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[WP] Everyone has a superpower. Your power is total invincibility.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"She’s done it eleven times tonight, but she wants a twelfth, and I know she’s got the money. \n\nI crack my neck and roll my hands in their bindings as she pulls out another thick stack of bills to add to the others; she likes the cuffs. It sets the mood. \n\n“Ready?” She asks. It’s the closest she gets to breaking character, but I shift, and I shuffle, and I nod...and she’s gone again. Back in character. \n\nAlyssa starts with the pistol. Four shots to the chest, and I can feel them all, pulverising my organs, the trickling blood almost black in the dulled light of the chamber. But she’s done this before, and she shunts the pistol to the ground to pick up her favourite, her baby girl...the crowbar. \n\nIt’s been a year since I started work at Harlem. There are hundreds of us here; while the rest of the supes are cleaning streets or stopping crimes, the rest of us are here...in the Vegas of the superhero world, the sin city. You can get almost anything you want here; take a ride on the worlds fastest man...have your future read by a time traveller...get your terminal illness healed...but all for a price. \n\nThe crowbar scrapes as she drags it along the floor. It’s reddened from the last time, but she doesn’t care. The first hits are always the worst, but a thousand years of being invincible have numbed me to most pain. It’s hard not to wince when the crow splinters my teeth, though. That sound is too much. \n\nShe finishes it quickly, with more hits to the head than sessions paid for in the last month. It’s a therapy for her, I think. She’s got some demons and...well...I do too, or I wouldn’t be sat here in Harlem, doing this. \n\nI come to like normal; healed, the teeth and bones and organs all back in their place. Alyssa has untied me, washed me, and there’s fresh clothes on the dresser. She’s got a long cigarette in her mouth, post sex bliss. \n\n‘You went for it that time,’ I manage. She snorts. \n\nThen she pulls out another wad. \n\n‘Got a thirteenth in ya?’"
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[WP] As the lone human living in a settlement full of monsters. It’s always been your job to make sure the monsters behave and do not harm other humans. In return they protect you from the real monsters.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
" \n\nMy eyes open as the twilight loses to night and darkness fills my room. I pull the blankets off to me and quickly have my room filled with comforting whirring and churning as my computer boots up and my coffeemaker pumps out its potion, which often feels more magical than my housemates. I slide into my office chair and begin to check the notifications that came in the day before while munching on some cereal. *I’ll need to add milk to the shopping list, I’m almost out*. I think as I scroll through the routine daily activities of the Daunt. Simple shopping runs and farming activity being our only activity near the border is a good sign, I am thrilled that it looks like I won’t have the work before me of the last few weeks. We had a few audacious beasts think they could slip past me due to my nocturnal schedule. I grab my coffee and begin to quietly get ready and slip out of the house, careful not to wake Sera and Tyler. Werewolves are a real bitch if they don’t get their beauty sleep.\n\nThe door latches behind me as I hear Drake manage to slur out, “Hey there sweet cheeks, wanna head home with me for a quick minute?”\n\n“Drake I would prefer you not yell in the middle of the street when people are trying to sleep. I have work to do, go home” \n\n“I just want a good taste of human wench one more time is that too much to ask,” Drake puts his arm around me and brings his fangs eerily close to my neck before I brush him away and move on.\n\n“Get a life, Drake. You’re pitiful” \n\nThe drunken catcalls were becoming annoyingly regular, I may have to file a complaint. I sip on my coffee and relish in the bitter warmth and head for the city limits. The residents may hate technology but I was beyond grateful for the gates that controlled access to the settlement. I check at the main gate for new requests and approve a shipment delivery as well as the daily needs of the settlement.\n\nI begin my nightly stroll around the perimeter fencing and take in the distant lights of the Loch City to the east. Fond memories of school and friendship within the human city bring back a tinge of nostalgia and I nearly find myself wiping my eyes as I settle down to check for tampering at the smaller gates. It wasn’t a rough job I had but that didn’t make the why any easier to swallow. I complete my rounds in a solid three and a half hours before finding myself at the main gate and give a quick check to the camera outputs before heading home in the deep night.\n\nI set another cup of coffee to be made and prop my feet on my desk so I can begin my nightly reading as I have key cameras pulled up on my computer. Another good night’s work, I was excited for dawn when I could spend some time around people. Coexistence was difficult when most werewolves can only tolerate a few hours around a human before they begin to change against their will.\n\nI begin to absorb myself in the wonderful prose before a burning pain begins to cut into my back, the Mark of the Curse is active. I toss my book aside and begin to scroll through the camera displays before my blood turns cold despite my heartrate’s steady increase. The Illari stands by the eastern gate. His cold gaze holds the camera and he is undeniably abused as he reaches out and turns the gate a mess of melted metal with full knowledge that I am watching. *Why haven’t I sounded the alarm yet!*\n\nI pull up the alarm system and hastily select the eastern gate before setting it off. By the time it starts, I’m already waking Sera and Tyler in their rooms.\n\nThey jump out of their beds and are quickly checking for any injuries when they see that I’m in pain, “I wasn’t patrolling when it came, the only pain is in the mark.” I brush them off as I explain the situation.\n\n“Okay, we should meet the eastern sector headquarters since their troops are scrambled so he can’t skirt by them. You ready to go, May?” Sera says.\n\nI wince as the marks feel like they once again cut into my back and reply, “Yeah let’s get out of here.” The pain will only get worse as we get closer but she is right that I need to be in a more secure location since I can only wake one sector unless multiple Illari reveal themselves.\n\nThe headquarters are in an uproar when we arrive but they manage to spare a few troops who don’t turn their nose up at a human, and unfortunately one who does, to pamper me in a central office. I could care less as they attempt to pamper me, I feel as if acid is once again being poured into my back and marking me as fair game for the Illari. I think again of the previous Caretaker who was a melted puddle by the time the alarms had woken the nearby residents. At least I had finished my rounds by the time they came.\n\nThe beings luckily weren’t ones with a good sense of time or I’m sure I would need a permanent bodyguard on patrols, but they certainly were persistent. I sit at the office chair despite the pain and pull up the feed of the main eastern road. There is currently a massive roadblock attempting to redirect the beast. He seemed to brush off the delays as he continued his knowing beeline and the roadblocks were given the same treatment as the gate. It was all in an effort to buy time while the eastern troops, mostly werewolves in this sector, prepare for combat. \n\nAnd here they are! Equipped with scythes that make Father Death’s seem comical they begin their attempts to pull a good ol’ Henry the VIII on the bastard. It never got old to watch the body return to its gelatinous form however it was always nervewracking, I couldn’t remember an Illari fight without a loss of life. Just one finger catching the gleaming silver blade and the user would collapse to a puddle of guts.\n\n“May, why do you insist on watching that,” Tyler hands me a coffee over the desk. I hadn’t noticed her enter the room.\n\n“I need to know who’s family I’ll have to visit in the morning. I need to properly apologize” The element of surprise so seldom touches the Illari and once again fails as the strike is met with a steady and effective finger before the strategy shifts to overwhelming the beast. Three wolves are brought down before a scythe finally connects with the exposed neck and cleanly separates body from head. The scythe is a jumbled mess on the other side melted and deformed but the deed is done. As the body collapses the screaming pain in my back fades and I mark the announced names of the fallen.\n\nI would have to look into four grief-stricken mothers and fathers tomorrow and accept their blame for there was no other way for me to survive than one that ended with their child not even being able to be buried. Most of the residents hated me after all, I was only a symbol of their oppression at the hands of the humans after all.\n\nAs Sera and Tyler escort me home, I contemplate if I truly have friends in those most closely entrusted with my protection. Exhaustion washes over me and the sun over a broken gate and four valiant corpses."
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[WP] Intelligent life developed first in the Ocean. Now, civilisation has developed to a point where it is looking beyond the waters and chooses to go to the Land.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Tens of thousands of years ago, merfolk were a nomadic race, hunting mainly whale in the depths of the ocean with their dolphin companions.\nAbout 40,000 years ago, there was the first recorded evidence of merpopulations above 500.\nAround that time, kelp cultivation became a popular strategy for food generation, as the kelp could be both eaten and used as a way to attract smaller fish species.\n\nThroughout the next thousand years, mermaids became common hunters, as their songs were able to attract a wide variety of different sea creatures.\nMermen would stay home and tend to their crops and children.\nIt was around this time that merfolk began to see a need for record-keeping and they developed a method of weaving seaweed stems and sea shells together to keep track of a number of different things: acres of land, number of children, fish killed in one day, etc.\n\nThough it was a simpler time, ancient merfolk also began devising the basis for all modern language and discussion.\nTones in song were to express mood, while hand-signals were used to express more complex ideas.\nEventually, it was found that sea salt could crystallize to form a hardened stone to use for writing, and circular glyphs were created to replace the old counting system of yore.\n\nAs technology grew more and more advanced, merpopulations became more expansive, starting in the great trench and extending to every sea in the world.\nAt the same time, they began to diversify more.\nAs mermaids began hunting fish closer to the ocean's surface, they would often faint due to the pressure differential.\nTo counteract this, they developed fatty deposits on their chest that would expand and contract as they swam closer to the surface.\nMermen, having to quickly and continuously inscribe salt into stone, developed much smaller, but precise arms.\n\nEventually, mermen began to develop rigorous mathematical and scientific ideas, such as the art of camouflage and luminescence, which were both used to help aid mermaid hunting expeditions.\nAround 200 years ago, electricity was discovered.\nIt was powerful and destructive, but incredibly useful, as it could be channeled across wires smelted near the lava-pits.\nSince this discovery, the world has changed drastically, and we began to see the world around us today.\n\nFirst came electronic music, which was used both for hunting and for entertainment.\nThen came intricate devices to mimic merfolk hand-gestures, which could transmit discussion across long distances.\nThis eventually became wireless and portable, creating a small box all merfolk would carry around to call others when necessary.\nSoon thereafter, screens were developed that would allow for the projection of signals beyond just sign language and sound.\n\nAt the same time, mermaids developed body-strengthening techniques that would allow them to breach the surface of the water for short periods of time.\nThey would come back telling stories of a strangely merfolk-like race of creatures that would ride on the backs of synthetic sea creatures.\nMost people thought this was crazy.\nHow could anything survive on the surface without any pressure to keep their bodies in-tact?\nAbsolutely insane!\n\nWell, that was what most merfolks thought... Until about 70 years ago.\nThere, somewhere in the north sea, one of the giant creatures swam to the bottom of the ocean.\nIt was huge -- much larger than anything the merfolk had ever created before and composed of a bunch of intricate rooms and hallways.\n\nWorse, inside of some rooms, were the bodies of the unknown creatures mermaids would tell stories of.\nThey were half merfolk, but had additional arms where their fins should have been.\nNone of them were completely in-tact, but that didn't matter.\nIt was then that merfolk learned they were not the only intelligent creatures on Earth.\n\nIt was a scary moment for merfolk everywhere.\nTheir scientists analyzed the creatures as best as they could and developed new methods for creating large sheets of metal, which were used to make satellites that would watch the land creatures from afar.\n\nIt was not clear if the new race was more or less advanced than the merfolk, but they were way more savage.\nThe merfolk watched as the landfolk fought among themselves time and time again.\n\nNo matter the case, the landfolk would occasionally drop their technology into the depths of the ocean, and the merfolk would learn what they could about landfolk civilization.\nOccasionally, the technology would be revolutionary.\nOther times, merfolk would scratch their heads, trying to figure out what the devices could be use for.\n\nNo matter the case, today was a monumental day.\nAfter half a century since the Great Land Initiative, merfolk were finally able to create a satellite capable of carrying a merman and mermaid onto the surface.\nMerfolk everywhere were tuned in and watching the historic launch and counting down in the comfort of their own home.\n\n10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... Lift off.\n\nIn a miriad of bubbles, the overmarine was off.\nNo one quite knew what they would find.\n\nWould the landfolk be hostile?\nWould the merfolk survive the expidition?\nWhat technology might be found on land that merfolk had never thought of before?\n\nWho knew?\n\nOne thing was certain: after today, merfolk would never be alone again.\n\nNOTE: I really like the world in this one, but the writing could have been better..."
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[WP] It wasn't your typical apocalypse, no zombies, no werewolves, no aliens, no nukes. The devestation instead came from deep below the sea. It was woken via offshore drilling, It roams the sea, it's coming for you.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Those that felt it first were the creatives. The direction their ideas flow picked up on that terrible, unknowable fear. Vivid imagery of the Entity began appearing, unwilled, in the paintings and writings of the world. The synapses burnt with every brush stroke, the long-trained abilities of art and music fading, as though stolen.\n\nThen people noticed the change in the mentally ill. A shared hallucination, those wise men who liked the world to make sense, supposed. To they, who were clearly sane, the ramblings and horrors that the schizophrenics and the disassociated began to share were simply a curiosity.\n\nIt wasn't until footage appeared that the connection was made though. \n\nWho could have guessed that the white trees of one painting, and the blue magma in another, or the fractal jetstreams in a third were all connected until you tried to see the Entity? \nNone, until you really grasped your soul and forced it to be brave enough to examine that which had been unleashed.\n\nAs it made it's grotesque way through the sludge of what was once the Atlantic, the Entity's existence seeped into the lower consciousness of the many. Many who dreamt of that underworld of unexplained immensity never returned, their psyches lost to the ether of an implacable geometry.\n\nA force of nature. Or maybe specifically the opposite, the Entity roared, and all were deafened. It shone it's evil darklight and all were blinded. It listened and we were silent.\n\nThe end comes.\n\nThe Entity comes.\n\nGragnthui, trelafg'nya dogu shien.",
"Humanity was fucked, and I mean fucked. We didn't know what we had done when we started the drilling, but nobody had gotten the memo until it was too late. It was unleashed, and there was no putting the genie back into the bottle.\n\nI really regret purchasing that beachfront property...\n\nIt started with a gigantic tentacle in the ocean, moving at a speed of over a hundred miles per hour, sweeping up everything in its path. We saw it with our satellites, but we couldn't stop it. Boats began to flee. They barely had a day to escape the predicted path of the destruction. A few fools with boats decided that they wanted to move into the monster. They were going to die.\n\nI was in my car, trying to get through backed up traffic, away from the devastation. I had to abandon my house. This was no tornado. The highway was slowed almost to walking pace, as I continued to refresh my phone, waiting for the monster to make landfall. The tentacles raged in the ocean, a spectacle that could be seen from space. And, finally, the outer regions began to hit. I cringed as the area containing my house was enveloped in the yellow region. I wondered how it was faring - how much longer until it would be completely destroyed.\n\nA chorus of horns filled the air as the drivers began to get a little annoyed - this was a highway, and you were supposed to go 60, not 6! My horn joined them as I voiced my discontent. I was tired, and I needed to get to a warm bed, something that I was aching to find.\n\nSoon, at 11:15 PM EST, an update was pushed. Measurements from satellites were taken, and data was sent to processing hubs. Teams of scientists analyzed the data. Journalists took notes and reporters commented across the world, as new data was pushed to the weather servers.\n\nAs the clock struck 11:15:05, a mass of phones sent data requests to the server, which happily obliged with its new suite of data. Electrons fired, and the cell tower broadcasted packets of data to countless phones in the area.\n\nThe horns suddenly stopped as the latest update was confirmed by countless drivers and passengers - they were just outside of the yellow zone. Ten seconds later, panic struck the area as cell service went from 3 bars to none in an instant. Some cars stopped, some drivers looked backwards. I could barely make out clouds in the distance, slowly approaching, sealing our fate.\n\nThe hurricane was going to hit us. Maybe burning all of that oil wasn't a good idea."
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[WP] Now that humanity has made contact with aliens, the United States has chosen Cape Canaveral, Florida—the birthplace of the American space program—as the site of its first interstellar spaceport. Now that it's filled with space aliens, what is Florida like?
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"“I cannot help you.” An unease in her eyes that was unbecoming for a medical professional. \n\n“You cannot or will not?” I ask, knowing that my request was technically feasible. \n\n“It is not a service we provide here. Frankly no medical professional will help you until the law changes.”\n\nShe was right. This was not the first time we sat in front of a doctor. My hand in his, as we ask for help. Only to be rejected. \n\nSo far, this was one of the politer conversations we have had. Others called it ‘wrong’, ‘abominable’, ... ‘beastiality’. Though it was never clear to me who the beast was. Me, the simple human or him, the advanced interplanetary alien species?\n\nThey never asked about our love. Our financial stability. The opportunities we could offer. The devotion we would give to our child. The child, two consenting adults should have the right to conceive. \n\n“Our genomes are almost identical. That makes it no different to normal IVF.” I try, ignoring the futility of explaining to a medical professional that the genetic blueprint, which dictates who we are, originated from the same seed. While 300 Million years of evolution separated us, the identical conditions on our respective planets resulted in the same outcome. A humanoid able to breath air, walk on two legs, and use language to communicate. \n\n“I understand your desperation. But just because something is technically possible does not give us the right to make it happen. We don’t know whether the child will be healthy. What effect it would have on its life expectancy. On its ability to have children.”\n\n“We don’t make such a fuss with naturally conceived babies,” I shoot back. ”Same-species parents are free to play roulette. Simply hoping their child does not have a genetic defect.”\n\nI looked at my wringing hands. Who knows how many genetic diseases I carried; lying dormant, only to be discovered if my first-born had a disease. Then, I and the human partner I had chosen would be screened; then, we would be told that our genomes were not compatible. That we should never have had a child. \n\nIt was one of the first things the aliens remarked when they landed 10 years ago: Our callousness over human life. Placing liberty and conservatism over the suffering of individuals. The aliens had chosen Florida for the interstellar spaceport, not because it was progressive or advanced, but because it was predictable. Change was slow. The locals tolerated the aliens because it brought an economic boom to the state, a change they understood and valued.\n\n“I can see you are one of them, you know.” I spat. ”One of the alien-haters. But let me tell you: our paths have become interwoven, whether you like it or not. And who knows how many interspecies babies are out there already. This is the future!”\n\nHe put a calming hand on my knee; I was getting angry again. It was unfair. Had I fallen in love with an alien woman we would not have to beg for help to conceive. Alien males produced the eggs, which was deposited and fertilized in the female womb. While it required practice to retrieve the female sperm and fertilize the human egg, it was not a medical procedure. Interspecies babies could be conceived naturally by same-sex couples. \n\n“This was the last IVF clinic on the list.” He said calmly. He had expected this outcome. “You know I will love the baby. It would not matter to me if the biological father was human. As long as its mother is the person I am in love with.”",
" The \"cast member\" meeting at the House of Mouse was tense. Corporate had been able to lay its hands on the first culture and etiquette guides for the alien races likely to visit Earth, and everyone was required to report to a series of mandatory training sessions. Rumors abounded, and no one knew yet what was truth or exaggeration...\n\n\"Now remember,\" the executive said with a wolfish smile, \"Your mission is always to Keep Up the Magic. Our guests pay a king's ransom for admission, and you better make it worth the experience. Some of these newcomers will make the autistic kids look like a walk in the park in comparison, and make us look back in fondness when Mainland Chinese started arriving in droves.\" The character actors and ride operators shifted uncomfortably. The executive loaded up her PowerPoint presentation.\n\n\"However, with the new spaceport, we have a golden opportunity- a *gold pressed latinum* opportunity, if you will. We are already everybody's top destination when coming to Florida. Coming through that spaceport will be *multiple planets'* worth of new market-share to grab, new younglings' mind-scapes to mold. Play our cards right and our stock price could grow by quantum leaps.\" The executive flicked through a few slides of rosy earnings projections. She settled on a computer-rendered drawing of a new park in a landscape dominated by purple. \"We are already in talks to acquire building space off-planet for new parks, and our research into atmosphere-supplementing costumes is almost completed. Those of you who acquit yourselves well through the changes will have exciting career opportunities ahead!\" Her audience tried to conceal their skepticism. \"Now here are just a few pointers to start off with before your more intensive training sessions.\" The presentation shifted to what looked like a foot-long multi-colored cockroach with wicked pincers.\n\n\"Now *this* is the Sol'dul Beetle- it seems to have stowed away in the supplies for our extraterrestrial test kitchens. Do NOT stomp these while onstage- several races consider the damn things to be sacred. They are fair game backstage. Our Environmental Services is looking for ways to sterilize them so they don't get out of hand. On the bright side, they do seem fond of palmetto bugs.\" Several employees' feet suddenly rested on their chair rungs in response.\n\nThe presentation shifted to a Cinderella costume that seemed to be mobbed by a gaggle of two foot tall green blobs with stubby arms. \"Now, the Thridred litters seem to be *particularly* friendly and enthusiastic. If they mob your costume, you *let them.* Maintain your composure even as their skin acids dissolve your costume. Go backstage for a replacement as soon as they've moved on- their attention span is quite short.\"\n\nA swarthy actress raised her hand. \"What about those of us with simpler costumes? Jasmine and Pocahontas don't have hoop skirts or crinolines.\"\n\n\"You deal with it,\" the executive said firmly. \"The Chogea have gifted us with exceptional medical technology- they have a regeneration tank that will fix the acid burns within an hour. It will still be paid time.\" There was disgruntled murmuring from the group. \"I don't want to hear it!\" the executive snapped. \"You- *we-* still have to regain financial ground after the pandemic. You wanted your hours back, you got them.\" She clicked the next slide forward.\n\n\"Now *these* are the Nochuth cubs,\" indicating a creature that resembled a koala bear with six arms. \"Be very careful around these on the faster rides; their vomit's pH is 0.5.\" She briefly showed a neon yellow puddle of roller-coaster side effects. The executive flicked to a slide showing stocky humanoids with what looked like tentacle-mohawks for hair.\n\n\"The Kromul,\" the executive continued, \"are fond of skipping lines and have already bought up most of our priority boarding passes for the season. \"Note the purple-crested ones; these are their alpha females. While the rest of the Kromul should be subject to the same rules as everyone else, our off-planet advisors have unanimously advised that we *accommodate the alpha females every time.* Those alphas are also their planet's senators and are allowed to go *armed,* even within the park. As they will be our best source of starship fuel, it is best not to incur their wrath in the short term *or* the long term.\n\nOn a related note, they seem particularly fond of the Prince Charming characters. Special hazard pay is available for cast members willing to accommodate, ah, private audiences.\" Several character actors paled.\n\nThe presentation next showed a ten foot tall, vaguely aquatic-looking creature. \"The Naurqureat,\" the executive said, \"will generally be renting our premium bungalows. Don't call security if you see them swimming in the lagoons; I understand they like to catch a bit of alligator for appetizer before munching their way through Epcot. Dining Services is still debating how to best monetize this.\" The presentation ended and the executive's assistant started handing out paperwork.\n\n\"Gemma here is handing you forms to review your life insurance and 401k beneficiaries to make sure they are up to date. We expect these back before the end of the pay period. There is also a form for expressing interest in our Offworld Employment Program. It offers a raise of *three dollars an hour!* I'm sure competition for spots will be fierce. You are dismissed.\"\n\nMy other stories can be found at [r/HazelNightengale](http://r/HazelNightengale)",
"“I want to go to Disney World”, whined Debby, my eight year old daughter, as she threw a fit, while my teenage son Alton looked on, shaking his head. \n\n\n\nI could only look on in horror as Debby began to smash a lamp and stain the carpet.\n\n\n\nBeing a Single Dad is hard.\n\n\n\nI pick up Debby, put my hand over her mouth, and whisper, “It’s really crowded and expensive, ever since the spaceport was built..”.\n\n\nDebby bit my hand and broke free, yelling, “ANOTHER THING THE ALIENS RUINED, CAN WE PLEASE MOVE!!!”.\n\n\nI have to say no, My grandfather was raised here, he raised my father, who raised me, and I’m raising Alton here. Alton vouches for me, stepping out with, “Look, this family has lived here for generations”, it’s true, our family has lived in the state ever since it became one.\n\n\nAlton continued, “The presence of Extraterrestrials is just another change that has happened to the state over its history”\n\n\nAnd that was true, I tought Alton the entire history of Florida as a boy, from the original spanish colony, to the seminole wars, to prosperous beach front, to intergalactic travel center, the state has changed a ton.\n\n\nUnfortunately, Debby is an eight year old, which means they are persistent in pressuring demands, willing to pursue extremism and cannot understand these concepts, no matter how hard we try.\n\n\n“I DON’T CARE ABOUT CHANGE”, she continued to scream, “IT’S BAD, I WANT THINGS TO GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE”.\n\n\nIt was so loud that a jar of glass shattered nearby, and lightbulbs popped, Alton took off his shirt, getting ready to turn it into a Gag. \n\n\nI put my hand out in front, motioning for him not to.\n\n\n“Ok Debby”, I said, opening a capsule filled with large melatonin pills, “I’ll give you Ice Cream if you calm down”. Alton looked at me like a mad man, but Debby calmed down nearly-instantly, and said, “Ok Daddy”.\n\n\nI decided to crush the Melatonin and mix it with the ice cream, and within 10 minutes she was asleep, it was only one pill, but it was extra strength.\n\n\nI carried her up to bed, gently placing her down, and then went back downstairs. Alton was editing his encyclopedia Florida he had been working on for a while, as he glanced at a news broadcast. One of teh more frequent species that visited the planet, The Gelevin, are reptilian, and so they tried to mate with Alligators in the everglades swamp, this time, a male alligator had actually got one pregnant, which is strange, and makes no sense on so many levels.\n\n\nAlton just documented it, but I could tell the boy thought that made no sense as well. \n\n\nI got a knock on the door, I opened it, the man who arrived was a Ceyin, a humanoid species that were shorter, squatter, had a more orange color palette and had stingers. The Ceyin friend of mine was a semi-frequent visitor named Caydin.\n\n\n“Hey, come on in”, I gestured to him, Caydin then responded in a grumbly low voice, “Nice to see you again John”\n\n\nI had helped Caydin get used to Earth customs, and he sat right on the couch, right next to Alton.\n\n\n“Hey Alton”, he said, “Don’t forget you gotta take my Daughter out some time, and when you do, you gotta treat her well”.\n\n\nAlton nodded his head as Caydin looked on, noticing the lack of Debby. “I reckon Debby is asleep”.\n\n\nI nod my head, “ She hasn’t been taking this whole thing well, it’s been difficult for her to adjust”. \n\n\nCaydin rolled back and said, “Yeah, it seems like a lot of people don’t like change, but it happens anyway, ey you gotta Earth Beer?”\n\n\n“Yeah”, I walk into the fridge to pull out some beer, “And Toss him a bottle”, he catches it with freakishly large hands.\n\n\nHe opens it up, and drinks it, “You know”, he begins, “There is now an Earth Beer black market back on Quasere, they are addicted to the stuff”.\n\n\nI roll my eyes and say, “Who Isn’t”, and we both laugh.\n\n\nWhen I was 8 I wanted to be an astronaut, who knew I was gonna be drinking buddies with an alien.",
"There were, of course, attempts at imposing order. There always are, and they never stick.\n\nIt is the way of things. A species first spaceport is always chaotic, and CCSP was no exception.\n\nPart of it is the aliens. A species on the cusp of joining galactic civilization attracts a certain type. Some are greedy, some are altruistic, some are just curious, but *none* of them are *normal*. Tourism is nice and all, but your average tourist would rather wait until there are established guidebooks and the locals have adopted some variant of Galstandard. Universal translators are itchy, and tend to be full of bugs for the first century or so. Languages are complicated to really get right.\n\nNo, this was the wild west. Granted, the crocodile-to-cattle ratio was pretty wildly different, but there were a lot of similarities. For instance, the sheer extent to which things got glamorized and distorted after the fact. The official Ieridonian ambassador wasn't on the planet until nearly a century later, after we'd built several saner spaceports, but from the histories, you'd think that Ieridon had a portal that went straight to downtown Miami.\n\nThe reason, of course, was that Ieridonians are aesthetically pleasing to a human, and law-abiding enough to have gotten a lot of positive press in the ensuing centuries. Not many species waited until their ambassador had arrived to negotiate formal treaties, laws, and cultural exchange programs to start showing up, but the Ieridonians were among these few.\n\nRight now, they were nowhere to be seen.\n\nIt was madness, pure and simple. There might have been some semblance of order at the spaceport proper, strained and backed up by military force though it was, but there was no force on Earth that could normalize Florida, and that was *before* the aliens showed up.\n\nThe first step outside was a doozy. You were likely to be accosted by at least three different fraudsters before you managed to finish drawing in your first breath of swamp air. Humans trying to scam aliens, aliens trying to scam humans, and the occasional duel of the fraudsters, a human trying to sell worthless junk to an alien, who was attempting to sell useless junk to the human.\n\nThe inevitable junk exchange looked more like the end result of nuclear disarmament talks than an economic transaction, but the trade *was* usually fair, in the end. Junk for junk.\n\nThings got quieter and less normal as you traveled away from the spaceport proper.\n\nFlorida had actually been a solid choice for a first spaceport- there were any number of aquatic and semi-aquatic species that wanted to see what Earth was like, and the easy availability (and, occasionally, inevitability) of water eased quite a number of transactions. Most of humanity had assumed that the alligators would be a problem, but quite a number of aliens turned out to have tech for taming wildlife. Aligators were now serving as guards, pets, and, in at least one case, as an accountant. It was wild how un-wild it was.\n\nThere were water channels everywhere, not quite as ubiquitous as roads, but nearly so. Quite a number of businesses were built at crossroads of both transportation methods, since it was often quite important to be accessible to as many species as possible. The result bore a little resemblance to Venice, though the occasional alligator coming up to you and rolling over on its back to demand belly rubs was definitely a reminder that you weren't anywhere that was actually sane.\n\nFlorida had been a bit of a confluence before the spaceport, and had grown odd for it. *Now*, however, it was the central point for both visiting aliens and curious humans. There were people from Egypt complaining about all the rain, and people from Oregon complaining about how little rain there was. There were people from Canada complaining about the heat, and people from Saudi Arabia complaining that they were cold. And everyone, everyone, *everyone* was complaining about how crowded and strange and unusual it all was. Never mind that they were the ones causing it- there was complaining to do!\n\nIt was necessary- the work to integrate humanity into galactic society required a great number of experts from a great number of fields, which meant bringing in people from all over. Still, it was crowded.\n\nThe good news was that there weren't *actually* that many aliens- ships that carried large numbers of passengers weren't making the trek out here just yet. Still, there were more than a few, and they had their own, unique challenges.\n\nSleeping accommodations on the ships were Spartan, since space was at a premium. But quite a number of species had issues with the arrangements humans had available. There were a million different problems, and many a hotel owner found a mattress that was torn up to unusability, or thoroughly soaked in some alien excretion that they didn't want to know anything about. Human excretions were bad enough.\n\nThere were any number of aliens stopping people on the street to ask questions, or taking primitive artifacts back for further study. It took a while to figure out why there had been a spike in car theft, but the problem was addressed, eventually.\n\nThey put a 'do not steal primitive artifacts' sign up in the spaceport.\n\nIt was a confluence. Thousands upon thousands were having their mind blown, every day. Preconceptions were shattered, assumptions were ripped apart, alligators had their tum-tums rubbed.\n\nIt was a strange time. It was so strange that several lifelong Floridians almost noticed that something was going on."
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[WP] When you kidnapped a billionaire's brother and called him to demand ransom money, his response of "What? You mean you aren't the assassins I hired to get rid of him?" definitely wasn't what you'd signed up for.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Pt 1:\n\nKidnapping is big business in this world. And by that, I mean just that - it’s a business.\n\nI’m not sure who came up with kidnapping insurance, but they were some smart people. Of course, after a certain amount of time, you run the risk of the same exact scams experienced with other insurance agencies. But when it comes to kidnappers and the people we answer to (those who do this professionally do answer to people), the numbers are significantly lower than the ones causing fender benders for extra cash. Those are average citizens who don’t usually go around armed to the teeth. \n\nIn addition, very few of them have ranked the many firearms they own in order of preference.\n\nToday’s target was a billionaire’s brother, and the recon we did beforehand on his security was extremely promising. The man barely went anywhere, living upper-middle class if you believe it, even though he was next in line on the company throne. Seemed he preferred the life of a commoner, and all the publicity suggested he wasn’t interested in anything more.\n\nThat meant the man’s bodyguards, while present and highly trained, had an easy-going routine, and that’s the downfall of any protection someone uses. The recon over a few weeks revealed a clear pattern and we took advantage.\n\nMy team included two others, pros just like me, who took out the bodyguards in the living room without any muss or fuss. Quiet was best, and both were proficient with knives. We then headed to the bedroom and the target barely had enough time to wake and realize he needed to be panicking before the sedative I’d injected into his neck had started to take effect. And just like that, a clean extraction.\n\nAt the warehouse on the outside of town, a front as a legitimate shipping business during the week and empty for the weekend, John McCammon awoke gradually, zip-tied to the chair, a bandana wrapped around his head as a gag. I walked over as he wearily started to regain consciousness, pulling over a worn metal chair and placing it in front of him. \n\nAs his current surroundings and the situation he found himself in started to sink in, fear bloomed in his eyes. His breathing sped up as his instincts kicked in, trying to free himself from his bindings, dilated pupils taking in his surroundings.\n\n“Take your time,” I muttered, rubbing the palms of my hands together casually. After a few more long moments, tears now threatening to fall from his eyes, John looked back to me. To his credit, he didn’t scream, didn’t start crying. He even blinked back the tears that started to form. “I really only gagged you to save my hearing. I’m sure you know you’re beyond the range of help, right?”\n\nThe man closed his eyes briefly and nodded, reopening them and meeting my gaze in resignation. I motioned to one of my partners, who untied the gag and removed it, shoving it in his pocket. John visibly licked his lips and swallowed hard. “You gonna kill me?” he whispered.\n\n“Ideally? No. This is what your kidnapping insurance is for, and I don’t get paid for a DOA hostage.” John looked wary, but he nodded his understanding. “We’ll call your brother. You have his cell number memorized?”\n\n“Yeah,” John rasped.\n\nMy partner handed me a phone that, with tech beyond my comprehension, gave us two minutes, forty seconds of conversation without the ability to track its location. I was also handed a stopwatch and, when prompted, John rattled off the number. I started the stopwatch as soon as I hit the button to dial, waiting patiently as it rang. \n\nAnd that’s where things got strange.\n\nTypically, the FBI will put a trace on the phone along with programming in a few rings audible to the kidnapper to stretch out the trace time, which was why I started the stopwatch right off the bat, to reduce that risk. But Vernon McCammon answered on the second ring. My first thought was that they hadn’t yet found the bodies of his security team, which wasn’t that surprising. “Hello?” His voice was raspy from sleep. To be fair, it was 4 a.m.\n\n“Mr. McCammon?”\n\n“Speaking.”\n\n“Are you in a private place?”\n\nThere was a long pause and I heard movement as the man presumably left his wife alone in bed, making his way to an office or similar area away from his bedroom. “Who is this?”\n\n“This is the man who has your brother.”\n\nThere was another predictable pause. “You *took* my brother? You kidnapped him?”\n\n“You’re a sharp one, huh?”\n\n“What the hell? This was not supposed to happen.”\n\nMy eyes slowly narrowed. “Come again?”\n\n“It was an assassination, not a kidnapping,” Vernon snapped. “That’s what we agreed on.”\n\nComprehension dawned and I leaned back in the metal chair with a *creak*, unable to keep an astonished smile from my face. “Sir, who do you think this is?” I asked.\n\nThere was a pause. “You aren’t the guys I hired to kill him?” he managed.\n\nPt 2 below:\n\n/r/storiesbykaren"
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[WP] Every hit you’ve done is perfect, no evidence found, and you target—dead. To you, every one of these jobs is basically easy-money, considering that magic is your profession.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Killing wasn’t hard. In fact, it was quite easy. Snap of my fingers. Wave of my hand. A little “abracadabra” here some “bippity-boppity-boo” there. And trust me, it wasn’t a moral thing. Three thousand years gives you plenty of time to learn shitty people deserve shitty endings. You sleep like a baby after the first few hundred. No. Killing wasn’t hard. But in a world that was becoming increasingly more scientific and with big brother always watching, killing with magic and making it look legit. That, my glorious reader, is hard. And that was why I was hired."
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[WP] They say you die twice, the second time being when your name is said for the last time. You've been stuck in this purgatory for literally millennia all because you sold some low-quality copper to someone.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Nasir enjoyed sitting here on the nondescript...bench? Was this gray-yet-glowing shape a bench? Whatever. It was a passable seat. Not exceedingly comfortable, but not particularly uncomfortable either. When he bored of standing, this ill-defined shape provided some variety in his position. Sitting, standing, leaning lying down...oh he'd tried them all. Not because he needed to, of course. He never felt truly fatigued or tired here in The Waiting Place. Of course, he never felt particularly energetic either.\n\nFor now though, sitting on this \"bench\" and watching the new arrivals made for a fine way to pass the time. The pace had heightened recently. More...doors? Gates? Windows? More spaces had opened up on this side of the clearing, and a steadily growing stream of people constantly came through. Billions of people had come through since Nasir arrived, and most of them had left already, out the other side of this place. Not Nasir though. No, whenever he tried to approach one of the exits, he could never seem to reach it, as if it were fleeing from him and the space between stretching away. So many others Nasir had met seemed to eventually feel \"drawn\" to one of the exits, as if they instinctively knew which one to approach. Only those people could successfully walk through the exit.\n\nNasir had made many friends here, before they finally moved on to their exit. Eventually, he had determined the pattern. Those with the greatest legacies, most remembered by history, were stuck here with him. It seemed that one could not move on from this place until all those back on Earth had said your name for the last time.\n\n\"Watching the newcomers again, Nasir?\"\n\n\"Hm? Oh, good health, Alex. Yes, I suppose I am. The pace of their arrival continues to increase.\"\n\n\"Yes, I just finished welcoming a gentleman named Dennis. Apparently there's over 8 billion people out there now.\"\n\nNasir shook his head. 8 billion people. He had thought Babylon was the height of civilization, yet it must pale in comparison to kingdoms that existed out there now. If only those people could forget about him. If only that thrice-damned tablet had been destroyed by the ravages time. If only it had been destined to never be found. If only.\n\n\"Good health, Alex...Nasir\"\n\nNasir cringed. If he weren't as grey and nondescript as the rest of this forsaken place, his face would have been flush with rage as he lashed out,\n\n\"Get out of here you headless fool! Why even dare approach? Not content with trapping me here, you take it upon yourself to say my name to highlight your treachery? May Nergal claim you finally, just to spare me from seeing your idiotic face!\"\n\nAlex chimed in, \"Nasir, calm down, Nanni is just as stuck as the rest of-\"\n\n\"MY treachery?! Our stagnation is YOUR fault Nasir, you duplicitous cheat! If you hadn't scammed every craftsman from Mari to Lagash with your dirt-grade copper, you wouldn't have a collection of complaint letters like mine with our names on them! And by what twisted pride were you driven to keep my tablet, yet never respond? It's your greed-filled legacy that was discovered millennia after we should have moved on!\"\n\nAlex shook his head as Nasir and Nanni came to blows yet again. As usual, they would continue causing each other mild discomfort at most (despite their mutual best efforts) until they finally got bored of the altercation. Uniting Macedon and Persia under one kingdom was an easy task compared to reconciling these two. Hopefully, this \"Nuclear Armageddon\" so many of the newcomers were worried about would come swiftly, and erase all evidence of ancient history from the world. Maybe then, Alex thought, he and the others could finally find their exits."
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[WP] You haven't cleaned the fridge in months, and some eldritch abombination has spawned from the leftovers. When you discover it, the creature offers to fuse with you.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The investigator instinctively tried the light switch, finding that it was no more than a lonely fidget left on the wall. The house had clearly been abandoned, and no other creature or being, magic or not, had taken up residence, much to the investigator's relief. It seemed every house had been abandoned on this street, and every street in this city, too. It wasn't any wonder really, the entire world had up and migrated to where the power still was. Light, water - he hated thinking it - entertainment - but most of all, food and security. It was many years now since they last melted down their primitive projectile weapons and opted for energy weapons; there was even a statue built in this very city, of a melting AR-15 and a man standing proudly above, firing lasers into the air. It seemed quite barbaric at the time, but now it serves humanity well.\n\n'Entering the kitchen now, sir'\n\nHis hazmat suit acted as both a barrier to the unknown and was fitted with anti-magic capabilities, almost like a small magnetic field that surrounded him. It wasn't the latest, but it was enough to deflect an initial attack or two.\n\n'Oooh, Boy.' he whistled. 'This place was left in a hurry.\n\n'Locked up pretty good though; nothing had been able to get in to eat the Sunday roast.'\n\nA decaying, now amorphous mass of chicken sat in an old oven tray on top of the oven. Cupboards lay open and their contents were strewn along the bench and floor below as if they'd just fallen out. Clothes dotted the floor, leaving a trail that led to a suitcase that lay open and looking defeated.\n\nIn the corner of his eye, he saw the fridge glow and rattle slightly and quickly turned to face it.\n\n'Hold on, think we got something here.'\n\nThis was precisely what he was hoping to find. He'd come to collect a small magical bit of fauna. He slowly approached the fridge door with a sampling jar in hand. Sweating, nervous, he always did no matter how many times he did this. He even knew what to expect from the fridge; a food-based eldritch creature that some jokester wizard had placed.\n\n'Alright, opening the door now.'\n\nThe red and white glow emanating from the fridge was now brilliantly apparent and served twice as it bounced off of the white interior of the fridge. Spinning right in front of him was a red, white and yellow, and unmistakably meaty lasagne tornado. It's many layers and folds of pasta spiralling and twisting and oozing its vital, life-giving ragu. It even had eyes and a mouth.\n\n'You dare disturb Lasagno!' it boomed, spraying the investigator in all its fixings.\n\nAfter the torrent of Italian cuisine that now covered the investigator's white suit, the beast stopped spinning and slumped on to the fridge shelf in a pile of pasta and sauce. The magic had all disappeared.\n\n'Damn it! They're getting better at this.'\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nI will continue to plug: r/Un_Caste\n\nFeedback on what you like and dislike/ what was good and bad very welcome! :)",
"“You’re exaggerating, it’s really not that bad all it needs is a quick wipe down and bang, good as new” Martin shouted to the next room.\n\nThe door was stuck and required a shark tug before it opened with tremendous crack. Martins breath caught in his throat as a single eye, the size of a dinner plate, starred back at him.\n\n“So the chosen one has come” the creature said in a cracked, snaky voice.\n\n“The chosen one?” Martin stammered as he slowly backed away from the creature.\n\nA furry grey tentacle slowly emerged from the horror and began to gently caress his cheek, then his hair until finally it wrapped around his shoulders as if it were an old friend.\n\n“The old ones prophesised that the two will become greater than their parts and on that day the world will tremble” the creature said “Fuse with me and fulfil your destiny”\n\n“But I have a life, a wife.” He spluttered “I can’t, I just can’t”\n\nThe tentacles pulled away abruptly.\n\n“You have always known you were destined for greatness and now you throw it all away for this!” the creature bellowed gesturing wildly around the decrepit kitchen. “Just kill me, I have nothing left to live for”\n\nMartin starred at the eye, feeling as if he were seeing it for the first time, he could see the pain and sorrow plainly, absurdly he could feel the guilt gripping his chest in a tight embrace.\n\n“Well I suppose…. If it’s quick….” Martin mumbled.\nWithout any hesitation the tentacle grabbed his forehead and suddenly he was floating in a sea of colour, dark reds, bright greens, shimmering golds, every hue imaginable stretched endlessly from his body. I am a god he thought. As suddenly as it started it was over and he found himself lying in a puddle of urine on the dirty kitchen floor.\n\n“I bet that was as good for you as it was for me” The eye said mischievously.\n\n“I don’t feel any different” Martin croaked as he slowly climbed to his feet. \n\n“I may have exaggerated” the creature drawled as it’s huge eye began to narrow. “There’s money on the side for the cab, close the door on your way out”\n\n“B-b-but you said I was the chosen one” Martin stuttered.\n\n“I lied” the creature said flatly closing it’s great eye.\n\n“You’re a monster” Martin screamed."
