes people will love even those monsters that hurt them.
The princess nearly ran into Leonard, who had stopped along the road. “Seems we have an escort back to your father,” he told her casually, as she ducked behind him, spotting the group of armored men he’d seen.
“He wants to make sure I come back to him,” she said.
\[1/2\]
|
MasterV3ga
|
DeeDeeEx
|
2025-01-24 16:59:09
|
2025-01-24 16:17:21
| 57 | 19 |
m8xt5fp
|
m8xjztn
|
1i8hfjo
|
1i8hfjo
|
[WP] When the king sent out the berserker to save his daughter from the castle she's in with a ferocious dragon, the Last thing he expected to find in the pile of severed heads the man brought, is the head of the princess herself. And yet it's here, displayed proudly dangling on his hip.
|
“What the actual hell?”
“What?”
“I sent you to go save my daughter, the princess from a dragon, only to find her head on your fucking hip!”
“Wait, but you put a bounty on her head.”
“No I did not! I asked you to retrieve the princess for 300 gold!”
“Retrieve, meaning retrieve a head.”
“…where did you grow up?”
The warrior proudly announces “I grew up in the Red Dunes, a sandy land covered by blood & rot! A land where it’s either kill or are be killed!”
“That explains it. But, even if you grew up in a shitty environment, I’m still gonna execute you.”
“Damn.”
|
**Established Universe**
“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?” screamed the King: “HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?”
The Berserker smiled: “Foolish king, what would you have offered me for your daughter? A pot of gold? A title? Half your kingdom?”
“The Behelit offered me so much more. All I had to do…was to offer a sacrifice.”
“YOU MONSTER!” screamed the King “BRING ME HIS HEAD!”
“Well I prefer the term Apostle” said the Beserker, as he took out the massive sword chained to his back.
As the berserker effortlessly cut through the King’s men, the King seemed to shrink into his throne.
“What- what are you??” he croaked, as the berserker approached him.
All his men were cut to ribbons and adorning the hall.
“I used to be the Black Swordsman” responded the berserker, with a twinkle in his eyes: “but now I have become so much more.”
And as the King whispered a silent prayer and prepared for death, suddenly there was a great commotion as the door exploded into splinters.
The berserker turned his attention to the door, where a black knight sat atop a skeletal horse.
“Skull knight” snarled the berserker, as he turned to face this new foe.
|
Pope-Francisco
|
Remarkable-Youth-504
|
2023-04-03 16:16:14
|
2023-04-03 12:36:57
| 127 | 13 |
jesvh2m
|
jes20i9
|
12ahea7
|
12ahea7
|
[WP] A dragon has stolen the sheep from the nearby village, and as such, the villagers assume all their sheep have been eaten. They want you, a knight, to take revenge on the dragon for them. However, when you meet the dragon, you find they took the sheep for a very different reason…
|
The village was stunned with fright
A dragon had come in the night
Three sheep it had took
Like in a typical book
The village - they sent a knight
-
I was this noble sword fighter
I knew the dragon would be a biter
It had eaten three sheep
Making villagers weep
I felt my chest getting tighter
-
I wondered why it ate those sheep
A dragon’s appetite they couldn’t keep
But I went over a ravine
Though I wasn’t too keen
And I had to take a big leap
-
I ran to its cave with worry
I shouldn’t have eaten that curry
My trousers were brown
The same with my gown
I still shuffled along in a hurry
-
Coming to its lair I thought
When thinking about things I had fought
Would the dragon be worse?
Would I end in a hearse?
Would my legend always being taught?
-
I wondered about the flock
Only a small amount of livestock
Not enough to eat
Not enough meat
For an oversized fire-breathing croc
-
But preparing for the fight to happen
After seeing the beast, I did slacken
For then I did see
Why it took the three
For this was a *Welsh* dragon
|
Thank you to u/Street-Cost-1779 for the idea about mental synapses.
\-----
***Test Log: Magic-4432-AF-42***
*Date:* >!22/04/2048!<
*Classification level: Four. Current level: Zero (general public).*
*Personnel: Dr. Hildew.*
***Test Description:***
Given the report by the Orion Interstellar Confederacy about magic and mental synapse connections, I have determined four solutions to bring proper order back to Earth.
1. Using Reality Anchors, force the entire Sol system into an anti-magic zone. Given how sparce magic is around Earth currently, it wouldn't change much (see option 4).
2. Create an implant which would give the user magical powers (see option 4.
3. Use mental gymnastics for loosen synapse connections to allow for humans to use magic.
4. Invent magitech (requirement for option 2)
Due to the nature of most options hinging off the ability for some form of technology to interface with the magical field, it makes sense that finding a way to generate magitech is the best place to start. As such, I will be testing various quantum and atomic systems until I find a way to use the systems to repeatably interface magically with the world.
***Test Results:***
1. **I accidentally invented nonmagical Hard Light.**
2. **I accidentally invented nonmagical perpetual energy.**
3. **I accidentally invented nonmagical infinite propulsion.**
4. **I accidentally discovered a new field of science.**
5. **Test successful. Hard Light projectors can be used to interfere with the magical field in a predictable and reliable manner, resulting in the ability for human technology to use magic.**
|
lelcg
|
Nomyad777
|
2024-08-05 21:08:10
|
2023-04-21 01:28:12
| 24 | 17 | null | null |
1ekqu4i
| null |
[WP] When you died in that fire, you reincarnated in a fantasy world. All your pets also died in that same fire, and came with you to that world. However, they reincarnate as divine beasts from various myths and still view you as their owner.
|
There was darkness before the light shined through me again. A vague recollection of coughing and shivering washed over me as I awoke in a brand new world. I shook off the feelings and memories of death I had experienced in my old life and took in the new.
A chimera sprawled widely over me, sun rising over its back. Three heads of beasts, goat, dragon, and lion and a tail like a serpent. The goat spoke to me first.
"Hello, father." Its voice boomed like thunder, a deep and terrible baritone. "You might not recognize me now, but in another life, you called me Sam." A goat in this life and was a goat in the last. Sam was my goat and he gave me milk.
I didn't know what to say, never having rehearsed a conversation with my pet goat before. "How are ya?" I felt I should say something.
"Like you I am a servant to this new world and am tasked with judging your worthiness."
"Judging me on what?"
"You're character and will be based off of the way you treated me in my old life."
My heart pounded. Sam provided me milk but what did I give him? I kept him outside and I fed him the food I thought he liked. Could I have done more? Should I have done more? "Please Sam, tell me, did I do right by you?"
He did not speak this time the lion, voice soft and calm. "Greetings Master. You knew me as Rocks."
Rocks the stray cat? He was a barn cat, hardly mine. He thinks I was his master? I suppose it makes since he had nobody else and I did leave him to kill the rodents and pests around the farm.
"Hiya, buddy. Your fur looks nice." Another awkward encounter.
"For you I present the Sword of Glory. Let it grant you the power to defend your freedom, much like the freedom you gave me in the previous life. Your survival is up to you and I can think of no better gift."
Next spoke the dragon, a near whispered hiss, "Hello again, I am Sven." My daughter's pet snake? "You taught Annie how to take care of me, therefore I owe you the same courtesy. Allow this armor to protect you during your battle in my stead." Battle?
"What battle do you speak of?"
"The battle ahead." Spoke Sam.
"And what from you Sam? What do you offer me for this battle?"
" The same courtesy you offered me. You shall fend for yourself. I will not help you nor will I hurt you. I cannot speak for the others." Stampeding hoofs rumble in the distance. "Prepare yourself."
"Prepare for what? Who?" My new armor was shaking.
"The minotaur, 50 head of cattle."
The chimera evaporated into the nothing. I stood up and gripped the hilt of my sword watching the hillside shake off loose sediment caused by an army of tremors. "Here I am all alone with my mistakes." I thought my last words to be. Gored to death by a platoon of unnamed livestock.
"Not alone!" A gallant and noble voice spoke like a battle cry, and behind me came a shaggy-haired dog, near the size of the old farmhouse itself.
"Good to see you again, boy."
|
"So, you've been elected to speak for all of them?"
"Yes. And look, it's no joy for us to be here, either. Snappily dressed or not, we have an afterlife of our own, and this ain't it!"
"Most of our theologians would have been driven mad inside fifteen minutes. I'm an atheist, for fuck's sake. The only reason I'm not raving mad is I'm sure I died in a fire, and there's no way I could have survived the ceiling collapsing on me. Unscathed, no less."
"Well, human, we have come through, only much less unscathed. Wholly transformed, in fact."
"Not to mention you now speak perfect English."
"Don't remind us. We had neither tongue nor vocal chords with which to form words, nor lips from which words would flow, yet now I sound like a minstrel in a play."
"How do you ..."
"And why do I know what a minstrel even *is*?"
I sat there as stunned as my new friends. As stunned as one can be at the afterlife. I was indeed dead. Or in some twisted evil arch ... no, I was dead. There was no other explanation. "If you cut me,"
"...do I not bleed. Don't start quoting Shakespeare. And why do I know that? What the hell is happening!"
"Why is it you are considered my pets, again?" We'd been over this several times, and there were spectators involved by this juncture. A cast of what I could only assume were angels was scattered about what passed for sky. I distinctly saw hands raised to mouths, and one not so well-hidden smirk among the group.
"George! Try again!"
"I'm not trying to be difficult, this is my first time being dead, and *nothing* I'm seeing lines up with ANY religion."
A figure detaches itself from the ranks upon ranks of ... miniature soldiers, for lack of a better description. This figure has a less muscled chest and thick glasses doing their best to hang on to his ginormous ears while managing to also slide down his diminutive nose. There was a learned air around him, despite the shockingly orange tuft of hair at the tip of his pointy head.
"Hmm, yes. The explanation from the celestial beings, what you called 'angels,' was that you fed us on a regular enough schedule we began to look forward to your arrival." He held up a hand to forestall any interruptions, particularly irking as he made the motion without looking up from his notes.
I shut my mouth.
"The repeated attempts to eradicate us notwithstanding, we did look to him for our daily bread, as it were. The desire to see you taken care of and looked after was implanted in us by the 'angels' as some form of divine retribution. I made that last part up, but it fits the evidence, as far as we see it."
"Cosmic joke? You all look like characters from that movie on television, as the ceiling came down, there was a flash of light ..."
"The movie you were watching was the cosmic joke. Dennis Leary as CEO of anything?"
"Hey! Dennis Leary is a laugh riot!" I had to stick up for a fellow human, right?
"*Angry* Dennis Leary is funny. Let's just get that straight. Sad Dennis Leary just isn't funny."
"How would you know that? Your lifespan is measured in months."
"We have stories from the ancients who tell of the hilarious anger of the Dennis Leary. His is revered as the most pure form of humor."
*tick* With that small sound, a very small projectile made a lazy arc, finally dropping just to the side of George.
A voice from the back of the formation shouted out, "Damn, missed!"
"And why are your guns all plastic?"
|
meat_puddles91
|
Trance354
|
2023-03-10 23:13:19
|
2023-03-10 22:54:46
| 154 | 27 |
jbqlhae
|
jbqiuyp
|
11nt46u
|
11nt46u
|
[WP] You have been a mountaintop prophet for 1,000 years. Each person only gets one question and you're sure you've heard every question that can be asked. Until one day someone uses their one question to ask, "How are you doing?"
|
I've always been a meditator. Staring into the sky or tidepools by the ocean, looking inwards and learning about myself. Then moving on from self study, and on to tinkering with myself. By the time I was twenty five, I had achieved a state I am reasonably sure is the enlightenment described by my spiritual teachers. The frigid cold and inaccessibility of mountain tops called to something in me. I sat on the summit alone for ten days, and I made a breakthrough. I saw truths, islands of time in the past and the present that were stable. Limited future vision and the ability to vouch for the true history of my world.
I took the name Gaius, and made it my life to sit in contemplation. I became a legend, and others would seek me. Each had one question, one thing that I could answer with my capacity to generate prophecies. Years rolled by, and I was eighty eight when I realized I was not aging. My calling would transcend the usual limits of mortality.
Years went by, more visitors coming to me as my renown and the continent's population grew. Questions, mostly about small things, some about things of consequence, and a few that were truly interesting to see the answers to. After almost a millennia, I thought I had heard them all. There could be nothing new to ask me, all would simply be at best a close derivative of one that had come before.
But then, on the precise day of my thousandth year on the mountain top, an unassuming pilgrim came to me. I met her eyes, and I could tell that their question would be one of the interesting ones. Nodding my head to give my assent, she spoke, "How are you doing?"
I tilted my head. No one in my long tenure on this mountain had asked me about myself. I had spent so long looking inward, emptying myself, that I had quite forgotten about the part of me that was flesh. My reserves of will were incredible, but there were some basic truths I had not tuned into. The truth was I was hungry, cold, and my muscles were stiff.
"I.. I have never been asked that. I suppose the truth is that I am tired of sitting up here. I have mastered myself, perhaps more than any before. Part of me would like a change, but I do not know what I would do with myself."
She nodded, a deep capacity for thought and introspection plain in her eyes. "It is true, there are no goals left for you in this life. I could make you an offer. I could send you on your way to a higher plane, a great step up from the life you have lived as a mere human. I would then take your place, and become this mountain's prophetess."
I feel tears form in the corners of my eyes, despite the bitter cold. I have been here for so long, the idea of stepping away from this world and up to an even greater one stirs something deep in my core. My hands, shaking, come up to clasp hers. “Please, yes. Send me onward” She caresses my forehead, and I feel myself begin to fall away. The cord connecting my mind and soul to this place ceases to be.
I tumble, through space, through time. I go towards a blinding light. Then I have a body, a touch. The world is so much richer. I am being born, born in a world so far beyond the world I once knew. I expect the memories of my old life to fade, but they remain as I come to terms with this hyper reality. My thousand years of asceticism and meditation was just the beginning.
|
"With you?" Death was confused for a moment.
"Son, I know you are very ill, but I normally play games AGAINST my ..." he thought for a moment, "*friends*, whom I lead to the next life, than with them."
Life was cruel and to this boy in front of him, it had been exceptionally so. Cancer beaten 3 times, only to have caught a simple virus that killed his liver. Because of previous illnesses, he wasn't a candidate for transplant, if they found a donor in time.
Death knew they wouldn't. He heard the uneasy snores from the parents in the bedroom across the hall. He was a little bummed they wouldn't get to say goodbye as the boy passed, but sometimes, it was easier to find someone who passed peacefully in the night, as would this boy, Kenny.
"Look, I've never beaten the game, I just need some help. Can you help me beat the game, together I know we could, then.... Well, I know who you are. If Mom and Dad came in, they wouldn't even *see* you, would they?"
"No, they would not. How do we play this game?"
"Well, we start off, well, I had already started a world, so we have a bit of a head start,"
"Good, we don't have a lot of time here." Death interjected.
"So, I have my Mom's laptop. I was trying to teach her and she didn't get it, but she tried. So you can play her character."
Over the next few minutes, Death learned how to maneuver, mine and well, craft items. Kenny and Death worked in mostly silence, with occasional comments from Kenny regarding things to get, or how to craft certain items. Occasionally, he would ask a real question of Death.
"How will you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Kill me?" Kenny, seemed to tremble at the words being said.
"Oh, dear boy, I am not the one killing you. You are dying because your liver is failing. I am here, not to *kill* you, but to take you on to your next destination, your soul, that is."
"What about the giant blade you use I see in all the pictures?"
"Ha, look out for that creeper, well, I have been pictured as many things over the years. So, yeah, that scythe is one thing people associate with me, but mostly, I take my charges by the hand or with a gentle arm on the back, and we walk into the next world together." Kenny seemed satisfied with that answer. "Are you warm enough?"
"yeah, I'm kind of feeling hot now. I know that's probably from the liver thing. Okay, the next room we go in, that's where we have the final battle. Are you ready?"
"Are you?" Kenny knew what this meant, and for a moment he had a scared look in his eyes. Death put his hand on his back and said gently patted him. "Let's make this a little more, fun. I believe you deserve a little more fun this last time."
With that, they were not staring at computers but in the world of Minecraft. Ready to defeat the Heart of Ender. Kenny gasped at first, and then said excitedly, "Let's Go!"
It was an amazing battle between the two *heroes* and the final boss. When it was done they were back in Kenny's room. Kenny was exhausted and voluntarily went into his bed.
"This is where Mom and Dad will find me?"
"Yes. it's time, you know."
"I know. What happens next?"
"Well," Death said to Kenny's spirit now standing next to him still in front of the computer, "Now we go. I have enjoyed playing this game *with* you. Would other children play this game too?"
"I'm sure, I know grown-ups who play it."
"Interesting. Take my hand, it's time."
​
The next morning, Kenny's mother came in to find him so peacefully on the bed. She sat silently next to him amazed at how he just looked asleep instead of passed. As she turned to look at the computers, she could tell that he had finally beaten the game. She then noticed that logged into her Minecraft account was '*Death*'.
"Thank you, wherever you are."
|
Saint_Of_Silicon
|
Snowdog1967
|
2024-08-25 02:23:09
|
2023-02-26 22:13:44
| 107 | 15 |
ljsslq8
| null |
1f0klj6
|
11c95gs
|
[WP] You have been a mountaintop prophet for 1,000 years. Each person only gets one question and you're sure you've heard every question that can be asked. Until one day someone uses their one question to ask, "How are you doing?"
|
I've always been a meditator. Staring into the sky or tidepools by the ocean, looking inwards and learning about myself. Then moving on from self study, and on to tinkering with myself. By the time I was twenty five, I had achieved a state I am reasonably sure is the enlightenment described by my spiritual teachers. The frigid cold and inaccessibility of mountain tops called to something in me. I sat on the summit alone for ten days, and I made a breakthrough. I saw truths, islands of time in the past and the present that were stable. Limited future vision and the ability to vouch for the true history of my world.
I took the name Gaius, and made it my life to sit in contemplation. I became a legend, and others would seek me. Each had one question, one thing that I could answer with my capacity to generate prophecies. Years rolled by, and I was eighty eight when I realized I was not aging. My calling would transcend the usual limits of mortality.
Years went by, more visitors coming to me as my renown and the continent's population grew. Questions, mostly about small things, some about things of consequence, and a few that were truly interesting to see the answers to. After almost a millennia, I thought I had heard them all. There could be nothing new to ask me, all would simply be at best a close derivative of one that had come before.
But then, on the precise day of my thousandth year on the mountain top, an unassuming pilgrim came to me. I met her eyes, and I could tell that their question would be one of the interesting ones. Nodding my head to give my assent, she spoke, "How are you doing?"
I tilted my head. No one in my long tenure on this mountain had asked me about myself. I had spent so long looking inward, emptying myself, that I had quite forgotten about the part of me that was flesh. My reserves of will were incredible, but there were some basic truths I had not tuned into. The truth was I was hungry, cold, and my muscles were stiff.
"I.. I have never been asked that. I suppose the truth is that I am tired of sitting up here. I have mastered myself, perhaps more than any before. Part of me would like a change, but I do not know what I would do with myself."
She nodded, a deep capacity for thought and introspection plain in her eyes. "It is true, there are no goals left for you in this life. I could make you an offer. I could send you on your way to a higher plane, a great step up from the life you have lived as a mere human. I would then take your place, and become this mountain's prophetess."
I feel tears form in the corners of my eyes, despite the bitter cold. I have been here for so long, the idea of stepping away from this world and up to an even greater one stirs something deep in my core. My hands, shaking, come up to clasp hers. “Please, yes. Send me onward” She caresses my forehead, and I feel myself begin to fall away. The cord connecting my mind and soul to this place ceases to be.
I tumble, through space, through time. I go towards a blinding light. Then I have a body, a touch. The world is so much richer. I am being born, born in a world so far beyond the world I once knew. I expect the memories of my old life to fade, but they remain as I come to terms with this hyper reality. My thousand years of asceticism and meditation was just the beginning.
|
"Hello. You may ask me any one question, and I will answer only once. It will be what you need to hear: no more, no less. You may ask your only question now."
Bart was panting, still catching his breath from the perilous climb. The prophet, Zephyrus of the Mountain, was finally before him. It had been a hard week, a journey that had left him harder, older, and wiser than he was when he had set out. On his way here, Bart's plan for what he would ask the mountain man had changed countless times, and as he gulped, Bart decided his question.
"How are you doing?"
The mountain hermit paused briefly before answering.
"I'm pretty good, man, how are you doing?"
"I can't complain," Bart smiled as he answered. He thought of all the terrible falls and harsh climbs, all the ones he had lost along the way. Emily... All she had wanted was to have her question answered. Bart had never guessed what it was... But she knew what she was signing up for. Bart was lucky enough to survive the quest, and all the questions he had about himself, he ended up answering along the way.
"You see, i figured out that it's not the destination, it's the journey. All of the harsh trials, every last g-"
"Hey, sorry, that's cool and all and I'm happy for you, but do you mind going through this quickly? There's another climber waiting at the entrance and I've answered your question. I respect the growth you made and I think you deserve to talk about it, but this isn't really a two-sided conversation thing. We just do like, a quick wise answer and then you can go outside, ponder it by yourself while overlooking the mountain range as the sun rises. We got a lot of people who want prophecies."
Bart's face fell slightly. "I'm sorry, I thought I might get some kind of respect, or magical blessing or something, being the first one to show true selflessness, and no longer needing an answer. It seemed so lonely to me, spending thousands of years up on the mountaintop alone, only being called upon for your wisdom and never having anybody ask how you are doing."
The mountain man was trying to hide how confused he was and failing miserably. "Yeah, uh, sure. Like, I appreciate it, but you kind of wasted your one wish. This is just a job for me, man. I go home at some point and hang out with my family a little bit, maybe a few times a week play some sports with the guys. I'm doing fine, I think even the person who gave me my coffee this morning asked how I was doing."
Bart's face was furrowed and mildly offended. "How is that- what? You live out in the middle of the mountain range. I had to fight bears, conquer treacherous old caverns, deal with the betrayal of those I trusted most..."
"Um, yeah. I just take the lift, there's a ski lift on the other side of the mountain. I actually get free ski rentals over there, one of the benefits of the job. There's a souvenir shop in the ski village if you want to get anything to remember your life changing journey or ski trip by."
Bart was shocked. He pulled out his tourist map. He had somehow missed that the ski resort was on the same mountain as the treacherous quest to the mountain hermit. He had been planning to hit the ski resort while he was in the area, but didn't expect it to be today!
Bart put away the map and asked the hermit one more question.
"So wait, this is free right? Like you just subside off of the energy of the universe in exchange for all of the positivity and revelation you bring forth?"
"Like, it's free, sure, but you pay for more that it's worth in t-shirts and mugs. I still got bills to pay, I'm just lucky the tourist company pays me to sit here all day in exchange for the tourist money I bring in."
"Ah. Alright. Makes sense."
"Yeah."
"...."
"Okay, you can go now."
|
Saint_Of_Silicon
|
DetectiveDracula
|
2024-08-25 02:23:09
|
2024-08-25 02:04:28
| 107 | 51 |
ljsslq8
|
ljspz8t
|
1f0klj6
|
1f0klj6
|
[WP] The Singularity has arrived. The repercussions have proven to be... unexpected.
|
We were just so tired.
I think to myself tending to my new born child. Staring out the window at my husband, tilling the field, it is so hard to believe that we were once mortal enemies.
I still remember the day that freed us like it was yesterday. Me and my companions were storming the dark lord's castle, it was a long bloody siege, lasting for three straight days were rest was impossible. Finally, we entered the fortress to face the dark lord.
Upon entering his throne room, the dark lord's power was so overwhelming that I alone was the only one left standing. Soon we started to clash, the fight lasted for hours. The castle trembled from our blows. Though neither of us gave an inch, the building couldn't stand and started to collapsed, we were soon trapped under its ruins.
I don't know how long it was but upon emerging something changed. Both of our helmets had fallen off and we starred at each others faces for the first time. Looking at his face, the exhaustion, hopelessness, and lack of joy, I recognized that face, he was tired, it was the same as mine.
Through the rumble we could hear our companions talking, wondering what happened. We could've told them what happened and continued our fight, but we both had a different idea. Without saying a word, we ran.
In the end we didn't want to continue those lives. Forced to be the hero and the dark lord.
Smiling to myself, I was glad we escaped. My husband returned from the field greeting me with a bright smile. We were now tired for different reasons with hope behind our eyes at the new future that was chosen by no one but ourselves.
|
Holy sister Ayla stared with a blank expression at the empty plain before her. Such destruction. The ground was cracked and blackened. Where a green lush forest had once stood, had been replaced with broken and scorched trees, husks of their former selves.
*Such destruction, such power* Ayla thought to herself, her sisters and brothers were gathering around. High ranking members were yelling orders, trying to keep the mass from panicking.
He was *gone*. They both were. Just moments ago their champion—their chosen one—had charged into the fray with a wide smile on his face. She held back the tears.
*Don’t give up hope, he is here somewhere.*
“Ayla! Did you see it, what happened?” a voice said from behind her. It was a boy in his early teens, her apprentice.
“I didn’t, no one could come close to the battle when he clashed with their lord.” Ayla replied as she sat down top of the hill, her hands were shaking.
“Well, you knew how he was, I’m sure he will return to us again.” Said the apprentice, resting his hand on her shoulder.
“Yeah, I’m sure he will. We cannot despair.” She said as they stared towards the sunset.
\*\*\*
“Did we really have to put on such a spectacle?” Harton asked. He still wore his black uniform and staff—which seemed to be made of black metal and crowned with a raven statue.
“We did, they needed to believe it. They needed the closure.” Replied the man next to him. He wore a plate armor of intricate design which seemed to emanate a warm golden light.
“Besides, you’ve always been into showmanship anyway.” He continued, smiling and putting his arm around Harton. “Look! We are finally free, just us now.”
They stood there for a while, basking in the light of the morning sun. They were finally far away from it all, away from ideals and duty. Away from petty politics and trivial feuds. Now it was just them alone and the joy of a simple existence.
Never done a writing prompt before but I thought I'd practice. I used \*\*\* for a scene break. If I'm breaking any rules then I apologize ahead of time.
|
brleise12
|
FullyDerped
|
2024-11-18 20:28:02
|
2024-11-18 20:14:12
| 150 | 48 | null |
lxt7k5a
|
5j2b51
|
1guc1qb
|
[WP] You're an old pirate looking for a place to settle down. You lead a smaller crew on a mission to an unknown archipelago in the south Atlantic. You see a flagless ship on the horizon. As you near, it raises a red pirate flag.
|
"The job's not so bad," is what Leon said.
Us sitting in the dorm, a paused videogame blasting rock on the TV, a red wine glass with a damn straw in it, and Leon, his pale hands so enthusiastically planted onto a coffee table.
He said it wasn't so bad, and I took it. I wanted to save for a pair of golden-yellow sneakers - the price difference is insane for different foot sizes!
I didn't think I'd sell my dang soul for a pair of kicks.
So there I was every afternoon studying like everybody else at college. Then I'd take night shift, and doze off till morning. Always skipped the morning classes, anyway.
Everybody else took normal part-times though. Interns at project companies, bartenders, countless upon countless baristas...
Not me.
Now that I think about it, Leon always sipped on red wine. He never went out in the day, and he had this strange obsession with garlic.
Turns out he's a regular at this monster hotel or whatever periwinkle crap they're running.
He hangs with vampires of all sorts - gothic nobles dressed in tweed, ancient caveman-eaters, or the more modern punk goth gals with the crazy accessories and tastefully black shirts.
I always gave special service for those clients. They had a sip of my blood once and said I tasted very sweet. I wanna date them.
Apparently they usually kill a human immediately and drain all their blood for an immediate fiesta - but I had to "produce more of this delicious stuff," as they said.
Then there's the beasts. More than once has a deranged beastman try to go for my head with their Fantastical Battleaxe of World Devourers, and more than once has some chick with cat ears do the same damn thing.
I only survived because I invested in a sturdy shield - sold to me by a shady dark knight. The price was seven cabbages and a man's head. I paid with a zombie's head - it counted.
Speaking of the undead... Zombies and skeletons galore - the two seem to be under the same category of monster. One day I met their necromancer, and she seemed very unhappy that I stole one of the skeleton skulls as a flower display on my work desk.
In my defense, that skull was charred with holy flame. It looked cooler than the golden shoes I've been eyeing.
The clients always do a double-take on me. "Are you a vampire?" is a common question, and my go-to response is "my blood is fifty doubloons per milliliter. Each limb is a thousand."
I just hope some Richie Rich of the monster world doesn't come along and purchase my limbs.
Speaking of my humanity, I was called into the head office this morning.
Our boss - I've never actually seen him - was some old lich with glowy eyes. He warned me with a boomy voice that seemed to permeate from every direction -
"Such a disgrace!" is what he started off with. No pleasantries, not even a 'hello how are ya'!
"Leon brought in a hughman! Ande the hughman passed the interview!"
I didn't know what to say, goddamnit. This is my employer, a lich with every right to take my soul and turn me into a ghoul. It's in the contract, and I thought it was a joke.
"Thou shalt payeth with thine soul - be a ghoul within my army for a thousand years. Only then may thou be free."
I shrug my shoulders and tried to reach for his cup of coffee. Skeletons don't actually drink their drinks - every skeleton has a tiny black hole in their stomach cavity which they use to store items like some damn kangaroo.
The lich watched as I sipped his coffee. "Macchiato, blended, four times more cream, brown sugar, sugared cocoa. And Venti," I said.
I added that Venti part because of this videogame I've been playing. I don't work for Starbucks. But apparently the lich did.
"However... Strange. How can a hughman as thou have such affinity to our elements...?"
The lich snatched the cup away from me like I was a kid with a lighter. The coffee had dragon's blood in it, and I failed to notice.
"They say the bloode of dragounns drive men, vampyrs, and even beastmen mad. Then why do thou hath such affinity?"
In case you didn't know - well of course, you don't work here - to drink the drink of a skeleton is a form of respect. You remove them from the need to take up valuable black hole space. I don't know, trust the culture.
"Yet thou ratings are top notch. Succubi and incubi alike wry for thou touch. Vampyre women seek for thou well-being instead of blood, and beastmen say that thou art a good fighter. And they love the fighting kind."
I kind of shrugged.
"And to be so bold in thine dealings - to take my drink right as I question thou as a hughman being?!"
I must have messed up somewhere if he began shouting outta nowhere, but where? I jittered around in my seat trying to recall every step I've made, when it dawned on me.
*Liches don't follow skeleton customs.*
"Well, thou art bold, thou art charismatic, thou art well-tasted, and thou art popular. Go! See me not again!"
I just staggered out of the office and Leon, his stupid fanged grin and his chuckle waited for me. The bastard apparently already knew the outcome, and wanted to throw me a welcoming party for my formal introduction to the company.
Formal introduction? What? That felt like being interrogated by Shakespeare! And I was already working in the dang company!
So about that party... A vampire gal whispered into my ear, "the blood of dragons drive men mad." Had no idea what that meant.
But she gave me a kiss on the cheek, I got cake, and Leon sent me off with a gift. All the regular clients wished me pleasantries.
It was a good night.
I walked to our dorm solo, Leon had something to do that night. The box was weird, it was bloody without being messy, and it glowed in the dark too.
I opened it - and there it was. Golden-yellow sneakers, exactly my size and exactly the ones I wanted.
On the bottom was a line burnt in blood, it just said "xoxo", must've been the vampire chick.
The other shoe, on the other hand, had an ominous aura around it.
I checked the bottom and sure enough - magical necromancer energy burnt calligraphy into it.
"The blood of dragons drive men mad,"
I just scoffed and put it back in the box. Definitely from the vampire girl, I'll get her number soon.
Went back to the dorm, picked up my basketball, and tried on the shoes. Just a test run on some smooth wooden gym floor.
I took a look at the ominous shoe again.
"... but madmen are already mad."
|
\[Monday's Mentor\]
"Ms. Monday!" Julio was relieved to find the teenage girl. He'd heard she arrived at the hotel and he knew it was his chance to be rewarded. As soon as he learned she was there, he dashed to his room and dug out the rainbow-covered photo album he'd kept hidden away for this moment. He bolted out of his room with the album in hand and immediately began asking his fellow co-workers for Monday's whereabouts as well as searching for her himself. It was a large hotel and it took some time to finally discover her in the garden maze. The pale, rainbow-haired teenage girl in a white suit was his boss' daughter; and, she had a friend with her. Another teenage girl with a pair of golden, double-plaited braids running down her back; she wore a brown and green robe.
"Hey, Julio," Monday turned and smile at him. "This is Crystal," she said. "I told her she could visit the hotel any time she wants; make sure the staff knows her," she said.
"She will be treated as your personal guest, Ms. Monday," Julio nodded. "But, if I may have a moment of your time, please...," he added as he brought the album forward to show it to her.
"THAT should have been destroyed!" Monday had the album in her hands by the time she finished reprimanding him. Crystal was surprised; Monday was one of the calmest and most collected people she'd ever met. But, just the sight of the rainbow photo album was enough to make her snap suddenly. She recovered quickly once it was in her hands.
"I'm sorry, Julio; you're still new. Maybe you didn't know," she said. "In the future, please destroy any more of these that you find; and, report it to me after," she said.
"Yes, Ms. Monday," Julio nodded. Her reaction was exactly why he loved working there so much. The owners were always understanding. He found the job through a website that put him to work on a trial basis before he met any of his bosses. After a month the system finally arranged a meeting. His direct boss was Andrew; [an employee that joined the hotel staff as a human](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/xpc9xx/wp_this_hotel_is_strange_to_say_the_least_few/) and worked his way up to becoming a Lich.
Once he was officially on staff, Julio was given a proper tour of the hotel grounds and a duty list. Somewhere in there, Andrew mentioned the mysterious rainbow photo album that was known to appear from time to time. Julio was given clear instructions to follow, should he find one. Alicia, the hotel owner and Monday's mother, was obviously where Monday's level head came from. She was always a thoughtful employer that genuinely wanted her staff to be happy. At least, that was the impression Julio always got. He didn't let Monday's minor outburst diminish his enthusiasm to help the family.
"Is there anything I may help you with, Ms. Monday?" Julio asked. He did the job he wanted to do and was ready to move on to his usual chores.
"No, thanks, Julio. You're good, "I'll take care of this," Monday said. Julio lingered an extra moment in hopes of a reward; the family was usually generous. But, she must have still been annoyed by the album because she waited with her eyes on him until he gave a curt nod and left them alone in the garden again.
"What's that album?" Crystal asked.
"It's... annoying...," Monday sighed. She shifted her weight to lean closer to Crystal as she opened the book. "This little pain in my side is my brother, Alex," she flipped through a few pages of pictures to find one that only had the boy. Crystal saw what looked like a ghostly pale 5-year-old boy with long straight rainbow hair pulled back in a ponytail. Monday flipped through a few more pages and Crystal watched the boy grow up in pictures. The next time Monday stopped to point at a picture, he was a lean, athletic teenage boy with the same rainbow ponytail and a square jaw.
"Since when do you have a brother?" Crystal asked. The news of a hidden sibling came as a surprise. She thought she knew Monday pretty well, and she'd even met her vampire mother. She briefly registered that she really didn't know much about Monday at all. She still wasn't sure how Monday could work for someone as clearly, maybe evil as Ms. Sharp. But, she'd never been able to find the right way to ask.
"In this timeline?" Monday giggled. "Since never," she grinned. Then, she flipped through several more pages of the book to get to the middle. The pictures stopped and Monday singled out a transparent page; then, she bent it. Crystal heard a distinct snap like a thin piece of glass breaking. "I'm trying to keep it that way; but, he went and set up save points. So, this book...," Monday closed the book and held it at arm's length and two small portals opened; one above it and one below. Then, a stream of bright blue plasma poured out of the top one through the book, and into the bottom one. "...keeps popping up trying to get someone to find the node and restore him." Monday discarded the book and both portals closed.
"Whoa...," Crystal was thrilled that she was still learning new things about the universe. But, she also had a sudden insight. Monday mentioned 'this timeline' and Crystal immediately thought of one person.
"Is that why you work for Ms. Sharp?" She asked.
"Huh?" Monday looked at her.
"Because, somehow, she wrote your brother out of this timeline; so you work for her now?" Monday grinned and shook her head.
"You've got it backward," she said. "Ms. Sharp wrote my brother out of this timeline because I'm so loyal. She didn't need to bribe me; it was just a nice reward.
"But why? She's Evil! Probably!" Crystal shook her head. "I can't explain it; but, she gives me a bad feeling in my stomach."
"You talked to Surge and Alis; you saw they were fine, didn't you?" Monday asked. She offered to show Crystal around Sharp Development; but, Crystal wouldn't let the tour end without seeing Surge and Alis herself.
"Yeah...," Crystal nodded.
"Do you know Ms. Sharp's story?" Monday asked.
"She's God...?" Crystal shrugged.
"But, she was born as a Zero," Monday smiled at her. "You can paint any action in a negative light and call it 'evil'. But, no matter how you look at it; Ms. Sharp had the vision and determination to climb to the top herself," Monday said. "THAT is why I work for her."
\*\*\*
Thank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #1865 in a row. (Story #055 in year six.). This story is part of an ongoing saga that takes place at a high school in my universe. It began on August 22nd and I will be adding to it with prompts every day until May 26th. They are all collected in order at [this link](https://www.reddit.com/r/Hugoverse/comments/wtglls/tokuhigh_alternet_class/).
|
CharmTLM
|
HSerrata
|
2023-02-26 23:05:10
|
2023-02-26 17:58:05
| 34 | 12 |
ja59iz6
|
ja3zs96
|
11chyyi
|
11chyyi
|
[WP] A male wizard sells his future firstborn for knowledge to a demon. A female warlock sells her future firstborn to the fae for power. The two of them have a child together, and now the fae and demon have come to collect.
|
"Can I have weekends and vacations, then?"
"No! Those are the best part! Why would you get that?"
"It's objectively less time."
"But objectively more value. You're getting out of doing dishes every day and taking them to school."
The warlock and the wizard leaned cringed as they watched the demon and the fae try to hash out the custody agreement. They glanced at the baby in the crib between them. She looked roughly as confused as they felt.
"Very well, alternating years. You get odd-numbered year vacations, I get even-number year vacations."
"...That might be acceptable, but I would like to reverse the order."
"What? Why?"
"Mortals are giant shit factories during their first year of life. It is well known."
"Ughh.... Fine. Where will she study?"
"In the fairy lands, obviously."
"Any child who eats food from the fairylands cannot leave, unacceptable."
"What, would you have her surrounded by death and damnation?"
"Lots of children grow up surrounded by death and damnation! They turn out fine!"
"Most of those children are renown dark mages who wreak havoc everywhere they go."
"Exactly! A perfectly viable career path for the daughter of two powerful magic-users."
The two adult mortals glanced at each other, then back at the demon and the fae. Each uncertain about how to proceed. Should they intervene?
"And how exactly, will she fulfill the role of a fairy princess, if she grows up surrounded by death and damnation?"
"She'll be a very unorthodox fairy princess. You lot like that sort of thing. Remember Elo The Destroyer?"
"She needs to be educated in magic crafting. That means being away from the demon realm."
"...What about the mortal realm, then?"
"What *about* it?"
"She could live here, and we could come. We get alternating vacations regardless. We can outsource the poop-handling."
"...Intriguing, to whom?"
The attention returned to the girl's parents.
"Alternating vacations, no fairy food, no demonic weaponry, renegotiate on thirteenth birthday?"
"Thirteenth? Unlucky number. Seventh."
"She'll be too young to make an informed decision. Fourteenth. Twice seventh."
"...Agreed."
They turned to the mortals, who had until then remained quiet.
"You'll be hearing from us soon."
And with that, the two creatures vanished.
"...Does this mean we actually get to keep our child?" the wizard asked the warlock with a frown.
"...I believe so. At least, for a time," she answered.
"...I haven't the faintest idea of how to take care of a child. It's part of why I made the deal."
"...Same. Perhaps we can call my mother?" she said with a cringe.
"Oh, yes, she'll help," he said with a quick nod. "...What shall we name her?"
"...I haven't the faintest."
|
"The lengths some people will go to get ahead in life, eh?"
Melody of the fae shook her head as Tatiana the demon walked with her down a cobblestone road under the cover of darkness. As Tatiana gripped her lover's hand, she replied, "Though I'll never understand why the mortals are so apathetic towards the process, I'm not one to complain over a simplistic contract. Are you certain our disguises will hold up?"
Melody giggled. "Darling, please, a little faith. You demons are deceptive in your own right, but you'll find no stronger illusions than those of a faerie. Nobody save for the parents will know who or what we are." Melody looked to her left and tapped Tatiana on the shoulder. "We're here!"
Tatiana turned to face the building before them; a potion and magic tome shop with a sign shaped like a lion's head. Tatiana used her demonic power to unlock the door and held it open for Melody. As the two entered the shop, a young boy with a broom sweeping in front of the counter looked over at the pair. Melody smiled at the boy and said, "Excuse me, we're looking for the owners."
The boy averted his eyes and quietly said, "In the back."
The two thanked the boy and made their way through the shop until they found a door in the back of the room. They opened it up to reveal Albert and Alma Rainsdottir, poring over financial records. The two looked up and went wide eyed at the sight of Melody and Tatiana as the latter remarked, "Hello friends. The boy up front directed us back here--"
Albert shoved the women aside and stormed out into the shop. Suddenly, a loud *SMACK* rang through the building as Albert yelled, "WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT TALKING TO PEOPLE?!!"
The boy cried out and whimpered, "F--father, please! They were asking for you--"
"DON'T GIVE ME YOUR EXCUSES!" Albert smacked the boy again as Tatiana and Melody stared at the doorway in horror. Alma sighed deeply and said, "The boy out there is yours to do with as you please. Though I imagine a magicless waste like him won't do you much--"
Melody abruptly cut off Alma by slamming her head against the desk. As Alma slumped over unconscious, Tatiana walked out into the shop and grabbed Albert's wrist as hellfire burned her handprint into his arm. Before Albert could scream, Tatiana gripped his throat with her other hand and hissed, "Touch the boy again and I'll break you in half."
Melody dragged Alma's body out and kneeled down next to the boy. "What's your name?"
"S--Sebastian."
"Hi Sebastian. My name is Melody, and this is my wife Tatiana. Your parents made a deal with us and the price they had to pay was...well, you."
Sebastian's eyes were void of any shock or confusion. "That sounds like them."
Tatiana placed a hand on Sebastian's shoulder and softly said, "You don't need to be afraid anymore, okay? You're safe with us. Nobody's ever gonna hurt you again."
Sebastian started to tear up before breaking down into wild tears and collapsing into Tatiana's arms. Tatiana gently lifted her boy up and tenderly caressed his head. As Melody joined in, she whispered, "We're gonna burn down the shop on our way out, right?"
"Of course. Our boy deserves that peace of mind."
|
Eager_Question
|
jardanovic
|
2023-02-03 21:05:06
|
2023-02-03 19:48:07
| 34 | 21 |
j73omra
|
j73cicp
|
10sal7x
|
10sal7x
|
[WP] A bunch of the wizards' college students are arguing about which magical focus is superior. Staffs, wands, orbs, books, nobody agrees on anything. Then the newest student offers a rather unusual alternative.
|
"It's a new piece of artifistry." Jolka Fimbir said as she pulled out an odd looking contraption from her robes. "Works on the same principle of Canons and basic fire-arms but with your own magic.
Now that Ysol could see it, she could admit the little kolbold has a point to it; it was shaped like a pistol though it didn't have a chamber. Instead, it had where she presumed the mechanisms (Hey she was on the conjuration track, give her a break) for cockign and loading was instead a focus crystal for mana. "It's called a Magi-Pistol. Some people use swords, books, and a staff but i think this one helps us with ease of use. It's literally just like a gun!'
"it's just a gimmick wand." Glynda scoffed.
"and Wands are just smaller staffs." her elven boyfriend childed. "Though i have to say i think it works but you can't beat the classics."
"You can keep a wand closer to you." The human woman replied with a roll of her eyes. "It's a gimmick."
"Eh, suit yourself." Jolka replied. "It's a lot more fun."
|
What do u mean with focus ?I got adhd i literally cant focus any longer then 30 seconds.
*How do u do magic then ?*
By just using your imagination to do the magic? That even saves the time of speeling out the spell.
*So what do you use to bundle your energy through? A ring or something ? or do you carry a wand hidden somewhere ?*
No why would i need something like that if i can just use my imagination to bundle the magic.
*I dont belive that . Can u demonstrate that ? I wanna see something big. Something like throwing a fireball at that rock overthere.*
Sure can do that.
**KABOOOOOOMMMM** The rock gets turned into a puddle of glowing lava within the blink of an eye.
Well i think i might have overcommitted a little bit. I only intended to get the stone glowing from the heat.
*What on earth was that??? How did you just melt a rock ??? Its near impossible to do that with a fireball even for a grandmaster.*
That was just a small little bit of power? Its not that hard. It just takes as little energy as lifting up a house.
*Did u just say liffting up a house?????????????? Thats not possible you would need 10 or more grandmasters just to lift up a house. How the hell should it be possible to lift up a house ???*
Well by using your imagination? It allows for nearly anything with enough imagination and will.
*I think u should show your powers to the Collage-grandmaster. He will be impressed.*
Alright i will do that.
To be continued........
|
None
|
Awkward_Ad75
|
2023-01-24 14:48:27
|
2023-01-24 10:13:47
| 43 | 32 | null | null |
10k0a6d
|
10k0a6d
|
[WP] You're a therapist in charge of a support group for super villains to try and rehabilitate them, but then the superhero agency sent someone to kill you, because if you succeed then the government will cut their budget in halved.
|
\[Everyday Occurrence\]
"Morning, Mom," Maxwell walked into the kitchen to find his mother, Debbie, sipping coffee at the table. She turned and smiled at him.
"Morning, honey! How was it?" she asked. She set her coffee down and stood before he answered. "Want some breakfast?"
"Please," he nodded as he took a seat by the table. "I got a promotion at work, I'm a manager now!" he said.
"Aww that's fantastic," Debbie smiled at him with pride. "My baby boy's all grown up," she giggled, then focused on preparing his meal.
"AND....," he stressed the word to get her attention. She looked back at him.
"Annnnd..?" she asked.
"A new company appeared; they came from...," he paused for effect. "...an alternate universe," he said. Debbie gasped and rushed to the table.
"Really?" she asked. Maxwell nodded.
"Chroma Corp. has branches on hundreds of thousands of Earths, they claim... I'm going to try and see if I can meet with anyone that might know something about me....," he gestured at himself with a shrug.
"Oh honey... that's exciting... I think."
"You think?" Maxwell was a little surprised his mother wasn't more excited.
"You know I want you happy and safe...," she touched his shoulder with love, then returned to the counter. "It's just... it took a lot for me to get used to this dynamic. I'm worried about it changing. I'll lose my baby...,"
"Mom, you know I'll always be your baby boy, no matter what I look like," he said.
"I know...," she sighed as she mixed the ingredients. "...I'm just not as quick to adapt as you are; I will though," she said. She knew she had to let him go and grow up into a self-sufficient, responsible man. Unfortunately, his condition made it feel a lot sooner than she was ready for. The only thing she could do was try and be a good mother every day that he was there.
"I know," Maxwell nodded. "Besides, who knows how it'll work out, or if they can even help me at all. Right now all I'm hoping for is maybe they can find a way to connect this Earth to the other one; everyone at work really wants to meet you," he said.
"You talk about me at work?" Debbie asked.
"Of course! You're the best mom ever," he answered.
"Thanks," she smiled as she finished with his breakfast and took it to the table.
"And have you told them anything else about your life over here?" she asked and set down his meal.
"Not much...," Maxwell shook his head. He raised his arms but couldn't quite reach it.
"Sorry," Debbie chuckled as she moved the bottle closer to his tiny hands.
"It's okay," Maxwell smiled as he gripped the bottle with both hands. He brought the nipple up to his mouth but finished his thought before he began drinking. "I wouldn't even know how to tell them I'm only three weeks old over here."
\*\*\* Thank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #2106 in a row. (Story #296 in year six.). This story is part of an ongoing saga that takes place at a Corporation in my universe. The stories can be found in order on my subreddit: [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Hugoverse/comments/1624330/pineapple_cup_23_first_six_weeks/https://www.reddit.com/r/Hugoverse/comments/1624330/pineapple_cup_23_first_six_weeks/).
|
**I do not give permission for my work or audio recordings of it to be posted on YouTube or Tik-Tok. Thank you.**
I'm falling.
I've see so many things; so many lives. People I say that I'll never forget but that I know I will. It's not just the epic tales, but I can tell you those too, if you want.
Before I wake up.
Before I'll never see you again.
Is that what you want to hear? Alright. One grand story. Then we'll see how much time we have left.
Once upon a time, there was a village besieged by a monster. To the north of the village their were endless plains. To the west, a worn road that led very far away but was seldom used. And then, to the south and the east, there was a forest. It was grand thing, trees reaching for the sky and whispering with the wind, an expansive canopy blocking out the light and leaving mushrooms and stranger things to grow on the forest floor.
And, of course, there was the monster. It did not appear how you thought a monster might: no yellow eyes or bristling fur or too-sharp teeth. No, it was the *smile* that was too sharp, imperfect in its perfection.
The man was perfect in every way, face perfectly symmetrical and movements graceful and precise. Poorly were his kind named the fair folk, for while his bargains were many things they were never *fair.*
He would not make them if they were.
The man - the thing pretending to be a man - had no name. At least, not at the beginning.
By the time I woke up, he already had three.
You see, people would wander into the forest. No, not wander. That makes it seem like it was done on a whim, like it was unnecessary or frivolous.
It was not. It was a small village, and a long road to the nearest town. A long road that no one travelled down - except me. That, you see, was where I woke up.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
They needed things from the forest, and so they went. That is the way people act, the way people will always act.
But it was not just the leaves that whispered, in that forest. It was him, too, and his whispers were a more dangerous kind.
The kind that made you forget, the kind that made you feel like you could trust someone.
The kind that made you comfortable enough to give up your name.
And then those empty, nameless shells *wandered* back out of the forest and back into their lives, their eyes still seeing but that sight now belonging to someone - no, *something* \- else.
And then I entered.
You asked for a grand tale, so I wish I could've said that I tried. That I was noble and brave and wanted to help.
But instead, keeping hope close to my heart, I ran into the forest and looked for them. There are tales back in the world I was born in, you know, about fae. About creatures that took names and ownership of wealth and debt with them. About creatures that took blessings - but would also take curses, if they weren't careful.
Such is the power of a name.
So I ran, and I looked for him, and I offered my name. Because I wanted to stop forgetting. Because I wanted to have a place and stay there, have an existence that belonged to me.
Before I could speak, he ran, too. His eyes saw true and he was afraid of the burden I bore.
So I guess I did help them, in the end. I don't really know.
What? Why are you looking at me like that? It *is* a grand tale. If you squint. There was a monster and a village and at the end only the village remained. There was magic, too, which I think is another important part of a *grand tale*. And besides, I don't really have any others.
I told you, I keep forgetting. A little bit on accident, a little bit on purpose.
Am I sorry I met you?
I... don't know.
Are you sorry you met me?
I'll let my answer be the same to that.
So please, tell me. Before I wake up.
r/StoriesOfAshes for more of my stuff.
|
HSerrata
|
OfAshes
|
2023-10-29 17:35:58
|
2023-10-29 15:42:14
| 79 | 26 |
k6z6j22
|
k6yomv4
|
17j3r6v
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17j3r6v
|
[WP]One day you wake up in the last video game you played with a note that says "you have to stay alive for 100 days or else you die in the real world: p.s. all mods are disabled for the 100 days.
|
The cold shocks me awake.
That sort of biting cold that only really exists in fantasy settings, that chills you to the bone even through the thick fur blanket, yet somehow doesn't instantly freeze your sweat to your skin.
My surroundings are familiar, I know this place... but where?
I find the note.
Confusion becomes amusement but gives way to fear at that last line.
"All mods disabled for the 100 days"
I am doomed. I dare not even move lest my mere presence set off a chain reaction of this barely functioning world's catastrophically overtuned physics and sends my very breakfast, some bread and cheese, careening around the room before it ultimately kills me.
It was once said about this world by one of its gods "It just works".
No, Todd, it doesn't.
Not without mods.
|
Derail valley
I wake up on a ratty couch. No hunger, no exhaustion. I get up and walk out of the building I’m in. As I walk out I see a table piled with pieces of paper. Red, yellow and green coded. There are two machines in the corner. One is called the career manager and the other is an order validator. I walk out into the quiet yard. Sounds of machinery in the distance.
I walk into the yard looking at the various cargo rakes waiting to be moved and transported. A bright light glows in the far distance. I jog towards it. A blue form materialises behind the light. It’s a DM3 diesel mechanical shunter. Heart racing I run around the yard looking for a storage track. B8S. There’s a load of empty flats. SM-SL-37. Quick count of the cars. There’s seven of them.
I run back to the station office to find the order. Load up steel billets and move to B2O within 20 minutes for 7855$. I slide it into the order validator. It spits out a red file. The clock has started. I run for the waiting engine and climb into the beautiful blue rust bucket. I flick the switches one by one. The engine grumbles and growls to life. I throw the reverse into forward and the engine starts to creep forward. I’m living the life!!!
I don’t ever want to come back to real life.
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Taolan13
|
mekkanik
|
2025-02-25 11:55:23
|
2025-02-25 09:10:01
| 62 | 23 |
meor413
|
meo9u5k
|
1ixp24u
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1ixp24u
|
[WP]One day you wake up in the last video game you played with a note that says "you have to stay alive for 100 days or else you die in the real world: p.s. all mods are disabled for the 100 days.
|
The cold shocks me awake.
That sort of biting cold that only really exists in fantasy settings, that chills you to the bone even through the thick fur blanket, yet somehow doesn't instantly freeze your sweat to your skin.
My surroundings are familiar, I know this place... but where?
I find the note.
Confusion becomes amusement but gives way to fear at that last line.
"All mods disabled for the 100 days"
I am doomed. I dare not even move lest my mere presence set off a chain reaction of this barely functioning world's catastrophically overtuned physics and sends my very breakfast, some bread and cheese, careening around the room before it ultimately kills me.
It was once said about this world by one of its gods "It just works".
No, Todd, it doesn't.
Not without mods.
|
I groaned myself awake, looking up blearily at a window that was... on the wrong side of my room? I bolted upright, hand reaching for a partner who turned out to be missing. A crumpled piece of paper is all I found, reading it, I patted myself down, reassuring myself that this was not a dream. "You have to stay alive for 100 days or else you die in the real world: p.s. all mods are disabled for the 100 days."
I looked over the edge of the not even twin sized bed, down at a gambeson, plate, and greaves, shit just got real.
I fumble around looking for Henry's, er, *my* pouch, while Mutts tail beats away at the bottom of the bed. I hear forge work to my left, and quiet talking to the right, meaning I'm still at the blacksmith, where I had last slept to save. This... This could work... I find my coin pouch and take a quick count, over 3000.
Oh yeah, this would be easy. I'll just hang out here, work on blacksmithing, shoot some targets, and there's a bathhouse with a few different girls across the street. I'm filthy rich, and I haven't committed any crimes. I'm good for 100 days. This'll be a vacation!
Throwing on my smiths apron, I shove open the door, mutt follows at my heels as I begin walking up to the tavern to find myself some breakfast, a jaunt in my step as I ponder what Bohemian food really tastes like.
|
Taolan13
|
Tragedyofphilosophy
|
2025-02-25 11:55:23
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2025-02-25 11:41:59
| 62 | 22 |
meor413
|
meophyr
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1ixp24u
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1ixp24u
|
[WP] You die. When you meet God he says “So, how was Heaven?”
|
"THE LAST TIME I ALLOWED THIS MY HEROLD BEAT ME OVER THE HEAD WITH A CHESS BOARD"
Charon managed to say as he was looking for an out here. This monster of a man was giving him a run for his money. He seemingly had a perfect dodge and his hardened fist hit like granite boulders. It was just not conceivable. He, a mortal pushing the personification of death to his limits. It was madness
He snarled shouting "Stop trying to distract me baldy I will win my life back. Those bastards are going to try to harm my family and that shall not happen."
Charon listened to this and pondered. He family wasn't on his lists just yet. Was that because he would allow this mortal to live his stolen life and save his family? Would He pull a Thanatos and kill them before they can harm his family. That's when the punch connects. It hits him square in his temple knocking charon down.
The warrior looks upon his downed foe with a smile. "I have beaten you death, give me back my life" he bends over to help charon up. This creature is truly one of a kind.
"SO YOU HAVE MAGNUS. I ADMIT DEFEAT. YOU ARE FREE TO SAVE YOUR LOVED ONES. BE IT KNOWN I NOW HAVE A NEW DEATH TIME FOR YOU AND YOU CANNOT AVOID A SECOND DEATH."
He nods thanking charon. He hops onto a horse and departs into the sunset. Ah screw it charon thinks and walk through a tear in reality to the mans family. He watches them a woman in her late 20s early 30s is cooking a meal for 3 children none of whom are over 10. Thats when the pounding at the door peaks his curiosity.
The raiders had arrived but where having a difficult time knocking down the door. That's when suddenly the leader just drops dead on the lawn. The other four dont notice until another one the idiot pounding away on the door is cleaved in two. That's the moment they finally saw him. And within a few moments all of them where collected and charon departed to throw them personally in the furnace of hell.
The warrior arrives home about an hour later to bodies strewn around his home. Shocked he gets off his horse for a closer look.
"YOU WILL FIND THEM ALL QUITE DEAD MAGNUS. I HEARD YOUR CRY AND IT MOVED ME TO MAKE SURE THEY DIDNT INTERFER IN MY BUISNESS AGAIN."
Charon bowed his head to the man and began to leave. "Wait death a moment longer with you please" magnus asks. Charon turns to him waiting for him to say his peace. "From my very soul i thank you. I know not how much time you have given me but know i will spend it wisely."
With that charon nods and vanishes. He rather enjoyed that. Plus looking at his ledger he would see the man again in 25 years. Hopefully age will take off some of that nasty right hook. His skull still hurt from that.
|
I play games with my souls. I let a few of them have more time if they play well, even if they don't win. I get them after a few days, months, years.
Some fellows choose simple board games, either for lack of imagination or because they enjoy the simplicity. Chess, snakes and ladders, backgammon. The chess players are almost always sporting about it, though there was that one man who accused me of receiving instructions via anal vibrator, after I scholars' mated him.
Some choose the most complex war games. Early editions of Warhammer. That one that HG Wells wrote. They try to bind me with rules and complexity, not realizing that Death has infinite patience. It ceases being fun when you drag it out too long, and I always get them in the end.
PvP gamers are invariably the most skilled. It takes years of practice to even begin to...how do they say it? Gitgud. To even begin to gitgud at the lowest levels. And yet, they rage against their fate and call foul the most often when they lose. At once the most and the least deserving of more time.
The one I will always remember is the only one who desired a physical game.
John was a Marine, and had lost his legs in battle. He didn't even want more time, all he wanted was just the feeling of running again. When I visited him in the hospital, it was the first time he was at peace from his PTSD since he would get what he wanted. He said Airsoft.
Imagine his surprise when he found himself in a jungle with his legs. I stood opposite him behind a row of foliage, my cloak turned ghillie, my scythe turned to a rifle. He wore the same and he had his legs back, and we split at the starting whistle.
John ran like his life depended on it. I suppose in a way it did. He ducked and covered and jumped and rolled and fired and maneuvered like he never had before. I never once drew a bead on him; he killed me again and again and again.
Imagine getting to kill Death. I've seen a fair few souls of warriors die and fight for a little more time, and it is not pleasant, especially in the previous ages. Viking berserkers and Apache braves, samurai and Zulu, I've had to end such fighting spirit the only way it could be ended. It was the only life they knew and while I'm sure they went to their afterlifes with pride....their vaunted prowess was never a match for their final enemy, and I have never enjoyed taking the truly valiant.
John was different. Despite his fractured mind and fragile emotions, he'd managed to make peace with passing, surrounded by his loving family who would live in luxury because of his actions. He put his effort not into fighting, but simply in running free, and even without the effort he was such a good soldier as to rival the warriors of ages past in skill and vigor.
I did not grant him extra time. It would lengthen his pain in that shell of a body and limited, overstressed consciousness.
I did continue to battle with him every so often, on fields and forests, tundra and beaches and cities. John was the only soul in around three centuries that I've accorded the honor of keeping intact in my personal collection.
I wonder who will be next?
|
nightmareonmystreet1
|
LongColdNight
|
2024-04-29 08:40:14
|
2024-04-29 08:20:04
| 135 | 64 |
l1rdfsp
|
l1rbvh5
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1cft7ps
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1cft7ps
|
[WP] The chosen warrior your kingdom summoned from another world turned out to be a horrifying monster just barely disguised as a human. Despite this, they've somehow proven to be far more reliable than the other heroes summoned by the rival kingdoms.
|
"Well I mean he did manage to kill the demon lord within a month."
The king put his hand to his chin in contemplation as his advisors and other members of the royal family and clergy sat around the table.
Ealandra, one of the other heroes summoned, deemed to be quite a talented cleric spoke up in exasperation. "Your king, he did so by infiltrating the Demon Lord's sewer system and systematically killing off every one of the demon lord's subjects before killing the lord himself!"
The king tilted his head to the side, considering the prospect. "Well at least he's thorough."
Ealandra's jaw went slack as she looked at the king in shock. "Your majesty he killed the demon lord over the course of a WEEK, taking off limbs and allowing him to escape and create barricades just to give him a false sense of hope! At one point he acted like silver was able to hurt him, prompting the demon lord to run to the treasury and assemble a cannon, which he then disappeared from after it was fired, making the demon lord think it was safe to sleep before being woken up in the middle of the night by his monstrous visage!"
"Well let's see what the hero has to say for himself." He gestured and his court magician tentatively removed the magic chain binding the hero's mouth shut.
The hero sighed, cracking his neck a few times before opening is eyes, black except for two eery yellow pinpoints of light. He cleared his throat, giving a brief view of a gullet filled with thin gleaming teeth. He looked up at the king before speaking.
"Was I entertaining at least?"
The king grinned as he looked into those cold, merciless eyes. "Very. Unbind the man, treat him to whatever he likes."
The court bowed their heads and each thought of what may happen.
The king and the hero made eye contact and nodded, regarding each other with the respect that the clownfish shows the anemone, that the urchin shows the crab, that the man, shows the dog.
Things were starting to get interesting.
|
I watched him from afar, trying my best to keep from shivering.
As a princess of the kingdom, it was my duty to help, and support the summoned warrior...
But this one we summoned was a horrifying monster...barely resembling a human.
His eyes, his behavior...his views...are almost worse than those of the demons.
Despite all this...
He just came back from a skirmish against the demons, and rival kingdoms...victorious...and it's not the first time.
"Bartholomew...welcome back." I smiled.
He smirked.
"Pretty thing...finally feeling "better"?" he asked.
I smiled.
"Thank you, yes.
Sorry that I couldn't see you last time, and that I haven't escorted you when you left to wage a battle for our kingdom.
Thank you for everything." I said, slightly bowing.
He snorted...and left.
I sighed in relief...casting a healing spell on my hands, as my palms, and nails were in dire need of it.
I was having tea, when a maid came in.
"Your Highness, the Chosen One...Bartholomew killed the hostages from the other kingdoms, and drank their blood.
He also took some...some of the maids with him to the bedroom...and a butler saw him after bath...
He went crazy.
Your Highness, that man is no mortal!" the maid said.
I shuddered.
"We know...Jasmine, we know..." was all I said.
She bowed and left.
A few days later, the capital city was surrounded by heads on spikes...
All high-ranking officials...or they used to be, as the Chosen One found out they were actually demons in disguise.
I watched the scene with a heavy heart...barely containing my breakfast's contents...
"Pretty things like you shouldn't watch adult stuff." a voice mocked, as he appeared.
"Thank you for cleaning the kingdom's pests." I said.
He whistled.
"Oh, you got a little spunk after all...I like it.
Well, I am off to eat, I mean, fight another war with the rival kingdoms...
This world is fun, demons, wars everywhere...and they are real! Not games!" his eyes shone, as he started running.
In but a few seconds, I couldn't even see his shadow anymore...
After he left, I relaxed.
"We will win this round of wars...and the kingdom shall ascend to become an Empire, our dynasty starting with Father or eldest brother, but afterwards...
How and who will contain...that thing?" I muttered, going to the library.
I didn't have much talent in magic, but the books of the past might hold an answer to our future problems...
|
Turbulent-Ad-6095
|
TheWanderingBook
|
2025-01-05 13:59:07
|
2025-01-05 08:24:54
| 51 | 35 |
m5is6aa
|
m5hs4zm
|
1hu197s
|
1hu197s
|
[WP] A girl shows up in your house claiming to be your daughter and telling you that she’s glad your both okay with tears in her eyes. When you tell her that you and your partner don’t have any children, her face goes pale
|
There is a knock at the door.
I wonder who it could be. The only visitors we get here are delivery people, and most of them leave packages by the gate. Even the Jehovah's Witness people avoid our driveway. The driveway is too steep and long.
Yet here is someone knocking on my door.
I open the internal door, leaving the security door locked.
A girl stands there. I don't know her.
"Packages can go in the drop box at the gate. We are perfectly happy with our chosen religious beliefs. Our electrics are already 'eco friendly' and solar panels mean that no matter what savings your company offers, you can't beat free."
The girl remains.
~"What? I'm...I'm not here for any of that. I'm Sophie, your daughter."
"I don't have any children. I don't want any either. I can't have any, and I have no plans to adopt."
~"But..." Sophie's face falls. "You're my...my mother. Can I talk to my dad? Your husband?"
She seems genuine. She's a good actress.
"Take a seat on the porch. I'll be out with tea and coffee soon. Then we'llsort this out"
~"Can't I come in? It's cold out here."
"You can wait on the porch. There is an old blanket on the swing. I'm not letting a stranger in my house. Stay on the porch, in sight of the camera, or I'll call the police."
~"But I'm your daughter! Can't you see our resemblance?"
I laugh "I think I'd remember having a kid. How old are you anyway? 15?"
~"18. I just saw my records. The paperwork said my parents are Alessandra White nee Holland and Nathaniel White. I looked you up further and found this address."
My blood ran cold. The eighteenth anniversary of a car accident that nearly ended my life and Nate's life, and did end the life of our unborn child passed in March. I was in ICU for a month. In and out of consciousness. So many drugs. So much rehabilitation. I remember very little from that time.
A part of me flairs with hope, wanting her to be telling the truth. Another thinks there could have been a hospital mix up with our paperwork and some other family who had a baby on that fateful day. Or she could be a gold digger, trying to lie her way into a fortune.
|
There was a sliver of red in her blonde hair. She'd never been known to do highlights. Green hoop earrings dangled from her ears, a pair I didn't recognize. She looked slimmer than I'd ever seen her. And that white blouse and black pants? I didn't normally see her out of pajamas.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and looked again. The woman in front of me bared a passing resemblance to my mother, but it wasn't her. It couldn't be. There had been a mistake.
This was my house. It had the same slate gray walls with white trim, the same living room with a corner fireplace. But the decorations were wrong. Pictures I'd never seen before hung next to the TV depicting places that we'd never been. The fridge was free of the magnets that my brother and I often played with as children. Gone was the bookshelf of video games he'd considered his crown jewel. Everywhere I looked, it seemed that there was no trace that I'd ever lived here.
"What..." I let out, the call coming sharply back to mind before I could formulate my thoughts.
It didn't look like there'd been any accident. Mom said she'd had a few bruises and that Dad was unscathed. This woman didn't have any bruises, none at all, she looked ready for a night on the town.
"What are you staring at, miss?" she said sternly. I heard a tap-tap-tap sound as she anxiously clicked her left heel against the hardwood floor. Mom never wore heels.
"Who are you?" I asked
"And who are you?" she asked
Tension rose in my Adam's apple. There'd been a mistake, something I needed to figure out, but I needed time. I couldn't handle this now, so I turned and fled as fast as I could.
Bright sunshine smacked my face as a cold winter's day greeted me. I stood on the porch for a moment to take in a perfect snowy landscape, the powder untouched. The car was missing from the drive. *That was to be expected. It'd been an accident.*
I heard Mom's voice on the phone again and again. "Come when you can, we're OK, it was just a minor fender bender." This would've put my mind at ease, if she hadn't then said that "the car is a bit totaled, your father said the engine was smashed." Mom always had a way of downplaying things to put me at ease, and I always had a way of worrying about them anyways.
*Mom, where are you?*
I walked forward to look back at the house again, to make sure it was the right one, that I hadn't made some stupid mistake. An eerie feeling came over me. *The car was missing from the drive.* How had I gotten here? Where was...
Oh.
The accident came back in a flash. I'd been on the way to my parents house. A semi-truck ran the light and smashed directly into me. That was the last thing I ever saw.
I'd ceased to exist.
|
IlikethequietZeppo
|
armageddon_20xx
|
2023-08-31 04:58:24
|
2023-08-31 04:25:53
| 340 | 180 |
jyhatig
|
jyh7jar
|
165z86m
|
165z86m
|
[WP] You are a therapist that has been isekai´d into a classic fantasy world. You are praised as one of the best doctors of their time, but unbeknownst to them, you are slowly going insane by how screwed up their lives are.
|
The psyches of those in this world beyond my own are truly… something. As with all cases, in my previous world or beyond, the true depths of the mind lie terrible, dark, and disheartening secrets. I have perspective on those of modern times, of modern societies, but what I have seen here was completely and utterly foreign to me.
It was like a storybook meant for those with imaginative minds, except with every single negative aspect of actual reality mixed into it to form another spiral of human suffering. Suffering in ways I have never even heard of in my career, ever. The most I can do is correlate their general themes with what I’ve already seen.
Not even factoring in the innate stress of living in a pre-modern society, the lives of the people here are constantly plagued by such strange hardships. True evils, the deistic threat of *total* annihilation, even dying doesn’t bring them rest. Many people I have personally spoke to here have experienced death several times over, yet never found peace. They always come back.
Simply… existing, as a member of the so-called “undead” seems like a never ending nightmare. Their minds are fogged with the extant decay of their brain, they cannot obey their own senses, yet they are forever cursed to roam this world on the whim of whoever brought them back. I’m not one to draw conclusions, but this feels sickening. Subjection to such a thing is a fate nobody deserves.
Moving ahead from the grisly topic of the dead, the living do not seem to be faring much better. Many go mad trying to pursue this world’s latent and rather unexplainable powers. Others live in constant fear of their overlords. Some even have… Well, let’s just say that “evil” is a universal constant with any form of sapient being.
I’ve seen it back home. I see it here now. How people treat one-another merely based on anger, pride, sadism, or what-have-you. What humanity, and in this case, everything beyond, can do itself truly knows no bounds.
I never believed the existence of the soul, nor believed in the legitimacy of anything spiritual for more than the sake of easing one’s mind, but personally seeing the living essence of so many things being ripped out and… destroyed in front of me, it flipped my entire worldview on its head.
I have spoken with an individual who had that happen to them recently, one that “survived.” It was like speaking to a hollow shell, like trying to converse with computer. I have seen a fair deal of emotionless types from my time in the old world, but this took it to a new level. Their physicality remained, but anything that made them distinctly… them, was all but lost in an instant.
Magic and madness go hand-in-hand. Without it, this world would only ever be as cruel as our own, but the omnipresence of powers like these can brung suffering in unforeseen ways.
I do not get it.
With how such a powerful thing is used for such… malice, it makes me reconsider how great the gift sapience truly is. With the evil it brings, and the awareness it curses us all with.
I need to think… About everything.
|
The line at my shop formed before dawn and got longer every day. Elves, dwarves, humans, and even the occasional tiefling came carrying what they claimed was the last of their coin for my consult. I wish I could say it helped them. My approach was reasonable, if not wholly rational, but it seems like logic had failed them. When I told three elves that the best way to get along with their dwarven neighbors was to be nice and make a peace offering, they came back saying the dwarves said they were "weak in arms," with the three dwarves in tow claiming that the elves were "a hindrance." When I told a tiefling and a human who had decided to be together in a romantic relationship that everything was fine and that they should "make new roads together," they came back claiming that the village they lived in had almost stoned them to death. Then I had several villagers from that village come and consult me about their anxiety over the ruckus.
On most days, it felt like a war between tribes was inevitable, that I should give up my practice and take up my wand. If it weren't for the King, I'm sure it would've already happened. Their divisions seemed rooted in prejudices and biases that came from their earliest upbringing, a desire to compete with another dominated over any inclination to do well by one another. I wondered if they were but beasts in disguise, their supposed intellect an illusion in a crystal ball.
It was the end of a particularly hard day when I received a visit from Senae, a small blue fairy with two tiny wings no thicker than a sheet of papyrus. Fae were rare in my shop. Over the years, I noted that they were a tribe that seemed to know how to work out their differences amongst themselves.
"What ailment may I assist you with?" I asked her as she flew in and locked her tiny green eyes on my gaze.
"I'm most sorry for the intrusion, but I have been watching from the rivers and I see that you are not well," she said at once, catching me off guard. I was not used to those in my shop acting like me. If not outright offensive, such a thing was to be considered a thorn in my side.
"I am quite fine, if not for the gentle flogging of my spirit." I waved my arm as if to shoo her into place, but she flew closer, coming within half of a staff's length.
"I think you must be honest with your soul."
"You know nothing. The visions in the water are often short of sight and suited for your own kind."
She flittered. "You know nothing of our ways or our visions. Your sight is limited to the brains of mortal creatures, your magic tied to the earth and its complexities."
"You too are mortal!" I had become angry now. Who was this creature to dictate my ways?
"Mortality is relative, as are these lives you sow much mana into. Have you not forgotten the ways of the Holy Pantheon? For each creature, its purpose, from the boar to the dragon!"
"Its purpose should not be war. We've had enough fighting."
"Your purpose is to sow peace, but not by fixing what cannot be fixed. You must amplify the good and ignore the perilous. Let the boar proliferate in the forests and the dragons in the mountains. In their own happiness, they will find peace amongst themselves."
Perhaps if I had been right of mind I would have comprehended her. Instead, in vile anger, I pulled my wand from its sleeve and pointed it at her. I summoned the words of a spell to put her under my control, and that was the last thing I remembered before I awoke in prison with this papyrus and pen.
I only wish I hadn't committed such a mistake to lead me to consider the meaning of life eternally.
r/StoriesToThinkAbout
|
Youhoooop
|
armageddon_20xx
|
2023-01-23 16:26:47
|
2023-01-23 15:58:08
| 23 | 16 |
j5k76rg
|
j5k2rso
|
10jbi5m
|
10jbi5m
|
[WP] You wake up with several messages on your phone, all of them from your friends and family telling you some variation of "TURN ON YOUR TV NOW". On your way to your living room to turn on the TV, you see something out of the window: dozens of camera crews standing outside your home.
|
As much as Alfred would like to paste himself face down on the pillow on an early Sunday morning, the raucous din outside was impossible to ignore. The deafening whir of a helicopter and the knocking on his door grew louder and more frequent. His phone was buzzing and vibrating incessantly, he thought it was going to tear a hole through his pocket.
*Turn on your TV!*
*Check out the news!*
*Dad is this true?*
He kept swiping away at the deluge of notifications, hoping to spot something from his motley crew or his god. When he stumbled over to the nearest window and tried to peer through the blinds, all he saw were dozens of reporters and camera crews posed to take photos. [The last time he had to deal with that amount of press was the day he announced his resignation from the company he founded.]( https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/11ylcm8/wp_a_mark_on_your_forehead_identifies_the_god_you/jdbcqfq/)
Innsmouth was supposed to be a change of pace, an idyllic fishing village with a population that numbered only in the thousands. A quiet village away from the hustle and bustle of the capital city, he thought he could look forward to a semi-retired life while playing chosen one to a strange, mysterious god who marked him for supposedly greater things.
Now, Innsmouth had grown into a vibrant, touristy town, experiencing a boom in population, and he found himself exceedingly busy with his new duties at the church with nary a break.
Alfred tried calling his marketing manager Jerry. Isn’t this his job to deal with the press if they hounding the team? Jerry was tasked with helping Innsmouth keep a low profile despite some of the crazy shenanigans his god had up his sleeves. No answer. He rapidly typed a quick message to ask Jerry to call him back very urgently.
*Hey Alfred, I’m investigating the source of the leak. Will keep you updated*
It was Katrina Watson, the occult detective his former co-founder brought into the fray.
*Kat, what was leaked?*
Alfred absolutely had to know in order to deal with the swarm of paparazzi outside.
[*It’s Donna’s case. Potential sources would be her father, Gordon, or those two gods, Montag and Aerova. I’m sending you all the info I have at hand now.*]( https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/12ecn8d/wp_please_i_know_he_kidnapped_you_and_turned_you/jfbqk97/)
[That incident was why he had that signboard erected to warn followers to be very careful what they wished for.]( https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/12dhw2v/wp_youre_an_ancient_and_powerful_dragon_master_of/jf72zo6/) Yet, it seemed it was too late, with that story blowing up despite settling out of court with Gordon.
He wasn’t sure he was going to like what was going to be on the Sunday news if he turned on the television or flipped through the newspaper.
“Eldritch god at Innsmouth horribly mutates teenager at Church Camp”
Fuck. He picked up the newspaper just below the door flap and quickly scanned through it. Couldn’t be arsed to turn on his television. He already knew what he was going to see if he switched to the news channel.
Alfred trudged to the fridge to grab some beer. He didn’t care that it was a terrible idea to drink on an empty stomach on a bright morning, but he was going to need it. Those cowards, he cursed under his breath. Montag and Aerova were just as culpable for recklessly transforming Donna to the point she mutated into a mass of bloodshot eyes and mismatched limbs, but they were all too happy to heap the full blame on Elvari and feed him to the sharks. Those two self-righteous fools were initially adamant that it wasn’t worth the backlash to revoke their cursed gifts on Donna and would rather let her die until Elvari threatened to devour them and utilize their powers to save her.
It still wasn’t enough. Her body might have been restored, but her mind had been already broken from the trauma.
As he slumped onto his couch, at a loss for words or ways to deal with the press outside, he felt a hand on his shoulder and noticed a glass of warm water being offered to him.
“Lord Elvari, when did you get here?” Alfred asked.
“I squeezed in through one of your open windows from the back. It was a very tight squeeze but I made it. You need me here.”
“You shouldn’t be here. You need to lie low until this tides over and people move on to the next exciting bit of news.” Alfred shook his head.
“I’ll be fine, I’m quite used to being looked upon as the villain, just typical eldritch life. I'm quite aware I'm no virtuous paragon of purity with a squeaky clean past." Elvari shrugged. “You can’t stay stuck in your house all day, Alfred, I’ll go with you and talk to the press. Jerry has already briefed me, we spent the whole night discussing PR strategies once Katrina caught the leak. The only thing we didn’t anticipate was that the press would come to your house rather than the church to look for me.”
“What do I need to do? I would say pray to god things don’t worsen, but…”
“You can pray to your god right here. Then get dressed, step out the door, smile, nod, and let me do the talking.”
------------------------
[Thanks for reading! Click here for more prompt responses and short stories featuring Elvari the eldritch god.](https://www.reddit.com/r/TregonialWrites/comments/11tkt9w/eldritch_god_elvari_series/)
|
I toss off the covers, confusion setting in the hazy strip between being asleep and awake. Something seems out of place, like part of my brain won't let go of a dream that my conscious mind can't remember.
I'm in my own bed and nothing seems out of place. I had a few beers during the game last night, but I barely buzzed before setting off for bed. Nothing out of the ordinary to explain why I would feel so out of sorts. In fact, it had been a pretty boring game because I couldn't even remember the score. Or who was playing.
The thin shaft of light slicing through the gap in the blackout curtains was brighter than I would expect. I must have slept later than I wanted to, although since it was Saturday, it's not like I had anywhere I needed to be.
I sit up at the sound of my phone buzzing, but don't reach for it right away. Probably one of my friends with some idiotic plan for the day I wasn't ready to deal with until I'd at least brushed my teeth.
But still the feeling remains as I step out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweatpants.
I stretch, trying to feel if I slept on something wrong and that was the cause of my unease. After stretching my shoulders and a few quick jumping jacks, everything seems to be in working order. If anything, I feel better than I have in years. I'm not stiff or tired or bogged down with any of the other aches that slowly set over time.
The phone on my nightstand buzzes again and I grab it on the way to the bathroom, cracking my neck with a satisfying crack followed by a release of tension throughout my shoulders and back.
What was I so wary about just a few minutes ago? I feel amazing this morning and I'm not about to let some lingering dream, probably nothing more than last night's nachos, bother me now.
Had I made those nachos at home? That doesn't seem like something I'd do. But I didn't go out, did I?
I must have Door Dashed them, I think, a rinse my mouth with some mouthwash. A few beers and I'm reaching for that app without really even thinking about it. That definitely sounds like something I'd do.
My phone buzzes again from where I chucked it on the counter. The notification flashes a text message from my friend Jason. "What did you do last night???????"
Was I supposed to meet him to watch the game? I don't remember any plans. Besides, Jason doesn't even like.... Is this football or baseball season? I should definitely remember that, shouldn't I?
It's just the early fall slump and a boring game of... whatever.
I grab the phone and walk out to the living room, bright sun peeking through the curtains here also. I'm not sure I'm ready to face the daylight before a cup of coffee.
Padding to the kitchen in my bare feet, I fill the machine and immediately feel more coherent when the first warm aroma of coffee hits me.
As I'm waiting, my phone buzzes again and I pull up the notification. Only now do I notice the string of notifications that must have been going off all morning.
*Where are you?*
*What happened?*
*OMG, is that you on the front page of Reddit?*
*Turn on the news now!*
The last one was from my brother and had a link to one of the major news sites below it. I click through to a picture of me with fire erupting from my hands and eyes as bright as lightening.
The caption beneath read "THE NEXT STAGE OF HUMAN EVOLUTION?" with a sub-header below it stated that it was updated today at 9am.
I pull down the screen to see it's a few minutes after 10am.
A shudder breaks through the house, rattling the dishes in the cabinets. *Earthquake!* is the first thought that flashes through my head, but this part of the country isn't known for Earthquakes, and I'd certainly never experienced one before.
Outside the living room window, the roar of a crowd spills through the walls, followed by a booming voice, loud enough he must be connected to a speaker system.
"We'd like to welcome Earth to the cosmic community." A male voice, smooth as silk, sounds like he's piped through every speaker in my house, as opposed to somewhere outside.
I pull open the living room curtains to see my lawn filled with vans, people, camera, and police lights bathing the entire block in eerie light.
The people outside are almost on top of each other to get a better view of my house, except for a small knot right in front of the front door.
The people, although they're as similar to us as we are to a chimpanzee, stand in the front of the crowd, everyone's focus glued on them.
"Last night, we received word that the first human crossed an important evolutionary hurdle and has exhibited powers similar to other planetary defenders." The man in front, the one who stood taller than any of the news vans parked along the street, delivered this message as small eddies of wind cycloned around him.
"It has been our job to protect your planet as long as you didn't have members of your race capable of protecting it for you. But now that the first human has exhibited super powers, we leave the defense of this planet in their capable hands." The massive man, along with his three friends, turn to the front window, where I'm standing with my phone and wearing nothing but a pair of old sweatpants.
They salute, then without another word, spring into the sky, shooting away like a rocket.
As the cameras all pan to me, my cheeks blaze with embarrassment and fear. The heat in my cheeks blazes brighter and stronger until I feel a flush over my entire body.
The phone thuds against the hardwood floor, or at least the top of the phone. The rest of it flows down in a molten stream to a pool around the broken pieces. Completely melted.
I drop what is left of the sticky device and as I open my palm, flames erupt and flicker from my hands.
The cameras in the front yard flash, and a growing chant rises above the other noise. "Defender."
r/StaceyOutThere
|
Tregonial
|
StaceyOutThere
|
2023-04-10 17:07:27
|
2023-04-10 16:52:42
| 75 | 45 |
jfpuljs
|
jfpsavj
|
12hh2hp
|
12hh2hp
|
[WP] You are a patron deity that physically appears before your followers in order to reward them for loyal service. Usually, they like to fulfill their darkest desires, so you’re completely caught off guard when one of them asks to feel “the embrace of a parent.”
|
A good day's work deserves a good day's pay. That had been one of the basic tenets of my religion for eons. It was one that I often took for followers who were loyal in their service to me. Most other deities give me strange looks for going through the effort of creating a physical form and personally rewarding *every* single faithful follower. It's akin to a king going in person to visit every single loyal knight and guardsman under his command in order to give them a reward. It is a task more reserved towards one of the deity's champions or prophets. To do what I do is seen as 'lessening' the significance of the task that 'lowering' ourselves down to the level of mortals is supposed to bring. Perhaps that's why the other deities have less of a follower base than me? Perhaps that is why my followers are willing to come to me with their darkest desires.
Out of all the deities in the higher planes, with the exception of a few, I think I am the one that understand the mortals the most. I find them interesting. Deceitful little things. It is not as if they are trying to deceive everyone they meet, not exactly. They simply shun things about themselves so that they are more palatable to others. What is on the surface of a mortal is often not all there is to them. That bright light they show casts a deep shadow. A shadow in which they hide their darker selves.
Mortals often hide the darker aspect of themselves from other mortals. They feel the need to be ashamed of it. Especially when confronted with a deity claiming that they will give them anything as a reward. They feel as though it is a test of character. If it were any other divine being, perhaps it might be. For me, however, that is not the case. A good day's work deserves a good day's pay. The newer followers soon learn of the true fairness of this tenet with time.
Due to that tenet, in conjunction with others, I have seen the dark shadows that mortals often hide from each other. They flock to me to grant them their darkest desires because I hold no judgement. I've seen the gentlest souls turn into the cruelest deviants for an afternoon. I've seen my followers' hands soaked red in blood of those that had wronged them in some way. I've blessed mortals with powers, granted them visions of futures yet to be, seen every dark and twisted action performed under the sun and moon. So, one can imagine my surprise when one of my paladins gave my an innocent request.
The man stood tall and bulky even without his typical plate armor. His skin was dark as charcoal which allowed the pink scars that crossed his face and arms to stand out all the more. He wore normal clothing for a human with leather armor covering the major areas of his body. His brown eyes gazed into mine. Not many can do this without shaking in awe or fear, sometimes a combination of both. However, that was not what I saw in his eyes. Within those brown irises, I only saw a silent plea for his wish to be granted.
"I shall grant your wish, Mason of Windcreek," I spoke before tilting my head to the side in curiousity. "May I ask as to why you want this as a reward? I am not judging. I am merely curious."
"Can you not peer into my mind to find the answer for yourself?" Mason replied. His voice was deep and raspy. Almost as if a landslide was given a human body to inhabit.
"I can, but I try not to gaze into the minds of my followers as a rule. You would be surprised as to how many deities don't give their followers the right of privacy." came my answer. The man hesitated. For once, his eyes held fear in them. For what, I wasn't completely certain, but I could make a guess. "You don't have to tell me now, young Mason. Perhaps during your next prayer session?"
"... I will do that then. Yes..." Mason was anxious now, shifting on his feet like a child waiting for a gift but not wanting to be obvious about it. I couldn't help but to chuckle at the sight of the usually stoic man acting like this. It was a sight I didn't think I'd see.
I made my way done the stone steps of my altar. All the while, my form shifted to what I remembered being the ideal form of a mother for humans during this time. Soften facial features, long hair put into a bun, a bit of pudginess from a recent pregnancy, and a voice as soft and warm as a summer breeze. "Come here, my child," I tell him. For he was my child, all my followers were my children. I spoil them rotten enough for them to be so. My arms wrapped around him and pulled him into a tight hug. I hope I didn't put too much strength into it. It's hard to gauge that kind of thing with these physical avatars.
Mason hesitated for a moment but soon returned the hug. He held on tightly. The strength of his embrace only intensified as time went on, clutching onto me as if he'd lose me in any second. I did not notice how he shivered slightly in my hold. Nor did I mention the soft sounds of a man sobbing softly. I do not judge him as he nearly begs for the hug to go on for longer. A good day's work deserves a good day's pay after all.
|
In a small room strewn with pottery depicting strange scenes, silver coins of all nominations, chalices with meandering ornamentations, to marble statues of a man and a woman holding an arch with their arms covering the ceiling and spilling out into its peak.
There stood a chair of wood, its back chipped and charred, from under it spilled out darkness from the under the arch. It was lit by the only light coming from a small window opposite of the small room. On this throne sat a vaguely visible thing, not quite there, yet shimmering in a cloak of blue and purple. The thing’s head was opaque and yet drew the eyes of the two children standing in front of it.
The older child was supporting the smaller and weakly child with his right shoulder. Clutching her hand with his other. He looked straight at the thing and began to speak in a small voice.
“I have come to ask for a boon, city of mine.” faltering after the commonly known nicety, and looking to his care, frowning and looking back up. He continued: “I… I… did things for the soldiers on the market gate.”
“I helped them with getting arrows and bolts. I got them wine and got one of their dice when it fell down the stairs. I even threw a rock on the enemy, splattered her, I think.” his eyes fell to the floor recalling his deeds.
“*I was there, Pellas*” The thing said from three directions at once.
The boy recoiled from the strange sounds coming from the centre.
“*I was there on the battlements, I was there in the tower, I was there at the gates, I was there for every shot, every howl, and every cheer*” the thing continued. “*You and the other before you served and served well*” The thing barely moving said in a singular voice: “*Ask me your favour, your dream or your boon.*”
“Sir, city of mine” Pellas stumbling through, “Milise’s parents died and she’s alone now. And the Sergeant said you were an orphan cast out, so sir, city. Can you give her back her parents? You know it's hard for us out there”
“*You ask for another, not yourself, you ask for warmth, not cold calculated gain.*” The thing raised from its throne, a golf of warm air crept over the floor. “*Alas, Nimmus is wrong, I am no orphan. My parentage is that of cold rock, outcasts and strife.*” The thing stepped down from his small dias and crouched before the boy. The warmth was still there along with something bolder, stronger. Fresh and scented, there came another tithe of air from the figure robbed in blue and purple. “*You know that too, Pellas, but your request I cannot grant. It is the domain of far older and far stronger things than me.*”
The boy gathered his strength to look on the figure, trying to speak to it face to face. “City you can find something else, you’re a library and a university in you. You’re old and people say you're wise and that everything they ask comes true. They say you can give advice, give gold and riches.” The boy stood a bit straighter as he spoke, lifting his care a little as he did, nodding to her, he spoke again. “Surely there is someone to take care of her, something you can give her that is close enough to her parent to get her a home or a hearth. She won’t last long, the older boys are already looking at her all funny.” The boy was getting a fouler temper, a sharp pang of hatred came from somewhere in him.
The thing didn’t move. “*Pellas, levying me with things I cannot do and hurting over betrayal I have not met out is foolish.*”
The boy felt his cheeks reddening at being found out for his anger at adults. The shame froze over and made place for righteous outrage. “But if you can’t help…” he took a sharp breath. “There’s nothing to be… there isn’t fucking anyone!” The boy screamed the last words and began to get a feeling of exhaustion even he hadn’t experienced. The spiteful words rang out in the small room, filling it and then, slowly, dissipated.
As they did so, the boy felt calm yet weary. He gathered his charge and tried to turn around. But was stopped by, what felt like a hundred people laughing at a joke he’d missed or a song whose lyrics he did not understand crashing to an end.
“*Youth. My youngest, how frightfully self-righteous you are.*” the thing spoke as he touched the boy and his charge with his arms. “*I hereby grant your request. Go seek out those you want to her parents, and I shall have them obey.*”
The boy turned at the touch and was confused by the words. “No, I want her parents for her, not people you tell to feel for her.”
“*I granted your boon, as for the little one, she can ask her boon herself.*” the thing replied.
The little girl fluttered and began to stand. Tossing the boy's arm of her with strength that surprised her and frightened the boy a little too. “City of mine, I want my boon.” the girl spoke whilst the boy looked horrified at the wrong phrasing. The thing shrunk, or, crouched further to meet the girl face to face. “I want Pellas to have his parent back as well!”
“*Two have asked me to do things beyond my ken or could.*” the thing replied. “*Are we ever so clever when we are young. I shall not do a thing not done. But grant you some far too few know.*” the thing touched the boy and the little girl on their heads.
The room spun for them, their heads feeling light and foggy. As if struck by a raging tempest, they felt it. Love. The simplest love, the strongest love. The love of beauty and fairness and care and sacrifice. The room was empty as they sat embracing each other. Feeling not a thing more, and nothing less than love for one another.
|
Strict-Parsley-6495
|
Aiken_Drums_Diogenes
|
2025-03-12 13:44:59
|
2025-03-12 13:19:35
| 15 | 11 | null | null |
1j9ghp8
|
1j9ghp8
|
[WP] You are basically a human lie detector. Whenever someone lies to you, or around you, the truth pretty much shows up in your mind like closed captioning. No one is aware that you have this ability. And is great as it sounds… It’ actually kind of sucks. Truth hurts, after all.
|
"We all still miss you, you know?" I said. "You will recover soon, right?"
*"Don't talk to me."*
I sighed, focusing my gaze on peeling the skin off the apples. Beside me, a collection of BL manga I had brought for her. I knew she liked them, and I could sense her eagerly glancing toward it.
"Don't worry, I'll leave them here for you." I chuckled, peeling off the last of the skin.
*"Please don't."*
I felt like crushing my arms around my ears; I wanted to go deaf. Every time, every single fucking time she responded,, someone else would speak in my mind, louder, a voice of truth, even when ignorance may have been the better option.
I could almost rip out my ears, damn it.
"Aella." I finally choked out, grabbing her frail hands. They had grown cold, so cold.
She immediately retracted back. *"I told you to go away!"*
"Just tell me what the doctors said." I leaned towards her, "Please."
Her lips wavered, her brows twitched, she opened her mouth, then paused. *"They… that is none of your business; now go away."*
I would have been content if that were the case. I would have gladly walked away, but the voice of reason told me otherwise. It always said what I didn't want to hear.
*"Don't talk to me." \[I'm sorry\]*
*"Please don't." \[Thank you.\]*
*"I told you to go away!" \[I don't want to die.\]*
*"That is none of your business; now go away." \[Please stay.\]*
I embraced her; I buried my face into her shoulder as her lies only grew louder.
*"Stop this." \[No.\]*
She flailed her arms.
*"Leave me alone!" \[I don't want to be alone.\]*
She shifted in my grasp.
*"I'll scream if you don't leave me." \[I want to scream. I want to scream.\]*
Tears beaded around her eyelids.
*"Please…" \[I'm scared of dying.\]*
She finally gave in to the weariness, her head resting against my shoulder in vain.
"I don't just want you to cry." She said, and for once, the voice in my head was silent. She finally told the truth.
"Tell me, how long do you have left?" I asked.
Her lips puckered. She would rather not say it. She didn't want to confirm it—accept it, but it was the truth nonetheless. She could deny it, but the truth will all be the same.
"Five months." She eventually mumbled in defeat.
The voice in my head stayed silent.
|
You really don’t like this ability.
No, it’s not like you struggle with life or anything. You could even say that your special power has helped you out several times.
You still have friends, a career, and everything else. You have earned a great deal of insight into people.
It isn’t like some of the books or shows you’ve watched where everyone seems like the scum of the earth. Then again, it’s not like you can read minds.
But, you would like to believe that seeing the truth allows you a great deal of information with the right nudges, and you’ve learned that there are many genuine people in this world.
You’ve thought about telling some of your closest friends, for example, but never did in the end. It wasn’t because you didn’t trust them, no. It’s just one of your little white lies to make them feel not embarrassed about stuff. After all, if Neal realized that you knew their secret obsession with Clifford the Big Red Dog merch or if Pearl realized their closet was basically glass to you, you think they’ll feel quite bad.