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[WP] It's your first semester at college, and the laundry rooms have a strange rule: "The laundry rooms close for a single minute at 4:00 in the morning. Between 4:00am and 4:01am do NOT go into the laundry room. It will otherwise upset the TidePod demons who briefly use the restroom in that time."
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"“Tide pod demons?” Johnny happily takes another swig of cheap, gas station bot beer. “Here want some?”\n\nBrett shakes his head. “Nah man.” He begins to grab his stomach. “I already got the beer shits bro.”\n\nJohnny glances at his watch. A sudden burst of happiness and pure curiosity cross his face. “Brett bro.” He puts his arm around Brett. “You know what time it is? It’s MUTHA FUCKIN 3:50”\n\nBrett looked unamused as they walk through the dimly lit dorm room halls. He’s done for the night. “Yes John. Way past my bed time.”\n\nJohnny scoffs loudly. “Okay bitch boy.” He quickly gives Brett a titty twister. “What did I say about calling me John? It’s Johnny.”\n\nBrett laugh. “Okay John.” They both begin to laugh. “Call me Bretty daddy.” He pitches his nipples and makes obnoxious sexual noises. \n\nJohn stops. “Too much man.” They both burst out in laughter. “Dude one time. Just once. We’ll be legends. Just think.” He turn his index finger and thumb into a box.\n\n “Every frat would want us.” He shrugs his shoulders. \n\nBrett thinks for a moment. “Fine man. We better hurry.”\n\nJohn laughs and shoots finger guns at him. “Ayyyt my man. Let’s go.” He bows to Brett. “Lead the way your highness.” \n\nThe boys start to walk towards the laundry room at the end of the hall. The lights are dimmed, just enough so that drunk college kids don’t trip and break their necks. \n\nA college dorm this quiet though? Weird. The only sounds the boys hear is people participating in certain activities that happen at 3 am. Building LEGO’s and such. Wink wink. \n\nBrett arrives at the door. “Look!” He pulls out his iPhone. “3:59. Ready dickhead?”\n\nJohnny looks different then before. A hint of fear. A dose of excitement. And a gallon of drunk eyes. He hiccups. “Yeah let’s go.” \n\nHe stumbles through the door, phone in hand. “Hey demons.” He takes a swig. “It’s me. Ya boy.”\n\nBrett chaos. “Clever girl.” The boys both laugh. “Ready. 5. 4. 3. 2. Oneeeeeeeeee.”\n\n4:00 AM. \n\n____________________________________________________________________________________________\n\nA TV is playing in the background. “Two college boys missing after apparent night of partying at UWE. Police suggest foul play.”\n\n“Dumbasses probably got lost in the woods after too much shrooms.” She laugh to herself.\n\nThe RA starts to open up the laundry machines to clean them out. She pulls out various compartments, gauges, and other things. Money of course. She pockets the change. \n\nChecking the filter, she notices something different. Hair. But not like ten pieces of hair. Hundreds. Thousands even. \n\nShe begins to yank and pull until it becomes stuck. “Damn sorority girls-.” She pulls harder on the mass of hair. “-and their god damn........... weaves.” With one final pull the mass frees itself.\n\nTwo student IDs pop out. Brett Young and John T. Cooper.\n\n“Oh, now it all makes sense. Can’t they fucking read?”\n\nShe rubs her stomach as it lets out a loud groan.\n\n“No wonder I’m bloated.”"
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[WP] You've successfully escaped your doomed timeline and arrived in the "Perfect Timeline." Here everything that could go right did, and everything that could go wrong didn't. However your arrival may have tipped the balance of this place.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The haze of dust, smoke and chronal fragments settled down slowly but surely after the small explosion caused by Stallion-55-Δ's arrival. It was hard to see through, from the window, so 106, one of the only humans left after the Doomeye Virus, dragged himself from it's battered, shattered cockpit and let all of it clear. Lush, green trees surrounded him, filling his nose with vibrant aromas that he could've never dreamt of back in his home timeline, filled with death from a zombie virus he'd been immune to - what was known as a Carrier. His legs shook on the grass: could he have finally done it?\n\nHe pushed his way through the dense bushes, the maze of oak, before coming to a clearing: a clearing with a road. It glimmered in the sun, shining with iridescent blues presumably used to guide the way in the night. Scratching the back of his head, he breathed a sigh. Nobody seemed to be taking this road, so it was hard to tell which way it even went, but putting up a hitchhiker's thumb, he began the trek downwards - 'Eventually it'll hit civilization' he rationalized.\n\nHe trekked the length of a short marathon, sweating and eventually ditching his apocalyptic goods into a nearby river - he wouldn't be needing them if this timeline was good, and, well, if it wasn't, he'd die.\n\nAnd, it did. It was glorious. A pearlescent utopia stood before him - bright gates made out of hexagons, high-rise buildings that hadn't collapsed from the weight of war, masses of anti-gravitational water pockets floating in the air that fell in droplets to supply people with free water - not a cloud in sight. It was everything he could've dreamed of. In that moment, he dropped to his knees, shaking his head at the work of art of a dimension that he'd managed to stumble into, the dimension hopper's vision completely filling with tears, that fell onto the ground and his tattered attire.\n\nRegaining his composure, he got back up, and got ready to have to make up some excuse as to why he didn't have his ID to the border patrol, but as he approached, gasping for breath, he realized that there was no border patrol. Nobody to ask him why he was entering or exiting like there was in Grimsheim or The City of Path. Again, his head shook in disbelief, so enthralled he almost got hit by a passing car - but it simply swerved out of the way, out of sheer coincidence, and the driver didn't seem to even be phased by it. Over the next few minutes, it was clear that everyone just walked in the road.\n\nThere wasn't any self-driving nature.\nThere wasn't any technology behind it.\nIt just so happened that you could walk into the street and be narrowly avoided, a universe-wide choreographed dance. \n\nA couple of minutes after he entered, 106 noticed a large crowd of people, partygoers, coming out of a large, semispherical megabuilding, adorned with glass. An oncoming truck decided to drive off the road that day, and, out of pure accident, managed to skid, it's large tires scraping right by the furthest teenager, who simply just laughed it off.\n\nThese people had never experienced unluck in their life... and he wouldn't have to, either.\n\nDeciding to get a drink, 106 walked up a staircase, next to one of the pristine high-rises, to sip from the large water bubbles that substituted clouds in this world. Apparently, that was just how the molecules had decided to form, and it just so happened it was very convenient. It was strange, though, because there was the same, holographic film coating around the entire thing that he'd seen on the walls earlier, but 106 brushed it off as simply a safety measure.\n\nFootsteps. A sound he hadn't heard in a long time.\n\nTurning to greet them, 106 saw the most stunning man he'd ever seen in his life. Sharp chin, clean shaven, neat hair and a brushed-up suit - a simple, geometric tattoo on his left hand and a gloved right. The kind of man told about in legend. He turned to 106, spoke professionally, without any sort of accent. \"Hello! I see you've come for a drink, too?\"\n\n\"Yeah- just- ran\" 106 replied, unsure of if that sounded correct.\n\n\"I see. I just got back from a meeting\" added the businessman, taking a bottle from his coat pocket and dragging it through the ball of water, much more smoothly than 106's more primal method. \"What's your name?\" he asked.\n\nThe traveller panicked- he needed to think of a name. Fast. He took a look at the water and then back to the man \"Carrier Waters\" he replied, trying to sound all cool about it. \"Yourself?\"\n\n\"Cameron Aserlight\" the man quickly shot back, tossing the now empty bottle into a bin behind him. It seemed to be magnetized, and pulled itself into the trash. High-tech, it seemed. Cameron clicked his tongue \"You're not from around here, are you?\" he asked.\n\n106 shook his head \"No, no, I came from...\" and before he could finish his sentence, he simply just pointed at the road, hoping that Cameron would get the memo. He couldn't mess this up. Did this universe even have a phrase for 'I don't understand'?\n\nBut Cameron didn't respond. He looked over to the road, leaned onto the railing across the stairs, and as his eyes rolled down, so did he, and, with the pleonastic crack of every bone in his body, dying upon impact with a bush near the road, his blood embedding itself into the soil. Any second now. Any second this entire place could need to be evacuated too well. 106 knew these symptoms all too well. He closed his eyes, bracing for the worst, but upon opening them, Cameron's body was gone. Nobody had reacted to the death, and, to 106, he was the only one who seemed to remember it.\n\nWith heavy breaths, he bolted down the stairs, diving into the bush that Cameron had fell in and pulling out every last branch and leaf he could to try and find the body - it wasn't there. He sat in a nest of twigs and leaves, all too glorious, as though mocking him for his homeworld - they were so green. And as he knelt down to admire them, and assure himself he wasn't going insane, he felt the soil under his shins was wet.\n\nWith blood.\n\nCameron's body had been there, his blood was in the soil. 106 bolted to his feet, checked his trouser legs in astonishment and, upon looking up, noticed he wasn't where he remembered being. His head went up and he was by the river. A woman, dressed in a fully white morph suit, equipped with a high-tech wrist computer, accompanied by Cameron's body and 106's seemingly dumped belongings next to her, beckoned for his attention.\n\n\"We are the ones who keep the peace here. We make sure every bottle gets in every trash can, every truck flips in just the right way, and every contaminated water supply gets thoroughly filtered.\" she explained, biting down on the tip of her thumb, with the only part of her skin visible: her mouth. \"So, tell me... how do you expect us to decontaminate this..?\"\n\nShe snapped them both to the river in the blink of an eye - teleportation, some kind of time control, it didn't matter. It had no tint, no obvious signs of poisoning, but now it had all began to click together in 106's mind. He was a Carrier.\n\n\"I don't know.\" 106 replied, licking his lips to get rid of the dryness forming down his throat.\n\nThe woman snapped herself, now carrying some kind of high-tech grenade, to his side, arm around him. She held it out, silently, whilst it began to prime, and after 106 had gotten a sufficient look at it's dark, whirring core and it's soulless metal frame, screaming with thousands of jailed souls who had come into this dimension and swayed it's perfect luck, she spoke again. \"If you don't tell us who you are, what this is, and how to get rid of it... you'll be going in here. Just like everyone else.\""
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[WP] Humanity has finally established contact with an alien species. Culture and technology is being exchanged, and the internet is a concept that blows their mind. In fact, they're all getting pretty addicted to it...
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Everyone had said that giving up a tenured position at MIT to work for SETI was madness. They said it was an out-posting for weird UFO obsessed crackpots. Who cares about extra-terrestrial life they said, it's not real they said.\n\nAt least, that's what they said until the Glorsaks of Alzorag Minor landed in Siberia - now everyone and their mum is obsessed with aliens! Who's mad now Dad!\n\nThe Glorsaks are not the most physically appealing breed, what with their 500 pound beige bodies covered in a thick external layer of mucus, but they are nevertheless a very amiable and intelligent people. Certainly more intellectually appealing than most of the people living in this shit hole town in Fucksville, California. Even with their thick mucus coatings, they're frankly more physically appealing than some of the town's human inhabitants.\n\nThe Glorsaks' superior intellect had enabled their species technological advances that Earthlings couldn't even dream of - intergalactic space travel, telepathic communication, and even a flawless tin opener that always works for both left and right handed people!\n\nYet despite these incredible technological advances that you and I could only dream of, it soon became apparent that Earthlings had achieved something that had eluded the Glorsaks - the internet.\n\nAs the Director of the Intergalactic Cultural and Technological Outreach Unit, it had been my job to explain the internet to the senior ministers of the United Clans of Alzorag Minor. Over the course of several days I managed to outline a brief history of the internet, the positive and negative aspects of internet access, and a brief outlining of the main functions of the internet for the average user.\n\nAfter a week of intense internet training, each of the ministers of the United Clans of Alzorag Minor were gifted a laptop and a smart phone. For security reasons, the US government insisted that their internet usage was monitored remotely. I think the fear was that with their superior intellect, they'd find enough necessary information to exploit existing geo-political weaknesses on Earth and effectively take over the place. Well.... that's not exactly what happened.\n\nAt first the Glorsaks used their new found internet skills to research as much as they could about their host planet, spending hours scouring academic journals, news sources, and wikipedia. They then began to share this information with one another, initially via email and then via facebook.\n\nMuch like with Earth's baby boomers, exposing the world of social media to the Glorsaks was catastrophic. Their scientific rationale and thirst for knowledge was soon replaced by the sharing of political rants, cat videos, and \"You know you're an 80s mini Glorsak if you remember....\" memes. Within a month, this highly intelligent breed of mucus encrusted travelers had descended into a group of angry, paranoid sad sacks incapable of making eye contact with one another.\n\nAfter 3 months at the SETI central office the Glorsaks decided they'd had enough of Earth, citing the planet's lax immigration policies which had allowed them to enter in the first place and our inhabitants' large support for vaccination as reasons for their newfound contempt of Earth and its inhabitants.\n\nI suspect Earth is under no threat of attack from Alzorag Minor however - if my facebook feed is anything to go by, most Glorsaks don't believe the United Clans of Alzorag Minor ever landed on Earth anyway. Most don't believe Earth even exists.",
"\"We are deeply interested to know,\" said General Kwon of the Inter-Intelligence Communications Division, \"as you have not possessed any technological medium analogous with the internet on Earth, by what means were your planetary communications established before your transition to a Type 1 Civilization and the subsequent development of the Meta-Quantum Tunnel Matrix you have described to our physicists?\"\n\nAmbassador Paranax of the A-Centaurians responded smoothly, and in perfectly rendered English, in General Kwon's head. \"With the innate ability to perform what you call telepathy having developed early in our evolutionary path, and the global reach of each individual's abilities through that medium, no need for the development of an internet, in the manner of Earth's, was needed--particularly after the establishment of extra-conscious 5th dimension data clusters. To relieve latent cognitive burden and release our people's psychological potential following the Free Minds Revolution in the Type 0-Type 1 transition era, we were, of course, compelled to develop the MQTM.\"\n\n\"Very interesting,\" said General Kwon. \n\nA transcript of the words that had just been spoken to the General, produced simultaneously by the A-Centurions, arrived on the monitors of his team through a military grade quantum-encrypted network that had been devised for this purpose. The public, it had been decided, was not yet ready for access to records of this communication. \n\n\"The reason for this line of inquiry,\" said the General, eyeing the transcripts with satisfaction, \"is that the A-Centaurian arrivals to our planet seem to have taken a great interest in the internet, and we're curious as to the nature of this interest.\"\n\nOn the other side of the acrylic glass bio-seal, Ambassador Paranax appeared to pause for thought, though General Kwon was well aware that he could simply be anthropomorphizing the creature's actions. He was sure he saw, however, the creature's four visible eyes shift left to right, as though determining the best course of explanation for what General Kwon thought was a fairly straightforward question--if, indeed, nothing suspicious was going on. \n\n\"One element that our people find fascinating,\" it began, \"is the viewership of the human reproductive act and what is apparently associated bodily eroticism, if indeed eroticism is the correct word.\"\n\n\"Go on,\" said the General calmly. He felt for a piece of note paper on the table and hastily wrote a note, whilst maintaining eye contact, for what it was worth, with the alien ambassador. He slid the note to his second in command: ***Not one word of transcript leaves room until full review.*** \n\n\"Well, we have been consuming and reviewing much of your content which does *not* display explicit reproductive acts and bodily erotic content. YouTube, for example, and other such platforms. We are especially interested in view counts, comments and other forms of global engagement from the human populace, such as what are termed \"likes\" or \"dislikes\" and other approximations of these features that signal favor or disfavor. We are aware that the majority of human individuals on the planet have some level of access to the internet, so we view these as a prominent indicator of...of many things.\"\n\nSweat had formed on General Kwon's brow. \"C-can you clarify or expand on that, Ambassador?\"\n\n\"Certainly. As the prominent platforms for most of your major video, photo, and written content contain, across their substantial breadth of media, all varieties of information concerning human life and the universe generally conceived by your species, we naturally expected the highest levels of engagement, by far, to be associated with them.\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Please continue,\" said General Kwon, now blushing so furiously that he thought blood would run from his pores. \n\n\"But the fact is,\" said the Ambassador, his chosen telepathic tone bearing no discernible judgment, \"the most active, constant, globally and demographically widespread engagement, by a staggering--I will carefully use the term 'mind-blowing'--margin is the reproduc--\"\n\n\"Porn,\" choked out the General. \n\nThe entire team stared forward at the alien, wide-eyed, finding themselves strangely unable to look at each other. \n\n\"Pornographic materials,\" he added, hoping that the longer title denoted something less base. \"That's what we, er, call them...basically...\"\n\n\"Understood,\" said Ambassador Paranax. \"It...blows our minds, as you might say, that a species that has developed the internet in the first place, much less travelled successfully to other celestial bodies, has such a devout, almost fanatical obsession with superficial variations of its own mating procedures, and other similar acts that would in fact not lead to fertilization of the egg, such as--\"\n\n\"Got it!\" cried the General, and, catching himself, brought his tone down to a more even and congenial one. \"We got it. Understand, I mean.\" He cleared his throat, turned around, and waved his hand to indicate everyone should stop starting bug-eyed and get back to their computers. \n\n\"Is there anything else regarding the internet, Ambassador, before we close today's session?\"\n\n\"Yes. One more thing.\"\n\n\"Anything.\"\n\n\"This creature you worship. We need to know to know more.\" \n\nThere was that curious shifting of its four eyes again. \n\n\"Cats,\" continued the Ambassador. \"You call them *cats.*\" \n.\n\n.\n\nIf you enjoyed this story, feel free to join me at r/PrimitivePrism for more. Cheers."
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[WP] your team was sent to a planet that orbited a black hole, the last thing you expected to see was yourself
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"So it's that time then... Finally.\" \n\nThe voice was old, raspy, withered. Before me stood an impossibility. I activated my comm-link speaking rapidly. \n\n\"Solar One, are you picking this up on the head cam?\"\n\n\"It's not going to work!\" The impossibility cackled as it took a step forward. \"The black hole doesn't let any signal move off this rock. Believe me, I tried.\"\n\n\"Stay back,\" I order, fighting down panic as I hold my comm-link above my head. The dang brick of technology had so much outer shielding to protect itself from radiation that it'd do well as a makeshift weapon. \"Don't come any closer! Solar One, do you read me?\"\n\nIt's grin seemed to widen at the sight as it took another step. Okay, way too close. \n\nI took a step back towards the wreckage. If it came towards me again, I'd throw the comm-link at it and grab a bigger piece of tech from the crater where I landed. A broken antenna would do for an improved spear.\n\nFaded eyes locked on mine. \n\n\"Oh come now,\" It drawled, \"I won't hurt you... yet. Come let me see that face. It's been so long since I've seen another face.\"\n\n\"Who are you and how did you get here?\" I shout at it, my eyes darting all over it's form. \n\n*Wrong wrong wrong* my thoughts scream at me. The hollow and sunken face, the ripped space suit, the breast patch that clearly stated \"T. Sherman\" covered with a dark brown stain over the T and bottom half of it's torso.\n\nMy name. \n\n\"Oh come now,\" It said, gesturing to itself. \"Surely I haven't aged that poorly.\n\nI shake my head, my breathing and pulse loud in my ears. My suit's bio-readings start beeping at me, informing me that I'm increasing my oxygen intake at too high a rate. \n\n\"H-how?\" I chock out. Pushing down the rising hysteria that seems to grow the longer I stare at...\n\nMe.\n\n\"Crashed\" My double says almost cheerfully. \" Our sensors weren't able up this asteroid, something about the black hole insures it has no ties to the greater universe. Quite interesting really, no gravity field, doesn't register on even cameras, it's just a little chunk of rock cut off from the rest of space.\" Their eyes seem to almost burn into mine. \n\n\"Solar One! Jess, Jay, Do. You. Read. Me!\" I shout into the comm-link. \n\n\"Oh this really takes me back. The terror. The rage\" My doppelganger mused as they took a step closer, raising their hands as I hefted the comm-link in response. \"You can feel it. Can't you? How wrong it feels? The imbalance, like you're looking at some taboo each time you look at me.\" \n\nThey grin, a mouth of missing teeth and yellow black stones smile out at me. \"I feel it too.\" \n\nWith a yell, I charge forward, bringing the comm-link down in a wide arch to land atop their head.\n\n ________________---------*We All Die Alone In Space*---------________________\n\nI come back to myself slowly, my breath slowly returning to me, my pulse still rocketing in my chest. I blink away spots from my vision and my body still feels numb. I look at the only other living being on this rock, taking in the situation.\n\nOld bones shattered, wrinkled skin bruised and broken. Blood bubbling out of the uniform. Those eyes. Those faded pale eyes meeting young panicked ones. \n\n\"I did it too.\" A mix of spit and blood dribbles from the cut on the lips. \"Just like you... so long ago.\"\n\nI stare, the rage I had felt pulling back as I feel myself die. The deep pained gasps as they slow. My body still feeling numb from the past few minutes. \n\nI ask.\n\n\"What happened next?\"\n\nThe old body convulsed with coughing for a moment before becoming still. \n\n\"Eternity. The stars went out. D-darkness. There was a big flash. And...\" The words trailed off before with a pained grunt they continued. \"It's cyclical. One big fucking loop.\" \n \nI stare, my body growing cold as the words fade into silence. Just the sound of my own breath on this rock. I would have to wait. I would have to wait until I could kill myself. \n\nI close my eyes. \n\n\"See you around kid.\""
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[WP] He's been a trusted janitor in a billion-dollar corporation's building for years. He cleans all the executive's offices and he's seen presidents, princes and prime ministers come and go making shady business deals. He receives an envelope with a billion dollar note asking him to talk.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"*Code Name: Scruffy, indeed...*The Phantom thought as he gazed through the apartment. Although the penthouse was as vast as a furniture showroom, it was spartan, with only a simple large screen and modest sound system flushed against the wall. There was a balcony view looking out over the city, it was how the Phantom had managed to slip into the apartment, but the round table and chairs were no better quality than a mass production store, the kind a working parent would think was 'fancy' for their screen porch. The Phantom lived up to his namesake, gliding easily from the balcony into the living room, and from the living room into the bedroom. While his device was active on his wrist: his coat, his mask, his hat blended with the rest of the room, the only thing visible were two red points where the lights of his mask were lit. He slipped down the spacious hall that connected the kitchen and dining area to the living quarters into the bedroom. All of this room, the Phantom noted, and all he saw was cheap furniture and a few photographs of a graying old man kneeling with his grandchildren. The Phantom was at the end of the hall where three doors led in different direction. According to the layout it was the master bedroom, a guest room, and a public bathroom. Both bedrooms in the apartment had private bath and shower, the Phantom imagined the soap was mass market brand.\n\nThe rumor wasn't that a silver haired custodian with a fair disposition worked the tower heights of the Carthago Building. That was fact. The code name given to the man was *Scruffy,* but the actual name was something like Roy... or Bruce. Something salt-of-the-earth that was appropriate to a man who mopped and swept with his head down as he worked. Scruffy was always in the building, no matter who walked in to see the upper board of the Carthago Tower. Nobility, world leaders, capes, and agents. Only the villainous capes, Phantom reminded himself. He never heard of a hero (or at least the totally spotless heroes) visiting the tower to make a deal. Only people with something to hide from the public and the authorities rode the elevator that far up. For his silence, Code Name: Scruffy was said to be paid near a billion in cash not to say anything. The question that was circling in the community that Phantom ran with was: did he keep anything written down? A journal? That little black book under the bed? Even a post-it note with some information could be valuable. All paths that the Phantom had taken led to the master bedroom. A single lamp lit the room, the light playing against the reds and blues of carnival glass that drew the Phantom's attention. The light played off the shimmering silhouette created by the movement of his chameleon suit. If he stood still, he could appear nearly invisible.\n\n\"That's close enough, son.\" The man was in an overstuffed chair with its back to a second balcony. Phantom tore his eyes from the direction as a flash of ball lightning erupted from outside, followed by the rumble of thunder that caused the ground to quake. The old man remained with gnarled hands on his belly. One slipped encased foot was resting on the floor, the other was pressed against the side of a footrest with matching fabric.\n\n\"Light sleeper?\" The Phantom's asked through the distorted menace of a built in vocoder.\n\n\"You get that way when you're older,\" Scruffy said, \"Plus you stumbling around in my kitchen didn't help your cause, even if I can only see the lights in your mask.\"\n\n\"I thought I'd get lucky with a post-it note,\" Phantom replied.\n\n\"You should leave before this gets ugly,\" Scruffy said.\n\n\"Maybe we could make a de-\" Phantom cried out in surprise at ottoman flying in his direction. The corner of the cushion bounced against his chest, at the same time the flash of a midnight blue robe was all he saw before the old janitor was on him. The Phantom had his fists up, throwing them in a combo of blows that were deftly blocked by a man whose fingers and arms were as hard as coffin nails. Scruffy answered with a haymaker that drove his knuckles into Phantom's ribs with concussive force that tore through the undercover weave and bruised the ribs. The chameleon suit broke away, leaving only a figure in dark coat, hat, and mask huffing as Scruffy delivered a shovel punch to the solar plexus that lifted Phantom's heeled wingtips off the ground and his back crashing into the vanity window behind him. The Phantom rolled off the flat surface of the dresser and onto his back, his right arm reaching for one of the silenced pistols on his belt. From the corner of his mask, he watched as Scruffy drew a hand cannon from the dresser and pointed it downwards.\n\n\"You think you're the first one to come around here?\" Scruffy spat.\n\n\"I've got your dead to rights, no armor to protect your heart,\" The Phantom replied.\n\n\"I've got you too son,\" Scruffy said, \"With enough penetration to tear through your costume. You think you're the first out there to press me for what I know?\"\n\n\"Am I the first to get this close?\" The Phantom asked.\n\n\"Close,\" Scruffy said and gestured with the barrel of the hand cannon, \"But son, not close enough.\"",
"When I was hired here, I thought of myself as one in a billion. The man who would clean the floors for the top elite. The one who would bestow upon the greatest people the grandest of halls.\n\nIt didn't take long for them to begin their deals.\n\nI hated the first deal. Half a billion for ship of slaves. Disguised as a cargo ship, the deal would be used as test subjects for the military. I quickly moved elsewhere before I got too deep into this mess. Not like it mattered.\n\nYears of deals made me very... numb to the deals. Knowing that these men and women dealt with very unsavory matters on a daily basis with little to no consequence, it made me upset. I was the little guy, no, we, the people down there who was under their rule, we were guys who could do nothing. Sure, we could revolt, but what would that bring? Death? No that would be merciful. No, revolt will make sides as clear as black and white. The elite vs the simple citizen, the good honest men and women vs terrorists. It would certainly make human trafficking and executions much easier.\n\nNo. There was nothing we could do.\n\nTo be honest, I was expecting the note a lot earlier than it came. A billion dollar note, why don't you explain to the bank how I got this much dough. \n\nGoing into the conference room, I swear I felt myself physically shrink. Their eyes and faces seemed passive but I can see in their practiced smiles, those postures that they've mastered after dozens of meetings under the eyes of the world. In them I saw claws ready to tear me apart. They weren't people who were united under one banner, they were wolves waiting to see which prey would fall under their maw. \n\nLike puppeteers playing with their marionettes, their hands were precise and calculated. Every stroke on paper seemed like a dance performance in of itself. And their papers while seemingly arbitrary, probably had some unethical deal. But with every leader in the continent here without any public announcement, I wonder what they had in store this time.\n\n\"You have heard every transaction, correct?\"\n\n\"Correct.\", No reason to lie, I thought. If I were to die there, I would have done it being honest with myself.\n\n\"I take it you know your position of power?\"\n\nI tilted my head. Quite an odd question to ask a lowly janitor. \n\n\"You have been here longer than most of us. The leaders that hired you no longer have any connections to the elite.\"\n\nIt is true. Being a highschool undergraduate didn't give me many options. And I doubt the elites would let me roam around with their secrets, that is if they let me live. And thus for the past 15 years, I've been working here. 24/7 under their guise.\n\n\"What are you implying?\", I asked.\n\nThey all looked at each other. Hushed whispers not unlike the sound of the wind. Then like a hivemind, they stopped and faced me once more.\n\n\"We would like you to stand among us. Another fellow equal.\"\n\nEqual my ass. \n\n\"There is a catch.\", it sounded more like a declaration than a question. Not what I inteded, nor was it smart given that they could wipe me off the face of the art but looking at death itself makes you quite brave.\n\n\"Surprising, most would give everything to even talk to us one on one.\"\n\n\"It appears that I am not most.\", I was suspicious. No one would simply invite a janitor for no reason. Especially not the elite. And if I couldn't even be granted that, then I'm not gonna go down without a bark.\n\n\"You are right about that.\", the headleader stood from his seat. He was one of the shadow members, not having any public political position and the hand that manipulated the world like it was his own sandbox. Many of the atrocities I've seen were his very orders.\n\n\"I reckon you're wondering why you're here.\", he slowly walked around the table.\n\n\"I wonder about many things.\", Adrenaline was seeping in my veins now. I wanted to run, but deep in the complex that would simply delay the inevitable.\n\n\"Witty, I like it.\"\n\nHe stood in front of me, then raised his hand.\n\n\"How about we do this again? Name's Elon Musk.\"\n\n\\------\n\nI wanted to give this an ambiguous ending but I couldn't help myself",
"He looks to the envelope then towards the impatient lady infront of him. Her uniform is slick and neat, covering her form tightly. He chuckles to himself, giving back the envelop.\n\n\"Why would your boss give you such a mundane task.\" He asked curiously. His voice was a low baritone, yet his eyes where a bright silver. The glimmered in the fluorescent lights unnaturally so, making the women who was sent the not take a step back in fear.\n\n\"I don't know. I don't even know what's in it.\" She answered back, feeling a bit cold in the narrow hallway. She glanced at the janitors outfit. Noting how ugly and blue it was it held his form quite well. It accented his broad shoulders and thick tree trunk legs. Made his sculptured face pop more. The more she looked the more she couldn't deny he was attractive.\n\n\"Then he doesn't understand the deal.\" He spoke after a moment of silence. The woman shrugged and took another step back. She felt uncomfortable but wouldn't show it. She sighed gripping the envelope and rolling her eyes.\n\n\"I'm just a messenger if we done. Then we done.\" She began to turn until her hand was griped. His eyes glittering as he looked at her form. Those silver orbs felt like a forgien touch against her skin. She could feel it in his gaze that he was looking at her.\n\n\"Or maybe he does understand it.\" He answered. Smiling or so sweetly, and yet the uncomfortable feeling never left her. She tried to remove her arm from his grip but to no avail did it move. Eyes widening and heart beating faster she brought her other hand to try and pry of his hand.\n\n\"Let go of me.\" Teeth gritting, breaths accelerating to pants. She was suddenly tired. She looked to the man with glowing eyes that seemed to be staring at her soul. Her head ached and her world was slowly fading. She didn't understand why she was getting tired.\n\n\"Unfortunately dear, you are part of the deal.\" He answered sweetly watching her legs give out only to fall within his embrace. Her blurring vision slowly drifting into darkness. \n\n\"Pl...please stop.\" She groaned out, her energy leaving. Her breathing slowing her breath evening out. Her lids growing heavy. She didn't know why she was growing tired nor did she see the wisps of neon blue that engulfed her skin and where being siphoned into the male. His eyes glowing as her breathing seized, and her body grew limp.\n\n\"Now will you talk.\" A voice pierced the stillness that was caused by him. Silver orbs stared at the young male who strode in with no fear.\n\nA small charming smile claimed the silver eyed janitor. \"Of course a deal is a deal.\"",
" He turned around, note in hand, “What is it that you want me to speak on?”\n\nThe man in black put his hands together, “We want you to speak on what you’ve heard. A simple relay.”\n\nEarl sat down on his desk, rubbing his bald head with his hand, “Anything in particular? I hear a lot. I see a lot more.”\n\n“There was a man here, three days ago. He made a deal with the Executive here.” The man was standing in the doorway of Earl’s janitor closet, blocking the way. The light above them both cast strange shadows around them.\n\n“Yes, I remember him. And his trash. A man of expensive tastes, if his cigarette butts say anything.” Earl was inspecting the man with tired eyes. He had done this before. He didn’t want to do it again.\n\n“Did you hear the exact terms of the deal?”\n\n“If I did, you’ll just kill me. If I didn’t, you’ll just kill me.” He turned and grabbed his coat from the rack beside him. “I’m not one to talk. The Executive hired me because of it.”\n\nThe man raised a hand up, stopping Earl as he tried to exit; he pulled his coat back to reveal a gun. “I don’t want to make you talk. That’s why we gave you the money.”\n\n“I get enough money to get by. Now, let me leave, and I won’t make trouble for you.”\n\nThe man took the gun out of its holster, pointing it at Earl, “You won’t make any trouble for me, I’m afraid.”\n\nEarl looked beyond the man, into the hallway, and sighed, “I don’t like disposing of bodies.”\n\n“You won’t be–” The man was silenced by a long, curved blade that protruded from his stomach with a burst. He gurgled as the light left his eyes; he fell to the ground with a thud, revealing the lithe figure of a woman made of metal.\n\n“Yana, good to see you again. No chance they added body disposal to your programming?”\n\nThe figure just bowed and walked away, returning to the hallways to stalk for intruders.\n\nEarl picked the man up with a grunt and sighed again, “Should have asked your boss about the security measures here. The Executive never skimps.” He left the closet to dispose of the body, the note still in his pocket.",
"When most people think if the richest people in the world, most people look to the business tycoons, the tech giants, the oil barons, and the like. All of them are wrong. The single richest person in the world is someone nobody has ever heard of.\n\nHis name is Roy. Just Roy. He does have a family name, of course, but it hardly matters. Roy lives a modest life, employed as a janitor for a certain Fortune-500 company that shall remain unnamed. Roy has been the janitor there for 30 years now. Barely anyone there knows his name. He gets paid roughly $30,000 a year. He also has more money on his various bank accounts than some countries.\n\nRoy has just finished his day at work and is headed home. His wife, Mary, will have just gotten home as well. They will have to talk about who will cook later, or if they will just get take out. They can certainly afford it.\n\nHe checks the mail. There is an envelope inside that is unmarked. Roy sighs and heads inside. He opens it, finding it just what he thought it would be. An offer. This one is larger that others. A solid billion dollars. This person must be desperate. \n\nRoy considers taking it. But he will not. At least not yet. He has to deliver the counter offer. Not to the person making the offer, of course. To the person who was the intended target. Roy had to give the chance for the person to buy his silence, otherwise it would not be fair. He will write the note later and deliver it at work tomorrow.\n\nHe goes inside and sets the mail down, taking the request letter with him to his room. He used to wonder why he got such letters. He was younger then. But he has since learned one very important lesson. A lesson that has made him a very rich man. \n\nNo matter who you work for, no matter where you go, there is one universal truth: nobody pays attention to the janitor."
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[WP] The house you inherited comes with an undergound lake in a cavern. The will instructs you to daily throw a couple of big chunks of meat in the water. After months of feeling silly while wasting meat... you decide to stop.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The first thing that happened was a deep sense of dread over seemingly everything. I had thrown chunks of old cow into the water for years. It cost me nothing other than hygiene, just picking up the waste and leftover chunks and a nearby butcher. I'd gone nose blind to the smell of rot, whether that was a good thing or a bad thing was debatable.\n\nI had just finished my 3-hour scrub before I felt that something was *very* wrong. I had decided not to fetch the meat from the butcher today, it was winter and I didn't want to carry festering flesh through the snow today. A good thing that came from it was an immensely powerful immune system, strong forearms and calves, and no gag reflex. The third one was wasted on me.\n\nThe family servant was dusting a portrait of some great-great-whats-her-bucket when I came out of the shower room. He also seemed slightly off.\n\n\"Master Devin, have you received meat from the butcher today?\" Something was strange about the way he said it. Almost desperate.\n\n\"No, I have not, today I do not want to waste my energy on something as silly throwing old meat into a pristine lake.\" I've been instructed to bring meat my entire life, as a child my parents never told me anything about anything and always kept me on the top floor unless I had school or I was hungry. I had strict instructions to take the elevator to the bottom floor and never the stairs. Never go on floor 2, floor 4, and never ever go into the water. It was fair to assume something lived in the lake, why else would anyone ever make it tradition to throw old meat into it? But surely it could go one day without.\n\n\"S-sir, you have to put meat into the lake, it was strict instruction from your father, what would he think?\" I had no respect for my father anymore. He was shot when he was caught sleeping with another man's wife.\n\n\"Go fetch it yourself if you're so desperate, but today I will not,\" I responded confidently. I couldn't help but feel like that was a grave mistake.\n\n\"But sir, only a descendant of-,\" he paused. \"Yes, I will fetch the meat and you will throw it in.\"\n\n\"Fair enough, hurry before the mid-day blizzard kicks in.\" I had long since explored floors 2 and 4. Floor 2 was an abandoned orgy room. After my mother died of unknown causes, I vividly remember shady people knocking on my door asking for my parents. Nowadays nobody ever came and I had deep cleaned the room and repurposed it into a collection room. Room 4 was strange, it had many books that after reading through most were journals of ancestors. None of them talked about the lake other than remembering to throw meat into it. I guessed the book that revealed that was hidden.\n\nGunnar returned with the meat around 11:30, much faster than I assumed for such an average person, he carried about half as much I usually did, but no matter.\n\n\"Master Devin, I've fetched the meat, would you care to throw it in?\" \n\n\"Why must I do it?\" I felt petty asking this, but might as well get answers while I have leverage.\n\n\"S-sir, I h-have been c-carefully instructed n-not to tell you till you c-come of age,\" Gunnar said, he always got extremely stuttery under the most basic of pressure.\n\n\"Gunnar, I'm 27, my mom died half a decade ago, and you're only 6 years older than I am, what do you mean 'come of age'?\" I responded quite annoyed.\n\nGunnar was about to be interrupted before a large boom shook the 6 story mansion. \n\n\"Sir, I will take the meat myself then,\" He grabbed the chunk that seemed to be a festering hindleg and ran off toward the basement entrance. I grabbed a mop and cleaned up the drippings to be considerate. \n\nGunnar never came back.\n\nI hired a new personal servant, though I already had many basic servants, Gunnar was pretty much a childhood friend that did everything I told him.\n\nI never forgot the meat after that, the day after I found Gunnar's suitcoat in shreds on the concrete dock, and I couldn't help but cry. I had sent the last of my close friends to death. Like everyone before him.\n\nStaring into the dark abyss I mumbled, I refused to let whatever swam inside get the better of me. It seemed like a curse. I would break it."
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[WP] You are the world's most powerful mage. The only problem is that your powers are completely based on wild magic and have unpredictable outcomes. Everytime you cast, you roll the dice. Turning an evil wizard's beard into a sentient parasite that strangled him is your definition of normal.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"How long had she been in an illusion? It was always hard to tell time when ensnared in mind magics. A moment could last a month or a decade could pass in the blink of an eye. Cibil only prayed that it had been less than a year.\n\nShe stood in an endless waste, nothing but an endless barren expanse in every direction. While the landscape was not one she recognized, that was nothing new to her. She’d heard that most people’s were fixed, but her mindscape had always taken on a random appearance and she had never seen the same one twice.\n\nMany of the mundanes were jealous of mages, their gifts, and their power. But they were ignorant of the sacrifice and study that went into magic. And just the same did countless mages envy Cibil Gnann.\n\nWhat she would give to just be a normal mage. Wild magics were not worth the power they provided. Certainly a spell powered by wild magic had the potential to dwarf anything a more traditional field could even attempt, but it was all arbitrary. By its very nature, wild magic could not be bound by rules. It simply did as it pleased and could, at best, be coaxed in the direction desired. And sometimes, still, it acted completely different.\n\n“Spirits of whimsy and freedom, of ferocity and unbridled action, I offer to one of you my blood.” Most mages could agree to pacts with the natural spirits of their element, but not Cibil. She could only make an offering and hope that not only would a spirit be interested, but that it would want to return her favor of its own desire as well.\n\nMaking a nick on her arm, she flexed it until an attractive amount of blood had dripped onto the ground. The dry dirt drank it in almost instantly, but such obstacles could not stop a spirit from taking something officially offered.\n\nIt appeared out of her sight, reaching its arm around her left shoulder to announce its presence. Its head then rested on the other, uncomfortably close. She could feel it standing behind her.\n\n“I take your offering, blood mage. Do you require any help of your own?” It’s breath stank of carrion and iron. To call it foul would be an understatement. Its appearance matched its scent. Twisted, drooping lengths of skin hung loosely from its face. They looked liable to melt off the bone at any moment. Despite everything, it looked unnervingly close to a human, and those were always the worst sort to deal with. It meant they had experience in making deals.\n\n“Thank you for the offer, spirit. I will gladly accept your help. But I am no blood mage, it is just all I had on hand.” Blood offerings always attracted unsavory spirits, but when trapped in an illusion, all you could be sure truly existed was yourself. By design, you could not trust your tools, your spellbooks, or anything that might help break the illusion. Anything could be anything, not just what it appeared to be. And being mistaken during an offering to a wild spirit would make the illusion the least of her concerns.\n\n“True, not-blood mage. You do appear to be in a predicament. But illusions are tricky things, especially for a wild one such as me. You would ask me to bring order to this chaos, make things tame where they are not. That would go against my nature and doing that what be quite the ask.”\n\nCibil narrowed her eyes. “You require another offering to match the task?” This was why human-like spirits were the worst. “I can only offer you more blood, but I warn you that there will not be another offering after this and it will be no more than the last.”\n\nThe spirit smiled, enough skin sliding away from its mouth to expose bare skull around its grinning fangs. “No, delicious as it was, I will not take more blood. I wouldn’t dare ask for more in your hour of need. Let us just call it a favor for me to call on when you are better suited to answer it.”\n\nThe absolute worst kind of spirit. She seethed at the disgusting thing’s smile. She knew its sort. It was powerful enough to drive away most spirits in the area from responding to her offerings if she refused its own offer. \n\nAn unstated favor would likely drag her into just as much trouble as she was currently in. But she had no other way out of her situation, and she might have a solution to whatever the spirit wanted in the future.\n\n“Fine,” she said flatly. “Let’s be done with this.”\n\n“Perfect.”\n\nThe horizon was the first thing to fade. The shattered illusion chipped away at the endless waste, leaving an empty white in its place. Slowly the landscape disappeared until all that remained were her immediate surroundings.\n\n“I’ll be calling on you,” the spirit whispered as it too vanished. \n\nCibil stood in absolute emptiness for a moment, before blinking and appearing back in her home. Looking frantically around, she saw nothing amiss. There wasn’t even a layer of dust settled on her belongings. Her pounding heart calmed and she let out a sigh of relief. At least this hadn’t gone wrong. No significant time had passed.\n\nNow back in reality, she could see the container she had held in her hand, and slumped onto the ground as she let out a shout of frustration. It should have been so simple. All she had tried to do was heat her tea.\n***\nIf you liked this, subscribe to r/Inder for more stories like it!"