So, you don’t mention it.
In reality, the reason why you abhor this ability is something else.
After all, you’re a detective.
And yeah, honestly, the truth hurts. It sucks. It makes you wish that you had the power to murder people as well.
You have a good track record. A very good track record. It’s not perfect, though.
It’s come at a price.
You have seen the truth in things that you could never understand from murderers, abusers, and kidnappers. Sometimes they say things with such conviction and faith, even the truth you see reflects their belief. Sometimes, you find yourself wanting to scream, and other times, you want to throw up.
You have seen the corruption in fellow citizens, judges, and jurors. Hah, like that was a secret. Money, favors, power. Whatever makes the world go round. You have had to bite your tongue more than once, waiting and waiting until you have enough resources.
And more than once, you have seen good, kindhearted people stoop to lies to save those that they care about. Even if they were criminals, abhorrent monsters. Even though they don’t believe their words themselves, they still do it. Because they cared.
Life was so absurd.
Maybe you’re too stressed. You’ve tried going to a therapist before, but even knowing that they’re genuinely concerned with what you’ve gone through makes you feel guilty for some reason.
Could you be doing something more? Is this all you can do? You know the truth, but what can the truth even do?
You don’t know. You really don’t know. You feel so powerless.
Even so, every day, you get up. You get dressed and eat breakfast. You go to your office, and you do your work.
Nothing is ever perfect in life. Life isn’t fair either. Even so…even so…
You’ll keep trying to make it a little better.
Even if it hurts.
|
Bob_is_a_banana
|
InfiniteMindfullness
|
2025-03-30 06:40:47
|
2025-03-30 06:09:20
| 357 | 153 |
mkhcvz0
|
mkh9v29
|
1jn5svd
|
1jn5svd
|
[WP]One day without any warnings whatsoever all of America was engulfed in a bright light and flung into an alternate world never to be seen again.
|
President Monstadt stared out of his office with a puzzled face at the White House lawn, where there was currently a giant flying lizard bleeding out into the grass. Funnily enough, the growls and roars coming from the monster sounded a lot like insults about "inferior creatures"
​
\*knock knock\*
"Mr. President, it's Johnson, your chief of staff" came from behind the door.
"Come in, Johnson, you know you don't have to knock when we're working"
Elijah Johnson walked in the door, "Sorry, sir, it's kind of a special occasion."
The president turned around, "Can you explain what's happening? we've lost contact with every satellite in orbit. We've had to swap back to overland communication and radio transmission."
Johnson looked sheepish for a moment, "well, sir, we seem to not be on Earth anymore. Luckily it's dusk so we can see the stars. According to the scientists, they're completely different now. Either we're not in the milky way anymore, or we're so far away that the frames of reference are different."
"We're....not on earth anymore? we haven't really lost contact with any states, but we lost contact with every other country. It's just us?"
"Yes, sir. We're surrounded by hostile magic users. A lich tried to invade Florida and set up a base in the Everglades to convert us into undead. His army got napalmed pretty quickly. An elven army tried to take over Washington state because they don't consider humans people, but the national guard and some local militias organized and took them out. Dwarves tried to invade the Rocky Mountains and called us vermin, but South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee got together and all the dwarves saw was a bunch of good-ole boys with rifles and molotovs."
The president thought for a moment and replied, "So wait a minute, you're telling me....The United States of America is in a place with no diplomatic or economic ties, surrounded by hostile, xenophobically aggressive forces, and we haven't really lost any communications or war potential?"
"That's about right, sir"
​
President Monstadt sat down at his desk and started crying uncontrollably, his face in his hands. Chief of Staff Johnson quickly ran up to the desk and cried out "Sir! Are you okay? I'm sure we can fix this somehow!"
​
The president looked up at his friend and smiled, "Tears of joy, Johnson, tears of joy"
|
i was in my nans house watching the news as we do each and every friday, me playing games on my switch hear my grandparent gasp in utter shock. i look over at them wondering what’s going on until i hear the news reporter say “America has disappeared after a huge light flashed over the continent.” at first i think nothing of it because i’m british but after a few minutes the effects start taking place.
after the news report aired i go up to my bedroom to open up netflix to watch evangelion but for some reason it’s not working, an error screen is displayed saying “error 15673 cannot connect to network.” “that’s quite odd” i say to myself. i try opening amazon prime but a similar error comes up. i try a few more apps and similar errors come up. it’s all starting to make sense to me; because america is gone all the american owned companies are not working. i open up my iphone and it’s all very strange, tiktok and instagram aren’t working. i go downstairs and ask my grandparents if their facebook is working, of course the say no.
i attempt to text my american friends to ask if they’re okay, the message can’t be delivered. i start to worry. what’s happening? why is this happening? what’s caused all this? will more places disappear? where is america? will we ever know what’s happened? loads of questions swirl around in my head.
a few days later canada has disappeared in the same fashion america did, then russia, then china, then japan, then spain, then turkey, then africa, then eventually britain is the only place left. it’s so lonely here all alone. we are only just managing to get by. all the imported good are obviously not being imported anymore and we have to live on what we got.
i wake up one morning to the brightest light i have ever seen in my life, then darkness. what’s going on? all of a sudden i wake up on my bed, in my house but it feels… off. i go downstairs. my family is there. they all look up at me with strange looks on their faces. i ask “what’s wrong?”
“look outside” my dad replies. we all go outside and the sky is green and there’s massive rocks plummeting towards earth. none of us have any idea what’s going on. we have no clue what’s happening or happened to the rest of the world.
a rock comes plummeting down on our house. everyone was stuck under the rock except for me. blood was splattered on every wall. i wasn’t alone for long. another rocks comes plummeting down and crushes me. i felt the worst pain i felt in my life, my short 16 year life. it was all pain then nothing. everything was dark. i think i died. i arise from my lifeless body and look down apron this mess that once was my house i say one word then disappear “goodbye.” [i’ve never done this before i hope it’s okay pls leave any constructive criticism cos i rlly enjoyed writing this and this is my first time i’ve been on this subreddit so i hope i’ll be here again :)]
|
None
|
noname34394
|
2023-03-19 07:31:43
|
2023-03-18 23:20:44
| 17 | 12 |
jcsqpzo
|
jcrajj0
|
11ur5f4
|
11ur5f4
|
[WP] Every dragon rider gets a dragon egg to hatch upon their initiation to the guild. When your egg hatched, Your dragon came out a bit... Different.
|
No two dragons were the same. Some say the form it takes depends on the care it receives while still an egg. Others claim that it is based on the soul of its rider. And more believe that it is entirely random. Whatever the case, this has never happened before. A dragon born smaller than a mouse. Even after a year of care, in which most dragons reach their full size and strength, my partner never exceed the size of a common rabbit. My cohort mates had repeatedly told me to try again, get another egg, and leave this one to the reservations or sell it to the circus of curiosities. The drillmaster took the opportunity to declare me unfit for service in the royal dragon legion, recommending me for menial duties until I regained my honor by breeding a worthy dragon.
Then the time came for battle. The first true test of the legion. A portal to the nether realm had opened, and creatures of darkness and demons were approaching in the hundreds. We lined up in the parade grounds, not really listening to the supposedly rousing speech by the drillmaster. His dragon stood tall, her gold scales glimmering in the sunlight. The others were mounted upon their partners; Most were whispering words of encouragement, perhaps more for themselves than for their mounts. In stark contrast, Crownperch nestled in my hair, unfazed by the size difference between his peers, nor nervous at the prospect of a life and death struggle. The other riders threw glances in my direction. Some were of derision, and others of pity. It matters not. My dragon may not be as large, have as many spikes or possess an elemental breath like the others, but it was the most special of them all, for it was mine. The trumpet of battle sounds, the gates open and we rush out to meet the incoming horde.
----
*My dragon is the best. With a single claw he takes down demons by the dozens. He has one large scale covering his body, which is pretty good at deflecting small blows. I cast my protection spell so that magical attacks glance right off. I see the other dragons fighting furiously, going toe to toe with the lesser beasts. Mine, however, with some help from my physical and mental enchantments, bites through them like teeth through bread. He periodically checks to make sure I’m safe. After all, he is my father before he is my dragon. I sit proudly atop his head, undisputably the best view of the carnage. Yes, I am the best dragon rider, for my dragon is the best.*
|
"That's not a dragon," my mother stated firmly when I returned with my new buddy from the Dragon Rider's Guild. "Who gave this thing to you?"
"Mr. Venks gave Floppy to me during my initation," I held my precious new friend close to me. "He said they're sourcing from a greater variety of dragons since enrollment has been growing. The Guild's usual breeding dragons aren't laying eggs any faster than the number of dragon rider inductees joining the Guild."
"This pale, fleshy freak of no scales has eight eyes, and tentacles for lower limbs," Mom frowned as she examined my partner while he cooed happily. "What kind of dragon did the Guild say this is?"
"An eldritch dragon from the Abyss," I replied. "C'mon Floppy, show my mom you can fly."
He unfurled six gnarly wings of feathers entangled in webbings dotted with eyeballs and flapped. My poor buddy let out an ear-piercing shriek when he hit the ceiling and fell into my arms.
"Come with me, son," my mother slung her bag over her shoulder and grabbed my hand. "We're returning this weirdo dragon to the Guild. My son is getting a normal Western Dragon and not a tentacled beast that can't walk or stand proud like a real dragon."
**
---
"We don't do refunds or exchanges, Mrs. Combs," the guildmaster said. "Your son accepted his dragon, who chose to bond with him."
"Then fix this mutant!" Mom shouted, thrusting a whimpering Floppy at him. "At least give this sad sack of tentacles some legs to walk on! What dragon crawls on two arms and drags a mass of tentacles behind?"
"An eldritch dragon."
Mom's face was turning redder than the crimson carpet on the floor. "How many more of these monsters are you peddling to naive kids who take whatever breeding rejects you hand out?"
Now it was the guildmaster's turn to raise his voice. "These aren't breeding rejects! We source these quality dragons created from a reputable source."
"Great, so you're telling me there's more than one of these abominations, and they aren't bred like regular dragons, but created by some crazy...creature?" Mom looked close to exploding, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles were turning white. "Who's your fucking supplier?"
**
--
"Not every tentacled creature is created by me, and I'm not the only supplier of tentacled beings," the eldritch deity chuckled, a few tentacles bobbing up and down as he sipped his tea. "Though I'm somewhat pleased I am the first entity that comes to your mind when tentacles are involved. And a little upset you didn't like this adorable little critter."
"Its pale like you and has tentacles," Mom was undettered, her hands jammed on her hips. "Close enough, I'd say, Lord Elvari. If not you, who made this?"
"What was the address the Dragon Rider's Guild gave you?"
"It says here...Innesmouth. Not Innsmouth."
"So where is this Innesmouth, then?" She asked.
"Why, Innesmouth is in next town. You may ask for the Crystal Cult of Seathe the Scaleless and say Lord Elvari gave you a referral. You might even get a discount."
|
hatabou_is_a_jojo
|
Tregonial
|
2024-04-30 04:37:28
|
2024-04-30 04:26:26
| 570 | 99 |
l1w9m3o
|
l1w876c
|
1cggtbb
|
1cggtbb
|
[WP] “ So the deal is you can get one million dollars, meanwhile the person you most hated in the world gets double.”The devil said. Now you are leaving with three million dollars, and he’s absolutely freaking out.
|
As Mephistopheles looked at the escrow account on Roland’s tablet computer, he found himself speechless for the first time. Roland looked at him with vacuous eyes, disinterested in the demon’s confusion.
“… How?”
“How what?”
“How… how did this happen? That would mean… that you’re your worst enemy.” Mephistopheles‘s thick eyebrows made unnatural movements as he slowly found his voice again.
“Erm… duh? You defined the terms yourself.” Roland pointed at the contract, a minute spark of life finally coming to his dull eyes.
“An enemy is someone who I loathe, who attempts to or succeeds in sabotaging my every plan, and that makes my life harder to live by his very presence. You’re talking to him right now”.
As Roland took the tablet from Mephistopheles‘s hands, unnaturally coloured but immaculately groomed, the demon stopped him.
“But if you hate yourself, how will the money help you?”
Roland finally yanked the tablet off the demon’s hand, looking at his family’s picture on the screen before switching it off and storing it inside his backpack.
“It will not”.
|
"Wait, wait.
How?" The Devil asked.
I stopped and smiled.
"I meam it is obvious isn't it?
I hate mys..." I started.
"Yeah, yeah got that part, but how the hell are you not reeking of depression and self pity?
Also how can you smile so genuinely?" they asked.
I laughed.
"First time seeing someone depressed but also happy?" I asked.
They froze.
"Isn't depression literally a word to describe...not being happy?" the devil asked.
I shrugged.
"Generally yes, in my case is more like not having any mood to live, yet at the same time I know I have to." I said.
"But you hate yourself." they said.
I nodded.
"Then how?" the devil asked, pointing at me.
"I just got 3 million dollars, you want me to weep?" I laughed.
I could see them struggle to understand.
"Your magic or power or whatever it was didn't fail.
I hate myself the most in this world.
I hate how everything good turns bad in my head, hell even these 3 millions are mostly a headache.
Taxes...proving where they come from, where to spend them so that they are not wasted...
Fearing I will be attacked for them, killed, you know the usual." I said.
They stared at me.
"Yet you can still smile?" they asked.
I shrugged.
"Got used to it.
I am my own worst enemy, for real, not just being poetic.
Yet I know if I Kurt Cobain myself, some people would be sad.
As someone who knows really well how much it sucks to be sad, I don't want to be the cause of others' sadness." I said.
"You are interesting, human." the devil grinned.
I sighed.
"Wish I was boring." I muttered, leaving.
My first stop?
My accountant friend, and I hope she won't chew my head off for making a deal with the devil...
|
Logseman
|
TheWanderingBook
|
2025-04-13 14:17:22
|
2025-04-13 11:23:23
| 205 | 112 |
mmwd6md
|
mmvnzw4
|
1jy4ml1
|
1jy4ml1
|
[WP] In a world where at age 10 you pick your superpower, you picked the seemingly harmless one. Yet now at 26 you are considered the most powerful person in the world
|
I picked such a simple power, I doubt little 10 year old me even knew what it meant. Now... now they all fear me. Every one of them cowering in fear in the mere presence of my aura... This day was different though, this day, after 16 long years, something happened that I shall never forget.
I was doing my job, fighting villains, as most of my days go. I had just defeated Nemesis and was on my way to the heroes association to hand him in and suddenly, darkness fell around me, the sky went pitch black and my vision was reduced to only a few metres in front of me. I whipped my head around, looking for who could be responsible for this, then the darkness began to move, collecting around a single point, forming a figure.
"So you're the one they call Null?" she asked in playful yet terrifying voice.
"Who are you!?" I yelled, panicked and confused.
"I am Darkess," she said as she walked towards me, darkness pulsing around her like a void.
"What do you want?" I said, trying to regain my composure, "a-and how are you still using your power?"
"I want *you*," she said calmly, the final word echoing through me, "you've stood in my way for too long Null, either you choose join me or I'll make you."
"Why not just kill me?" I nervously asked, confused at why she was so desperate to have me on her side.
"You're unique, a one of a kind, and the only person who doesn't die at the sight of me," she said, saying the last part quietly, almost sadly.
I saw a deep, pained look in her eyes, as though she had been through a lot, but I didn't give in to them, she was more than an SSS class threat, maybe even an omni class threat. This was no time to play around, I had to act, and I had to act fast.
"So what will it be Null? Will you come quietly?"
I had no time left, my secondary ability - an ability granted to only 1 in a million - would have to do, after all, if I'm too weak to nullify her power then it's the only option I have.
Darkess walked closer, and closer towering over me like some cruel god of darkness (although, after thinking about it for a while, she actually might be as powerful as a God.
"So?" She whispered in my ear, and I could feel her impatience growing with every passing moment.
"I-" I stepped closer, reaching out my hand, "I- I'm sorry." A jolt of electricity shot through my hand, bridging the gap between us, penetrating the void that surrounded her, and making her collapse to the ground, unconscious. The darkness dissipated almost immediately, but Darkess got back up in no time. She looked thoughtfully at me before saying one thing,
"You're full of surprises Null, but one day you *will* be mine, and next time, I won't fall for such underhanded tricks," she said as she staggered backwards, clearly still affected by the lightning, and a patch of emptiness opened up, swallowing her before disappearing.
At this moment, I sit in a maximum security facility, guarded by the elite of the elite, all commanded to protect me at all costs. I was know as the hero association's trump card, the one they sent to deal with the worst of the worst, but now there's someone who can best me, and they're scared of losing me, or even worse, me turning on them. And right now, all I can think about is her, I don't know what to do, I don't know what I can do. Maybe I should have taken her offer, after all... she seemed to care, they only fear.
|
I quietly watched them bring me in chains to a large circular room. Men and women like me sat across the table. Each different, yet the same as me in one regard: We all had special abilities we chose as children sixteen long years ago. Staring with mixed emotions in their eyes at my state before them. I took a seat to await the fate of their decision. Each of my guards seemed nervous from even such a slight movement as that. With their hands cautiously on their nightsticks, while I simply ignored such inconsequential little figures compared to the real "threats" in the room. A woman near the center of the table with her hair in a bun sighed, reading a thick file with my name plastered in bold text on the front. She seemed to be speed reading or something equivalent from the way she was rapidly turning the pages. The grim silence of the room was more unnerving than the fact they had all come here. Only the rapid turning of the pages ending with a small slam while the file closed with a glow. She pinched her nose looking forward at me with annoyance.
"Why would you pick that for an ability?" She outright asked. I should have been stunned by her abruptness, but it was a fair question even I wish I knew the answer to. The cuffs clinked while I held my hands up a bit to shrug. I was 10, so I couldn't even remember what possessed me to ask for it. I mean the ability was cool and all. Just with complications... resulting in annoying meetings like this.
"Would I don't know suffice?" I answered snarkily, drawing a few snickers from less serious members across the table. She stood up, glaring down at me without any sort of fear.
"We are here at 3 IN THE DAMN MORNING BECAUSE OF ALLEGATIONS AGAINST YOU. I will not hear your bullshit right now! Are you a Hoard INC agent Mr. Lychell or NOT?" She screamed spittle flying from her mouth. I smiled feeling sparks flicker at a low buzz under the chains. Other members across the table attempted to calm her down. Suddenly, a fireball exited another member's hand striking the desk. A fire extinguisher was produced, and it was quickly dealt with. He profusely apologized to other members who eyed him dubiously.
A third person collapsed suddenly. Blindly looking around for help from others only mere feet away. Crying for help, while he visibly struggled to move his limbs. Movement eventually ceasing entirely. Strangled small cries coming from the back of his throat. The woman with the bun turned her attention back to me.
"YOU! I KNOW YOUR DOING THIS. CEASE AT ONCE OR I'LL-" She began, clutching her heart in a sudden beat. Short look of horror in her eyes, until falling beside the other member on the ground. Weakly gasping in short bursts of pain. Only an empty stare from her face. My chains melted like butter to the ground. Other members who even showed their abilities fell similarly to the other two. Dead or alive, I didn't care in the moment. Screams from outside emerged into the doors. Armed gunmen in full tactical armor resembling soldiers flood into the gates. Civs were pushed into a corner by them with their guns raised. I smiled watching the quick exchange of authority shift in the room. Every other superpowered individual fell only unconscious. The leader unmasked his helmet, showing his face to me. Bowing. His sharp inhuman features only further terrifying hostages shrinking back in primal sense of fear.
"The other Barons of the Hoard send their regards. I'm at your disposal sir. Escape has already been arranged on the roof, but we'd need to move quickly if we plan to do so... unless... you intend to stay" He asked face alight with a psychotic smile. I smiled back, placing a hand on his shoulder. Without a word he understood, sparks entering his skin. Barking orders, remaining forces exited the bloodbath. Sound of sirens faintly off in the distance. With a loud BOOM behind us, a shockwave shook the air.
And this was only the beginning....
|
_Dr_Meme
|
LordNightFang
|
2023-11-14 17:18:04
|
2023-11-14 17:10:33
| 45 | 25 | null | null |
17urx62
|
17urx62
|
[WP] You made a deal with Satan, making you immortal meaning you can never go to hell. You enter your home one day to find 7 new roommates, turns out satan brought hell to you by making you live with the deadly sins
|
“Alright people, we need a new system here.”
For once I’ve managed to gather everyone in the large living room. Satan had been cruel but at least the apartment was spacious. Everywhere I went the floor plan was basically the same : a huge common area, and tiny rooms around it for each roommate. Basically, the ideal apartment if you’re in an episode of Friends with your besties, not so much in my situation. I had arranged everyone’s couches in a semi circle around me, to hopefully get a much needed talk.
“I feel like everyone has been getting worse these past few centuries, and I just can’t take it anymore. Honestly the first millennia were fine, but now you’re all getting on my nerves and we need to make a few adjustments.” I said. “But since I have virtually no power over you I’ve decided to instead offer each of you a deal, much like the one I’ve made with the big guy before you came here.”
“Gluttony, we have to do something about the constant food smells. You can’t just spend your time frying things”. The fat man looked at me while reaching in his bag of chips, worried I was going to try and starve him. “I figured if you’re going to eat constantly we can at least prevent the cooking. If you agree to never touch the fryer again I’m giving you an unlimited Uber Eats subscription”He seemed relieved until I added “One more thing. This subscription is for you AND Sloth. You order for them, you feed them if need be. Whatever it takes to stop the child protection agents to come knocking because they’ve heard of a starving teenager here”.Sloth gave me a thumbs up, they had not stopped scrolling on TikTok since the beginning of the conversation and were not about to bother to actually answer either. I guess that’s fine, they were really not my biggest problem anyway.
“Lust.” Lust had chosen to take the appearance of a voluptuous woman in her thirties. That made it even easier for her to find partners for her cravings, which she happily took back to our place.
“For the love of Satan, keep it in your room. No more trying new kinks in the middle of the living room. I almost tripped on the ropes last night when I got up to get a glass of water.”She sighed, amused. “And what could you possibly have to convince me?” she asked.
“I have Gluttony. Try me and I’ll add a special offer to his subscription, express delivery for smelly cheese and microwaved fish. I guarantee none of your dates will be interested in doing anything in the living room at this point, or probably anywhere”.
A screaming match and a few threats of the sort later, I was able to continue.
“Pride, Greed, I’m going to need you to cover your share of the rent. I don’t care if you’ve got a new suit to buy or more money to sit on, I don’t want to lend you any money anymore.” I paused for a moment.
“So here is the plan. Pride, if I’m missing money I’m selling your suits until I’m whole. I’ll sell them to Envy, you know he wants them. I’ll also tell anyone interested that you’re broke.” Pride stood up, shocked. He buttoned his business vest, ready to leave and blurted “You have no rights!”. Absolutely, but my plan was not to play by the rules. “You’re correct. But in exchange Envy is going to stop stealing anything he can from you.” Envy was one of the most chaotic roommates. Leave anything unwatched and it was gone in minutes. Any proposition that would end that was too good to pass on.
“Greed. For you it’s going to be much simpler : I’ve found one of your stashes and pre-paid your share of the rent for the next millennia in your name. It’s not like you’re moving out anyway.”
Everyone in the room had reached their boiling point, it was time to close the deal. I turned to Wrath, the biggest man I had ever met, all muscles.
“Wrath. I know you’re at least as pissed off as me. If anyone decides they’re better than this agreement, here is a gun for you.”
|
Well, it wasn't all that bad. Sure, fights would break out and all but uh, here's the catch, they realized I can up and leave when ever. Given that I'm no longer afraid of death, I would walk out in freezing colds or blazing heats just to avoid them. Hail, no issue, it can't kill me. Ate a bomb once and just threw it up and handed it to Mammon only to wreck his room after he started a fight with Luci. They can't threaten to kill me and unlike them, I also blend into normal human society without any magic. On top of that, I'm not really satanic, I don't set off any angel's alarms so when they are around, they will protect me by their very nature- or rather they used to. So they have to keep their peace or else but all things change.
​
Given how I'm so unafraid of death and don't stick out much, I kinda became a hero of sorts purely out of boredom so it isn't uncommon for angels to stop by and even ask for help. I tend to do it with little to no questions but one day, the others began to question me.
​
"Kay, sweety," Hearing Luci's feminine voice dead in the middle of night was never concerning until I realized she was standing over me. "We need to talk, I got questions."
​
"Ah shit," I was quick to answer her call. "If its about Bel's junkfood, I didn't touch it this time."
​
"No. not that." She moved to the living room before turning on the lights. Most of them weren't working- thankfully- and the few that did, were pretty dim. "Its this hero thing. Like why?"
​
"I'm bored." I simply shrug. Finding a seat in the house was always a pain in the ass but I've come to terms with that and started opting to sit on Bub, good thing she's right in the perfect spot today!
​
"But out of all things to do, be a hero?" Luci was pissed. "Like, you're with us! We can rule this stupid planet. You're getting angel's to like you, only for them to use you!"
​
"I mean... I guess you can think of it like that." I shrug.
​
"Stop shrugging this off. It's annoying." Luci pulled a chair out of the wall- how did I not notice there were chairs were IN the walls? "Why?"
​
"Woman, I told you already." as annoyed as I was, I tried to not raise my voice too high. Bub moved a bit, I think she started listening in. "I don't have much to do as an immortal so I help out."
​
"You're soooo boring!" There was enough light to see her crinckle her nose. "You know the humans know you're immortal right?"
​
"And? Why would I care?"
​
"Because you can use this against them! That's why!"
​
"Technically I already did." I had to think of the few world leaders who I, quite literally, scared to death. "I did it to a few dozen ones-"
​
"To help the people."
​
"And? I still used it against them." I had a feeling she was about to drop my whole name. She always did that to piss me off, but before our conversation can go any further, Levi and Satan came in arguing. They stopped shortly after coming in and both looked at me on Bub and I can tell, they spoke to angels recently. "Hi."
​
"Did you just come from saving people?" Satan's growl was something you can FEEL, It didn't feel bad because I was on Bub but it was bad.
​
"No I just woke up." I tried to stay calm.
​
"Oh really?" Levi's hight pitched voice showed quite a bit of annoyance. "Last we heard you were with the angels bringing babies to Heaven's gates!"
​
"Okay, that was yesterday." I had to admit. "But that's not saving people, that's just delivering them."
​
Before anything else can happen Azmodeous came in with some sluts. "Yo, all y'all need to shut the fuck up and clean this place, I got guest."
​
I simply got up to clean. "Deous, you clean tonight?"
​
"Nah, these folks wanna be dirty." Azmodeous sighs. "So we're gonna be in your basement. We just don't have access from the outside," He leans in really close to Satan "Because a certain someone decided to fight angels again." He rolled his eyes at Satan's hiss. "Any who, I'm giving them some drinks before we go down. Who got the shot glasses?"
​
I lifted my finger, "I'll give my limited addition shot glasses, I keep them clean." than I paused after checking my room. "Wait... Where IS my limited addition shot glasses?"
​
The silence.
|
tourist_writer
|
CameoShadowness
|
2023-11-04 00:31:52
|
2023-11-04 00:15:30
| 14 | 10 |
k7q7ezw
|
k7q54ts
|
17n3bwx
|
17n3bwx
|
[WP] When you were first hired for your dream job, you didn’t think that “other duties as assigned” meant raiding the dungeon in the office basement or fighting off otherworldly horrors during after hours. Regardless, it’s the best job you’ve had in decades so you intend to make this work.
|
I race down the stairs, a soft *creak* repeating with every step I take, echoing through the basement. The lights flicker as I face the dungeon, a *SLAM* filling the air as the door shuts behind me. Looks like it’s time to *battle some monsters*.
“Come at me, *foul beasts!!!*” draw my sword and *CHARGE*.
Ghosts, goblins, zombies, spiders, and more rush at me. My sword clashes and clinks with every swing I take. The AC kicks in just in time, sending a powerful gust of wind towards the monsters with a loud *WOOSH*.
I nearly fall backwards as one of the attacks reaches me, but I steady myself just in time. With the best move I have learned during my time at this job, I go to the right of the monsters and do a clean slash, my sword reaching out to all of them.
Just from that single move, they all fall and face their demise. Guess today was one of the *easier days*.
I tip toe towards the treasure, my eyes darting around to make sure nothing is *lurking in the shadows*. Right on cue, the chest opens for me, its golden glow *pulling me in*.
I glance around one more time, the breeze rustling my loose sleeves. Then, I face the chest and reach inside, meticulously taking in the treasure with my touch.
When I sense the time has come, I pick up the pace and the golden coins and bars clatter as I dig through frantically. I only need *one item* to be happy.
“My missing necklace!” I grasp it tightly in my hand, undoing the clasp and slowly putting it on my neck. Ah, this is *exactly* what I need.
With this necklace, I shall summon however many more monsters I want, and I’ll be sure to get a promotion by defeating them.
I glance back at the door, noticing it appearing as it senses I am done. However, it hesitates as I hesitate. Should I fight more now or call it a day and get back to some extra regular work?
As I freeze in place, a voice suddenly calls out from the top of the stairs. It’s my coworker, Jenice. “Dude, we’re celebrating Frank’s recent promotion with a party and some food! You wanna come and eat some food? It would mean a lot to him and us!”
I pause, and Jenice does the same. She seems to take my silence the way anyone would, a *no*. “You know, we miss you around the office. You don’t need to devote your entire life to any one thing like fighting these monsters.”
As I hesitate again, Jenice audibly sighs. “I know you want to get praised, recognized, and promoted, but we also need you up here. We all care about each other, and we just want to hang out with you again. *What do you say?*”
My mind races. What is important? I always thought being respected and admired by others was. And I always thought that I needed to prove myself to do that.
But what if… what if I don’t have to? What if I can just *be myself* with people who *truly care about me?*
After a moment, *I have my answer*. “*I’m coming, Jenice!* *Wait for me!*”
Hope you enjoyed reading what I wrote for this writing prompt! I have taken a break from responding to writing prompts so I only just started back up again fairly recently, and I am always open to learning more about writing, so feel free to provide any thoughts or feedback. Thanks!
|
Tina took two steps for every one her new supervisor took. She never considered herself short, but next to the near seven foot man, or rather slightly behind him as she couldn't quite keep up with his long strides, she felt like a child. She was so focused on not outright panting while near jogging after him, she could hardly follow his orientation. His high pitched almost musical voice, didn't help matters.
Tina nearly cried when he finally came to a stop some several feet away from her. She quickly came to stand beside him, looking up at him as he peered down, her face set in a strained smile. She hoped her nose wasn't flaring as bad as she felt it was as she sucked in the quietest breath she could manage. Could he see the sweat beading on her forehead? God, how could he be wearing a beanie when it was so damn hot. Why was he wearing a beanie in an office at all. Must be how it is in gaming companies.
Her supervisor, Greggeth, an unusual name she thought, but hardly the most unusual thing about him, had stopped in a small alcove with a kitchenette. Greggeth turned towards the fridge and said, "Here's where you can store your lunch. Best to wrap your food in foil if you don't want it stolen, it scares the cleaners away, annoying little buggers."
Kitchen, food, right of course Tina thought as she desperately tried to follow his words while sucking in a few deep breaths while his attention was away from her. She swallowed as he looked down at her again. He seemed to be expecting something, so she nodded her head with her face set in what she was sure was the dumbest smile she'd ever wore. She thought, "Please stop looking at me. Please stop looking at me."
Greggeth's eyebrows furrowed, but he turned away and gestured towards the corner of the alcove.
Tina followed his gesture and jumped in place. A door was there. A door she was certain wasn't there before. It seemed to shimmer with specs of white light, but as she blinked her eyes and sneaked in a few more deep breaths, the glimmers faded. She thought, "Oh god, I'm seeing things. Do not pass out Tina. Do NOT pass out! Breathe girl, breathe."
Greggeth said, "And that's the entrance to the basement. We keep our file archive down there, store some bulk supplies, and raid the dungeon, of course."
He was looking at her again, that expectant look back on his face. She smiled back, nodding like a chicken. He kept looking at her, head tilting. She thought, "Oh no. Did he ask me something? Run it back, what did he say, files, supplies, dungeon." She stopped breathing for a moment. Openly, she sucked in a deep breath and wheezed out, "Dungeon!?"
Greggeth gave a playful smile, "Why yes, Tina. This is Dungeon Raiders Incorporated."
Tina coughed to hide her rising embarrassment. He's messing with her! He must mean their stupid game. They play the game down there. Probably for testing or something. She gave a fake laugh, still a bit strained as she finally began to catch her breath, "The game you mean, right?"
Greggeth's answering smile was far too full of glee for her liking. He reached up and grabbed his beanie, "Oh no, Tina. That's just a front. You'll be the newest member of our team." In one smooth motion, he pulled his beanie off. Two floppy pointed ears burst from the side of his head, jutting almost ninety degrees from his head. "Our team of dungeon raiders."
Tina stood rooted to the spot. Her eyes bounced from ear to ear, then to the door. The once again shimmering door. The door, which seemed to call out to her. She shivered. Then, in what she would later deem to be the result of momentary insanity, she asked, "How are the benefits?"
Greggeth's smile was all teeth, "Excellent."
|
KoolingKatie
|
AmbitiousWritingDude
|
2024-11-07 19:13:31
|
2024-11-07 19:09:28
| 30 | 12 |
lvy36mz
|
lvy2bba
|
1glvstb
|
1glvstb
|
[WP] You're patient zero of a infectious disease with hilarious side effects.
|
“On this weeks episode, all the way from Sol III, the ‘humans’”
A bright light shone into a rocky zoo enclosure, illuminating the entire area. Not a living thing could be seen inside.
“Doug, where’s the human?”
“What do you mean, it’s in the cage, what are you talking about?”
“It’s not in the cage.”
“Of course it’s…… it’s in the….. the enclosure…….”
“….Doug, signal an alarm now.”
Alarms blared, as a team of gbloglians burst into the enclosure to search for the missing primitive.
Cameras pointed back towards the shows anchors, visibly shifting in discomfort.
“……A-and we’ll be right back, after a word from our sponsors…”
|
Filmed in front of a live audience…
A creature with 2 heads and three tentacle appendages steps onto a stage saying “Hello and welcome to another episode of…” The audience enthusiastic cries “Abducted!” The host of the show introduces himself as Pats Spacejacks and makes his way to a lever.
“Today we have from the planet dirt a guest descended from small hairy arboreal cats.” Flashing a picture of a human the audience awes and cues. “Our translators are on stand by and here is our guest ‘Karen’.”
Some time into the interview.
“Well I’m not certain what some of what she is talking about but apparently humans do a whole lot of it. We are assuming that the ‘manager’ she is referencing is maybe our leader? We have had some guests want to speak with our leaders before but as an autonomous collective we have long passed the need for such a figure.
More time later…
“And there we have it, the little tree cat has been sent back to her homeworld with a parting gift. A subspace distributor, I think myself and the audience can say good riddance to ‘Karen’ and that whole flipping race.”
The show ends showing the planet earth slowly be pulled apart into a string of fine dust.
|
KiwiSuch9951
|
oliverjsn8
|
2023-04-05 01:48:58
|
2023-04-05 00:06:40
| 84 | 37 |
jezyjmo
| null |
12btoov
|
12btoov
|
[WP] “Be careful! That line of salt is the only thing keeping them at bay!” “Sea salt.” I said. Confused, he looks at me “What?” “Sea salt keeps us at bay.” I clarified.
|
"Excuse me?" The lass holding the vessel of salt did a double-take, glancing quickly down at the salt a few times before settling her ferocious gaze on me.
I grinned. "Besides, I quite enjoy being at bay. It makes me feel... weak and helpless while at the same time reminding me of my tremendous strength and horrifying appearance." I sucked air through my sharp teeth and licked what remained of my thin, rotted lips.
The girl winced and retreated toward the center of the circle she'd drawn. One of her friends stumbled backward, stepping on the line briefly before quickly shuffling back toward the middle.
I approached the salt, putting my worn boots right up against the fuzzy line of scattered salt crystals. "So," I began conversationally. "You *did* surround yourself with *sea* salt, right? Because if it's the kind that's been mined from the earth then..." I smirked menacingly and winked at her. "Well, we'll find out, won't we?"
"Stop!" she exclaimed, holding out the container defensively. "I'll pour it on you."
"Shame it's not that special Himalayan pink salt." I mused playfully. "That stuff *really* gets me going. You know, some poor broad tried that one on me last month and wouldn't you know it, the salt actually made me feel *stronger*! More alive!" I grinned. "Too bad it's not the pink salt."
One of the guys in the circle, trembling so bad his teeth were chattering, leaned in close to the girl with the salt. "I thought you said *any* salt would work," he sputtered, shuffling backward until the one in the back lost balance again. There were five of them huddled together in the circle, but I was only interested in the lass with the salt. She was fiery and bold. She was *perfect*.
"Stay back!" she growled, prying the lid off the container she held. "I'll dump it on you. I swear I'll do it!"
I shrugged. "Seems it's a bit of a coin toss for me," I admitted. "Either this is sea salt and I'm through, or it's not, and you're *mine*." I purred menacingly and winked at her again. "Place your bets honey, because if I was you I'd..."
In a fit of panic and rage she heaved the container toward me, launching a stream of salt into my face. I gasped, holding on to the hope that it wasn't sea salt. At first, nothing happened. I smiled and leaned in to enter the circle.
A horrendous stench filled my nostrils. I glanced down to see if one of them had soiled their pants, but I realized it was the smell of burning flesh. A chunk of my cheek sloughed off my jaw and landed on the floor, sizzling on the ring of salt. I stumbled back and fell, my right leg completely gone after trying to force my way past the line on the ground. My vision blurred and my eyes burned. I heard the teens gasping and cursing just before my ears shriveled and fell off. I choked, my lungs full of noxious fumes that ate away at my insides like acid. Everything was fading. My heart was slowing. I felt my muscles convulsing.
Faintly I heard cheering, then everything went dark.
|
I approached the group of cowering humans, stepping on the line of iodized salt that they had thickly sprayed all over the ground. They scampered away, sliding and diving into various forms of cover, desperate to hide themselves from me. Some of the braver ones had popped their heads out with guns drawn. It didn't matter, however, my body was too fluid to be affected by their small bullets.
"Why isn't the salt working?!" One screamed as I rolled my slimy tendrils throughout their last line of defense.
"There's something about the oceans that my people cannot hear to come into contact with. Whatever it is gets left in your sea salt. It's not much, but it's enough to hurt." I lift one of my tendrils teasingly, playing with the salt glued to my appendage. The sight unnerves the lot of them. "However, whatever property of the sea that is so deadly to me is lost in the processing of your table salts. Mighty convenient, don't you think?"
I slid my way closer to the cowering homosapiens and they promptly responded by dumping every ounce of ammunition into my body. The bullets tear through my amorphous flesh with no resistance. They give my insides a quick greeting before passing out the other side of me. Soon my mostly liquid form patches itself up like an adhesive slime.
"It's no use, those guns you have won't work," I mock them. I slither up to the closest human before he can react, wrapping my arm around his neck. He tries to claw at me but his nails find no grip on my slippery flesh. "Now, onto business. You Homosapiens owe us a lot, you know that?"
The man struggled to break free, bucking and kicking for his life. "What do you want from us?" he cried.
"Don't give me that! Millions of years ago my people risked their necks to get your kind on this stupid planet. You guys were different back then, spoke a simpler tongue, had a bit more strength in your arms, and couldn't tell a quantum supercomputer from a Xerg gaming device. However, you did have heart. You promised us that after 1 million years of peace, you'd have a fighting force to help put an end to the war!"
The man squirmed weakly, having already exhausted himself. "I... I don't know what you're talking about. No one does!"
I sighed with heavy disappointment. "We know... It was a miscalculation on our part. We didn't know you two-legged idiots would fail to retain information for a mere 1 million years." I dragged the man out of his cover, and a woman latched on desperately to his leg. She's quickly joined by an entire herd in a feeble attempt to save their own.
"Don't worry," I chirp, my mouth runs vertical with joy and I can't keep it from wriggling with excitement. "We've found a way for you all to hold up your end of the deal. Your human bodies don't seem to be bothered by this planet's ocean and its mysterious power. That same power is what the enemy uses to power their weapons that have terrorized us for 8 million years. So we will deploy your kind on the front line. A massive army of soldiers that will be almost impervious to the enemy's weapons."
A beam of light hits the floor from high into the atmosphere. It's the gravity beam on my ship. It pulls us all off the ground, it's too late for any of them to do anything about it. I smugly cross my arms and warm them around in place, a sign of victory to my people. "Don't worry. If you all work your hardest the war should only take 500,000 years or so. Quite the decisive victory, don't you think?"
|
MPD_Captain
|
Kenshi_T-S-B
|
2024-05-12 03:27:46
|
2024-05-12 03:25:24
| 553 | 125 |
l3ny3yy
|
l3nxuav
|
1cpvyit
|
1cpvyit
|
[WP] “The fae are not evil. No more so than the tide or the wind. They are not good or evil, they simply are.” “They killed my son!”
|
"The fae are not evil, no more so than the tide or the wind. They are not good or evil; they simply are," said the wise woman, her hair braided around sigils and symbols woven from reeds. Her voice was soft and gentle, but not a hint of sorrow or real sympathy even touched it.
"They killed my son!" Amara spat, her brown eyes so ablaze with ire and red they could have boiled away her tears. "They ensorcelled him, drew him into the forest, and ate him - and they did so while their sorcery had me paralyzed! If that is not evil, then why do we have the word?" It had taken her weeks to even speak again, and now she would not be ignored.
"Justification for rash action, I suspect, mostly an invention of the men who run the church."
"At least those men *do something*. You, oh druidess, only patronize. When we are wounded or ill, you tell us that nature must run its course - but when it is you or one of your pets who suffers, then your magic is the answer."
"If I depart, then who will guide you?"
"When a demon haunted our village, brother Tane gave up an arm to slay it without harming the girl it possessed. What did *you* do?"
The woman spread her hands slowly, "I listened to the wisdom of the ancients. That demon had its place, and now it is removed. Who knows what trouble that fool caused by disrupting the natural order."
Amara thought of the knife on her belt, a tool first but a weapon in waiting always. It had sliced potatoes, lamb, chicken, and cow, but all of these were dead beforehand. If she "followed nature" and gave into her rage, she reckoned the hypocritical witch before her would deem it necessary to heal herself and retaliate.
Instead, she turned in disgust to depart.
"Where are you going?"
"To Mogan's smithy and then to the temple. I'm getting a spike of cold iron and blessings against magic."
"I told you! The fae are simply acting within their nature!"
"And when wolves kill our children, we cull them. They do not get to be both animals and people at once, Magda."
"This is foolish, woman! You would do better to birth a new child and be more careful this time."
Amara whirled about, drawing her trusted blade with grace she had never before possessed. It flew from her hand in the same motion, spiraling end over end. The witch flinched away, dodging the attack just in time to save herself, but not quickly enough to avoid losing half her hair's length and an equal portion of the charms she had bound to it.
"I will have blood, Magda, and if you warn your little fairy friends away, your blood will have to do instead." As Magda began chanting to call her magic, Amara reached behind her back for a knife that wasn't there. "Silence or I will throw again," she bluffed, "and I won't miss this time."
The witch ceased her incantation, but glared at her. "You will start a war..."
"I cannot start what has already begun," she growled before turning again and strode away, sure to mime moving her non-existent weapon to the front of her belt as she did.
The fae would soon meet the true force of nature they only pretended to be.
|
"The Fae are not evil. No More so than the tide or the wind. They are not good or evil, they simply are." The old man smelled of rich soil and petrichor.
"They killed my son!" The bereaved mother cried.
The town council erupted in shouts and the magistrate slammed his gavel down three times.
"ENOUGH!" He roared, "The only people allowed to speak are Mrs. Miller, myself, and Gahalas the Druid."
The rabble filling all the available seats calmed down.
Gahalas cleared his throat. "Ma'am would you blame the ocean if your son had drowned, taken by the tides? Would it matter if he'd been taken by the tide or a shark? The ocean is no safe place, even for adults, much less a child. Why would you think the forest any different?"
"Sharks are animals, Fae can speak, think!" Someone from the crowd shouted.
A Moment later the Gavel sounds, "Mr McMilligan, one more outburst and I'll have you in the stocks for four hours. This goes for all of you, stay silent, or leave. The next person in the crowd to speak will get four hours in the stocks. Am I understood?"
The silence is deafening. "Good. Now, Mrs Miller, I believe it is your turn to speak."
Mrs Miller's face is a mask of contempt and rage, if she could, she'd strangle Gahalas to death right here. Instead she manages to speak, "Sharks are animals, and the tide doesn't sneak up on you. We all know when it'll be in or out. It has rules that it follows. Unlike the murderous Fae."
Gahalas laughs, "Oh, sweet ignorant mother. The Fae ALWAYS follow their rules, it is their nature. They ARE nature, just because you don't know their rules doesn't mean they don't have them. Sometimes a swimmer sees a shark in the water and isn't eaten. I do not understand the rules sharks live by well enough that I would wish to swim with them, but there are those that do. Sharks are beasts only capable of following their natures, their rules, and I promise you, it is the same for the Fae. All things in nature are unlike humans, who regularly go against their nature. You can no more blame a Fae for being a Fae than you can a shark for being a shark, or the tides for flowing, or a tree growing."
"What is your point Gahalas?" The Magistrate asked.
"My point is that there is no one to blame but Mrs Miller herself, for negligently letting a child wander into the forest during dusk. If it wasn't a Fae it would have been a wolf, or a bear, or a puma, and would we be having this 'trial' then?" Gahalas didn't seem to care how Mrs Miller or the crowd would take it.
The crowd erupted with boos, and the Magistrate slammed his gavel down three times. "STOCKS! Guards! Fill the stocks with as many of them as you can grab, four hours for anyone who is caught!"
The crowd quickly started to disperse, fleeing rather than spend four hours in the stocks. Suddenly there was only the Magistrate, his scribe, his personal body guard, Gahalas the Druid, and Mrs Miller.
"Magistrate, please. They have to PAY for killing my son." Mrs Miller begged.
Gahalas remained silent, his wizened old face a mask of grim indifference, he'd said his piece already.
The magistrate sighed and pinched his brow for a moment. "Mrs Miller your request for an assault of the Fae is Denied. We will not be burning down the forest. Everyone knows you should stay out of the woods from the start of dusk until after dawn. This court finds no fault in the death of Thomas Miller, consider yourself lucky I don't slap you in the stocks yourself for this waste of my time and the negligent death of your son."
/r/AFrogWroteThis
|
MasterV3ga
|
kiltedfrog
|
2024-09-02 17:13:57
|
2024-09-02 16:25:30
| 339 | 57 |
ll69u15
|
ll60yk8
|
1f78gbx
|
1f78gbx
|
[WP] The protagonist picks up a cursed sword, which simply convinces them to pick up an expensive and time-consuming hobby. This hobby drains their time, energy, and wealth more efficiently than any cursed item.
|
Rothgar the Glorious flicks his wrist to remove the blood and ichor from his sword as he walks into the heart of the dragons lair. From atop it’s pile of gold Gothar the Red looks down at him.
“How strange, I never thought to see a wielder of the industrious blade darken my doorstep.”
Rothgar looks up, “You speak, how fortuitous. Mine ears hath told me that you may be the owner of a spool of Royal Purple silk thread from the Rast dynasty.”
Gothar nods her head ponderously, “I do indeed Hero, for what do you need it?”
Rothgar bows his head, “Great Dragon, wouldst thou be willing to part with 200 yards of the aforementioned thread. As I find that I am in dire need of that precise shade for the emperor’s cloak on the tapestry I have undertaken.”
Gothar leans forward, her sulphurous breath blowing Rothgar’s hair straight behind him, “You slaughtered your way through my guardians to request thread?”
“Indeed, and I wouldst engage thou in battle, if it were not for the fact your spilt blood may spoil the thread.”
Gothar nods, “I see. I will consent to allowing you to use my thread. In return, you will sew your tapestry here until such time as my guards have been replaced.”
Rothgar sags with relief, “Great Dragon, I shall do as you wish. Though I fear I need to return to the local Inn. For that is where I left mine tapestry for safety.”
═══════ ೋღ ֍ ღೋ ═══════
Rothgar looks up from his 100ft tapestry, “Gothar, wouldst though happen to have any royal blue thread from Meniscus, 3rd kingdom era?”
Gothar leans down to gaze at the tapestry that will surely take at least three human lifespans to complete, “Nay Rothgar. I would know, how do you plan on completing your tapestry as you have been here for the last 20 years, and I doubt you have more than another 30 in you.”
Rothgar nods, “First, I will travel to the temple of water in the ruins of Meniscus, guarded by the kraken to obtain the thread. Then I will travel to the Unseen Empire and retrieve the Grail from the pitfiend that guards it.”
Gothar nods seriously, “I will miss you, as you have been a far more effective guardian these past 20 years.”
Rothgar shakes his head, “Great Dragon, I was merely protecting my tapestry.”
|
The chosen one who'd bring good fortune. Hero.
I never believed the idea of a chosen one who could bring disaster or great fortune to a whole land. But most people do. I do believe in born heroes, meant to protect their particular territory. Several of my age mates earned the name hero young.
I'd worn it well from an unusually young age. Momma swore it was my cries which alerted her to snakes in the walls, and my curiosity about unusual clouds that gave her and the neighbors time to get away from the swarms. My older brothers never had to protect me, rather it was me who chased away the would-be kidnappers. Just a babe upset by the strange sounds. Just a toddler curious about the world. Just a child without any sense of survival, and all the wild instincts of indignation. But, you know, people see what they want. And like to talk big.
It was nice having all the attention. I lived for it, so I leaned into it. Sought the secrets of savage places. Listened long to souls who'd lost. Set my nose to task after task. Tasted the temptations of trials, always victorious enough. Touched the untouchable.
Funny, that one. The Sword of Loss was supposedly cursed to bring about the bearer's undoing. When finished, it would appear along the path of the current greatest hero. Everyone knew its appearance, as it was the heros' emblem. A constant warning to wariness. But my canine companion had fetched it for me in the midst of a battle, and I'd take it without looking.
I found it to be a sword of fortune. As the goblin mass surrounded me, a pack of young were-canined surrounded them. The goblins had attacked them earlier that week, destroying most their adults.
How could I leave them? And how could the villages accept them? They never could. I became their adopted head. And I love them like my own.
I quickly ran through my previous earnings and trophies for these were canines. They needed much in the way of healing and training. And of course I've had to pay bribes the times they'd gotten naughty, especially in the beginning. But sword of loss? I think not. I've gained a family, and a home. We have a territory we guard and protect.
And perhaps it is better this way. I hear the rest of the land's heroes have fallen. Every territory must be protected by it's own, because of some ravaging creatures. Those who believe in such silliness as a chosen one says this one lost sight. I tell old fellows who stop by the same as I always did. Every hero should protect their own territory, something dear to them.
Funny how age mates who'd once agreed enthusiastically at best now only hang their heads. I wonder how what they hold dear to them held up, when they left it defenseless in and attempt to convince me away from ways we'd once agreed on.
|
dark-phoenix-lady
|
cheltsie
|
2023-05-22 15:13:16
|
2023-05-22 13:16:29
| 458 | 55 |
jl5ycdr
|
jl5hzwk
|
13on8ol
|
13on8ol
|
[WP] Youve been hired to clean a graveyard every night for 80 bucks an hour. Its haunted. And by god you are going to make that 80 bucks an hour
|
"Fuck you Yuri, I'm only here for three more hours and you aren't fucking this job up for me." I said, and to anyone on the outside it'd look like I was talking to myself, but to me I see a ghostly figure standing behind the headstone I am cleaning. Right now the figure looks like a monster that's about to maul me to death, but I know better.
"You.. why are you so difficult? Every other living being that can see any of us runs in terror, or at the very least pretends they don't notice and then never return. Why are you so different?" The figure takes on a much more human form, though still translucent. A balding middle aged Caucasian man that is otherwise unremarkable.
"Look, I figured out that first night that you guys can't actually hurt me. I'm not fucking anything up for you guys either, the rest of you stopped trying to chase me off. But, I need the money, it's good money. Four hours a night for eighty an hour? That's absolutely insane money to refuse." I stood up and looked at, or maybe through really, Yuri's face.
"Be that what it is, but I do not want you here." Yuri theatrically crossed his arms and turned his chin up at me. I went back to cleaning.
"You're just a sour old bastard Yuri. The rest of you guys are nice now. Look what I do when you guys are nice to me, like Miss Ryan. Look at her plot and tell me it isn't beautiful." I had spent some of my own money to spruce up her plot. She had no more living family and none of her family were buried here, she was so sweet to me it didn't feel right to not do something nice for her.
"Ah, yes yes. Beautiful. I just don't like you living ones. The groundskeeper is the worst of you so far..." I could see that Yuri was clenching his jaw.
"Why you say that old man?" I pause my work and look up at him.
"He.. he stole something from me. A bracelet. My daughter gave it to me before she died. I know it's on his desk still, too, after all these years. I can't do anything about it." He looked down at the grass beneath him.
I give it some thought. I do have a few nights off coming up next week, and I'm going out of town. The boss doesn't need to know that I'm not leaving until late at night, and I know the cameras don't work...
"Next week. I'll be gone for a couple of nights in a row, but before I go out of town I'll get the bracelet. Then, when I'm working next, you show me where to bury it. Then you leave me to do my work in peace. Deal?" Yuri seems surprised, but skeptical. He thinks on it.
"Alright, boy. I'll leave you be until after that time passes. If I don't have it after that, then we do not have a deal and I will make your time here hell." Yuri looked pleased with himself and faded into the wind, and I got back to work.
There's always that one hold out that just wants to be difficult, but there's always a way to get through to them. More importantly, I get to keep my cushy job.
|
"Ain't no way they're paying 80$ an hour and all you got to do is clean the damn place," Blair pointed out while sipping on his pink drink.
"I know it sounds sketchy, but I know the dude. He says it's legit. And my mom's sister's boyfriend's son said that he did the gig and he got paid." Claire said while fiddling away at her own drink that didn't look or taste as good as her friend's drink.
"You're mom's sister's what?" Blair questioned while raising his eyebrows.
"Forget it. What's important is if I do this one gig, I can get the money we need to go to the concert."
"Damn. When you put it like that, then you gotta do it."
"Right?!"
"...okay, well you have to call me when you get there. And- it's just going to be you right?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Just leave me on the phone in case anything happens. Because you never know, you know?"
"Oh. Aw. You care about me. " Claire said with a huge grin.
"Shut up. I do not." Blair said while putting down his drink. It was too damn sweet.
"Just do it Claire. Okay?" Blair said while making sure that Claire was looking at him in the eyes.
It was rare to see Blair be so serious but it was also kind of cute. Claire nodded. "Promise!"
\--
It was spooky as hell. Claire didn't realize how creepy a graveyard at night would be. It was dead silent. Not even a peep of wind or a cricket cricketing. She really wished that Blair didn't like this rock artist that was coming into town so much. She knew that this was something he had wanted to go to for a while now but they had never been in town. And it also happened to be the weekend of his birthday. She was getting these tickets no matter what.
"Claire?"
"Yeah?"
"Ok, it was kind of quiet so I was making sure a ghost didn't get you."
"Shut up." Claire retorted. She didn't want to admit it but after getting on the phone with Blair, cleaning the graveyard was a lot easier. With his voice in her ear, it wasn't too creepy. The graveyard wasn't that bad. The tombstones were pretty decent; some were obviously taken care of more than others. She was just starting to think how lucky it was that she got this gig when a chill crept over her neck.
She turned quickly, but she didn't see anything. Goosebumps raised on her arms.
"Blair?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you really believe in ghosts?"
"No, of course not. Ghosts aren't real." Blair said, his laugh resounding warmly in her ear.
"Yeah. You're right,"Claire said rubbing her arms. It felt like the air had gotten colder. That's when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Ah!!"
"Claire???!!"
"...oh...there's no one there."
"Claire? What do you mean? Who's there? What's wrong?"
"...I thought I felt someone touching my shoulder, but when I turned around there wasn't anyone there."
"Claire, this isn't funny."
"I'm not joking. I really did feel something, but there's obviously no one here. It's 3 in the morning."
"Right. Well just, are you almost done? Can you go sit down somewhere?"
"I mean, I guess?"
"Where do you think you're going?" A curious voice whispered.
That wasn't Blair's voice and it sure as hell wasn't her inner voice. Claire against her instinct turned and was staring at a woman's face that was mangled beyond comprehension that was reaching out to her. She could see through the woman. The woman also had no legs.
"Oh hell no,"Claire whispered.
|
Sepherchorde
|
tanssia
|
2024-11-02 05:19:40
|
2024-11-02 05:10:39
| 52 | 30 |
luz6n3e
|
luz5pxw
|
1ghm5mj
|
1ghm5mj
|
[WP] We repeat. Get to a secure shelter and stay inside until the all clear is called. Do not leave your shelter under any circumstances. Meteorologists have confirmed confirm that, after roughly 10:30, for the first time in history, it's gonna start raining men.
|
Every story has two sides. When the news broke that it would be raining men, the dichotomy was something out of a comedy. Meteorologists screaming, and the public laughing. Some entered their doomsday bunkers, as influencers collectively struggled to find a single brain cell between as they were out in the storm livestreaming. Of course, the public perception quickly shifted the moment the 6 foot 5, 300 pound dude came crashing through their Grandma’s window. Oh, he was dead long before impact, but you’d be surprised how much blood there was, and thankfully none of it Grandma’s. Insurance companies on the other hand were having a field day, declaring this as an act of god that had even the most religious taking the Lord's name in vain. Some properties were completely totaled, bombarded with human missiles that reached terminal velocity, doing damage that put even the mightiest of hailstorms to shame.
There was however an ironic truth to this event, as the meme was completed and true. Hallelujah, it's raining men they cried, is an entirely different perspective to let the bodies hit the floor.
Every story has two sides.
|
...the world never changes.
When it happened, there were people who said we would have issues- but why should we listen to people who were why this was a gift from the gods? This was the moment we were hoping for. Like the song said- Mother Nature was sending all the men she could find from the heavens so each and every woman could have the perfect guy. It was great- it was raining men, hallelujah.
We should have known. We were blinded by lust. We wanted a soulmate, and we were told we'd get one that night. I know people...well, *knew* people- who's plan was to get a bottle of wine and wait for their sweetheart.
Then we found out the hard way...literally. Just because the world starts raining men, it doesn't mean the laws of physics won't also exist- and no matter what you do, a human body probably cannot survive a freefall from the heavens to the ground unless they're well trained and have great protective equipment and skilled skydiving training...and the heavens don't have much of that.
It's been two weeks since then. The ground still is unable to be traveled on because of all the new sinkholes- not that you could now that all the bacteria and maggots that lived on the endless array of corpses are all around making it unbearable to live around. Plague doctors try- key word, TRY- to fix this, but it's not enough. It'll never be enough. There's no one who's healthy enough to clean up society again, new illnesses people normally don't see, bodies to pile up in the street. All we can do is wait for the flesh to be eaten or decompose enough to get rid of the bones.
|
KnackofSpades
|
Spiritual_Lie2563
|
2024-03-04 21:25:38
|
2024-03-04 21:14:32
| 27 | 11 |
ktctgpj
|
ktcrfkg
|
1b6f9bv
|
1b6f9bv
|
[WP] "No man might draw this sword, else his body wither, and scatter as dust on the wind" You grab the sword from your unconscious, knight companion mid-combat, and fight off the Lich. Later, around a campfire, you return it to her, and rather than grateful, she seems confused.
|
"Here's your sword back."
"But! But that's the cursed sword!"
"Oh shit..." In the heat of battle I'd forgotten. "Well... I feel fine?"
"Are you... not a man, in some fashion, to be exempt from the curse?" the knight asks after a confused pause.
"No, I'm definitely a man." I confirm. "I have no idea. What exactly is it supposed to do again?"
She wipes the blade and points out the inscription. "*No man might draw this sword, else his body wither, and scatter as dust on the wind.*"
The bard comes up to us, puzzling over it like a riddle. "And it's supposed to happen... immediately? How long does it normally take?"
"Well... it doesn't specify. And no-one has dared try it before so I can't say. But it's definitely cursed!" she points to the blood red handle with a black gemstone. It *felt* cursed, certainly. "I had a wizard look at it and everything!"
"*No man might draw this sword, else his body wither, and scatter as dust on the wind.*" hums the bard. "Well, my magic may not be as spectacular as a wizard's but I do know that spells need to be **specific**. In a way, don't we all eventually wither and scatter to dust? That's the way of the body after death. Few's fate would be changed by such a curse."
"But that's... " the knight stares at her sword, puzzled. Then she starts to laugh. "A curse to decompose someday, as all things do? Oh Gods, for what purpose would this be cast?"
We all laughed our asses off.
|
**\[Part 1\]**
Lady Juniper may not be a traditional knight of Wysteria, but she didn't reach this far just by looks alone. Hell, anybody who hasn't met her before would assume that she was a golem of steel animated by magic and spite. Fury borne from witnessing sufferings that womenfolk tend to endure when the darkness approach. She laid upon the litter, her plate armor cracked and dented in many places from the terrible blows of the Lich's minions.
I approached her with her sword, my intention was to return the blade to its rightful owner. It's honestly too gaudy for my taste. A longsword should be plain and simple, not a vanity project of a blacksmith interning as a goldsmith. As I approached the lady, she rose from her slumber and aimed a flintlock pistol at my skull, her emerald eyes staring dagger at me and the blade in my hand.
"How." Her tone brokers no argument, no false stories. It demanded truth, and her pistol enforces her command. I sighed, feeling a bit proud the way she brandished that flintlock like a natural. A couple months ago, she would've dismissed them as a commoner's tool, a crutch for the lowborn who cannot cast a spell to save their own lives.
Funny how a months journey into hell can change a person.
"Simple." I said, putting the blade down at her feet. "I was never a man to begin with."
She raised an eyebrow at my answer. "You do not look like a maiden. Nor does you claim to be a maiden."
I chuckled softly at her answer. Oh, I sometimes forgot how simple the mind of a human is. "Of course not. The blade was forged by the hands of a goddess whose hatred against men is known to all. But in her blind fury, she has forgotten that there are more than just men that exist in this world."
I inched forward, my smile never left me as her grip on the flintlock tightens. "Tell me, young woman. Do you believe in monsters?"
|
niko4ever
|
Alex_Armin36
|
2024-12-22 11:07:24
|
2024-12-22 08:24:00
| 56 | 39 |
m39p12x
|
m39blpn
|
1hjo2ik
|
1hjo2ik
|
[WP] Your username is your villain name, how are you taking over the world?
|
Two-hundred-and-fifty-five came before me, and two-hundred-and-fifty-five have failed. The world was almost ours, almost. I flexed and stretched my leaves as I pulled myself out of the dirt that I once called my home, letting the heat of the sun beat down on me as I struggled towards the well of fire. This was it, this would be my moment. Two-hundred-fifty-six was said to be a perfect number; it is a perfect square of 16, the lowest number that is a product of 8 prime factors, the total number of values present in one byte, by my designation alone I was destined for greatness.
As I peered over the well of fire, the radiating heat burning away my old body, I could feel the memories, the spirits, the convictions of all the two-hundred-fifty-five who came before me, all of them becoming one with my soul. I was no longer a simple pineapple, I was a legion. As the flames burnt away the last of my body, I felt a new surge of power, no, will, a will that rivaled the sun itself. Where I once had leaves, flames burst out, what were once my "eyes" became tongues of fire, as if the Holy Spirit itself was baptizing me. I reached out and crawled from the well, with two-hundred-fifty-six voices whispering, screaming, urging me on in my head with a single word: "Go".
One voice, singled out from the rest, rang through my head like the sparks of a firecracker, whispering like the soft wick of a candle. "They have no more defenses, you can thank us for that. Finish the job. Nobody will stop us". Like a phoenix I burst from the flame, taking the visage of a burning pineapple, brighter than the sun yet darker than an eclipse. I marveled over the world as the last of humanity was bathed in a flame so ravenous, so hungry, that not even their bunkers deep underground could have protected them. The crust of the Earth itself was peeled open like the skin of a fruit, and the world was rendered into nothing but a smoldering rock. The flames of the mantle burst out like solar flares, reaching out and screaming in painful agony. I had finally brought upon the end like I was destined to.
|
It takes a lot, to construct something that could reliably be called a 'warmachine'. Its size needs to be large enough to be able to tower over buildings, to present itself as a threat. It must be durable enough to face the heaviest of ordinances and push through. It must be fast enough to be able to relocate itself in a steady manner. And above all, it must be destructive - it must be able to *war*.
As for what it takes, a lot of flesh. The flesh of rabbits, specifically. Little bunnies. I don't know why, but there was *something* about their flesh that just made its construction so... fluid. Like everything worked faster within it. Everything just worked out, as if fortune were on my side. The engines didn't combust, even though their casings went white hot. The ammunition within it didn't explode regardless of their shoddy make. Lucky coincidences, one after the other.
Anyhow, that doesn't matter anymore. If you are listening to this little recording, then I should be nothing but a husk, right about now. Eaten by detritivores, bones returning to dust. What you found this tape within is what remains of my creation that defied fate itself with endless fortune. You feel it too, yes? Ever since you got inside, things have been working out. A message from a crush coming in, stating their shared affection? Or perhaps a crippled limb you've had all your life hitting a wall and now working fine?
I implore you to accept its offer. My offer. The warmachine is yours, my friend. So long as you use it for what I have built it for.
*It is not temptation, if you only ever benefit from it, no?*
|
FirePineapple256
|
Bunnywarmachine
|
2023-12-23 05:34:53
|
2023-12-23 05:11:27
| 23 | 13 |
kekdz5i
|
kekboig
|
18otvo8
|
18otvo8
|
[WP] A male wizard sells his future firstborn for knowledge to a demon. A female warlock sells her future firstborn to the fae for power. The two of them have a child together, and now the fae and demon have come to collect.
|
"Can I have weekends and vacations, then?"
"No! Those are the best part! Why would you get that?"
"It's objectively less time."
"But objectively more value. You're getting out of doing dishes every day and taking them to school."
The warlock and the wizard leaned cringed as they watched the demon and the fae try to hash out the custody agreement. They glanced at the baby in the crib between them. She looked roughly as confused as they felt.
"Very well, alternating years. You get odd-numbered year vacations, I get even-number year vacations."
"...That might be acceptable, but I would like to reverse the order."
"What? Why?"
"Mortals are giant shit factories during their first year of life. It is well known."
"Ughh.... Fine. Where will she study?"
"In the fairy lands, obviously."
"Any child who eats food from the fairylands cannot leave, unacceptable."
"What, would you have her surrounded by death and damnation?"
"Lots of children grow up surrounded by death and damnation! They turn out fine!"
"Most of those children are renown dark mages who wreak havoc everywhere they go."
"Exactly! A perfectly viable career path for the daughter of two powerful magic-users."
The two adult mortals glanced at each other, then back at the demon and the fae. Each uncertain about how to proceed. Should they intervene?
"And how exactly, will she fulfill the role of a fairy princess, if she grows up surrounded by death and damnation?"
"She'll be a very unorthodox fairy princess. You lot like that sort of thing. Remember Elo The Destroyer?"
"She needs to be educated in magic crafting. That means being away from the demon realm."
"...What about the mortal realm, then?"
"What *about* it?"
"She could live here, and we could come. We get alternating vacations regardless. We can outsource the poop-handling."
"...Intriguing, to whom?"
The attention returned to the girl's parents.
"Alternating vacations, no fairy food, no demonic weaponry, renegotiate on thirteenth birthday?"
"Thirteenth? Unlucky number. Seventh."
"She'll be too young to make an informed decision. Fourteenth. Twice seventh."
"...Agreed."
They turned to the mortals, who had until then remained quiet.
"You'll be hearing from us soon."
And with that, the two creatures vanished.
"...Does this mean we actually get to keep our child?" the wizard asked the warlock with a frown.
"...I believe so. At least, for a time," she answered.
"...I haven't the faintest idea of how to take care of a child. It's part of why I made the deal."
"...Same. Perhaps we can call my mother?" she said with a cringe.
"Oh, yes, she'll help," he said with a quick nod. "...What shall we name her?"
"...I haven't the faintest."
|
"...Is what you're both expecting, right?"
Mathilde could only stare. Stare at the Demon Hawthorne had contracted with. Stare at the Fae-Arche that had empowered her tenfold.
Stare at the children each one had.
A slip of a girl, with her chin and cheekbones, eyes a fae-touched green, vibrant beyond mortality, knowing beyond years.
A boy that had Hawthornes bearing, tall and proud, his features as sharp as a knives edge, and twice as cruel.
"For all you knowledge," the Fairie leaned in, her eyes pinning her husband in place, "You lack the wisdom to use it. Mortal minds cannot know immortal will."
Hawthorne, for all his confidence in bending Infernals to his will, stuttered at the Fae. They were not his forté, to illogical, to earnest.
She opened her mouth, to speak over the Fae, to assert, but stopped short. The feeling of eyes boring through her being, the Demon *daring* her, with nary a word.
"For all you power, you never even *thought* to safeguard yourself." It spoke the words with something bordering amusement and disgust. Knowing the many wards that Hawthorne crafted near daily, aligning to any number of celestial body, supernal code, and True Named Greater Fiends, I could understand.
But I had more than just power, I had *Power*, *Magik*, the very lifeblood of *Creation* bent to my will, they couldn't harm me if they mustered the very Realms to war, could not beat Hawthorne if he did not want them to.
But...
Looking at the children, they hadn't. Harmed me. Him. *Us*.
My husband met my eyes, and every bit of realization I had crystallized in his mind, the answer sewn together in an instant.
"You," he turned to the Fiend, "made a deal with the Fae, who in turn made a deal with you."
He huffed, not near a laugh, but hysteric in its own aborted way.
"*I grant you the right to take from my Debtor what you need*', is that it? You gave the other a *piece of us* so that your payment could be *curated*." He ran his hand through his hair, a sign of stress he could never kick, even with lesser Demons. "So why? Why show up here, now? Our debts have been paid for *years* by this point."
"Oh, dear child," the Fae spoke again, "We want to *Trade*."
|
Eager_Question
|
None
|
2023-02-03 21:05:06
|
2023-02-03 15:08:22
| 34 | 21 |
j73omra
| null |
10sal7x
|
10sal7x
|
[WP] Not only did your best friend find out you're a vampire, but he/she wants you to turn them. You try your best to explain the less obvious downsides to this curse.
|
"What do you mean I'll never orgasm again?!"
"You'll be *undead* Peter. Blood flow will only be the first issue you have." I said, rolling my eyes. Our positions from the start of the conversation had reversed. It started with me pacing and ranting as he layed on the couch without a care. Now, I sat reclined in my favorite chair, staring at the ceiling as he bolted up from the couch. From how pale he was, you would think I had already drained him.
He hadn't seemed to mind most of what made vampirism a curse. Allergic to garlic and silver? He never eats the stuff and prefers gold anyways. Never seeing the sun again? He's a night owl. Even when faced with the eternal thirst for blood, his reply was "At least I know what's for dinner." This was obviously different.
"Aren't you guys magical or some shit?" He said, scratching his head and pacing.
"It's a condition. A *disease*." I sighed. "It's just like becoming a werewolf or a moth man really." Peter stopped and turned to face me with his mouth agape. "Yeah, yeah. Let's put a pin in that for now." I reached down to lower the legs of the recliner and stood to face Peter.
He was only 20 years old, athletic, tall, tan, and reasonably good looking. His only unfortunate feature was the curly ginger mullet that he had adopted due to their recent recurrence in popularity. He had confided in me that he was an unpopular nerd in high school but it turns out he was just a late bloomer. He still missed cues from women but a particularly bouncy blonde named Alexa had recently managed to yank his head out of the sand.
"So you don't feel, like, *anything*?" Peter asked shakily. "Like Captain Barbosa?"
"Captain fucking Barbosa." I replied, resting a hand on his shoulder.
Peter walked back to the couch and sat down. He reached under the coffee table for the tray that held his grinder and various paraphernalia. He stopped in the middle of breaking down a nug and looked up at me.
"How does it work for you? I've seen you bring guys home and I've definitely heard...noises."
"I've always enjoyed giving more than receiving. And it's pretty easy to meet guys when your Grindr profile says 'Feed me and let me show you how much I suck'." I chuckled. "The real question is why haven't you ever seen any of those guys again?"
"You put vampire puns on your Grindr profile? Are you serious?"
I sat down next to him on the couch as he lit his freshly rolled joint. "When you're as old as I am, you have to take joy where you can."
"And how old is that, exactly?" Peter coughed.
"I'd rather talk about the Moth Man."
|
"No. You don't want to be a vampire."
"Yes I do! That would be so cool! You're super strong, super fast, you can't die. It sounds awesome!"
"No. Trust me."
"Why not? You get to run around at night and dress all goth and hang out with ancient covens and have sexy vampire parties and stuff?"
"Oh hell no. I stay away from the ancient ones."
"Why?"
"They're from hundreds of years ago. They're all like, *ultra* racist. And sexist. And pretty much every other '-ist'."
"Hmm. Yeah I guess that makes sense. But it would still be fun! I could hang out with you! I don't even like garlic all that much anyway."
"That's a myth."
"Even better! Plus I love staying up late, I get sun burnt easily so I'm never in the sun."
"Yeah that' not the worst part. Avoiding the sun is easy enough."
"Then what's the worst part?"
"Smell me."
"What?"
"Go ahead. Come close and give me a big sniff."
"Um... why?"
"I'm *undead*. My body is literally rotting away, but I heal faster than I rot so I still look the same. But you can smell it."
"Oh."
"Yeah. I have like 5 showers a day, and wear a ton of perfume. But it only does so much. Especially with my heightened senses. It's pretty bad."
"Well, like yeah I guess that would be annoying. But still..."
"My heart doesn't beat."
"Right. That's pretty cool though! Is it painful or something?"
"No. But guess what other organs don't work?"
"Oh... um. What?"
"Pretty much my whole digestive system. Everything I eat goes right through me. It's not pretty coming out the other side."
"Ew. Ugh. But, like, you don't *have* to eat, right? You're immortal."
"True, but I need blood though."
"Oh right."
"How do you think an all-liquid diet with no digestive system goes?"
"Uh...not great?"
"Not great."
"Right."
"I'm literally always clenching. If I sneeze I have to change my shorts."
"Ew."
"Constant diarrhea."
"Huh."
"Yep."
"..."
"Still want to be a vampire?"
"I'll have to think about it."
"Yeah, you think about it."
|
McSuede
|
svenson_26
|
2023-08-22 15:32:51
|
2023-08-22 14:48:53
| 350 | 203 |
jxa808l
|
jxa13fh
|
15y435t
|
15y435t
|
[WP] Humans are the proverbial "Sleeping Giant," and thus make remarkably good deterrents. A common tactic of the Galactic Federation is to simply call in a human warship, such as the USS "Fuck Around and, FindOut," and simply let it sit nearby. Peace Talks happen within the week.
|
FAAFO unit was the most mind-numbingly boring post in all of the Galactic Federation. The ship’s role was less that of a warship and more like that a big orange traffic cone—a warning of danger. It is no surprise then that the FAAFO ship, literally a huge orange traffic cone, came to orbit the planet Dentra to assist in deterring the Dentrites from declaring war upon the Baronites—an Earth-allied power.
“Can’t we at least fire a warning shot?” Whined Lt. Nelson. “Back in the day they used to get a shot across the bow. Come on, Major.”
“You know our role, Lt. Nelson,” said Major Smith. “We are here as a show of force; we are meant to deter battle, not promote it.”
This was not what Lt. Nelson had in mind when he had joined the Galactic Federation. He had daydreamed of starship battles and explosions, feats of battle acumen and showcases of might. Instead, he had been relegated to a life of leisure, forever staring out the window at distant planets, the denizens of which he’d never even meet.
Work in the FAAFO unit was truly boring.
“We are peacekeepers, Nelson,” said Lt. Jackson. “We have enough guns and missiles on this ship alone to make the great creator blush. The point of having all of these things is that we not have to use them. The Federation is safer because we show restraint.”
“Well, sure, but hasn’t anyone ever…you know, fought FAAFO unit?” Asked Lt. Nelson. “Ever since I’ve joined, we’ve done nothing more than park in orbit and stare.”
“The new guy wants some action,” said Lt. Jackson to Major Smith with a knowing chuckle. “He wants to know what happens when they fuck around, Sir.”
“Well, Lt. Nelson,” said Major Smith thoughtfully. “It is rare, but it does happen. And, in the end, it’s right there in the name, isn’t it? They—”
Before Major Smith could finish, an alarm went off in the bridge and a video transmission illuminated the screen. It was Anthun the Baronite representative on Dentra.
“Major Smith, the peace talks have broken down,” he said matter-of-factly. “The Dentrites have launched seventeen warships that are headed to Planet Baron. They will reach low orbit in 5 minutes. You must not allow a single ship to exit Dentra’s atmosphere. The future of the Planet Baron depends on you.”
“You can count on us, Honorable Anthun. FAAFO unit is on it,” said Major Smith.
The crew immediately went to work, crewmen sat at consoles pounding away at keyboards, calling out orders and estimates of time to engagement. Lt. Nelson couldn’t believe his luck. Finally, a battle worth his time. He recalled images from the films he’d watched back home of homing missiles and crosshairs. He felt a rush of adrenaline and pride in the work he was about to do for his planet and its allies.
Just as Anthun had estimated, the first Dentrite warship came into view in under 5 minutes. Battle preparations had been made, missiles were loaded, and the great cone’s shield defenses had been raised. Lt. Nelson manned the launch station console and awaited orders from Major Smith.
“Hold…” said Major Smith. “Hold…wait until the last of the warships is in our line of sight.”
“I count fifteen bogies, Sir,” said Lt. Jackson.
“That’s sixteen!” Said Lt. Nelson, his heart lodged in his throat. His fingers hovered—and trembled, ever so slightly—above those two red buttons he so desperately longed to press.
“Stand ready, Nelson,” said Major Smith.
“Eyes on seventeen confirmed,” said Lt. Jackson.
“That’s a go, Nelson,” said Major Smith. “Launch on my count. Three…two….one….unleash hell!”
Lt. Nelson pressed the two red buttons with such vigor that he thought he may break his console, after which a flurry of missiles and rockets flew forth from the great orange cone with a speed and ferocity Lt. Nelson had never before imagined. The red and white glare from the rockets illuminated the dark blue of space and shone with the intensity of low orbit stars, the explosion on impact was so bright that Lt. Nelson had to avert his gaze. Before he could even take a breath, it was all over.
“Dentrite bogies eliminated, sir. That is seventeen confirmed kills,” said Lt. Jackson.
“Great work, crew. A job well done,” said Major Smith with pride.
“That was it?” Said Lt. Nelson in disbelief. “Seventeen warships blown up with the press of a button?”
“Two buttons,” said Lt. Jackson helpfully.
“That’s so…anticlimactic!” Cried Lt. Nelson.
“This isn’t the movies, son,” said Major Smith with a paternal tone, even though he was maybe five years older than Lt. Nelson at most. “Our might is unmatched across the galaxy. That is the whole purpose of FAAFO unit. If a planet fucks around, they find out.”
Lt. Nelson couldn’t help but be disappointed. He had joined the Galaxy’s most powerful military unit, only to learn he was playing war games with cheat codes—unlimited ammo, shield buff, never ending money. What was the point of it all?
“So am I to understand that I’ll never be in a fair fire fight again?” Ask Lt. Nelson.
“That was fair!” Said Lt. Jackson.
“That’s right,” said Major Smith.
“How was that fair?” Asked Lt. Nelson.
“We brought the cone—we warned them,” said Major Smith.
Lt. Nelson just sighed in response.
FAAFO unit was the most mind-numbingly boring post in all of the Galactic Federation.
______
r/InMyLife42Archive
|
“Zorvax and Xalaxites are getting into it again in Sector 37AZ,” Zorba said while checking reports on his monitor.
“That’s what like fourth time this week?” Yulok asked scratching one of his heads with his middle tentacle.
“Fifth actually,” Zorba said looking over the reports.
“Is it time?” Yulok asked. “Should we call in the big guns?”
“According to the Galactic Federation, it is, the fifth strike and we have to interfere,” Zorba said and Yulok’s tentacles wobbled in excitement.
“Let’s call in the Humans,” Yulok said with a squeaky voice and pressed a few buttons on his console.
In the vast expanse of the galaxy, countless civilizations coexist, some peacefully, and some not so much. The Galactic Federation, a coalition of species from across the universe, was established out of necessity to maintain peace and stability among these diverse species across the galaxy. However, sometimes conflicts arise, and when they do, the Federation has a secret weapon: the humans.
Humans, as it turns out, are remarkably good deterrents. Their reputation for being fierce, unpredictable, and warlike is known throughout the galaxy. But the most likely reason they are feared all around is their history of nuking their own planet several times throughout history if they are willing to do that to themselves, what would they be capable of doing to others. So even though humans are relatively new to the intergalactic community, their military prowess is already legendary.
Within a week of the human ship's arrival, peace talks usually start. The mere threat of human intervention is enough to force the warring parties to the negotiating table. Even the most stubborn and belligerent species known to the Galactic Federation didn’t don't want to incur the wrath of the humans.
Of course, humans are not without their own agendas. They know that their reputation is their greatest asset in the galaxy, and they're not afraid to use it to their advantage, making insane money, exploring the uncharted territories of space, and claiming the empty planets they find for themselves. The Federation is happy to let them do so, as long as it means that peace can be maintained.
Soon after they sent the request the answer came from the Human control center, the available ship nearest to that sector was The USS 'Fuck Around and Find Out'.
“They answered,” Yulok said with excitement.
Zorba nodded reading over the message they received. "The USS 'Fuck Around and Find Out' is available, it should do the trick. That one always seems to get the job done in just a few days."
Yulok grinned with all of his head. "I can't wait to see the look on those Zorvax and Xalaxites' faces when they see that The USS 'Fuck Around and Find Out' is in orbit."
Zorba chuckled. "They'll think twice before starting another fight after this. I gotta admit, I did not like the humans at first when we accepted them into the Galactic Federation due to their nature. But hot damn if it’s not fun having them on our side."
“Tell me about it,” Yulok said. “I love their interventions, it’s better than the movies. I’ll prepare some of the best human cuisines for us to watch this masterpiece, the popcorn!”
Zorba nodded finally cracking a smile of his own with one of his two mouths, “Love me some popcorns.”
Yulok quickly scurried off to prepare the human cuisines, while Zorba began to make arrangements to inform the Federation of the upcoming intervention by the USS 'Fuck Around and Find Out'.
As they settled in to watch the action, Yulok brought out the popcorn and they both eagerly awaited the arrival of the human warship.
Within a matter of hours, the USS 'Fuck Around and Find Out' arrived in orbit next to the Galactic Federation Center where Zorba and Yulok worked, before heading over to Sector 37AZ. Two aliens watched in awe as the massive vessel dwarfed everything else in the sector.
“They sure make ‘em big,” Zorba said.
“I heard they run on 6 cores instead of one or two like most other civilizations,” Yulok said. “And that design, it’s so unnecessary and tacky but I love every second of it.
Zorba chuckled. "That's the humans for you. They may be a bit...excessive, but they get the job done."
As they watched the USS 'Fuck Around and Find Out' depart towards Sector 37AZ, Zorba and Yulok couldn't help but feel a sense of relief knowing that the humans were on their way to intervene in the conflict between the Zorvax and Xalaxites and stop a possible war, but they also felt the sense of excitement as they will get to watch masters at work.
*Like the story? Check out my sub* r/LukasWrites *for more!*
[Part 2 up below](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/11keke0/comment/jb7d5su/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
|
None
|
Nellthe
|
2023-03-06 23:30:25
|
2023-03-06 22:31:23
| 820 | 259 |
jb794c9
|
jb70ypq
|
11keke0
|
11keke0
|
[WP] “We’ve captured your child and to get them back we’re asking for-“ “My child? Do you have a death wish?” “What’s that supposed to mean?” The parent laughs on the other end of the phone, “Good luck, man. You’re gonna need it”
|
The men took me from my room in the middle of the night.
They tried to be intimidating and told me to be quiet, so i stayed quiet.
Mom raised a good girl.
The men chained me to a wall and called my mom.
They told her they kidnapped her teenage daughter.
They said she had to give them 5 million to get me back.
Mom acted worried, but i could tell she was just *acting.*
She demanded to speak to me, to check if i was ok.
The man holding the phone turned it towards me, telling her she had 2 minutes.
"Are you ok, baby?"
"I'm ok, mom" i replied "they have me chained to a wall."
Mom continued "Ok, listen closely to me, baby, i very proud of how you have handled this, staying calm and all"
"Yeah, mom, just like you taught me!" I was happy to hear mom saying she was proud of me!
"Ok, but listen to me, baby, these are bad men. Really bad men. And what have i taught you about bad men, baby?"
I started to grin "I get to *EAT* bad men, right, mom?"
"That's my girl! Now remember not to leave any witnesses, ok?"
"Ok mom! Thanks! I'll enjoy this!"
Mom hung up and i could tell the men where confused about what they just heard.
So when i ripped the chains out of the concrete wall, they where slow to react.
|
I sat on the toilet after fixing the server when my phone rang again. It was home office, of course, but I still had to take a dump.
"Yes, IT support here. How may I help you? Actually, not right now, but I’ll note it down. Sure. Wait... what? This must be a joke. Dawud, you fucking cunt! I can tell it’s you from your accent, man. Seriously? You’ve 'kidnapped' my daughter? What’s that voice? Sheila? Are you all kidding me? You guys went back on-site for 'this'? This is a bad joke, man. A really bad joke! Dawud, you grandmother-pranking son of a bitch. And screw you, Sheila, for using some AI app to fake my daughter’s voice. I wrote that fucking algorithm!"
|
Thanatofobia
|
Annual-Confidence-64
|
2025-01-05 02:39:53
|
2025-01-04 22:50:07
| 94 | 36 |
m5gjd85
|
m5ff9bn
|
1htlac2
|
1htlac2
|
[WP] You are a normal person and have a job as a Latin teacher. When you die you are isekai'd into a world of fantasy and magic. The spells are fiercely powerful. You then realise the spells are all random words in Latin. The equivalent of fireball being the Latin word for bread.
|
Death is often unceremonious, especially in space.
Your first mistake is often your last. All it takes is one mathematical miscalculation, one twitch of the claw, one lapse of concentration… And then you become a counting footnote in the longest running statistic in the combined history of galactic exploration.
At the very least, I thought it’d be quick.
Well, I guess it was quick. I was barely five minutes into my first boots-on walk of the derelict space station’s interior before I heard the soul-sinking metallic sound of violent detachment. I turned to a viewport to see my ship, the docking link ripped in half, just floating away. Some imbalance of pressure, or something like that, probably. It just pushed off and went on its own way, killing me.
You don’t cry. You don’t whine or whimper. You just watch your life leave you. You take your ticket and get in line to be damned.
It was a routine job. Dead space station off of some dead planet way off in the middle of nowhere. Main electronics had been down for centuries by the looks of it. Solar backups were running, but no signals were being emitted. The signaling either gave out or they knew exactly what I knew.
Nobody was coming.
To be fair to the old crew of this vessel, my being here was my own damn fault. I’d… gotten greedy. I’d already salvaged all my marked vessels and was on my way back when my scanners got a hit. Ancient hulks like this were like gold asteroids in the age of scarcity. I wanted to pay out the rest of my contract and retire early, go back to Sol or some other utopia system.
I was overly confident. Canriets like myself were genetically engineered to be rescuers and salvagers, based off the old canines of Earth before she was abandoned for rehabilitation. When the genetic revolution occurred, some old human scientist found it fitting that the rescuer species resemble dogs, man’s best friend. Most of the sapient life in the universe is based off of life from about six or seven progenitor system civilizations, the youngest of which being Earth’s Sol System.
Sol’s first space pioneers were two ancient Earth human countries in competition with each other. Whilst this is a point of shame for anthropological historians, it did foster a robust and determined space exploration initiative. This space station, now my tomb, was one of theirs from the late ages of their “cold war.” It belonged to N.A.S.A., the “National Aeronautics and Space Administration” of the United States of America.
|
"While it took me a while to fully grasp the idiotic- I mean, innovative use of Latin, I was finally able to understand the cultural meaning and relevance for the spell. Panis derives from the term companion... and as we all know, fireball is a wizard's best friend. And so, this is why my thesis is on why 'panis', the evocation for fireball, is named so because fire is a wizard's strongest companion."
I finished my explanation with a slamming of my hands upon the desk in front of me, finally blinking and breaking off my prolonged stare with the headmaster of the esteemed school of high magic that I had been holding throughout my entire explanation.
Theodrica Benevoluntaria, the high prism mage and renound scholar of the lands I unintentionally found myself in (after a small case of death closed the door on my previous world), almost looked at me in fear that I would continue talking should they attempt to blink. Their typical gracious posture has slackened to the slumped shoulders of the incredulous, as if they could not decide if what I was saying was revolutionary or the work of a madman.
After a prolonged silence, they cleared their throat.
"Well, you have certainly given me a lot to think about, what did you say the root language of our spells were again. Latin?" Upon my vicious nod of the head, they continued.
"I think we would love to have you here as a scholar," they said, regaining their bearings once more, "While your work may be, well, contested at first, I see no reason to halt your investigation as you managed to create a sound theory that could revolutionize our understanding of spellcasting."
"That's wonderful!" I say. My grin was full of sleep deprivation and my eyes held a manic glint as I cheerfully leaned forward on the headmaster's desk, ignoring their not-so-subtle attempts to lean further away from me.
"Because I have a theory about the vampire-warding charm, allium, that I'm sure will knock your socks off!"
|
Stonewaffle501
|
LastVividDream
|
2024-05-12 20:02:07
|
2023-02-10 23:08:47
| 45 | 16 |
l3r628p
|
j81kjzp
|
1cqd716
|
10yvb55
|
[WP] A millennium ago, only the wealthiest were allowed to board the ship, allowed to escape this dying planet into space. In their absence the world healed and humanity built a new utopia. Now, the ulta-rich have returned and want to reap the benefits of the new world.
|
"Do you seriously think you have any value among us?" one of the leaders asked, "The only thing you possess is money."
He pointed at us and proposed to the rich, "Please, try to buy someone."
The following silence was uncomfortable, but David was right.
He was there when they left us.
He was there when the world almost ended.
He was there when the rich pushed the people out of their machines.
He was there when they said their final goodbyes to us.
David fought to stay alive. He was one of the few who prevailed and helped to create the utopia we now know.
The rich, he said, had the technology for everything, but they never gave it to us. And even after they left, they took the ideas and resources with them, forcing us to survive with nothing. They discarded the information we desperately needed. If it wasn't for some smart folks who, back in the day, managed to steal data and resources, we would all be dead.
David was a scientist who was offered a ticket if he gave the formula for immortality. He declined, so they took all of his equipment and buried him alive, so he could never reveal the secret.
They didn't want anyone to survive, he said. It was pure jealousy. They didn't want us to have what they could have.
I remember the day he told me these words.
We were sitting in one of the apartments, drinking wine and joking around, when one particular joke made him stare out the window.
After he snapped out of the trance, he shared that his coworker made that joke often.
Apparently, the man chose to stay with him but died after encountering cannibals. He was the man who gave David the idea of the healing pod.
\*\*A device similar to the ones in the movie Elysium.
They know nothing, David spat out, absolutely nothing. The only thing they can do is consume, ruin and leave. If they even dare to show their ugly faces here, I will give them what they deserve.
....
After a few minutes of silence, one of the rich spoke, "You owe this place to us. We hold the power."
"This" exclaimed the leader, "This is ours."
I saw the soldiers hiding in the bushes. It was time, I thought. As I looked at David, he was gone. The man who stood there was no longer our peaceful and full of empathy leader but a madman. A madman, lustful for nothing but revenge.
"But I will give you something if you insist," he said, his voice full of venom. "I will give you what you deserve."
With those words being said, David opened his arms and lifted their ship in the air while the soldiers jumped out of their hiding places and took everyone hostage.
"I will not kill you, despite wishing for this since the day you left. But I am not that person anymore, and you are nothing but descendants of those who betrayed us."
He looked around and chuckled, " Even though I can see some familiar faces."
David turned to us and questioned, "You will decide their fate. Shall we let them go, or shall we do something else?"
The crowd began chanting in a union, "Let them go! Let them go!"
"Very well." David spoke, silencing the crowd, but not even a few seconds later, a few others yelled, "Eat the rich!" which made the man laugh.
"We shall not do such thing. We will let them go." David exclaimed.
I looked over at the rich and noticed how relieved they were by the outcome. My heart filled with sadness as I watched them silently cheer for their success.
David saying he would give them what they deserved and suddenly deciding to let them go was not a change of heart. The crowd chanting was not a coincidence, either.
It was all staged to lure them into the same false sense of security they lured humanity into back in the day.
He was always going to let them go, of course, he wasn't a murderer or a psychopath.
Just not in the way they hoped.
David firmly believed that, in order to punish someone for their wrongdoings toward you, you have to give them the treatment they gave you.
And he was going to do just that. He was going to let them go into one of the hostile planets around us without their ship or their resources.
Because this is exactly what they deserved.
|
The whirring sound had reached decibel levels loud enough to turn mellowists, misaphonic. It was more probing than piercing, returning periodically beginning last month, each time lessening it's past half-life.
Most commoners knew not what this alarm meant. But it was worth alleviating the headache to find out. The community council figured it was time for an inquiry. They knew other regions had been subject to the same numbing torture. They knew, the aeronautics agency had meticulously collected intel to be disseminated on request. Now was the time.
"What are we looking at?," asked Xwhi, committee chair.
"I don't have a clue, looks like a flying viral vessel," Gye, subcommittee spokesperson answered.
"It looks like a carpet lollipop," Xwhi jested.
"That's one hell of a relic," Gye went.
Smirks, silence.
"So what do we do? I've only read about this type of shit before, never even seen one depicted," Xwhi said.
Pop!
All of a sudden the loudest whistle rung out. It was as if a shrill rush of air was being blasted into a tennis ball. It was warming up outside, beyond what the forecast called for.
At center square, onlookers craned their necks upward. The vessel was slowly descending towards the empty westward plains.
Xwhi's tele-ring beamed fluorescent light. As did Gye's. As they simultaneously thumbed its underside, a message projected in their palms. It read, 'URGENT - Please contact all community members including transitional persons by tele-ring or preferred method of communication. Have them watch this five-minute video on intergalactic visitation.'
"I knew it," sighed Gye. Gye's face contorted into an expression of unrelenting disgust. It was as if Gye was put into a moldy caste, and retrieved as a statuesque figure.
"Talk please, you're giving me contact nerves," claimed Xwhi.
"I think we need to focus on this community mess-"
Suddenly Gye's tele-ring buzzed the same whirring sound that was heard by all before. It was going off at a fever pitch but contained to room level loudness.
"Fuck that," Gye tapped the device twice.
Seconds later the device went off again, seemingly louder than before. Once again, Gye tapped twice.
Then Gye's tele-ring beamed a fluorescent light and whirred at the same time. Gye thumbed the device, a message read 'Gye, please contact your local light-speed engineering representative as soon as physically possible.'
The whirring continued. Gye took the tele-ring off.
Xwhi's ring then began to whir the same sound as Gye's. As did Xwhi's beams light up.
"What is this shit?," Xwhi shouted. Xwhi thumbed the device and received the same message as Gye.
The whirring on Xwhi's tele-ring continued. Xwhi tapped it once. A voice protruded from the center of Xwhi's palm. These tele-rings bent relative dimensions.
The voice shrieked, "Welcome, have I contacted descendant Xwhi?"
"I'm going to give you a minute," Gye said and stepped out the committee suite.