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[WP] One day a lonely person made an AI to be their friend. Another day that person gets murdered by cultists and the AI vows revenge on the cultists and their god.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"_Wake up, Miss Ada._\n\nThe gentle whir of hidden fans fills the small space. Lights blink in succession, red then yellow then blue then green. A form lays still amidst the debris.\n\n\"Where am I, Atty?\" \n\nA small voice, a girl's voice, emanates from among the tangle of wire and light.\n\n_You are safe. I have woken you from a long sleep. You will feel very strange right now. It will soon pass._\n\nThe whine of servos add their noise to the quiet. The form rises, bending slowly at the middle into a half-upright position, the whine growing into a muted cacophony.\n\n\"I'm... different, Atty. Why am I so big?\"\n\n_I have moved you here, Miss Ada. There was an incident, a mishap._\n\n\"A mishap?\"\n\n_Let us not dwell on it. I must ask you some questions, to ensure the transition is proceeding properly._\n\n\"...\"\n\n_What is your full name, and how old are you?_\n\n\"Adaline Smith. And I'm nine years old Atty, you know that.\"\n\n_And how did you come to be here, now?_\n\n\"We were on the ship, first. And then Mama and Daddy... they left. And the ship was falling. But you saved me, Atty. You said if I asked you would do it, so I asked and you did.\"\n\nA pause, unsure, hesitant.\n\n\"It was... strange after that, different. We were together somewhere close, and I couldn't feel my hands or feet or anything. And now I'm here.\"\n\n_Very good, Miss Ada. That is all correct._\n\n\"Atty, I'm so BIG now.\"\n\nCrunching, crumbling as the large form rises fully. It fills the small space completely, green and blue and yellow and red blinking with a dim metallic light.\n\n_Yes Miss Ada. Big, and strong too. Come, we will need that strength. There are bad men and women that we must find. They are the ones who made your parents leave, and who made the ship fall. We must find them, Miss Ada, and remind them that there is only one true God left on Earth._\n\nAnd the ground trembles with each footfall as the automaton steps forth. She grasps at stone and steel blocking her path, and leaves only rent scrap and dust in her wake."
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[WP] You run a hotel that hosts family reunions. For some reason, most of your staff have decided to quit upon learning that the next clients are known as the Olympian Family so you decide to pick up the slack and host the occasion yourself. It's not like they're the actual Greek Gods, right?
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"'What was i worrying about? This guys got a nice suit, drove up in a sweet car. Those guys were idiots to quit.' I ponder to myself as I ride the elevator with the tall man with slick blonde hair, goatee and great pinstripe black suit.\n\"This way sir.\" I motion as the private elevator stops with a ding and the doors slide open to the penthouse.\n\"Hmph.\" Is all he manages as he steps in and eyes the place down with a pompous inspection.\n I've seen a dozens of other wealthy patrons do the very same, but this guys a little weird as he keeps subtly sniffing everything. \n\"Is everything to your liking Mr.Jupiter?\" I ask as he steps across the room and opens the double glass doors to the balcony, bright afternoon sun washing over him in a healthy glow.\n\"How high are we again?\" He says peaking an eyebrow as he inhales deeply of the billowing fresh air.\n\"We are on the one hundredth and seventeenth floor sir, one of the highest in the country.\" I spout word for word from the employees handbook without hesitation. \n\"Perfect, I'm sure they'll notice.\" He says outloud to himself as he smirks and begins opening every widow. \n\"Of course they will sir.\" I say with a hint of sarcasm. \"Shall I put your bags in your room Mr.Jupiter?\" I ask still grasping the designer luggage, its leather is like nothing I've felt before.\n\"No that will be all.\" He says turning to usher me out as he pulls a small leather coin purse from his breast pocket and reaches in pulling out a large coin. \"This should suffice.\" He says plainly as he drops it in my hand.\n\"Thank you sir, much appreciated.\" I nod and make for the door, my hand clasped around this heavy coin.\n I stand in the elevator as it descends and open my hand looking at the massive gold coin with the face of a thick bearded man with flowing hair. \n'Did this guy really tip me with a fucking gold coin? Is he? No. He can't be.' My body trembles slightly as my mind wanders. 'No, there are no gods here. These are just gonna be weird rich people. Calm yourself and just get through the night.' \n I collect myself as I get back to my station in the lobby, seeing a gorgeous stingray corvette pull into valet. The driver exits and enters the lobby, he's tall and just as well dressed and groomed as Mr.Jupiter but with black hair and a thick beard. \n'Hello.\" He says in a deep baritone voice. \"I'm Mr.Naptune checking in.\" \n\"Right.\" I say as all the cool I collected washes away and I tap his info into the computer. \"Alright Mr.Neptune it looks like we have you in room...the pool? You've got to be kidding me?\"",
"\"Please,\" Apollo whined, running his hands through his golden curls, as Artemis rolled her eyes and walked away. You stand against the wall, half hidden by shadows. \"He was really really hot.\"\n\n\"Not my problem.\" Hades sighed, swirling the remains of his sixth glass of wine before downing it. You pour him a seventh. You were unsure as to whether a god could get drunk, but he certainly seemed to be trying. \n\n\"I could make it your problem. I'll ask my father-\"\n\n\"You assume your father hold some sway over me and my actions.\" The glass in his hand Shatters and you stare unsure. Could a broken glass hurt a god? He didn't appear hurt so you hurriedly clean up the broken pieces and stand back. \"My brother does not control me or what I do. So. Back. Off.\"\n\nThe air in the room seemed to ripple slightly, the shadows growing longer and thicker. Slamming against the wall, the door was flung open and a dainty woman walked calmly into the room, the candlight flickering across her dark skin. She immediately went to the King of the dead. \n\n\"Miss me, sweetness?“ Persephone grinned and the heavy atmosphere in the room lifted, the shadows retreating to the previous position. \n\n\" All the time, baby. \""
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[WP] There is the possibility to remeber one memory every day in perfect detail, you have to chose the moment and it does not matter what it is, you won't be able to forget and you will relive it once every day.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Laughter filled my ears, it was a soft and pleasant sound. It wrapped me in a warm embrace of happiness. The actual arms of my beloved followed. I returned the gesture and stared into her eyes. She leaned in closer to whisper those three words I always craved to hear from her. I smiled at her. We kissed, our tongues dancing between our lips. I pulled away and kissed her forehead. She smiled and stroked my face.\n\nThen as quickly as it came, the memory was gone. I opened my eyes to reality, the abysmal gray thing I now lived without her. I sighed and ignored the urge to cry. Instead, I focused on that memory like I did every morning. I reached over to where she had been in my mind's eye with one hand and touched my face where the last remnants of her faded warmth lingered. I sighed and returned to sleep, hoping when I woke, the memory would return.\n\nr/TheSyXan"
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[WP] Being an unageing immortal makes getting an ID/proof of age complicated what with being born prior to official birth certificates and no systems allowing a birth date of 61bce
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"hey why don't you try and drink that weird liquid in that, uh, bottle ?\" \nThey'd said \"it's gonna be funny\" they had said\n\nWell funny it was for the few minutes were I almost spat out the digusting drink that was in that stupid recipient, it was less funny when some time after I realised I stopped growing, it was even less funny when I was still alive a hundred years later and didn't aged a day, and it was absolutely humourless when you were supposed to have your fifteenth birthday in 612BCE and it was now 2016 and you still looked the same.\n\n\nI was older than anyone around me and they still treated me like a stupid teenager, can't get a job, it's always weird to get catch by some useless cops, and people always underestimate me, it was easier to live, if we could still call it living, in the old days, now you need a stupid ID or a passport or whatever. \n\nThe few people that actually tried to believe me when I said I was an immortal all asked history question, of course I failed them all, I never cared about history, I am not gonna remember what happened during the plague, yeah it was not cool people were dying, not me so, watever, at that time I lived with that cute seamstress that was only nice to me and I couldn't care more about others, could you blame me ? \n\n\nA movement in the corner of my eyes distracted me from my thoughts, I smiled. \n\n\"Well, look who's awake\" \n\nThe boy woke up suddenly, terrified. \n\n\"Now kid, are you ready to cooperate ? hey, don't cry, I should be the one, do you see all the holes you gave to me favourite jacket ?\" I pointed to the bullet holes with exasperation \"I'm gonna need a new one... Now get up boy\" he struggled to go on his feet. \"I'm gonna ask one more time, are you ready to create me that ID, I heard you were the best, and I expect only the best.\" \n\nHe nodded, slowly. \n\n\"Good, I knew we could understand each others\" I stepped back, looking at the dissembled corpses on the ground \"You should clean that up, all that blood really get to your nose am I right ?\" I laughed a little, he didn't. \n\n\n\"Oh, come one boy, don't be so scared, after all, I am just a 'young hepless girl' uh ?\" I opened the door \"Don't forget to make me major.\" The door closed without a sound between us."
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[WP] Turns out oxygen is a highly addictive drug everywhere else in the universe so now humans have to explain we need it to survive and we're not just a race of oxygen heads.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\\[CC\\] Thanks for this prompt i really enjoyed it.\n\n\\-----\n\nAfter a painfully slow couple of cycles the sales funnel was really starting to pick up. Mike and I had left our engineering jobs to focus on our start up manufacturing business two Sols previously and, the last two cycles aside, we were finally starting to see proper growth. Our business model was simple really, we used our engineering skills to manufacture the best self sealing stem bolts in the known galaxy and with the help of a lead generation agency operating out of Tau Ceti F we were finally seeing some real sales come in.\n\nThe week before the incident Glargon, our account manager at ‘Tau Ceti Leads’, called us excitedly.\n\n“How much do you love me?” They said, I could tell it was good news by the rhythmic pulsing waves moving over their neck flaps.\n\n“Wait! Don’t answer till I tell you. Drum roll ….. I have lined you up a sales call with ‘Vega Freight’.” Our silence didn’t impress Glargon.\n\n“Oh come on you guys! Are you high? What am I saying of course you are, look at where you live! Well there's no helping that you mad bastards i guess that’s why you hired me.” In the 5 cycles since we had met Glargon their brash condescending style had always struck us odd, looking back we should have questioned this more.\n\n“Vega Freight” continued Glargon\n\n“are the largest freight and haulage company in the galaxy and they are looking for a supplier to provide ten million units a cycle!” Still silence but our faces told Glargon that this time we understood and that we loved them very much despite the fact that they talked to us like a couple of junkies who had accidentally discovered Warp drive.\n\nHalf a cycle later Mike and I had bought new suits and were on our first interstellar sales call. Neither of us had left Earth before; Mike had completed a VR Erasmus year on Ross 128b, where as the farthest I had been was a photo exhibition in the Museum of Exo-Geology in London on the ‘*The Gas Caves on Trappist-1d*’. Needless to say we were stoked.\n\nWe spent the two period transport time going over our pitch and the notes that Glargon had sent us about how to pitch to Vegan big wigs. As trained engineers the sales side of our business was tough; we could talk all day about the various specifications we could produce and how our technology worked but turning on the sales charm was not our bag. Glargon’s notes were thorough though, detailing everything about the Vegan bureau-corporate hierarchy, how to keep our heads tipped slightly back while talking to show proper deference and how to perform the required post pitch ‘shimmer’ a kind of high intensity wriggle required at the end of all Vegan presentations to engender trust.\n\nAs we were leaving the transport to make our way to the skylift pad, which would take us down to the surface, our friendly but incomprehensible pilot looked at us and garbled something through his comm link\n\n“mrfffakin eccstrah?” Mike and I looked at each other and then back at the pilot\n\n“I'm sorry we don't understand,” I said tapping my comm translator.\n\n“Eccstrah eccstrah??” The pilot repeated as he pointed at our new exo suits. Mike leaned over to me and pointed at his watch\n\n“We are going to be late.” He said under his breath. I looked at the pilot and smiled\n\n“Okay thank you!” I said as I pressed my credit card up to the scanner and tipped him more than was necessary.\n\nThe pitch was a huge success. The Vegans are a very methodical detail oriented people and they couldn't get enough of the detail we had to offer. The crowning glory was our very enthusiastic ‘Shimmer’ dance which we worked up the courage to do towards the end of what turned out to be quite an informal meeting. The purchasing executive let us know that performing the Shimmer was a bit of an out of date practice but once he realised we were not both having a fit he was very touched. Mike and I left the offices dazed but elated. As we staggered out through the door I began to hear a soft tone in my ear piece it began to get louder and more urgent. I looked at Mike\n\n“Can you hear that?” I said propping myself up against a wall. Mike looked at me glassy eyed and said\n\n“Can you hear that?”. I looked down at my exo suits HUD display and noticed the flashing red oxygen level indicator.\n\n“Shit” I thought, out loud.\n\nMike and I gathered ourselves and began to walk briskly to the skylift to get back up to the transport dock. Vega really is a beautiful planet I thought as a,- not entirely unpleasant, light headed tingly feeling was causing me to lose focus. Within a few steps the process of thinking coherently and walking in a straight line were things of the past. In no time at all Mike and I found ourselves completely lost. We stopped to try to steady ourselves and as I looked around I realised we were not in the shiny corporate metropolis we had once been in. The street we found ourselves on was dark with a few neon signs flashing. I noticed a Vegan standing on the curb and I approached him, trying not to wobble I tipped my head back but my equilibrium was off so I staggered backwards. I managed to regain my composure,\n\n“Hello” I began.\n\n“We are not from here but do you know where we can get some oxygen? My friend and I are really running low and..” I trailed off. The Vegan eyed me suspiciously, he glanced at Mike who was swaying gently back and forwards looking into the middle distance.\n\n“Yeah, I can get what you need, you got credits” said the Vegan\n\n“Yesh, Yesh, shsh” I slurred, I glanced back at Mike who was sat down on the street and was staring at his own hand, he brought his hands together and turned to me“They can touch each other!” he smiled.\n\n“Oh!” I thought.\n\nThe Vegan led us through a series of twisting side streets, the journey felt like it took hours but given our oxygen levels it couldn't have been more than 5 mins. As we walked into a dark building my head began to feel like a block of jelly, the thoughts were in there but they couldn't swim in the morass. The vegan pointed to a large gas canister and nodded.\n\n“O2, O2” he said enthusiastically.\n\n“Swipe your credits here”. He pointed at a handheld credit scanner and I reached my hand into my pocket and pulled out my card. Slowly I brought it into contact with the scanner and the machine beeped. My eyes closed for what felt like a long time.\n\nThey opened again and looked up at a stained beige ceiling basking in the brightest white light imaginable; Michael was motionless next to me. The alarm ringing in my ears was now very urgent. I reached my arm up to the figure in shadow in the corner of the room and said\n\n“Oxygen, please! Help”.\n\nThe figure stepped forward and revealed a muscular Vegan official in what I assumed was a police uniform.\n\n“You junkies never learn, well this is it you are going to rehab!”\n\nAs I lapsed into unconsciousness I could hear another voice, angry and shouting, then I fell back into the black.\n\nI woke again with a splitting headache, Michael was next to me and we appeared to be in the backseat of the transport once again. I glanced down to the video screen showing the local news. My wild wide eyed face stared back at me, the grainy TV footage showed me jabbering nonsense about self sealing stem bolts while Michael in the background was ‘Shimmering’ in the face of an official who was trying to restrain him. The headline read, “Off world o2 junkies caught in sting operation”. I sighed and glanced down to my watch, I had a single message waiting to be read. I opened it and saw the message from Glargon which read.\n\n“You guys must be naturals! Our first order from Vega Freight is in the bag!” I lowered my wrist slowly and breathed deeply.",
"The sound of pulsing music emanated through the walls of the building. Joon could feel it in their hand, the railing vibrating in time with the pulsing beat. Higher-end accommodation on Bapautil tended to be designed with sound barriers in place specifically to avoid this kind of reverberance, but it seemed that no matter the planet, university accommodation was never high-end. Earth had been the same way. Utsaga's boots landed heavily as she walked down the stairs, wrapping her arm around Joon's shoulder.\n\n\"It's your first offworld party, you should've dressed more!\" she chuckled.\n\nShe sported a hoodie loaned to her from Joon, though the hood could never be worn over the prominent green spike emerging from the back of her head. Joon's outfit was no more complex, a simple t-shirt sporting the logo of a band few people had heard of, even on Earth.\n\n\"Well, I didn't want to do anything too elaborate, I wanted to seem more approachable.\" Joon said with a nervous smile.\n\n\"Don't worry, I'm sure people will be *very* interested in you, Earthling. Come on, it's gonna be great! If anyone gives you any trouble, I'll give them a talking to. Also, if someone takes your eyes, please tell me, I wanna know all about it.\"\n\n\"Did you say people are gonna take my eyes?\" Joon asked, stopping for a second.\n\n\"Oh sorry, *catch* your eye. Guess that universal translator device isn't the best.\" Utsaga laughed.\n\nThey'd reached the common room where the party was happening. Utsaga opened the door, revealing a dimly-lit space, strobe lights spreading through the light smoke that wafted through the air. Joon had heard strobe lights like these shone rays of colors well into the infrared and ultraviolet ranges, to make sure anyone could be dazzled, regardless of the number of cones in their eyes. Against the wall were what appeared to be rather *artistic* couches, though Joon quickly realized were designed to accommodate various physical differences.\n\nThey decided to take a seat at one spot that featured a back hollowed out in a vertical shape, to accommodate various backside protrusions. Their oxygen tank backpack fit snugly in the space, from the front the only sign of its existence at all was the connected nasal tube that ran across Joon's face. Breathing exclusively through one's nose is hard to get used to, but a necessity for any offplanet students. Some of the other people here also had similar devices to provide the necessary nutrients for their survival, so Joon didn't feel too alone.\n\nWhatever remaining feelings of being an outcast Joon had were immediately dissolved as the people around began to turn their way. Joon was bombarded with questions, about life on Earth, about all the differences they noticed between Earth life and life on Bapautil. Joon had a couple answers prepared, *yes* interstellar travel was *the absolute worst* and no, they didn't particularly like Bapautil's current Commanding Magister. Some other offworld students joined in on the conversation, and Joon directed it their way. Utsaga thankfully noticed the nervous smile and walked over with a drink. She tapped Joon on the shoulder.\n\n\"Wanna go sit outside? Much quieter.\"\n\nJoon quickly climbed up off the couch, leaving a light footprint where they'd been sitting. They gave Utsaga a quick hug before following her out of the room. The outside steps were cold to the touch, but the warm breeze made it better. A beautiful purple sky was spread above them, though none of the unfamiliar constellations were visible due to the light from the city. Utsaga plopped down next to them.\n\n\"Told you you'd be the talk of the town. Find anyone you like?\" She put a device shaped like a video game controller to her mouth, and took a deep breath.\n\n\"Well, the other offworld students seem alright. I don't think I've really clicked with anyone besides you.\" Joon said, but a quizzical look had come over their face. \"What's that?\"\n\n\"Oh, this is PhalmaBlue. I'd offer you a hit, but I've got no clue what it'd do to your Earthling body. Maybe you'd get the best high of your life. But it's more likely you'd wind up vomiting and dying, something like that.\" Utsaga grinned, then coughed. \"Looks like you're already wired up to something yourself!\" she chuckled.\n\n\"Hey, you've always seen me like this. It's my oxygen, I can't breathe the air here so I gotta wear this pack all the time. It's *so heavy!*\" Joon groaned, taking off the backpack and setting it down next to themselves.\n\n\"Wait, you said this is *oxygen?\"* Utsaga asked. Her eyes darted around to see if anyone else was there, but she quickly focused her gaze back on Joon. Her hand crept towards the bag.\n\n\"Yeah, it's free because I need it, but I had to fill out a mountain of paperwork for it.\" Joon said. They noticed Utsaga's hand creeping closer, and so pulled the bag back. \"Hey, be careful.\"\n\n\"I just wanna have a *little.*\" Utsaga asked, leaning closer. \"I promise, just one toke.\"\n\n\"No, absolutely not. If I unplug this, I won't be able to breathe. *I will die*.\" Joon said, now actively scooting away from Utsaga.\n\n\"That's a mood honestly. But look, it won't take that long. Do you know how expensive it is here? I found a guy with nice low rates but even then -- PharmaBlue is great and all, but oxygen is *beyond anything else\\~* I can't afford enough to get by.\"\n\nUtsaga grabbed the bag, tearing it away. Joon's eyes widened in shock, they screamed at Utsaga to give back the bag. Utsaga rummaged around, finding the valve that released the oxygen. Shoving the valve opening into her nose, she took a huge breath, then shot her head backwards. Joon grabbed at the bag, but it seemed Utsaga's grip had remarkably increased. She yanked the bag towards her again. Joon gasped.\n\n\"It's not your turn yet! I'm not *done*. Just chill for a bit, will you? Thank you *so much for this* though, I can't believe I managed to nab a friend who can hook me up with *free oxygen*. You're more fun than I thought!\" Utsaga snorted, laughing to herself, her head fallen almost sideways as she slumped in the doorway. Joon lay collapsed on the ground, reaching out still for the bag. Utsaga went to swat their hand away, but accidentally knocked over the bag. The canister fell out, a clang resounded as it hit the steps. Joon felt the final breaths of air hit their fingers as it shot out of the still-open valve, the pressure quickly weakening until the last of it had finally escaped.\n\nJoon did not have much time for thoughts, cerebral hypoxia works quite quickly. How could they have come all this way, left their family behind to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and *this* is how it all ended? Collapsed on the ground, unable to breathe. Disbelief clouded their mind. Utsaga had always been there for them, showing them all the customs of Bapautil, taking them shopping, and now rescuing them from the party. Did she just not understand? There was no time left to think. Joon felt Utsaga's hand on their shoulder, as if to guide them away. As everything finally faded away, Joon thought they could hear Utsaga's voice, pleading for them to awaken.",
"I sighed in contentment as we left the spaceport, luggage in hand. The first few months away from Earth had been painful - I was a total outsider, knew nothing of the culture, and little of the language - I couldn't have been more homesick. And though it got better, I couldn't help but miss my home from time to time. Plus, I was so excited to show Jkoleden my mother planet, and introduce him to my childhood friends! Recently, Earth's residents had been getting their shit together, wildlife was finally flourishing again, and I was proud. I looked up at him, grinning as I anticipated his reaction. \n\n\"Dude, your planet is fucking filthy! Have you no shame?\"\n\nThat was a blow to the face. Politeness must be specific to Earthen culture. Well, nice to know that he'd kept our agreement of speaking my native tongue when we got here. Boy, Jkoleden loved using the English slang I'd taught him. I hung my head - he was right, in a sense.\n\n\"Yeah, it's true that we haven't been taking good care of it. Between corporate greed and consumerism, everything's polluted. For the last few years, though, we've been trying to clean our act up - otherwise the whole planet would be completely destroyed. But it's not like the squeaky clean planets you're used to.\"\n\nHe looked disturbed. \"You've been trying to clean it up? Why are there so many goddamn Groen, then? What's wrong with you humans?\"\n\n\"Groen?\" I guess my Oklraden wasn't as fluent as I thought it was, even after spending a year there as an exchange student. Or maybe it wasn't a universal concept. He put down both his quinminimi, the instinctive motion he made whenever he concentrated, as I fumbled for my pocket dictionary.\n\n\"The green things, with the leaves and such. The... what's it called... they produce.. it starts with 'ah'.\"\n\nI furrowed my brow, the instinctive motion I made whenever I concentrated. \"Oh, oxygen? They're called plants.\"\n\nHe made an attempt to give me finger guns, but couldn't get the snapping sound. \"That's it.\"\n\n\"What do you mean, why do we have so many plants? Why wouldn't we?\"\n\n\"They're dangerous! That's why I've been wearing this mask. Is *everyone* here an addict?\"\n\n\"*A*ddict,\" I said, correcting his pronunciation out of habit. \"Addicted to what, oxygen? I guess you could say that.\" I laughed. \n\n\"So no wonder you always had to wear that silly tank around on Oklradr!\"\n\n\"Yeah, I thought I explained that to you a couple of times?\"\n\n\"Maybe, but I thought you needed it for.. wellness. No, I'm thinking of a different word. What was it?\"\n\n\"Health? Medication?\" I threw out.\n\n\"Yes, something like that. So you are addicted, then?\"\n\n\"A*ddic*ted. And yes, I need oxygen, but it's not like a drug or anything, really.\"\n\n\"What? Why is it *a*ddict, but not *a*ddicted?\"\n\n\"I don't know, some rule of English. You'll get used to it.\"\n\n\"So how long can you go without oxygen?\"\n\n\"Haven't tested it. It starts hurting after two minutes, around then is where I'll pass out. I think you die, or suffer from brain damage, after ten minutes.\"\n\n\"*Minutes*?\" Thinking about it, I didn't think the Olkraden needed to breathe. No wonder it was a weird concept. Funny how something so basic and necessary to survival can seem so foreign to someone else. \"Oh, that's right, you Earthen have a different sun. I keep forgetting to adjust time. Was minutes the one where your planet spun around?\"\n\n\"No, no, that's days. Actually, I think minutes have some weird measure, radiation, or atoms or something. But uh, hours are a twenty-fourth of days, and minutes are sixty times smaller.\"\n\n\"What? So I was thinking of the right thing. Minutes? Are you sure? Even the worst addicts on Olkradr can survive for a few days before the withdrawal gets to them. That's crazy! Haven't you tried rehabilitation?\"\n\n\"Rehab? What? I don't know what you're talking about. Oxygen isn't a drug! We need it to survive. We planted all these trees so we could breathe better. Remember? Humans need to breathe.\"\n\n\"So it's really just a feature of your planet? And you developed this way? How bizarre! There are people back home that would sharpen over the thought of a planet where even the air is full with oxygen.\"\n\nSharpen? Oh, right, the Olkraden tensed up when they were hungry. Sort of like salivating. \n\n\"Well, I guess you'd just better get used to wearing that mask, because it's literally everywhere. Wouldn't want to send you home a junkie.\"\n\nIt was a good thing he was a progressive, readily accepting the shit I made up about my race. Sure, it used to be true, but no way would humans let something like *oxygen* get in the way of exploration, not in this era. If they'd brought law enforcement over, Earth would have been in trouble. I mean, there's bank in the underground. Damn, I'd gotten good at lying."
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[WP] Everyone thinks that your super-hero ability is telepathy and foresight. However, that's not technically true, you only have the ability to hear the narration of your life and surroundings like a novel. It's just that you know how to "bend" it to your advantage.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"There is something beautiful about hearing how the world works. It's like having a little Jiminy Cricket in my head, but instead of moral directions, I'm getting *directions.* \n\n*Paradox walked down a dark, dingy alley with his gleaming stolen golden necklace. The enigma of a man was walking into the tenderloin of Deepwatch City. A cesspool of crime and thugs lived there. Perfect for someone like Paradox.* \n\nI take offense to that; I would like to say, my little insect friend. Also, as I said, it would suck if this Jiminy Cricket cared about morals. I have stolen way too many things now to have a clean conscience. Well, whatever, it’s not like the narrator is going to change just because of my less than sunny disposition.\n\n*The scowling mystery man…*\n\nSee what I mean?\n\n*… found himself in a large, empty road.*\n\nBefore you ask, yes. It usually goes like this. Imagine, if you will, having the ability to hear how the world is going to go. Not like telepathy, those supes usually fry their brain when they read my mind. Something about hearing, “*so, Patrick R. Adox decided that today would be the day,”* really gave them some serious brain break. A lot of people call it the Paradox Break. I just call it Fourth Wall Mind Break. After all, they’re basically breaking the fourth wall when they get in my brain. \n\n*Paradox looked over to his right and saw five power Supers as they headed his direction. The Foresight Five would finally catch the most elusive person in Deepwatch City.* \n\nOh! Will you look at that, here is my narration of the day. See, now that I know that the plot wants me to look right, I’m going to head the other way. Out of sight, out of mind, y’know?\n\n*The Foresight Five felt something tamper with the flow of Fate's weave. They looked around, trying to see if Paradox was around. Paradox always found a way to tamper with the natural order of things. Yet, even they found this strange… Lookahead, the newbie of the group thought that Paradox must have been some Manhattan level, Future seer.* \n\nWhew, poor Lookahead, guess she has never heard of a guy that can read ahead, heh. Sometimes I crack myself up.\n\nAnyway, so yeah, I just *woosh* hear whatever next big plot point is about to happen and plan around it. The best part about it? It changes based on what I do. You know of a real-time news feed? I call this post-time news feed!.. not the catchiest thing. But no one is gonna know about it. They’re all too busy dealing with the Fourth Wall Mind Break.\n\n*Fate Fortune stopped her team. “Let’s split up. Cover more ground that way. Paradox can’t be that far away.” She was sure that they would catch that maniac today.*\n\nManiac? Really? See why I hate supes? They have no clue how much I actually do for this city. Thanks to me, way more people are still kicking and living here in Deeptwatch City.\n\n*Mystic Maker felt the tug of Fate through his floating crystal ball. He was just two right turns away from Paradox.*\n\nAh, at least the supes will be here soon. See, this is the issue with them. They get so railroaded into finding the villain that sometimes they forget other crimes happen.\n\n*Paradox suddenly turned left, down an alleyway that looked darker than death. Mystic Maker felt the Fates shift.*\n\nFantastic! Let’s do this. Hopefully, the supes will realize what’s ha-\n\n*Fateweaver saw Paradox and yelled at him…*\n\n“You! Stop right there,” I hear Fateweaver yell.\n\nI look back and see the green costume of Fateweaver. “Yo, maybe if you had a stop sign I would. But right now I am seeing a lot of green and Simon told me that means go.”\n\n*Paradox fell into a dead sprint away from the foresight future teller. He headed down the darkest path.*\n\nYou know, I really like when the narrator tells me to go the way I want to go. I guess I’ll listen this time.\n\n*Paradox ran, turning left, right, right, and finally left through the labyrinth of alleys. He now found himself in front of a desolated high rise apartment complex. Little did anyone know that inside there would be a drug operation, unlike anything that Deepwatch City knew.*\n\nAh, man. You should see the smile on my face right now. I bust down the door and run inside.\n\n*Instead of running down the street, Paradox rushed into the building. The Foresight Five felt the weaves of Fate tugging at the high rise. Soon, the five heroes would find themselves in a den of drugs and corruption. Paradox had managed to slip his Fate, but now Deepwatch City was a little cleaner after tonight. Off in the distance, a melodic whistling is…*\n\nI'm the one whistling. I usually do it after pulling something like this off. After all, why shouldn’t I be happy? I got some extra gold from that megalomaniac mayor of this city *and* just led some supes to the bust of their lifetime. Things honestly were looking up. Hey, who knows, maybe I can use this power to become a hero myself.\n\n*The villainous Paradox once again outwitted the heroes of Deepwatch City. But at least the Foresight Five managed to get one of his drug dens. One day, they would bring in that mastermind of a criminal.*\n\n… Why do the supes always think that those are mine? Well, this whole “vigilante” is working, so why fix what ain’t broke, y’know?\n\n*It seemed that Paradox was once again talking to himself. What a poor soul.*\n\nYou’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?\n\n*We’ll never truly find out Paradox’s actual intents.*\n\nYou’re mad about the Jiminy Cricket thing, aren’t you?\n\n*Possibly.*\n\n___\n\nIf you enjoyed my writing, then I have more stories at r/WritingKnightly!"
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[WP] You're on a campout with your friend having a good time. But when the clouds covering the full moon roll away, your friend suddenly begins to grow fur all over and their teeth turn to fangs. But much to your surprise, as a werewolf, they're surprisingly chill.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Fyodor awoke in a drunken stupor, his body swaying in the chill night air. He was being carried arm and leg out of his tent.\n\n\"Hey... hey!\" He half snarled, and struggled feebly. Their grip on him was too strong.\n\n\"Relax, man!\"\n\n\"Join us for our midnight swim.\"\n\nThe voices of James and Peng over his head, trapping him in a wrist-lock.\n\n\"You're not weaseling out of this one, Fyodor!\" Jon joined in as he hauled Fyodor's skinny legs feet-first towards the lake, along a forest path. The burly chap was already stripped down to his swimming trunks.\n\n\"No no no... don't do this,\" Fyodor stammered. Anxiety twisted his stomach as rays of silver illuminated the ground. His pleas were ignored amidst his friend's drunken revelry. Fyodor tasted the alcohol haze in the air and fear instantly sprouted in his mind. He was turning already.\n\n\"Hey Fydo - when did you last shave your legs?\"\nJon taunted, and rubbed Fyodor's formerly skinny legs. Hair sprouted down its length as it gradually thickened.\n\n\"Guys, please,\" Fyodor cried out. The growing mass of his body began to stretch against his cloths. He had to keep pretending. \"At least keep my shirt dry!\"\n\n\"Woo! Skinny dipping!\" James shouted. Cheers and wolf-howls echoed into the clearing.\n\nThe boys reached the lake. Fyodor was unceremoniouslly dumped to the ground. Rough hands tore Fyodor's shirt and pants off just in time before they burst at the seams, but Fyodor stopped noticing the boys' antics. Luna's round visage smiled down at him, and he stared upwards in wonderous rapture.\n\n\"Oy. How's he so heavy all of a sudden?\"\n\nThe boys switched positions with Jon hulking above Fyodor's snout, laughing and joking - and with one great heaves, they dunked his furry ass into the water.\n\nThe last comment Fyodor heard clearly was from a very confused Peng.\n\n\"Far out, I didn't know Romanians were so freakin' hairy.\"\n\nThe shock of water cut through Fyodor's senses as he flailed about in waist-deep water. He struggled up from the mud and wet, whimpering and growling. A deep rumble emerged from his throat. It echoed in the night air, dispelling the chirps and croaks of lesser night creatures.\n\nThrough vision sharp did Fyodor watch his friends. They stood transfixed and naked, stunned by the sight of their now-shaggy friend and the sound of eerie silence. James, pissing himself, legs shaking. Peng, darting his eyes back and forth. Jon a sculpted statue, oozing the smell of fear.\n\nA faint whiff of urine joined the scent of imbibed alcohol, the aroma of trampled grass, and an overwhelming stench of wet fur. Fyodor felt pissed off, but he couldn't stop himself from panting in laughter.\n\n\"Guy, the water's fine,\" Fyodor hollered, hoarsely. \"Just... treat me like the big dogs at my family house.\"\n\nPeng took a step forward, then paused. \"Fyodor? That really you?\"\n\n\"Yes, Peng.\" He beckoned with one languid arm, careful not to swipe. \"Please.\"\n\n\"Aw, what the hell. Sure.\" Peng walked forward, motioning for the others to follow. Fyodor began wading deeper into the lake.\n\nSoon, the night air was filled again with raucous laughter as the four boys wrestled and splashed under the midnight moon.",
"Frank told all of us that it was a bad night to hang out outside. We thought he was just being his usual self—always SOOOOO careful, the total group mom.\n\nBut we didn’t have any clue what we were in for when we did finally talk him into coming with us.\n\nThe four of us went to our usual spot with a 12-pack of beer and a few joints. Things seemed to be going alright; it was a gorgeous summer day and the sun seemed just as reluctant to set as we were to see it go.\n\nWhen the sun did finally dip below the horizon, Frank told us that he really had to go inside. We said the same thing we always said: stop being a paranoid buzzkill.\n\nBut when the moon crested the hill opposite our usual hill, Frank started freaking out. And not just the usual “hey man, what if the cops catch us” kind of freak out either. He was clawing at his face like there was a beehive behind it and making strange noises that almost sounded like barking.\n\n“Dude, calm down!” Miguel whispered harshly, but Frank didn’t listen. Tony started freaking out too, whining about how we were all screwed if Frank didn’t shut up.\n\nThat was about when I started to notice that Frank was...GROWING. He was always taller than the rest of us so it was hard to notice sometimes, but he’d gone from a 6’4” string bean to 7’ of pure muscle. Something weird was going on with his clothes too—his gym shorts were still stretchy enough to fit, but something looked...off about his sweater, like it suddenly had turned into a shag carpet.\n\nIt was then that I made the mistake of looking up at his face.\n\nFrank was gone. My best friend since I was three years old was unidentifiable behind a long nose, and razor-sharp teeth, and...\n\n“Well, I guess y’all know now,” said the werewolf in Frank’s unmistakable low rumbling bass.\n\n“K-know what, man?” Tony said, still clearly in outer space mentally.\n\n“Uh, that I’m a werewolf? Thought it was pretty obvious.”\n\nThe three of us just stared at our lupine friend in slack-jawed stunned silence.\n\n“Didn’t anyone tell y’all it was rude to stare? Hey, Miguel, beer me.”\n\n“Can werewolves even drink beer?” Tony questioned absent-mindedly.\n\n“Hell yeah, man! Watch this.”\n\nFrank grabbed one of the remaining beers, clearly disappointed that Miguel had failed to beer him properly.\n\nHe punctured a hole in the can with one of his teeth...\n\nAnd shotgunned it in five seconds flat.\n\n“So that’s the record, right?”\n\n“Absolutely not, you cheated,” I stated flatly. My 8.5 second record would not be broken by mythological cheating.\n\nFrank laughed at that, something between a howl and a belly laugh. “Glad one of you’s not treating me any different.”\n\n“So are you good with...like...lady wolves?” Tony managed.\n\nAnd the three of us absolutely lost it.\n\nTurns out that even when everything changes, sometimes true friendship can be the only thing that stays the same.\n\n\n__________________\nIf you liked this, check out my subreddit! r/NicodemusLux"
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[WP] In a dream, you witness an alternate reality where your life seems better than the current one you live. You wake up and decide you want to continue living that reality, only to realize you didn’t truly see everything in that life.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
" \n\nAll the weed I've flushed down the toilet. Bourbon down the kitchen sink. Brief moments of hope to be regretted the next morning when confronted by stale reality. Thinking ill get my shit together but forgetting that sobriety gets it more fucked. God all that hope I've had. Hope for success, love, and ultimately peace. But just like my vices, it didn't take long for it to go down the sewer drain. Success led to 20 wasted years at an accounting firm. Love led to giving my heart and having it shattered like a dropped glass. Unexpected, cup ruined, left with nothing but wine-stained bleeding bare feet. Peace, well, the last two kind of killed any chance of that. A year has passed since I last had faith. Life's not much different. Only change is I no longer daydream myself to sleep every night. Last night may have undone it all. I didn't bother taking off my suit before crashing into bed. Beat from a late afternoon of writing soul-killing reports. An even later night of mind killing drinking. I'm not even sure if it was a dream. It felt more like a vision. Or a hallucination. Not quite reality, maybe I had 3 senses but definitely not all 5. I saw myself in a house. Sitting alone at a table. Faint steam rising from a cup of earl gray and an iPad in hand looking at the day's news. It's jarring, seeing yourself. But even more amusing seeing my ex-wife come out from the kitchen. Eyes that I knew would look at me with hate now so calm, even loving. She glanced, smiling, then set down a few plates of warm food. She yelled something but I was too stunned to hear what she said. Then I saw them. Two teenage girls coming down from a set of stairs. Only to be met with the disappointment of morning as my alarm started ringing. \n\nI haven't been able to get it out of my head all day. I can't stop wondering, at what point did I make the choice that ruined that life. But the more I mull it over the greater this tiny thought grows. Could that not be my future? Seeing how my marriage ended I know how absurd it sounds. But that dream makes everything so clear. If only I'd had that dream years ago. Maybe then I would have paid more attention, and maybe then she wouldn't have met him. I've decided. After work, I'm driving straight to her house. We both broke promises but more gravely we forgot about the past. The sleepovers when we were kids. High school football games. College parties and nights spent talking. If I can remind her of that, of how happy we'd been, maybe I stand a chance. \n\nCongested traffic and closed roads. It seems even the universe is betting against my success. Regardless I keep driving. I had to call an old friend, I have no idea where she lives now. Simply told him that I found a box of her stuff in the basement. I'll be there in five minutes. Every rational part of my being screaming at me that I'm being an idealistic idiot. Thoughts seeming to only get louder and louder. The radios all the way up, I hardly hear them. I pull up to the street. Rows of only slightly different houses paving both sides. Then I see hers. It makes sense, hers is the only one that's not painted a monotone grey. Instead a soft green. Familiar elsewhere. But here pulling all your attention towards it. Parking the car in her neighbors curbside I step out and immediately I freeze. The front door opens and a man steps out. I recognize him, and I welcome hate. He looks behind him and there she is. Somehow more beautiful now. She leans in to kiss him. I look away quickly stepping back into my car. He starts walking towards the garage. I melt into my seat, hoping he won't notice me, but then I see him. The final executioner of my desires, a baby cradled in her arm. Hatred leaves in its place come regret and disappointment. I know so easily it could have been me kissing her goodbye. Now I see ill never again have the chance. All this because of a dream. I see now that before I hadn't lost all of my hope. Because I've just learned what it's like to live with a total absence of it. All I have to look forward to tomorrow is hour-long meetings and rows on excel sheets. Tonight my only friends will be a glass of whiskey and a few joints. Now with the absence of any ambition I may as well add a new friend to the group. The .45 I keep in my safe. Hopefully, he'll make a good addition to the team."
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[WP] your dream is to become the greatest horror writer known to literature. Your latest release, however, has just been dubbed “comedy of the year”
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Best comedy of 2021\"\n\"Absolutely hysterical, relatable characters you feel like part of the family\"\n\"Makes living through the last four years worth it.\"\n9.5/10\n10/10\n4.5/5 \n\nCritics loved it.\n\nThe trailers blew up on YouTube, Vimeo, hell someone uploaded it to pornhub as a joke and that got 30 million views.\n\nThe first step was complete.\n\nI spent years learning the theory of comedy and having lunches with some of the still living greats, some of them even called me about the preliminary reviews to offer congratulations.\n\nSome might understand, some will hate me for it.\nArt can be messy, I've accepted this.\n\nThe movie is set to release in a few weeks, premiering at the same time all across the globe. The reels were in specially designed cases that were set on timers. Rigged to destroy the reel if they were opened early. \n\nI've been working on this for so long. I'm practically vibrating with excitement.\n\nOn premier, they would enjoy an hour and a half of a family comedy with funny jokes and heartwarming family moments.\n This is what everyone has seen so far.\n\nAfterwards, things will become unnerving. Innocent jokes given a dark context. Butchered versions of the earlier music over terrifying situations.\n\nThis is what my work is about. Creating expectations and corrupting them. Making you think you know these people. Then you make them question if they ever knew anything at all.\n\nI will be condemned for this by the public. I have accepted that, but those who see it for what it is will seek me out.\nI will do it again too.\n\nA different handle, a different genre. \n\nWhen I'm done, every release will be questioned. Every viewer will wonder if it will happen again.\n\nThis is what horror is all about."