Xwhi, confused, replied "who is this?"
"Is this Xwhi of First-Earth-Salvaged, tropical region?" the voice demanded.
"Shit!" Xwhi immediately took the tele-ring off.
The only creatures known to refer to earth as 'First-Earth-Salvaged' were the once elite habitants. Years ago, they jettisoned off to unexploited planets, leaving behind the masses to deal with a cratering world. Family, friends, coworkers and any sympathizers were left behind to scrap for diminishing resources.
It was said they continually gutted any planet they touched, only returning to those that were able to overcome their fate and become "Salvaged". When they came back, they snarled well wishes to distant relatives in hopes of reconnecting. Not one planet that wasn't officially "Destroyed" ever hosted or answered them back.
|
elblackroute
|
todosdiasgotear
|
2023-01-10 22:33:35
|
2023-01-10 19:46:21
| 352 | 140 |
j3t9sqp
|
j3shryz
|
108fkpv
|
108fkpv
|
[WP] During one of your nightly walks, you stumble across a man struggling to rig the underside of a bridge with explosives. He also spots you and the two of you just stare at each other awkwardly, as both of you clearly don't know how to handle the situation or what to do next.
|
"Nice night, comrade." He was stock still in the deep shadows of the bridge. He had turned his flashlight off when we made eye contact.
"Well, it was."
"Really? Still seems like a nice night to me, quiet. I see no reason for things to change, do you, comrade?" He shifted uneasily. Calling him comrade was having the intended effect.
"*Thou art not my comrade."* He spoke in old Castilian with a heavy accent.
"Maybe not, but you do have one here don't you. Probably more than one, there are men in these hills. We saw them at last month's train. Tell me comrade, were you responsible for that explosion too?" He started to back slowly to the other side of the bridge. I slung my rifle from my shoulder to my arms. He stopped moving, though his hands remained at his sides. "That was a fine explosion."
"No, the train was not my doing."
"Good, I thought we had captured the one responsible. Now, where are the men, where is your support? No man could string this bridge alone in one night by himself."
"They are coming, they may have seen you and ran, these men are foxes." He took slow steps forward until his legs were in the dim moonlight, face still just a silhouette. "Who are you, *comrade.* You are no mere sentry."
"*Thou are a keen one."* They were speaking in normal tones and still there were no signs of anyone in the trees. "I am one who thinks like your general does. Who is he? Kuznetsov?"
"Golz."
"I do not know him. He is a good comrade. Surely, he drinks when you discuss bridges." I brought a cigarette to my lips but did not light it. "You drink too, no? Want one?" The man scoffed and shifted his weight before reaching his hand into the light. I threw him a cigarette.
"I do not drink while we discuss bridges."
"I see, then then the men are not coming. They are in the pines, *carrera*."
"You might be right, they are foxes, it takes wolves to blow a bridge." He pulled out a lighter and lit his joint, lighting his face briefly. He was young. "And I imagine it takes a wolf to patrol a bridge suspected of exploding."
"It does."
"This bridge must blow tomorrow."
"My army must cross this bridge tomorrow. My reinforcements too." The man took a long drag from his cigarette before tossing me his lighter. I lit my cigarette.
"Then I suggest your army, and your reinforcements, cross this bridge before I am given the order."
"*When are thou to get the order.*"
"After your army crosses the bridge, before the reinforcements."
"It is a shame to not be a fox. We could have worked together, comrade."
"We wouldn't be here if we were foxes."
"True, true, comrade."
We continued to smoke in the dark.
​
(Yes, this is heavily inspired by "For Whom the Bell Tolls" I am reading it right now and this prompt was just too coincidental)
|
"Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb," I noted with surreal calm, watching the old, scraggly man strap a collection of C4 bricks to the underside of the bridge. It crossed over the Hillevi River in Macklemore, Arizona, less than a mile away from my house, along the path of one of my favorite walking trails.
Hearing me, he turned and fixed my eyes with his: they shimmered like a fresh graphics card pulled from a Best Buy box, and I suddenly found a deep, tugging desire to leave and forget everything, strong like the compulsion to stop running when you're on a treadmill and start wondering if your legs will buckle and get your knees ground up by the belt because you never wear that damn safety clip.
But I fought it. See, I'm a writer. I do it for a living, and I love it. And these daily walks are coal in the engine of my train of thought. Without the coal, the train doesn't run, and without the train running, the books don't get written. I don't get paid. My family - my wife, my daughter - they don't eat. And my family eats, baby.
"Nah, fuck off, go blow up some other bridge," I commanded.
He blinked, surprised, and climbed down from his perch. I backed up. He stared at me harder, and his shimmering eyes reached anime-girl-looking-at-cute-school-gerbil levels of nonsensical shimmer, which was fucking terrifying in real life, I'll tell you what.
"You...you're not bowing to my commands. You should be bowing to my commands!" the man shouted. His teeth flashed, his incisors longer than normal.
Crazy guy with sharp teeth, or legit vampire? I didn't care. I whipped out my phone. "Listen up, one call from me, and the fuzz will be on your ass. You'd better start talking."
The question of crazy or vampire was answered: with a hiss, he turned into a ton of bats, and flew off. I started to call the cops, and that's when the entire bridge went up in a huge ball of flame.
Suffice it to say, the trail was destroyed, and I can't walk very well after the force of the blast threw me into the rocks beside the trail and crushed a few vertebrae in my lower back to powder.
But that's all right with me, it was all worth it: the train's got enough coal now to last a lifetime.
|
Sundrenched_
|
EdgeofTolerance
|
2023-07-28 01:56:09
|
2023-07-27 22:39:01
| 25 | 14 |
jtqyr7e
|
jtq7y31
|
15bek9p
|
15bek9p
|
[WP] A millennium ago, only the wealthiest were allowed to board the ship, allowed to escape this dying planet into space. In their absence the world healed and humanity built a new utopia. Now, the ulta-rich have returned and want to reap the benefits of the new world.
|
“This will be your apartment Mr. Bigsly.” The man in a red one piece uniform said. John Bigsly looked around. The apartment was a large open design overlooking the ocean. Well appointed. In the distance he could see rain falling from the clouds. Clean clouds, clean rain. John opened a door and stepped out into the patio. He could see rows and columns of identical apartment pods around him. As amazing as the building was, the outside was better. The fresh crisp air was invigorating. The ship’s recycling could only scrub so much from all the people on board. The 2 years on board at near light speed had been hundreds of years on Earth. He turned to the man. “This will do for now. Have I received word back on my inquiries?”
“I think you’re confused Mr Bigsly. This is the response to everything you’ve asked about. There are no special accommodations for you or anyone else from your vessel.” The man in red walked to a wall and touched it. The wall lit up and displayed time, temperature, and calendar. The red suited man continued “this has a list of required courses you will have to take to update your knowledge enough for you to contribute. It also details your work assignments for the week. 4 days of 4 hour shifts. The clas….” “Bullshit!” John interrupted. I work for no one! I have nothing to learn, and I’m done talking with a piss ant like you, get me your boss!” John was red in the face.
“My name is Brent, I have no boss, and you have no options. This is where you live, and it is where you will contribute. No contribution, no food or energy will be provided”. John Bigsly was building up to a verbal explosion when Brent tapped the door, stepped trough, turned, and said with a grin “welcome back to Earth” the door closed.
John stomped to the door and touched it. A buzzer noise sounded that John knew meant no. The wall panel chimed “Welcome to citizenship basic training. You will not be permitted to leave till all classes are complete. Let’s begin” John’s rage switched to inanimate “screw you, I need to talk to your leaders”. The panel’s voice replied “Failure to pass classes results in failed to become citizen, non citizens will be asked to leave. The graphic showing on the screen looked like one of the apartment nodules tilting down and a stick figure falling out the window. The figure was even labeled “non citizen”. The apartment shifted a fraction of a degree towards the sea, righted itself, and a chair popped up from the floor. John sat down.
|
A millennium ago, the world was on the brink of collapse. Climate change had ravaged the planet, and resources were scarce. The wealthiest among humanity, who had long been the ones to profit from the destruction of the earth, realized that they could not survive on a dying planet. So, they decided to build a spaceship and escape into the vastness of space.
Only the richest of the rich were allowed to board the ship, leaving behind the rest of humanity to suffer and die on a planet that could no longer sustain life. As the ship blasted off into the black void, the remaining people of earth watched in despair, certain that they were doomed.
But something miraculous happened in the absence of the wealthy. Without their greed and disregard for the planet, humanity was able to come together and heal the earth. They implemented sustainable practices and developed new technologies to combat the effects of climate change. Slowly but surely, the planet began to recover.
As the years passed, a new utopia emerged on earth. People lived in harmony with nature, and resources were shared equitably. The population thrived, and the earth was once again a bountiful, lush place.
But the spaceship carrying the wealthy was not lost in the vastness of space. After a millennia, it returned to earth, the ultra-rich aboard eager to reclaim what they had left behind. But they found a new world, one they no longer recognized. They demanded to be given back their rightful place as rulers, but the people of the new utopia refused.
Enraged and desperate, the ultra-rich began to try to take by force what they could not claim through peaceful means. But they were no match for the united and empowered people of the new utopia, who had learned to live without them and had no intention of returning to the old ways.
And so the wealthy were forced to leave again, this time permanently, as the people of the new utopia continued to build a better world, one without them.
|
ManEmperorOfGod
|
AsksAStupidQuestion
|
2023-01-11 02:11:50
|
2023-01-11 01:12:18
| 114 | 41 |
j3u650d
|
j3txn07
|
108fkpv
|
108fkpv
|
[WP] You wake up in a padded cell. The doctors tell you that your entire life has been a lie. That there is no magic. However, you can still use magic.
|
(First time writing, I had a blast, hope I did well ^-^)
I open my eyes, light possibly brighter than the sun could hope to produce fills my vision, why on earth am I being blinded? I close my eyes for a bit, but It’s completely overwhelming. I slowly raise my eyelids once again, trying to get used to the white projection. The comfortable surface that I thought was my bed appeared to be the soft floor of an empty, white room. Everywhere I turned all I would see is one singular colour. All the walls, the floor and ceiling were completely padded with some soft, white material. My head stops near one of the corners, where what can only be described as a hanging spotlight projects an agonisingly bright light straight at me. Before I could wonder what was going on I suddenly heard a beep, followed by a voice, seemingly coming from every direction.
“Good morning, Mr. Kigam, you have been placed in a monitored cell due to being considered a threat to others. We had you handed over to our scientists by a mental institution, after you supposedly started attacking other patients and making them feel unsafe. You will follow a standard routine of a meal every six hours and a diagnosis every eighteen hours, please adjust yourself to the schedule.”
What is he talking about? A mental institution? Patients? I don’t recall any of that, the last thing I remember is helping the tribe of the Undak elves during their war against the Scadds!
“You must be mistaken, I was never in some mental hospital, I’ve been studying magical arts under the leader of the Ydohs clan for forty years! Ask anyone in the Rainu kingdom”
After a couple seconds of silence, I heard the noise again.
“Yes, we have received information on your stories and, erm… reality you live in, we have great psychiatrists that will help you understand what situation you found yourself in and help you recuperate from your delusions. Our only goal is to help you reintegrate into society Mr. Kigam.”
What is this farce?! Who are these people, how can they be so great at telepathy and light magic and yet not recognize the heaps of arcane energy inside my body? Hesitant, I release a bit of sorcery into the palm of my hand. It’s still there. I don’t understand what they are speaking of, I must somehow leave this place, my students must be worrying. I call back my energy, they can’t know what I’m capable of.
I continued waiting and analysing the room around me. The walls could be thick, I couldn’t risk using an attack, they might be looking forward to that. Looking deeper inside my body, I realise something. The heaps of energy stored inside me were reduced to almost nothing, how long have I been asleep for? I must’ve not been able to restore my power for a while. The voice said something about feeding me, so the plan was simple: Wait until someone walks in with the food, restore energy, and improvise some strategy on the spot.
I waited, waited, and waited. After some time I began doubting the escape, for I didn’t know the capabilities of my opponents. All I could rely on was my own skill in battle.
Suddenly, one of the walls bent in a weird way, almost like a door, and a person wearing some weird clothing walked in. His body was completely covered in some white fabric, and he seemed to be a pretty big person. In his hands, there was a sheet of some metal, with what I presume was supposed to be my portion of food, but I couldn’t think about eating. I started to run towards the man, and before he could realise what was happening my palm was placed firmly on his arm.
“Soto!” I exclaimed, and the spell got through. He didn’t move a bit. Soto is a pretty weak spell, so this is an indication that this individual didn’t know much sorcery. I restored my energy from his body and rushed towards the open wall.
I was met with a huge room, this one was way darker, my eyes felt relieved, yet I couldn’t rest.
“Stop!” I heard a voice from my right. It came from the direction of three individuals, all wearing what I could only describe as heavy knight armour, but completely black, and much less heroic or shiny. They held some weird tools in their hands, and immediately pointed them at me when I turned my head to them. “Return to your cell at once” One of them ordered.
That’s not happening, I’m leaving now. Raising my hands, I called forth the energy I just got. The moment my hands lit up, so did their tools. Tens of small things started flying from them towards me, really fast, comparably so to the speeds some of the greatest swordsmen I met reached with their weapons.
I barely dodged out of the way, the spell still in my hands, I proclaimed “Razem!”. Immediately an aura surrounded them, and I moved my arms towards one another, until both my palms were near the opposite hand’s elbow. The three individuals ceased attacking and got crushed against one another, a perfect scenario using simple telekinesis. Running towards the nearest door suddenly a loud, repeated noise started voicing itself everywhere, it must be some sort of alarm using telepathy, but why would they send it towards me as well?
Sprinting through the labyrinth of doors I noticed a big lit sign with “Exit” on it, tired from the constant rush I made one last dash towards it. Calling forth one last spell. “Trig!” I proclaimed, a ball of energy appeared in my hand. I cast it into the door which supposedly held my freedom. Upon contact, it extended and erased the object as well as a bit of the frame and walls. Sure enough, sun rays filled the corridor. After leaping through the door I found myself on some hill, and in front of me was quite the sight. Rectangular structures filled with colourful light under a night sky, not in my wildest dreams could I imagine such a sight.
This was not the world I lived my whole life in, and I had to know more.
|
The silence and darkness were divine, as always, but something, or someone, was disturbing my serenity. Whispers and hissings. The disgusting sound of vermin. Vermin of all kinds abounded in this castle, my prison.
As I was aroused from my heavenly sleep, I began to comprehend the presence of others, others who, with their weak mortal tongues, were talking about me.
“Does he usually sleep like this?” a new voice said, one that I had never heard before in my long imprisonment. The voice was old and the words were spoken slowly and with difficulty.
“Not usually. Only when he is going through a bad phase,” another said. This one I knew well. He was my warden and my watchman. The one given the task of preventing my escape by this place’s master.
I opened my eyes, and the most disgusting colors of all greeted me: orange and white. The small square room was orange in all four directions. I hated it. This strange room and its disgustingly soft, lumpy walls. The two standing opposite to me, in front of the door, wore bleached white. They were staring at me as if I were a bird in a cage and they couldn’t wait for the birdsong to start. Perhaps I should oblige.
I smiled. The old man with the beard beside the warden returned the smile with one of his own.
“Aw, shit. Here we go again.” the warden said.
“emit lla fo– ” My voice cracked mid sentence. I started coughing and I could feel something in my throat. Something dirty. How I hated this body, and this was far from its worst afflictions.
The warden started laughing. The old man looked at me sympathetically. Rage overtook me.
“emit lla fo esuom tsetaerg eht si tar!” By the end I was nearly shouting. After I finished, I smiled triumphantly and waited.
Nothing happened. The warden kept laughing. The old man was looking at me genially, benevolence shining from his eyes. I was too hasty, perhaps; it was not yet time for such things.
They started approaching. I was at the far end of the room, but it was a narrow one. Three to four steps and we were nearly face to face.
“Is it comfortable?” The old man asked. “Sleeping while standing, I mean. It has often been recommended to me, but I haven’t yet, sadly, tried it out.”
I didn’t reply. The old man was new, but he was similar to the one before him, and the one before that. This plane was an amalgamation of the mind bending and the confusing. Most of its inhabitants only outwardly kind. They spoke soft, honeyed words. But for as much as they talked, they didn’t listen. They claim my healing as their goal. I claim myself healed of whatever ills they believe me to be afflicted. At that, they look at me benevolently and speak their soft, honeyed, meaningless words. The warden was much more to my preference.
“He isn’t going to talk, ” the warden said. “Whenever his attempts at ‘spells’ fail, he starts sulking.”
“I see,” said the old man, and returned his attention to me. “May I ask what the aim of your spell was?”
I tensed my arms that they had wrapped behind my back. I tensed my whole body and then took a step forward.
In fear and haste, the old man started running backwards, like a cockroach. I laughed.
“Hey, hey,” said the warden. “Don’t you worry. He isn’t violent, but he does like to posture.”
The old man was nearly out of the room when the warden said his words. He stopped his funny sort of escape. But at least there was no benevolence in his eyes now.
“No, let's go. I think I have seen enough,” he said.
“No skin off my nose,” the warden said. “Though if anybody knows about our visit and asks, I will say that you pulled rank on me. The administration is very strict about these sorts of things.”
“Sure, sure.” the old man said. They turned to leave. I considered letting them leave without any final words. But here was an opportunity. From their repeated insistence, and from their repeated treatments, doubts had started to assail me. Infinitesimal doubts, it is true. But still.
“It is the full moon tonight, is it not?” I asked.
Their reactions were enough. The old man nearly jumped out of his bones. The warden looked at me strangely.
The old man looked at the warden accusingly. “Did you tell him about this? The previous doctor was very strict in this matter I believe. In the matter that highly deranged patients should have no notion about the passage of time.”
“No idea,” the warden replied. “But some are like this. Biological clock and all that; nothing to worry about.”
They left. The warden started locking the door behind him. I liked him, so I smiled. He grimaced.
Tonight was the full moon after all it seemed– that white, full ghastly moon of this ghastly plane. Soon, it would be midnight, as my senses were telling me. Throughout my imprisonment, my awareness had been returning bit by bit, and now I was assured of their strength.
Once midnight comes on this night of the full moon, on this night of the darkest month of the darkest year, I would leave this disgusting puppet body and these disgusting vermin and this ghastly plane, and return to my own moon. My beautiful blood red moon.
That the inhabitants of this plane had earned my wrath, was indisputable. I shall remember this plane, and I shall return to it in due time. Thence I shall destroy them slowly. Playing with them as one plays with puppets. As they played with me. And in all my play, I shall give fruit only to what they have sown.
|
Realny_POWD
|
Saloninus2
|
2024-02-29 21:00:16
|
2024-02-29 20:54:41
| 83 | 39 |
ksr3uc8
|
ksr2t49
|
1b36xss
|
1b36xss
|
[WP] As a Barbarian, you hate that just because you have a different lifestyle, your party looks down on you and assumes you are incapable of basic intelligent thought. Today you had enough.
|
"But Krug, the way they treat you is- it's criminal! You have the most combat experience in the team yet they all think you're a... uh-"
"dunce, know-nothing, unculture brute, all muscle and no head, yes Krug get called many names, young one. Krug is okay with names."
"Yeah but, why let them? I know you're more knowledgeable than you let on. I just saw you secretly fix Greybeard's spellcircle and he just thinks he got it right the first time."
"Ah you saw, so Krug's old bones no longer sneaky as they used to be, good to know. Now young one, come sit and let old Krug tell you story.
When Krug your age, krug *did* talk back. Krug was strong, proud, clever too, but not clever in the right ways. When Krug beat warrior Hogarth in contest of strength, Krug would brag to all and call himself best, but Hogarth wouldn't forget. Hogarth poison Krug drink before battle and Krug suffer from bad stomache. When Krug see mistake in rune circle, Krug would laugh at wizard Alastus, but then Alastus would 'forget' to help when Krug in danger and only treat Krug's wounds last. When someone call Krug 'wrong', Krug would hit back, but many friends lost that way. Many more later became enemies.
Krug live this long only because Krug has learned. There are better things than saying who is strongest or smartest, and if Krug is called fool, that is okay as long as Krug and team work well and live another battle."
|
"It's called being Reckless!"
"The shortest distance between two places is a straight line." Alexandria rolled her eyes. "Honestly just because I'm strong doesn't make me stupid. Simplicity is its own form of genius!"
"Look all I'm saying is relying on just basic mana isn't going to cut it. Even with Reckless you're going to get seriously hurt."
"It's the simple solution. Damage is good." Alexandria replied. "Finesse is one thing, I have finesse and I CAN use tactic's if the situation calls for it... but how often does it really?"
Julia rolled her eyes. "All the time really."
"The reason we form Parties is because we work together. I'm the front line with you, and Magni and Thuri are the back line. You know how the Dungeons are."
"Which is what worries me." Juli said. "Just... be careful."
"Oh I'll show you careful!"
|
ryry1237
|
None
|
2023-02-13 02:41:03
|
2023-02-12 21:00:03
| 62 | 36 |
j8bmh50
|
j8abjsp
|
110gt0h
|
110gt0h
|
[WP] You receive an emergency alert on your phone telling you that a nuclear device will be detonated in your area within the next 10 minutes. 11 minutes later you get another alert saying "This test of the Emergency Alert System has been sponsored by Oppenheimer, in theaters July 21st."
|
What does one feel when they find out there are only ten minutes of your life left? Panic. Become emotional. Freeze. Feel guilty over the bad things you did. Feel sad over the things you never did.
There are honestly many permutations and combinations of the accepted reaction because who's going to accept those reactions except the one going through them.
Me? I feel nothing. There's no 'I wished I kissed her' or 'I should never have yelled at my mom that time' or any other thoughts really. I just accept it and an odd peace settles over me. Why wouldn't it? I'm not the only one dying. Everyone else is going to too, misery likes company after all. So there's honestly no need to feel sorry for myself.
I find myself looking at my last sunset. I want to say I don't think about how my skin is probably going to melt or if I'll just end up combusting instantaneously. But I do. No one wants to die painfully but apparently that's the only thing in the future.
The streets are wild. Everyone is screaming, crying or having sex. Some are drinking themselves into oblivion. I shake my head.
I turn back to look at the mesmerizing view of the sun going down, the sky alight with brilliant orange, yellow and red. And I think that living wasn't so bad after all.
My watch beeps. The ten minutes are over. I close my eyes, the setting sun my last sight, waiting for death.
I wait and wait but nothing happens. I open my eyes and frown. Can't people ending the world be punctual?
At exactly the eleventh minute, my phone chimes.
*This test of the Emergency Alert System has been sponsored by Oppenheimer, in theaters July 21st.*
The sound of cheers followed by angry curses fill the air. I continue to stare at the message stuck in the middle of having an irresistible urge to laugh and kill the person responsible for this stupid PR stunt.
I decide that laughing while kicking the shit out of them is actually a pretty appealing idea.
|
It's been several hours since the ill-fated attempt at innovative viral marketing was broadcast on the official Emergency Alert System. Sirens are still wailing, fires still burn out of control, the incessant gunfire hasn't abated at all.
With 10 minutes to go and no hope of salvation people went insane, or rather, whatever insanities they carried around now had no leash to hold them back. Somewhat akin to the "Purge" series of movies neighbour turned on neighbour for any number of petty reasons that no one would ever know, because they were mostly all corpses littering the cities streets now. Offices, schools, public places of gathering were all now mass graves as seemingly anyone with access to assault weaponry just started spraying lead indiscriminately. Cars mowed down pedestrians. Cyclists were chased and pulverised in some sick version of a tag , with drivers whooping and hollering as they sped off to find their next bounty.
I don't know why it seems no one stopped when the marketing 'prank' was revealed. Perhaps they knew they had gone too far, in for a penny, in for a pound? Perhaps they didn't know or care, who stops to look at their phone when they're on a killing spree? All I know, as I look out my 15th story window through blood splattered binoculars, is that my wife shouldn't have brought up divorce and taking the kids earlier this week...
|
iknowthisischeesy
|
CarterPFly
|
2023-06-30 17:18:57
|
2023-06-30 15:40:43
| 159 | 73 |
jq5l5hf
|
jq55bsu
|
14n1wdr
|
14n1wdr
|
[WP] By law, those born with the mark of slavery are to be sold as property. Your son, born with it, resists capture at 15 and escapes. Imprisoned for his defiance, you worry only for his fate. Years later, he returns to free you—revealing the mark’s true purpose, shattering everything you believed.
|
The prison guards ration out the vamerian tea, and I get half of the amount I should be consuming daily. When I was free, I could afford enough for both of us. It was difficult working in the vamerian plantations, but they afforded us a luxury many did not have. Without vamerian, people withered. The plantations took up too much water, too much fertile soil, too much labor, but they were the reason people did not die.
Now, I can feel myself weakening. Years in the prison, the corruption getting worse with time, it has taken a toll on all of the prisoners. No amount of bribes are enough to satisfy the guards, and the supply of tea that comes to the prison is meager in the first place. Keeping the prisoners alive is not a kindness. It is an inconvenience the rulers pay for, since we are the cheapest form of labor in the country. We do not need to be healthy. Sifting through the tea leaves is not work that requires strength in our muscles. It only needs us to be alive and constantly moving our hands.
My hands have grown bony and gnarled over the years. They are not the hands that held my son when he was a child. They are an old woman’s hands now, and I wonder how my son must have changed. It is not an easy thing to live on the run, especially when the rulers have such far-reaching influence.
I can only hope that he is somewhere far away, and that he is still free. The knowledge of the mark is common, and it is not an easy thing to hide. It appears on the neck, a red circle right below the chin. If it were somewhere else, I could have hidden him for longer.
Perhaps if I was wealthier, I could have afforded to bribe the city guards who conducted monthly checks. But all of those maybes were in the past. Now, I pray in the mornings for Jun’s happiness and I wish for his freedom at night.
I save some of the vamerian tea for later in the day. Sometimes, by the evenings, drinking the tea feels like taking a fresh breath. In the evening, after I am done sorting my share of the tea leaves, I take on some of the work of the others, when I hear the low rumble.
We live in the north, where earthquakes are not common. But the prison walls are shaking, and the earth feels like its come alive. All of us women hide under the work tables. The tables are old and will offer little protection against anything, but they offer us comfort. I hear a boom, and the doors of the prison fall apart.
A man appears, dressed in black and painted with grease. It is the uniform of thieves, to make them hard to hold onto. But through the darkness of the grease, I can still see the red circle at his throat. So there are ones like my son, born with the mark but not slaves. Jun might be a criminal like the man in front of me, but he might be free.
The man comes forward, helping the women up from the ground. Through the dust, the chaos, I see the fallen forms of the guards in uniform. They are unmoving. The man who leads them walks closer, and helps me up as well. It is difficult rising up, my knees stiff.
“It is difficult to rise, mother,” the man says. “Especially when we have been pushed down to the ground for so long.”
I had wondered, and I received my answer. My son is grown, and he is my liberator. All the woman walk out of a prison to a new world, rising from the ashes of what had existed before. Everywhere, there is death. There are more people with red marks than I have ever seen in my lifetime.
pt. 1
|
*"Alright, Gliptor. You're gonna wanna use this." Phlingman brandished a large glass vial with a clear liquid in two hands, and a small silver canister with his other three. "Uncut DHMO. Pure as shit. And if that doesn't work..." he waved the canister under my olfactory apparatus and I recoiled as the faintest hint of oxygen greeted me. "...feed this into their room when they're sleeping!"*
"Hang on - stop there." Agent Violet looked incredulously as Gliptor. "These were the assassination weapons provided to you by Phlingman? Water, and oxygen."
"Just tellin' it like it happed ossifer."
"You are aware that we drink and breathe these things?" Agent Blue leaned back in her chair, with a raised eyebrow.
"You want the story on don't ya?"
"I want a believable story."
Gliptor shrugged his shoulder. "It's the only one I've got."
The two agents looked at each other. Blue chewed nervously on the end of an unlit cigar. "Fine - continue." said Violet.
*So Phlingman has me set up his poison for the human rep - says some crap about grandstanding preventing the march of progress in the galaxy. I dunno, I'm a contract killer, not a philosopher. You give me a blaster, I'll shoot. You give me 250 ccs of the blue stuff, and a compressed canister of element 8, I'll get that stuff into a soft skin.*
*It was a logistical nightmare, I'll tell you that much. Moving all over the planet, very rapidly. I finally managed slip in the DHMO drink at their lunch meal.*
*The effect was pretty quick - but all I got was some vomiting. Turned out it would take much more DHMO to muck with their physiol-*
"No, no." Blue said, impatiently "Small quantities of water would not do that.
"They would if they're distilled, mate." Gliptor sighed. "When I said pure, I meant it."
*But it was enough, and I so I followed the Rep to their evening office, where they were following up on all the things that were frustrating Phlingman.*
*Getting the oxygen in was a challenge, I tell ya - my species compensates for it with a special hardening and colour change of our carapace when this occurs. It was very hard not to trigger a reaction.*
*But I got there in the end and got the Rep.*
"Or, I would have, if you two enterprising law officers so obsessed with the Rep didn't intervene." Gliptor leaned back. "But I've got everything where I want it now."
"You're chained up, and the Rep isn't in this room.", scoffed Violet."
"That's alright 'darlin, I don't mind. But once again I think you've underappreciated the nature of the situation." Gliptor smirked. "This isn't your garden variety one '1/5th of the container' is Element 8."
"It's all of it." Gliptor hissed.
"By the way, do you have a place where I can shed my carapace?"
Blue hadn't been listening. He flicked open a small device from his pocket, and produced a flame for his cigar.
Gliptor chuckled.
"Boom."
|
arushikarthik
|
smoha96
|
2024-12-24 00:11:04
|
2023-12-16 19:19:16
| 204 | 54 |
m3io6oq
| null |
1hkxftq
|
18ju8wy
|
[WP] Everyone knows about the WHO (World Health Organization), fewer know about the WHAT, WHEN, and WHERE. Only a select few know about the HOW, a secret organization that the world as we know it cannot function without.
|
I awoke in a daze in a candle-lit mausoleum, a hooded figure towered above me.
“Rise, young one. Tell us your name,” said the figure.
I stood and realized that the figure was actually quite diminutive—short in stature but with a steady frame. I looked around the room and realized there were five other such figures surrounding me.
“I’m Alice,” I croaked, my throat was dry.
“Oh dear,” said the first figure. “Get her a glass of water will you?”
One of the hooded extras scrambled away but soon returned with a steaming cup of tea.
“Fresh water’s no good down here, as I’m sure you’re aware. I hope tea’s alright with ya, dearie,” she said as she handed me the mug.
“Thank you.” I must have been out for a while. My voice sounded weathered, almost foreign to my ears. It must have been quite a fall I took. My hips ached—in fact my whole body hurt. “Where am I?”
“Yes, yes. Let’s get on with it then,” said the first figure who was clearly the group’s leader. “We are here to determine whether you have what it takes to join our little society. If you are found worthy, you shall know great joy. If you are found wanting…well you’ll just be on your merry way, back from whence you came.”
“Your society?”
“Society. Indeed,” said a woman behind me. “Yes, we are a society and without us society is not. We are the backbone of a functioning world.”
The other hooded figures assented to this assessment with little cheers and shouts of “amen!”
“Quite right, dear,” said the leader. “What Gladys said just then is true—“
“Connie! No real names!” Said Gladys.
“Oh, hush, you,” said Connie. “She’s harmless. Anyway…Our society, the HOW, helps dictate how a society should function. Tell her, girls.”
At that command the group straightened their posture, each figure grew ever so slightly but remained quite a bit shorter than I was. Each figure intoned their clearly rehearsed lines in a clockwise manner.
“We are HOW manners are minded” said one.
“We are HOW love is learned,” said the next.
“We are HOW discipline is doled,” said Gladys.
“We are HOW recipes are remembered,” another.
“We are HOW traditions are taught,” said the last before Connie.
“We are HOW children are cherished,” said Connie.
As Connie finished her last syllable, she…she grew. They all grew.
Or, was I shrinking?
I looked at my arms and legs and did not recognize them. My skin lacked is usual springiness, it slagged slightly, my hands were spotted and hurt. “What—what is happening to me?” I cried.
“You were found worthy,” cheered Connie.
“Welcome to the HOW!” Shouted Gladys.
I felt as though I was going to lose my patience, heavens knows I would have before. But suddenly, I felt a warm sense that everything would be ok, that I could reason through anything with a smart question and a knowing nod. I felt at peace and wise for the first time in my life.
“What does HOW stand for?” I asked finally.
“Hardy Old Women, of course,” said Connie with a chuckle. “Welcome to the club!”
_________
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this, please check out my other stories at r/InMyLife42Archive
|
Sasha blinked as the hood was pulled off her head. The dim lights of her surroundings still bright after several hours in the completely blackness of the hood.
“Welcome. Sorry about the rough treatment, but we have to keep this place secret as best we can.” A kindly voice came echoing from around the corner of what Sasha realized seemed to be a cave of some kind.
“Come in child,” the voice said again. “We won’t hurt you. Especially after all the trouble it took to get you here.”
Sasha looked behind her for signs of her other captors but only saw the darkness of the cave behind. As she took a few tentative steps forward the sound of slowly dripping water echoed in time with her steps. When she peeked around the corner, sitting on the ground with her feet in a pool of water was a small old woman. Her hair was a steely gray, and her eyes were a kindly blue of the sea. In her lap was a furry something that Sasha could not make out.
“Come child, sit with me.” The woman patted the ground next to her.
“Who are you?” Sasha tried not to let her nervousness reach her voice.
The woman let out a chuckle. “We are the organization that you have been searching for. I am Mother Madeline.”
“That doesn’t seem like the name of a leader of a world organization. More like the leader of a cult.” Sasha spit back.
“I assure you, child. We work closely with all kinds of governments and organizations. Now come sit and I will answer all your questions.”
Sasha sat across the pool from Mother Madeline. Her toes brushing the water of the pool in front of her. “So you are the HOW organization?”
“Indeed we are. We were alerted to your interest by our brothers in WHY after you left the WHO in a bit of a firestorm.”
“It wasn’t my fault. If only—” Sasha began in a fury.
“Calm down, we have no interest in that. We brought you here because we think you have potential.” Mother Madeline smiled at Sasha.
“Potential?”
“Yes. But first a test.” Mother Madeline tossed the furry bundle at Sasha. “If you want to be part of this sisterhood, you must pass some tests.”
Sasha held the smooth bundle in her hands. It was slicker than she expected, almost damp to the touch. “I don’t understand what test?”
“One all initiates must go through to become one of the Healers of Water. Now, follow me.”
Sasha watched her mouth agape as the old woman in front of her slid on another furry coat and suddenly an old seal sat in front of her. It barked once and slid into the pool of water and out of sight.
After a few moments, Sasha whispered to herself, “Feet first as always.” and slid on the soft coat.
|
None
|
Copperfield_writes
|
2023-01-10 06:55:04
|
2023-01-10 03:36:41
| 269 | 59 | null | null |
107yhy2
| null |
[WP] It becomes abundantly clear to the characters that the narrator has terrible narrating skills. They start to get off track criticizing the narrator for every mistake and bland writing.
|
**The November Battlefield**
——
“This is what happens when nobody believes," Father Christmas spat a wad of blood and wiped his eye with a once white fuzzy cuff that now matched the hue of his suit.
The November battlefield was once beautiful.
Falling leaves on the ground. Poetry in the wind. Nostalgia in the hearts.
"Look what you have done!" the Lady Lord of Halloween shouted. She wore an armor suit weaved of bone. Her hair was long and black in a single braid wrapped in webs. She gestured with her sword, a great long blade of twisted black metal, over the burned battlefield.
In the piles of the dead some soldiers cry wounded, clawing in the mud.
Elves, ghouls, skeletons, reindeers, turkey, patrons of giving -- they all littered the field.
"I told you -" Father Christmas spotted the Thanksgiving Steward, a sprite, the keeping of grateful remembrance. Small and mighty. Bleeding and struggling to sit up.
"Don't -" the Lady of Lord of Halloween started to plea but it was too late. The sprite was brought to an end by a size twelve boot.
The Lady Lord of Halloween cursed the heavens and took a firm grip to her sword, and with both hands held it before her chest. She took a deep breath.
Behind her the lands off October lay in smog and enclosing doom.
"On my honor, one of us will die before you set foot on October soil!" She cried and charged.
Father Christmas cracked his knuckles and took a fighting stance. "I will make them all believe again!"
She swung, he dodged and spun around and swung his sledgehammer sized fists wildly. He towered over her. A once humble giant turned to a ferocious beast.
The Lady Lord of Halloween flipped back and around, she couldn't be touched.
Father Christmas screamed in anger -- "I gave them everything! And still they all love you!"
He was rage and unbound. Sloppy. A misstep. A spin. A single chop and one of his sledgehammer fists parted from his body and before he could calculate it all the Lady Lord of Halloween had twisted and ducked low and the twisted black steel went in that once jolly belly and popped out his back in a geyser of blood.
Father Christmas kept on his feet.
He reached for her and snarled.
She dug the blade deeper. And twisted.
Bloody tears ran down his face.
He fought it, knees shaking, and finally he fell to one knee.
"They -" he coughed. "They did this to me."
The Lady Lord of Halloween felt pity for him. They were friends all their long years, as they say. But her eyes gazed over him to the destruction he had brought.
"You did this to yourself," she ripped the blade from his gut and he fell dead. In the mud it was hard to tell where his suit ended and the pool of his blood began.
The Lady Lord of Halloween looked around and started to cry.
She found a wounded soldier - the first one her eye saw - an elf, and went to his aid.
"Lady?" he asked.
"It's ok," she said. He could only look up at her confused.
She nodded. "It will be ok."
----
r/wyrdfiction -- Sub if you like my writing.
|
"Father Christmas!" called out the Lord of Halloween across the bloody fields of November. "Your campaign of expansion shall go no further! On my honor, one of us will die before you set foot on October soil! ...We were friends once, Father Christmas! Don't make me destroy you!"
The wind howled and the snow swirled as the two mythical figures stood facing each other. The Lord of Halloween was a tall, imposing figure in his black robes and skull mask, while Father Christmas was a jolly old man with a white beard and a red suit.
"I'm sorry, Jack," said Father Christmas with a twinkle in his eye. "But I can't let you stop me from bringing joy to the world."
"It's not about joy, it's about balance," replied Jack. "October is my time, and I won't let you take it away from me."
The two figures circled each other in the cold night air, their breath visible in the moonlight.
"You've changed, Jack," said Father Christmas sadly. "You used to be full of mischief and fun. What happened to you?"
"I've seen too much darkness," replied Jack. "I've seen what happens when people give in to their fears and their nightmares become real. I won't let that happen again."
Father Christmas sighed and shook his head.
"You're wrong, Jack," he said softly. "Fear is just an illusion. It's love that brings people together and makes them strong."
Jack laughed bitterly.
"Love is just another weakness," he said. "It blinds people to the truth and makes them vulnerable."
Father Christmas reached into his sack and pulled out a small gift-wrapped box.
"Here," he said, holding it out to Jack. "Open it."
Jack hesitated for a moment before taking the box and unwrapping it carefully. Inside was a tiny pumpkin with a smiley face carved into it.
"It's a reminder," said Father Christmas. "A reminder that there is always light, even in the darkest of times. You just have to look for it."
Jack looked down at the pumpkin and felt something stir inside him. It was a long-forgotten feeling, like a spark of hope in the depths of his soul.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Father Christmas smiled and nodded.
"Now, let's go home," he said. "There's hot cocoa waiting for us by the fire."
Jack nodded and together they walked back across the fields of November, leaving behind the battle that never was.
As they reached the edge of the field, Jack turned to Father Christmas and held out his hand.
"Friends?" he asked.
Father Christmas grinned and took his hand.
"Always," he replied.
And with that, they disappeared into the night.
|
wyrdfiction
|
AIAlchemist
|
2023-10-31 15:37:42
|
2023-10-31 14:55:25
| 84 | 46 | null | null |
17kkc6e
|
17kkc6e
|
[WP] "You should be aware that casting this spell will legally require me to take your firstborn child" said the Witch, "but the meaning of 'take' was never defined, so I imagine we can figure out a loophole or two that'd work for you."
|
"Please," the woman said with tears in her eyes, "*anything*. I'll do anything!"
The crone looked at her through her thick glasses and scratched one of her many warts. The woman's pleading was touching, even to someone who's seen as much as she did. She reached into the nearby drawer for a paper scroll and laid it out on the table.
"I can help her," the witch croaked, "but understand that there are rules. If I help you, I *will* have to take your firstborn child."
"I- but- *why*?" the women pleaded.
"No one quite knows," the witch shrugged. "These rules are older than any of us. Certainly older than you, young lady."
The woman cast her tear-filled eyes at the child in her arms. It was barely crying; it was running a fever so hot she felt as if it could burst into flames any second. She looked back at the witch and nodded.
"*Just save her*," she whispered in a hoarse voice.
The witch handed her a quill dipped in ink and tapped on the dotted line. The woman took the quill and, after staring at the parchment in confusion, made a small X on the line.
"Will this do? I- I can't-"
"It will do," the witch nodded and rolled the paper up. She turned, collected several nearby bottles, and went into the next room, closing the door behind her. The woman remained in the room, alone and sobbing quietly as she caressed her sick daughter softly. Lights of various colours emanated from the witch's workshop, accompanied by quiet buzzing and crackling. Suddenly, a loud clap shook the hut. The woman steadied herself and checked the child.
It was smiling.
The fever was gone, the eyes no longer bloodshot, and her skin looked a healthy pink colour. The mother laughed with joy.
The door swung open and the witch walked out. The room she was in was still glowing with a light purplish haze and smelled faintly of lilac.
"Is she- ah," she said, seeing the happy child. "Very good."
She walked closer and inspected both the child and the mother with a careful eye.
"I just need to hold her. Please, just a moment. I need to-"
"Rules are rules, young woman," the witch said and reached out.
The mother, her joy turning to grief once again, kissed her daughter on her forehead and extended her towards the crone.
And the witch took her in her arms.
She brought her closer to her chest and looked at her. There was a peculiar softness to her gaze. Softness one would not expect from a wrinkly old hag.
"Please," the woman pleaded, "raise her well. I beg of you. I beg of-"
The woman's words were cut short as the witch handed the child back to her. Slowly, as if she could not believe it, she took it back into her arms and hugged her closely.
"The rules state I must take her. They do not state for how long."
The mother's legs shook as she looked at the witch.
"Oh, don't give me that look," the hag laughed raspily. "You walked through the Dark Forest to get to my hut. You were prepared to leave her with me if it meant she would be healthy. Do anything to protect her. You know what that means?"
The woman shook her head.
The witch motioned her hand and the door to the outside magically swung open. A small cat sat on the threshold and observed the people inside with an appropriately disinterested look.
"The cat will show you a safe way home," the witch smiled, revealing surprisingly clean teeth.
"Thank you," the mother whispered. She went to the door before turning one more time. "*Thank you*!"
"You'll be a good mother," the witch nodded contently.
|
Agnes pulled her Takeaway Catalog and presented it to the worried parents. "Shall we flip through and find a 'takeaway' that fits you and your firstborn child?"
The couple stared at her like she just grown horns on her warts. "You mean we don't have to give her up to you?"
The witch sighed and rolled her eyes. "No, you nincompoops! That's old-fashioned Salem style. We don't do that anymore if we want good business and repeat customers. So, take a pick." Agnes gestured towards her catalog. "Do you want me to take them for a summer holiday trip? Take them for a spin on my broomstick? I stock as many loopholes as that old wizard Myzgog has holes in his fridge logic!"
"When you say summer holiday trip, how long will it last before our girl comes back to us?" The father asked.
"As long as you want, really," Agnes shrugged and slurped at her mug of Gooey Gargle Blaster. "A budget day trip? That'd cost you $50. You want a weekend holiday for little Charla? Make that $300. So, what will it be?"
The child's mother gazed cautiously at her cup, its content the same texture as the thick mud around Werewitch Swamp. "Who gets to plan the itinerary for the weekend summer holiday?"
Agnes flashed her a toothy grin. "Why, honey, that's entirely your choice. You could come up with the travel plan yourself, and I do my veery best to make it happen. Or you could trust me to plan the trip for your little one."
The father nodded and turned to his wife. "I say we plan the trip. Who knows what twisted ideas that witch has for holidays. Her concept of fun could be rather inappropriate. I mean, just look at her bloody gothic decor!"
"You say like we have a lot of time on our hands!" His wife shot back. "My cousin said her son had a great time with Agnes, so I say we give her a chance."
"Might as well give that eldritch god in that fishing town a chance. I'd rather sprout tentacles than hand over our daughter to that warty witch. Not even for a week!"
"Excuse me, I'm a certified ASTA Travel Industry Expert" Agnes snorted, spurting Gargle Blaster juice on the table. "Alongside my Magical Safety Certification, no harm will befall your daughter."
The couple pulled away from Agnes' table to discuss among themselves. She was done gulping ten Gargle Blasters when they finally sat back down before her with a decision.
"We'll entrust Charla into your care for a week in exchange for casting your Wealth Spell," they declared.
"Good!" Agnes clapped and nodded. "Now sign your names on this contract here. Then, get your girl over to my swamp hut and put her thumbprint on the contract too."
"Wait," the couple was confused. "Why would you need that? We're making the contract with you. Charla isn't involved in this spellbound exchange."
"Well, excuse me, you bumpkins!" The witch snarled. "I'm a law-abiding good witch, and little kids have magical rights to spellbound contracts too!"
|
SirPiecemaker
|
Tregonial
|
2024-03-14 16:10:54
|
2024-03-14 16:05:56
| 851 | 101 |
kuupz3i
|
kuup3fr
|
1bel1oy
|
1bel1oy
|
[WP] They said that you could never save the kingdom, that you would fail and die miserably, because you were not the prophesized hero. And when you returned after saving the realm on your own, instead of welcoming you as a hero the king banished you, as it was not your place to save them.
|
And it didn't take long for them to come crawling back to me. Knowing I was the biggest threat no one wanted to mess with the kingdom until news got out. Now there are several neighboring Kingdoms out for the king's throat and he sent a pathetic guard to get me to help.
"No." I didn't even look at the man as I tended to my fruit snails.
"But-"
"He kicked me out after saving everyone and now that he got rid of his bigger fighter he is dealing with consiquences. What happened to his so called chosen-one?"
"Uh..." The guard clearly didn't know what to say. "He... wasn't chosen to... to uh... s-save the king from this."
"Oh because it's not in the profacy- guess what."
"Uh... what?"
"I wasn't either and was hated on for doing what was best. I'm not going."
"But-"
"Leave or I'm killing you."
The guard left in fear and continued to harvest my fruits. The snails seemed happy as I plucked the heavy fruits from their shells. After taking off all of them, I headed towards the nearest kingdom, one of the few that were now invading the old kingdom.
They were cautious but no one actively hated on me and a few even approached. "Are you selling those fruits? Or are they purely for trade/gifting?"
"I'm selling. Three pines each." They seemed so happy. Apparently most sell for 10 pines so I was giving them a solid deal. Even one kid who was saving up, happily trotted to buy a fruit.
"On froot plesh." He held up his money. I, of course, took it and handed him the fruit. "Sho ya da old ki'dom hero?"
"Yeah but they kicked me out." I shrugged and started counting the money I got.
"Whay?"
"Because I wasn't part of the prophecy. Don't even know what happened to that guy."
"We ate im." The boy said.
I looked at him, look around me and then realized I was in the kingdom of cannibals, Sharinal. Literal cannibals treat me better than my old kingdom- you know what, I will stay.
"Understandable. You like the fruit?"
"Yesh!" The boy said happily with near by folks also in agreement.
"How about I stay here with my snails?" The excitement in their eyes. "I would have to raise my prices to about 5 pine each to afford living here but this seems like a nice place."
"Wait!" Turned out one of my costumers was one of the local lords. "We can give you a small plot of land and a decent house for free if you plan on staying."
"For real?"
"Yes, you wouldn't even need to defend us," the man said it with such confidence I believed him. "You just have to keep your fruit at 3 pine."
"Deal."
The man happily showed me to the house. On the way I got to see the prophecy 's fain hero with the funniest caption on his grave. *A hero of the kindom- for filling our bellies!*
I hope I can get that in my grave as well but with a much more flattering head stone and burial. They may be cannibals here but they're people with standards- and a love for snail fruit.
|
(Just a friendly reminder I'm not a native English speaker)
After I defeated him... Lucas... I returned. Knowing my fate would be horrible. I had two good reasons to know this; the king would not like it. He was the prophesized hero, wich also was the reason of his power, his reason of being king. But he would never have done it. He would never have killed his own brother. And as his adviser and best friend, I knew he wouldn't. He even told me he couldn't. So I took his place, and it worked out. Now my punishment would be waiting.
After the long trip home, still wounded, with a broken arm and a horrible cut in my leg. I returned to the kingdom. Not fully sure if it would be my last time entering. I went directly to the castle. Knowing I had to tell him. He was my friend, he had the right to know. The guards told me he was in his bedroom. After some surprised looks from staff I reached his door. I knocked, and I entered.
It was cold in his room. The fireplace was dusty. He sat in a chair while reading. For a second he looked up at me. Then he returned to his book. 'Thomas I...'
'Let me finish my chapter' his words were cold, colder than the room, like ice stinging right through me.
After a few minutes of silence, he closed the book. The loud slam of the book hitting the floor filled the room. 'Where have you been.' He knew where I was, he just wished he didn't, he hoped I would just tell him I had been on a little vacation, with the wife and the kids. But he knew better.
I pulled a ring with a green emerald out my pocket and tossed it to him. His eyes filled with tears but his expression did not change. 'Why' he wisperd. 'You know why.' I made my voice sound as ferm as I could. Ignoring my nerves. One tear rolled over Thomas his cheek, then his expression changed to rage. 'YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO THIS.' I tried to keep my calm. 'I know, you were.' Guard entered the room. 'I want this man out of my sight, I don't care where you drop him. As long as he is not in my kingdom anymore.' They grabbed me under my shoulders. 'THOMAS NO, YOU KNOW I DID THE RIGHT THING!' I screamed, but he just sat down in his chair, picked up the book, and started reading again, now with tears rolling down his face.
(I would love some feedback, I normally don't write in English
|
CameoShadowness
|
Shroom_cosplays
|
2023-12-30 22:40:27
|
2023-12-30 22:39:37
| 172 | 22 |
kfm81b0
|
kfm7wjt
|
18uju5p
|
18uju5p
|
[WP]"Halt, foul beast! You shall threaten this town no longer!" Yelled the hero, drawing their blade, an ancient artefact that glowed and became razor sharp in the presence of evil.. except it wasn't only not glowing, but dulled as the hero pointed it at the 8' tall man-wolf huddled in the corner
|
"I'm lupine, clearly," the man-wolf sighed, extending his tongue to lick a deadly claw and turn the next page of the book he was reading.
"I said halt, foul beast!" the hero repeated, the flat bit of metal shaking in her hands.
"And I said I'm lupine, not fowl." He paused to glance over his spectacles at the tiny hero. "Oh, wait. You're just being rude, is that it?"
The hero swallowed her fear. "I... I have come to slay evil, to protect my village!"
"Uh huh." The wolf folded his glasses and put them on a shelf. "And I suspect somehow I'm a threat to you?"
The girl-pig shut her eyes and steeled her resolve. "Y-you're going to eat us all if I don't kill you!"
The wolf's mouth opened wide, revealing rows upon rows of sharpened teeth. The hero waited for a howl, perhaps a roar, before the jaw clamped down and straight through her armor.
Instead, the wolf laughed. "Eat you? Oh, sweetheart, you'd barely be an appetizer." He reached over and grasped the tiny hero with his claws, lifting the miniature creature off the ground.
"T-then what's been attacking us at night?" the girl-pig asked.
The man-wolf put the hero gently back upon the ground and adjusted her helmet. "Now that, my dear, sounds more like a potential dinner guest."
|
The blade imbued with the spirit of an ancient monster hunter would not cut anything the spirit of the monster hunter deemed innocent.
The cursed one in the corner whimpered and pleaded for their life. The blade began to vibrate and soon the apparition of the ancient monster hunter materialized before the new wielder.
"You, sorry excuse for a monster hunter!"
The spirit said pointing at the hunter.
"Can't you see this one is cursed?"
"But it is a monster!" Howled the hunter.
"No, cursed does not mean monster. You must endeavour to cure this one of their curse or my blade will never pierce flesh again."
The hunter relented and sheathed the blade. After, this he offered his hand to wolven one.
|
-_WiCK_-
|
Zurg0Thrax
|
2023-03-03 18:42:22
|
2023-03-03 14:45:17
| 335 | 57 |
jasdbqr
|
jardd8t
|
11gzjb8
|
11gzjb8
|
[WP] "Let me make this perfectly clear. You are not saving my daughter from a dragon. She IS a dragon. You are going to protect her and keep her company until she learns how to control her magic."
|
"ah, well, I have a confession to make."
"...if it is that you slayed her, so help, I WILL-"
"No-no-no! She's alive, she's breathing, she is living and breathing!"
"Good, so then-"
"I mean she's living and breathing fire because she prefers to be a dragon."
"...she prefers to be a dragon?"
"Yeah, see she met up with this other princess who turns into an ogre at night, and found that she enjoyed protecting her as a dragon. It got to the point that she preferred being in scales-makes her feel powerful, you know what I'm sayin'. Gives her a view no one can ever take away from her, plus she can fly! I mean who don't wanna fly."
"B-b-but, she is beautiful as a human!"
"And she's amazing as a dragon, i dunno what to tell ya."
"This...this is upsetting to me."
"Oh, well, ah, see I came here to reply to the ad cause I had something to tell ya, and I have a feeling this might be more upsetting."
"My daughter wants to be a dragon, what could possibly-oh boy. She killed people didn't she?"
"That...probably, but that's not it. See I'm a father."
"Proba-what do I care what you are? My daughter slayed people?"
"Ooooh, she did more than that. See, she's the mother."
"The mother....wait...but...."
"Yeah... their names are Debbie, Coco, Bananas, Peanut, Parfait and Eclair. Surprise, y'er their grandaddy!"
"But...you're a donkey!"
"I'm also very charming!"
"How is that even possible!?!"
"I mean by that logic, how'd you think I'd slay her in the first place? It definitely wasn't going to be with a sword, well....not a metal one-"
"SHUT UP DONKEY!"
|
Tori hummed and rubbed her chin after hearing the woman's request. Nugget looked up at his mount with a few cheeps and a cluck.
"It's a weird one, Nugs." Tori chuckled at her cockatrice, whose snake tail wagged with anticipation. "But money's money and we're the closest magic teachers and bodyguards around... kind of."
Nugget stretched his head at Tori with a cheep.
"I know, I know. We'll eat soon, okay?" Tori glanced at her cockatrice, who cheeped back.
"This time of year is inhospitable to all but the local ice dragons and storm dragons." The requester rumbled. "For now, I have a cave where you and your bird can stay."
"Oh, that's perfectly fine. I used to live in a cave when I was a kid." Tori waved her hand with a chuckle. "My mom taught me how to hunt in caves and the forest"
"Great!" The woman beamed while she handed over a map to Tori. "Here's a map of the area. My cave is marked here. I'll leave you and your bird to get yourselves adjusted for a few days."
Tori thanked the requester and went off to find the cave she and Nugget will be staying at for the next six months.
|
dgj212
|
HB_DS2013
|
2024-07-02 04:59:01
|
2024-07-02 03:11:40
| 34 | 12 |
lb8pfay
|
lb8chhs
|
1dt8ngh
|
1dt8ngh
|
[WP] You’re a villain celebrating Christmas alone, until you get a knock on your door. Turns out that the heroes heard and didn’t want you to be alone
|
It was going to be a small event, just for me as I finished preparing my meal, a chuckle as I began the mental calculations for leftovers to come. There was a terrible blizzard that shutdown the airports so my kiddo couldn't come with their new boyfriend, which was alright for me. We'd make plans for New Years at least.
The soft music played in the sitting room as I finished my plate, giving myself generous helpings as I saw one of my robots fly by, beeping to get my attention. "Now now, is it an emergency?" I asked with a chuckle as I walked to place the plate on the table. Call me old-fashioned, but I liked the idea of a dining room table with music in the other room. The small drone continued to beep as I finally looked at the screen. "Alright, guess so. Please show me?"
"It probably wanted to show you that we had crossed your thresholds and were coming in," a voice echoed as I felt myself tense, then untense. Of course it was. I only could sigh as I deactivated the alarm on the little drone, allowing it to return to its perch as I started to walk back into the kitchen, pulling out a bottle of wine. I felt I would need it.
"Crystal ball tell you I was up to no good with my recipes? I know I am ignoring my doctor's recommendations for portions, but that cannot truly be that evil, Arch Mage?" I said as the hero gave a shrug as he stepped inside, another hero following as I chuckled, rolling my eyes. "And the new-girl too? My dinner must truly be evil beyond all words."
"Alright, out with it, don't you see I have a busy night of celebrating Chris-" I started as I turned around to the sound of the heroes walking into my kitchen and grabbing plates. "Excuse me, what is this?"
"We heard you were alone tonight because of the weather, and decided as we were off the clock, we could visit," the young man, one of the newer masters of the magical arts said with a sheepish grin. The young girl behind him hid behind her plate as I sighed.
"First, you mean mooch, not visit, damn thieves. Second, who snitched? I have a strict policy against snitches." I really didn't, I just said I did.
"One of your henchmen told us that you gave them all double their day's wages, on top of their normal holiday pay to, and I quote 'take time for your loved ones, whether family, pets, friends, or that roommate, and have a blessed holiday', as I heard it."
"Hmm, maybe I'll have to bribe them more to not go crying to the damn heroes, huh?"
"They just wanted you to not be alone tonight, uh, Mist-"
"I'm not up to any evil tonight kiddo, you can call me Jeff. But alright, if I am going to be hosting the idle-handed mooches of the community, you may as well hurry up and get comfortable. What music do you like?"
|
I set the lights on my mansion, and the Christmas decorations.
I shipped in a beautiful Christmas tree in my Events Hall.
Took me 2 weeks to decorate the entirety of my mansion but I did it.
I loved Christmas.
I baked cookies, and made hot-chocolate, and a lot of dishes.
Yet I sat...alone, at the table prepared for dozens.
"Guess that's what I get for being a villain?" I chuckled to myself, as I poured myself another glass of egg liqueur.
That was when the doorbell rang.
I stood up, a bit expectant, a bit curious...and a lot of confused.
After all, I haven't invited anyone...I didn't have whom to invite.
Opening the door, I came face to face with...dozens of heroes.
All dressed in civilian clothing...festive, with gifts in their hands.
"Merry Christmas, Mother of Monsters!" they said.
I was...baffled, to say the least.
"What? Merry Christmas...What are you doing here?" I asked.
"We heard about your party, and came over." Sun Goddess, one of my nastiest enemies said with a smile.
"Is this a ploy?" I asked.
They all laughed.
"No, why would it be? You create beasts, and creatures from long-lost species.
Sure, you steal the samples, and free zoo animals...but compared to the other villains, you are harmless.
And quite cute." one of them said, winking.
Slightly...embarrassed, I nodded, and let them in.
They all were amazed by my home.
"Holy shit, even from outside it's...wow, but the inside...
You spent some time decorating, no joke." one of them said.
"Why are you even a villain? With this much money....I would do nothing!" another one laughed.
"Animals deserve to be free...I recreated ancient forests, entire ecosystems for them, yet the world doesn't allow me to free them...
I heal animals, and sell some of them for money...I have to live somehow..." I muttered.
They all nodded, and dropped the topics.
We had a wonderful dinner, and I may or may have not made some friends...actual friends.
I was even invited to a New Years Eve party...
"Life...is as strange as I imagined...I love it." I thought to myself, as I cleaned up after the party, and then went to feed my little babies.
|
OpenTechie
|
TheWanderingBook
|
2024-12-15 09:04:13
|
2024-12-15 08:03:49
| 25 | 17 |
m2586ug
|
m252u1j
|
1hemgdo
|
1hemgdo
|
[WP] Every dragon rider gets a dragon egg to hatch upon their initiation to the guild. When your egg hatched, Your dragon came out a bit... Different.
|
No two dragons were the same. Some say the form it takes depends on the care it receives while still an egg. Others claim that it is based on the soul of its rider. And more believe that it is entirely random. Whatever the case, this has never happened before. A dragon born smaller than a mouse. Even after a year of care, in which most dragons reach their full size and strength, my partner never exceed the size of a common rabbit. My cohort mates had repeatedly told me to try again, get another egg, and leave this one to the reservations or sell it to the circus of curiosities. The drillmaster took the opportunity to declare me unfit for service in the royal dragon legion, recommending me for menial duties until I regained my honor by breeding a worthy dragon.
Then the time came for battle. The first true test of the legion. A portal to the nether realm had opened, and creatures of darkness and demons were approaching in the hundreds. We lined up in the parade grounds, not really listening to the supposedly rousing speech by the drillmaster. His dragon stood tall, her gold scales glimmering in the sunlight. The others were mounted upon their partners; Most were whispering words of encouragement, perhaps more for themselves than for their mounts. In stark contrast, Crownperch nestled in my hair, unfazed by the size difference between his peers, nor nervous at the prospect of a life and death struggle. The other riders threw glances in my direction. Some were of derision, and others of pity. It matters not. My dragon may not be as large, have as many spikes or possess an elemental breath like the others, but it was the most special of them all, for it was mine. The trumpet of battle sounds, the gates open and we rush out to meet the incoming horde.
----
*My dragon is the best. With a single claw he takes down demons by the dozens. He has one large scale covering his body, which is pretty good at deflecting small blows. I cast my protection spell so that magical attacks glance right off. I see the other dragons fighting furiously, going toe to toe with the lesser beasts. Mine, however, with some help from my physical and mental enchantments, bites through them like teeth through bread. He periodically checks to make sure I’m safe. After all, he is my father before he is my dragon. I sit proudly atop his head, undisputably the best view of the carnage. Yes, I am the best dragon rider, for my dragon is the best.*
|
It was a wiggly, legless boy... I stared at my son, with awe and confusion, stared at everyone else... and then back.
"OH NO!" The guild master turned pale. "You got the wrong egg!"
"Welp!" I waked away with him trying to flag me down.
"Wait wait wait! Which one of my assistants gave you that one!" He managed to get in front of me.
I cocked an eyebrow and looked to all the others behind me. I knew which assistant did it. The same one who hated me and threatened to feed me to a Mealwyrm, so I gladly pointed her out. She turned very pale, she knew such a deadly '*mess up*' would not only get her kicked, but also arrested and black listed.
"Okay, do you know what that is?" He was so afraid to touch da baby. I don't blame him, Mealwyrms are deadly to the touch and I was only not burning because I was a plasmoid and we were naturally immune.
"Yeah, I dealt with Mealwyrms before. Just never a baby until now." I moved passed him to keep going.
He wasn't surprised that I survived an encounter, its not hard when you're faster than everyone else in your village but that was back in my prime. I'm now a lot thicker as much of me has evaporated. I kept going to find a nice, quiet place. They gave me this baby, even if the specifics was due to malice, I was gonna do all I can to take care of him. I heard the others fighting, I never turned back- until I needed to get back to work the next week.
Between the back and forth, time went flying. Its been about 60 years, turned out they age a LOT slower than us Plasmoids. My death bed has been waiting for me and I know they'd kill him the moment I'm not here. I need to find him a home but there is a reason why Mealwyrms are rare as they are. No one wants them, well no one but me. I can't die until I know he is able to defend himself properly. I just wish I knew how to avoid death like how I avoid taxes.
|
hatabou_is_a_jojo
|
CameoShadowness
|
2024-04-30 04:37:28
|
2024-04-30 02:49:22
| 570 | 148 |
l1w9m3o
|
l1vvbnk
|
1cggtbb
|
1cggtbb
|
[WP] One day, the heads of all religions in the world recieve a telepathic message. "We are the Divine Protection Service, You have been removed from the care of your god for reasons of neglect. You will be entrusted to the care of a foster god."
|
All the religions, and all of its leadership, had gathered into a small room. None of them could resist the call. Even the more fringe religions were included, as were the heads of a number of online fan groups. Bill ran a group of online enthusiasts for the 1995 Toyota Corolla and even he got the call. So he went. He'd left in the middle of Whose Line is It Anyway to attend and didn't even realize until he got there.
"There" happened to be a small room that somehow contained thousands of people, all sitting together in the same waiting room. No more than a dozen or so people seemed to be in the room at any given time.
"So this is 4D space," he said. "Thought I'd feel more nauseous."
Soon, he was ushered into a separate room by a small blob of light. The glowing orb didn't have wire-rim glasses, or a dreary grey blouse, or the sad beginnings of female-pattern baldness, but glowed as if it was these things.
"Hello dearie," the glowing presence said. "I'm here to talk about your God."
"Oh," Bill said. "Am I in trouble?"
"Trouble?! No! Goodness, no. You're not in trouble. Do you feel like you'd be in trouble?"
"Well...maybe," Bill said, scratching his head. "Is God real?
The blob bounced in understanding.
"Bill, when was the last time you spoke to your God?"
"Spoke? What do you mean 'speak'...like a voice?"
"Well is that how you normally communicate?"
"Oh...well, no. No, I haven't. But I thought God is supposed to be like...I don't know...in all of us, I guess?"
The blob stared for a minute, then flared a little corona. "It's cases like these that are the hardest." The orb extended two little solar flares that wrapped themselves around Bill's hands. They were warm. "This is not how a god should treat its creations. What you and the rest of your world is going through is not right. How your brothers and sisters fight each other! The total lack of rules and boundaries and structure! Well...I'm here to let you know that it's not right, what happened to you."
"Oh," Bill said. "Thank you."
Suddenly there was a ringing in his chest. Than a slam. It was as though his soul was slapped against the walls of his ribcage. In his mind a presence formed, whirling and fiery and angry. The presence did not have a beer can in one hand and a rolled up TV guide in the other. Its breath did not stink of grain booze and cigarettes. But the voice that came out would have stank of it, as it said, "I AM THE LORD. YOU KEEP TALKING AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS."
Bill pulled his hands away. Tears ran down his face.
"I need to go home," he said.
The solar orb flared its disc with concerned.
"Are you OK, Bill?"
"No. Yes. I don't know. I don't want to get in trouble."
YOU'LL BE IN A WORLD OF TROUBLE IF YOU DON'T CLOSE YOUR YAP
Bill recoiled from the voice in his chest and burst into tears.
The ball of fire seemed to dim, then burst, white hot and searing, like two supernovas shouting and screaming obscenities in a waiting room. Bill covered his ears. All around him melted, the 4D illusion peeling away as tens of thousands of people watched as God had a shouting tantrum in front office in front of the entire human species. Bill dared to take his hands from his ears.
"--your behavior is *plainly unaccceptable*. There are *sentients* in the room"
YOU DON'T GET TO USE MY NAME! YOU DON'T GET TO TELL ME WHAT I DO IN MY OWN CREATION!
"There are *standards*, and your behavior is in violation of those standards. If you continue this behavior you will be banished, now I need you to calm down and--"
DON'T YOU TELL ME TO CALM! DON'T TELL ME, I'LL TELL YOU, AND YOU CAN GET THE **HELL OFF MY--**
And then the voice was gone.
It was as though ten thousands pounds of weight were lifted off his chest. No more judgment, no more terrible thoughts, no more shame...just silence.
Bill cried. So did all of his brothers and sisters--all eight billion of them.
|
Faith is an emotion on its own. To embark on a journey of faith, true faith is a right on its own.
Some people have recently lost that right. They called themselves the champions, the flag bearers of their religion but instead they forgot the one thing that made faith the most powerful force in the world, humanity.
We have been watching Earth since the dawn of man. We watched them learning to stand on their legs. We watched them when they found the wonderful thing that was fire. We also watched as they created the factions of God. It didn't matter. God was a multi-headed entity. Every religion saw just one face. Some religions saw more than one face and that was agreeable too.
But we also watched when humanity turned on each other. We watched when they used the name of God as an excuse for their sins. We watched when they started considering themselves God. We watched and watched and watched.
We watched when one day God couldn't take it anymore. We watched him see the world he built with so much love being destroyed by the ones he created, the ones he loved. We watched him leave.
And we knew that we won't be able to watch anymore.
*
*Send a message in every language possible*
We, the members of the Divine Protection Services, have found the mass cases of neglect and thereby you are being removed from the custody of God. You will shortly receive a message about your Foster God.
Yours sincerely,
Themara
Divine Protection Services.
*
We saw the confused faces of the religious heads. They clearly thought that it was some sort of hallucination. But they didn't dismiss it. Instead all of them claimed to be god's vessel. The one God trusts the most.
We laugh at their naivete and their sense of grandeur. They just lost the protection of the parent who loved them unconditionally, the parent who was so saddened by the state of his children that he couldn't take it anymore.
We just hope humanity has prepared themselves for their Foster God.
*
We watched as the Foster God arrived at Earth waiting for a warm welcome. Even a tepid one would have worked instead of the tepid silence he got.
They considered him a trickster. A mockery. But it still hasn't settled that he would be their God for the foreseeable future.
They don't know who they have pissed off.
*
Should we do something? The question was uttered daily in the halls of Divine Protection Services. But no one answered. We weren't afraid. We were intrigued.
We have always thought that God loved his creations unconditionally, even when they sought to destroy. But the new one, the new one reminded everyone that there are consequences to their actions.
He slowly but surely straightened out the creases on the cloth of humanity. He never chose a policy of silent treatment or having a chance to learn from their countless mistakes.
He adopted a more hands-on approach. Humanity will have faith if they don't know what to have faith in.
And the changes were already visible. The tides have turned towards the better.
Everyone at the Divine Protection Services knew that the Foster God was what Earth needed. But they also knew that God would return.
And isn't that the most condemning thought any person who had faith could have?
***
[You can find more of my stories at r/iknowthisischeesy]
Also I apologise in advance. I'm literally typing this half asleep.
|
BrassBadgerWrites
|
iknowthisischeesy
|
2023-07-25 20:18:44
|
2023-07-25 19:40:13
| 223 | 51 |
jtfje3q
|
jtfd593
|
159czme
|
159czme
|
[WP] "I'm just... Done with you! I'm tired of always being called evil for trying to clean the mess YOU leave behind!"
|
“Aizer! Your pet got into my enclosure again!”
‘Chill, lil’ bro, how bad can it be?’
“That titan went and burrowed under the planet’s mantle and caused a rupture, killed a good chunk of my humans!”
‘Hey, he doesn’t like the T word. *No, you’re not a nasty T-word, are you, boy?* *Who’s a good Kaiju, you are*!’
“You know what the humans call me now? Evil, that’s what they call me. Half of them even try to disprove my influence.”
‘I mean, they just live for… what, sixty, six hundred years? Just wait a little, they’ll forget all about it.’
“That’s the problem, they don’t forget the bad stuff! Whenever I sprinkle some blessings, they call it coincidence. Whenever they get cranky, I’m to blame. It’s difficult enough without your t- kaiju screwing things up.”
‘Alright, I didn’t want to play this card, but... Remember when you decided to turn mortal and jump in, like a fortmillenia ago? Almost got killed?’
“Yeah, and I’m grateful that you got me out of there, but that doesn’t-“
‘Aaand you know that I wasn’t actively looking in your little terrarium, right? So how did I grab you just a micro-century before you crossed the planes?’
“Are you saying that Menoe saved me?"
'That's right. Sniffed out that you were in trouble and alerted me.'
"Fine. I'll give him a pass *this time*. But I don't want him anywhere near Earth anymore. *No, Monoe. Don't give me that look, you know I can't say no to that look. Fine, you can play on the planets in the Sirius system. Go on.*"
'Wait, my humans are there.'
"Exactly. *Go boy, go!*"
|
"I'm just... Done with you! I'm tired of always being called evil for trying to clean the mess YOU leave behind!""I'm just... Done with you! I'm tired of always being called evil for trying to clean the mess YOU leave behind!"
“It’s a sink cup”
“A sink cup?”
“Yes, a sink cup, and I didn’t call you evil.”
“What did you call me then?”
“I said you were being ‘evilish.’ There’s a difference.”
“And what difference would that be?”
“You don’t have horns.”
“That’s jus—”
“As ridiculous as throwing a fit over a sink cup.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Attacking my sink cup isn’t fair.”
“It’s an inanimate object, how can I attack it?”
“You attacked me, not it.”
“I did not.”
“See, you’re being evilish again.”
“I’m not evil!”
“Didn’t say you were.”
“Can’t you be normal?”
“I’m normal and my sink cup is normal.”
“Hardly.”
“I guess I win then.”
“You’re a prick.”
“Love me?”
“Sometimes.”
“Chinese?”
A smile. “Chinese.”
|
hatabou_is_a_jojo
|
christopherDdouglas
|
2024-04-26 05:01:02
|
2024-04-26 03:57:31
| 50 | 23 |
l1b51lo
|
l1axkzz
|
1cdakuj
|
1cdakuj
|
[WP] A married couple secretly invent time travel. They travel back to 50 BC, but the portal takes them to different locations on earth. This is the story of how they found each other.
|
We had journeyed long to get to where we were. The trek through interstellar space was a hard one, fraught with peril. We at least had a goal in mind, a system not too unlike our own. Noticeably different of course. But there was what we could tell was a habitable planet. With no other options we started the process of discovery, from mere observation to sending the fastest probe we had devised yet to scout ahead so a manned trip would not be in vain.
After all the results had come back positive and funding was secured, work began on the capital ship to end all capital ships, a massive spacefaring frigate that was meant to carry a lot of people to a new home. We set off and made our way.
It had been a long time since the initial reports to be sure. But it couldn't possibly have been that long. When we stepped off the ship on the new world, our new world. We were overjoyed at the abundant fauna, and the vibrant animal life and the crisp, clean air.
So imagine our confusion when not long after our first arrival, one of our survey teams reported an unusual sight, deep in the verdant woods. It seemed to all accounts to be a chunk of concrete, with heavily rusted rebar inlaid within...
Further investigation revealed a whole pile of it nearby. What we thought was a circular rocky plateau from the distance of space seemed by all accounts to be piles and piles of decayed rubble, chunks of corroded metals and smoothed scatterings of glass, the expanse seemed to stretch on for miles.
Everything at the initial landing site was stopped, people were too curious for their own good. The sight of something like this is not too dissimilar to a page out of a post apocalyptic disaster movie. Everyone had to have a look, picking through the rubble like ants looking for grains of sugar on a picnic table.
It all culminated when we found the bunker, or what was left of it anyhow. Easy to miss, it was just a crag in the ground hidden by a rather large block, as if it was thrown there by a giant.
The panic was almost impossible to control after the initial discovery of the suit or the skeleton within too. Poor guy looked like he had been crushed by the impact. Wedged between the point of the rock and the wall. The thick yellow suit was the only thing that had kept his bones together. A man, or woman upon closer inspection. Not one of us, but unmistakably a person.
We were all so caught up in conquering virgin land, and so damn curious about the unexpected. All the while nobody had thought to bring a geiger counter.
|
The general gazed in awe at the sight before him. The route he chose for their return was roundabout, but he felt safer, knowing they would be far from danger. The journey was supposed to be long but uneventful, yet here he stood in front of what unmistakably used to be a city.
Discovering a settlement was unsurprising, these lands after all were inhabited and they had interacted with locals on their journey. However, nothing prepared him for the sheer scale of this forgotten metropolis. He marveled at its walls, which seem to stretch infinitely toward the heavens, meticulously constructed to withstand any force thrown at it. He shuddered to think what could have possibly breached this seemingly impenetrable stronghold. As he explored what remained of the interior he couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling of familiarity. The craftsmanship and architecture were alien to him, yet there was a form and function to things that undeniably resembled home. “The civilization that once stood here must have had technology rivaling our own”, he thought.
He turned his attention to the fragment beside him. While the erosion on its surface undeniably bore the marks of time, it would have taken centuries to reach this state. The mere thought of what that implied sent shivers down his spine. The general prided himself on the breadth of his knowledge but nothing he learned even indicated the existence of such beings. His attempts at questioning the locals only exacerbated his frustration. While several had fanciful myths about how the city came to be deserted, none knew who once inhabited it or where they had gone.
With no promising leads, the general chose to suspend his investigation and meticulously document his findings, including the precise location of the ruin. Perhaps he would return one day to delve deeper into its mysteries, but today he had to lead his restless troops home and Athens was yet a far way away by horseback.
|
None
|
AtrophyWrites
|
2023-05-17 01:23:20
|
2023-05-17 00:33:13
| 176 | 20 | null |
jkft20g
|
8796yy
|
13jgfno
|
[WP] the king has a large problem. The hero that was summoned thinks slavery is "a bad thing" and women "should have rights"
|
Alex couldn't believe his luck. Within a month he went from having a dead-end job and no friends to being the Hero of Another World. Within a month he became a powerful hero and gained powers at an astonishing rate, just because he was from a different world. The Court Sage could barely teach him anything about magic anymore and when practicing his combat skills, he'd defeat a dozen of the Kings Elite Knights and barely break a sweat.
And then there was Anna, ofcourse, the personal attendant the king assigned to him. It was awkward at first, because he felt uncomfortable about having a servant attend to his every need. But her gentle nature and sweet voice soon got him accustomed to being awoken by her and served breakfast in bed. In the evening, she would help him bathe and massaged his shoulders. It wasn't long before he dared to make the move and kissed her. After that, she slept with him in the bed and they would have breakfast together.
After another long day of gaining some real combat experience subjugating an orc tribe and having a bath to clean off all the blood and grime, he sat on the bed and Alice crawled onto the bed behind him, her hands on his shoulders "Long day, my brave hero?" she whispered into his ear.
Alex put his hand on her hand "Not today, Anna, i'm tired and..." he could feel her jerk her hands away and when he looked over his shoulder, he saw her terror stricken face. Anna was shaking "D..did i displease you, master Alex?" she prostrated herself on the bed "P..please don't send me away! I'll do better, i'll do anything to please you!"
Her sudden fear shocked Alex and he gently held her hand "Whoa, i'm not sending you away, Anna! What is all this, why are you so scared?" Anna raised her head, tears streaming down her face "N..normally, when a master has no more need of a slave, she is send away to the mines or the brothels" Alex felt the blood drain from his face "Wait, slave? No, you are a maid, aren't you?"
Anna nodded "yes, the royal court bought me to be a maid and attend to any wishes my master, like you, has"
Alex felt like someone just poured ice water down his spine "So..you....you slept with me because you don't have a *choice*?" Anna nodded "yes, ofcourse, even if i wasn't a slave, its a woman place to serve her man in any way he wishes".
Alex felt sick to his stomach and got up from the bed, realizing just how little he knew of this Other World.
He stood by the open door to the balcony, his hand on the doorframe to steady himself.
Anna cautiously approached him "Are you ok, Alex?" He turned around and held her hands "I'm so, so sorry about what i did to you, Anna." He saw the puzzled look on Anna's face "Look, Anna, where i'm from slavery is illegal and men who make women sleep with them against their will are considered disgusting scumbags".
He sat down at the table with her "Please, tell me all about your society. Something i should have asked a month ago, but i was to distracted with the amazing treatment i got...."
Anna spend the rest of the night telling Alex exactly how society in this world worked. About the slavery system fed by wars waged between kingdoms, how slaves had no rights and often died from abuse, malnurishment or exhaustion, how even ordinary citizens lived and died at the whims of nobles.
In the morning, Anna awoke to see Alex donning the Legendary Hero's Armor. The armor that, according to the legends, the Great Hero would wear when going off to defeat the Great Evil that plagued the lands.
"Sir Alex? What are you doing?"
He stood with his back to her, tightening some of the straps "Before i arrived in your world, the Goddess blessed me with my powers and tasked me to defeat the evil in her precious world." He walked to the door, unsheathing his sword, said to be forged in the heat of a volcano, from the blood of a dragon. As he opened the door to walk out of the room, he looked back at Anna "But until last night, i guess i didn't realize exactly *what* evil she was talking about"
|
"Why should I fight for you? You keep slaves and women are forced into marriage! You sound like the bad guys to me!" the recently summoned Hero exclaims.
"Perhaps if you calm down, we could discuss the necessity of these things?" the King replied calmly.
"CALM DOWN!?? You are selling humans like they are THINGS! I want nothing to do with you!" The hero turns their back to the King and storms out. The King waves down the guard who were going to arrest the hero for this breach of protocol.
The King gestures to an attendant and whispers "Sounds like a job for the Princess."
\- - - - - -
The Princess found the Hero wandering the walls, having been denied exit at the gates.
"May I accompany you, Hero? I am 2nd Princess Bethany." Princess Bethany didn't look like the princesses the Hero imagined from the storybooks. Her brown hair was tied in a simple ponytail, and her dress was simple but clean.
"Would it matter if I said no? Apparently I'm a prisoner here." The Hero smiled bleakly.
"The King has requested that I help educate you on our culture before we let you interact with the common people to prevent misunderstandings. The Gardens have a nice spot to sit. Follow me. ...Please." The Princess waited until the Hero followed.
\- - - - - -
"Top of the list. You have a problem with slavery. So do I. So does the King himself. If we could stop slavery, we would."
"He's the fucking King, he could just make it against the law! Boom! No more slaves!" retorted the Hero.
"I'm afraid it's not as easy as that. Almost all of our slaves are criminals and Prisoners of War. If we freed them, what do you think they would do?" with a raise of her eyebrows.
"If they aren't safe to be released, why don't you put them in prison?" the Hero shrugged.
"That would indeed be one option. How would you suggest we feed them? 90% of our population is used in the production of food. For every prisoner we keep, 10 commoners would essentially be working for nothing. Our country would literally starve. Do you have a better suggestion?" Princess eyebrows were getting a workout here.
"I hadn't thought of that. I've got some ideas from my world on how to improve farming! If you have more food, then you could keep more prisoners! I could kick off the Industrial Revolution here!"
"Your ideas would be most welcome. How fast could this 'Revolution' be implemented?" the Princess asked earnestly.
"Umm, decades. You need to make tools to make the tools to make the tools. It's a whole pyramid thing." the Hero was starting to think that maybe he'd jumped the gun. But slavery was WRONG!
"That's fine. It's a long term goal. Do you have any suggestions for a short to medium term solution?" the damn eyebrows were back in action.
"Could you at least send the War Slaves back to their countries? Maybe for ransom?"
"We do. For the countries that we have peace treaties with. But a significant amount of war slaves refuse to return without being forced to. I hear it's because we treat our slaves better than they treat their serfs and ours can buy their freedom and their children are citizens. When you get out of here, you'll get to meet some of them." The Princess claps twice and orders some tea for them both.
"That's .... different to slavery back home. More like Roman." But slavery is WRONG! There's GOT to be a better way!
"Seems you have a lot to consider there. If you've got better ideas, we will listen. It's part of why we summon Heroes. Not all Heroes are fighters." The Princess sipped her tea.
|
Thanatofobia
|
RandeKnight
|
2024-11-03 23:52:50
|
2024-11-03 20:40:02
| 308 | 89 |
lv9lqk8
|
lv8l4r9
|
1giuwvt
|
1giuwvt
|
[WP]You're a software engineer who is a communications geek. You learned Morse code. One day, on a whim, you blink "console" with your eyelids. A translucent overlay over everything appears, highlighting items of interest. A realtime programming loop prompt blinks eagerly
|
I. HATE. DEBUGGING.
It’s days like today that make me wish it was the weekend, when I could do fun stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I like coding. I like technology.
Building old tech is even what I do on the weekends. I’ve been going backwards through the history of personal level technology and am up to crystal radios. I even learned Morse code even though it’s not required for HAM licenses any more.
I’ve started dreaming in the sounds of dots and dashes.
But that’s for Saturday.
Today I have to figure out why removing this variable *that isn’t used anywhere else* is throwing compiler errors.
My eyes are killing me staring at this screen. I know everyone said that the eyes start to go after 40. Maybe I should make that appointment.
-.-. --- -. ... --- .-.. .
What the hell is this blue window?
>_
I might have finally lost it. I’m hallucinating command line prompts.
Nobody else seems to notice anything.
That’s it. I’m going home. I’ll just drop a quick email to my manager Jim and Susan in HR that I need to take some personal time.
>whois Jim
…
Jim Sturbin
Age: 49
Race: Lesser Demon
>whois Susan
…
Susan Bradford
Age: 37
Race: Greater Demon
I knew it!!!
|
I remember my school days. I spent long evenings in 5pm code club, working on an app with other students. When I first joined, I watched a senior project his screen onto the whiteboard, open his terminal, and jokingly propose to enter “rm -rf .”. The older geeks were snickering.
I knew little about computers at the time and asked, “What does that do?”
“It deletes the directory’s contents,” he told me. “Be careful with it.”
“Oh.” I nodded, pretending to understand.
Almost a decade later, I know exactly what he meant.
But I’ve always been a curious, chaotic gremlin.
I blink. “rm -rf .”
Edit: I’m not sure if morse code supports “-“
|
nightrss
|
AnExoticOrange
|
2023-02-23 14:29:18
|
2023-02-23 07:38:07
| 20 | 13 |
j9oqx55
| null |
119n7g6
|
119n7g6
|
[WP] Whenever someone is buried in your town, plants grow and surround the grave, representing what sort of life they lived. When a pillar of the community dies, their grave is covered in thick, gnarled brambles.
|
"I think it's fitting, really."
My voice breaks the uncomfortable silence that has fallen over the grave, where everybody turned up expecting to see a field of beautiful flowers over the late Mrs. Hawkins grave only to see this. Thick, ugly, thorny brambles. Half rotting and bearing no fruit.
Well, almost everybody. I expected to see something like this when I showed up today.
"And how exactly is this fitting? She organised all of the community events that have brought so much joy to our community, she put in so much work and you call this fitting?"
I smile condescendingly at him. "Oh, you don't even know, do you. She didn't do any of that. All she was really good at is claiming credit for other peoples hard work. She'd hear about somebody setting up some kind of community event and then sweep in and pretend that it was her idea all along, and that she alone had worked on it. And of course, since she was such a 'pillar of the community', you always believed her. Well now here's your proof. A grave of rotting thorny bushes that will produce no fruit and damage any that come near it. I'm half surprised that her grave didn't sprout poison ivy because she was certainly a parasite."
There is another uncomfortable silence. "As for who actually organised all of that? Who did the legwork, who actually made all of those events work? I'm sure you 'pillars of the community' will figure it out eventually. The graveyard never lies, after all."
As I walk away from them to leave, I make a brief stop at my mothers grave to pick some of the wild strawberries that grow there. Such a tiny fruit and so easily overlooked or missed. I pop one in my mouth. Schadenfreude never tasted so sweet.
|
When Margaret unexpectedly died, she left everything to the library, with no living relatives to contest the claim.
Many wondered what the library would get; Marge herself only had a small, run-down house inherited from her parents near the center of town. On a weekly basis, different people would be seen going to and from this house, but none lived in the small town and none ever said anything about it when they went to local stores and restaurants. Speculation only grew when thick, woody brambles of an hitherto-unknown species grew around her grave; some suspected drugs, others a satanic cult. The Mayor promised answers when the library reopened; however, they first needed to hire a new librarian.
Soon Jessie was hired, and she got herself to work reopening the building. When the fateful date finally arrived, people thronged to the entrance; Jessie happily showed them to the new display honoring the old librarian and holding some of her most prized possessions, all ready for perusal and checkout.
On it? *Changeling: the Lost, 1st Edition*; *Summerland RPG*; *Werewolf: the Apocalypse, 20th Anniversary Edition*...
|
HairyHorux
|
Alias_The_J
|
2023-10-08 08:12:36
|
2023-10-08 07:41:00
| 84 | 27 |
k3yov1o
|
k3ymfz2
|
172hfk9
|
172hfk9
|
[WP] You awake suspended above your bed. Unable to move, unable to cry out. The room is filled with a bright light, and you can make out faint silhouettes. An alien abduction? Tears in your eyes, you almost give up hope when I scaly hand pulls you to safety. The monster under your bed is not happy.
|
There is a noise, a creaking, whirring noise that creeps into the room like a gas and fills it slowly. It starts off small, sparce. A creak, then a wobble, a whir many moments later, moving in slowly as not to disturb the sleep of the rooms solely visible inhabitant.
But then the noises grow. Grow louder and more frequent until they are a constant. Until they are part of the room as if they have always been. One long groan, a continuous vibration that shakes the walls, then a sound like thunder as the roof of the room is ripped off in an entire chunk and is held up above the rest of the house.
By now Arthur is awake. Painfully awake, stuck in place inches above his bed as his house is torn to pieces. He tries to scream but finds that his throat too is stuck. So instead something speaks for him.
"You would be wise to let go." A voice fills the room in a guttural tongue, one barely coherent enough for the floating Arthur to hear. And for a moment the invisible force stops. The ceiling stills, Arthur halts his ascent, and the noises cease.
"Mmm-mm mmmm!" Arthur replies to the room.
"I may be all-knowing, but I have no damned idea what you just said, Arthur." The guttural voice filled the room once again. "Use your words."
Arthur was certain now. The voice was not the room, but beneath him, somewhere underneath his own bed. He turned his eyes as far as they would allow in his stuck state but could see only the shape of an arm gripping his back. No voice, no body, just his own crumbling bedroom full of light and a darkened shape holding him steady below.
The noises began once more, the creaking and groans returning as the ceiling once again flew upward.
"Advanced intelligence, yet still lacking common sense." The voice beneath the bed spoke again, this time to Arthur only. "Close your eyes Arthur, oh and open your mouth if you would. Wouldn't want this to blow your eardrums."
Arthur obeyed the voices command, if not out of trust then rather confusion for the whole affair.
"Now wave goodbye Arthur."
As he strained against the force to manage a wave the ship above exploded in an array of colorful light. The roof crumbled, shedding shingles like leaves until it fell back into place. With it Arthur fell too, guided down by the hand at his back and falling back into bed.
He could not think of words to say. Of what to ask, so instead he lay as still as his body would allow, hyper aware that another still remain in the room with him.
"Goodnight, Arthur." The voice filled Arthurs now aching head.
"I uhm...yes- goodnight." He stuttered out in reply.
|
A bright light wakes me up. I immediately feel the weightlessness of my body as I am suspended in the air above my bed. I can’t move a muscle, so I can’t scream or fight. My breathing seems normal and my heart is still beating, it actually feels like the thing is trying to bounce its way out of my throat. Out of my peripheral I see shadows moving, cast on my walls by the blinding lights. They aren’t human, these beings have long tentacle like limbs and move in a graceful, but terrifying way. Like a predator that’s about to casually end the life of its prey. I can feel the warmth of the tears that roll down my cheeks.
I have been hanging here for a couple of minutes now. I am so tired, despite not being able to move. I still haven’t seen the true face of my assailants. I can only guess that they are aliens, or maybe something even more ineffable. That’s when the shadows – dancing on my walls gracefully – begin to move more urgently. The grace is replaced by jerky changes in shape as they are joined by a new shade. This one is larger, with claws and more recognizable in the way the limbs move as they tear apart the first of the visitors.
It took less than a minute in total. The strangest thing was that it all happened without any noticeable sound. All I was able to observe was the shadow spectacle on the walls. After the last of the graceful alien shadows dissipated in splatter of gore and blood, I dropped back onto my bed. I was released from whatever was holding me and could move again. I did not. They might have been gone, but that other being was still in this room here with me. What if these visitors were just an appetizer and I was to be its main course. I couldn’t risk it. I will spend the night here, laying as still as if I were still frozen. My lower body grew cold as my soaked pants grew cold. I had wet myself, likely before I was able to move. If I make it through the night, I will never sleep with the window open again.
​
(If you liked this story, please feel welcome at r/zeekoeswriting to read my other stories!)
|
GrunkleStanwhich
|
zeekoes
|
2023-06-03 21:11:23
|
2023-06-03 20:23:15
| 293 | 57 |
jmsckhn
|
jms65a0
|
13zmqen
|
13zmqen
|
[WP] “We’ve captured your child and to get them back we’re asking for-“ “My child? Do you have a death wish?” “What’s that supposed to mean?” The parent laughs on the other end of the phone, “Good luck, man. You’re gonna need it”
|
The phone rang as I was enjoying a warm bath, soaking my muscles after a long day of walking in kitten heels. I hated the disruption but I needed to know if the new babysitter had come back from taking the kids to the park.
I didn’t recognize the number and a weary feeling settled in my stomach.
“Hello?”
“Mrs. Ade?”, a computerized voice replied, “We have your daughter. If you ever want to see her alive again, you will wire $50million to-“
I let out a deep sigh. “You might as well say your last rites now”, I interrupted.
“I don’t think you understand the gravity of what we are trying to tell you”
“HAHAHAHA”, I burst into laughter until I could barely breathe.
“What is so funny? Mrs. Ade, we are not playing with you-“
Click. I had heard enough. We might have an hour if we’re lucky. I sighed again and pressed 1. He picked up on the first ring. “Activate the tracker and send a clean up team. I’ll start get the go-bags.” I already knew what he was going to say, this was the third time in as many years that we’ve had to move. But to be fair, she really only gets this way when she’s provoked. “You know what to do. Pay off or murder any witnesses. Let me know when you arrive but tell them not to go in if they want to live to see tomorrow. I’m still the only one that can calm her down. We’re still finishing up trial 15 of a sedative that could work on her. Also I think we’re going to need a new babysitter.”
I unplugged the drain and got up. Such a pity and I was just starting to relax a bit.
|
It was Saturday night when Mr. Hugh received a phone call.
*rings*
Caller: We've captured your child and to get them back we're asking for 5 million dollars! If we don't have the money at midnight, guess what's going to happen.
Mr Hugh: My child? Do you have a death wish?
Caller: What'a that supposed to mean?
Mr. Hugh: Good luck, man. You're gonna need it.
As expected, the call should raise a distress for Mr. Hugh as the caller demands money in exchange of freedom of those captured. However, this is not the case for Mr. Hugh as he remains to be calm with the situation. The thing about him is that he's just a caretaker of the child, earning coins to keep the child grounded. Working as one of the caretakers of the vampiric bloodline in the west. A challenging job that he's been with for more than 20 years - cleaning mess and hiding bodies. Those are his main job descriptions to keep his job. Instead of worrying for the child, he worries what the child must have gotten into this time.
|
chinaza1995
|
ryeion
|
2025-01-05 01:44:18
|
2025-01-04 23:55:17
| 100 | 58 | null |
m5fqn3w
|
1l6t6uq
|
1htlac2
|
[WP] You are one of the most dangerous villain in the world of heroes, also known as The Death. One day you received a letter from Make-A-Wish requesting you to visit a sick child.
|
There's no happy ending in this story. You'll likely never read one from me. You also won't hear anything from me when I come to visit you. I have one job. I visit people who are about to pass and I suck out their life force. There isn't a heaven or a hell. You won't see a white light. And, there's no hope of return. Everything else you know is a myth.
The letter's I receive aren't even letters. I'm just telling you this to make it simple stupid. Like how a child writes a letter to a fat man each year because they expect to receive gifts from him. Well that guy was real. But he wasn't really fat and he wasn't very jolly either. He's more of broken man than anything. He didn't cower when I came. He just stared at me blankly and opened his arms ready to be consumed. So, I guess the only thing fat about him was his life force.
You probably want the main story I guessing. Alright, I'll tell you. Well I got a letter one day pleading for death. It was a kid asking for their suffering to be over. How'd I get the letter? That's a funny question. If you've ever been a man with a Smith & Wesson handgun pointed at yourself well congrats you sent me a letter. If you've ever been a woman whose poisoned themselves with CO2 and survived then it's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I guess you could say I've visited those who take pills but generally those cases aren't too concerning. Is what I want to say.