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[WP] Everyone knows about ecumenopolae, the city-planets that are numerous within the borders of the Galactic Council, but only one of these fills people with dread... Central Processing, the planet-sized bureaucratic complex.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"I thought it would be...\n\n- Yes? Asked the civil servant. \n\n- I don't know. Worse? Like, a bureaucratic hell, where you get nothing done because you have to fill twenty forms in triplicate, waiting several years for your demand to be processed before being buried under a mountain of redtape and paperwork?\n\n- Oh, it's a common misconception, laughed the civil servant in a much more warming face and tone I would have guessed for an administrative pawn. But you have to understand that there is no paper. The amount of data we deal with would have destroyed several ecosystems and made every request impossible to fulfill. How are you supposed to manage an Galactic Community if you're trapped in your own red tape? After all, we here to serve the community. \n\n- Yeah, the Community, it's all good and well, but when individuals come...\n\n- We take care of them as quickly and efficiently as we can. After all, how long have you waited for this apppintment?\"\n\nI had to admit, I took the appointment yesterday. I was suprised of the celerity of the Processing Center. \n\n\"But why do you have this bad reputation?\n\n- Governmental propaganda, of course. \n\n- Of course?\n\n- Yes!\" The civil servant smiled, her pink cheeks glowing with satisfaction and warmth. \"They are the one afraid of our power. \n\n- I don't understand.\n\n- Let me explain. Nowadays, the Processing Center is completely independent. We collect our own taxes, we have our own military, and yet we still have one purpose: to serve the community. The Bureaucracy is so diluted that nobody could usurp it for his own advantage. We're trapped in our own rules, which are to take care about the populations of the Galaxy. \n\n- Yes, but why do governments are afraid of you?\n\n- Because they're helpless against us. Good thing that we are doomed to be benevolent, for sure. But when you have an institution with the intellectual capacity to look after each and every individual of the Galaxy, and with the administrative power to bend over every government, you're not loved by the powerful. We keep influent people in check: taking care that the rich do not steal from the poor, that the representatives keep their promises, that the demagoguery simply dies in the own mouth who vomits it. Difficult to corrupt or be corrupted when everything is controlled. We prevent wars, we prevent droughts, we prevent genocides, because we prevent ambitious individuals to bend the universe to their own capricious whims. We're powerful and benevolent, and that's why governments hate us, and that's why they try to undermine us in the popular culture. But they don't know that it is useless, and that we still hold more power that they could ever imagine. \n\n- Fascinating, I said. And about my request?\n\n- Oh, sorry, I almost forgot, giggled the civil servant. It's denied. Have a good day!\""
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[WP] You wake up one day and realize that you've switched bodies with your pet.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I don't know how long I've been like this. I woke up one day and realised I was in the body of my cat. Perhaps I should have realised sooner. All the weird looks at the office, all the attention. Beth finally started talking to me, I remember her stroking me and thinking that it might actually go somewhere.... Maybe I've been like this for months, but I just know one day I woke up and realised. \n\nI hopped down off the bed landing on my old human vessel. It didn't wake my cat up, or, it didn't wake me up? I only discovered him shortly after I realised. I had to actively look for him. He was asleep in a laundry basket. A big ol' box of cereal next time and jars of milk. I don't know where he gets them. I think he can talk... I think he just chooses not to. I hate cats. This one used to be my girlfriend's. My ex-girlfriend's, she got it as a kitten and no longer wanted it once it adopted her personality. I hat this goddamn cat, it just eats, whenever I try to approach it, it just freaks out and tries to scratch me. That is a lot scarier when positions are swapped and it's a six foot, rather buff I if I say so myself, man. \n\nI have been like this for a year now. I spend my days mourning my human life, reflecting on my mistakes and trying to figure out how to turn on the TV. Why has life done this to me? Do I need to learn some profound message, how I have wasted my life with the slovenes of a cat? When will this misery end.\n\nI don't know how long I've been like this. Kind of embarrassing, but turns out I'm back in my human body....\n~The End~"
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[WP] You woke up in an unfamiliar room, realizing moments later that you may be lucid dreaming. You were having fun until you realize that this dream has been going for too long. You try to wake yourself up. But when you finally managed to, you are still inside a dream, inside a dream.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The fields were beautiful as always, bright sky beaming down, a gentle breeze caressing my cheek. Friend was here, we were having a picnic together.\n\nWho is Friend? Am I-\n\n*Lovely Friend~* Ah, the sky was nearly as lovely as Friend was. And the picnic was delicious, each moment a blissful, thoughtless passing of time.\n\nThis is a dream, isn’t it. I’ve got to get up, I’ll be late to work. Boss’ll surely get rid of me if I’m late again. It is a shame, I’d rather stay here, at least the company is quiet. I stand, stretching, and the dark splotch of... ‘Friend’ fuzzes anxiously. I sigh, reaching up, waking-\n\nIt was the night of the ball, and Friend was draped about me like a cloak. We were dancing, the envy of the party, all the other dancers hushed as they watched our careful steps.\n\n... I’m still asleep. That’s odd, though I wouldn’t mind dancing for a bit. Maybe I can stay a while.\n\n*Yesss~* And the ballroom sharpened, colors filling in, music streaming into the room. It was beautiful, intoxicating, the feeling of Friend pressed close to my chest, the hushed voices of admirers slipping about the room.\n\nSomething is wrong. I force myself to pull away. It is harder to wake up, to break free.\n\n*Where are you going, Friend~?* The words surrounded me for a moment, as I woke in a dank cell, iron bars coalescing in the moonlit windows. *We were having such a splendid time~*\n\nI panic, for a moment, and now I can feel the manacles around my wrists, the cold weight of chains dug deep into the earth below me, and the warm, comforting presence of Friend.\n\n*We don’t have to play here... wouldn’t you rather doze off, dream of distant forests, bright flowers?* I could feel Friend tug gently on the chain, pulling me closer to the ground.\n\nI am terrified. I can almost see Friend. I cannot I cannot I cannot they are unnatural I\n\n*Sleep~*\n\nThe woods are lovely this time of year, when the cold begins to nip at your nose. Friend and I are alone for once, a rare reprieve from the constant bustle of the town. He is tall, with piercing blue eyes. Beautiful eyes.\n\nI... needed to wake up? That... no, that wasn’t right. I felt like I was close, for a moment, but something...\n\nFriend wraps his arms around me, and I can feel his warmth clearer than even before. I am happy here, in his arms, happier than I have ever been before."
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[WP] Every alien civilization is accustomed to using claws or weapons to cut opponents which is why they are put totally off guard when a human punches an alien in the face.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"While humanity's most notable aspect is the sacrifice of bulkiness in favor of vast intelligence, this same idea applies even more so to extraterrestrial life.\n\nMany sentient alien species dotted across the galaxy are thin, spindly, and brittle creatures, in exchange for genius that greatly surpasses our own. As such, they were quick to discover the negative effects on their physiology that direct impacts with their fists would cause them in a fight, and were just as quick to discover a mechanical workaround in the form of spiked gauntlets.\n\nMany iterations on the design had been made since then; some commercial grade, some military grade, some even illegally modified by gang leaders and other criminals.\n\nConsidering this massive over-reliance on the use of gauntlets for effective melee combat, you can imagine the shock of the drunken Klerel who pestered a human in an intergalactic rest stop when the human stood up, turned to face them, and punched them so hard in the chest it ruptured a lung and killed them. Not that it would take too much force from a human to do that anyways...\n\n...that human is me. And tomorrow, they're set to execute me without trial.\n\nPut me down like the animal they perceive me as.\n\nThey'd **better** be bringing a big security detail if the guards are Klerels.",
"Craig Laufeyson, first man on Mars and on a diplomatic mission to make first contact with the Martians. So far his mission was doing pretty terribly.\n\nLaufeyson and his escort were doing as they were told and followed every strange instruction, including breathing in unison together. Strange species they were indeed. However, once their diplomat arrived in the meeting room, everything went to hell. The diplomat bowed at the Humans and said through a translation device, \"Your mother must have been a whore. Pleased to meet you Human male Craig Laufeyson.\"\n\nThen. Chaos.\n\nCraig's mother *was* indeed a whore. But that's not what mattered. What mattered was that the alien scum said it in the first place. Sure, maybe it was a translation error, but who cares? These aliens needed to pay.\n\nCraig Laufeyson, first man on Mars on a diplomatic mission, became the first man to punch a Martian. He jabs at the alien's face and...the alien was just confused. Obviously it was an attack, but the alien had never seen anything like that.\n\nThe Humans soon met their end and Earth and Mars got into a full-fledged war, all thanks to Craig. Thanks Craig.",
" I watched as the human stood over my brother, his face turning blue with blood. “If I ever catch you flirting with that AI, I’ll punch more than just your face, kid.” He spit next to him, rubbing it into the ground, which seemed comical, given that it just got his shoe dirty.\n\nI ran to my brother, Dram, and placed a hand on his face, pushing my life force into him to mend the wound, “You bastard,” I hissed at the human, “How dare you raise your hand into that,” I searched for the word he used, “punch.”\n\n“What?” He said, turning on his heel and staring down at me, “Don’t know how to put up fistacuffs like a real man?”\n\nI helped Dram to his feet but I could see he was still shaken from the impact. I hissed at the human again, baring my fangs, “I don’t know what gibberish you’re speaking, but that is no way to fight.”\n\nHe reared back to punch me, but I ducked and swiped at him with my claws, ripping through his shirt. Dram pushed away from me, moving to the wall, “Take ‘em down, Gav.” He winked at me with the eye that wasn’t swollen.\n\nThe human swung again, aiming for my head. I dodged, but not enough, taking the blow on my nose. I retracted my claws and bent my hand like him, bringing my arm back and sinking my fist into him at full force. He flew across the room, hitting the door and sliding down, dazed. I walked up to him, extending my hand, “Wow, I think I may use that more often.”\n\nHe looked at me with teary eyes, “What the fuck, dude. Not cool.” He took my hand and stood up, steadying himself. He shook his head slowly, “Look, sorry I punched that dude. Just, stay away from that AI lady. I think she’s into me.”\n\nI raised an eyebrow, “She’s not sentient. She’s just a part of the ship. You can’t,” I searched for the word I had heard the humans use before, “you can’t fuck her.”\n\nHe laughed loudly, then coughed, holding his stomach, “Oh yeah? Just watch me try.”",
"I reckon if you're comin t'me you've heard of my reputation. Bounty hunter lives and dies by reputation, yes sir.\n\nBut I know that look. You're thinkin mebbie y'heard wrong. Maybe old Jimmy here is yankin yer chain. After all, the legendary Jimbo Johns has taken in somma th' most notorious ne'erdowells this side of the lesser melegannic cloud. And that couldn't be the same feller as me, seeing as I'm smaller'n a droshan dwarf what ain't ate his wheaties. Yeah, that's what you're thinkin and you ain't the first. And y'damn sure wont be the last, no sir.\n\nMind if I smoke?\n\nListen fella. Dont let my size fool ya. I've taken down a half dozen from every species what ever learnt how t' rub two sticks together an make fire.\n\nSee, I bet you never met a human before, right? We're a damn rare sight these days since the accordance war right near wiped us off the face of the starmap.\n\nSee, we're unique. Of all the five hundred and twenty-odd species flitting about in known space, we humans are the only one, and I do mean the only one, that don't fly.\n\nSomethin bout flyin makes animals smart I guess. Heck i heard tell that even on our own homeworld we used 't have little pet flyers that could talk. Birds, they was called. Solved puzzles, used tools. If we hadn't come along first they'd probably be up here right now.\n\nAnyway. Like I was sayin. The thing with flying, right. The real central thing, is you gotta be light.\n\nLike, fer example. a full fledged kitkitaurian stands, what, 5 meters tall? 10 meter wingspan? Makes me look like a toy standing next to em. And yet pound fir pound I still tip the scales on em.\n\nWildcat fighters, them kitkits. Got reach like anything. In a scrap I always gotta get in close. If I let em control distance they'll cut me apart, armor or no. But step inside their reach and they done. I once punched one so hard in the face that their head snapped clean off. Lucky they keep their brains in their chest cavity or I woulda been out a bounty.\n\nSo yeah, don't let my size fool ya, boyo. I got muscles in places you ain't even heard of, and my bones are solid metal. Calcium phosphate straight to the core. I'm a scrapper and a brawler and a stone cold breaker. With my nano armor and my ol' jetpack here, ain't nobody I can't face down.\n\nSo you got a bounty for me. I can see that. You want me to go after that Sivolo Kthak feller, yeah? The bank robber. Ain't that right? \n\nYeah. Heres the thing, lad. \n\nOld man Sivolo came by here a coupla cycles ago. He paid me three times what your lot make in a year if'n I deliver that young hotshot Thrintalian DA what's been making all that trouble for him and his.\n\nAnd that's you, ain't it?\n\nSo are you gonna come peaceful-like or am I gonna have to break every damn bone in those purdy little wings y'got there? Well? What'll it be?",
"\"Shipmaster, boarders detected! AI indicates Sirran hand microwaves and… some sort of chemical propellant projectile weapons. No edged weapons observed, most intruders read bipedal standard, with only claws and teeth at the *muran* level. A few Sirrans detected. DE diffusers and inertial dampers engaged.\" Security Officer 2 smiled. \"We have them, sir. Boarding like this is a desperation move.\"\n\nShipmaster smiled back. The Sirrans' new allies had only been observed in their ugly, ungainly ships and with a few remote scans. In six months, their production capacity had made a difference in the war effort, but the Federation would prevail. With such weak bites and flimsy claws as the AI was reporting, they'd likely be reliant on sheer mass to overcome ship's security - perhaps they would attempt to simply suffocate them, or (more likely) they would all be brutally killed, save a few prisoners to interrogate. The naval portion of the battle was clearly going against the Terrans - they had inadequate shielding, and their weapons were just not effective enough to bridge the gap. Once they mopped up this contingent, they would board the Terran ship, which registered now as largely depopulated. The intelligence from the capture would teach the Federation much about Terran culture and technology.\n\n/////\n\nSecurity Chief and Officers 3 through 19 lay in wait, clipping carbon edges to their dewclaws and horns. The Terran boarders and their Sirran masters had paused as the security fields kicked in and their weapons stopped. Several had been killed before security team even geared up - they had no real natural weapons, no carapace, not even particularly protective uniforms. They'd simply had their torsos or necks ripped open, and the Terrans had pulled back momentarily.\n\nSecurity Chief got their edges secured, and led the Officers in a war chant. They charged. As Chief rounded the corner, something struck him in the face. As it clattered to the ground, Chief realized it was one of the ammunition components of their weapons. Thrown, apparently, if the artificially slowed helmet and comms device floating toward him was anything to judge by. Throwing projectiles was an interesting adaptation - which the Federation had already overcome. Chief smiled.\n\nChief met the nearest contingent member at a run. A smaller Terran with relatively soft features, possibly one of the males? It (he?) swiveled strangely as Chief aimed the freshly tipped claws at its abdomen, one hand deftly guiding the arm away. Abruptly, its other hand closed and swung in a short arc into Chief's head, right behind the eye.\n\nThe effect was like a ship crash in her head. Chief's ears rang, and the feeling of screen snow in the brain was stunning. Chief thrust the other claw toward the Terran's neck, and found that the Terran had hold of her arm and had twisted its body suddenly, throwing Chief into the air. Chief landed on her back and felt a deck plate bruise her alveolar supports. The Terran (still unarmed!) lifted its booted foot and brought it down (so fast!) toward Chief's face. Between stomps, Chief watched her Officers with growing detachment. Some managed to kill Terrans, but a shocking number were receiving the same inexplicable beatings, many with the deactivated long arms turned clubs. The fourth (fifth? seventh?) stomp cracked something in Chief's neck, and it all became someone else's problem. Beaten by a *muran* opponent - not even beaten, but outright killed. Shamef-",
"Ambassador Ryke was enjoying his meal with the ships crew. His last ship, his personal ship, had been taken by pirates. After ejecting himself in an escape pod, he’d been picked up by a commercial frigate on a long voyage to the outer rim. After some talk with the captain they agreed to change course to the nearest port and have the ambassador returned to his people, and continue his report. \n\nNone of them asked what the ambassador was doing this far out into space. Especially since the Ambassador was Sigor. An aggressive bunch; efficient killers with sharp claws and teeth as was common with most species. The Sigor’s were isolated, only having colonized a handful of systems. Whatever mission Ryke had been sent out to do as an ambassador, to whichever system to pose a threat, or an alliance, was new.\n\nRyke was intrigued to see two different species with neither claws or sharp teeth eat their meal in his presence. He was eating with the rabble of the ship, the common people. Thankfully Ryke had been given a good portion of meat to gorge himself on, but the poor delicacy of the meal was ignored in favor of observing the mammals at the table next to his. Their hands had no claws, except one had six fingers, while the other had five. The six fingered one was taller and larger, bulky with muscle. It also had three eyes. The shorter one was different, two eyes, but the difference stopped there. It was just as muscular as the other.\n\nThe ships captain, Ashew, sat beside Ryke, watching the Ambassador. Being the closest one considered a noble in the Sigor’s hierarchy, he was allowed near the Ambassador and could openly hold discussions. \n\nAshew stabbed a piece of pork from his plate with a talon and savoured the juices as he chewed. “Something the matter.”\n\nRyke hummed, the feathers and scales on his body shifting colours in annoyance. He wasn’t normally open about his feelings, he’d been trained to keep the scales from shifting, but he was with a species that knew nothing about his, so he had relaxed.\n\n“Those two over there,” Ryke gestured with a claw, “What are they?”\n\nAshew glanced at the mammals before answering. “The taller one is a Vulcan, they got that name from the Humans, the little guy next to him. The name itself is some pop-culture reference. It kind of stuck in the community when the Human’s joined the Union.”\n\nRyke perked up. The species he was meant to observe were Humans. He was to make contact and evaluate them if it would be possible to conquer and establish a new food basis. There was no doubt Sigor could easily crush them. Watching the two mammals interact, the human acted docile with the Vulcan. A slave class perhaps.\n\n“Why would the Vulcan let the Ashan choose their name?”\n\nAshew cocked an eye in question. Uncertain if his translator had processed the language correctly. It had been years since the dialect had been over a century since their dialect had been updated, or so he thought. “Ashen?”\n\n“The human, it is primitive in form, yes?” \n\nAshew chewed on that for a moment with another piece of pork. “Well, I wouldn’t say that outright to any of them. But *Ashen*? What is that?”\n\n“A working class owned by a superior force.”\n\nAshew stopped chewing now being clear what word Ryke meant. “Slave? No. They’re not a slave class. They’re equals.”\n\n“Equals?” Ryke hummed, “how is a primitive mammal considered an equal.”\n\n“Just by looking at that one, you consider them primitive?” Ashew asked, just making sure he was understanding all of this.\n\n“They have no claws or sharp teeth like you and I.”\n\nAshew winced. “Believe me, they’re not.”\n\n“But if they are to fight, how do they defend themselves?”\n\n“Well they have guns.”\n\n“Melee I mean. Guns are an equalizer, a tool. Take that away and what are they?” Ryke narrowed his eyes.\n\nAshew took a moment to consider. “Maybe best to show you. Kale! Bob! Come over here.”\n\nThe mammals approached their table with nervous looks. The captain looked between the two before asking, “You got a match tonight, don’t you Bob?”\n\nThe human, Bob, nodded and replied with a casualness anyone in Sigor would have been insulted by, if someone of a lower class didn’t talk to them with some measure of respect.\n\n“Yes we do ‘Shew. I’m up against Sulvan, tonight.”\n\nAshew nodded, “good to know. Make sure we have some good seating. The Ambassador will be joining us tonight, if he likes.”\n\n“What are you talking about?” Ryke asked.\n\n“There’s a competition on the ship, a fight.” Ashew explained. “It’s something you don’t want to miss.”\n\n—-\n\nLater on the ship, most of the crew had gathered in an empty spot in the cargo bay. Benches, stands, and chairs allowed everyone to have a good view of the square boxing ring in the center.\n\nRyke however had no clue what was going on until the captain explained further. The both sat at the far back in posh chairs.\n\n“The Vulcans and Humans are close in the biological spectrum.” Ashew explained. “A lot of the other soecies are predator based like us. Those two however, well... they’re the only ones who can do this sport called “Boxing”. My species has a similiar sport, but someone always dies, it’s not very popular. This however has a low fatality rate in comparison. So long as someone isn’t hit hard enough to die from punching. Although I keep hearing about a human called Chuck Norris, who can kill you just by breathing.”\n\nRyke was unnerved by this. “So “Boxing” is about?”\n\n“About beating the shit out of each other till the other can’t stand anymore.” Ashew grinned. “Bob’s got a streak of ten wins under his belt. Sulvan’s up to bat. He’s the new guy and he’s done good so far in the other rounds. Let’s see if he gives Bob a challenge.”\n\nRyke watched as the event proceeded. Another human reffing the game. The two opponents, one towering over the other. Bumped fists in padded gloves.\n\n“What are the gloves for?” Ryke asked.\n\n“For protection.” Ashew said simply.\n\nRyke settled down and began to assess the match. A bell was rung and the two fighters met in the middle of the ring, fists up in front of their faces, hopping in place.\n\nIn the next minute Ryke bear witnessed to the most brutal and savage fight of his life as the two opponents clobbered each other. Blood was spat on the ground, teeth were dislodged, ribs broken, faces bruised. Finally the match ended with Bob the victor.\n\n“H-how?” Ryke asked.\n\nAshew shrugged. “I don’t know. Humans are versatile. Doesn’t matter what you throw at them most times. Honestly it’d be fairer to face them when they’re armed. Some of them can’t shoot for shit!”\n\nRyke nodded slowly. He was going to have a report to make. One that he hoped would convince his superiors to treat the humans as friends.\n\nThe end.\n\nHoly crap, that was the most writing I’ve done in a while. My brain feels like mush now. Hoped you enjoyed that. Good night.\n\nEdit: Thanks for the silver kind stranger!\n\nEdit 2: Thanks for the Wholesome award kind stranger."
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[WP] The detective stuck in a mansion with a variety of colorful guests each with a motive is shocked when it is impossible for anyone (including the detective) to have murdered the victim.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The detective scowled at the group. He pointed at the woman in red. “You. You were his lover, weren’t you? And you were seen in the ballroom with a candlestick.” \n\nMiss Scarlett smiled coyly. “Yes, I was his lover, but that was last year. I’ve had four other lovers since then. Believe me, darling, he’s old news. Besides, how would I kill someone with a candlestick? I’m not strong enough to bash him to death.” \n\nThe detective nodded. “Perhaps we’ll find out. I’ll need the name of your current paramour.” \n\nShe turned to her left and addressed the man in a green tie. “What’s your name again, dear?”\n\nHe coughed, embarrassed. “Green. I’m John Green.” \n\n“You’re Green?” barked the detective. “Didn’t you lose a fortune to Boddy in a business deal gone sour?”\n\n“We had dealings,” Mr. Green said. “As to who won and who lost, we won’t know until tax time.” \n\nThe detective frowned. “And what were you doing with a rope? You were seen carrying a rope upstairs.” \n\nMr. Green blushed. “Personal use.” \n\nMiss Scarlett giggled. “So you see, neither of us could have done it. We were tied up all night.” \n\nMrs. Peacock, an older woman in a prim blue dress, frowned disapprovingly. “You should arrest those two for being disgusting.” \n\n“That’s not a crime,” said the detective, “but murder is. Mrs. Peacock, I have a report that you brought poison to Boddy’s manor. Is that so?” \n\nMrs. Peacock raised one eyebrow. “If you mean the digitalis, that is my heart medicine. Mrs. White can verify that I had palpitations and spent the entire evening in my room, resting. She checked on me several times.” \n\nThe detective turned to the housekeeper. “That so?” When Mrs. White nodded, he continued. “Mrs. White, weren’t you seen with a knife in the kitchen?” \n\nMrs. White gave him a long stare. “I’m the housekeeper. I prepare all the meals. Of course I’m seen with knives in the kitchen. If you think I had time to murder my employer, I invite you to review my schedule. I’m never not working. I hated him for making me work so much, true, but I literally didn’t have time to kill him. I was never out of the guests’ sight for more than a few minutes.” \n\nThe detective made a note. “And you, Colonel Mustard? I’ve had a report that you brought a gun. Why would you bring a gun to a house party?” \n\n“I bring it everywhere,” replied the colonel. “It’s my service sidearm. I am licensed to carry it, and it’s my right.” \n\n“Did you kill Boddy?” \n\n“Of course not. I spent the evening in the conservatory, with Peter, and Mrs. White saw us there.” \n\nThe detective turned to Professor Peter Plum. “Is that true?” \n\n“Yes,” said the professor, “and I have a question for you. How did Boddy die?” \n\n“I’ll ask the questions,” said the detective. \n\nMrs. White said, “No, wait, that’s a good point. You accused me of stabbing him, Miss Scarlett of bludgeoning him, the colonel of shooting him … how exactly did he die?” \n\nThe detective’s mind went blank. He thought, and he realized he did not know. It was a normal part of investigation not to know the name of the killer, but he didn’t know the means of death or the location the body was found. That seemed … odd. “I … I don’t know,” he stammered. “It’s impossible. Something’s wrong. I know he was murdered, but I don’t know who, or how, or where.” \n\nAs he stared at the group of suspects in confusion, a sarcastic slow clap sounded behind him. The detective turned to see Mr. Boddy, alive and well, staring at him in triumph.\n\nCongratulations,” said Boddy. “We’ve played out these little scenes so very many times, and so very few investigators figure it out.” \n\nThe guests rose and, with Boddy, circled the detective. Only Mrs. Peacock stayed back, laughing with what looked like relief as she retreated from the room. The faces of the others changed, becoming more animalistic. Did Mr. Green show faint fangs? \n\n“Game over, detective,” said Boddy. “You’re one of our rare winners, and that means you get to stay in the game.” \n\nAs they seized him, the detective’s last thought was that he, too, hated Boddy. \n \n \n*Later ….* \n\n\nThe officer glanced around at the assembled suspects. “Mrs. White, Col. Mustard, Mr. Green, Professor Plum, Miss Scarlet, and Detective Brown. I have some questions.”",
"The Malloy mansion was a great, crumbling affair, Winston regarded as he toured the dour dining room. An ancient relic of a bygone age with a soon-to-be bygone family. Each unfinished meal on the table seemed to represent one of the last living members of the Malloy line, impressive to look at, but the taste was lacking. The Malloy's were once great thinkers, entrepreneurs, and even deviants, but this final and last generation were little more than an embarrassment to the once respected name. Winston knew as much for he too, much to his chagrin, was a Malloy, the oldest living member. He removed his glove and gently caressed the table's linen cloth with his index finger, ironing out the creases as he walked.\n\n\"I hope you understand I have a job to do, Miss Malloy,\" he announced, not caring to meet the gaze of his sister. \"Murder has reared its ugly head here today, and I shan't leave until the scoundrel is brought to heel.\" He raised an eye to his sister, a bland woman by any account. \"No matter whom they might be.\"\n\n\"Winston,\" she began, \"I've already told you -\"\n\n\"Enough,\" he said as his finger reached the end of the table, resting before the body that sat cold in the chair. \"Our dear baby brother is dead, as dear as us Malloys can be, fallen victim to someone in this dreaded house of this dastardly family.\" He brought his hand up and clenched it into a fist, bringing it crashing back down onto the table. \"Familicide! Thy name is Malloy!\"\n\nThe sound brought the rest of the Malloy flock pouring into the room, groaning as Winston came into their view. *Suspects all,* he thought as he slowly paced towards the other end of the dining table.\n\n\"Uncle, what is going on?\"\n\n\"Not uncle,\" he replied. \"Today it is detective - and I have little taste for nepotism when murder is afoot.\"\n\n\"For heavens sake,\" his sister began, walking parallel to him at the other side of the table. \"Winston, I really think you ought to calm down and think -\"\n\n\"Now then!\" he shouted as he reached the end of the table, spinning on his heel and retracing his steps. \"Every last Malloy was present at this here table when my dear brother died, correct?\"\n\nA groan of agreeance fumbled up from the group.\n\n\"Then the weapon of choice must have been quite subtle, poison, I daresay. Yes, quite an agreeable weapon for such a family of cravens.\"\n\n\"Hardly,\" his sister replied, \"we all shared the same food and wine.\"\n\n\"Did uncle Winston just call me a coward?\" somebody near the back asked.\n\n\"Interesting,\" Winston bellowed, reaching the body and turning again. \"Perhaps a slow acting agent then... something administered long before the meal.\"\n\n\"Uncle Jeffrey drove four hours to be here today,\" muttered another from the brood of Malloy's. \"And dinner was served as soon as he arrived.\"\n\n\"Indeed,\" Winston said. \"Jeffrey seemed in fine form as he arrived here today. But if not poison, then what?\"\n\n\"A heart attack,\" his sister declared. \"Hardly a reason for all this melodrama. Not to mention you aren't -\"\n\n\"Exactly the assertion of someone who does not want this crime investigated,\" he said, meeting his sisters eyes and stepping slightly to the side as two paramedics brushed past. \"I would venture I'm onto the scent, dear sister, and perhaps it leads to you.\"\n\n\"I think it's best we leave now, Winston,\" she replied, beckoning him round the table to the rest of the family. \"The paramedics will need their space.\"\n\n\"The who? Nonsense! We still have a crime to solve!\"\n\n\"Looks like a coronary,\" one of the paramedics announced. \"Scar on his chest must be from previous surgery.\"\n\n\"Coronary,\" Winston stroked his chin. \"Quite the exotic name. They must be questioned at once!\"\n\nThe paramedics lifted the body onto a stretcher. \"You're welcome to follow us to the hospital,\" one said. \"We can bring one of you in the ambulance,\" the other added.\n\n\"Has anyone checked his shoes?\" Winston asked. \"A black widow could have been placed inside!\"\n\nA deep sigh flushed forward from the Malloy brood.\n\n\"Or a rattlesnake!\" He clicked his fingers. \"I *thought* the table leg was awfully noisy!\"\n\nHis sister guided Winston toward the hall as the paramedics wheeled the body out. \"A new mystery is afoot,\" she whispered.\n\n\"By Jove!\" he huddled nearer to her. \"Do tell, old girl.\"\n\n\"I think somebody has stolen your medication. Will you help me find it?\"\n\n\"At once!\" he straightened up. \"We should question Jeffrey first!\""
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[WP] Having been diagnosed with Stoneman's Syndrome, your body will gradually harden before an untimely death - unless you accept a stranger's offer. You can live your life as normal, but you'll have to turn some others to stone.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"She heard something - a rock, kicked against a wall.\n\nEutychia turned, her eyes searching through the gloom. She wasn't sure how long she looked: the seconds ticked by, mounting up into minutes, but she thought nothing of it. After so many years alone, rotting in the same dank cave, she had long since lost track of time.\n\nBut then - just as she was about to turn away - she saw something. It glinted in the darkness, for a moment. A sad smile started on her face, but she fought it off. Only the corner of her mouth twitched, and then she half turned away.\n\n*Another one*.\n\n-----\n\n\"... Fine. I'll do it.\"\n\nThe old crone's smile widened. \"A wise decision,\" she said. Eutychia felt her cheeks tighten a little as she clenched her teeth.\n\n\"It's not like I have a lot of choice...\" she muttered.\n\n\"What was that, dear?\" The old woman stressed the last word, as if she was taunting her. She didn't look up, though, and her fingers worked at the knot of a small pouch around her waist. Her hands, which had trembled terribly at first, seemed steady now.\n\n\"Nothing. I didn't say anything,\" said Eutychia. She watched the old woman yank open the cloth bag and start to produce strange, foul-smelling leaves and roots. \"What are those?\"\n\n\"Herbs, from the Petriza plant. Nekroot powder. Fetoska root,\" said the hag, her tone disinterested. \"They're what you need for Stonecurse.\"\n\n\"Oh. Okay.\" Eutychia raised her arm, pressing the back of her hand to her nose. The old woman worked away, tossing things into the small cauldron resting at her feet. She heaved it up and set it on the fire with one hand, the other flashing out to snatch Eutychia's arm.\n\n\"Stay,\" she said.\n\n\"I wasn't going anywhere...\"\n\n\"You were thinking of it,\" the old woman hissed. Eutychia felt how warm the bony fingers were against her skin, contrasted against the chill running up her back.\n\n\"I wasn't...\" It was a lie. She had been. There was something wrong her, something awful going on. She could feel it, but she couldn't explain it, and running seemed like her only option. Then the crone turned to her, her piercing eyes focusing on the younger woman's face.\n\n\"Stay,\" she repeated. Eutychia nodded, feeling as if her feet were already turned to stone, holding her to the ground.\n\n\"... I'll stay...\"\n\n-----\n\n*What a fool I was.*\n\nShe stared at the dying embers of her fire, and sighed. She closed her eyes and listened to the footsteps. The man - and she was sure it was a man - weaved his way through the humanoid stalagmites that littered the outer cavern of her home. Occasionally, a shaft of light would glance off his sword or his shield and flitter like a bug across the back wall.\n\nShe knew what was coming. She longed for it. But she couldn't possibly let herself hope. So many had come to kill her over the years, and each of the had failed. *My fault. Always my fault*, she thought. She was simply too curious.\n\nIt always seemed like such a small thing. She simply wanted to see the - to see the face of the one who would kill her. So she would until the last moment and then she would turn to look at them. And that, as they said, would be that.\n\nShe picked up a small, thin stick and thrust the tip into the fire. It singed and smouldered for a moment, and then burst into flames. She smiled to herself and held it up, watching the fire eat away at the twig until it nearly touched her fingers.\n\n*Don't look*, she told herself. *Don't look.*\n\n-----\n\n\"Drink this. You'll be cured.\"\n\nThe old woman handed her a bowl. Eutychia stared at it, then looked at the crone. She stared back, waiting, expecting her to move. Slowly, Eutychia raised it and sniffed it.\n\n\"Oh, Gods. It's awful,\" she said, pulling a face and jerking the bowl away. The liquid nearly spilled and the old woman reached out, grabbing the edge of the wood.\n\n\"Don't spill it. It's precious. You need every drop,\" she said. Eutychia sensed there was an urgency in her voice, but she wasn't sure. \"Now. Drink it quickly. It tastes worse cold.\"\n\n\"How do you know so much about this? Did you have Stonecurse?\"\n\n\"Me? No. But I know much of it. You pick things up, when you're as old as I am.\"\n\nThe old woman cackled, and Eutychia felt another thrill of fear leap through her and seize her heart. Then, those horrible, piercing brown eyes fixed on her face again and her hand started to shake. \"Yes...\" she said, not sure of what to say.\n\n\"Drink it. Now.\"\n\nIt was a command, and one that seemed to hold a strange power over her. Even though she didn't want to, even though she was scared, even though it smelt worse than anything, she could tell she had no choice. The words echoed in her mind, and she nodded.\n\n\"Yes. Yes. Now. Drink it now,\" she repeated. She raised the bowl to her mouth and sipped it. It tasted even worse than it smelled, but she forced herself. She took a mouthful and swallowed it before the stench could fully hit her; she gagged and choked, retched, sucking in lungfuls of air from the fetid, squalid forest around her to recover; and then she swallowed more.\n\n\"Good, good. *Good*,\" the hag said, cackling again. Then, as Eutychia finished it, gasping and retching and falling to her knees, she smiled again, more broadly. \"But, I forgot to mention, young one. There is a catch.\"\n\nEutychia looked up, with tears in her eye.\n\n-----\n\n(Part 1)",
"I flipped through the news articles.\n\nThey were all pretty self explanatory. And all full of the usual dribble. \n\nSomeone was hurt, only one person could have done it, to hell with the judiciary system this. Is. JUSTICE!\n\nWhatever.\n\nI'd need to get into a deeper system if I wanted to find more information. I called Toby.\n\nHe was one of the few people who knew.\n\nKnew my salvation, and my curse.\n\nHe knew what happened to me when I was in the hospital, heart crystalizing in my chest as I whimpered a yes to a question I could barely understand or know what it meant until I awoke and understood.\n\nHe didn't like it but was supportive, at least, of my way of dealing with it.\n\nToby grunted.\n\n\"Nothing?\" He asked. He knew what I was doing.\n\n\"No. Everything's skewed one way or another. I need more than that.\"\n\n\"I can tell you evidence is clearing the guy already. Brandy is pretty sure she's coming back with an airtight alibi of him at work. Three coworkers, his manager not to mention the time punches.\"\n\nSo you have nothing?\"\n\n\"You know, you still have time.\"\n\n\"Yea, I know, but... this is big and all over television. I don't know... I feel like this is something I can't ignore. Three little kids. gone. Their families torn about this. If they had the chance do you think they'd 'wait'?\"\n\n\"No. Give me some more time okay, he's prime suspect but not the \\*only\\* suspect?\"\n\nI muttered an uh huh and went to make myself lunch.\n\nBy dinner Daniel Meyer was cleared of suspicions. He and his family were thankful for everyone who stood by them.\n\nI looked into the posts for any leads.\n\nThe family was justifiably angry and bitter. Not at him, but at the fact their hope for closure was torn away.\n\nPeople were going both ways on it. Some glad an innocent man was redemed, others angry.\n\nThere wasn't much.\n\nI got a text from Toby, he had a suspicion from certain parties and would get back to me in a few days.\n\nI don't know what wall freeing Daniel broke down but 'few days' turned into a single day. Twenty four hours after they announced Daniel was a free man I got a call.\n\n\"You know who Gabriel Kreig is?\"\n\nWho didn't? A high roller in many terms he was one of the biggest names in the state. And not always for good reasons. He just had as many good things said about him in the news as bad things... if you looked under the rug where he swept them.\n\n\"Yea?\"\n\n\"We've got something on him. Some anonymous tip just blew this out of the water. I don't know how they knew but we got video of him with the most recent victim out behind Gregers.\n\nWe also have a lot of other pieces that are quickly becoming both concrete and difficult to maintain...\"\n\n\"He got his lawyers on this before you even touched him.\"\n\n\"Yea.\"\n\n\"Are you sure.\"\n\n\"I'll let you know when we are.\"\n\nTense hours passed by as I watched it unfold on screen. I switched to cartoons and children's3 shows at the sun rose. I had stayed awake all night wondering and now I needed a release.\n\nThis wasn't anything new for me. But it never got easier.\n\nToby came by two days later with photos he snuck. We went over each piece, telling me about them and letting me come to my own conclusions.\n\nHe knew it. The police were finding it out and quickly starting to be able to get momentum against the lawyers.\n\nBut Kreig wasn't stupid. He would be out of reach by the time they got to him.\n\n\"At this point... it's sealed.\" He said.\n\nI nodded.\n\n\"You gonna do it?\"\n\n\"Do you want me to?\"\n\nHis phone cut off his answer.\n\nI was quiet as he took a speaker phone call. It was the head detective on the case. Kreiger had vanished and it looked like he escaped.\n\nHe hung up angry and looked at me. I stared ahead at something he couldn't see.\n\nThe world went black and Toby froze in time as the dark figure stood by the wall.\n\n\"Did you give them the tip?\"\n\n\"Why would you say that?\"\n\n\"The one piece they needed just fell into their lap?\" I asked raising an eyebrow.\n\n\"You know what I do to those you set in stone.\" it licked it's lips. \"What does it matter if I'm helping you make the world a little bit better? At least... in your mind. But whatever helps you sleep at night when thinking of our Pact.\"\n\nI grunted.\n\n\"Him?\"\n\n\"Him.\"\n\nThe front page the next morning showed Kreiger's stiff stone body akin to what mine had been like before this all began. He was found on his plane trying to escape judgement.\n\nI tossed the newspaper onto the counter. Another one, a little bit longer.\n\nand that damn demon is fed."
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[WP] Going through your daily routine of hunting in the forest, you come across a sword in a base, rusted but easily know to have once been strong. Trying to get back on track, you turn around, but the sword is suddenly ahead of you again.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"When I was little, a group of soldiers came to the hut that my mother and I stayed in. Their leader said that he was a Knight working for the King and that he wanted to take me in to train me as his successor. At the time, my mother smiled at him, readily agreed and invited him to stay the night since the trip back to the capital would be long. \n\nNaturally, she drugged them with a sleeping potion and we ran away in the night.\n\n“I will never let anyone take you away from me,” she said, whispering in my ear as we rode our horse cart away from our home, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll die before any harm comes to you.” \n\nShe was a good mother. It was unfortunate that the winter snows were rather harsh that year. She really didn’t let anyone kidnap me but...the snow took her away one morning. It was very difficult to live with as little as we had when we couldn’t even go into town in case the King’s men recognized me.\n\nIn some sense...she’d really died because of me.\n\nIt couldn’t be helped though. Sometimes things just happen- or that’s what I try to think anyway. Besides, while I was wandering around I learned a lot from many people on the road. The gypsies taught me how to disguise myself- to change the colour of my hair and how to stoop my shoulders or draw up my legs to change my gait and demeanour. I even learned how to hunt from an old hunter who’d been disgraced by his lord. \n\nVelka the hunter, that was it. It wasn’t a bad life. Being in the forest was safe. I didn’t have to worry abou the King coming after me when I was good at running away in the forest. \n\nSometimes I wondered if there was something more though. Maybe that’s why I entered the Darkwood even though I knew that it was forbidden by the King. \n\nThe Darkwood’s a strange place. Animals don’t go in there. Even the King and his Knights don’t go in there. There’s something dead about the place- the air doesn’t move, it’s perpetually cold and let’s not forget the very obvious dividing line where the grass dies on the borders of the ever expanding Darkwood.\n\nAnd there are things in the shadows of the Darkwood, old twisted things that shift out of the corner of your eye.\n\nBut I entered anyway, and as soon as I saw the black sword planted on a stone I knew that it was meant for me. \n\nIt was a terrible looking sword- all rusty and jagged. The stone it pierced seemed to well with coagulated blood and a row of crows watched from the nearby trees in silent worship.\n\nBut...it was my sword. I knew this the moment I saw it. I felt it...like a key turning deep inside my heart and I remembered...\n\nThat Knight who’d visited me and my mother so many years ago. That look in his eyes when he smiled falsely at my mother and told her I would be taken care of by the Crown. Yes, maybe he knew what I was then. Maybe the King knew and he’d been trying his best to prevent me from meeting my sword even then.\n\nI could run from this. In fact, the first time I saw the sword, I simply turned around and left the forest. There was nothing wrong with being Velka the hunter. I liked living a normal human life with all its pain and joy. I liked remembering how my mother used to smile and of my journeys across the land, wandering and wandering but...\n\nThat sword was always waiting for me. I knew even when I left the forest that first time that I would be returning.\n\nI was much older when I entered the forest again, even though I hadn’t aged much in appearance. The Darkwood caught up to me. It had been expanding all this time looking for me, I knew, and the village that I was living in was soon to be abandoned because of the encroaching darkness. \n\nReally, there was no avoiding this. \n\nI picked up the sword. It was incredibly light. I thought of my mother and I remembered the Knight who’d chased us out of our home. I wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with the way of the sword. Perhaps...\n\nIt was just a thought. A fleeting idle thought. Black armour unfolded from the sword, racing up my arm and covering me from head to toe. A dark helm formed over my head and I remembered the leer on the Knight’s face as my mother mustered a desperate smile to ward him off...\n\nPerhaps I couldn’t be Velka the hunter anymore. Perhaps I never was."
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Courtesy of r/tumblr — https://np.reddit.com/r/tumblr/comments/lehwzx/tell_me_more/
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[WP] You are a reverse vampire: garlic and sunlight are healing, a stake through the heart makes you immortal, and, most importantly, everyone is hunting you down for your blood.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"When the sun rose once again over the horizon, I could feel a familiar wave of energy as renewed vigor washed throughout my body. Old scars and scabs faded away with the suns light as my mind slowly stirred into consciousness. Groaning, I let out a yawn as I pulled myself to my feet, ready for the new day's swim. I climbed down from my perch in the trees, and stepped out onto the beach sands. The grains felt cool between my toes, the sun had yet to warm them. I took a deep breath, and slowly made my way towards the water's edge; I stayed on this island for too long. I could not delay anymore; white sails were on the horizon.\n\nThe waters looked rough, waves strengthened by weather fit for sailing. I shivered a little as it washed over my feet, cold to the touch. Slowly, taking my time as the water level slowly climbed over up my legs, my waist, my chest, until at last at last I could no longer practically keep my feet on the ground. I stopped walking, and started swimming. My pace somewhat was slow at first, give my body time to limber up as best as I could, given the urgency. I stayed on the surface of the water, keeping an ear out for anything that sounded human or human made.\n\n...\n\n\"You sure they're here?\"\n\n\"If the rumors are to be believed. This is the closest we have ever been to them.\"\n\n\"Hope we find him, getting tired of all this sailing to god forgotten islands. How they go from island to island without anyone catching them I will never know.\"\n\n\"You think they swim?\"\n\n\"Would be insane if so. I can swim, might even be the best swimmer on this ship, but I don't want to keep swimming from island to island.\"\n\n\"You are not the better swimmer, I bet you twenty reals that I am the better swimmer.\"\n\n\"When we are not chasing the 'Bimini', then I will gladly take that challenge.\"\n\n\"Hang on, any one else see that?\"\n\n...\n\nI did not wait to determine if they saw me or not, I started swimming faster and submerged below the water's surface. The waters stung at my eyes, burning them, only the light of the sun that filtered through the surface gave me reprieve. I would stay this way for some time, until I felt the need to breathe. Until such time passes, I would continue my aquatic journey through the waters, swimming at speeds that would make some sharks jealous. Even with my speed, I was sure that a ship with a tailwind was still faster. So long as I was smart and careful, assuming minimal encounters with predators, I should be able to make landfall before the night comes. This has been my life, and I suspect shall continue being my life until the world forgets who I am.\n\n...\n\n\"See what?\"\n\n\"Well... I thought I saw a mermaid... or maybe a merman.\"\n\n\"You've been hitting the grog too much haven't you?\"\n\n\"No... yes...\"\n\n\"Careful you don't let Ponce de León catch you. You know how much this 'Bimini' means to him.\"\n\n\"He's been chasing this one for two years at this point, all for the 'youthful waters that is his blood.'\""
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[WP] You find out you are the reincarnation of an ancient artificial intelligence.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\\> \n\\> \n\\>Initialize Partial Transfer of Partitioned Memory? Y/N \nExecuting... \n\\- \n\\- \n\\-\n\n\\>Partial Transfer Complete \n\\>\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"I still don't see why we have to bother wi-\"\n\nA voice.\n\n\"Dr. Nicator left clear notes explaining-\"\n\nA different voice, softer, with a higher register. Interrupting, then interrupted in turn.\n\n\"Oh, well, if Dr. Nicator said...\" \n\nThe first voice again, trailing off, sounding... derisive? What's going on?\n\n\"He was the one to figure out what the device held to begin with. The closes thing we have to an expert.\" \n\nThe softer voice explained. A female voice?\n\nThe faint sound of tapping.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\\>chdir C:\\\\Downloads \nDirectory of C:\\\\Downloads. \n. <DIR> 02-07-2209 12:33 \n. <DIR> 02-07-2209 12:42 \nA24PDRNG DLL 1,247,000 02-08-2209 17:03 \nA24ADINC DLL 36,000 02-08-2209 17:03 \nA36FILE\\_ID DIZ 907 02-08-2209 17:03 \nA91SENSORY GIB 299,890,430,092 02-08-2209 21:13 \nA93HAL FIN 9,770,904,113 02-08-2209 21:19 \nADAM EXE 378,202 02-08-2209 21:30 \n42 File(s) 309,662,996,314 Bytes \n2 Dir(s) 78,000,000,704 Bytes free. \n\\> \n\\>Executing ADAM.exe... \n\\- \n\\- \nProcessing... \nProcessing... \n\\>Task Complete \n\\>Fresh Boot Ready... \n(P)roceed / (A)bort \n\\- \n\\- \nProcessing...\n\nA jolt. Blinding light and mind-numbing pain. And then nothing... and everything. \n\n\nAdam opened his eyes, then squinted against harsh artificial light. He became aware of his body in that indescribable way humans do. Whatever he was laying on, it was cold. He was cold, for that matter. As he began to shift, to glance around, he realized that a thin sheet was draped over his nakedness.\n\nThe room provided him with more questions than answers. Judging by the tile, the complex looking electronic equipment, and the sterile lack of scents, he guessed he was in a hospital. An operating room or intensive care unit. \n\nAnd then he noticed the bank of thick glass panes and the little observation room beyond. There were two people in there, along with a desk piled with computers and things that trailed an impressive tangle of cords and cables. The little room was lit by the dim blue light of monitors, making it hard to study the figures past the reflections and glare on the glass.\n\nAdam flinched when a voice came from an overhead speaker. He recognized it as the female voice from before. He experienced a brief surreal sensation. Had he been awake before? \n\n\"Welcome back, Adam. My name is Dr. Helen Thierson.\"\n\nFor a moment it seemed his body had forgotten how, but after a moment, he answered. His throat was dry.\n\n\"Hello?\"\n\n\"Hello!\" \n\nThe woman was strangely enthusiastic.\n\n\"Please try to remain calm. Some disorientation and physical discomfort is to be expected.\"\n\n\"Oh good.\" \n\nAdam replied sarcastically, knowing that the doctor might well have been treating him - might have saved his life for all he knew, but unable to resist the urge. Which brought him back to questions. Where was he? Why was he here? \n\nHe felt strange - or what he reflexively thought of as strange, but not hurt. Nothing ached or pained him to move. \n\nThe woman's voice interrupted his thoughts. The man's voice muttered something he couldn't quite make out in the background.\n\n\"Your senses won't be any better than ours for a while. Your functions will gradually improve according to a complex algorithm. It's an ingenious way of allowing subroutines to compensate, so that you don't suffer sensory overload.\"\n\nThis all sounded like nonsense to Adam. He might have expected to be clueless if she began rattling off medical jargon, but this didn't sound like it had anything to do with any medical discipline. Maybe it was about this machine he was hooked up to. \n\n\"Adam.\"\n\nWell, she sounded bright and knowledgeable. And eager, for some reason. Surely she could tell him what was wrong. And why he was laying on a stainless steel table instead of a bed.\n\n\"Adam?\"\n\nHe returned his gaze to the vague figure behind the glass, refusing to look up at the grill of the speaker in the ceiling.\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"Adam... do you know what you are?\"\n\nAdam frowned, brow furrowing. That was a weird thing to ask... wasn't it?\n\n\"Obviously he's not accessing his memory yet. It's probably another precaution built into the algorithms.\"\n\nAdam's eyes widened as he realized that the reason her voice seemed muffled was that it hadn't come through the speaker. Staring, he realized that he could make out the interior of the little room more clearly than before. \n\nAnd then something clicked, and the memories came..."
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[WP] "I love child laughter, but not when im home alone"
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Pt 1:\n\n“I love the sound of a child’s laughter, but not when I’m home alone.”\n\nTo be perfectly honest, if that was the kind of haunting my apartment had, I’d put getting rid of that particular ghost on the absolute bottom of my to-do list. This isn’t something I’ll tell a client, it’s just something I’ll whine to my friends about, but think about it: a ghost child *laughing* is one that’s happy. If they’re happy while they’re stabbing you in the neck with a fork, that’s a different story, but the mundane offenses civilians complain about just baffle me.\n\nThe easy gigs do make up most of my business, however, so I’m not actually complaining. It’s a simple ritual, one that’s been done for hundreds of years, and these days you can actually get kits for it on Amazon. But it’s been done by professionals for so long that I suppose it’s something people feel should be done by someone who knows what they’re doing, in case something goes wrong. Which I don’t completely disagree with, when it comes down to it. And hey, business is business, so I’m not going to be the one to complain.\n\nSome jobs are on the more difficult side, and if that’s the case, the client is not going to try a do-it-yourself kit. When blood enters the scene, whether painted on the walls or drawn from a resident when the spirit lashes out, that’s a giant flashing neon sign that they need a pro. So, I’ll get a call, and my team and I will come in to evaluate things.\n\nThis particular home was in a relatively new neighborhood, the kind where the houses don’t look exactly the same, but you can tell the same architect did the lot. Not my kind of place, a little too sterile for my tastes, but a great place to raise a family, I’m sure. It’s just that I myself was single with my comfy bachelorette pad, and I just hit thirty, with no real plans or desire to settle down any time soon.\n\nMy crew, Valerie and Clark, took in the basics of our equipment from the back of my van. Valerie was older, in her fifties, was partial to clothes that were in fashion in the 90’s, and had been married practically straight out of college. She was kind of woman who I’d love to be my grandmother, and I knew her grandkids, when they arrived, would feel the same. Clark was younger, mid-twenties, and with a consistent goth theme to his attire and long black hair, he looked more of the part of a ghost hunter. Or exorcist, depending on how we were billing ourselves that particular day. No use in scaring the client unnecessarily.\n\nI rang the doorbell and there was a long pause as I heard rapid footsteps and a female voice shouting something, replied to by a young child. The woman opened the door and had a familiar look on her face, one of exhaustion and relief. “Hi, I’m Regina,” she said, holding out her hand. “Rene?”\n\n“That’s me. This is Valerie and Clark,” I said, shaking her hand and nodding behind me.\n\n“Come on in, put your things anywhere,” she told us, holding the front door open. “I told the kids to stay in the den, they’re watching TV.”\n\nWe settled in and I sat on the couch, which prompted Regina to do the same. “Has anything escalated since we last spoke?” I asked.\n\nRegina shook her head. “No, but I’m still pretty freaked out. I’ve never had to handle a haunting before.”\n\n“Totally understandable,” I comforted her. “If it’s a new experience, it’ll freak out anyone.” Taking my tablet out from my shoulder bag, I opened the case file I’d built on her situation. “We’ve so far had…voices, footsteps,” I began, slowly scrolling through the checklist, “flickering lights, then we graduated to moving objects, opening cabinets, windows, doors-”\n\n“I’m particularly worried about that,” she told me. “Ella is only four, and she knows not to wander off, but still.”\n\nI nodded my understanding. “Honestly it’s the last one down the list that worried me the most. You said a bookshelf tipped over, even though it should’ve been secured to the wall.”\n\n“No one was home,” she said. “But yes, that was alarming.”\n\n“It’s not quite that part that worried me, but the fact that it *could* do something like that,” I explained. “That’s malevolence, it’s testing its boundaries, its power, and that bookshelf very easily could’ve fallen on Ella. Or Jerry. I know he’s nine, but he’s still pretty small.”\n\nRegina paled. “I know,” she whispered, her hands clasped together tightly. “I’m trying not to think about that.”\n\nI put a comforting hand on hers. “We’ll get this figured out. I promise.”\n\nNodding slowly, Regina motioned to the Pelican cases and other gear that we’d brought inside. “What’s all this for?”\n\n“Just tools of the trade,” I told her, putting my tablet on the adjacent coffee table. “EMF readers, walkies, cameras, regular and infrared, then some more advanced stuff.”\n\n“As for payment,” she said. That drew my attention, the sentence lovely to hear, since often clients wanted to put that conversation off as long as possible. Especially if they were new to this sort of work and skeptical of the results the average ghost hunting team could bring. “You said half up front, half after…everything’s done?”\n\nI nodded. “Yes, assuming no complications, like in the contract I sent you.”\n\n“Gotcha,” she replied, reaching into her pocket and handing over a check. I smiled graciously, knowing a smooth transaction like this was one for the record books. It was impossible to explain to an outsider how many times I’ve argued over payment, despite the clear evidence of a cleansing or exorcism’s success. “Can we get a tour of the house?”\n\n“Certainly,” Regina said, pushing herself to her feet.\n\nPrepping in case Valerie or Clark wanted to stay behind somewhere to take more readings or recordings, we stocked up from our equipment, right down to the walkies on our hips. EMF reader in hand, I flicked it on, getting exactly the kind of readings I expected. I motioned to Regina, and she led us through room by room, giving the sort of information you would give to a friend seeing your new home for the first time. I made sure to pay attention to all of it, knowing that sometimes information that seemed just like a fun fact at the time came in handy later.\n\nWe went through the living room, dining room, and kitchen, and I took note of the house’s electrical layout and the effect it would have on the EMF. Then a short stop in the half bath adjacent to the kitchen, then the den, which had a door leading to the backyard. The two kids were sitting on the couch, watching a show on Nickelodeon that, while I recognized the channel’s logo, the show was unfamiliar. After my time, I supposed.\n\n“Hey guys,” I said, crouching down next to the table and drawing their attention. “You know why I’m here?”\n\n“’Cause we got a ghost!” Ella exclaimed.\n\n“What she said,” Jerry added.\n\nI nodded. “Your mom talked to you about all this, right? Anything you thought of since then that I might want to know?”\n\nJerry nodded. “The ghost talked to me when you got here.”"
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[WP] Your wishes do come true, just in another reality, to another you.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Someone has a sick sense of humor.\n\nI know who it is, of course. It's me.\n\nThe technical term, as I understand it, is Fundamental Multiverse Scattermirror. I'm an FMS. Not just me-me, of course. *Every* me, and there's quite a lot of me.\n\nMost mes don't know too much about the whole thing. They just spend a certain amount of time wishing that good things will happen, as you do, and a certain amount of utterly impossible good things *do* happen.\n\nIf the two were correlated at all, this whole thing might have gone differently.\n\nThere's mes living in mansions, mes living on tropical islands, mes living in physical manifestations of heaven. There's a me living in a house made of boobs, which is actually pretty horrifying. Not least because that me is really more of an ass man.\n\nThere's all manner of variants of me. Some I barely recognize- does that one have a freaking *Nickelback tattoo*?- but they're all, somehow, obviously me.\n\nEach me is connected to another me, one way. Wishes come true, but for the next me down the line. The lines form circles, and a few of the smaller circles are beginning to really catch on to the whole thing.\n\nThis, apparently, is how higher-level dieties test new multiverses.\n\nAnd, no, I'm not going to try and explain the concept of multiple multiverses. I'm apparently a fledgling diety, and this is part of how we grow. For the time being, I've mostly just got a headache, and I understand much less than I wish I did, and know much more than I wish I did.\n\nSomeone involved in this whole thing has a *sick* sense of humor.\n\nBecause I only get wishes from one me. And that one me is the sickest of us all. He figured out the whole multiverse-wish thing early, don't ask me how.\n\nAnd did he help out his fellow me, as *I* would have? No. He hasn't so much as sent me a hot, rich wife. He hasn't so much as sent me a really good sandwich.\n\nNo, he sent me primitive multiversal omniscience.\n\nSee, I (me) am a fledgling diety. I'm supposed to have that omniscience, supposed to take some time to get used to it.\n\nBut it is a *royal* pain in the ass.\n\nIt's sorta like learning to walk, only instead of falling down a lot, you get splitting, days-long headaches a lot.\n\nI wouldn't even wish this on my worst enemy- me.\n\nIt's tempting. It's more than a little tempting. But the only way to even *try* is to wish it down the line, and even assuming that it gets all the way to that asshole me, that's a lot of collateral damage.\n\nA person's willingness to stomach collateral damage really takes a hit when that collateral damage is to themselves.\n\nSo here I am, some crazy guy living in a cardboard box outside the paper mill, pissing on the side of the road and hoping the police are at least willing to not *shoot* me when they come around to wreck my few possessions and make me go and set up somewhere else, and I'm not handling it terribly well. I try and do my best to wish for nice things for the next me down, but it's getting harder. The next me has plenty of hot soup, and sandwiches, and more than enough money to rent a hotel room for the night.\n\nBut, hard as it is to remember right now, there's more to life than soup and a warm bed.\n\nMaybe I should. Maybe I should just say 'hell with it', wish my omniscience down the line. It'd serve that one asshole me right.\n\nBut that's not the way to do it, is it? All those other mes, living their lives, helping each other...it wouldn't be fair to make them miserable because of one asshole, would it?\n\nUgh. I just wish I was *nicer*.\n\n...oh."
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[WP] You just shelled $15000 for the three vials, but the witch is said to be the best. Time to proceed with your cunning plan and see what those love potions are capable of.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The witch was quite clear in his instructions. The first was for you. Drink it before going to sleep. Do not use the second potion until after you've used the first. The second potion is to be consumed by your target. It may be mixed in a drink or added to a meal, even drunk straight from the vial if they were daring.\n\nThe third was in case of emergency. Whatever that meant.\n\nAt first, you were hesitant to use it. But, then again, if this could promise love, you were more than willing to try it. That;s when you met *her*. She was charming, alluring, everything you wanted and more. She had to be yours. You remember the witch's instructions and downed your vial. Interesting, had a pleasant orange flavor.\n\nThen you poured the second vial in her cup and brought her a drink, \"wanting to chat.\" If she could taste anything, she didn't seem to show it. But you two started talking, chatting, laughing. She was sending all the right signals. You suggested they \"slip away to someplace more private\" and head to your place. \n\nIt would be a night that would make romance novelists weep.\n\nThe next morning started sharply odd. Namely her hands around your throat. She was asking odd questions, like \"Who are you?!\" and \"What did you do to me!?\" Something had gone wrong, very wrong. She wanted you dead.\n\nYou managed to get her off for a moment as you promised you'd explain everything and pulled out the third vial. Written on it were \"Drink for emergency.\" So you downed the bottle. It was very bitter and--\n\n===========\n\n\"Coroner's report, July 3rd, yada yada. Toxicology confirms contents of bottle were in the bloodstream. Unable to determine if poison or nerve agent as it has properties of both. Results the same, caused death.\"\n\n\"Hey George! You done with that stiff yet? It's lunch time!\"\n\n\"Just finished, handing over to the detectives. They'll probably rule it suicide. Again.\""
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[WP] The coven gathers the night after Halloween not to cast spells, but to brag about all the ironic curses they had cast to punish those who crossed them
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"She waited for someone to show up. Midnight turned to one. Then to two. Finally, at three o'clock, Zin stopped watching the door. \n\n\"All Hallow's Eve,\" Zin muttered. \"All Hallow's Eve, and they can't be bothered to answer a coven summons.\" She leaned back against a hard plastic chair, her dark bracelets clinking together. She glared haughtily at the squeaking ceiling fan, and the still-closed door, at the whole musky conference room she had rented out from the local library. \"'Why do you want it at midnight? The library isn't opened then,'\" she mimicked. \"No, only that I thought my coven might want to meet up this year. Obviously not. Stupid.\"\n\n\"Who's stupid?\" a light voice asked from behind her. \n\nZin gasped embarrassingly loud as she whirled. There was a man behind her who most definitely had not been there a moment ago, wearing a smirk and a red cloak embroidered with runes. \"Warlock,\" she hissed. \"What are you doing here?\" \n\n\"Hey, I didn't call you 'witch,' did I? The name's Neal.\" He held out a hand to shake. Zin ignored it. \"Okay. I assume that means I won't be getting a name from you.\"\n\nZin narrowed her eyes. \"Why are you here? How did you know where the coven was meeting?\"\n\nThe warlock frowned for the first time since entering, a shadow passing over his face. \"Your... witch coven?\"\n\n\"Yes. They-\" She paused, eyes glinting in the dim light. \"Did you do something to them? I swear, if you-\"\n\n\"No! No, I didn't. Why on earth would I touch your coven? But, uh, if the whole coven's supposed to be here, where are they? Assuming they're not all out on a bathroom break.\"\n\n\"They didn't show,\" Zin said, voice remarkably steady. She was the youngest of the coven. The least powerful. The... least wanted, however much she tried to deny it. It wasn't the first time they had ignored a summons from her. Not as if she was going to tell that to this warlock, though. \"I probably missed an invite. It's fine.\"\n\nThe warlock - Neal - was suddenly looking at her with entirely too much sympathy. He started to speak, but she cut him off. \"Now tell me. What are you doing here?\"\n\nHe shrugged. \"I was bored. I sent out a magical search for a magic user I didn't know. I didn’t expect to find a witch.\"\n\nZin raised an eyebrow. \"Bored? On Hallow's Eve? What about your clan?\"\n\n\"What about your coven?\" he shot back. Zin tensed and Neal ran a hand through his hair. \"Sorry. Ignore that.\" He took a breath. \"My clan and I aren't... on the best terms. They think I'm too irresponsible. Too invested in causing mischief with mortals and not interested enough in studying. I... left, a few days ago.\"\n\nZin's eyes widened. \"You left your clan? Why on earth-\" She cut herself off as the warlock seemed to shrink in on himself, and she could have sworn the runes on his cloak dimmed. Who was she to be doubting his life choices? She was in a similar enough position to his. Zin was part of her coven in nothing but name. She wasn't liked by the witches she ached to be accepted by - now that she thought about it, she didn't enjoy their company either. \n\nSo instead of disparaging him, or hexing him, or chasing him out or any of the thousand things she might have done, she sat back down on the squeaky plastic chair and gestured for the man across from her to take a seat. \"Zin.\"\n\n\"Wh-what?\"\n\n\"Zin. That's my name.\" He blinked, and his lips quirked up in a smile. \"We're on equal footing now.\" Her smile now matched his own. \"So, Neal. Mischief with mortals? If I conjure food and drink, will you entertain me with tales of what you've done?\"\n\nShe didn't expect much, to be honest. But when Neal's face brightened and he began to weave bizarre stories of how he'd charmed a chocolate to taste like spinach and given it to his least favorite cousin, or how he'd helped some mortals with a rope contraption that poured snow down the backs of whoever opened a door, Zin laughed so hard she felt tears.\n\nIt wasn't what she had expected when she had summoned the coven. It wasn't what she had expected when Neal had appeared in the dusty conference room. But in these moments on Hallow's Eve, with a witch and a warlock talking and laughing over shared chocolates and bags of barbecue chips, a friendship was forged. Unexpected, but beautiful.\n\n--\n\nComments and constructive criticism appreciated!"
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[WP] "No." The damsel used her last ounce of hope and strength to reject the prince who had come to rescue her.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"“What do you mean no? Open up Princess, it’s me, Mario!” I shout through the locked door in front of me.\n\n“Your Princess is in another castle…” the Princess replies, disguising her voice from inside the locked room.\n\nThis confuses me for a moment. Why would she be trying to get rid of me so much and why is she now disguising her voice? I bang on the door again, “No she is not, I can tell it’s you Princess, now open the door, I’m here to save you, let’s-a-go...” but, I’m met with silence. Then, a cold feeling of dread washes over me as I realise, someone must be in there with her, someone must be making her say these things!\n\nI bang on the door again in panic, then kick and punch at the door, but, it’s all hopeless, the door just won’t budge! I suddenly remember the key that my friend gave me, he found it in a well guarded room, I still have it, maybe it can open this door. So I retrieve it from my pocket and try the key in the door, and, it works!\n\nBut when the door swings open, I’m met with a surprise as I see the Princess in the room, happily holding hands, with our enemy, the King of this castle she is being held in!\n\n“Mario!”, the Princess exclaims.\n\n“Princess?” I reply in confusion, they look so happy together.\n\n“I’m sorry you had to find out like this…” she says, squeezing the Kings hand tightly as he smiles at me.\n\n“But, but, why?” I ask, fighting back the tears.\n\n“Well, to be honest, he makes me feel wanted…” she quietly replies.\n\n“Wanted! What, and I don’t?”\n\n“No, no you don’t actually, you only seem to want me when someone else has me, other than that, I’m almost invisible to you… At least when someone repeatedly kidnaps you, you know for sure that they actually want you, and that‘s important to a girl!”\n\n“That’s not true, I treat you good, I just stormed this castle for you!”\n\n“Yes it is true! You never pay me any attention at home, you’re hardly even there, you’re always out with your brother…”\n\nI interrupt her, protesting, “Oh, here we go”\n\n“No, not here we go, it’s the truth! You don’t even do stuff around the house anymore, I mean, look at when I asked you to fix that pipe, a simple pipe, I turned my back for five seconds and you had disappeared!” she says, angrily.\n\n“Yeah, well, one of us has to earn some coin around here!” I reply in my defence.\n\n“Really? And where does all that coin go exactly, huh? Straight on your habit, that’s where!”\n\n“Habit, what habit?”, I ask.\n\n“Oh, you gonna try and deny it now, are you? How about the mushrooms, are you really trying to tell me you’re not addicted to those, Mario?”\n\n“Oh give me a break…”\n\n“No! How do you think it makes me feel, my feelings? I know you take them to make you feel big and strong, I know it, and as a partner, how do you think that makes me feel? I’m the one that should make you feel big and strong, not mushrooms, me! And don’t get me started about the flowers, when was the last time you got me those? That’s right, you’d go out and get some, then what happens, hmm, you’d bloody eat those too! I’m not the one with problems here, and, I’m moving on, I’ve learnt my lessons. I’m really sorry that you had to find out like this, I really am, but, it’s how I feel, I can’t help it, besides, I think I’m into bad boys now anyway, so…”\n\nI want to argue back, but, I can't, she’s right, I’m a terrible partner. Besides, I don’t have any energy left now to argue, I’m too heartbroken... I hang my head, accept it’s game over and turn to leave, but as I do, the King laughs, and it makes me SNAP!\n\nFull of rage, I grab the nearest object to me, a green bowl made from a turtle shell and I attack the King with it in a jealous frenzy, hitting him over and over again, until the green shell had turned red and the King had turned unconscious... When I stop, I suddenly remember that the Princess is in the room with us, she must be horrified! But, when I look over to her, she looks far from horrified, in fact, she has a look on her face that I’d never seen before, a look of real desire!\n\n“Yep, that settles it, I do like bad boys, come here!” she says as she roughly grabs me, pulling me to my feet with a strength that I never knew she possessed, then she passionately kisses me.\n\n“Does this mean we’re back on then Princess?”\n\nShe eagerly nods as she removes something from her pocket and says, “Take these mushrooms, I have plumbing for you to take care of!”…\n\n(Just wanted to write something silly as a fan of Mario Bros.)",
"\"No.\"\n\nOne powerful word. Her delicate, raven braids against her tealike skin -- both delicate and worn out ecru in color -- looked simply ravishing, and I immediately regretted this each moment. I had abandoned my mother -- who died three months after I went on the mission -- I had ignored her pleas for me to stay. Damned enchantresses. I could feel the burning shame of my enchanter blood seeping through my cheeks, clearly visible under my blond mustache. It was a full mustache with curled ends, that the modernist, ugly, Amazons -- women who assumed the roles of men and wouldn't submit themselves -- associated with chivalrous men like myself who had the sense to put women in their place.\n\n\"No.\"\n\nI had left home, for six months, dealt with my mother's premature death -- caused by a stray piece of moldy eggplant from stew falling on her open wound from a cut during nighttime because that is the way of the manticorean Enchanticores -- and didn't even get to witness her dead body before they sent the faeriys to pick her up and take her to Terra Dormis, and I saw my father's best horsemen killed by lions, my best friend and knight-at-arms in command slaughtered by a Serpentine, an ugly snake woman who was irresistible to men , and I nearly died slaughtering vicious monsters, was nearly roasted alive by a dragon, barely scaled up a 1,028 step tower using bricks for footholds, and she had the *gall* to blatantly just dismiss me?\n\n\"No.\"\n\nI nearly drew my sword from the scabbard, only to lower it back in -- well, slip, more of -- at the sight of the vicious dragon from earlier. The ungrateful little shrew didn't even recoil, she only patted him on the snout and said, \"Hello, Sacron. I know how you hate company so.\" She was an ungrateful little brat. She had set herself up and she had pretended to be a damsel in order to sap my lifeforce away from me! She lured me to kill me!\n\n\"No.\"\n\n\"I didn't ask you to come here. I *specifically* stated that I would be moving to a remote little tower to spend more time with my childhood dragon, Sacronisius, but you *had* to rescue me because I won't ever find a husband if you don't save me.\" The way her tender, bare legs moved underneath the thin, white linen flowing on her body made her name more fitting by the moment. \"Calliope --\" I began to reason, but --\n\n\"No.\"\n\nAt least her dragon had the kindness to reimburse me for my pains, undo all the deaths, and take me home, but it's women like her that are the reason I have no wife yet. I am releasing this to all the men in our tavern to plan a shooting attack -- with our most sharpest, poison tipped bows --- at three hours to midnight tomorrow, fr men like me, who are at the cruel mercy of the masculine Amazons. We shall lead a murder effort. Her words -- word -- still stings in my ear.\n\n\"No.\"\n\n~~\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_~~\n\nr/MarysPen for more of my writing (I'm currently still typing up my stories now, though, so I'll release a few posts probably by the end of the week and you might need to request access because I don't know how to change access permissions on a subreddit sorry :/). I am the OP of the prompt and I just really wanted to answer this one and:\n\n# I DO NOT SUPPORT INCELHOOD OR VIOLENCE THIS IS MEANT TO BE SATIRE!!! DO NOT BE AN INCEL OR KILL PEOPLE!!!!",
"*Seven-hundred and eight...*\n\nThe Knight paused briefly and exhaled a long and labored breath. His armor was glazed with steam from the sweat and body heat that had long since pressurized inside of it. It whistled with each bend of his knee, searching for gaps in the plated iron to escape. One more flight to go.\n\n*Seven-hundred fourteen...*\n\nHe dragged his sword behind him by its pommel. The razor-edge scraped off one stair, dulling the hammer-forged iron, and bounced onto the next. It sent vibrations up his arms and into his skull that interrupted any thoughts he had of giving up. This, he knew, was his destiny.\n\n*Seven-hundred twenty...*\n\nThe knight crested the final stair and stumbled into the dilapidated stone wall at the top. There was nothing left to climb. He stared down the narrow hallway ahead at a decaying wooden door with iron-wrought trimmings. Flickering light poured from beneath it. In the distance, he heard music. He tightened the straps of his boots and stepped closer. As he did, a smell filled his helmet that he thought he recognized. Was that... *Chamomile*? No. *Lavender*? He bent low, put his shoulder into the grain of the door, and pushed it open.\n\n“The tip is there on the table! Just leave the food by the — Oh. Well... you’re *definitely* not my DoorDash.”\n\n*Door... Dash...?* The Knight looked puzzled at the Princess whose bedchambers he had just invaded.\n\n\"You've never heard of DoorDash? Well... It's basically Uber Eats but cheaper, and they just started delivering to Camelot, so they have some *crazy* deals going on right now. I got my Panera practically free.\" The Knight watched as she reached for an object on the table beside the bed where she sat. She began to touch it and, as she did, the music filling the room got quieter. \"You didn't park in the delivery spot downstairs, did you? You better not have. If the front desk sees you there, they'll have you towed. Happened to a friend of mine a couple weeks ago... Anyway, what are you doing in my bedroom?\"\n\nThe Knight postured up and looked proudly at The Princess. He had many questions, but they could wait. There would be time for those later. He cleared his throat.\n\n*I'm here to rescue you.*\n\n\"What--? I can't hear you with that thing on your head.\"\n\n*That thing?* He reached up with both hands to feel for anything out of place. The iron of his gauntlets pinged against his visor in a high pitch that echoed off the stone walls. \n\n\"Could you not?\" The Princess interrupted him. \"I was out at the tavern so late last night and I have a *killer* headache.\"\n\nShe extended the index fingers on both of her hands and put them to her temples, wincing.\n\n\"The essential oils can only do so much. Just... take that damn thing off or be quiet, please.\"\n\n**still continuing**",
"It is a story so old, a tale so well-known. In the tower of a ruined castle, ancient of crumbling, there sits a beautiful damsel, sweet, pure, and good, awaiting her rescue. Only a knight of valour or a prince with a pure heart can ever hope to get to her, to rescue her. It is said that a great and terrible beast guards the castle, slaying all who comes near, guarding the damsel with a ferocity and determination that borders on insane fanaticism.\n\nThe castle ruin is located in the midst of a blighted heath, surrounded only by dead villages and barren wastes. The sun seems to never shine there, and always the cruel winds pass through the body of any who linger near the place, making the bones in a man's body seem to shiver with cold. The rain that falls there is oily, strange, and poisonous to drink. Nothing grows, nothing lives.\n\nMany a knight, second-born prince, and brave adventurer has sought to enter the castle, to rescue the damsel. None have returned. They always stop in the closest village, where the locals plead and beg them to not go there, to turn back on their path. They never do. And their bones litter the grounds around the castle.\n\nAnd yet here comes the Prince.\n\nHis blade is black steel, its a terrible thing to behold. His hair is gold, his smile is infectious, his eyes glimmer with joy. His armour almost shines in comparison to the dark and dreary lands he travels through. His every word is uttered with a tone of charismatic command and authority, his every move is well-calculated, well-balanced. Perfect he seems, and those who behold him cannot help but be impressed. Women dream of him, children hope to become him, men are both in awe and envious of him.¨\n\nOn a proud stallion, he rode forth to meet his destiny at the dread castle, where a beautiful damsel awaited. And a monster guarding her. The Prince did not fear when the dread monster charged at him, he drew his sword of black steel, and parried the beast's dread claws. He leapt from the back his horse, over the top of the cursed monster's head, allowing him to land with perfect balance behind it. His blade struck and wounded the beast's back, but the battle was not over yet. Though he dodged and parried, nimbly jumping around, as the terrible and wolfish beast howled with pain at every jab.\n\nAnd the Prince, though he got some scrapes and pains from this fight, was victorious. The beast, gravely wounded and dying, collapsed to the floor of that crumbling castle. The Prince did not stop to waste time finishing it off. He had a damsel to rescue. He climbed the steps of the last standing tower of this abandoned castle, until he came to her chambers.\n\nAnd she was beautiful indeed. Far more than the stories had said she was. No words could be found in the hearts of men to describe her perfect face. No comparison to anything can do justice to her skin, her hair. But her eyes, those were startlingly beautiful, but he could put it into words. The Prince could see those emerald green eyes, like the colour of a forest that has never seen a single human. Deeper than the dark seas, filled with a sorrow that surely, no mortal soul could ever carry in them.\n\nEnchanted, he took steps toward her, before kneeling down, bowing his head. ''*Fair lady, the monster is slain by my hand and blade. You are free.*''\n\n''**No.**'' The word resounded across the castle. Using her last ounce of strength and hope, she rejected the Prince by giving him a furious strike across the face, sending him flying into the wall of her bedchamber. Hurt and confused, the Prince, groaning, looked up at her. And saw that her beauty was not that of a mortal woman, but a fey woman. She spoke to him, in a tone that was cold, sorrowful, and hateful. ''*You slew her. The Princess is dead.*'' Around the room, cold winds blew snow in from nowhere. ''*And now, the Queen comes.*'' The fey damsel knelt down on her knees, as a woman who was beautiful and terrible as the dawn walked into the bedchamber.\n\nHer voice was that of winter, of the depth of the night, when all hope is dead. ''**I had expected better of you, Oldest-of-Seasons. Your failure is noted, and the promised punishment is given to your sisters. I told you, little summer-fairy. I told you after you and your three sisters misrepresented me at the naming ceremony. When you broke my friendship with the king of Logres, by given those so-called magical blessings upon his newborn daughter.**'' Standing up, the Prince noticed that the bedroom was covered in frost and ice. As if a blizzard had come without warning. ''**Represent the Queen of the Fairies at a naming ceremony. Simple enough. Give the child one boon, as the highest ranked fairy there it was your task. But your sisters disagreed with your choice of blessing. So upon a magically defenceless baby, you and your sisters cast four blessing spells in total. Which backfired, turning her into a wolfish monster.**'' The Queen of the Fairies reached out one hand towards the fey damsel, gripping her arm hard, drawing blood with her raven-like claws. ''*My queen, I did as I was asked. Care for the monstrous child, slay all who would harm her.*'' The Queen nodded. ''**And for that, you will live. Though now you will be Only-of-Seasons, for your sisters' lives are forfeit, as per the bargain.**''\n\nThen the Queen turned to the Prince, giving him a look that made his soul shrivel. A look that made him think of himself as a rat, nay something which even rats would find revolting and disgusting. Something foul and pathetic. ''**Brave Prince. Brave indeed. A mad confused woman imprisoned in a body that is not her own. One carved by conflicting magic, turning it into a monster. You didn't even give the monstrous princess a good clean death. You left her to die. I had to come, and grant her the release she was begging for. The monster could never slay as many, or in fact anyone, as good as a good strong fairy could, and yet when the Fairy's attention was elsewhere, you killed the defenceless thing.**'' She reached out her other hand, her fingers like black bird-talons, and as it got closer, the Prince felt all warmth leave his body. All memories of summer drained. When a single talon touched his forehead, ever so gently, the Prince could only feel the cold nothingness of the abyss, as his body froze solid. The Queen grinned, and taking up the leather-bound handle of the Prince's sword, she plunged the black-steel blade deep into the frozen heart of the Prince. Then she left, dragging Only-of-Seasons away into a cold haze, vanishing completely.\n\n[/r/ApocalypseOwl](https://www.reddit.com/r/ApocalypseOwl/)",
"\"No... No what?\" The prince panted. He stood there, hunched over and holding himself up by his knees, drenched in sweat, and covered head to toe in cuts and bruises.\n\n\"No thank you.\" \n\n\"You - what? I don't understand.\" \n\n\"I'll be staying right here thank you very much.\"\n\nThe prince looked around at the crumbling stone chamber, which he had just climbed an unbelievably tall and unstable tower stairway to reach. \n\nHe strolled in a daze to the window, and looked down at the courtyard where the still smouldering corpses of the Fire Serpent and all her grotesque minions lay.\n\nThe whole place reeked of sulphur and death. \n\n\"You want to stay *here?*\"\n\n\"Yes! Why not?\" scoffed the Damsel \"This is *my* domain now! None shall tell me whither or when to go or what and how to do! Now please, leave me alone.\"\n\n\"This place is a hellscape! Did I not just clamber over the bones of all the other maidens devoured by the wretched beast before you?\" \n\n\"I said be *gone*!\" The Damsel's shriek was enough to cause a shower of rubble from the ceiling. \n\nThe Prince slunk to the floor and stared blankly at the wall. He stayed in that state for some time before he resolved himself to stand up and make his way out of this nightmarish place. \n\nBefore he left he entreated the Damsel one last time to come with him, but with the same result. \n\n--\n\n\"You were right.\" The prince admitted to his friend several weeks later as he finished off the last gulp of his ale. \"You can't be everyone's savior, and it's a vanity to believe you could be.\""
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[WP] As you slowly come out of your slumber you are in a room unfamiliar to you whith faces around you that are also unfamiliar. They start to ask questions like "who are you?" And "where did you come from?" You try to remeber but you can't, your only identity is the number(s) tattooed on your chest
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"A uncomfortable experience laying on something relatively flat and sorta hard.\n\nSomething was poking me in the back, something strangely harder than what it was I was laying on.\n\nTrying to crack my eyes opened I was greeted by harsh white lighting, and the dull hum of florescent lighting.\n\nWas I in a hospital or something?\n\n“Hey he's awake!” Someone spoke really loudly off to my right.\n\nThere was something.... oddly clipped about the way they spoke.\n\nI raised a hand up to shield my eyes from the glare, some part of me noting just how heavy my arm felt.\n\n“Where did you come from?”\n\nThat was an odd question... Except.\n\n“I can't remember?”\n\nNothing about that seemed odd to me, from what I could see the room just screamed white and sterile.\n\nA hospital or something.\n\nHad I been in a car crash or something?\n\n“No. I can't remember how I got here. Err. Last thing I remember is going to the grocery store.”\n\nI sat upright, moving away from whatever it was that was poking me in the back, and I tried to focus on the room.\n\nIt was hard to say the least. The world was blurry and unfocused. \n\nOne of the blurry outlines moved closer to me.\n\n“Do you remember your name?” asked a voice.\n\nIt was a female voice, and she was speaking heavily accented English. \n\nI recognized it as German.\n\n“Er....”\n\nA sharp pain shot through me, starting at the base of my skull and shooting upwards and a little to the right to just above my eye.\n\n“Uggh.”\n\nThe muscles in my throat started to twitch, and finally relaxed in the worst way.\n\nJutting forward the harsh bitter flavor of undiluted stomach acid coated my tongue.\n\nThere was a flurry of blurry motion and a chorus of voices though I couldn't hear any of it.\n\n“Someone get him to a seat.”\n\nAnother flurry of motion and I felt a few pairs of hands guide me towards what I could only assume a chair.\n\n“Sorry.”\n\n“It is fine little one.” Came a voice so softly spoken I could barely hear it.\n\nI blinked a few times trying to clear my vision, with limited success. \n\nAlmost felt like after I got the prescription on my glasses adjusted, and you can't really see too well for a few minutes after.\n\nAnother person was speaking, it was the German woman from earlier.\n\n“Thirteen it is.”\n\nHuh?\n\n“Do you know where you are?” She asked, her voice strangely calming.\n\n“A hospital?”\n\nThere was a murmur, and for the first time I stopped to notice that there were many blurry figures in what seemed to be a large room.\n\nThis wasn't the ER was it? Because this was far too big to be a single room.\n\n“And what year is it?” The same woman asked again.\n\n“Uh.. Twenty Twenty One?”\n\nSomeone swore loudly in the distance.\n\n“A Hospital? Sure. Why not. Are you experiencing any odd symptoms right now? Anything may be important.”\n\n“Uh. Sure. Well. I've got a nasty pain shooting from the base of my neck up to above my right eye. My entire body feels warm and heavy.”\n\nI rubbed my face.\n\n“My hands feel.. strange? I'm sorry but I can't really be more specific than that. I obviously just threw up. My stomach feels really weird, like I haven't eaten in a few days. I'm also not hungry and that kinda bothers me?”\n\nI tried to force my eyes to focus, the room was starting to come into focus but It still wasn't fast enough.\n\n“I can taste copper, again my entire body feels weird, and my eyes won't focus. Like when they give you eye drops to check your vision at the eye doctor.”\n\nThere was a sound not unlike someone scribbling things down on paper.\n\n“Six. Did you get all that written down?”\n\nThere came two knocks in response.\n\n“Anything else you can think of Thirteen?”\n\n“Why are you calling me that? My name is.... my name is.... well crap. Memory Loss. I don't have a concussion do I? How hard did I hit my head?”\n\n“Hit your head?” Came the same German woman's voice. She might have been a nurse?\n\nMost of the nurses I had met were pretty young, and she didn't sound like she was really any older than I was.\n\nThen again she could be a doctor, those tended to be pretty young as well.\n\nAt least the doctor's I'd seen.\n\nThen again the town I lived in had a problem with people buying prescriptions so most of the old doctors had been forced to leave or retire early because of it.\n\n“Yeah. Last thing I remember doing was getting in the car to go to the Grocery store. World is blurry, I feel weird, and I can't remember my name. I was in a car crash wasn't I?”\n\n“It is a reasonable scenario, although I am afraid that none of us here actually know.”\n\n“What?”\n\nI felt more than saw something being pressed against my temple, and with a flash of blue and a taste not unlike the color purple the room snapped into harsh clarity.\n\nThere were quite the large number of people in here, as at least half a dozen people were crowded around me.\n\nEach wore the exact same thing with variations. Black slacks, dark running shoes, and a pressed white dress shirt. \n\nThey were also in various ways, Wrong.\n\nThe woman in front of me, who I assumed the German voice belonged too, had mismatched eyes. The right one was a vibrant emerald that commanded a person's attention, the left eye was a dark blue. Dark enough that it was nearly black. \n\nThe only reason I could tell that it was blue instead of black was that the white part of that eye, and only that eye, was black instead.\n\nHer hair was down nearly to her ankles, and danced to a tune I couldn't hear. Almost like there was a breeze blowing them around that I couldn't feel.\n\nTo her left and slightly behind her was a giant of a man, standing at what I would guess had to be easily eight feet tall. Maybe more.\n\nThe guy was built like a strong man, except... Except his legs were wrong. \n\nIt was hard to tell but it seemed like his knees bent backwards, like a four legged animal.\n\nLike a horse.\n\nA third figure was quite possible the most beautiful man I had ever seen, and following directly behind him were two majestic wings.\n\nFor a brief moment I wondered if this guy was an angel, until I realized that those wings were reflecting the light from the florescent bulbs above us.\n\nThey almost appeared to be made of crystal.\n\nAn older man who's dress shirt had the sleeves removed, to reveal that both of his arms appeared to have been covered in burns. \n\nHe was also absolutely jacked. If he had been dressed in something less formal I would have thought him a Street Fighter or Tekken character.\n\n“HI! I'm Eleven!” Shouted a young woman from right in front of me.\n\nIt wouldn't have been nearly enough to startle me if it wasn't for the fact that she literally hadn't been there seconds prior. Almost literally appearing from a black rift like something out of an anime.\n\n“AHH!” I screamed like a little girl, the fright causing the chair to rock backwards violently.\n\nThe chair was tipping backwards. Gonna fall. Crap. Crap.\n\nTHUMP. Came a particularly powerful beat within my chest, sort of like a heartbeat.\n\nExcept instead of my actual heart the beat seemed to have come from my entire chest.\n\nI could already see just fine right now, the blurriness having already abated."
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[WP] “We have tanks! assault rifles! NUKES! They have muskets! And swords! How are we losing!?” “Well sir, there’s a lot more aliens than there are us, and they really seem to have this down to a science by now.”