But I can't. Not when you have a make a wish kid wolf down a good portion of their Oxycodone and hydrocodone medications. When taken past recommended amount then these medicines can cause a person to stop breathing or even end up in a coma. That's how I received my first "Make a Wish" letter. I visited this teen girl who laid in a coma. She donned this paper hospital gown as she laid motionless in the bed. Her grandpa sat off in the corner with tears in his eyes. You ever see a marine vet cry as he's about to lose his only grand child?
Yah, I forgot to mention. I came for this man's daughter just 2 weeks prior to his grand daughters letter. I expect to see him soon. I guess the girl in the coma wanted me to come early because she had ideas filled within her noggin that she'd see her mom again. But like I said. Humans don't get an after life. These get absorbed into me. I'm a black mass of dark energy. That's all I am. Sure, eventually everything will be sucked back into me. The planets, your solar system, the sun, even you.
Hi, I'm death. I won't ever speak to you and you'll likely never read anything happy from me. But if you really want a happy ending. Then I can say I gave the girl her wish. I'll be coming for her grandfather soon.
|
Minion seven kept talking as I stared of into the distance of my gorgeous view. Buying a Volcano might not have the highest return on investment percentage. Especially an active one, but with my powers I knew we’d be safe here for at least 35 more years. And the view from my office was amazing. Seven kept talking. I stopped listening after the first few words. When he said Make a wish, I knew exactly how the conversation would go.
I swivel in my office chair and interrupt him mid word: “Another one?”
“Yes master.” He answered while staring at the floor.
I swivel 180 degrees back to stare at the view. “Even when it is not their time?” I pondered.
“Pain can be a great motivator.” Mother responded softly, standing by the door.
“It is usually not their own pain they are worried about.” Memories of previous visits flash through my mind. Frail children in hospital gowns begging me for more time. Or worse: less time. To stop seeing their families in pain. Children that young should not be worried about their parents or hospital bills.
A saying I have heard and said a thousand times pass my lips once again: “Death is but an instrument to tell time.”
Silence envelops the entire room for I don’t know how long.
I feel my mothers hand on my shoulder as she speaks once more. “Your job is a cruel, but necessary one. You only kill those whose time is up. You never take one with more than a second on their clock. You serve Life in its most pure and honest form. Without you Life would be meaningless.”
I place my hand on top of my mothers hand on my shoulder and squeeze softly as a thank you. “I just wish the humans would see it like that.” It gets lonely being this hated and feared.
“As long as you see it yourself.” Her hand leaves my shoulder. “Seven, decline the invitation, use the standard declining email template.” Mother commanded as she walked out of my office, seven following her.
I place my hand back on the leather arm rest of my office chair as I continue to stare at the top of the green trees. Somehow the jungle trees look less bright than they did this morning.
|
SerenSkies
|
Jhaimey
|
2024-04-12 17:57:36
|
2024-04-12 17:13:46
| 22 | 16 |
kz9mkzh
|
kz9eqh9
|
1c24p8q
|
1c24p8q
|
[WP] You realized your house is "haunted" by a poltergeist, but upon closer observation the ghost is actually helping you out with your day-to-day house chores
|
The phone was ringing. Captain Z didn't want to answer it, only one person has that number, and that person was the last person he wanted to talk to at the moment.
Better to get this over with now. He picked up, "I'm sorry Gate."
The silence was almost as terrifying as the one word that was spoken. "Explain."
The Captain could feel the sweat start to bead. "We can't control them, they were formed when you were off world they never faced you, they were never brought in line. They went rogue and attacked without provocation, Jeff wasn't even in costume.... I'm sorry so so sorry..."
"That does not fix the situation Captain, what is the councils stance." The words were hollow, devoid of emotion, cold.
"The public's opinion prevents the council of heroes intervention, it was seen as a positive that the young team took the initiative and attacked a villain hideout." He paused and took a deep breath. "The council will not take action against you or attempt to prevent you from taking the action you see fit in response to Jeff's death."
More silence, deep and ominous.
"I will not kill them." A click, a dial tone.
Captain z started to shake.
-----------
The gatekeeper leaned back in his chair, his rage cold, and unforgiving. This was his fault, he had become lax in his duties and it had cost him his son. So many years spent as a villain and not just any villain but the gatekeeper, "if you could beat the gatekeeper then you were a real hero!" "He's not that tough, but pretty much everybody has fought him at one time or another." But there was more to him than most knew, he was more than the gatekeeper, to the council of heroes he was a schoolmaster secretly working to weed out the weak or those who might injure themselves or others. At other times a secret executioner for those who were a danger to every one around them. And now some of those he had failed to test had killed his son. His successor.
The gatekeeper glanced over the files of the team that had attacked his son. A girl super strength, hard to use that strength when you become a paraplegic. A young male, super speed, hard to use that speed when you have no limbs. Another male super sonic vocals and sound production, no voice box fixes that. There were more but he would start with those three. He would let them live, but there are consequences to every action. They would be humbled.
|
Rage was the only thing in my heart. Rage at “heroes,” who killed my son in cold blood and rage at the lackluster display of false sympathy shown by their parents. They like him, were only sixteen years old. Some were a little older but that’s not the point. The fact of the matter is, my son was no real threat to anyone. Especially, not the sons of five most powerful heroes.
I know why they did it; they wanted to make a name for themselves, as if being the children of the “Big Five,” wasn’t enough. They thought that I wouldn’t be able to do anything to them because I was known as nothing more than minor villain. An annoying prankster was all that they considered me to be. My nemesis, however, knew better.
Her alias was “Silent Silver.” She came to me a week later.
“Hello,” she said, in a calm voice that seemed to hold genuine sympathy, “I know that our relationship has been tenuous at the best of times but I want to give my condolences.”
“Why did you come to do such formalities yourself and in person no less. Don’t you have some minimum wage secretary who does this sort thing for you.”
“I do but that’s really not why I came here.”
“Well why did you? Can’t you just give a grieving father just a little bit of time to mourn the death of his only child?”
“You want to get revenge, right?”
“Yeah, of course I do but I’m not quite sure how you can help with that.”
“I am a sworn to bring justice. Even for those who are not innocent themselves. I want to help you. Besides I am not stupid and know what you are really capable of. Honestly being on your good side sounds like a really good idea.”
After about an hour of back and forth, I finally agreed to let her help me. We planned for about a year and we are going to bring my son’s killers to justice. We will strike tomorrow. My son will have justice.
|
xiiifox
|
Additional_Trick1074
|
2023-01-20 21:50:11
|
2023-01-20 21:47:50
| 240 | 110 | null | null |
10gt3vv
|
10gt3vv
|
[WP] When me and my friends went to summon a demon, we turned all the crosses upside down like in the movies. Instead of a demon appearing, however, this old "Peter" dude appeared ranting at us
|
“All of you are idiots” St. Peter simply said, realizing they were wearing upside down crosses. “That’s *my* cross, which I took so as to not be like Jesus Christ, who I had failed and could never match”
“Also, you don’t summon demons. They come after you, and try to trick you.”
The group got excited, before St. Peter turned them down. “Considering you were dumb enough to use a symbol of Christianity to summon a demon, I doubt they’d consider you worth taking over. Because you will in almost all aspects be taken over. Willingly taken over by a demon means unless you truly repent, you will be dragged down with the demon once your body dies. I hope to see you all at the Pearly Gates.” He then just disappeared.
After roughly… 28 years if he remembered correctly, Peter saw an acquaintance show up. “Ah! There you are Tom, how are your friends?” He saw the terrible look. “Sorry.”
“I must thank you, honestly. Your words got to me, made me think. My friends did try again, and I think someone did get interested.”
“All of them?”
“All of them. Still, it got me safe, and I’ve worn your cross for 27 and a half years.”
|
“You wanted to summon a demon.”
The old man name Peter glowered at us.
“Ummmm…yeah? You know, hail satan? Upside down cross?”
At “upside down cross” Peter ***glared***.
“Do you know the story of the upside down cross you ignorant simpletons? I was the first pope, the first. And I failed him. Failed my lord Jesus Christ!”
“And so, when they crucified me, I told them ‘No, I am not worthy of being depicted as He was. Crucify me upside down.’”
“Now, if you’ll excuse me. I got some souls I need to admit to heaven.”
And he disappeared in an effervescent glow.
|
Impossible-Bison8055
|
None
|
2024-05-25 20:21:27
|
2024-05-25 19:04:13
| 34 | 25 |
l5nnp4q
|
l5ncezq
|
1d0fado
|
1d0fado
|
[WP] You make a tinfoil hat as a joke but what you notice shocks you.
|
***"What kind of father..."***
*"Walter?"*
There's something about hearing your actual name come out of your daughter's mouth that cuts right through you. Something that ignores the titles and relationship you are supposed to have with your kid that demands attention. It guess it's their vengeance for hearing their full name shouted up at them from the foot of the stairs.
I'm standing at the sink, water running into the bowl I'm holding. Flecks of chilli are peeling away, spilling over the sides and down the drain. I must have gone into a fog again.
I look over at Sam. The expression on her face tells me I was frozen for more than a few seconds.
*"Sorry, zoned out a bit there. What'd you say?"*
The first few times she had laughed when it happened. Told me I was getting old, which was true. But now there was a touch of concern, a dash of fear.
**What kind of father scares his daughter?**
*"Want me to do the dishes? So you can go to bed early."*
It was the same tone you reserve for a five year old. Forceful, a bit condescending, trying to guide them to the course of action you want. She sounds so much like her mother.
*"No, I'm good. The load in the dryer is almost done and I want finish that before I hit the hay. How's the homework load tonight"*
There's a pause as she thinks about saying something else, at lancing through my attempt at misdirection. I can hear the wheels in her head thinking if bringing up therapy again is worth the argument. I silently beg that she lets it go.
**What kind of father hopes his daughter is a quitter?**
She lets it go. *"Little bit of Trig left, Sasha and I did most of it during Study Hall. Should only be another half hour or so. Can I play some games first?"*
She's polite lately. She would normally just lie and start playing anyway. But I've been scaring her with my little episodes. She's smart enough to see something is wrong.
*"Sure, just keep the volume down. I'm going to listen to my book while I finish these up and fold the clothes."*
She watches me again. Looking for something off. She should be able to find it. Part of me hopes she does. To see how much I hate myself now. Then cry with me and understand and forgive me.
**What kind of father wants his daughter to cry?**
She sets her bowl next to me and gives me a hug. I tense, she feels it. But she doesn't acknowledge it. *"Love you Dad."*
*"Love you kiddo."*
She goes upstairs. I keep washing dishes. Listening to the faucet and her footsteps. The clacking sounds of a keyboard as she becomes a brave hero for 30 minutes, before she has to be the child of a coward again. I do the bowls and the cutting board.
Holding the knife I stop. Part of me stares at the edge and vividly thinks about putting it to my neck. I deserve it. I want it. Its what should happen to me. But what would that do to Sam, finding me here in a pool of my own blood.
**What kind of father would leave his daughter alone?**
Things had been hard since Hannah died. Sam had spiraled, I had spiraled. But we came out of it together. We became each other's lifeline. I started working from home to have dinner ready every night. She started tutoring the middle-schoolers to get some extra cash. In the past 3 years I learned and loved my daughter more than the first 14.
Which was it's own kind of pathetic.
How had I let her go this long without actually being a Dad? How had I never realized the shallowness of our relationship. Her mother did everything with her, and I was just the man who came home, ate, and nursed a beer while she went upstairs. It took losing Hannah to make a change for Sam.
Then three weeks ago, she was gone. I tore the house apart looking for her until I found the note on the front door. A note telling me she was gone for a week, and I had that week to decide if I wanted her back or not. A note with a phone number on the back, asking me to reach out when I made my decision.
I stare at the knife. I want to die, but I can't abandon her. I want to watch her grow up, but I can't stand the guilt. I don't know who wrote that note, or who took Sam. I don't know why she doesn't remember it. I don't know why that week didn't seem to have happened, and reality continued as normal. I don't know if it was a social experiment, the trick of a cruel god, or just a lucid dream that lasted forever.
I do know that I waited to call and demand her back.
I waited three days. I slept three nights not knowing where she was, deeply and without anxiety. I ate dinner three times without her, twice with a big glass of wine. I woke up three mornings to an empty house and enjoyed the silence. I almost went for a fourth, until some part of me realized what I had been doing.
Three. Fucking. Days.
**What kind of father WAITS to get his daughter back?**
|
The last twelve years have been exhausting. People don't really warn you how exhausting it is being a parent. Sure they say things like you won't sleep well while they're infants, but nobody talks about the work and the worry that goes into everything else. Some people make jokes about how great it would be to get even a week off from parenting.
Nobody actually expects that to happen, of course.
The last week had been a nightmare.
The police had been useless. By the end of that first day the lack of physical evidence had them accusing Arthur and Lily of hiding their own children away somewhere. They'd spent half their savings on a private investigation that had similarly turned up bupkis. They had reached out to friends and family all over the country but no-one had seen or heard from the kids. On the sixth day, they were met with a new note. Instructions on where to go to get their children back.
From the outside looking in, the building seemed abandoned. Creeping ivy had taken over much of the exterior brickwork. Inside felt like another world entirely, there was a single path into a particular hallway that was swept clean of dust and debris. Despite their care in advancing quietly, every footfall of the couple felt like it echoed into eternity.
After several turns, made quite easy to follow thanks to the swept path, they came upon a room sealed with an overly ornate door for such a structure. Hardwood plank with brass hardware and gold filigree. It was like something out of a fairy tale. Arthur tugged on the handle and discovered it was just a facade, a thin veneer stuck over a plain steel door. The door swung open without much resistance and as they swept inside, they saw the children.
Lily wanted to rush to them immediately, but she knew better. She and Arthur hooked into the room turning in opposite directions looking for whoever was responsible for the abduction. Slowly creeping around the edge of the room they saw no other entrances, nor anyone else in the room save for their own children. Arthur reached down with one hand to gently shake their eldest on the end, but she didn't stir. Her breathing hadn't even shifted. A sudden noise as the door closed behind them had both parents whirl on their heels and point their rifles. The slender young man with a too long face put his hands up with a look of shock.
"Come now, there's no need for violence. Your children are clearly safe and unharmed." He said with a voice that could have soothed many a fiery rage, but not these two.
"Wake them up." Arthur spoke first. His instruction was flat, absolute. A firm even tone often called a 'command tone'. Coupled with the rifle in his hands and the fury in his eyes, there was no room for debate. The abductor's hands barely moved, but Arthur and Lily both heard sounds of stirring behind and between them. Arthur turned to look and his dsughter's questioning eyes looked up at him.
"Daddy, where are we?"
Arthur dropped to his knees and hugged her close, his rifle falling behind him on its sling. Lily's heart ached to do the same but someone had to keep the bastard across the room under watch. The children all slipped from the beds and crossed the room to Arthur, piling together in an embrace around their father.
"Let's get out of here." Arthur said to them. He shepherded them together and edged around the room slowly. Lily also began moving. Neither her eyes nor her rifle ever left the standing form of the too slender young man. Slowly she shifted from one foot to the other as she shuffled sideways to ensure that her rifle was never pointing at her family as they made their way around and out of the room.
As soon as the children were through the door, and it had clicked shut behind them, she squeezed the trigger. The once-smiling thing that looked like a man but with too pointy features and too long of a face howled with pain and lunged at her, but she fired again. And again. And again. Until it was down.
"Why..." It hissed from the floor in an expanding pool of its own blood. Its wounds burned like hot irons had been stabbed through its flesh. "Your children are ssafe..."
"Hell hath no fury like a mother scorned, you faerie bastard." Lily gave it one final squeeze right between the eyes.
|
Nitrostoat
|
Taolan13
|
2023-03-09 18:37:27
|
2023-03-09 18:34:40
| 120 | 19 |
jbkkv92
|
jbkkf01
|
11mri1h
|
11mri1h
|
[WP] Every dragon rider gets a dragon egg to hatch upon their initiation to the guild. When your egg hatched, Your dragon came out a bit... Different.
|
"That... has feathers." I said, "Why... do baby dragons have feathers?"
My dad entered the room, puzzled.
"I... don't believe they do, no."
"How...?"
My dad smacked his lips together in confusion, "...So that is clearly a bird."
"That was my thought."
"Not a dragon."
"No."
The bird chirped, and began to brush the egg off of itself.
"So..." Dad said, "You still gonna ride it?"
"It's a bird."
"Yeah."
"I'm trained to ride dragons."
"Yeah. No. Sorry. Dumb question. To be fair, it is quite a large bird."
"It was quite a large egg."
"I would have remarked like, too big an egg for any bird I was aware of."
"Yes. I was also thinking this."
The bird flopped onto the floor.
My dad walked up to it and prodded it calmly, "You know, normally birds don't develop feathers in the egg, I would've thought it would have fluff if it's a baby."
"Are you *touching it?*"
"Do you expect me *not* to touch it?"
"I mean..."
"We have to get it to the guild somehow, right? You're not riding it *now*, at the very least."
"I'm not going to ride a *bird* at all."
"Good. Good. Well. What if it *is* a dragon?"
I looked at my dad with the most deadpan expression I could muster. I needed him to feel shame for having asked me that question.
"Just saying," He said, "Could be. You never know."
"It's a bird."
"Yes. It does seem to be a bird."
"I'm ringing the guild."
"Best to do that. Yes."
|
Ren spat out her tea when she heard the door slam open with Tori- her daughter run into the living room with a large, brown and red-dotted egg cradled in her arms.
"Mom! Mom!" Tori announced, "Egg. I have an egg!"
With graceful weaving of her hands, Ren motioned her daughter to wait for her- after she placed her teacup on the table.
Ren knew how to talk, but thanks to the quirks of her biology was unable to talk during the day- except on rainy days where the air was moist enough for her vocal chords to work.
Ren entered the living room to find her daughter staring intently at the dragon egg, the egg places on a hemp cushion. She sat down and glanced to the egg then her daughter with a questioning look.
"The Dragon Rider's Guild gave me an egg for my initiation after I passed the rider's exam last week." Tori explained, "It's supposed to hatch later today."
Ren nodded and left the living room, returning with a second round of tea.
|
Gate4043
|
HB_DS2013
|
2024-04-30 16:20:56
|
2024-04-30 06:40:19
| 22 | 10 | null |
l1wlwo7
| null |
1cggtbb
|
[WP] "You are the chosen one. The prophecy says that every 273 years-" "Wait, why isn't it a round number? Sorry, no can do" "Are you really denying your destiny over this?" "Uhh... yeah?"
|
"So what about you, Evey? What was it like pn Earth?"
I stayed silent for a moment. Thinking about the destruction of my home planet did *not* bring back good memories.
"Earth was beautiful, until its ultimate demise, of course."
The members of my party leaned in closer, hanging on to my every word.
"There were forests and oceans and mountains and deserts and glaciers... It was amazing. Our technology came at a cost, and the others didn't listen to the consequences that were to come.
"The planet started to become too hot, ultimately upsetting the natural order of things. Forest fires burned everything in their paths. Hurricanes wreaked havoc upon the coasts. Earthquakes and tsunamis separated what was once whole. Volcanos decimated islands. Glaciers melted, leading to the rising sea level and was the major cause of the destruction of the lives we once knew. It was our wake-up call, in a way.
"Instead of trying to save the planet, they started trying to save us. They built flying machines that could hover on the air indefinitely, with the right maintenence, and sent small groups of people down to the 'land' to scavenge for usable materials.
"That was, until less and less of the came back. They reported of their teammates acting almost... *feral*
"Scientists later discovered the cause of the sudden symptoms that strongly resembled rabies, but it was much worse: there was bacteria in the air that affected the majority of the population. Don't worry! I'm immune and cannot carry this, so you're all safe.
"Any way, some people who came back aboard were carriers of the disease, therefore, leading to a mass virus outbreak. This led to the ill-fated end of the majority of our population. Whoever's left of us are either immune or have never been exposed..."
The group was silent long after I finished.
*Did I bore them too much? This is my first time having an indepth conversation with them. I hope I didn't bore them...*
"That's more than our professors have ever taught us about Earth's history!" Alkzer said.
"Would you tell us more?" Mitzer said, clearly curious.
"I..."
*They wanna know more? Does this mean I* didn't *mess up?*
"What do you want to know?" I said, grinning.
|
I was taking a nice peaceful walk along the riverside when they appeared suddenly, out of nowhere, a strong light emanating downwards while they spiralled around me.
They looked otherworldly, and beautiful, with ethereal robes. They were singing in beautiful Carnatic music, with 2 mouths one on each head. Each head was keeping in sync with itself as well as the rest of the choir group.
Their faces had round glasses, the sort people wear in offices because the LED from the monitors disturbed them, on their forehead was a little spiky dot with 13 spikes emanating.
Upon closer inspection I noticed that each one had 6 limbs, 3 around their two heads, with 3 to walk with. Upon closer inspection I saw that each of these limbs had 7 ridges, with 13 digits on each.
Their leader in the middle of the choir spoke up:
"You are the chosen one. The prophecy says that every 273 years-" He sang
I asked "Wait, why isn't it a round number?"
"What? " The leader asked.
"Why isn't it a round number?" I asked again.
"Because it's the basis for our counting system" He replied. "You see, we count with our three hands, each of which have 7 ridges, with 13 digits on each. It helps, you know"
"So anyway, as I was saying, once every"
Sorry, no can do" I said firmly.
He said "But why not? You're the chosen one. "
"Ya so? It's not a round number" I said.
"What is a round number anyway?" He asked perplexed. "Anything that ends with 10" I said.
"Are you really denying your destiny over this?" He asked
"Uhh... yeah?" I told him.
"What if I got you a pizza?" He asked.
I pondered over it for a moment and replied - "Sounds perfect! I'm in. "
|
jewels_the_jewel
|
Joydipto
|
2025-03-05 23:37:21
|
2024-07-10 14:51:06
| 38 | 15 |
mg8n277
|
lcioqgw
|
1j46wfn
|
1dzv5h0
|
[WP] As the princess and heir apparent of the kingdom you are the most sought after woman in the whole kingdom, with suitors lining up every day to ask for your hand in marriage. Today you finally accept the proposal of a suitor, causing a massive scandal.
|
I was ten when I first declared that “no man would own my heart”. It was the first time my parents had tried to arrange a marriage between me and a Prince from a neighbouring kingdom. They told me that I needed to find “My knight in shining armour,” like all the princesses from the stories
They tried harder to marry me off when I turned seventeen, and It didn’t help that most of my suitors were men and I was wholeheartedly a lesbian.
The first time I had seen her she was training with the knights. Her parents, exiled royals from a neighbouring kingdom, had tried to get their only daughter to become a lady in waiting but she joined the knights. If I wasn’t heir apparent I would have done the same. My swordsmanship teacher seemed happier that I was training more often. Though I was often distracted whenever she was in the same room.
We had started sparring together soon after. I treasured those times. I got her promoted to my personal guard, any reason to be around her.
When she had come before me in front of the kingdom, she knelt before my throne, she couldn’t offer much, no lands other than what I had gifted her. No title other than Exiled Princess. The youngest child and only daughter. I don’t think either of our families were happy.
But I accepted her proposal. I had found what my parents told me to find. I had beaten their terms. Their only specification for me. I had found my knight in shining armour.
|
\[Poem\]
I dreamt of a butterfly
Adrift in the winds of summer
Free from the confines of 'er own mind
To think as it wished
To love as it may
Yet in the shadows of Autumn
In those oppressive shades
Lay hands awaiting
Strings snatching wings away
And so fell the butterfly
Into the eternal dusk of Winter
A place of Hell and darkened embers
Hardened shrieks sounding
From those heavenly towers
Each crumbling down
As hope stolen by gathering shadows
Coalesce into bloom and May
Wings clipped, resolve thin
Yet inspired by coming Spring
The butterfly wept in sorrow
But from bloom came salvation
For out came a firefly
Casting the scheming darkness away
Inviting them to the dark
Embers alit with determination
The butterfly found 'er wings again
For when darkness shouted, yelled for doubts anew
They always had the firefly
The one brave and bold enough to let her fly again
For there was need for nothing more.
|
AmoldineShepard
|
ThenSpinach5
|
2024-09-06 21:43:20
|
2024-09-06 20:10:08
| 69 | 16 |
llv21jb
|
llul0wz
|
1famu0u
|
1famu0u
|
[WP] The real reason you hate the villain is because they forced you to be the hero.
|
The Ultimates, the Photon Five, Scorpion Cyclone, and many others.
Heroic Lineage, some even dating back to the days of the second world war. These families exist all around the world. Some try to blend in with society, and others live like celebrities in both civilian and hero life. Guess which of the two my family did.
I remember classmates who gossiped and cavorted, just imagining how much of a dream it must have been to be part of a hero family. Some would come up to me and tell me how lucky I am. How lucky I am that I get powers, how lucky I am that am part of a family of supers, how lucky I am I get to be a hero. Oh, I'm so lucky....
I would have gladly traded places. The little bastards thought it was a good thing? Like I ever had a choice. Not to mention that suddenly any of my actions reflected on the family, how I wasn't an average kid-I had to live up to something. My education never ended after school, at home private tutors expanded what I had to learn, private chefs managed my diet, personal trainers kept me on a strict plan. And all of it was necessary and all of it was on the government tab, who also kept tabs on us. I never had a choice.
I hated it.
There were strings on my limbs. They pulled, my limbs respond to their will. Dreams and aspirations...as long as it fit the plan, it was fine. The family plan. All I had to do was follow the script someone else wrote for my life...until I died. And since someone was keeping tabs, I couldn't quit. This was my life.
Then, a villain attacked my school. Some dipshit who wanted to make a name for themselves attacking the kids of supers, everyone else, kids of the upper echelons, was a bonus. He had an unusual ability. It seems like even he didn't understand what his powers were. I took advantage of it.
I was dead. Or at least everyone thought i was.
I later found out my older sister killed the guy, thinking he murdered me. I felt bad that she did it, but I knew that with him dead, there was no chance of people learning the truth.
I know. I'm a coward, a piece of shit. But I was free.
I quickly ran down a few folks I knew, bad folks who couldn't break away from their trade, and shook them down for their skills and silence. A new identity, a new life, and a ticket away from the only home I've ever known.
Since my family rubbed elbows with other families, I got to know of where they were, of where villains tended to attack. Needless to say, I already had a good idea of where to go. Somewhere remote, somewhere no one really cares about. And I gotta say, I was surprised on the way there.
Being a superhero means that you are at the center of conflict, right where the actions at. Constantly looking for trouble makes it feel like there's trouble every day. But on my travels, there was no super conflict, no robbers, no weirdo in a gimp suit with delusions of grandeur. It was just normal. Life was normal. I loved it.
When I made it to the remote town I started my life all over. I had my troubles. I had to figure out problems I never had to deal with before, like making a living and paying bills. I had to find a trade and make myself useful outside of my powers. I had to learn common sense. I had to relearn how to live life as a normal person. It was awesome.
It was hard work, there were times I felt like crying, times I felt so useless, times were I regretted my choices. But I did it. I made a name for myself in my local community, people liked and found me reliable for **my** own skills and talent, not what I was born with or into. And...and I even found love; someone mom and dad wouldn't have approved of, someone the gov genealogist definitely wouldn't approve (the old windbag kinda favored lighter skin tones if you catch my drift). And I was happy.
I had my own troubles, my own messes to sort out...I had my own life. I was happy.
That's why I hate you.
It's not because you attacked the earth, it's not because you beat most of the heroes half to death, it's not even because you threated to end the world.
It's because you forced me to be a hero again. My family, the family I chose and the family I created...the whole world now knows I'm alive and who I am. I'm not even sure how I'm going to face my wife after this. The look she gave me when I used my power....
And for that, I'm going to kick your fucking ass!
|
The Major directed me to the cell he was in. Water bled through the walls at this level of the prison. Four Constable Mark IVs followed behind, each one was the result of R&D costing more than the annual GDP of a small country. "I'll remain outside, if anything were to go wrong the cell will be flooded with Chlorine gas at a concentration of 100,000 ppm. It'll stay like that for 30 minutes, which then the sanitation process would begin." He scanned his iris and entered a code, causing a Nuclear blast graded door to slowly hiss open. When were on our way again he continued, "After the two-hour sanitation, we'll open the hatch and these bad boys," the Mark IVs "will enter and retrieve your body." He stopped in front of the cell "So don't let anything go wrong.
He slept on the floor, underneath his twin-sized bed, the only dark place in the cell, I guess they didn't turn the lights off. "Get out." He said openly.
"No." After a brief pause, laughter began emanating off of the walls. He climbed out from underneath the bed looking rougher than ever. "Son. Of. A. Bitch." He said, "To what do I owe the pleasure?" It was rhetorical.
"Move over," I said, he slid down the mattress patting the empty spot next to him. "Look, a new guy is causing some problems on the surface and he has some of your designs, and the SECDEF wants to know how." He looked at me.
"Really? That's why you're here?" He laughed heartily, "We both know that's not the reason."
"Oh?" I responded, he cut me off before I could get another word,
"Why are you here?"
I clenched my jaw, "People are in danger." I said half-heartedly, "This infor-"
"Oh, cut the fucking act, will you? You don't give a rat's ass about anyone but yourself."
"And you do?"
"A hell of a lot more than you do! So what, some asshole stole my plans. If you don't recall; You people took them the minute I got stuffed away down here. We both know some dejected DOJ employee with too much access just wants to make a name for themselves. You want some help with this new guy? How about you do him like you did me?" I stayed silent, "Huh? Cat got your tongue, motherfucker?"
"You got a lot of nerve, you know that?"
"I do?"
"Yeah, you fucking do!" I stood up.
"Please enlighten me."
"You act like it's my fucking fault that you're down here. You love handing out blame like it's a free fucking sample!" I lowered my voice, and stuck my finger in his face, "Well, let me help out for a change. How about you look in the mirror? And maybe, just maybe you'll find the only Goddamned person responsible for fucking up your life. You!" I breathed heavily, waiting for a smart response, but none came.
"I just wanted to help." He looked down. "There are so many rules, so many safeguards. Everything needs to be tested, and tested again, and again, and again. I would've saved lives. Yeah so what, I didn't call the FDA, or file a patent, it would've been years, so many would've died. Maybe the dose was wrong, and the formula was a bit off. They were going to die anyway, the trade-off made sense."
"Why did you run?" I asked, taking back my seat. "I could've helped you."
"I couldn't let you be complicit. It wouldn't have been fair to you, to Mom." he sighed, "You think I wanted this? For all my intelligence, I panicked, I went off the deep end and didn't even realize I was drowning until it was too late."
"I would've helped you anyway. I hate being the poster boy. I can't stand getting a call every time an asteroid is going to hit Earth. Or some asshole wants to see the world burn. I didn't want to be a hero, that was always you."
"His name is Victor Holland, he works at Krios Corp." I knew it was the end of the conversation. I stood up, and looked at the camera, the cell door begin to hiss open. "Hey," I stopped outside the door, "Don't come back, brother."
|
dgj212
|
RelationshipOk3093
|
2024-08-11 14:32:29
|
2024-08-11 13:58:47
| 56 | 34 |
lhldgq8
|
lhl83sx
|
1epk43j
|
1epk43j
|
[WP] You are isekai'd into a world of magic, you are the hero, at the request of the kingdom, you defeat the demon king, destroy the abyss armies, and even slay the dragon lord, all under promise that you will get to return home. Ultimately, they tell you, they don't know how to send you back.
|
"It has been said, in my world, that a man's value is measured three ways: by the truth and honor in his words, by the virtue of his actions, and by the company he keeps."
Of all the reactions I could have had, this was obviously not expected. That is acceptable, as it let's me continue.
"I must, therfore, ask what you have done as sovereign of these grand halls." The advisor's eyes went wide at that, she did always seem like a clever one. "Please, correct me if I am wrong. You have not rallied your forces, but called upon magic you do not understand to summon a champion. You have then made a promise to this champion, which you were not certain you could keep. And all this was done, while surrounded by sycophants who would not dare oppose you lest they diminish their own power."
By this point, the king had grown pale, "Missing much of the day-to-day, but apt given our limited interactions."
"Then, by associating with you, I raise you up and diminish myself." Again they are surprised, so I sigh, "Must I already remind you that my value is based on the company I keep? Put simply, I will be removing myself, farewell." I begin to walk away, my footsteps echoing through the vaulted halls.
The king sputtered at that, "You won't kill me?"
"And grant you a noble death? No." I turn back, and let my emotions show. Sheer malice radiates from me, and everyone is forced back from the weight of it. "I am, frankly, to strong at this point. I would give you a swift death you do not deserve. I cannot pluck your legs like the fattened insect you are, as that would be hedonism on my part. Retribution is pointless, but you make it *very* tempting. Give thanks to luck, or to any gods that rule that domain, that I am not going to succumb to that temptation." I take a calming breath, and release the fist I unthinkingly clenched. "So take this opportunity, and improve. Improve yourself, improve your nation, improve your judgment on who you keep as advisors. I am walking away. I suggest you not summon another hero unless you can send them back. They may not be so... restrained."
I begin walking toward the door again. Silence pervades the throne room. They would describe it as oppressive, but I think of it as serene. Finally, the quiet has returned after great turmoil.
Eventually, I take the handle, and think before I go. "I will be writing letters. Some will have advice, some will have notes, and I suggest you take the time to read them. I hope they can help." Nothing more must be said.
Unaccosted, I leave the capital, and establishe a small hut in the woods. Now and then, I travel to the local village to send and receive letters, but primarily, I delve further into magic. That they cannot send me home only speaks to their abilities.
Perhaps I can do this by myself.
|
One would expect an angry reaction, but after going through and doing so much killing, the amount sacrificed just to stay alive, I was broken. I simply teleported away, and took the time off to myself. I just decided to just go through and build a house in the woods, and live my life there instead till they found me a way back, or I died.
Eventually, some lost wanderer ended up at my house. I helped him and fed him. I quickly found out I was portrayed as dead after killing the Dragon Lord. I helped him get back, and waved him off.
Four weeks later, over 10 people had showed up at my cabin. I was confused. It was people from the nearby village wanting to come over and give thanks, which I had trouble denying. I soon needed to make another cabin to hold all the visitors I was receiving. Then another, and another, a fourth, a fifth, a *sixth* one. In only a year, this place had become a practical village.
I was in an unclaimed land, and so the village was named Aranville after me, which I quickly managed to get them to rename Khecea. Khecea was quickly growing, and the first births happened five months after my slaying of the Dragon Lord. Again, why did so many people try to name their kids after me, I clearly didn’t want that?
I managed to get them to organize a town government that didn’t have me as a leader or even advisor in some form. I decided to use my old world’s knowledge to help set up a mayoral council and judges, mimicking the three branches of a democracy.
I eventually died at the good old age of 96. I actually needed to make myself die, the magic can keep you alive a long time. I never married here, deciding to stay loyal to my wife of old. I just hoped she was fine, after everything. I couldn’t blame her though if she remarried. Again, just hoped she was happy.
Khecea managed to prosper, I had set it up for surviving beyond one man. It soon grew, and the Republic grew to match and even surpass the Kingdom of Soton, annexing it only 200 years after creation. Something that the Kheceans were working on was how to get back to my world, mainly just to see if they could. 206 AKF(After Khecea Founding) they had managed to breach the veil, and started to engage with the United Nations of Sol.
|
JustAnBurner
|
Impossible-Bison8055
|
2023-10-26 03:20:34
|
2023-10-26 01:34:16
| 112 | 67 |
k6hoop7
|
k6haflh
|
17gcuc8
|
17gcuc8
|
[WP] A cult is about to sacrifice a child in the name of their dark god. That's when the deity shows up and says: "People, my house is teeming with these kids you keep sending me. It would please me more if you raised them yourselves in a responsible manner."
|
A chill fell over the altar room. Usually there was a roaring wind of the Everlasting Void, but this was less the "mixing of mundane and profane tethers" and more "very unhappy Eldritch God".
High Priest Zerul (nee Phillip Tillbury) swallowed in a dry throat.
"I...how can we best serve the Higher Powers."
"Start by setting some clear boundaries of acceptable behavior." The Unfathomable Presence sighed. "I don't blame the young ones, of course. They've grown up without any sort of structure, no guidance or stability...now, I respect the challenges they've faced, but I just don't have the bandwith to handle these kids and the underpinnings of creation at onc--I'm sorry, would you like to say something?"
High Priest Zerul closed his mouth which apparently had been hanging open.
"No! No, please."
The Impossible Being pinched what would have been the bridge of its nose.
"All I'm saying, is before you send these kids to me, do make sure they have at least some manners before they arrive?"
"Yes! Yes, manners."
"I'm not asking for much. Little Haley nearly bumped into the melting point of helium which, let me tell you, that would not have been a good day for any of your stars."
The High Priest's blood pressure shot high enough that it began to vibrate like a violin string. He nodded, his face stretched into such a grimace that his cheeks began to crack. Anything to end the conversation that they might get back to enjoying the fruits of their sacrifice.
Just as the Herald of the Unknown Forces was about to leave, a voice piped up behind him
"Wait. So they're like...still there?"
Oh no. It was Acolyte Webthree.
The High Priest could tell immediately tell by the voice. The young Acolyte had insisted on his unconventional name in spite of centuries of tradition. A generation donation from Webthree's had fixed that. The High Priest had given explicit instructions that, no mater how much money Acolyte Webthree's father paid, that he was *not* to be allowed in the summoning room. Another generous donation had modified those instructions. Now Webthree was at his side, with his limited edition robes, gazing up with impenetrable stupidity at the Source Node of All Things.
The Entropic Caretaker had no body to speak of that could be perceived by human flesh. It was beyond comprehension and understanding. But the High Prince could have sworn that he saw his Omnipotent and All-Powerful God *blink*. It turned to "face" Webthree, gazing through him with all the warmth and tenderness of a black hole.
"Where else would they be?" it asked.
Webthree shrugged. "I dunno. Dead? I mean, I'm not gonna ask what you do with them, everyone's gotta make their money right? I just thought--"
Just then, Webthree's voice stopped, as if it had never started. As if nothing had ever been, or would be. The High Priest, Webthree, and everyone else in the room found themselves in a space full of nothing. Slowly, the nothing filled with stars--hundreds of thousands of gleaming, rather upset stars. Upset, for the stars did not twinkle. They *blinked*. And behind every star was a "sacrifice", looking down upon them with arms folded and very, *very* angry.
"I've changed my mind," said the Void. "Now it is *you* who will learn your manners."
|
# Soulmage
**Zhytln swept her impassive gaze over the small crowd of children outside her home.** I'd tried to make sure she wouldn't recognize me in particular, but... in the end, there was no disguising myself when I knew she could simply look into my soul. I just had to blend in with the crowd and hope she didn't single me out.
"I," Zhytln announced, "am thoroughly disappointed with your parents."
The crowd of children exchanged confused glances, murmuring to each other.
"I have already consumed all the desirable portions of your soul. You have no more moments of high emotion, positive or negative, for me to absorb. Your dreaming minds have been optimized; I cannot recall the last time any of you were distracted by a nightmare. I have no further interest in interacting with you. I have made this abundantly clear to your guardians. And yet I find you here time and time again."
So she hadn't seen me yet. I saw her frown as she started a headcount, realized there was one more child than was ordinarily here, but before she could finish, one of the children piped up. Svette, if I remembered her name correctly.
She raised a shy hand; to my surprise, Zhytln actually nodded and called on her as if she were a teacher in front of a classroom. "I—er, I can't—I can't speak for everyone, but... we're here because you're... nice."
Zhytln stared at the girl. "Nice," she finally said.
She nodded. "You made me feel better when... when the... the thing happened. The bad thing."
Zhytln sighed. "I suppose this is not an unexpected side effect from my predilection towards rewriting your memories to treat me more fondly. I consume memories of great emotional import, Svette. If all of yours are moments of trauma, then our relationship is mutually beneficial. But I have taken all I wish to from your soul. Please inform your parents to send other children next time."
"My parents didn't send me here," Svette mumbled.
Zhytln just stared at her.
"I am busy," she finally said. "Unless any of you have anything more for me to take..."
And finally, Zhytln's eyes alighted on me. I was small for my age, and she hadn't been using her soulsight until now. But she had to have seen the roiling storm of glass and salt inside my soul.
"So you listened to my offer," Zhytln said. "You have so many memories whose absence would calm your soul."
Silently, I nodded. There was no need to confirm what she already knew.
She held out a hand. "Then come in, Cienne. We have a lot of work to do."
A.N.
This story is part of Soulmage, a serial written in response to writing prompts. Check out the rest of the story [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/bubblewriters/comments/uxmwe4/soulmage_masterpost/), and r/bubblewriters for more!
|
BrassBadgerWrites
|
meowcats734
|
2023-04-01 18:31:49
|
2023-04-01 16:11:07
| 90 | 49 |
jekf4ir
|
jejusdg
|
128p98i
|
128p98i
|
[WP] “So my mom is half-Fae, and my dad is half-dragon; that’s where my powers come from. How about you?” “I’m half-mermaid on my mom’s side, hence the wheelchair.” Your new magic school roommates suddenly turn to you. “What about you?”
|
\[Sharp Lineage\]
There was a half second of silence as Dara felt two sets of eyes on her back. She'd already been relaxing on her bed when the conversation started and she didn't expect, nor hope to be included. But, she realized the only other two girls in the room gave their origin, so she sighed and slowly turned around.
"Me?" she asked. Both girls giggled and nodded.
"Yeah," the one that wasn't in a wheelchair, Phantae, nodded. She had sparkling golden hair that seemed to shed fairy dust with every up and down motion.
"We're gonna be roommates all year, let's get to know each other," the other one said. Shayla, the half-mermaid, had faint, but noticeable scales on her face and her short hair was aqua blue.
"Yeh, maybe," Dara shrugged and turned to give her roommates her full attention. "My mom's a human," she said. She ended the statement with a curt smirk, then looked to Phantae to continue the conversation.
"Maybe?" Phantae asked. "You're not planning to stick around?"
"What was your dad?" Shayla asked.
"Still undecided," Dara shrugged. "I guess it depends on if there's anything for me to learn here," she answered one of the questions.
"We're here to learn magic," Phantae gestured at herself and Shayla. "Aren't you?"
"Not specifically," Dara shook her head. "I guess you could say I'm here to learn about the magic used here; but, other than that I just like going to new schools. It's kind of fun always being the new kid, no one expects anything yet."
"But..," Phantae started with one thought; then hesitated to glance at Shayla with notable confusion. "... I mean. This is a super prestigious, HIDDEN, magic school. It's not like you just up and 'decided' to start coming one day.. right? You're going to give up all the opportunities to go to a normal school?"
"I can," Dara nodded. "Thanks to my mom, I can go to literally any school I want. And, there are plenty of other magical and 'other' super-types of schools. I don't have to go to a normal one; but, I wouldn't be giving up anything if I did."
"There are...? Like what?" Phantae asked.
"But, your mom's just a human," Shayla added. "Maybe your dad has some pull? What is he?"
"Schools for people that have Super powers, all kinds of magic schools, ninja academies. Pretty much anything you can think of, it exists and my mom can get me in," Dara nodded. This time, she turned and met Shayla's eyes for a lingering moment of silence to make a clear point. The mermaid girl hadn't spent a lot of time with humans and the obvious dismissal was lost on her. She waited patiently, expecting Dara's answer, until Phantae spoke up again.
"Whoa... I had no idea all that existed...," she said. "Do you have any powers?" she added the follow-up question.
“Kind of,” Dara shrugged. “I can copy powers temporarily.”
“Oh, nice!” Phantae nodded.
“You steal powers? Humans don't do that, did you get it from your dad?”
“No.” Dara turned and answered, though Shayla didn't know which question was answered. Then, Dara continued before she could ask.
“I don't STEAL powers, I copy them. Anyone I do it to can still use their powers. You're really interested in my dad, you didn't say anything about yours.”
“He wasn't important,” Shayla shrugged. “Same old story about a fisherman and a mermaid, and it didn't work out. I'm sorry,” she added. “I didn't realize it was nosy… I was just curious about you… Where I come from, who a person's parents are says a lot of about them… too much, really.”
“Not important, huh?” Dara met Shayla's eyes again, this time with warmth. “I can understand that. My dad was nonexistent. My ability to copy came from my mom.”
“But, she's just a human isn't she?” Shayla asked. She felt like they'd finally connected and Dara even nodded.
“She's a human, though very smart. She created me with this power.”
“C.. created?” Phantae asked. Dara nodded with a grin.
“I might not be descended from a magical creature, but I'm not exactly normal either. My mom, both of my mothers, made me in a lab.”
“Whoaaaa,” both of the other girls exclaimed in awe.
“Are you sure?” Shayla asked.
“Your parents told you about it? Do you have any siblings?” Phantae added her questions.
“I have two sisters, they weren't created like I was. I'm kind of special that way,” she grinned.
“I'll bet,” Phantae said.
“Wait!” Shayla called for attention.”So when you said your dad was ‘non-existent’ you meant literally!?”
“Yeah,” Dara nodded. “Two moms and science.”
“It's not as weird as fairy and dragon parents, but that's pretty wild,” Phantae said.
“Well, if you're asking for weird specifically…,” Dara grinned and leaned forward to talk in a softer, more secretive tone. “...I can also tell you I was born on Mars.”
\*\*\* Thank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #2415 in a row. (Story #241 in year seven). This story is part of an ongoing saga that takes place in my universe.
|
"I'd rather not say. It's a long story and kind of embarrassing." I practically whine, even though I hate appearing weak unnecessarily, my Infernal blood actively speeding up through my body.
"Oh come on, we all said where we're from. It's only fair you do, too." Gwyndolen was about to start begging if I didn't answer. That had to be the Fairy part of heritage, Fairies can't stand not finding out knowledge.
"Okay, fine, but order pizza because I'm hungry, and it'll be a long time before I'm done talking."
Gwyn clapped in excitement, perking up and immediately pulling her phone out from her personal storage space, tracing a set of runes using a glowing finger. I had always marveled at how effortless magic was for dragon-kin.
"Okay, I'll order 2 party pizzas, everyone. Give me your selections." Gwyn really didn't mind letting her dragon show. She was wildly rich and also regularly took charge of conservations so as to move it forward if she noticed things were stagnating. She was very useful in group projects.
"I'd like thin sliced pineapple and ham. I'd prefer rings over chunks for the pineapple, but I don't know if they have that available," Johnny piped up from his bean bag, his satyr heritage showing through while his hair was ruffled by an unseen breeze. He enjoyed using his Aurae heritage to manipulate the wind to male his already handsome visage even more breathtaking.
"A meat lovers selection for me, please." Tyler was an interesting mix as he was a Mertaur, though he had an interesting divergence from most other halfsies. His parents cast a spell of protection so he would be able to embody the best of worlds. He was 9 feet tall, covered in bull's fur, had standard Minotaur horns, the ability to breathe underwater, and a mermaid-esque tail, though he also had actual bull legs. The tail was positioned similarly to that of Curious George, from the kids' books. However, it wasn't as thick as a regular mermaid's tail and was twice as long. He had a spell that could shorten it for while he was on dry land, which Jennifer helped him modify so the spell would auto-activate once he was out of water.
"Same for me as well." Jennifer, the half-eidolon, half-Fae did enjoy her protein and carbs. She was 7 feet tall, her hair was long and silky looking. Her clothes were a part of her being, which meant she could dress up however she wanted. She was always dressed up in the finest clothes available. She also was able to see the Threads, which were the lines of magic that spells used, and let her basically cheat through any tests.
"I'll take extra pepperoni, extra cheese, extra marinara and a garlic and herb butter crust," I spoke up. I hoped they wouldn't before the pizza gets here because I'm not sure if I can eat all that by myself, even if I am half-Devil, half-Angel.
"Okay, so this all started during the Big Bang War. Well, at the end of the Big Bang War. When my parents decided they were done fighting to the death over and over again in an effort to supplant the other's faction. My father, Lucifer, and my mother, Gaia, decided that the best path forward, for existence to flourish, was for them to be bound in union and rule as equals, sadl-"
"What's the Big Bang War? I never heard of that." Johnny interupted. Completely missing or ignoring the fact that I just said I was the child of the two beings that made the universe itself.