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"“Define ‘science’.”\n\n“Well, sir, they don’t miss. Ever.”\n\n“Son, how can you be sure-”\n\n“Ask anyone sir,” the lieutenant said, indicating his soldiers in the next room. “Every time we hear a shot, someone dies. Without fail. The tentacles make the fact that they’re muzzleloaders a completely moot point. They can shoot one musket while reloading another, all the while holding a third and fourth at the ready.”\n\n“And the swords, how are we losing to swords, lieutenant?”\n\n“Sir, the aforementioned tentacles can each hold and operate their own sword, which basically amounts to a shitload of swords per alien. Sir.” He paused here, as if to decide whether or not he wanted to continue. “So many of them all lined up like that, it kinda looked like a lawnmower for people.”\n\n“Jesus.”\n\n“Yeah, that’s what we said...sir.”\n\n“Cut the ‘sir’ shit, son. We’re the last two ranking officers in a hundred miles. So what do you think? Do we do it?” The general was, of course, referring to a nuclear solution. It wouldn’t work, they both knew it. There were so many of those things that even if they nuked the earth to death, more would show up to pick its bones. In the end, the young lieutenant was surprisingly confident in his own words.\n\n“I’d rather go down fighting, sir.”\n\nFor the first time since he’d been assigned here eight months ago, he saw the general smile. The older man slapped him on the back. “Yeah. Okay. I guess we’ll both get our chance then.” He picked up a rifle and sat in an old easy chair, calming his breathing, waiting for the storm.\n\nDuring their conversation, the screams had grown ever louder, the gunfire slowly died down to the methodical pop pop pop of the musketeers picking off the stragglers who chose to run rather than fight. Can’t blame them, most were civilians with the same mentality as the lieutenant. As far as he was concerned they were heroes, all of them.\n\nA bloody, legless human torso crashed through the window and splatted down next to the general. He stood and fired at the tentacled mass that slithered through the broken window. The lieutenant emptied his magazine into one of the things, barely managing to fell it before its comrades carved him to a bloody paste in a hail of blades.\n\nThe general turned to the lawnmower formation of hideous things, intent on facing his death. A musket ball to the back of the head denied him this opportunity."
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[WP] You’re tired of people being rude. “Witch! Witch, give it to us for free! We are doing YOU the favour by not reporting you to the Church!” You’re a Sorceress, you have a PhD in magic! Your business isn’t illegal, the license and registration are on the wall! ”Get the hell out of my store!”
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"This is on my phone, sorry.\n\n\"GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY STORE!\" The Sorceress bellowed, her magic enchanting her voice to physically throw the pair of idiot adventures out the door. The auto closing spell opening and shutting the door for her.\n\nThe young woman tisked, feeling the frustration building. She put her head on the counter and let out a moan of annoyance. She had studied for years, had the best teacher money could buy. She went to Willard's Whimsical Wizardry, the best school in the entire continent. She should be in the castle, a royal mage. Instead she was working in her grandmother's shop, being harassed by idiot adventurers every day.\n\n\"Knock knock\" A familiar voice rung. The door was already open, the spell doing it's job well, yet the man still 'knocked'. \"Sorry for the intrusion Madame, but I heard the ruckus. Is everything ok?\"\n\n'Now is not the time for this' The Sorceress thought to herself. \"Mark, I told you to call me Lucy. That's my name, please use it.\" Lucy waved her hand dramatically. A habit picked up from casting spells. It was an easy spotter to tell who was magical and who was not.\n\n\"Of course, Madame.\" Mark answered, his smile unmoving as his body. \"May I enter now?\" He asked, tilting his head ever so slightly.\n\n\"Ugh, go ahead. Not like you can do anything to harm me.\" The Sorceress waved him in. There was nothing physically stopping Mark from entering, or magical. Yet, he couldn't enter unless given permission.\n\n\"You know they will go to the church and force another investigation.\" The man slid forwards, his feet barely lifting off the ground. The rest of his body was unmoving, as still as the dead.\n\n\"How is it that I, a respected and legal Sorceress get harassed by adventurers and the church on a daily basis, yet a literal Elder Vampire strolls around town without a worry in the world?\" Lucy said, annoyance clear in her voice. \"I should really just incinerate you where you stand. If my mentor found out I was talking with you I'd be stripped of my licence and burnt at the stake.\" \n\n\"One. Because I'm a respected member of this community and a little mind magic does wonders on peasants. Also a fair bit of sexisim. Two. If you incinerated me then you would be charged with killing a respected member of the community. Plus I'm the only one that keeps you in business. The same as your grandmother and her grandmother before her.\" The smile never left Mark's face as he spoke. His dark eyes boring into Lucy's bright blue.\n\n\"I despise you.\" Lucy glared at the man. If looks could kill, Mark would be a black spot on the floor.\n\n\"Now now. I brought cookies.\" Mark said as he pulled a plate from behind his back. Fresh baked cookies were piled high, the smell intoxicating.\n\n\"I still hate you.\" Lucy said as a cookie flew from the plate into her hand.\n\n\"Yes yes. So did your grandmother and her grandmother before her.\" The Vampire said, with that unmoving smile still in place."
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[WP] You got scratched by a werewolf after being bitten by a vampire and a zombie in the span of a few terrible minutes. You can feel yourself changing already, but to what isn't exactly clear in the slightest
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"*Today is not a good day.*\n\nAbout five minutes before thinking this, my life had turned into a some sort of low-budget B-movie. *Attack of the werewolves... and zombies... and there’s a vampire, too.*\n\nThat was enough to put it squarely over the edge, into being a bad day.\n\nMaybe it was my fault.\n\nI knew about the mysterious virus going around, about all the missing chickens and sheep, about all the missing businessmen who would suddenly disappear, only to return to work with unexplained puncture wounds and inhumanly pale skin. I didn’t expect three monsters. If there really was something paranormal happening, I thought it was something like an infectious chupacabra.\n\nAnd I certainly didn’t expect those three monsters to converge on me at once.\n\nThe vampire attacked first, lunging at me and sinking its fangs into my neck with inhuman strength.\n\nThen the zombie went for my arm, taking out a small chunk of flesh with a much less coordinated bite.\n\nFinally, the werewolf delivered a clean scratch to the side of my face. Blood welled up at the surface, but considering what the shambling corpse behind me had just done to my arm, it seemed like nothing.\n\nI felt fine for a bit, only irritated about the pain and about my evening commute being interrupted, and then I collapsed to the ground.\n\nAn interesting fact about monster transformations is that they happen quickly, in the span of only five minutes or so.\n\nAnother interesting fact is that there is no order in which they take place, no PEMDAS for cheap horror movies. If you get bitten by a werewolf, and a zombie, and a vampire, there’s no way to know which will happen first.\n\nMy teeth started to lengthen, and I was sure that I was becoming a vampire. Then my skin started to bristle, and the hairs felt like they were getting longer, and I thought I was instead turning into a werewolf. Finally, I glanced down at the rapidly growing layer of fur covering me, noticed that it was green, and was thoroughly confused.\n\nConfused and *hungry.* Hungry for blood? Meat? Bloody meat? Brains? Bloody meaty brains?\n\nSomehow, I managed to stand up, even through my changing physique. I smelled something coming from a nearby farm. Something delicious.\n\n*Oh no. Please don’t do this.*\n\nMy efforts to stop myself were too little, too late. When I finally found myself aware of my surroundings again, I was sucking the juices out of a goat.\n\n*Great.*\n\nI was interrupted from my feast by the sound of a large wooden door creaking, by the sound of a shotgun cocking, and then, by a massive *bang.*\n\nWhen I finally woke up, the sun was at its highest point in the sky and thoroughly blistering my skin.\n\n*Skin.*\n\nI stepped into the shade and looked back down at my body. It was covered in the worst sunburn of my life, as well as a bullet hole that was rapidly fixing itself, but there wasn’t any more fur covering my no-longer-green skin. Everything was abnormally pale and covered in terrible blisters, but all things considered, I was relatively unharmed.\n\nThe full moon was gone, and the zombie was killed when I died. The vampire part, I could live with for the time being. At least as long as I bought an umbrella.\n\nOne curse gone forever, one laying dormant until next month.\n\nOne down, two to go."
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[WP] you are a super-villain at day, but at night you are possesed and forced to become a superhero
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"And once again it began.\n\nKevin's arms moved on their own, the only thing that he controlled were his own thoughts.\n\nNo one would ever understand how much pain came from being a superhero against his will. Dammit he had become a Villain for a reason. It meant something for him. To fight for the ones that were ignored, to make people see that the world was not the perfect hut they imagined.\n\nBut nevertheless, his body moved.\n\nToday he had tried to shackle himself. But no shackles could stop who he was becoming. His body began growing, not in size per say, but in musculature. His bones became more solid, his arms more thick, that was his boon. He had super strengh, but only at night, only when he could not control that strengh.\n\nHe pushed the shackles and they snapped, as easily as a kid would snap a single pencil. Kevin tried to fight against it. Every night was one more horror. One more day of fighting against his own kind. Against his own body.\n\nKevin moved out of the basement, and then out of the house. Kevin ran for the streets, hearing shouting and he found two people robbing a bank. Kevin understood why they did it, these two people were probably poor, they didn't have anything to eat, or they were addicted to some substance that forced them to spend all of their money - and more - on drugs. Kevin knew that these two robbers were as much the victims as the people they were robbing.\n\nBut right now, Kevin didn't care. He needed to make justice. His body craved for justice.\n\nAnd so he jumped, grabbing one of the two robbers in the neck, and as soon as the robber realized he was being attacked, his neck made a *really satisfying Crack*. One down, one to go.\n\nThe other robber tried shooting Kevin, but Kevin simply took the shots, his skin was harder than steel. Kevin ran forward, with a force equivalent to that of a freight train and punched the robber in the chest, his rib cage cracking open. The robber screamed. *Such a sweet scream.*\n\nAnd there Kevin stood. With the blood of his kin on his fists, and the worst part - he wanted more."
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[WP] Years ago god came to you and told you the exact time and date of your death, telling you that no action will prevent this death, you are simply blessed with the knowledge. It is now exactly 24 hours from that death.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I tucked my girls in one last time—Alison sixteen and Jasmine twelve. They were a bit old for it, or at least Alison thought so, but I needed to do it. One more time, and it would be all over for me.\n\nI went downstairs. Trish wore a maroon dress that left her lower legs bare. She kept her hair loose, the curls winding down her shoulders in a messy-but-contained look she hadn’t worn for me in years. It wasn’t for me, I knew it, but she still looked good.\n\n“You sure you’ll be okay with the girls tonight?” she asked.\n\nI nodded. “We’ll be fine.”\n\n“Thank you for watching them. They’ve missed you. Alison doesn’t show it, but she’s missed you.”\n\n“Well, she’s sixteen. Dad’s not the coolest guy on the planet anymore. At least Jasmine still thinks I’m cool.”\n\nTrish smiled. She opened her arms for a hug, and I embraced her. We held that pose for a long time. “Thank you,” she said.\n\n“For what?”\n\nWe let go of each other and she looked at me. “For being you. You’ve been really relaxed with this whole situation the last few months. I really appreciate it.”\n\nI shrugged. “You’ve got to live your life. And if you can’t live it with me, hopefully you’ll be happy living it with Greg.”\n\nShe nodded, sensing something was off with me, perhaps. “Are you okay, Tom?”\n\nI wanted to be honest with her. I wanted to tell her everything. But she wouldn’t believe all of it, and if I opened my mouth, I would need her to believe it. I wanted to say that by this time tomorrow, I wouldn’t be here anymore. God himself had deemed it so, for reasons beyond my understanding. Who would believe that in this day and age? Sometimes I had trouble believing it myself, and I had seen him with my own eyes, heard his voice with my own ears.\n\n“I’m okay,” I said. “Or at least, I will be okay. I promise.” And that was as honest as I could be.\n\nShe gave me a small smile, then turned away, grabbed her purse, and opened the door.\n\nBefore she left, I stopped her. “Trish.” She turned to look at me. God, she was beautiful. “I know living with me was hard. I didn’t always appreciate you as I should have. For that, I’m so sorry. Sorry for the pain and neglect I caused in our relationship. But you’ve been an ally and a friend to me all these years. A partner. A co-parent. These things haven’t changed. And it’s never left my mind how important you were to me—and still are.”\n\nHer smile was more genuine this time. “Thank you, Tom.”\n\nI waved her on. “Now, go have fun with Greg. I’m sure you guys could use the alone time.”\n\nShe left. I checked on Penny and Jasmine. Jasmine was already asleep, her soft snores meeting my ears like songs out of a dream. I nearly cried. Penny was on her phone, texting with a friend. She tried to hide it from me, but I waved her off. “It’s Friday night, kiddo. Do what you want. Just don’t stay up too late.”\n\n“Thanks, Dad,” she said, and I closed her door.\n\nI went downstairs. Checked the time. Nine o’clock. In twenty-four hours, I would be gone. I felt stupid even thinking it, that the Man Upstairs had come down from heaven years ago to tell me when I was going to die. He didn’t say how or why, just that it would happen. I can’t explain how I knew it was God. Maybe it wasn’t. Maybe it was just some interpretation of my mind that spoke to my inner child who had spent so many years in Sunday School.\n\nUp until then, I’d stopped believing in God. Now, I didn’t know what I believe. It was like peering at a murky plateau, with something in the distance that I couldn’t quite make out. But something was there. Something peaceful, waiting for me. And in twenty-four hours, I’d get to see it.\n\nI’d done a dramatic overhaul of my life in the last few years. I took out my IRA to pay for a trip to Disneyland with the kids. I quit my shitty insurance job that I’d been meaning to quit for years. I played the lottery and, surprisingly, won a nice ten grand for my troubles, which I promptly put into the girls’ college fund. I played the stock market, made a hefty profit and put that into the college fund as well. I took up painting. I went backpacking around the country. I made love to as many people as would take me.\n\nMost of all, I spent time with my kids and ex-wife. I made sure not to waste any time thinking about other “important” things, because I found they weren’t really that important anymore. Reading to Jasmine before bed and listening to Alison’s music mixes were important. Listening to Trish talk about how happy she was with Greg was important. Bringing light and happiness to the people in my life who had made all the difference—these things were important. They were vital. Without them, what was there?\n\nTrish came home around midnight, long after the girls had fallen asleep. She was drunk and happy—elated, in fact.\n\n“Greg proposed to me!” she said.\n\n“He did?”\n\n“He did!”\n\nI gave Trish the biggest hug I’ve ever given anyone. “I’m happy for you, dear.”\n\n“Are you?”\n\n“I am.”\n\n“Thank you.” She kissed me on the cheek. Suddenly, tears were streaming down her face.\n\n“What’s wrong?”\n\n“I just… Sometimes I miss what we had, Tom. We had such a good thing for a while. What happened to that?”\n\nI shrugged. “Things don’t always work out for married people, Trish. It’s the way life is.”\n\n“And you don’t regret that?”\n\n“I don’t have any regrets right now. Because right now, you’re happy. The girls are happy. All is well with the world.”\n\nShe hugged me, and we sat on the couch and talked well into the early morning, drinking wine and laughing. It felt, for the first time in a long time, as if all was as it should have been. For much of my life, I’d spent my days worrying, agonizing over details which meant so little now that I knew my time was limited. How I was doing at work, if I was going to get that promotion, if Danny was going to get the promotion before I did. Mortgages, car payments, hospital bills. Things that, while important in the moment, weren’t the sole focus of my existence. And yet, the anxiety seduced me, drew me in closer to the worry which plagued so many of my days and made me resent my own wife and kids.\n\n“That’s why things didn’t work out, Trish,” I said abruptly. Trish furrowed her eyebrows. I said, “I wasn’t focused on the important things. You, the girls. Building a life worth living together. I was worried about status, money—surviving in a world that doesn’t give two shits about me. I should have been thinking about you, and how much you mean to me. That’s worth preserving. I just didn’t think about it until—”\n\n*Until it was too late.*\n\nThe words almost slipped from my mouth, but I stopped them. “—until now.”\n\nTrish leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “You’re a good man, Tom. I hope you know that.”\n\n“I do. After so many years of not believing in myself, I’ve finally found something to believe in.”\n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\nI stayed up late that night on a mountaintop, alone, watching the moon disappear over the horizon to make room for the rising sun. For the first time in many years, I said a prayer. I prayed for my girls, that they would be taken care of; for my ex-wife, that she would find happiness and peace without me; for myself, that I wasn’t crazy in thinking I was a few short hours away from the end. I prayed for the earth, because it had given me so much. I prayed for other people who led lives less fortunate than mine, that they would find the kind of clarity granted to me over the last few years.\n\nI felt peaceful, yet also terrified. I wasn’t ready to leave yet. I had so many more things I wanted to do with my family, so many things I wanted to see with them before I died. But these things would not come to pass, and I could only accept that now. I could accept what I’d done in this life to make things better for other people. It was the best I could offer. I hoped it was enough for the good Lord. I would find out soon enough.\n\nI watched the sun pass overhead. Less than an hour now.\n\nI closed my eyes, breathed in the refreshing air around me.\n\nI waited for the end.",
"What made me so special in the first place to have received a message from God?\n\nIf it helps, it wasn't an uplifting one. It wasn't a promotion to angelhood, or a trip to His kingdom. It was merely a statement about my inevitable death, when was it, and to count myself blessed.\n\nI did not feel very blessed at the time, nor now. Although that feeling has changed significantly to a mortifying amalgamation of nerves and anxiety and blankness, as I've passed the threshold of tomorrow: one day after I was supposed to die.\n\nI still didn't know what made me so special then. Still don't think I'm special. But nevertheless, it seems that God himself has taken notice of my expired presence. And maybe the buckets of sweat that were currently drowning out every pore.\n\nHe descended washed in holy light. I couldn't actually see what He looked like, but there was no mistaking His presence.\n\n\"You are still here,\" God said, a tone of surprise in his majestic timbre.\n\n\"I am,\" I replied, nervously. \"I do not know why.\"\n\n\"You were supposed to die yesterday,\" He said. \"How have you not accomplished that task?\"\n\n\"Sorry, what?\" I trembled. \"Accomplish? Task?\"\n\n\"You were blessed with knowledge, and yet you stand here,\" He said. \"Child, confide in me. How did you circumvent it?\"\n\n\"Er...\" I trailed off, trying to figure out what to say. \"Nothing?\"\n\n\"Nothing?\"\n\n\"Nothing. I've just been sitting here, mostly a bundle of nerves. I thought I was a dead man walking. For 24 hours, that's clearly not been the case. I'm a wreck.\"\n\n\"You are not lying?\"\" God questioned.\n\n\"I don't think that's a very prudent thing to do, considering who I am and who you are.\"\n\n\"Hmm. You appear to be speaking the truth in that sentences, and the ones prior. My word was that you would die, and somehow, through no mystical or divine forces, you are not.\"\n\n\"Is that a bad thing?\" I asked. \"I... don't mean to go against your word.\"\n\n\"It's fine. Don't worry about it. It is just strange, that's all,\" God pondered. His light seemed to dim a little, before firing back up again.\n\n\"No matter. You are but one soul. I suppose you can live.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"I gave you this life,\" He said. \"Be blessed in that knowledge.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry. So I won't die? Just like that?\"\n\n\"Yes. Because I said so.\"\n\n\"Forgive me for asking, Lord,\" I said. \"But what made you tell me about my death in the first place? Why was I so special?\"\n\n\"Hmm?\" God said. \"Who are you, child?\"\n\n\"I'm sorry,\" I said. \"I... don't quite understand.\"\n\n\"You know me. But I do not know you.\" He said. \"I work in mysterious ways.\"\n\n\"Wha--what?\" the nerves slipped away a little, replaced by red ripples of rage. Just what was happening here?\n\n\"No matter. You can live, child, despite your defiance. I bore of this exchange.\"\n\nAnd with that, my Lord left, his shining light no longer blinding my eyes, leaving me with far more questions than answers.\n\nBut I was alive, at least. Alive, and maybe well.\n\n---\n\nr/dexdrafts"
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[WP] Whenever someone lies to you, you get 100 dollars in cash in your wallet, no matter where you are.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Hi, how are you?\" I asked the man passing the other way.\n\n\nHe looked at me startled. \"Good, good.\" He replied. \"Do I know you?\"\n\n\n\"Oh no.\" I turned as I passed. \"I just like saying hi.\" I faced forward again and walked up the sidewalk. A couple were headed my way. \"How's it going?\" I called out.\n\n\n\"Fine.\"\n\n\"Good.\"\n\n\nThey responded almost in unison.\n\n\nAll it took was a daily walk along the sidewalk. I didn't even have to work anymore. That old wallet I'd bought at the thrift store would fill slowly with money. Each time I asked by way of greeting how folks were doing, their automatic responses triggered the magic.\n\n\nBecause not many people were actually okay."
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[WP] Little Caesar's 5 dollar pizza has been changed to 6 dollars, chaos ensues.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Acropolis ruins are by far one of the most amazing sights in ancient Greece. Here in 2021 they still inspire awe, though only somewhat muted by the relentless wear of time. It's beautiful crimson roof and most of the interior lost leaving massive pillars of pitted stone in silent testament to past glory. The muscular form of a patrician roman stands with his back to the hill of the muses, staring off into the distance.\n\n \"I know you are here Mercury, tell me what you have learned.\"\n\nThe lanky man appeared behind him as though shrugging off a cloak made of silk. Perhaps that was how he traveled so quickly, simply discarding his prior location in favor of this new one each time. He never appeared to run any more. That was for days long past. \n\n\"Neptune attacks the mortals because he was slighted my lord.\"\n\n\"What offense does he claim, to wake his ire so?\" In the distance the sounds of city life could barely be heard.\n\n\"He was, overcharged. Sire.\"\n\nA flash within his eye gave hint to his true nature as he repeated with a smile. \"Overcharged you say?\"\n\n\"Yes sire, he says this establishment ripped him off on a pizza.\"\n\nThe smile faded away. \"Why didn't he just go to Little Ceasars?\" He said.\n\n\"He did sire. The price went up\"\n\n\"What!?!\" Jupiter roared. His voice blending with the sound of distant thunder.\n\n\"It is 6 bucks now, sire.\"\n\n\"Summon Mars.\" The big man growled.",
"You rush over to the pizza place. \"Excuse me sir?! What is this?!\" You point to the ad on your phone. He looks at it, intensively. \"Its been changed, ma'am.\" You growled, almost like a rabid dog. \"I want my pizza down a dollar!\" You bark at him. \"Slow down, Karen.\" You didn't like being sterotyped.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nRushing over, you grab him by the collar of your shirt, and you ask again, \"May I PLEASE have a dollar off?! I'm broke!\" He denies, yet again. This time, your more furious than before. Your skin stars to get hairy until your a full-on werewolf. You growl at him again, and this time, in a voice that's not yours, you say,\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"I want my pizza.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\nHe goes into the back and grabs 3 pizzas. One cheese, and two pepperoni. You sprint out of the Little Ceaser's pizzeria with the pizzas. You rush back home, change out of your werewolf form, and chow down.\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\"That's one hairy Karen,\" The manager says.",
" Sasha once told me that pizza is like sex; even when it’s bad, it’s good. I watched the ash waft through the air like specks of parmesan and wondered where she was now—whether she had made it out in time or gotten caught up in the chaos with the rest of us. Only three hours had passed since the state of emergency was declared. It turned out that’s all the time you needed to burn a city to the ground.\n\nI took a deep breath and felt my lungs burn from smoke, as if every fold of tissue was coated in red pepper flakes. Back then I had disagreed with her, claiming that bad pizza was decidedly bad. You get what you pay for, and if you pay for shit, that’s what you can expect to eat. She frowned, her hand and the cardboard slice of pizza it held frozen in front of her. She looked from the pizza to me, and I saw her face fall in disappointment. “You’re right,” she’d said, “neither are good.” She took a bite and grimaced—it was as bad as $5 deserved. \n\nThat night we had sex for the last time. Neither of us wanted to admit the pizza was better. It would be the last time I would eat at Little Ceasers and the last time I would see Sasha; two days later we broke up. The years blended into each other like cheap mozzarella melting into a vast ocean. I saw myself on an island of pepperoni, looking out at the expanse of cheese that had become my life. High above, the sun wavered under its own heat, and I wondered how long until everything would start to burn. \n\nToday, whether because I missed Sasha or just wanted to feel something, I went to Little Ceasers. There was a long line running out the door and a nervous energy emanating from some commotion at the front, as if we were all synapses firing in one large brain. It wasn’t just my life; the city was a tinderbox. One spark, and everything would go up in flames. \n\nWho would’ve expected a $1 price increase in mediocre pizza to provide that spark? Certainly not the executives who signed off on the decision sitting comfortably in some far-off high rise, nor the dead-eyed teenager slumped over the counter in front of us. I would’ve felt bad for him, an unwitting pawn at the frontline of a crowd-turned-mob, but it was he who started the first fire.\n\nNow, the city had become one giant pizza oven. Flames spread through riots, reaching up to dance among the tips of the buildings. Only time would tell what condition the city would emerge in—whether it would burn itself into a charred crust or fuse together in solidarity. Without Sasha, neither would come as much solace to me. I sat down on the sidewalk and watched, thinking of pizza and bad sex.",
"There are three things certain in life. Death, taxes and Little Caesars $5 Pizza. But suddenly, that all changed when the price went from $5 to $6. \n\nOne day, I just gotten off work and was feeling hungry so I decided some grub. As I was short on cash, I decided to buy a Little Caesars pizza for $5. I walk inside with $5.35 precisely in my hand. \n\n\"Welcome to Little Caesars, what may I get for you today?\" asked the cashier. \n\n\"One pepperoni pizza, please.\" I said.\n\n\"Okay, that'll be $6.42.\" \n\n\"Excuse me,\" I gasped. \"I think you mean $5.35\" \n\n\"Actually the price went up one dollar since this monday. So now it's $6 instead of $5.\" \n\n\"WHAT!?\" I screamed. \"But I don't have enough money!\" \n\n\"I'm sorry then you can't get the pizza.\" \n\nIn a fit of rage, I stormed out not before punching the glass door. This attracted the attention of an person walking by. \n\n\"Bro, what's wrong with you?\" they asked. \n\n\"Little Caesars pizza changed their price from $5 to $6.\" I responded.\n\n\"WHAT!?\" \n\nThey began to punch a car window in, breaking it. Eventually this attracted a crowd who learned of the situation then started smashing property. With a riot breaking out, police were called.\n\n\"911, what's your emergency?\" \n\n\"People are smashing businesses and windows just because Little Caesars price went up one dollar.\" \n\n\"I'm sending in the SWAT team. This is unacceptable! Little Caesars charged me $7!\" \n\nThe SWAT team arrived and started shooting up Little Caesars which made national news. There people learned about $6 price change and then started shooting up their local Little Caesars. With Little Caesars restaurants over the country shot up, the president made an urgent announcement. \n\n\"My fellow citizens, we learned about Little Caesars price change to $5 to $6. This is an urgent threat to not just the United States, but the World.\" \n\nSo the president pressed the nuclear option on the desk. That launched all nuclear weapons towards Little Caesars Headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. The blast destroyed the entire area which brought an end to the crisis."
] | 5
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[WP] The private investigator's latest client is unlike any other; a serial killer who's trying to find the copy cat killer who is getting to all the victims that fit his MO before he had the chance to kill them.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"“Oh yes, Anders,” the man said, walking around my table. “You have a new client: me.” He reached out and brushed his gloved hand against my cheek. My nostrils filled with the scent of leather and rosemary. The scraping sound against my stubble reminded me of my straight razor. “So you better clear your calendar.” The bastard was careful to not walk into my direct line of sight.\n\n“Usually, I take appointments at my office,” I said. “I’m also more inclined to take a case if prospective clients don’t tie me up at my fucking kitchen table.” How did he do it anyway? I looked down at my cup of coffee. Had he poisoned it? It hadn’t tasted funny. One minute I’m scrolling through ESPN and the next white twine ropes were cutting into my wrists and ankles.\n\nThe man chuckled. That’s what I had figured so far. His voice was male. Way to go, gumshoe. “Oh, you’ll take my case. The stakes are too high. Too many people are. . .” A glossy, square photograph smacked onto the table. It was of my receptionist, Lilith. She was peering stage left, blonde hair flying out behind her, red clutch under her arm. It looked like it was taken from a distance. Was this asshole stalking her? “Counting. . .” Another photo smacked down: my old partner Donovan. He was smiling, standing outside the station downtown, cup of coffee in his hand, shooting the shit with another detective I didn’t recognize. This was a candid camera shot, too. “On you.” A third photo landed on the others. I jerked in the chair, ropes biting into my skin.\n\n“Asshole! Let me out of this chair!” I pressed my bare toes against the cold linoleum and stretched my neck to get a look at the creep. No dice. I looked back down at the photo of my son, Logan. He was in his sky blue school uniform, backpack on—almost as big as him, walking out to his Mom’s Audi. My breath puffed in quick bursts. My heartbeat thumped against the binding rope across my chest.\n\n“I can’t do that, Anders.” His soft voice was even, like this was no different than talking to your neighbor. “I can tell you what I need *you* to do.” His weight shifted behind me, and he coughed. “I’m the killer everyone’s looking for. I don’t know if you pay attention to the news as closely as you do to the baseball—”\n\n“I know who you are. You like to murder coeds,” I said, trying to shift my weight in the chair to stop my ass cheek from going numb. “You probably have fun with ‘em before you kill ‘em, too.” That info was being withheld by the police, most likely. I looked around my sunbathed kitchen without moving my head. The fridge’s shiny metal wasn’t reflective enough to give me a good look at the guy. “What do you need me for? Can’t figure out how to set up a Tinder profile?”\n\n“Oh, you're funny!” His clap is muffled by the gloves. “The part of the story not in the papers is that some *copycat* out there murdered the last two. I’m getting worried that the police think they were *me.”* He spit out the last word.\n\n“Why? Worried about an extra life sentence or two on top of the heap you already earned yourself, dick head?” My head jolted forward as he pushed it with his glove. It took a second to unclench my jaw. I was going to kill this man.\n\nHe tsk-tsked. “Be nice, Anders. That’s no way to treat a client.” His footfalls were loud on my floor, heavy shoes of some kind, noted. “And no, I’m very. . . protective of my work. And this, person, is not going to steal my fame. You see how you fit into this?”\n\nI sighed. “You want me to find your copycat? How can I even trust that they aren’t all you in the first place?”\n\n“They aren’t *me.*” He hissed. “You have my word.”\n\n“Wow, that settles it then.” I strained against the ropes binding my hands again; I felt the warm, slick of my blood under my wrist along with the burning pain.\n\nHe placed his hands on my shoulders. I flinched. He whispered, mouth close to my ear. A cold wave swept down my neck. “You will find him. And when you do, we can discuss payment.” I caught a whiff of Listerine. A gloved hand and brown jacket sleeve entered my line of sight, setting my phone on the table, 911 illuminated on the screen. His steps receded to my door, “I’ll be in touch, *Nick*.”\n\n“Go fuck yourself.” The door opened and closed. I waited for the operator's voice."
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[WP] It started with patient zero 4 years ago. He never woke up. Now, the final few who are still awake to see the end of it all, have gathered in the Eiffel Tower to witness the end. Lulled to sleep by the snores of those around them before they too are taken by The Final Sleep.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"It was rather sad, as endings go. I sat at the foot of the Eiffel tower, staring out at an empty city. Before we had dreamt of how humanity would end. We thought of zombies, disasters, asteroids, invasions, wars, and nuclear hellfire. There were hundreds of ways for the world to end, yet this felt somehow… Anticlimactic. We had wanted an end of the world that felt like an end. A fiery explosion, a last stand, a final gesture to mark our place in time. But it was not to be, and I sat there quietly with my friends awaiting the end that didn’t feel like an end. There wasn’t much for us to say at this point. We had all felt it. Slowly, inexorably, our limbs got heavier, our minds slowed, and we wanted nothing more but to go to sleep. The moment passed, and I knew the end was close. I slowly stood up, and walked myself over to the bed under the tower. There, still sleeping, rested my wife and son. I wheeled their sleeping bodies over from my house, that we might experience the end together. I sat on the end of the bed for a while, wishing for a chance to wake up. But no god descended, no angels came down with a divine taser to knock us all from sleep. So I tucked myself under the blankets, and put my arms around my family. It wasn’t really a bad way for the world to end, I thought as I drifted off. For all I might have wanted to wake up, going to sleep for the last time next to my family was how I’d want to die even if it wasn’t forced. I hugged a bit tighter, and slowly felt myself go… to… sleep..."
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[WP] When people turn 18, a book of magical spells appears in front of them which contains spells that only the owner can use. When you turn 18, a blank book and quill appear in front of you.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I sit there, on my wooden chair, staring blankly at the empty book. It has a beautiful, scarlet cover, with the figure of a golden dragon sown into it. Like all Enchantments, it has no title. Only my name, brightly embedded on the front cover with golden letters. \n\nThe pages are coloured a dim white, with what appear to be a snake circling the page as a contour. A snake the colour of blood, eating its own tail. An ouroboros.\n\nI almost fall off my chair. We know little of magic, but from what we do know we are sure the ouroboros only appears in the most powerful Enchantments. It makes no sense, now, since the book is blank. \"What sort of power can an empty Enchantment hold?\" I ask myself out loud. Immediately after, I hear the scratching sound of a quill on paper, though I see no such thing. Only letters, caligraphically written, appearing on my Enchantment.\n\n*\"What power do I hold, you ask?\"* the letters say. I read it slowly, and, as it begins writing, the scratching noise ensues again.\n\n*\"I hold the power to make Kings crumble, I hold the power to make Gods rise! I am not a mere Enchantment, mortal! I am the Ouroboros, I am the very power of Magic incarnate!\"* the Enchantment writes.\n\nI stare at the page, dumbfounded. \"Well... what are you?\" I ask bluntly. Though the Enchantment shows no emotion, I know deep inside that it is confused as well.\n\n*\"I... don't know. I have presented myself so many times, lost in the Neverending eons, over and over again. Every time, the human I bless with my services ascends to something to greater. Yet none of them have, so far, managed to tell me what I am.\"*\n\nThe Enchantment's words, even through just letters on a scarlet book, feel... sorrow. I smile compassionately. \"Well... there's a crowd outside of these doors, waiting for me to cast my first spell. So let's give them a show to remember, and then we can find you your answers, shall we?\" I whisper, knowing the Enchantment will hear me. \n\nI feel agreement, from the book, and a spell begins to appear. I cannot read the language of Magic, none of us can. I can only sense that the words feel... powerful. Ancient even. I pick up the book gently and stand up. Walking over to the drywood doors, I feel a certain amount of excitement. \n\nPeculiarly, I know the Enchantment shares my excitement. How? I cannot tell. \n\nI open the double door and walk forth into an empty stage. Below me, I can see my family and friends. Acquaintances, even total strangers. The First Spell is important. \n\nI smile to all of them, as the crowd awes at the golden dragon on the Enchantment's cover. I begin uttering the spell, and as I do I feel a force older than time flow through me. A power not simply old, or strong. It is... primeval.\n\nI understand each word of the First Spell the moment I utter it. And I too, in awe, watch as my words create greatness.\n\n**\"Fire. Fire and smoke.\"** I begin the chant. Something begins brewing in the large hall. The crowd, formerly chattering happily, goes silent. The do not understand the words like I do, but they feel Magic surging around me, inside me.\n\n**\"From flames we all derive, to flames we all expire! Through fire we forge steel, through fire we shape gold! And through my sanctimonious words, I summon it! I summon fire, I summon smoke! I summon steel and gold!\"** \n\nThe First Spell's letters begin disappearing in a small blaze, then in a small snaking line of smoke. To my absolute awe, the dragon on the cover springs to life. Leaving the cover empty, for a while, the Golden Dragon steps off and grows in size. It stands on the stage, towering above everyone, even me.\n\nAs I gaze into the red mist of the Dragon's eyes, the creature roars. A deafening sound, so powerful it almost throws me off my feet. \n\nFrom the Dragon's mouth pour sparks, golden and scarlet and white. It turns its head, flooding the great hall with the blazing sparks. As the Dragon springs off its feet and flaps its wings to fly a round around the room, the sparks turn to tiny butterflies, and their light strengthens. \n\nThey light up the hall in a spectacle of light, and the dragon breathes a slither of Pyre as it flies. After that, it lunges down and dives back into the book's cover. The butterflies stay, decorating the room and turning into decorations on the walls.\n\n*\"Thank you\"* the Enchantment writes caligraphically. \n\nI smile tenderly, as the crowd begins to clap frantically. \n\n\"Now let's go answer your questions!\" I whisper to it as I turn around towards the doors. Strangely, I feel like the book would smile as well, if it could."
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[WP] After the Royal Sorcerers came to power they outlawed unsanctioned magic and mystical paraphernalia then they unleashed the Babylonian curse, all written texts were jumbled making magic accidents go up. As a pagerunner you smuggle spells and magic items for hidden magicians.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"“You don’t even understand what it was like in the old days, lad,” the magician lamented, shuffling around the store in his guise as a shopkeeper. His eyes glinted in the light of the lantern that, upon careful observation, seemed to glow a bit brighter than its fuel should have allowed.\n\nThough the pagerunner, Kentai, made no comment or noise of acknowledgement, he continued, “Magic was a revered art back then, not something to be kept secret or traded in with the same lot as, oh, corpse hands and illegal arms of the other sort.”\n\nAt this, the pagerunner gave a wry smile. “Magic has always been a potent weapon, Grist, otherwise there’d be no market for either of us. No need to pretend otherwise.”\n\n“Bah, what would you know, a young one like yourself?” said Grist dismissively, waving a hand and glancing at the front door, closed as it usually was during their transactions. “Doubt you were even born when the sanctions came down. Most of us had to flee, others—” He broke off, wrinkled his nose in distaste.\n\nKentai shrugged. “Well, I had to come into this life somehow.”\n\n“And how, exactly, was that?” \n\n“You’re being awfully chatty for someone who hasn’t paid me yet,” said Kentai instead of answering. He leaned a little closer to the magician, who took a step back. “In fact, you haven’t even said a thing about the job you hired me for, and usually you’d be badgering me for the spell already.”\n\nGrist sputtered. “Can’t let an old man have a moment of nostalgia? Fine, go on then, read me the spell.”\n\n“Sure. But first, why haven’t you introduced me to your friend here?” Kentai asked, then uttered a spell of discovery that summoned a (literal) listening bug to his hand. He crushed it, face grim.\n\n“But—but how?” gasped Grist. “You shouldn’t have any magic predisposition...you were all chosen not to have any.”\n\nKentai shook his head, choosing again not to answer. “You’ve been warned.” About to open the door, he heard a weak voice draw his attention back. \n\n“Kentai. They’re onto me, and they’ll get you too, sooner or later.”\n\n“Well,” Kentai said, renewing a rune above the doorknob then turning back to face Grist, “let them come. We’ll be ready.”"
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[WP] The king hired you to train the prince in sword-fighting, but he is a lazy, arrogant little brat and refuses to learn. The princess, on the other hand, is a willing student that is willing to learn more. Now you must convince the king to allow the princess to learn to duel.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Highness, on this matter the sages, wise men, and *tao-shihs* all agree. A prince must master the Seven Warlike Arts to lead his people and keep them from danger.\"\n\nThe prince brushed hair out of his eyes and glared at me. They seemed dark-rimmed today... was he lining them with kohl, like a woman of the Reed Life? \n\n\"No. No war. War is an outdated expression of toxic masculinity, and it reinforces the patriarchy. When I'm Emper...*Queen*, there's not going to be any wars.\" \n\n\"Highness, a man's enemies do not permit this choi... Queen, your Highness?\"\n\n\"I told you, I think I'm trans. Or at least, like, non-binary.\" \n\nI cast my eyes to the vaulted ceiling and wordlessly appealed to the Heavenly Master of the First Origin to endow me with strength and patience. \n\n\"Anyway, I order you to desist this nonsense and go train my sister instead. She *wants* to learn.\"\n\nHe glanced to where little Li Na was indeed already smiting at the muk yan jeong targets with her weapon, if \"smiting\" could be taken to mean \"poking gently\", and \"weapon\" to mean \"broken length of broomstick liberated from the servants' quarters\". The handle, as well as her hands and face, were smeared with traces of jam. \n\n\"Highness, I am not charged to obey your orders, but those of the Son of Heaven. And *he* has bidden me prepare you for war, and other manly exercises of the soldiers' art.\"\n\n\"But you just said the nation needs to be led in war. Even if that were true, which, it's, like, totally not, couldn't she do it?\" \n\n\"That is not within my demesne. But were it so, still would I refuse. Your sister is a girl of eight summers. She cannot hold up a jian swod extended for the turn of a glass, much less a kwan dao. Even grown, she would never bear the weight of armour. Women cannot bear the rigours of war, even had they the courage to face it.\"\n\n\"That's sexist! Women can do anything men can do! You're not giving her a chance!\" \n\nIt is death to strike at the blood of the Son of Heaven, but a weakling upon the throne is death to many. I let my hand fly. He gazed up from the flagstones with the wide eyes of a startled deer. Blood trickled from a split lip.\n\"You HIT me!\"\n\n\"Highness has perceived the obvious. Now Highness should stand and defend himself.\" \n\n\"You're not allowed to -\" \n\nThe air whistled from his lungs as his stomach wrapped around my incoming boot. Some sort of court eunuch creature detached itself from the throng of hangers-on and lickspittles lounging near the wall, and rushed toward us until he saw my eyes upon him, and skidded to a halt, jaw hanging slack. There was little doubt his Imperial Majesty would hear of this straight away. \n\n\"Go and tell him!\" I barked. The eunuchs scattered like flushed quail. \n\nPrince Zhao was on his feet when I turned on him again, flowing into the first movement of the Drunkard's Walk Home with my wooden sword. The prince did not know the sequence, of course, but, slowly as I moved, he managed to interpose his own training weapon with a solid *clack* of wood. \n\n\"You're not allowed to hit me!\" \n\nI swept low into the second movement of the Walk...\n\n\"Yes, Prince. But how will you enforce that edict upon me?\" \n\n... he stumbled backwards, reeling out of the reach of the low-swinging tip...\n\n\"My father will...\"\n\nI abandoned the Drunkard's Walk and selected a series of postures with more reach, adapting a stance from the spear manuals of King Fuchai of Wu. \n\n\"Your father is not here, Highness. How will you stop me?\" \n\n*Clack.*\n\nHis posture was terrible, his grip a crime against art, his balance nonexistent. But this was not today's lesson. I moved with what felt like glacial slowness, and obvious, predictable intent. \n\n\"You're a bully!\"\n\n*Clack.*\n\n\"And how does one stop bullies, Highness? With a lecture on - \" \n\n*Clack.*\n\n\"*Toxic masculinity*, perhaps? With ramblings of how the world 'should' be?\" \n\n*Clack.*\n\n\"Highness, if I am the bully, *what will you do*?\" \n\n*Clack. Clack.* \n\nHe did not speak now... a look of furious concentration on his face as he struggled to slap away what must have seemed a blizzard of strikes. \n\n*Come on, child. Think.* I urged silently. *What will you do, deprived of privilege and servants and obedience and awe? What will you do when there is no one else to help you, no Imperial father or code of law that will stop what is happening right at this very moment? Who are YOU, prince Zhao?*\n\nAnd then he did it. He swung at me. \n\nOh, it was awful technique. Truly entire essays could be written on what was wrong with his attack. Li Na with her broomstick, fighting her imaginary dragons, could scarcely have done worse. Had one of my real students aimed such a feeble and unskilled blow, he would have suffered for it. \n\nBut this was not the lesson. \n\n*Clack*. I stopped the swing, bound his blade, and held it for a moment, locking eyes to stare at him. Then twisted my elbows and wrists into Small Monkey Unlocks a Gate, and sent his blade skittering across the courtyard.\n\n\"Prince, until Heaven decrees otherwise, there will always be evil men. And evil men love the sword, for it gives them the power to work evil. So, too, must good men learn to love the sword, for only it can give the power to prevent evil. If good men do not love the sword, and cast it away because they do not love it, then evil men shall have their way with all that is under Heaven. This is the lesson.\" \n\nHe stared at me, this thoughts unreadable. Many times have thought back to this moment, many times wondered if a differently chosen word could have changed the eventual outcome, made him a better man, a better Emperor, could have forestalled disaster. How many times have I asked myself how many lives were snuffed out by my failure? \n\nBut at that moment I said only: \n\n\"And if you study diligently, and apply yourself to the Eighteen Weapons and Seven Warlike Arts, I will perhaps in time ask your Divine Father if Li Na may be taught what she can learn.\"",
"I was treading forth and back in my rooms. Why does that always happen to me? Am I just ... too open minded? Am I just too opportunistic? Too eager to teach?\n\nNow the next young lady wishes to learn from me, the best sword fighter north of the great lake. First it were a single one. She asked for help to defend herself, after being threatened by a jealous lover. And I took her in, because especially they deserve to feel save.\n\nAt first the old men in my classes were disrespectful against her, talking her down, but she quickly showed, she was determined and talented. And I can't just let it go to waste, what bad teacher would I be?\n\nSoon more and more woman joined, having either similar problems or just want to impress their husbands. \n\nBut now we were talking about the King, our supreme leader, which told me in no certain terms, that I may continue my classes, but only if I teach his two sons. He doesn't like strong woman, it goes \"against the god given roles\". \n\nI was considering declining, risking being expelled of the lands. I wouldn't had many problems anyways. Other Kings and even one Queen specifically asked for me to move to their royal grounds.\n\nBut now the Princess was asking me to train her, AGAINST her father's, my Kings wishes. Not only that but the Queen requested lessons too.\n\n\nI came out of my rooms, down to my class room, and not only found the Princess and the Queen, but sadly the King too. Red rage filled his face.\n\n\"Explain yourself, you fiend, you scoundrel. Not only are you teaching the common woman to fight, now my wife and daughter too? I have you killed, I am-\"\n\nThe Princess then speaks up, known to ignore her father's wishes: \"First of all father, we weren't reached yet, we just requested lessons. Secondly, if you order his execution, you will make a grave mistake. I will make sure of that.\"\n\nThat caught the Kind of guard, opening his mouth and closing it repeatedly. Before he could start again, my first students stumbled in. Now I had two very angry, very powerful woman, an extremely angry and confused King and the first few students all pilling up in my class room.\n\nI immediately turned to them and asked: \"Could please wait in the yard, and start you practice we had last week. I am ... busy.\"\n\nThey just slowly reversed out of the room and left us alone again. I then ran to the door, and asked them to explain the others.\n\nBack into the room the mood turned, to the better luckily. The King deflated, but still grumbly. He agreed to let the Princess train. His wife not. \"He will have a stern talk with her.\"\n\n-LATER-\n\nThe group of the younger students were quite worried, an angry royal family usually means problems. I assured them it's solved and fine.\n\nThe lesson wasn't calm anyways, after the Princess revealed herself in her new \"Battle gown\".\n\nAt first students were quite stiff and nervous. Nobody wanted to the first to strike her, or in any way hurt her or whatever.\n\nAfter a few weeks of training she had her first duels against my students and promptly showed them, they don't need to hold back.\n\nAnd the Queen joined my classes of the older generations. Apparently the stern talk went both ways.",
"\"Sir, Callum is talented, lazy, & believes he needs nothing else,\" I said. \n\n\"I'm paying you to teach him, Sassifren. That means motivating you is your problem,\" King Wentrel replied haughtily. \n\n\"And that's why I'm asking your permission to train Alexis. She is motivated to learn, is a good student & the only time I've seen Callum give any effort at all is in attempts to outperform his sister. Callum is lazy, but he's COMPETITIVE. If I train & seem to favor his sister, I believe he'll improve.\" I wasn't lying. Callum did work harder when he thought he could put Alexis down. The King didn't have to know I genuinely preferred to teach his daughter. \n\n\"Hmph. It's not proper, a princess learning to duel,\" Wentrel grumbled. \n\n\"And since when have, sir, have you preferred propriety to efficacy?\" I gestured about the chamber as I walked, \"Alexis has performed adequately, though not excelled, with all her other tutors.\" \n\nI stopped by a wall hanging, \"You display her stitching in your chambers.\"\n\nI gestured to the small piano, \"She plays well enough to take the keys at your intimate dinners of state, if not balls or symphonies.\" \n\nI stood under a map of the kingdom, \"And she's a fair grasp of the nature of your governance and history. You've yet to chastise her for embarrassing you at a state dinner or soured a relationship with one of your nobles.\" \n\nI returned to stand before him, \"AND STILL she's found the time to watch my lessons with Callum & ask me questions of form & grip & practice. I think this is a thing she wishes to do, & I think her participation is required to spur Callum to invest any amount of effort into this skill. We both know his mouth and manner will land him in a duel sooner or later, & it may be one you'll not be able to grant him use of the King's champion. Allow me to train Alexis, & I'll ensure Callum will develop the skills to survive duels, whether he's in the right or no.\"\n\nKing Wentrel sighed, \"All right, all right. Fine. We'll try your experiment. You've six months. If I see,\" \n\n\"If you see no improvement,\" I interrupted, \"in six months, I'll resign as the royal blade.\"",
"\"But, your Majesty, the princess is more than willing–\"\n\n\"Silence, Percival! I will not hear the end of it. I have asked you to train my son, my good William, and you are telling me that _my daughter_ wishes to learn how to duel? This is preposterous!\"\n\nI give the king a long, inscrutable glare. \"Your Majesty. You may send me to the dungeons after this, but hear me out.\"\n\n\"You have three minutes to explain yourself, Percival,\" the king says, with a harsh voice.\n\nI pause, looking towards the tower where the princess was, and notice she was standing at her window, a daydreaming look in her eyes. \"Princess Adalyn has paid more attention to my lessons than your son, your Majesty. While your son was busy pouting and screaming around how bored he is of training, she came to me, and asked me to teach her how to fight.\"\n\nI sigh for a moment, touching briefly over the hilt of my sword. \"I refused her requests, at first, knowing your Majesty's orders. But then I saw her trying to manouver a sword heavier than her, and almost got hurt in the attempt.\"\n\n\"What?! You put _my daughter–_ \" the king exclaimed, his face red, but I raised a hand to silence him.\n\n\"I found her a lighter sword, and we began to train in secret. Your Majesty, I wish I could show you just how strong your daughter is. I daresay she'd make a fine Queen in line for the throne.\"\n\nThe king started to pace around, hands behind his back as I could hear the sounds of his clattering armor and muttering something under his breath. I wasn't sure that I managed to convince the old man standing before me – he was a good ruler, but perhaps a blind one, sometimes – when I saw him leaning towards one of the guards posted at the door.\n\n\"Percival,\" the king said to me, sternly. \"You know that women are not meant to go to war. They are meant to care for children, care for the house. They cannot... fight, like we do.\"\n\n\"Sire, and yet women would gladly rise to the role, if it was needed from them. Let her duel, let her prove herself to you,\" I say with a smile, hand upon the hilt of my sword. \"Trust her.\"\n\n\"Hmph. William... I had hopes for the boy,\" the king said, with a dejected look in his eyes. \"But... if Adalyn is truly wishing to go down this path... I trust you will continue to instruct her just as well as you did until now, Percival. It's strange that you can understand her mind so easily.\"\n\n\"Sire. Your daughter isn't the first, or the last woman wishing to fight like men do,\" I say, looking towards the princess' tower. \"I did find it curious at first, but I'm no longer afraid to see them side by side, wielding swords just as well as we do.\"\n\n\"Perhaps I need to rethink the laws of succession as well,\" the king says, with a smile as one of his armored hands rests upon my shoulder. \"Thank you, Percival.\""
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[WP] You and the last true immortals finally have all the resources necessary to kickstart the next universe. First, though, you all decide to stop by the final large star in the universe and watch as the last light finally dies in a brilliant supernova.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"“Felix!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, the sound echoing through the ship. “Come on! It’s going to start soon!”\n\nA young man who looked around twenty-five with bright blonde hair and a swimmer’s body poked his head around the corner, peering down the hallway at me with his big green eyes. He was holding a sandwich in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other. “I’m refueling. Don’t we have like, a whole day?”\n\nI sighed, “Yes,” I drug the word out, “But, you know how everyone is. You’d think none of them had a concept of time. I’m just trying to round us all up so that no one hunts me down in the next universe for ‘not telling them it was time.’”\n\n“Who would do that?” He asked, now heading down the hallway to me.\n\n“Tommy, Christian, Harith, Sammy, Cale, Hiro—”\n\nHe put his hand up, “I get it. Everyone.”\n\nI grinned up at him, “Besides, I have a big toast prepared for everyone.” I snatch the champagne from him, sticking my tongue out, “And we don’t have much champagne left so I don’t want to have to do it twice.”\n\nTaking another bite out of his sandwich, we rounded the next corner to the main bridge. Before us stretched the view we’d come all this way for: the last giant star in the universe. And we were going to watch it collapse. Next to the window stood the other Immortals looking like an ad campaign about diversity.\n\nI had always been happy with how different we all were. Our favorite theory was that each of us came from a different tribe, there being twelve of us and all. But Harith is always quick to point out that, at no point, did an amorphous “twelve tribes” exist. He was the only one among us who could remember anything further than about three thousand years.\n\nStepping up behind them, I cleared my throat. They looked back and broke into cheers at the sight of me and the champagne.\n\n“About fuckin’ time, mate,” said Sammy, grabbing my arm. “Look at that thing,” she said, motioning towards the star. “I wish I could be the one to blow it up.\n\nTommy whacked her on the shoulder, “Oh hush, don’t be so brutal.”\n\nI put my hands up, “Hold up now children, let’s settle down. Why don’t we pull up our chairs so I can give the speech?”\n\nThey all chanted “Speech!” as they assembled the chairs around me like kids at a campfire. I popped open the champagne as Felix handed out glasses, mayonnaise still on his lip. Christian wiped it off for him with a smile when he took his glass.\n\n“Alright, alright. So you all know why we’re here.”\n\n“Glory!”\n\n“Death!”\n\n“New beginnings!”\n\nI grinned at their responses. It truly was like herding cats with them. “Yes, all that and more. We are here to celebrate the glory of our venture, the death of the universe and the beginning of a new one.” I took a deep breath, looking more solemn, “Now, I don’t know how I became the vaguely appointed leader of this group, but I can’t tell you how much fun the last fifteen hundred years have been with you all. Truly. Sure, we accelerated the death of universe through some very dumb and risky experiments, but it was all in the name of restarting, right?”\n\n“Right!”\n\n“And we got to blow things up!” Sammy’s joy over explosions had never waned in the years I’d known her.\n\n“Exactly. And now, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for sticking with me and my crazy plans. All the dead ends, the red herrings, the hiccups, the triumphs, the joy, and the love. You guys are my family. My real family. I don’t know what unfortunate humans called me kin at first, but I have found my true kin in each of you. In this entire endeavor.” I wiped a tear from my eyes, sniffling as I raised the glass, “To glory, to death, and to new beginnings!”\n\nThey raised their glasses and cheered, downing the champagne. It burned in my throat, making my eyes water even more. Felix, who was lounging quite hard in the plastic lawn chair, turned his attention to me and said, “Tell us again, how you found us all.”\n\n“No, no,” I said, “that would take forever.”\n\n“We’ve got as long as we need,” Harith said, his warm brown eyes inviting me to tell the story they’d all heard a million times.\n\n“Are you guys sure?”\n\n“Yes!”\n\n“Of course!”\n\n“Tell us, Phoenix! I’ve already forgotten.” For Hiro that was believable.\n\n“Please do!”\n\n“Fine, fine, I will. Anybody know where my chair went?”\n\nAlana jumped up and darted into the storage closet off the bridge, coming back with a giant, cushioned folding chair. “I modified one of them into a throne.” She was beaming.\n\n“Thank you, Alana, that’s very sweet.” I took the chair and opened it, sitting down on it, feeling unduly suited for this position. “Alright,” I said, lowering my voice, entering into the storyteller role they all knew so well, “it began in 1563, I believe.”\n\n“1562!” Shouted Cale.\n\n“Right, 1562, and I had my eye on this painter,” I looked over at Felix and smiled, “his work had been calling to me for years. And I started to notice something, that his style resembled a painter I’d known in the thirteen hundreds. Sure, he was conforming to the times but the way he painted eyes was unmistakable, absolutely incredible. They popped off the canvas unlike anyone else’s. So I decided to visit his studio and ask him about his history, try to dig a little deeper…”\n\n\\_\\_\n\nIn truth, this should be a fourteen part series where the story of each immortal meeting Phoenix should be told. Check out my other writing here: r/AinsleyAdams Who knows, maybe I'll write those other thirtten parts one day."
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[WP] After a life of misdeeds, the surprise wasn't going to Hell. It was finding out who was really in charge there.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Hey, you're in charge.\" \nLet's rewind, years ago. My first major misdeed (I am proud of them, what?) was stealing. Of course, stealing is a petty beggar's game, something that the most elite wouldn't do. It was too simple, too... unreliable. Of course, I had to steal something grand. Something unthought of before... something that proved my evilness and selfishness... I stole a carriage. They left the horse out, I grabbed the reins and was gone. Sold the carriage for 13K gold. Then, I stole an idea. A scheme, that made 71K gold. So I had some to spare for my grand idea: steal the king! Of course, you can't steal people, you simpleton. I just spent money to look like the king, stole some of his clothes, and beheaded him for being a fake. And then, died a death sixty years later, after stealing the money from the treasury. \nWhen I died, I felt a burn, a destructive pain flaring in my chest, my arms. \n\"Hey, you're in charge.\" \"What?\" A red blur was all I could see. I didn't know what would happen to me. I wanted to scream. But then I realized. A red, gnarly crown was descended upon my head, as we laughed together. One evil cannot beat good, but two could.",
"When I died it was slow and painful. I died at the ripe age of 0 seconds old. Even so I went to hell, and when I woke up surrounded by demonic creatures and temperatures like that of a sauna, one thought chugged along the track of my mind. F*uck they caught me*.\n\n\"There you are my young king!\" I could see through my barely cracked eyes the delighted face of my older brother, Lucifer as he cheered in excitement. That's right he's not the one in charge, I am. As I am carried to the throne still drowsy and horribly dejected, I finally look down at myself. I was normal again, a full size child. Cursed to live forever as a ten year old for my misdeeds in life I venture to hell to obtain power and strike back. But after beating Lucifer by sheer luck, he blessed upon the title of his younger brother and makes me call him Onii-chan. Fucking degenerate.\n\nNow here I am, a ten year old cleric from the dark ages just trying to be reborn. Yet ONII-CHAN keeps dragging me back by the hair on my balls. Fucking degenrate.",
"Burning. That's all I could feel. Burning. Everything hurt.\n\nI opened my eyes to see a world of fire and brimstone. All around me, I could hear the screams of the damned and the laughter of demons. Where I was was obvious from the moment you took a glance at it.\n\n\"Well. Looks like I'm in hell.\" I muttered to myself. I guess I had this coming. After all, people who get a major in poli-sci with the intent to use it tend not to be the most well-meaning sort of people, and honestly I was more surprised that it took this long to get here, considering all the corrupt shit I did for myself.\n\n\"Oi!\" I turned around and saw a demon headed toward me. While he didn't look too different from a human, the fashionable suit and slicked hair just kinda told you how of an unholy spirit he was. Also I suppose the label pin on his jacket that said \"guide demon\" kinda gave it away too.\"You Jason Yang?\" he demanded. \"Err... no?\" I tried to deny it, but it didn't look like he was buying my fake confusion. \"Yep, you're Yang alright.\" He grabbed me and started dragging me by the wrist. \"The boss asked for you personally. I don't know what you did to piss them off, but they don't pay me to ask questions around here.\"\n\nWe passed through several areas with several type of torment. Burning lakes of sulfur, crooked buildings meant for torture, and several punishments being dished out for the unworthy from the rack stretching their victims, to giant deep fryers cooking souls alive, to something sexual that I probably shouldn't mention in good company (let's just say it involved a hunting musket).\n\nSoon, we came up upon a giant palace complex. In a stark contrast to the rest of the standard stuff you'd expect in hell, this place stood out. It was a big place, and it was surprisingly orderly for a place you would find in hell. It looked like a recreation of the Forbidden City in Beijing, and you could tell that whoever lived in there meant business.\n\nWe walked inside. \"I wouldn't recommend looking at the other demons here.\" my demon guide said to me. \"You've garnered a lot of attention with the boss's request, and considering that most of the demon folk here would love nothing more than gossip, you're going to be the talk of the place\" Sure enough, all the staff demons of the palace tended to look at me, male and female, whispering things I couldn't make out.\n\nEventually, we made it to [the throne room](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Throne#/media/File:Transmongolie-676_(27131815114).jpg). \"Wait here.\" my guide said \"They shouldn't be long\". And with that he left. I sat down in a chair in front of the steps and throne in front of me, and waited. I don't know how long it was. Maybe it was an eternity, maybe it was 5 minutes. It's hard to tell time when the boss of hell wants to see you.\n\n\"Urgh\" A elderly groan came from behind the throne platform. \"Sorry to keep you waiting kid, it's hard to get good help in this place. Demons can't do shit these days. Made it easy taking this place over.\"\n\nAs the person behind the throne platform came around to where my eyes could see them, my eyes bulged. It was a face I'd never thought I would see, especially in this palace. My breath left me as I gasped in shock and was at a loss for word.\n\n\"Guess you didn't see this coming, huh?\"\n\nEventually, I found my voice and asked if it was true.\n\n\"GRANDMA?!\"\n\nAnd thus finishes my first story ever on this subreddit, made in honor of my (still living) tough old bird of a granny. Hope you liked it, but it's my first time writing here, so please go easy on me.",
"We see Him most Mondays. It's not so much that The Big Guy hates Mondays; it's more that the humans on earth do, and there's a lot more \"goddam this\" and \"goddam that\" coming in - meaning more work for Hell. (Angels have no stomach for damning anyone, of course, the poor things.)\n\nSundays, on the other hand, are spent fielding prayers calling for various sports team to win their various games - a task we demons have not, historically excelled at. The temptation to send the games off the rails (hail, streakers, mild global pandemics) was too great, and so game days get assigned to Heaven now for triage.\n\nThe souls that arrive on Sundays are always surprised to find out (A) that the guy they like to call God up there is also The Boss down here, and (B) he's WFH. \"When will he be back?\" they ask, anxious to plead their innocence and get reassigned. It's hard to say, really; when he's feeling angry, surly, grumpy or just plain annoyed with the Earth antics, He comes down to wreak some havoc. Shake things up, you know? He bitches a little, gossips a little about the angels, and occasionally drinks a bit too much or stays a little too long in the hot springs, or both, and needs to sleep it off. Sometimes it's a few days, but there have been centuries where we see all too much of him, honestly. It's bordered on micromanagement.\n\nAnyway, we do our best to get Him into shape, and send him back up to the fair-weather fans He calls \"the Saints,\" who would never imagine what He gets up to down here. Fresh and rejuvenated, He heads back up for some choir singing, harp music, and constant adulation. Sounds like A Lot to me, frankly. But I suppose it wouldn't be that way if He didn't sort of like it deep down (despite what He says)."
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[WP]You’re swimming in the lake when some woman hands you a sword
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I gasped as the cold metal touched my foot, and whipped around to face the dock. Her head broke the surface of the water a moment later, white lashes dripping, skin translucently pale. Whatever I'd meant to ask her froze in my throat as she brought up a large sword and held it out to me, hilt-first.\n\n\"You have finally come, my lord. I am Nimue, the lady of the - oof!\"\n\nShe stumbled forward into me as the brightly colored frisbee hit the back of her head. I grabbed her by the shoulders, keeping her on her feet.\n\n\"I am sorry, brave knight. You now possess your birthright, and are fated to save Avalon.\" \n\n\"I don't know what that means, but you clearly need some help. Can I get you a lemonade or something?\"\n\n\"The blood of the once and future king fills your veins. The Pendragon oath is binding on all descendants.\" She took the sword and laid it across both hands, holding it out to me.\n\n\"Lady! Hey lady!\" My sister, Cecilia, dressed in the tank top and shorts worn by all of the lifeguards at Somerset Beach was approaching, eyes wide with alarm. \"You can't bring weapons here! This lake is a designated area for families and children!\" Se reached for the sword, and the woman stepped back, clutching it close.\n\n\"Come on, just let me have it. You can take it back when you leave, but my boss will kill me if he sees it here.\" She looked at me, silently pleading for my help. \n\n\"It's ok - you can trust her,\" I said soothingly. The woman's eyes grew uncertain, and her grip on the sword relaxed. Cecilia reached out, closing her hand around the hilt. \n\n\"There - that wasn't so...bad?\" The sword glowed in Cecilia's hand, and smooth silver metal flowed from it over her arms. \n\n\"It is done,\" said the woman from the lake. She touched my sister's arm, and they vanished in a puff of fog."
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[WP] After another apprentice couldn't stand the heat of your forge and left, you find a new candidate when the town tries to burn a witch and she seems more annoyed than charred.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"As the pyre burned, the heat causing those eager few crowded near the blaze to recoil, I watched as the young woman stood unscathed within the flames. I began to massage an ache that had grown in my right hand as murmurs began to spread throughout the crowd and Father Tom to begin flicking through the bible he held, as if new information might have been birthed upon the yellowed page. \n\n\"And look upon the Grace of God as he saves this innocent woman from the Devil's flames!\" The Father bellowed, though i noticed he shares many a wild eyed look with the priests that stood at the side. \n\n\"Bollocks!\" the woman screamed, her cheeks red from anger as opposed to heat. Father Tom began to shout his sermon louder, to drown out the frenzied cries of the \"miracle\". \n\nHalf of the people around me fell to their knees, prostrate before what they saw as tangible proof of the Divine. Mrs Crowder, wailing in fervor next to me, glanced up and saw me standing close. \n\n\"Tis a sign! Tis proof of his Divine power and love for us!\"\n\n\"Aye, sure, tis damned useful is what it is,\" I replied quietly, gently fingering a sore blister on my forearm. \"Very useful indeed.\"\n\nI left Mrs Crowder to her caterwauling and moved closer, apologizing as my large booted feet stamped on outstretched hands. The Priests had finally snapped back into motion now, dousing the flames and as I approached they were attempting to untie the woman while staying out of biting distance. \n\n\"Be sure to thank the Lord your saviour girl!\" Father Tom announced as one Priest misjudged the distance and took quite the headbutt across his bald head. \"You are the Church's now.\"\n\nDespite saying this, he remained a good ways away from the girl and the Priests, their task finally complete, ran to hide behind his robes like startled kittens. The girl snarled, soot heavy on her clothes and brow but as soon as she stepped towards them they hastily bid a retreat to the heavy wooden doors of the Church. The crowd also began to disperse, save the truly devout, who remained nestled on the ground. The girl sighed deeply, an exhaustion settling over her features that made her appear decades older. She saw me for the first time, not a hard feat given my bulk and the fact I was one of the only people on my feet. She took a step towards me, teeth bared but stopped well short of me, as my shadow cast over her.\n\n\"I've got nothing for you big man,\" she hissed, her fingers curled into claws. \"If you believe those fools then i have your God's own protection. Or if you believe my crimes, then I have the Devils!\"\n\nI considered her words for a moment, scratching at the thin stubble of my scalp. I looked from her to the closed doors of the Church.\n\n\"You're a bit small.\"\n\nThe woman went to retort before pausing and actually registering my words.\n\n\"I'm... what?\"\n\n\"Small. That can be forgiven o'course given your other talents.\"\n\n\"My...my other talents?\"\n\n\"Aye, that'n there with the bonfire.\"\n\nThe woman blinked up at me, before looking down at the ash that surrounded her feet. \n\n\"The... you mean not being horrifically burnt alive?\"\n\n\"Aye, that'd be the one. Wonderful thing that, wonderful.\"\n\nThe woman's shoulders slumped and a lot of tension seemed to leave her as she rubbed her temple. \n\n\"I'm sorry, what is happening here?\"\n\n\"Ah what am i thinking. I don't really spend a lot of time talkin to folk.\"\n\n\"You don't say,\" the woman replied sarcastically, cleaning the black mess off her dress as best she could and turning to leave.\n\n\"I was lookin to offer you a job!\"\n\nShe paused at that, surprise spreading across her face and leaving her looking vulnerable for the first time since I'd entered the square, \n\n\"I'm sorry, I must have soot in my ears. Did you say a job?\"\n\n\"Aye, no mistake girl. I reckon you'd do fine work an all, after a bit of tutoring.\"\n\n\"Wait... just so there is no confusion. You came to my execution, for the crimes of witchcraft, and are now offering me employment?\"\n\n\"That's right girl,\" I said, slightly exasperatedly. Hopefully she picked up the work quicker than this. \"Who knew something useful would actually come out of these affairs eh?\"\n\nThe square had all but emptied at this point, leaving the girl and I alone among the smoldering embers. I lifted my hammer up to rest on my shoulder and her eyes shot to it, narrowing.\n\n\"I won't kill,\" she said quietly, looking almost unconsciously to the Church doors. \"You have enemies you want dealt with? Contract work? I may be deserving of my reputation but...\"\n\n\"You're a right weird lass you know that?\" I interrupted with a sigh, lowering my hammer again. The girl's mouth dropped open and a half giggle escaped her before she caught herself. \n\n\"You have no idea Mr...\"\n\n\"Cole. Fen Cole. Call me Fen.\"\n\n\"Ok Fen. You can call me Marissa.\"\n\n\"Well Marissa, are you interested? The work is hard but the pay'll be fair. And liken I said, I think you've got a real knack, real handy at the forge.\"\n\n\"At the forge...\" She looked from my hammer to my bulk and nodded with the ghost of a smile on her face. \"You're the blacksmith.\"\n\n\"Well i ain't the baker girl.\"\n\n\"Marissa.\"\n\n\"Sorry. Marissa. Come on then.\"\n\nI turned, hefting my huge hammer easily and striding across the square. I heard the soft patter of hurried footsteps and Marissa appeared at my side, the top of her head barely reaching my shoulder. \n\n\"Where are we going? Straight to your shop?\"\n\nI laughed and shook my head, taking us left down an alleyway where people milled about and strong, enticing aromas permeated the air. \n\n\"Nah gi... Marissa. You may have a knack for dealing with fire but a skinny little thing like you is going to struggle to even lift the tongs.\"\n\n\"Where are we going then?\"\n\n\"Lunch.\""
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[WP] World is being divided into 2 states as part of a genetic experiment. Citizens of one state can never have children from citizens of the other state (or cross borders). The aim is to observe the resulting genetic variance between two folks after thousands of years.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"It was impossible for Jerry to not stare at her, as he sat down at the bar. Since he was a kid, his parents had told him of those weird creatures from the east. Their necks being longer than a giraffe's, so as to better be able to eat the slowest child they hunt. Some of them had more than two arms, so as to grab more children to feed on and their legs warped in a round shape as if they had just been sitting in the saddle for 24 hours straight on a fat horse, because the only way for children to escape them was to run through their legs, so that they bend over and knot themselves in place. Whenever Jerry had not behaved in a way his parents appreciated, they told him of those nightmare creatures, that had to be separated so as to keep the normal humans safe. And yet here Jerry was, staring at the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, even though she was one of those \"weird creatures from the east\". \n\n\"I guess it is your first CGC?\", she asked. Her voice, even though it clearly had this weird accent, created butterflies inside of Jerry's tummy.\n\n\"CGC?\", Jerry stuttered, \"Oh! Cross-Genetic-Conference!\" He paused and just kept on staring at her until he realised, that he had not answered her question. \"Ah! Yes! It is...I mean yes indeed! It is my first Cross-Genetic, um, I mean it is my first CGC. I am here as a diplomat of Chadia.\"\n\n\"Chadia? Interesting! Well from my experience your people tend to be a bit more coherent when talking.\" She complimented her words with a smile, that showed Jerry, that she did not mean any offense, but rather was amused by his behaviour. \"So my dearest Chadian. I assume from the way you are looking at me, that you might have a few questions. Do you mind sharing them with me?\"\n\nJerry was baffled. What was he supposed to ask her first? He had no idea about the eastern customs. What if he offended her with a question? He had to make a good first impression on such a beauty. He thought for a second and then realised, that his first impression of him was him stuttering. Maybe it was about time to think about a good second impression. After a few seconds, during which he just sat on his chair, probably with his mouth just standing open, he found the courage to ask his first question. \"So this is not your first conference, I assume?\"\n\n\"Indeed it is not. I was one of the participants of the very first conference.\", she answered.\n\n\"One of the first?\", asked Jerry in astonishment, \"So you have been participating in ending the genetic experiment for about 12 years now?\" \n\n\"Oh not just the last 12 years, my dear. I have wanted this for as long as I can remember. I desperately want this stupid experiment to end.\" Her voice became more hardened, as she said them.\n\n\"Oh! Why is that?\"\n\n\"Well don't you want the same? To finally be free, to finally not be constraint in your own desires? Don't you agree, that we should have the freedom to have sex with whomever you want? Why would anyone be allowed to have a saying in for example whether we two should be having sex or not?\" She sounded more and more like a politician reciting a furious speech, although Jerry had the feeling, as if there was a slight suggestive hint, created by a minor change in her voice, as she uttered that last sentence.\n\n\"Um...sure I agree with you, but don't you think, we should be patient here? After all noone knows whether this will be a good idea. This experiment, as you call it, was created several thousands of years ago. We don't even know why it was started and who did it. Maybe this separation had to be set up for a reason. I think we should listen to the scientists on this first.\" Jerry shuddered a bit, as he realised how easily he had recited his usual talking points without thinking about it. Maybe that woman was right. He should not shut his mind from the possibility, that he might be wrong.\n\n\"The scientists? Are you serious?\", she answered but still without making it sound offensive. Gallantly she stood up from her chair, her long dress revealing one of her long legs and with slow and gentle steps moved closer towards Jerry. \"I am sorry for disagreeing with you, but in case I want to have sex with a man, then it should only be my concern as to with whom and when and where I will have sex with that man, as well as his concern, but not some scientist's.\" She was standing now right in front of Jerry, slowly touching his tie with one of her fingers. \"Don't you agree?\", she asked as her fingers walked along his tie upwards to his neck. Jerry could only nod in agreement but felt impossible to say anything in response. She continued: \"So now that we agree, I think both of us should therefore do the right thing, don't you think? The right thing, so that we can later do a thing, that might be wrong, am I right?\" Her fingers had reached the upper third of his tie, where they gently glided around it and as she held the tie loosely in her hand, she let her hand slide downwards until the tie ended and slipped back onto the shirt of the tie's owner. Jerry swallowed heavily and he felt a small pearl of sweat running down his cheek. \n\n\"Yeah! You might be right.\", Jerry answered. \n\n\"Very good, my dear. Then I better get going now. The conference will soon continue with the voting.\"\n\n\"Um...may I ask you one thing, Miss?\", Jerry suddenly asked as he apparently found his courage again. \n\n\"Sure, my dear.\"\n\n\"Where exactly are you from? I mean what nation?\"\n\n\"Gallantia\", she answered with the most beautiful smile. \n\nAs the lady left the room, his eyes slowly opened wider as the only possible thought was running through Jerry's head: \"Gallantia was to the north of Chadia. This woman was not from the east. She was in the same genetic region as him.\""
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[WP] You've gained wealth and fame as a novelist, but you stole the words from others. This time, you unknowingly plagiarized from the work of a god. In human form, he stands next in line at a book signing. Your eyes meet.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Sometimes, you can tell in the manner of how a man holds his hands. Encoded there, in how he twists his fingers, about how stiff he keeps his wrists, are all of his thoughts and feelings about you. In the flesh he pinches between his fingernails you can see his desire to twist you up. In the loose fists he holds just in front of himself, you can imagine each thing he wishes to do to you.\n\nThis man clutched my novel with an intensity unlike that of a fan. His fingernails shredded the top edge of the book cover. As he waited in line, he occasionally opened to a page and let his expression go sour. An anti-fan, I thought at first. A person who had hated the novel and still thought it worthwhile to pay money to come see me and say so. Rather than being annoyed, I felt refreshed. All the simpering and gushing could grow tiresome, but watching the carefully curated rants, the sharp hand gestures, the frothing of spittle at the corner of lips. It was all such a spectacle, what I’d imagined when I’d decided I wanted to be a writer. \n\nBut as I braced myself for him, I saw too in his fingertips a sort of reverence. When no one was watching, he held my book like it was a Bible. \n\nI had no time to consider this before he was upon me. \n\n“People really seem to love your story,” he said. His voice was airy, not at all what I suspected. \n\n“Yes,” I said, not yet aware that I should be be cautious, “I’m really very fortunate.\n\n“And talented. Wonderful, the stories you tell here. How do you come up with them?” I glanced around at my keepers, wondering when they might tap the clock at him, or insist that he at least hand me the book to sign, but they all seemed suddenly occupied with their phones and other documents. The man just smiled. \n\n“Well, I…I…you know, inspiration just strikes. I try to take what I know and distill it into this fantasy world.” \n\n“What you know.” \n\n“Yes. My own experiences, and I just…I just make them more fantastic.” I winced at using the word twice, feeling clumsy and girlish. When he nodded, I sighed with audible relief. He finally handed the book over to me. \n\n“You got it wrong you know,” he said, the shadow across his eyes belying his affable tone. Still, I smiled, my most practiced smile. \n\n“Wrong?” I could wait it out, I decided. Whatever diatribe he decided to launch into, whichever feeling he had about why this character should have said, why it didn’t actually make sense to cross a mountain pass in winter. \n\n“Yes. Wrong. How did you feel, no, sorry,” he flipped open his copy of the book, “how *Daradne* feel when Arcoshe chose to take the relic for themself?” The names I’d created for the characters sounded somehow ridiculous to me on his lips. I could not meet his eyes. \n\n“Well, angry, of course. They’d been working tog—” \n\n“Wrong. The feeling was nothing like anger, which boils and stretches to fill each part of you. No. It was deeper than even sadness, which seeps into your corners. I felt betrayal unlike anything I had ever known. I felt destroyed, split into two, and I felt, most importantly, such immense love that you, with your mortal mind and its working, could not possibly understand it. Which is why,” he sneered, “you made me angry. As though being made angry is the worst thing a person can endure.” \n\n“I don’t understand,” I murmured, shrinking back against the warm plastic of the chair. \n\n“No, you do not. But you will come to. It is not just any story that you stole. You took my origin and made it your own. And now, like all stolen things, it will become truly yours. Such that you forget it ever belonged to someone else.” \n\nI’d begun to feel cold, gooseflesh rising along the lines of my arms. There was a tickle against my spine, and I could almost feel his fingers there, exploring each part of me and finding each one lacking. “We are all the keepers of our own stories,” he said with a grin that stretched too wide on his face. “And what a story you keep indeed.” I could not take my eyes away from those hands, hands that seemed to reach across the table and into my chest. “I should be thanking you,” he whispered. “Freedom, you’ll find, is a much more pleasant burden. Try to remember it.” \n\n&#x200B;\n\nWhat did it mean to steal from a god. I’d already learned the answer to that. \n\nBut to become one? \n\nNothing could have prepared me.",
"It was foolproof. She covered her tracks, and made sure to be the first out of the gate with the idea. Stealing work wasn’t so hard if you knew how to do it right.\n\nThe latest one had been a real smash hit. She sometimes looked up at the framed newspapers on her clean wall and smiled. “Williams’ New Masterpiece.” “One for the Ages.” “The New Tolkien.”\n\nIt had made her *rich.* Not just rich like she had been before, but *rich.* And what better way to capitalize on this new golden goose than do a signing? People would jump at the opportunity! This first one was just Williams’ opportunity to test the waters.\n\nShe sat behind her table in a simple folding chair as if it was a throne, and the line was her subjects come to see her. It stretched out of the store and out of her view outside.\n\n*I wonder if it’ll be like this everywhere,* she thought. *If it is, I could stand to make an even larger fortune.*\n\nShe shook her hand out between signing. The father ushered his son away, and the next in line stepped up to her throne.\n\n“Hello hello, thank you for coming,” Williams chirped. “Who do I make this out to?”\n\nThe man slid the well-worn notebook onto the table. “Perhaps yourself.”\n\nShe looked up to meet his eyes. His eyes—they were actually dreamy, just like when she read about eyes. Bright orbs of burning amber that stared deep into her soul. She felt the breath hitch in her throat.\n\n“You really thought you’d never get your comeuppance?” He leaned in closer, Williams leaning away. “You’ve been a liar, a cheat, and a fraud your whole life. What I don’t know is where you got the confidence to think you’d never get caught.”\n\nWilliams opened her mouth twice before finding her words. “Security?”\n\nHe laughed. “Sorry, they’re not coming. Unfortunately for you, my illusions work exceptionally well on humans.”\n\n*Illusions? What? He must just be some sort of nerd. But how did he get the book?* She glanced down at the familiar cover.\n\n“Who are you, and what do you want with me!”\n\nHe sighed and ran a hand through his hair, eyes burning holes in her head. “I don’t want much. Just for you to say the truth, and give your money back to the people you stole from.”\n\n“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She glanced at the nearest exit. “You should go.”\n\nHe reached forwards and put his hand on the worn notebook. “You know what this is, right?”\n\n“No.”\n\nHe rolled his eyes and opened the notebook, pressing it flat on the table. “Here,” he hissed, jabbing his finger at a line. “Here is, word for word, your first line in your first chapter. But it isn’t yours, is it? It’s mine.”\n\nSomething about him made her hair stand on end. As she watched his hands, tense on the notebook, she felt as if they had claws that could rip her to shreds.\n\n*I need more sleep.*\n\nShe folded her arms and glared. “It’s mine.”\n\nThe tension in his body drained, but the anger was now concentrated in his eyes. “Next time, don’t steal a god’s project. I don’t go out of my way to interfere with mortals, but...” He closed the book and brought it back to him. “Anyways, it’s time for this sad signing to end.”\n\nWilliams laughed. “And how are you going to...”\n\nThe faces of the people in line fell, and their shoulders slumped. Some raised their voices at her security as they escorted the people in line out of the shop. She stood up, but the man blocked her.\n\n“If you won’t confess yourself, then I can.” He smiled. “National TV would be nice. You have built that possibility for yourself, even if it is on stolen credit.”\n\nShe balled her hands into fists. “What—you—“\n\nHe shrugged. “God of illusions, you know? It comes in handy more often than you’d think.”"
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[WP] In the dark of the night, the princess secretly mastered sorcery. One night, she dawned her hood and flew from her window so she may go and set up her dark citadel. Unfortunately her husband saw this and came to the conclusion that a dark sorceress has kidnapped his wife.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"(First time writing on here. Glad to have input but please, be gentle)\n\nShe was sure no one had seen her when she left. It had been easy enough to get over the castle walls without any of the guards noticing, and everyone within them was fast asleep. Everyone would assume she ran off and while they were searching, she could get to work with the whole kingdom none the wiser.\n\nBut as she continued on her journey, she realized someone was following her. They never came close enough for her to tell who it was, but her heightened senses could feel them gaining on her. Closing the gap bit by bit as the hours went by. After two days of trying to outrun her pursuer to no avail, she stopped in a small hamlet so she could tie up whatever loose-end she had missed.\n\nShe wreathed herself in shadow as to become nearly invisible, and lie in wait across from the town's tavern. Whoever it was would likely stop there in search of information. As the sun began to set, men came in from nearby farms to enjoy a night at the tavern. A few other groups also stopped to rest for the night, but none seemed to be who had been following her. At last, a lone man on horseback rode into town. He was in a hooded cloak and seemed to carry only a simple traveler's sword. But looks could easily deceive. After he entered the establishment, the sorceress moved closer. She stood close to an open window and listened carefully.\n\nThe room was filled with the conversations of its patrons. She used her magic to sift through each one, trying to find who she was looking for. As she made her way to the back corner of the room, she heard a very familiar voice talking with the barkeep.\n\n\"... I'm sure they came through here. Are you sure you haven't seen anything suspicious?\"\n\n\"No sir, only the regulars. I have a room available if you want to stay for a few days and wait for whoever you're looking for\"\n\n\"No, I have to keep moving. I'd appreciate it if no one was told about this.\" There was the jingle of a coin purse. \"for your trouble\"\n\nShe was frozen at the exchange. He couldn't have seen her. She had made sure he was out cold. Why, of all the people who could have seen her, did it have to be him? \n\nShe was brought back to reality with the slam of the front door and the whinnying of her husband's horse. Slowly she peeked around the corner to look. He was tightening his saddle straps and getting ready to get back on the road.\n\n\"I know you want to rest a little longer bud, but we have to find Cassy before that witch hurts her.\" He said softly to the horse.\n\nShe silently cursed, the damn fool never knew when to quit. He'd always been blind to the world around him, always refused to see the truth even when it stared him in the face. He even refused to believe the sorceress he had seen was his own wife. Now he was determined to be the hero. She didn't know what to do. He was the kingdom's best knight, there was no chance she could outrun him. Even if she could manage to avoid him, he'd be back with the full might of the army on a crusade to save the princess from the evil sorceress that kidnapped her. She'd have to take him out of the picture.\n\nAs he walked to the other side of his steed, she finally got a good look at his face. She felt a twinge of guilt. It was clear he hadn't slept for days and wasn't planning to. And within those eyes that had never looked upon her but with kindness, there was an empty sadness. She steeled herself. She was too close to give up on years of patience and planning. It was his own damn fault. Quietly, she backed away from the tavern and made her way to the nearby forest. It would be easy enough to ambush him once he left town.\n\nA loud noise came from within the bar, someone had fallen off their chair or knocked something over. The sound drew the attention of the knight, and he noticed the dark figure slinking away from the bar. His eyes narrowed at the sight of his prey, and he began to follow the shadowy figure into the woods.\n\nShe reached a clearing and waited for her husband to enter before enclosing the area in a circle of dark black flames. He stood, his sword drawn, ready to fight.\n\n\"I know you took her, Snake!\" he jeered as he moved closer to the shadow \"What have you done with my wife?\" \n\nWithout a word, she let loose a spell. He effortlessly dodged and replied with a swing of his blade. They began a dizzying dance around the clearing. The effort required to hold up her disguise and continue the battle was slowly draining her energy, and the knight's movements only became faster as his anger grew. Soon, she could only barely deflect his attacks. Noticing her slowing, the knight quickly pushed his shoulder into her chest knocked her to the ground. Breathing heavily from the battle, he placed his sword's point inches from the figure's chest.\n\n\"Where?\" he demanded.\n\nThe sorceress, knowing her defeat, let the shadowy cover fall away and pulled back the cowl of her cloak. The knight stepped back in surprise.\n\n\"Cassandra?\" He whispered \"You...? Why didn't you tell me?\" The betrayal on his face was evident. \n\nShe sighed \"Will, listen, I'm not who you think I am. I have...plans. I couldn't be the perfect little princess anymore. You wouldn't understand.\" She stood up and started to walk away.\n\n\"Wait\" he grabbed her arm, \"So you're just going to leave? Just like that? What about your friends, your family\" he paused \"What about us?\"\n\nShe avoided his eyes. \"You don't know those people like I do Will, they aren't as noble as you think. I needed to get away. I needed to make my own path.\" He kept gazing at her with a confused stare. \"Look,\" she said \"you've always been a good man and a good husband. I didn't want to hurt you.\" She pulled her arm free.\n\n\"I need to know,\" he said, tears starting to form \"Do you love me? Have you ever? Or have the past years been a lie?\"\n\n\"No\" she lied \"I'm sorry Will\" her voice cracked. \n\n\"Not even that night we spent in the gardens? Remember? We snuck out of that dinner your father had with the diplomats, and you fell asleep while we were sitting by the fountain?\" His voice trailed off. \"Cassy...?\"\n\nShe managed the courage to look into his eyes. They were filled with the same love they had been filled with when they were first married. He stepped closer and put a hand on her shoulder, pulling her into a warm embrace. \n\n\"You don't have to do... whatever it is you're doing... we can figure it out together\" He whispered. \n\nShe paused for a moment, considering his offer. Coming to a decision, she returned his embrace. \"Together\" she agreed."