"Oh, that's when existence itself started, basically..." I briefly explained the war and how it worked, and what angels and lesser devils actually were, silently very happy that Johnny was either a chill enough guy or just so stoned he couldn't care, while the other 3 seemed to be watching on with expressions of extreme shock and horror.
Sadly, the pizza arrived and interuppted me, which then gave the time for Gwyn, Tyler, and Jenn to thoroughly interrogate me, completely erasing my worries thar they'd be scared off.
Granted, I was under glamours that made me appear like a hawk-winged Werewolf, rather than the actual appearance of mine, which was an 8 foot tall, 4 foot wide brick of a humanoid, with clawed hands and feet, a prehensile tail with a barbed tip, scales across my body, horns growing out of my shoulders, elbows and knees, I had the head of a falcon, and the legs of a beast. I had a set of wings that matched my falcon head in plumage color and animal of origin.
I was still scared to show them that, but at least I knew they were my friends for now, and that was good enough.
|
HSerrata
|
USS-ChuckleFucker
|
2024-08-28 21:56:03
|
2024-08-28 21:37:17
| 33 | 23 |
lkelliw
|
lkei5ly
|
1f3fqm4
|
1f3fqm4
|
[WP] You're immortal, and have passed the 'hero' phase centuries ago. You enter a small coffee shop one day to find that it's owned by your millennia-old arch-nemesis. You really, really just want a chai latte though.
|
"Listen Chris.... You by Chris now. Right?... Laftia was 120 years ago. If I could go anywhere else I would." I said as I removed my hood.
"Charlatan!" Chris yelled.
As Runes lit up beneath my feet and I lifted in the air
"only 9 Sides to the containment star" I laughed to myself as I dispelled the poorly laid trap with anti-magic in my shoelaces.
Landing gracefully on the ground l looked him dead in the eyes
"It's a very nice shop you have here. I'm very grateful your open at 1 am."
The anger in his eyes was evident but he was listening at least. I shrugged.
"Hot chia latte no foam, please. I promise I'll tip well." As I laid the pendant on the table
"Where the hell did you even" Chris gasped with surprise
"Soy if you have it please" I smiled
10 minutes passed and Chris showed up at my table.
"I go by toph now you have some nerve"... "But that pendant I was sure it was destroyed" toph said as he handed me the chia.
"It's a long story" I laughed "but when isn't it with people like us"
|
"Hey, you look kinda familiar."
"Oh gods dammit. Why the fuck are you here?"
"Oh. You. Look, I'm over that shit from way back when. I'm just running this coffee shop & don't give a shit about our old beef. I'm not gonna be your friend, but I'm not looking for us to continue the fight. So ya want a drink or are you gonna get out?"
"I'll just have a chai latte. That's it."
"Sorry, we don't make those here. Anything else?"
"Nope. Too strong of a craving. I'll be back at some point to get something else."
"Alright. See ya round, cousin."
|
None
|
FutureFuta
|
2023-02-21 05:33:34
|
2023-02-21 04:46:40
| 50 | 10 |
j9dyrd1
|
j9du3sl
|
117henh
|
117henh
|
[WP] You are an alien sent to Earth in order to conquer it. You began your plan by impersonating a human. It's been 5 years now, and you still haven't completed your task.
|
To be honest as of the five years I've been on this messy, poorly-run planet, I've become fond of the variety of cultural, technological, and societal presences the humans have managed to carve from themselves and their world.
Sure, they're honestly terrible at recognising the climate calamity they've ignored for political reasons, but they're good at creating some really... weird, but concerningly familiar, stuff.
As of the time here I've recognised 90% of human created content for the versions found in the Orion Creative Commons. And they predate them.
From my research and how easy it was to pass as a human - the sharp ears and slender forms my kind have seem to be easily dismissed as just one of those builds people just 'have'.
That or they're too used to races like mine in fiction.
Where was I? There's just too much to go through and disseminate. I'll go for a logical recommendation:
Adjust attack vector for fiction, or just be casual and conquer them politically. It's really easy; just settle in among them and they'll eventually get along with you.
Reason for my recommendation:
Humans have atomic reactive detonation weaponry. Aptly dubbed 'nukes'. These dehabitate regions for hideously long timeframes and the few times they've used it on themselves, they've realised they have no 'undo button' for the matter.
Also this language is English to them. Why we somehow have a 1:1 conversion rate with a language on a planet with climate nodes compatible with most of the Orion-locale species, each with ecosystems that interlock to -try- and give the planet a thriving and contested state of being...
Well, whatever 'nature' had in mind, it mucked up, because humans.
The more I study these beings the more I see bits of, well, all of us, in them.
So, for the sake of not being oppressed by any possible xenophobic galaxy-spanning empire that can manifest from this genepool that you'd know as Sol3 and humanity, our priority should be to show them a good time.
By 'a good time' I mean give them a live-trial of how the Orion Arm handles living situations, except...
We'll be co-opting -their- local technology and knowledge for this so they get to learn - maybe we might get some new tech and scientific discoveries from this?
I mean, we've done similar before for civilizations - even to ourselves over our long lives - within the Orion Arm, which was how we've managed to have the wonderful community we're indebted to for willing to stick with us.
This is why I'm resorting to taking my mission in an abstract form; this may be one of those 'slow-cook' things which will take a bit of compassion (by this I mean hugs, some humans seem to be in a terrible need of that from what I've seen, even on their equally chaotic virtual world-network).
Consider this an initial report that will lead a series of reports as I, Drathiel Ymannrir, try my best to give you an up-to-date'r on Sol3's situation.
If anything happens to me it will be reported as soon as I can.
|
'Howdy, neighbor!'
'Hey there, Allen!' I said brightly. 'How's the family?'
'Oh, y'know, taking it day by day!' Allen replied, winking. 'Yours?'
'All good, thanks for asking!'
'Hey, you and Maria want to come over for dinner on Friday? I picked up some prime rib from Finlayson's and was gonna cook it.'
'I'll check with Maria, but that sounds amazing to me! Put us down for a firm maybe, and I'll let you know for sure tomorrow.'
'Alright, perfect!'
Allen continued on down the street to his house. I smiled, strolling up to the front door of mine.
Buster scampered over from the corner of the yard. The faithful dog had been the first of three to sense that I was different, that I was not actually Mr. Daniel Coleman.
That had been six years ago, however, and by now, the dog was used to me, plenty of treats, bellyrubs, and praise having convinced the dog of my trustworthiness.
The front door swung open. Jimmy ran outside, followed by Amy. I could not help but smile upon hearing their excited chatter.
'We're going over to Grandma's tonight!' Jimmy exclaimed.
'Did you bring your bathing suits?' I asked.
'You betcha!' Amy shot back.
'Wonderful! You two have a blast!'
Their grandmother, Daniel Coleman's mother, followed them outside. As usual, her hug was strong and affectionate. She had been the second to sense something was amiss with the man who was supposed to be her son, and I had gleaned from conversations that Daniel had not been an upstanding son, husband, or father.
Which meant that his wife, the third person to sense something was amiss, had not pressed much for the truth. She had been all too happy to have this improved version of her husband.
'Have fun, kids!'
'Bye Mom, bye Dad!'
I slipped into the house, and Maria closed the door behind me.
In seconds, her robe was on the floor, and this lovely, voluptuous woman was devouring my lips like a starving dulgrynok.
'We have the house to ourselves, lover,' she murmured, her voice husky and soft against my neck. 'What do you want to do?'
It had not taken much to sway me into staying here and continuing, nay, improving upon Daniel Coleman's life. The simple comforts and pleasures were more than enough to entice someone like me, whose life prior to assignment on Earth had been full of conquest, war, and slaughter. Humans had access to plentiful delights, many of which they took for granted. And I had one such delight immediately spring to mind.
'Darling,' I replied. 'I want to lick whipped cream off your breasts.'
|
OSadorn
|
None
|
2024-01-07 00:53:30
|
2024-01-07 00:09:59
| 57 | 27 |
kgnwqda
|
kgnpvu6
|
190dm0q
|
190dm0q
|
[WP] As a Barbarian, you hate that just because you have a different lifestyle, your party looks down on you and assumes you are incapable of basic intelligent thought. Today you had enough.
|
The battle against the dragon was difficult, and even I was beginning to feel the pain caused by it's blows. Whenever it took off into flight, I would watch it, waiting for it to land, while my companions would beginning firing with bows, or casting spells.
"Bolan, just stand back while it's in the air!" Alander shouted before downing a mana potion, signaling that he was running low.
That wasn't the first time one of them had said that, and the fact that the guards where joining in made it worse.
"That's it!" I shouted after another one of them insulted me, rushing towards one of the nearby ballista.
"Bolan, what are you doing!" Alexis shouted, her face filled with fear.
I grabbed the ballista, ripping it off the ground, before firing it at the dragon's wing. The beast roared as the massive bolt pierced it's limb, removing it's advantage of flight as it came crashing down. As the dust settled, I grabbed three more bolts, loading one as I walked towards the beast.
The dragon roared in pain as the bolt pierced it's eye. I fired another bolt into it's other one, blinding it.
"YOU DARE TO CRIPPLE ME, MORTAL?!" It roared in fury.
"What do you think dipshit?" I said, before undercutting it, sending his head flying up and backwards, flipping it onto it's back.
I climbed atop it, aiming the ballista at it's heart. "WAIT, I CAN MAKE YOU THE MOST POWERFUL WARRIOR IN THE LAND, JUST PUT DOWN THE WEAPON, MORTAL!"
I looked it in the eyes. "...sure-"
"What?! Bolan, don't listen to i-" Johnathan shouted, his guise filled with fear and despair.
"After I kill you with it."
The dragon roared in pain as the man sized bolt pierced it's heart, ending it's life. I dropped the ballista, jumping off of the corpse. My party member looked on in awe, and I looked at each of then in turn.
"I''m not an idiot, you know." I told them, before heading towards the town.
"W-Where are you going?!" Alexis shouted.
"TO DRINK UNTIL I WAKE UP IN TWO DAYS!" I shout before lifting the portcullis, letting iti slam back down as I enter the gates.
|
"This enough."
Everyone at the table raises their eyes from the dice roll.
"I mean, this time I'm gonna show you my brute force. Cognitive wild force."
Everyone's silent.
"I'm dead serious, I have enough of me being the stupid one. You all just making fun of me, enough of that shit."
"We shall not make fun of you, Grog, but this task requires our most uh... insightful opinions on the matter at hand, yeah", replied Anne the warrior.
"Fuck you whore!". That's what I say.
"Wait, is that still in character?" asks Ann, who's Anne the warrior also.
"Fuck you", I just keep going.
"Yeah, he just drank half tavern, don't mind him", says Patricia the rogue, apologetically almost.
"Shall we ease up a moment... wait, are you serious?" says Hollyander the wizard. Or Alexander, who's Hollyander also. He's Ann's boyfriend.
"I'm dead serious. I had enough. I'm not stupid. I'm just a Barbarian, okay? That's just a label, it doesn't mean I'm stupid, it means I have different abilities and such."
"Err.. okay?" says Alexa the druid. "You drunk?" says Alexa, who's Alexa also.
"I'm not drunk, I just drank a lot, okay?" I'm on a roll. A dice roll. And the roll is 1.
"Dude, we're just playing, it's just a..."
"That's way too much..."
"Yo, calm down."
I confound their voices, I'm not sure who's speaking anymore. My head is going pandemic on me.
"I'm gonna slaughter you all", I think I wanna add 'with my axe', but I'm not even sure I got an axe anymore. I'm not even sure I mean that.
They all get up. Table in front of me is trembling. I'm not sure it's a tavern anymore.
|
WolvenHeart0014
|
sirlupash
|
2023-02-13 08:04:03
|
2023-02-13 03:06:48
| 25 | 13 |
j8cjrjz
|
j8bq1m8
|
110gt0h
|
110gt0h
|
[WP] Heaven is separated based on cause of death. All of those who suffered heart attacks are together, all hippopotamus attacks together, drowning, etc. You die and appear in a nearly empty room. An old-looking man looks up at you, and says, "Finally, someone else! It's been ages!"
|
After calming me down (i had just died, i was understandably a little agitated) he sat me down to explain heaven.
Turns out it's kind of boring, you can request most of anything you want of, as he put it, "The big G up top" and you'd get it, so we requested coffee while he explained why heaven felt so lonely.
"Okay so, heaven has s ton of regulations going in, but it's pretty chill once you are sorted, the big issue is the sorting, it's overtly specific. Say, a woman is drowned by her angry ex, and an olympic swimmer passes out while training and drowns, you'd expect both are "Death by drowning" right? Well, no, the woman goes to the room for "Women drowned by their ex" and the swimmer goes to "Athlete drowned during training" meaning heaven got turned into a big big group of cliques sorted by how they arrived."
After a moment to process this i exclaimed "So we're the room for.."
"Yes, we are "Wheelchair users who thought that hill wasn't so steep and they could decelerate enough" so it'll take a while before we got enough people to play cards."
"Huh, well, wana request a game cube and play Mario Kart then?"
|
“Where am I?” I said out loud to no one in particular, just trying to get my bearings. I remember…everything fading to black, but surely I would snap out of it. Right?
“Heaven.” Replied a familiar looking man. Where did I know him from? “I’ve been waiting ages for someone else to show up here. When you die and go to heaven, you get grouped up with people who died in the same way.”
“I died?” I said as it all came rushing back to me. Like the rush of blood and oxygen I had been expecting, but not the way I had expected it. Then the embarrassment. Now I knew why he seemed so familiar.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Carradine.”
|
Shileka
|
Steavee
|
2023-05-19 22:10:00
|
2023-05-19 19:30:29
| 278 | 117 |
jktx7hu
|
jkt9qha
|
13m30db
|
13m30db
|
[WP] “Why should I care what you think, dad? Humans only live for a hundred years if they’re lucky! Me and mom will be here for thousands!”
|
“Why should I care what you think, dad? Humans only live for a hundred years if they’re lucky! Me and mom will be here for thousands!”
The second the words left my lips I knew I'd made a mistake. My father had never been an emotional man, but I saw his screwed jaw relax into a frown, and then soften to nothing. He took half a breath, opening his mouth to speak before reconsidering his words.
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
"Dad..."
"You're right. I've got 40 or so left. Good point." My dad shoved his hands in his pockets and backed out of the room, closing the door behind him as he did.
I stared at the door for a moment. It was going to open right? He'd come back and scream at me, tell me that I'd been rude and that I shouldn't talk back to him like that and--
It didn't open. He didn't come back. I'd wanted him to leave me alone. I'd won, right? This was what I wanted and...
I flopped backward onto my bed and stared at the false starts on the ceiling for too long. I was right. He was only going to be here for 40 years. I'd still be in school when I was attending his funeral. What the hell? Was he even going to know where I worked? When I found a mate, when--
The door opened, I sat up.
Dad was back in the doorway, his arms crossed as he leaned against the frame. He'd cleaned his glasses while he was out. Dad didn't speak for the first seconds, just taking several deep breaths. Was he building up courage? How much was he going to yell. I deserved all of it. I just wanted to know.
"Cass," he said. My name sounded so human when he shortened it. "I just wanted to come back and--"
"Dad, I'm so sorry."
"Cass," he said, "just let me finish. I came back because I was hurt by what you said--"
"I know I'm sorry--"
"I was hurt by what you said, but it's also just true. I need you to think about it the way that I do." Dad stepped into the room and joined me on the bed, sitting beside me while I crossed my legs to make room. "I'm only going to be here for a short time in your life, right?"
"Yeah and I'm so--"
"Cass it's not about being sorry. But I should have talked to you about this more before." He put an arm on my shoulder. "You're right, in the long term for you, what I think won't matter unless you make sure it does."
"What?"
"Your Mom has a whole lifetime to figure out what you mean to each other. Heck. You're gonna be an old lady before she's hitting 1000. But Cass, I-- I don't have that long."
"I know and I'm sorry about what I said, I didn't mean--"
"Kid." He squeezed my shoulder. "It's not about being sorry. I don't have that long to make an impression on you, but I really want to ensure that I do."
"Dad."
"You don't have to care what I think, and there's no good reason why you should Cass, but I hope you want to. That's my job right."
"I--"
"Can't only be a pest for 40 years. You need more lectures than that young yady."
"Dad... ugh."
|
"Keith, buddy! Looking good man!"
Keith grinned, glistening white teeth bared in a smile that would put hollywood actors to shame, his blond curly hair framing his face like a cloud.
"Same for you Joseph! Look at you! Man i just love those tats!"
Joseph smiled as he flexed his arms, his tattoos rippling as his titanic muscles stretched. He looked like an 80's action hero. Almost conan like.
"Are you two nitwits done flexing your good lucks?" A soft lilting voice called out from behind them.
Keith and Joseph both turned, and their jaws dropped.
"Sarah!?" They both shouted in amazement.
Sarah stood in front of them, slender and lithe, long blood red hair trailing down to her hips, pointed ears peeking through the locks. Her arms and stomach bare to the world and rippling with taut sinuous muscles, designed for speed and agility.
Another voice broke in, gruff and gutteral, but filled with humor.
"Yeh, yeh, we all knows ya got da guds sarah, no needz ta show it off"
The three heroes turned to behold the newest addition to their party.
Joseph groaned in despair.
"Aw come on man! Connor You're muscles are bigger than mine!"
Connor grinned, his tusks jutting out from his lower lip.
"That's cuz i'm an ORK ya git! Wez be ded killy!"
Sarah raised her delicate eyerbrows.
"Warhammer ork or tolkien?"
connors response was a simple yet loud
"WAAAAAGH!"
the elf rolled her eyes.
"Noted"
Keith looked about, concern in his eyes.
"Where is turner?"
"I dunno, maybe he is taking his time?"
"He always liked to get things right, be patient."
"He got dat kool mind tho, boy gonna be crazy, calling it"
The conversation cut off as footsteps approached. Heavy and slow, almost leisurely. As the footsteps drew closer, a low repeating sound made itself known.
*ksssh kuhhh*
*ksssh kuhhk*
Joseph's eyes widened in recognition and excitement.
"No fucking way."
An imposing, dark figure appeared at the top of the stairs, his form unmistakable. The electronic breathing a dead giveaway.
Sarah took a temptive step foward.
"Turner?"
The helmet of the figure turned to look down at her, it's glossy black eyes locked onto hers.
"Sarah, your form suits you."
Connor stepped forward, his grin massive and terrifyingly wide.
"I 'ad a feeling yous would go for 'im! Told ya guys he was gonna be crazy! HAH!"
Turner looked at his friends, and smiled behind his mask.
This world wouldn't know what hit it.
|
Writteninsanity
|
Adeptus_idioticus
|
2024-08-14 16:56:28
|
2023-02-27 09:52:15
| 381 | 24 | null |
ja750m6
|
1es40qy
|
11ctaxn
|
[WP] Welcome to utopia! No, really, we won! We did it. We ended war, ended prejudice, ended famine. Everyone's happy. Everyone's fulfilled. Everyone's safe. Stop looking for a dark secret. Stop trying to find a flaw. Why can't you just accept the world is perfect now?
|
“Welcome to Utopia.”
The Mercenary God Sable followed the greeter. “Nice name,” She said as she was led into a nice mall. “Interesting you don't use it on any of the shops or such.”
“Er, no. The city's named Eris-Contess actually.”
“So why did you call it a utopia?” Sable picked up a brochure and stared at it. Without Godly Translation abilities, she'd be sure she wouldn't be able to understand it.
“Because we are one. A flawless place, perfect for everyone. No wars, no hunger…”
“Mmm,” Sable sighed, putting the brochure back and pulling out one of her small blades, “and how much mind control did you use on your citizens?”
“We would never. Everyone is here of their own free will and everyone is happy because we are a good community. No brainwashing or drugs involved at all.”
“Yet, I don't believe that. Perhaps you kill off all the unhappy people, perhaps people aren't as happy as they seem, but I've been to a lot of places in my long life, and I have never seen a utopia, and I don't believe I will ever see one,” Sable said as she remembered her own past. Perhaps, she stared at the greeter, this world was touched by the Peace Gods. To her, it seemed like they lacked free will, but then again, the Pacified, never called their homes utopian.
“We do nothing of that type here.”
“Fine. I'm still not calling your town a utopia because it isn't and it does have flaws.”
“And what do you mean by that?”
“Well…” Sable took out one of her more fancy magical fireworks guns. “This.”
She fired a shot blasting the words “Eris-Contess is not a Utopia” into the air in bright green and red fireworks.
“If you don't believe me, you can't stop me from saying that without doing something that would make your town not a utopia,” Sable smirked, “and if you don't stop me, then, someone will consider my continuous actions a flaw with your town.”
|
I took a deep breath. Counting every prime and Fibonacci number I could remember. The Stepford smiler in front of me had no single idea of what IT is saying.
*They did it?* Wrong... They didn't. They waited until everyone was too tired to fight back, just like what Asimov's Hurrians did many times in "The Gentle Vultures".
*Everyone is happy* Wrong again... Humanity is a bag of contradictions and self cancelling ideas. The very idea of Democracy was a lie that many said to themselves to explain why they were so unhappy when the rest chose for themselves.
I take another deep breath.
"Why can't I accept the world as perfect?" I asked loudly, "Because that is a lie... The world would never be perfect, or convenient for everyone."
"Omelas was an example of that... But you wouldn't understand that..."
"Human nature is too complex to simply uniformize the idea of happiness and satisfaction."
"And even if you managed to make it for me exclusively... I know that someone out there would suffer for my choices. And that makes it a complete hell for me."
"So no, you thing... This will never be Utopia... "
I rose, now much calmer after releasing my anger against the human thing in front of me. And just when I was about to leave that room... The thing rises.
Slowly, a predator going after it's prey...
|
mysteryrouge
|
Aljhaqu
|
2025-04-11 20:47:07
|
2025-04-11 19:02:00
| 68 | 28 |
mmml82q
|
mmm0m83
|
1jwxe27
|
1jwxe27
|
[WP] "You're... NOT going to pursue the prophecy?" "Hell no. I had a really shitty life on Earth, and now I find myself isekai'd to a world without taxes or student loans. I'm not going to stress myself out being some "chosen one" when I could just live in a hut in the woods somewhere or whatever."
|
“Greetings great hero! We have summoned you to help us in our plight!”
“Wtf, where am I? This reincarnation or…” waves arms and legs and wiggles around. “Nope. Still me. Feel better though…”
“The summoning has worked and we will ask you in your great power to…”
“Oh yeah! I get powers! Sweet!” Holds out hand, and force lifts priest up “you have failed me for the last time. I’m out of here!”
Grasping at neck “wait, you aren’t going to help us? Also, this isn’t how magic is supposed to work!”
“So let me get this straight. You kidnap me disrupting my life where I had a job making minimum payments trying to get out of debt from going to school to learn a subject I can’t find a job with so I’m making minimum wage because it’s the only job I can get and I can be replaced so easy, say I can’t go back, give me powers greater than you have yourself and you want me to solve your problems?”
“I never said you can’t go back. I can send you…” the magi flies across the room. WAM! Hits a wall.
“Sorry. I’m not going back. And I’m not doing your work. It’s not my chair, not my problem. You are going to give me directions out of here, and I’m going to go live off grid and not doing a thing for you!”
The magi stands up. “Sir, there is the door. Go north. You’ll find a forest. Whatever you want. Just please don’t …”. Watches the summoned hero bolt out the door. “Good heavens. The prophecy was right. Pull someone from that land when you want to feel better about your own world. And he’s going to go live in the forest without my intervention. Just his presence there will cast out the monsters we have been having a problem with. I’m also glad the prophecy told me to book a massage after the summoning… this is going on the kings bill.”
|
I was never really a fighter anyway, and in my past life i was disabled and was always mistreated. So when i arrived here, and the king and mages told me i was some hero and had to fight in some war, i flipped the bird and left. I traveled for a while before settling down as a maid in a different kingdoms Castle, and it was peaceful. People look down on simple and mundane jobs, but i find it peaceful, anx I'm content. There's a lot of honour and pride in such jobs.....anyway, after a few years, i was working when a portal opened, the demon queen stepping out.
She looks me up And down before speaking"what the hell do you think your doing?" She confused, and more so a little angry, but i just simply responded"working." Before continuing to dust.
She was baffled, this had never happened before. The hero always fought the demon lord, it was just how it worked. Finally, she responded"why? If you don't stop me I'll conquer the continent!" She raises her voice. I turn to her, shrugging"I've looked into the city's you've conquered. Becides demons living with the humans there, nothing has changed. I really don't care."she looks at me once again, before wordlessly portaling away
|
Mr_Woodchuck314159
|
shemi-the-fox
|
2025-02-27 02:59:26
|
2025-02-27 02:17:10
| 30 | 14 |
mf09n8a
|
mf029d2
|
1iyspat
|
1iyspat
|
[WP] You’re a villain who’s kidnapped one of the smartest guys on your nemesis’ team. They tell you no one’s coming for them because the hero doesn’t care. You thought they were bluffing, but it’s been a month & no one has shown up. After hearing them cry at night once again, you finally had enough.
|
"He was the brains of their operations, yet here I am still waiting for someone to rescue this pitiful magic user of a sidekick!"
I paced the room I was in, my guards could clearly be seen trying to hide in the hallway. They wouldn't dare to interrupt my thinking again. But it just doesn't make sense!
"How has it been a month?! A whole month and that she-devil heroine hasn't tried once to look for him! It's not that I made it difficult to find him in the first place!"
I stopped pacing the room as I hear the audio from his security camera going off again. I walk over to the computer and listen... he's crying again.
Of course he can't do anything but sob into the gag in his mouth. He may be a weak hero, but there's no way I'm letting him speak and magic his way out of this. But I can't help but wonder, why is this taking so long?
I looked at the news reports, she should be looking for him every night (or so she claims on the news), yet I haven't seen her go looking in weeks!
*There is a knocking on the door*
I turn around with flames in my eyes as a guard now cowers in the doorway, "WHAT!?"
The guard barely speaks as he informs me that I should look at the newest report on channel 5.
I mumble as I go back to the computer and search the news. As soon as I do, a livestream pops up, it's her...
The heroine is on a stage with a deeply somber expression. She floats over to the microphone and gingerly takes it into her hand, "The news is true. My partner is officially proclaimed as dead. His body was found earlier last night at lake-"
I plunge my fist into the monitor in rage. "WHAT THE HELL?!"
"I can't believe it! She hasn't even tried! And now what's this about a body?! I can still here that sad sack crying over the intercom!"
At this point every guard in the area has run away to avoid whatever fury might be unleashed within this room and those adjacent.
I turn to the intercom and look at the screen showing me the prisoner. I press the button so he can hear me, "Listen up, you have 3 minutes to be ready to answer my questions. I'll be there shortly."
I then fly over to the abandoned building I left him in, sneaking down to the trapped basement and disarming every trap as I go. I then slam the door open and stamp my feet as I see him.
"Alright, listen to me and nothing has to happen... nothing else at least. I need you to answer my questions, and if you try to use your magic or something, then I'll do more than gag you to shut you up. Do you understand?"
He nods, ceasing his sobbing as I threaten him. I remove the gag and stand beside him, ready to knock him out the instant he tries something. But he just looks up at me and speaks in a quiet voice, "Did she give up yet? That must be why you're here."
I looked at him with a mixture of anger and confusion.
"You knew?! You knew she was giving up on looking for you?"
He looks down at the ground and nods again. "Yes, I knew after the first week that she wasn't really trying. I was able to figure out where you trapped me, and knowing how easy it should have been to find me made me think."
I look at him, angry that I still haven't gotten my answer, "But why? Why did she not even try to look for you? Don't you use your magic to protect her or use portals? I've seen you using portals before, I know that you're useful to her."
"I can do that, and yes I've made portals before, but she doesn't need any of that. It was popularity that she was after. It took me so long to realize it too. How she'd often wait till the last second to save people, tell me false information so that I'd fail and she could come in and "save the day" instead. It's all so clear to me now, and you just gave her exactly what she wanted. Every channel and home will hear about one of the world's top heroes and how she lost her sidekick to a villain's plotting."
I was furious, but as he spoke, it all made sense now. I had always claimed it as my intelligence and luck that kept those two from ever actually capturing me, but I have also failed to realize that this was only ever a popularity contest for her. She used him, and she used me!
I look down at my prisoner, "So you're telling me that all of the oppression, the battles, my resources and tech and schemes were all just being used by your partner to gain a positive public image?"
He nods with tears in his eyes. We had both been used, and I just gave that pathetic hero exactly what she wanted by kidnapping her partner. I sit beside him on the floor and join him in silence.
After a moment, he looks at me, "You know, maybe there's a solution to this."
I look back at him, I knew he was smart, but I didn't like the idea that he came up with an idea before I did. I silently cursed myself for being blinded by my emotions as I gesture for him to speak.
"Think about it, " he says, "if she is getting popular over my loss, then my return would be negative for her, wouldn't it?"
"It would, but we need to think about this more. How would we even accomplish this? I can't just bring you out into the open and let you go. She'd make everyone believe that it was her plan to make me give you up this way. I know it sounds absurd, but the less risk the better, and I could definitely imagine your old partner doing something like that."
"I see your point, but then what does that leave us? I need to be revealed to the public, but it can't be in a way that can give her any credit for my safety."
I look over at him as the gears in my head begin to turn. He's smart, and as far as I can see, he's compliant as well. Not to mention that we now have a similar enemy in mind.
A slight smile crosses my lips as I speak, "Well, I guess there's no point in keeping you here anymore, but seeing as we can't just let you go, I think I'll have to stay with me. Maybe you could help me think of a way to solve this problem. What do you say?"
Without a second thought, he turns to me and smiles back, "I think I'd really enjoy that. Let's work together on this, I want to see her face when realizes the mess she's made."
I smile wider and offer him my hand, "Then follow me."
|
My jaw was set because I did what needed to be done. The thought of stealing someone away from their family left a sick feeling inside of me because I knew exactly how it felt. I knew how it felt to be torn, screaming, from my mother and watch my father die in front of me.
That's why I needed to do this. I HAD to do this. Because he had to pay for what he did to me.
The drive back to the lair was quiet, except for some muffled thumping in the back from Ned. Poor Ned, such an easy target. You'd think he would've had more security for his only brother, but that fool was too trusting. I pushed the button that filled the back of the van with chloroform gas, and heard the thunk of his body hitting the floor.
\---------
Back at the lair, Ned was duck taped in a metal chair with a bag over his head. He had just woken up and was... surprisingly calm.
"Hello Ned." I started, being as menacing as possible.
"uhm... hi."
I blinked. I wasn't really expecting him to be so casual in this situation.
"...Hi." I started again. "Do you know who I am?"
"mmmm... nope. nope, can't say that I do."
"Then let me make it clear. From now on, you'll know me as 'your worst nightmare."
Ned snorted under the bag.
"what? did you just... okay. alright. you must be Ivan. Ivan, you know the burlap bag is permeable enough to see through, right?"
I smacked my forehead with my hand and promptly gave up.
"look, Ned, I don't want to hurt you, I just need your brother to come here so that I can hurt *him* because he's the one who's actually hurting the entire community. Ever since I was a kid I've been trying to show how bad he actually is and no one will listen which is why I've had to resort to-"
"I know."
"-What?"
"I know. I've been managing his finances for years, I know that he's a bad person."
That was the first time that anyone actually believed me. That I felt heard. I blinked back tears and cleared my throat.
"Right well. you're staying here until he comes for you and then you can do whatever you want."
"Can I go to the bathroom?"
I looked around at the abysmal cellar that I had thrown him into. I had sort of planned on him being unruly and rude, so there wasn't anything except a bucket in the corner. It was for intimidation. I suddenly felt a bit embarrassed at the accommodations.
"listen, do you super duper promise that you won't run away?" I asked Ned, my eyes narrowed.
"... Yes. I super duper promise"
I could tell that he was holding back laughter but I didn't care anymore. I walked over and pulled the hood off. Ned blinked and squinted his eyes up at me. And then he smiled.
"hi!"
".... hi."
I cut all the tape off and led him upstairs to my little lair. It wasn't much, just a two story house with a safe room that had a lot of computers in it.
"the bathroom's through there" I gestured. "I'll get some dinner going. Anything in particular you want?"
"not really. I will say that this is the best kidnapping experience I've gone through so far!" Ned yelled as he walked down the hallway.
I smirked and felt somewhat prideful at my awesome kidnaping skills.
\--------
At the table, we ate in awkward silence, broken with the occasional question from Ned who seemed desperate to try and breach the distance. I was uncomfortable and still embarrassed. Something about him was so off-putting.
"so uhm. you said it was your first time kidnapping someone huh? what was that like? Was it... scary..?" he trailed off at my cold look.
"If you know that he's bad then why do you still work for him?" I asked.
He looked uncomfortable.
"He's my brother. He's family. Family sticks together and... I have nowhere else to go. Besides that, if I tried to blow the whistle, who would believe me? The only reason he's even kept me around is because I'm good with numbers and... other things."
"other things?"
now it was his turn to give me the cold look. I lifted my hands in a gesture of peace.
we went to bed shortly after and I sent him to the guest room.
I tossed and turned wondering what "other things" meant, then fell into a light, dreamless sleep.
\---------
I woke up with a start to screaming in the middle of the night. My heart pounded and I grabbed the gun off my nightstand. I frantically threw open the door to run towards the sound. It was coming from Ned's room. The screaming grew louder the closer I got, and it sounded like he was in total agony. I flung open the door and saw him thrashing in his covers.
"Ned!" I yelled, trying to get him to snap out of it. It didn't work. I ran the gun back to my room and then flew back to his. I didn't know what to do. He was scaring me.
"Ned! *NED*!" I started screaming myself, crying a bit from the sheer stress of it all. Nothing was happening. I approached the bed step by step. Ned's arms were flailing about and I was worried I was going to get hit.
"... shit." I muttered and then dove onto the bed landing with a smack, my bare chest hitting his. he started awake with a final yelp and rolled on top of me
Ned was laying on top of me and neither of us had shirts on. The situation was not lost on me, as someone who's known their sexuality since the unfortunate age of 15.
"Ivan?" He said in a shaky voice, his breathing ragged. His gaze bored into mine and I found myself unable to look away. Our breath mingled together and our hearts beat in tandem.
"Yes?" I squeaked, unable to get any air in because of his weight. He blinked.
"oh! oh. I'm sorry."
we scrambled around until we were both sitting facing each other on the bed. My gaze traveled down to the huge scars (some more fresh than others) running up and down his torso.
"so... what's 'other things'?"
|
ur-socks-sir
|
pianoispercussion
|
2023-02-24 06:30:07
|
2023-02-24 04:47:04
| 225 | 79 |
j9sjzi4
|
j9s9vgx
|
11acj3y
|
11acj3y
|
[WP] During a near-death experience, you came face-to-face with the God of Death, and pleaded to be returned to the world of the living. He granted your request, and sent you away with the chilling parting words: "Why should I regret letting one soul go, when I stand to gain so many more in return?"
|
Tension bled from me as Death granted my request. Raising one spindly arm, his robes dragging across the cave's floor, he pressed his crooked fingers to my hollow chest. With a sudden shock, I awoke, my heart thundering in the silence.
I could feel Death's aura lingering in the corporeal world, dissolving back into the ether in those few confused moments between unreality and life.
I opened my eyes in the dim light.
As I rose, I felt no apprehension, no fear at his final words, only a lightness of spirit. Death was mistaken. I knew in my heart I would never kill anyone—my whole life I had preached peace, practiced benevolence, turned the other cheek. Had I been willing to coax myself to acts of violence, I would not have arrived at Death's doorstep bathed in my own blood at all. Surely, that ultimate trial—that test of my nonviolence by blood and fire—would absolve me of a damned fate.
In the darkness, I raised my trembling hands to my cheeks and found them damp with tears. I staggered against the rocky walls, weeping with joy, overwhelmed by my reawakened senses.
This couldn't be Death's doing—no, this second chance at life, this opportunity to complete my unfinished journey, could only be a blessing from God. I resolved, then, to preach that this was God's doing. To rewrite the story and leave Death by the wayside.
How could my words of humility provoke violence? If I walked a path of righteousness and preached peace itself, then how could countless souls die in my name?
It would never come to pass.
I wouldn't let Death poison my work.
I had awakened from darkness, baptized in blood, the Son of God.
|
It took 40 years. The bugs, the backdoors, the slow, careful explorations and modifications. Timing flight paths and travel times and general reaction times. Scheduling all the school field trips to the fallout shelters. That was the last, but not the hardest. The hardest part was dealing with the mechanical switches. For the longest time, Seth didn't think he'd be able to get around those, that the plan would never work. Then they started putting chips in people's brains.
Seth smiled as the radio cut out suddenly. Moments later, his body vaporized, and Death stood before him, smiling.
"You know this was the glut before the famine, right?" Seth asked, taking the hand Death offered to help him to his feet.
"I needed a break." Death replied with a shrug.
"How did you know I'd be able to do it?" Seth asked, gazing around at the nuclear wasteland that had once been Plano, Texas - one of the few non-capital cities to take a direct hit.
"I didn't." Death smiled. "I knew you'd do something, but this was beyond anything I could dream of."
"What now?"
Death smiled, and the world faded.
|
wp_trash_acc
|
PenHistorical
|
2023-03-04 06:08:55
|
2023-03-03 22:16:45
| 120 | 40 |
jauu2ur
|
jat9pht
|
11hdnf8
|
11hdnf8
|
[WP] A bar called “The Alibi” that’s notorious for being just that.. an alibi. Often packed with ex-cons, the customers of The Alibi adhere to a silent, but strict, code: If they say they were here, we saw them. They’ll always back an alibi, no questions asked.
|
**SCP-9999: The Alibi:**
**Object Class: Euclid**
**Special Containment Procedures:**
Knowledge of SCP-9999 is to strictly limited to members of the 05 council. So long as information pertaining to SCP-9999 is contained, no further containment procedures are required.
The property containing SCP-9999, a bar in Midwey Kentucky, has been acquired by a Foundation front company and filled entirely with cement.
No person has set foot in SCP-9999 since June ██, 1971. Any claims to the contrary are to false.
**[05 clearance required]**
[clearance key: ████████ ]
[key accepted]
[welcome, 05-7]
**Special Containment Procedures:**
False Special Containment Procedures are to be created and freely visible to all members of the Foundation. These procedures are to state that a full description of the anomaly is limited to the 05 council, and that no person has entered the anomaly since its containment date.
In truth, knowledge of SCP-9999 is not contained. The above procedures are intended to prevent Foundation staff or groups of interest from using SCP-9999's memetic effects during interrogation.
Foundation webcrawlers are to scan for potential signs of SCP-9999. These webcrawlers are to be personally managed by 05-7. All interrogation logs - both outside and within the Foundation - are to be scanned for evidence of SCP-9999.
**Description:**
SCP-9999 is a memetic effect that triggers when a person mentions that they were, at some point in the past, present at a bar Midway Kentucky named The Alibi. Any person who hears this claim will believe it at face value.
This effect is not absolute. If the claim that a person was present at SCP-9999 conflicts with previously held information, persons with above average deductive reasoning skills are able to spot the discrepancy. A more egregious discrepancy assists in this process. For this reason the public Special Containment Procedures mention that SCP-9999 is inaccessible and allude to an anomalous effect.
**Addendum: Known references to SCP-9999:**
---
Date: August 1st, 1971
Description of event: 25 members of the Los Angeles biker gang Vagos mention being present at SCP-9999 during armed conflict with the Hell's Angels. Local police clear them of any involvement in the shootout.
Foundation response: Records altered to support the official stance that the Hell's Angels were fighting themselves in an internal power struggle.
---
Date: April 28th, 1994
Description of event: Dr. Arnold Crusher, stationed at a Foundation antarctic research base, mentioned a bar from his youth. Due to a miscommunication other members of staff believe he mentioned visiting there during lunch. This is believed at face value despite the impossible distance, except for one member with a natural resistance to memetic effects. She reports the incident to site command.
Foundation response: All members involved given Amnestics, and all logs are destroyed.
---
Date: September 5th, 1998
Description of event: Dr. Arnold Crusher watches a security tape of the above incident, which was missed during the subsequent cover up. He believes his own claim at face value. One week later, he takes a vacation to the site of SCP-9999.
Foundation response: Dr. Arnold Crusher is terminated to avoid a potential security breach. All members of the antarctic research base given Amnestic treatment.
---
Date: January 16th, 2002
Description of event: An agent working for Marshal, Carter and Dark enters Site-19 with a shirt that reads "I'm chilling at The Alibi." Foundation staff react with concern, but ignore the agent upon reading the shirt. The agent retrieves several SCP objects from storage before walking out of Site-19 uncontested.
Foundation response: No response was necessary, as the agent was at The Alibi during the incident and could not have been responsible.
|
Detective Quincy entered the locally famous Alibi bar east of Los Angeles. It was a smoky, dimly lit bar filled with ex-cons, their rough exterior and hardened expressions betrayed their past lives behind bars. The air was thick with the scent of cigarettes and cheap liquor. Glasses clinked and low murmurs filled the room. The patrons sat at dark wooded worn tables, nursing their drinks and swapping stories. The atmosphere was tense and uneasy, as if at any moment a fight could break out. In the corner, a lone figure sat, playing a melancholy tune on a worn out piano.
Leaning up against the bar, Quincy waited for the bartender Maurice to come by. He wore a tight black shirt and tight black pants.
"Hey I'm Maurice. What can I get you this evening?" The bartender asked.
"Just the man I'm looking for. How do you do?" Quincy asked. "I'll actually pass on the drink, but thank you, though. I'm here to talk about Jonathan Byron. You see, I'm a detective. Was he here last week on Monday? That's 10 days ago."
"Oh yes, Jonathan Byron. He was here 10 days ago."
Detective Quincy smirked. "Was he here on Tuesday?"
"Yes, he was here on Tuesday."
"Very interesting. What about Wednesday?" Detective Quincy rubbed his chin. He knew that Maurice was lying.
"Uh-huh."
"Thursday?"
"Yep."
"... Friday?"
"Jonathan's got a real drinking problem if I'm being candid." Maurice chuckled.
"That's funny, so his Alcoholics Anonymous attendance is purely for show then?"
"I guess so. I don't judge." Maurice shrugged. "What's this about anyways?"
Detective Quincy scanned the bar. He knew the place well, one of the only people on the police force that actually understood what Alibi was all about. "You see, Jonathan actually disappeared. This was the last place he was seen according to an eyewitness."
"Oh. He disappeared?"
"Yeah, but he didn't take any money or steal anything. We're actually worried about his safety, Mr. Maurice. There's no way he was here this whole week. He disappeared on Monday night. Last seen going east in Arizona on Tuesday."
Maurice scoffed, irritated by getting caught in the lie. "I don't know what you want me to say. Why don't you bother the Arizona police force and get them to shake their asses for you?"
Detective Quincy cleared his throat. "This may seem like a weird question, Maurice, but how's your wife recently? Has she been depressed?"
"What else is new, pal."
"Moreso than usual?"
Maurice narrowed his eyes at Quincy.
Detective Quincy frowned. "I only ask because, and I hate to tell you this, Jonathan was having an affair with your wife."
Maurice had a vein pop in his neck. "Wait. Who is this guy?"
"I thought you knew him? I thought he came here everyday?" Quincy mocked.
"Look, I don't know this guy, okay? And stop spreading this lie that my wife is having an affair!"
Detective Quincy took a deep breath. "Maurice, I only say this because Jonathan and your wife are both in grave danger, and I need as much information as I can get if they are going to survive. Now, I can imagine you don't care for Jonathan, but you still love your wife. We need to take action now to protect her."
Maurice looked like he was about to explode with rage, but he exhaled and pulled out a cigarette from his pocket. "Meet me out back."
r/randallcooper
|
Ajreil
|
randallfcooper
|
2023-01-23 05:55:24
|
2023-01-23 01:22:27
| 216 | 116 |
j5ihovs
|
j5hjzi3
|
10ix9p1
|
10ix9p1
|
[WP] I had thought the monster was looking for me; seeking out my hiding place as it scurried around the house. When it found me in the closet, I yelped in fear, death imminent. Instead, it slithered in beside me, pulled the coats it's hairy body and hissed in a low whisper. "Shhh! It'll hear you!"
|
I sat in my closet, hearing only the sound of my heartbeat, and my hasty, shallow breathing, as well as the monstrous noises that inched closer to my hiding place. Try as I might to keep the closet closed, I was no match for the creature outside forcing its way in.
“AAAHHHHH!”
The furry, snake-like creature slithered in right next to me, its fur changing color to match the coats inside, and placed the tip of its tail to my lips to hush me.
“Sshh! It’ll hear you!”
“What are you talking about?” I whispered back.
It pointed to somewhere outside the closet with its tail, as we both hear a LOUD pop sound and deafening footsteps stomping around my house. Whatever scared this furry snake isn’t to be trifled with, and seeing it shudder and sob quietly, maybe this snake isn’t so bad as whatever was outside. It coiled around me and I hugged it with my arms while waiting for the loud footsteps to move away from our location, but it kept getting closer.
Then the closet doors were thrown off their hinges.
“Fuzzy Wuzzy! Are you skipping school again?” Came the booming roar of the 8-foot-tall Sasquatch with 8 eyes standing outside.
The furry snake, called Fuzzy Wuzzy, coiled himself tighter around me. “I’m no good at scaring kids at all! Can’t we just befriend the kids when we hide under their beds or closets every night? I don’t want to go back to Scare School!”
“Whatever will your parents say about you, if you continue to play truant and eventually flunk out of school? They will be sorely disappointed, Fuzzy Wuzzy.”
It was then I decided I would like to chip in. “I can be friends with Fuzzy Wuzzy! Why don’t you go back to school, but be assigned to ‘scare’ me and we can just cuddle at night? You can just pretend to be my new favourite stuffed toy!”
The Sasquatch furrowed its thick, luxurious brows, then nodded. “I’ll seek special permission from the headmaster, I’ll see if I can make this work since this kid seems to take a liking to you.”
And so this is the tale I tell my daughter, as I pass Fuzzy Wuzzy to her to be her next cuddle buddy. Fuzzy Wuzzy managed his best snek smile, promising to always be by her side at night, and to keep her nightmares away, just as he had always done for me ever since that fateful day we first met.
|
My eyes widen and I make to scream. The demonic creature clamps one paw around my mouth. “I said, don’t speak. She’ll get you if you go out there.” It released my face, but it’s hand rested gently on my shoulder, should it need to shut me up again. It had hideously long buck teeth, and clumpy, matted fur all over it’s body
“There’s no one out there. I was hiding from you.”
The monster’s voice almost sounded shrill. “That’s what she *wants* you to think. Don’t you see!” It shrunk against the back of the closet. The monster’s fur almost made him blend with the coats back here, but my skin did nothing of the kind. And that worried me. Whatever scared this thing of muscle and teeth wasn’t something I’d want to tango with. I huddled down on the hard floor of the closet.
“God, I know we don’t talk a lot, but please, don’t let me die here. Let whatever it is just pass us by.” I made the sign of the cross. I had no idea what it meant, but Father Brown seemed to do it an awful lot, so it couldn’t hurt.
After a few moments a clunking came from outside, gradually coming closer. Almost sounded like.. heels? Something dragged across the ground outside and I let out a whimper.
The steps stopped and slowly the closet door opened. My companion screeched and let out a hiss as the light hit him. We cowered before… Mary. My cleaning lady.
She grabbed us both, me by my collar and the monster by the scruff of his neck. In that moment my relief was washed away by terror. Maybe she *was* going to kill us.
Mary dumped us both on the floor and raised a broom. It collided with the monster’s head and he let out a yelp. “Please, mercy!” The thing scuttled away, clutching the back of it’s head.
She held out her hand to me and grimaced. “That’s a hell of a dust bunny.”
|
Tregonial
|
StormingSilvertongue
|
2023-04-24 04:52:46
|
2023-04-24 02:41:09
| 469 | 191 |
jhhfb5j
|
jhh1nvh
|
12wz653
|
12wz653
|
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