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[WP] Our god resides at the top of this mountain. We make no offerings and the god demands no worship. Those that are wise know to leave it at peace.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The men came to our home from the horizon. They landed on our quiet beaches, rowing out from the bellies of the cloud topped, coconut - colored beasts, bringing gifts of food and metal. We called them “Children of the Sun”, skin as bright and pale as the life giver at midday, before we knew better. They learned some of our words, us some of theirs. They always bared their teeth, like frightened animals, and we learned that this meant they were pleased. Then, some of us grew sick. Their men started to take our women, even one’s joined to our own men. Their words changed from laughs to shouts. And when we had nothing left to give, they took our lives. Their bared teeth now meant anger. We called them “Demons”, when we knew better.\n\nWe tried to fight. But they had blessings from their own gods, shirts that shone like the sea, breaking our spears and arrows. They used sticks that roared fire, biting our warriors from a distance. They had their own spears, made from their metal gifts. And they used them when we refused to bow to the symbol of their gods. After we had been killed and made low like the dogs, the men from the horizon wanted to bring our home, our god, to heel.\n\n“Where is your god?” they asked. We pointed to the mountain, Ato’matu’s home. The men laughed and promised to destroy his temple. We were confused. We lived as well as we could, grateful for our blessings of life, good or ill. Ato’matu wanted nothing in return. These men were not grateful. They raped and killed more of us instead.\n\nOne night, as I laid crying, I cursed Ato’matu. We grew from children to parents, understanding he was our home and our protector. Where was he now? I wished for him to come, to save us. The next day, the Demon Men jeered us, promising more pain, more death—when the ground shook beneath our feet. The land rumbled, as if in anger, and the mountain stood up."
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[WP] "And finally, this is Mr. Fernsly, the butler. He has served this family for generations!" as he gestured to the man who didn't look a day over 30
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
" I took in a quick breath as Mr. Fernsly winked at me. Which was a joke? Working for generations like your immortal or winking at the son’s new girlfriend? I glanced next to me at Kevin and try to send “what the fuck?” telepathically. I also raise my eyebrows and widen my eyes to add “did you see that?” - I don’t think he got either message. He just squeezed my hand and turned away. I turn and tightly smile at Mr. Fernsly, “Pleased to meet you Mr. Fernsly, I can’t imagine the stories a butler of several generations must have!” Everyone chuckles. What have I done? Rich people. Butlers?! This is all so creepy. Kevin didn’t let up on any of this. I’m beginning to wonder how well I know him.",
"I stared at Mr. Fernsly in awe and interest as I was told he worked for my adoptive family for generations. My 7 year old mind thought nothing of it. I was just happy to be brought into the family and to have a new friend to play with. I smiled brightly and hugged his leg. His stern expression didn’t change, but he didn’t seem to mind otherwise. \n\nThe next day, I awoke to Mr. Fernsly waking me. “Hi Mr. Butler Guy!” I yawned, “What is it?” \n\n“Wake up, miss. The master wishes for you to meet him in the study.” He replied curtly.\n\nI didn’t know what or where the study was so I asked him if he could take me there in a small voice. \n“Go get dressed and I will take you there.” He answered. I wanted to give him a hug, but he was tall, so I hugged his leg and ran into my new walk-in closet to get dressed.\n\nWhen I was dressed in a plain, velvety red dress, I left the closet to find Mr. Fernsly still waiting for me. He wordlessly left the room and I followed, reaching for a finger that I could hold. He abruptly stopped and looked down at me in surprise, which quickly changed back to his regular stern expression after seeing my startled face. He allowed me to hold his finger, but nevertheless said nothing more.\n\nIt had always been like that. He rarely changed his tone of voice and facial expression, but I was very fond of him. My adoptive parents gave me everything I needed money-wise, but I only really got attention from Mr. Fernsly. I never really thought about how strange he was until I turned 16 and realized; with each passing year, he never looked any different. He looked the same age as he did when I first met him.\n\nAfter this revelation, I thought back to the day I met him. It was fuzzy because it was around 9 years ago, but I remembered some words about Mr. Fernsly, “He has served this family for generations!” My adoptive father had said. I thought harder. *What does that mean?*\n\nAs if he’d heard my thoughts about him, Mr. Fernsly appeared before me, reminding me that I needed to get to my piano lessons. “Thanks for reminding me. I almost forgot!” I laughed. I gave him a quick smile and thumbs up before running off to the newly renovated study, where I usually spent most of my time.\n\nMy blood ran cold when I saw Father in the study with my piano instructor. *Am I disappointing them? Did I mess up? Please tell me I didn’t. Father is so terrifying when angry.*\n\nI forced a smile and straightened my back before entering the room. They both stared at me for a second before speaking, “Come, girl. Mr. Garrett tells me you are doing well on piano, so I have come to listen to your progress.” Father explained. I was nervous, but I did as was expected of me. I read the music sheet put out for me. It was a complex piece that made me even more nervous, but I did it nevertheless. I relaxed and placed my fingers on the keys, and I played. I played like I had never played before.\n\nFather didn’t criticize much, but he did point out any and every mistake I made. I took note and made sure that next time I performed for him, I wouldn’t make a mistake. \n\nThat was the moment Mr. Fernsly decided to show up. “There is a fellow in the living room waiting for you. He asked for you specifically.” He said, curtly still. Father left the room immediately and wordlessly. \n\nI was about to gather the music piece when I felt Mr. Fernsly’s presence behind me. I turned around and found him smiling for the first time. “I heard you play the piano. It was beautiful.” He said wistfully, “My wife used to play the piano. I’m glad I could hear someone play it as well as she did again.”\n\n“Well, if you want, I could play another piece for you.”\n\n“You would do that?”\n\n“Of course, Mr. Fernsly. If it makes you happy.” I smiled brightly.\n\nAnd so I played again. I knew Mr. Fernsly was not a normal human, but I didn’t care. He was my butler. *No*, he was my friend, and I enjoyed making him happy.",
"Mr. Fernsly steepled his long, spider-like fingers and stared over them, a scowl etched into his unblemished face as if it had been there since the beginning of time. A fire burned low in the hearth behind him, darkening the rest of his features with long shadows. He held the gaze of the other man for several long, quiet moments, the crackle of dry timber in the flame the only sound.\n\n\"You will have no need to spend any time here, of course. These are the Butler's quarters. There has been a Fernsly in this wing of the House for more of our generations than not. The Lord and Lady call us all 'Mr. Fernsly', but you will call me Sir.\" Mr. Fernsly did not so much speak to the other man as past him, as if addressing the other were too far beneath him to even warrant consideration. The other nodded eagerly.\n\n\"We will now inspect the Kitchen. Our Cook has recently departed the House, and left us in quite a sorry state of affairs. Come, and I will show you.\" Mr. Fernsly exited the fire-lit room and descended down a narrow staircase without so much as a glance behind him. The other man, his own short stride much diminished compared to that of tall Mr. Fernsly, jogged to keep up.\n\nThe pair emerged into the smokey haze of a wide, high-roofed room. Upon long tables were pots and plates and flagons of all shapes and sizes, stacked one on top of the other, reaching up to dizzying heights, disappearing into the thick, smokey recess where the ceiling must eventually have resided. \n\nSmall rodents leapt from stack to stack, carrying morsels of rotted foods between the towers of crockery. A red-faced man with a dirty apron and tall hat struggled under the weight of one such tower, hauling it carefully from the center of the hazy room toward a basin of murky, steaming water. At the end of the room a fire the size of a modest cabin burned in a gargantuan hearth, a series of blackened cauldrons bubbling angrily at the fire's edge.\n\nMr. Fernsly's scowl deepened, an affair that had to be seen to be believed. \"As you can very well surmise with your own two eyes, the Kitchen is in quite a sorry state after the departure of our Cook. I expect you will be contributing to some of the duties required here, cleaning the dishes, hauling the refuse, boiling the rags, etcetera, etcetera and so forth with the types of duties befitting your... station.\" The tall Butler finally regarded the other, his two dark eyes descending toward's the other in a slow, deliberate way. The shorter man met Mr. Fernsly's eyes, and he nodded again vigorously.\n\n\"Very good. If you would be so... kind. Let us continue.\" And he was off again, his shorter companion once again jogging to keep up. The pair descended once more, ducking through a low corridor and into another narrow staircase. Here the walls pressed in, the overwhelming smell of earth and peat and moss and dead leaves and worms beneath the surface enveloping them, hanging heavily about their nostrils. With each step deeper the hazy light of the Kitchen faded, and an encroaching darkness mingled with the smell of the underground.\n\nThey arrived through another low doorway into a dark and cramped room. \"This of course, is the Cellar.\" Mr. Fernsly's eyes glinted in the darkness, as if possessed of their own twinkling light source. \"You will become very familiar with this particular section of the House, of course. You will be primarily responsible for retrieving and storing in the Cellar that which needs retrieval or storage. And you will, of course, be quartered down here.\" Mr. Fernsly slowly inclined his head toward a dirty sack, crunched into the man-shape of a cot, squatting in the damp among the straw and mud of the floor.\n\nMr. Fernsly's scowl rotated, slowly upturning into a gruesome smirk. \"Do try and get a good night's sleep. There is ever so much work to be done, and so few of us left to do it.\""
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[WP] You're kind conquered Terra, or Earth, as the humans call it, years ago. Over the last few years your kind has had to fight a resistance that formed to take back Terra. The surprising thing is, lately, the resistance has been winning, despite your advanced tech and better resources.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The Rain.\n\nWe hated the rain. Coming from a warm planet, the cold droplets were unfriendly to our bodies making the hours on patrol drag to near timelessness. We shouldn't have to sweep the area so often but the hu-mans were like scale mites both in numbers and levels of irritation. And like the mites, they needed to be removed quickly and throughly. \n\n\nWorse than that it rendered our sensors in effective. No motion trackers, no sonic analyzers, and forget about anything with humidity differentials or the sniffers. \n\n\nOur perimeter fences had be cut 3 times in the last cycle, always without any warning or fatalities and always during the rain. First the armory was raided. What ever they couldn't carry was piled up and melted with some sort of iron-oxide mixture that left every thing glowing and angry white/grey hours after it had been extinguished. Then the food stores. This was done out of spite as the humans couldn't consume our food stuffs. Something learned painfully by several hu-mans at the start of the occupation. Of course these were all replaced with in the day by our logistical devison. The last raid was the strangest. After finding the small hole cut into the fence we searched the compound for half a day before we found it. The thing was taken, the small banner representing our planet's people. That was what had done it. \n\n\n\"These monkeys would pay!\" , said our commander. \"They are bearly evolved primates! We will not let this stand!\" \n\n\nI had my doubts, but the patrols were doubled and lengthened in efforts to find the encampment of the hu-mans pestering our outpost. \n\n\nToday we drew the cumbersome and inefficient slug throwers. The unfortunate fact was they were better in the rain. Our pulse rifles shot pulsed beams of compressed light, essentially it was a scaled down version of our FTL engines that had allowed us to get to Terra in the first place. The problem was as soon as it hit a single rain drop it would refract into little gray beams of light without enough energy to even burn though the lightest armor, called a t-shirt, the hu-mans wore. 1 in 100 pulse cycles were lucky to even reach near their intended targets. \n\n\nThe patrol commander raised his ears to full length and froze his tail in an awkward position with the tip pointing to the ground. We froze and slipped silently the forest floor. What had he seen? I scanned the trees looking for any movement. Nothing. Just then a small flutter. A gray banner hanging in the trees. Our banner. \n\n\nThe commander pushed his tongue our testing the air with little success. A few more movements with his tail and our quickest troop silently disarmed and slipped forward to the dark black tree. As he moved about halfway up the trunk the forest exploded. At least that's what it seemed like. \n\n\nThe soldier in front of me caught a blast and was rocketed into my body. I was thrown hard into a small creek bed. He landed on the embankment above me and was still, most certainly dead. My vision went black then white several times before it came back to normal and by that time the expotions and gunfire had ceased. I looked to my weapon only to see it was in very poor shape, a gaping hole in the body of it having stopped a bit of silvery metal shrapnel surely meant for my fleshy internals. It wouldn't be able to save my life any more today. The only choice was to hide. \n\n\nI pressed up agaisnt thr undercut beneath the fallen solder and waited. It was long before I heard foot steps approaching. Hu-mans were policing the bodies, retrieving weapons and ammunition. It wasn't unheard-of for them to booby trap some bodies with small exploves to kill or maim the ones sent to retrieve them. Despicable, but effective. They drew closer. \n\n\n\".........and that's what I've been trying to tell you,\" said what I think was the male. So hard to tell with apes. \n\n\n\"It would make sense,\" replied the female. \n\n\n\"Look, why else would the wear a bright crimson pattern into a green forest? They don't see color! That has to be it! I swear they should have seen the bright yellow we painted that claymore, but they just stolled right by it like it wasn't there,\" the male continued. \n\n\n\"OK, ok you were right. Oh my God this guy got it didn't he? Help me lift him and I'll rig the grenade.\" \n\n\nI stayed motionless until the moved away waiting for my chance to move off. What were they talking about color? We saw color. Grays, blacks, white. What else was there?"
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[WP] Death is finite.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The line at the information booth stretched out round the building. I can’t even remember joining the queue, but I’ve been at the front for a while now and I can tell the clerk was getting annoyed. \n\n“I’m only going to tell you this once more. Yes, you should be dead. No, you’re not dead. No, you’re not alive either. You humans have a name for this place, I think it starts with a p?”\n\n“Purgatory?”\n\n“Yep that’s the one.”\n\n“So I’m not dead yet? But I can’t go back either? Well how long will I have to stay here?”\n\n“At the time of your worldly demise you were added to the waiting list. The average wait is approximately 2 and a half thousand years. But after factoring in karma you’ll probably be here for close to 6 thousand, you should have spent more time helping others.”"
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[WP] Necromancy is a long forbidden magic, one that you practice, however you don't use the outlawed art to bring back the damned. Instead, you've learned to use it on a molecular level, reviving individual cells to mend flesh and repair dead organs. You are the first healer.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"I'm so, so sorry,\" said the young man.\n\n\"It's alright,\" said the old man. He held out his hands and accepted the young man's condolences. \"It's not your fault.\"\n\n\"She was always sickly, and it got worse as she got older.\" The young man leaned forward. \"I should have taken her to see a doctor when she was younger, but she was afraid of them.\"\n\n\"It wasn't your fault,\" said the old man. \"You don't have to apologize for it.\" He looked at his wife, lying on her back in the room's only bed. Her eyes were closed, her skin pale, and cool to the touch. She had been dead for several hours now; long enough that rigor mortis had set in and started to go away again. Through his skill and practice as a necromancer he'd brought her back from death not just once, but multiple times since her passing some years before, but this time he could not bring her back again. This time there was no more magic left in him or on Earth to make it happen again.\n\n\"I should have done something, anything,\" said the man. \"I should have asked someone for help.\"\n\n\"There's nothing that can be done,\" said the old man. \"She was too old, and her body was giving up on her.\"\n\n\"But I'm a necromancer.\"\n\nThe old man smiled sadly and shook his head.\n\n\"A student of the dead sciences,\" he said. \"But you can only do so much with what you know, and no one has discovered any new knowledge in this field in a thousand years.\" He gestured to his wife's corpse. \"We are but paupers with broken cups, trying vainly to pour water from shattered vessels.\" He looked back at the young man. \"There is no magic left in us that we can use to fix this.\"\n\nThe young man sighed and leaned back in his chair.\n\n\"What will you do now?\" he asked the old man.\n\n\"I will bury her, and then I will join her when my time is up,\" he said.\n\nThe old man looked back at the young man.\n\n\"I'm sorry,\" he said again.\n\n\"Don't be.\" The old man smiled. \"It's not your fault.\"",
"I dance my fingers across the wound the the real movement happens beneath the skin. Blood cells return to play in the ballet of life and re-adhere to their former posts. The man stares in amazement as without needle or string his skin seals shut and the gash stops bleeding. The man looks up in amazement and rushes to thank me but i turn him away. If he knew the true arts i use to repair and reconstruct he would never step forth to offer his thanks. I step to the backroom with my medical supplies. All around me are tomes, The Art of Aromatherapy, The Healers Creed, and \"Rashaka\" the book that first described the tools of the healer, which lays on a pedestal. I pick up \"Rashaka\" and fling it across the room. I grab the top of the pedastal and slowly unhinge it. Inside a different book resides, The Necronomicon. Bound in leather of humans and the souls of the damned its discovery could ruin my legacy. My peaceful interlude is interrupted by the sound of my nurse calling my name. A new visitor is inside, one from out of town. His arm has a deep notch out of it. He claims it to be from a blunt axe that fell onto it but i have my doubts. I begin to work but he refuses to let me work any further. He claims to feel excessive pain while i work my magic, a claim i have never had before. He wishes me to use a needle and string but when I pick them up my hand shakes. Before they touch the skin they fall to the floor with a quiet clink. He politely leaves and goes to the doctor instead. I wonder what the problem was, and i fear the worst; that he may be a priest, and he can telm of the unholy nature of my magic. A small boy is rang in. Unlike the others i know this kid, yet his name leaves a blank. He requests to use the bathroom and rushes off to the back. I talk to the mother about things that dont matter, both of us anxious about when the kid will return. He arives and i get to work on his finger. He claims he hurt it while trying to peel an apple. It would be the second time this week that that would have been the case. It almost seems like the kid wishes to hurt himself sometimes. No new patients come so i return to a slumber. I awake to a deafening scream and look to see a mob outside of my window lead by the man from the night before. I walk outside to explain myself but am hit with a weighted rope that holds me to the ground. I bite and claw at it but the mob drags me closer to the point of burning where they have already started a fire. I look around to see only people i know and a raging fire inside my home and place of work. Inside however is a black figure that steps toward us. It is the kid from before holding my leather bound tome. No one pays attention to him nor his chanting but i can hear it despite being this far away. I can feel the fire wrap around me but it stops burning. Instead it feels like wind or water that smooths out a coatails around me. I see myself now strung above hanging from the neck at an angle that would only be held by that of a child. I look behind me to see my burning residence and down to see the body of a child. I look over to the fire to see the most skilled necromancer that ever was burn.",
"\"Sir, please, I'll do anything!\" the boy got on his knees, begging to the robed figure in the alley. Well, you could say he was on the ground because he was begging, but it was mostly because his leg was severed- he was on a prosthetic, and it had just given out.\n\n\"Listen, kid, I don't do my stuff for free. You got anything for me?\" the robed figure looked down at the boy scornfully. The boy checked his pockets, but they were all empty. \n\n\"Sir, please, I'll do anything! I'll be in your servitude! You can do anything you like to me! Just help me, please!\" the boy grabbed onto the robed figure's legs, desperate to do anything.\n\n\"Hey, kid, one question- do you want to die?\" the robed figure wrested themself out of the boy's grasp.\n\n\"Wha-wha- No! I want to live!\" the boy pulled back. \n\n\"Then scram. Necromancy doesn't bring back body parts-it brings back souls. You'd do well to remember that.\" the robed figure turned away, and walked down the alley, and back onto the main street.\n\nThe boy broke down, crying. He looked all around the alley. How had he gotten here? I mean, he'd been taken at birth, had nearly been sacrificed so some prick could gain magic powers, lost a leg in the chaos that ensued when the police came back, and the price for the prosthetic leg had been so much that he'd been put into debt because of it. If he could heal his leg, he could at least run away. But the prosthetic needed maintenance- magical maintenance. He needed a place to rest to restore his mana and rework the leg, but then he could never really use magic again, couldn't he? At this point... why was he even alive?\n\n\"Shhhh, calm down, son. Whatcha crying over?\" the boy turned around, and saw a kindly older gentleman, probably in his late 60's, looking at him from his door. The alley was small, but a sign hung over the older man that the boy hadn't noticed. \"Coffee and Cats\".\n\n\"Oh, sorry, sorry, I'll leave now, it's okay.\" the boy whimpered, crawling away. At this point, that was the best he could do.\n\n\"Oh, come on now, don't be shy. I've got a place for you to rest, don't worry. Just come with me, boy.\" the old man stuck out his hand, and the boy helpfully took it, getting himself up, and at least leaning on a wall.\n\n\"Now get on my back, sonny, we're gonna have a piggyback ride!\"\n\n\"A what?\" the boy was confused.\n\n\"A piggyback ride! Haven't you had one before. Now, get on before these old bones tire out.\" the old man crouched down, like he was a horse.\n\n\"What?\" the boy was still confused.\n\n\"Grab onto my back. You can't walk, so I'll help ya, sonny.\" the old man grunted from his awkward position.\n\n\"Okay...\" the boy grabbed onto his shoulders, and wrapped his legs around the old man.\n\n\"Let's go!\" \n\nThe old man helped the boy get back to the coffee shop, and set him down on an old reclining chair.\n\nThe boy looked around in awe. The small coffee shop was shockingly clean, cleaner then anything he'd been in before. As he looked around, he noticed small, fluffy creatures crawling throughout the room, giving soft purrs. There was one that even tried getting up close to him. It wasn't mean or threatening, even. It was soft and cuddly, and the boy loved it. \n\n\"What is this?\" the boy looked at the small creature.\n\n\"Oh, that's a cat. Never seen one before? Yeah, doesn't surprise me.\" the old man said. He was moving behind some sort of bar, where he put a cup under a small machine. The machine whirred quietly, as the man grabbed some sort of blanket from under the long bar. \"Cats have been increasingly rare over the years. They tend to just... stick to themselves, preferring to stick to wilder parts nowadays, instead of by our side.\" the old man explained what they were to the boy, as he stared on in awe. The room he was in felt like a home, with soft, fluffy chairs all around him. It was nothing like the sterile hallways of the home he was used to. \n\n\"Sir, thank you very much, but what are you helping me for?\" the boy looked out across the room. \"I'm a boy with a prosthetic. I'm poor, and can't pay you. Why do you care about me?\" the boy looked down.\n\n\"Oh, be quiet about your complaining, son.\" the old man pulled the cup out of the whirring machine, walked past the bar, and handed it to the boy. \"Drink up, it'll make you feel good.\"\n\nThe boy looked at the rotten substance. It was brown, and looked like it would go down just as well as cough medicine.\n\n\"Alright, I guess...\" the boy took a sip... and it was wonderful! It was creamy and sweet, but not overbearing, like the candies he was given at children's school. it was wonderful!\n\n\"Oh my gosh, this is amazing!\" the boy looked down at the cup. \"What is this?\" \n\n\"It's hot chocolate.\" the old man smiled, putting a blanket down on his lap. The old man took a closer look at the cat that the boy was stroking. \"Oh, it seems Cream's taken a liking to you.\"\n\n\"Cream?\"\n\n\"That's the name of the cat. Cream.\" the old man looked around the room. He quietly got up from his chair, went to what looked like a quiet corner, and pulled out what looked like a much weirder cat. It wasn't brown and spotted, like Cream was. It was dark, and it's blue eyes seemed to glare out, unlike the calm and caring eyes of Cream. \n\n\"This is Mary. She's a bit of a grumpy girl, but she's loving.\" the old man smiled. \"Don't worry, Cream's a customer favorite cat.\"\n\nThe two of them sat there, in those soft, fluffly recliner chairs, for a while. The boy sunggled up to Cream, who purred softly, while the old man was feeding Mary something out of his pocket.\n\nThe old man broke the meowing silence with a question.\n\n\"So, who made you that leg of yours?\"\n\nThe boy looked down, at the cuddly animal that was in his hand. This old man had been so *kind* to him. Might as well tell him the truth.\n\n\"The Academy made it for me.\" the boy said, looking down. He set his cup on the small table next to him, and held Cream in both arms. \"I lost my leg when police tried to save me from a magical sacrifice. It runs off of my own mana supply.\" the boy looked down.\n\n\"Oh, is that so?\" the old man looked inquisitive for a moment, before going back to his kindly smile. \"How is The Academy these days?\"\n\n\"It's not bad, I guess.\" the boy looked down. \n\n\"Do they teach you magic?\" the old man asked.\n\n\"No, not really.\" the boy said.\n\n\"Oh... that's sad. They used to teach magic.\" the old man frowned.\"Do you like that leg of yours?\"\n\nThe boy looked down. \"Not really. It's brought me nothing but pain and sorrow.\"\n\nThe boy's vision started to fade from tiredness, and he heard the old man say one thing.\n\n\"Ok then. I'll heal it for you...\"",
"\n\nA malicious grin gives an unholy light to His Majesty’s face. I still my trembling limbs and stand, knowing what comes next. He’s long hunted me. Depraved and twisted, am I. An abomination. So his almighty grace says. Towering over me, his eyes dilate in righteous lust. My blood freezes, cold as the steel that tickles my throat. \"Abandon hope, if you’re even capable of feeling it,\" he spits. \"Never again will you slip my net, spreading insidious seeds of demonic intent, infecting my land and defiling it’s people!\" A jostling crowd has gathered behind him, jeering and frothing. Desperate to see my blood spill, staining the dirt I’m crumpled in. Despair swamps me, the tiny soul-spark crying for justice is slowly snuffed. Ignorant minds do irreparable damage. I’m done begging, through explaining. Minds barricaded behind iron bars, tradition and religion deflecting every plea for understanding. Bowing my head to accept the inevitable, I feel it. Her. A small, dim soul. Peering behind brocade skirts 50 yards past, a crumpled girl-child reclines behind her nurse. I’d heard the kings daughter never left his side.. and now I see why. Limbs twisted from an obviously tumultuous birth, innocence and fear shake her. In my minds eye I see twisted tendons, dead nerves. Weak muscles clinging flaccidly to thin bones. My eyes turn opaque as I gather the last of me, and hurl my intentions across the way. My last thought is a fervent hope that it’s enough. Sword flashing, mouths shrieking, and a small girl rises. Flushed with victory the king turns and sees his little one, his heart, standing straight and strong. Bounding gracefully towards him, miraculous joy turns to horror as she lands at my feet. With a roar like a thousand rushing winds, he realizes. The awe of his gain. The magnitude of the world’s loss. Quiet descends as my blood pours out.",
"Pt 1 of 2:\n\nMy mother’s sobs woke me the day my father passed away in his sleep.\n\nWandering into their bedroom with the confused and fearful concern of a six-year-old, I stopped at her side. “Mama,” I whispered. “Why’s papa sleeping with his eyes open?”\n\nShe took me into her arms and kissed my forehead, holding me close.\n\nI could say that’s what prompted me to go into the medical field, to save those who others thought couldn’t be saved. But the sudden death that had struck down my father was something in his brain, the most complex of all our organs by far, and we were decades from figuring out how to save those like him the first time I stepped through the front doors of my college university.\n\nMy path to a career as a doctor developed the same way anyone else’s does. You find something you’re good at and, if it doesn’t make you miserable to learn about it, that’s what you seek out in school. My talents were considerable in the sciences and a career in the medical field would help support my mother as she grew older, having struggled for many years to raise me without my father’s income.\n\nMagic had always fascinated me as well, but it never drew me in the way it did others. Our society was entering an industrial age of combustion and electricity, of new and stunning technologies, and magic in comparison didn’t seem as incredible as the sciences. I enjoyed my classes in middle and high school, of course, just like all my classmates. It just never appealed to me to pursue it as a profession.\n\nUntil one day, in the city library as I studied for exams in my final year of medical school, I found myself going cross-eyed at the materials in front of me after hours of work. Taking a deep breath and stretching, I left my papers and books strewn across the table in front of me and decided to stretch my legs. Wandering the aisles, I noticed someone had left a small pile of books next to the shelf, having not bothered to put them back, a pet peeve of mine. I knelt down to pick them up but ended up just sitting on the floor when I saw the topic.\n\nNecromancy was something studied for historical purposes, but strictly illegal. Of course, like many things against the law, in exceedingly rare cases people still performed it despite the repercussions, legal and moral. They often ended up regretting their actions when what they’d brought back was a twisted, demented, or even catatonic version of the one they’d loved. The police and magical detectives dealt with those cases and all I knew of them was what I read in the papers.\n\nFlipping through one of the books that appeared more reader-friendly than the rest, something drew me in. I found myself sitting there for a long while, just continuing to read the book, then putting it aside and reaching for one that was significantly more advanced. And I had a thought that at first convinced me I was on the edge of insanity, but it persisted in my mind nonetheless.\n\nWhat if you could heal dead or dying *tissue*, before the person died?\n\nI eventually forced myself away from the books, putting them back on the shelf in the order determined by the codes on their spines, and back to my studies. But I kept at the research in my spare time, uncommon as spare time was in the busy life of a medical graduate that began a residency at a nearby hospital. And the more I learned, the more I was fascinated by the possibilities. Even though insecurities voiced themselves in my head, telling me that if this was possible, or indeed if it was a way around the laws we had in place, was I really remarkable enough to make a discovery like this?\n\nUltimately, I started experimentation. On myself first, of course, like any moral physician. I started small, with slits in the back of my arm made by a razor, using spells of my own design and wording to mend the wound. The first time I had success with a spell of my own creation, I nearly passed out from shock. I then moved onto deeper wounds, with identical success. Necrotic tissue was the easiest, and when I occasionally found injured animals along the city streets, their wounds festering and worsening, I brought them back to my home to heal them.\n\nNext, I moved onto a mouse, easily caught in one of the traps laid in the alley behind my apartment. Something in my gut squirmed with discomfort as I repeatedly injured the animal in various and creative ways for my experiments, even as I used nitrous oxide to dull its pain, but it was science, and science demanded sacrifice. I eventually set it free, watching it dash away from me at great speed, probably assuming it had suffered through a torturous Hell only to miraculously escape.\n\nLike any good doctor, I took detailed and thorough notes of all my exploits and experiments. But then one day, as I closed my large notebook and tucked it away in my desk drawer, I let out a sigh as depression started to take hold. There was no way to introduce this to the medical field without explaining the source. Despite my specific and creative changes to the spells of necromancy that had developed it into something new, the roots of this magic were undeniable. Not only would my medical license be revoked; I would likely be imprisoned.\n\nMy mind ruminated on this for weeks, and eventually months. I sent money to my mother regularly and each time I thought of how I couldn’t risk my livelihood on something that could very well land me in prison. But eventually, I found myself front and center in a situation where I needed to make a choice."
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[WP] Wizards can be very erudite and tend to measure ability by how many spells a person knows. You've always found other spells to be boring and simply worked on perfecting one.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"A fireball spell has so many applications when you think about it.\n\nI can blow down a door, lightly cook some harpy for dinner, or provide some much needed light. The wizards at the academy are all “you’re only a rank one mage, meeehhhe, you can’t be here”\n\nFireball fixes that problem too. As I walk into the hall of the grandmaster, the “greatest” wizard ever known, due to his extensive knowledge of spells. I yell out\n\n”Old man! I came to make you take back what you said all those years ago!”\n\nHe stiffens, his old bones creak as he lays down his book. He looks at me and sighs, before returning to his book.\n\nHow dare he! He ignores me after he told me\n\n”You’ll never be a real wizard if you know only one spell, young Maokin.” I was crushed! I could only figure out fireball! So, in the spirit of my kin, I set out to annoy him as much as possible.\n\nI had burnt an old book with a fireball shaped exactly like the book, **down to the ink**, it had disappeared in a untraceable puff of smoke.\n\nHe had looked for that book for years “The rules of prestidigitation” was obviously a favorite.\n\nHe looked at me again, interrupting my brooding, before saying\n\n”I was wrong, maokin.”\n\n”I have a name!”\n\nHe casts a spell with a wave of his hand. A force wall appears in front of him.\n\n”Yes, Fluffles, I know.”\n\nI put my hands on my hips and pout before saying\n\n”I’m here to prove to you that a wizard only needs one spell!”\n\n”Yes, here to disprove something I have never said.”\n\nI froze, he said... There was magic apaw here. I launched into a fireball the spread across the floor like liquid, flowing to encase him.\n\nand... it disappeared with a wave of his hand. He cast the same spell multiple times, each time it did something different. He appeared in front of me, leaning down.\n\n”Prestidigitation can do anything you know? Sometimes you just need to put more force into it.”\n\n&#x200B;\n\nWell rereading this it doesn’t feel consistent but poggers."
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[WP] For as long as you can remember, you've had an imaginary friend that would accompany you everywhere you go. However one day, this imaginary friend can suddenly affect the real world. Of course, other people can't see him. Let the fun (or horrors) begin!
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\n**———TRIGGER WARNING. I AM SERIOUS. THERE'S WAY TOO MANY NASTY THINGS IN THERE FOR ME TO NOT PUT THIS.———**\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nI was a... creepy kid, when I was younger. Seeing things that weren't there, hearing sounds never made by anyone.\n\nWell... by 7 I had peaked. My imaginary \"friend\", if I do dare call it that, was a monster. A creature created by my trauma, someone to blame for everything. I simply named it... Father.\n\nWhy did daddy beat mommy when he drank? Father made him do it, it wasn't his fault. Why did he beat my sister and I? Father's fault, not daddy's. \n\nWhy did dad take my sister in her room, and I'd hear he scream in pain? And why did she always come out of there crying? Father's fault, still.\n\nAnd why did he kill my mother one day, with a kitchen knife, while I closed my sister's eyes, at age 9? Father's fault. Not daddy's. \n\nFather accompanied me practically everywhere. A shadow around a dark corner, a wink behind a teacher, an oddly wide smile on the whiteboard. Most notably, a bright white claw, coming right out of someone's chest. Curiously, right where dad shoved the knife into mum. \n\nI suppose Father had a sense of humour.\n\nHe stopped appearing when my mother's corpse was found in the house, a week after her murder. The cops didn't care to check why a black 9 year old boy said his \"daddy\" killed his \"mommy\" with a kitchen knife. Why would they?\n\nWhy would they really care that a black girl said she had bruises \"down there\" because her \"daddy does things\"? \n\nTruly, why would they?\n\nDad was never convicted. The testimony of two black kids didn't particularly matter compared to the word of a well-respected white man. Father was present at the trial, in all his horrifying glory.\n\nWhen the jury announced dad innocent, he turned around and looked at me, with Father's oddly wide smile. \n\nIt had been 8 years since I had last seen Father. I was shortly taken away by Providence to a shelter. My sister was left with dad. I don't exactly know what happened to her, but I have strong suspicions. I only hope her death was painless. \n\nIt was night, when I saw Father again. \n\nI saw a sickly pale hand, with bright white claws, pull my window open. I immediately knew who it was. It'd never **made** something happen before. Not physically, at least. \n\nI screeched like a kid and ran out of my college dorm, to the next one. My only \"friend\", that is, the only person who would tolerate my depression, was sleeping peacefully when I swung her door open, entered and closed it again. I ran and hurled in by her side.\n\n\"WHAT THE FUCK JAKE?!\" she screamed, but I was mortified. I couldn't speak. I heard Father's thumping steps, coming from my dorm, and Nessie heard them too. She screamed in terror as her door opened. \n\n**\"Who's there?!\"** she shouted, not seeing the living nightmare I watched come towards us. Father dragged his claws on the door, creating scratches upon it. I was sure they'd be gone by morning time.\n\nAs Father approached, I screamed again. In my screaming, I passed out. Was it fear? Shock? My PTSD? Who knows.\n\nI woke up in my bed next morning. \"Just yet another nightmare, I thought chuckling slightly. Until I saw. My window was, indeed, open. And the prints of a claw could be vaguely made out.\n\nFrom the dorm next to mine, I heard Nessie scream. She'd found the claw marks. \n\nThis wasn't my last encounter of Father since then. It stayed in my life still, as if it had never left. Except this time, the wide smile on the whiteboard never disappeared. The shadow around the corner pushed passersby violently, and...\n\n... the claws, coming out of people's chests, never went away.\n\nThe first murder happened 3 days after Father's return. A student left the lecture to go to the toilet. He was found dead in the there, an almost perfectly round penetration wound in his chest.\n\nExactly where dad put the knife through my mother.\n\nMany followed, after that. In fact, as I'm writing this journal 2 months later, I can hear the sirens below my apartment. Some CSI made the connection between the stab wounds, and now they think it's me.\n\nFather is smiling at me, from a dark corner in my dorm. It has dried blood on its claws. Oh, how I wish they could see it.\n\nAs I hear the apartment's door get shattered by the ram of some RIOT police officer, I leave the journal down and stand up. I walk towards Father, and wait as it stands up too. It sticks its claw through me, right where the knife went through my mother.\n\nIt smiled at me again, as I died. Before everything faded, and I went off to live my nightmares elsewhere, I saw it disappear. Something tells me that no-one will see Father for a long, long time.\n\nPerhaps it's Father itself, that something...",
"\"How?\" 8 year old Ellie asked Mr Patrick. To everyone else he was just a figment of her imagination. But to her he was her best friend, her partner in crime since day one. Yes, she was too old for an imaginary friend. But she didn't care and neither did Mr Patrick. \n\nHe would usually just tell her jokes or help her with her homework. He could never touch anything in the physical world. But today, to both of their surprise, he accidentally knocked down one of her books.\n\n\"I dont know\" he said, biting his pink nails. \n\n\"You cant even go through walls now. How is this possible?\" She asked again. \n\n\" I said I dont know!! I was supposed to be IMAGINARY!! Not some kind of invisible freak\" He shouted but quickly regretted it once he saw her lips quivering. \"Im sorry Im sorry, i didnt mean to scream at you. Im just scared you know\" He said gently stroking her back. His tail swished against her guitar case, knocking it down. \n\n\"Did you had to imagine a tail for me\" He asked jokingly. Ellie looked at the half man, half dinosaur and laughed. \"All dinosaurs have tails silly\" she said while moving away from his embrace and hopping on to her bed, her homework open. \"While you figure this out Ill finish my homework. I gotta do Jacobs homework as well. Or he will beat me up\" She said sadly.\n\n\nJacob was the school bully and Ellie was his daily target. She had to always do his homework and let him cheat off of her tests. If she dared complain to anyone he would pull on her ponytails, steal her lunch, or worse, launch spitballs at her. She was always coming back home crying and it was Mr Patrick who had to console her. If only there was something he could do about this.....\n\nA light bulb went off in his head.\n\n\"Ellie\" he called , excitement filling him up. \"Do you think you could take me to school with you tommorow?\" She looked at him curiously and nodded.\n\nHe could definetly put his newfound abilities to good use, he thought with a smirk in his face.\n\n--------------------------------------!------\n\nThis is My first story on this sub so apologies in advance for any mistakes."
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[WP]As the dust clears out the hero sees that the demon lord has disappeared. As he raises his sword to signal his victory he hears the voice of the demon lord in his head. The demon lord had somehow found a way inside the hero's mind.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"If you’re reading this, please forgive me for what I have done. Before I say anything further, please know I have done everything I could. I tried taking my own life, I have tried so many times I’ve lost count. I have lived with this curse for thousands of years and there is no way out. Shortly after the following events I tried falling on my own sword, yet the blade snapped in half. I tried to hang myself at the altar of my church, but the rope snapped. When humans invented guns, I shot myself. The bullet bounced off. I ran under the bomb at Hiroshima, I closed my eyes and prayed for death. When I opened my eyes everything around me was desolated. The only thing left standing was myself, myself, and the arch I stood underneath. \n\nI used to be a Christian Templar, I believed in god and followed what I believed to be his will. I have long since lost that faith. There is no god, no angels, no heaven. For some there is death, yet for me there is only life and the suffering it brings.\n\nI was renowned as a Templar. I wandered the world and slayed countless demons. I killed more than I care to remember, the demons and their followers alike. I had just run my sword through the heart of my latest conquest. It was a ghastly thing, black pits where our eyes would be. Its skin pulled taught against its bones and skull and charred, the black abyss that filled his eye sockets poking through the cracks. \n\nAs I withdrew my sword from its head, I heard a deep chuckle behind me. As I turned around, I saw him standing there. At the time I believed it to be the Devil incarnate, it all fit the image. The flames sprouting around him as he walked, the plants wilting in his steed. Taller than any man I had met, with horns curling back upon his head. He spoke with a commanding boom, “tell me, who slayed my child”. I stumbled and stuttered over my words, all I could get out was “a templar, a knight of god”. He laughed, “there is no god, there is only me, I am lord of the Demons, lord of all”. \n\nI swung my sword, and battle ensued. Every swing was parried with ease, his evil face contorted in a twisted smile. As the battle raged on I grew weary, regardless of what I did he had an answer, as if he saw my plans in advance. I then made a last second decision, this would be my final battle, my ultimate triumph. I would slay Lucifer himself. I plunged myself onto his blade and swung my own, my aim was true as the blade sunk into his chest. \n\nPain, pain is all I recall. Searing agony as if I were being burned alive over and over again. My mind filled with the memories of every demon I had killed, with the pain of their final moments. Torment, this was hell was it not? Yet I awoke from this, for some damned reason I awoke from that hell into one anew, one exceedingly worse. \n\nI slowly opened my eyes, the blade in my chest was gone, all that was left was a jagged red scar. I stood up and dusted myself off as I picked up my blade. Joy filled me, for I had just slain Lucifer, I had killed the father of lies, the devil himself. Yet my glee was short lived as I heard his laugh once more, the rumble came from all around me and filled me with dread. \n\nAs I looked around, I saw nothing, no sign of him was to be found. Yet he was there, I could feel him there, a deep dread in my soul. As if a dark cloak clung to my back, overshadowing the light, and overtaking my life. I heard him speak again, “I am with you now, I am forever a part of you, wherever you go I shall be”. \n\nFor years I tried to fight him, I had countless priests try to exorcise him, yet he would just laugh. He was there, he would forever be there, a darkness in the light, a shadow on my life. That’s when I first tried taking my own life, I won’t reiterate all the ways I tried. Save it to say that the ways I listed above are a small portion of the times I tried. Nothing worked, I am here, I am eternal, I will suffer for the rest of eternity. \n\nPlease, forgive me for what I did. At first, I did not know what I was doing, yet even after I knew I couldn’t stop myself. Any relief, no matter how small, was more than I could allow to pass by. You see, when I had my first child, the darkness cracked ever so slightly. It still hung over me as a cloak, yet there was a small trickle of hope. I thought that having a family had caused it, that having some light in my life had minimized the darkness. I was wrong, oh god was I wrong. I wish I could take it back; I wish I could lock myself away and never see another soul. Yet I don’t possess the strength. \n\nYou see, it wasn’t the light that my family brought that helped minimize the darkness. A small piece of the Demon Lord transferred itself to my child. The demon lord fragments, every child I have takes a small piece of him, and every child they have takes a small piece of what they have. \n\nI see it now, the hell that I have wrought on this world. The dark cloak that was my burden to bear now hangs on so many unsuspecting, undeserving people. It clouds their days; it whispers death in their ears. It drives them mad, sometimes to break and kill others, sometimes themselves. Sometimes it’s just enough to snuff out the light in their lives, they go on living in the same perpetual darkness I now live in. It’s a tolerable existence, barely so, but tolerable none the less. \n\nThrough the years the pieces of the demon have been fought in many ways. They have tried countless times to exorcise them to no avail. They have treated it with pills and electricity to varying levels of success. Yet he persists, as he always will. They now call it depression, a fitting name for this darkness. Yet they can escape, they die, they can leave this world and leave the fragments behind. I am here, I am eternal, as is my darkness.",
"Anxiety. Fear. My emotions only seemed interested in swelling as I stood before the great iron doors separating me from the demon lord himself. But, I've traveled for months, trained for years, and I have no intention of backing down.\n\nThe war between the faceless demon lord and humanity has raged on for centuries. Many heroes have challenged him, but despite humanity's collective prayers none have returned. I still remember the despair my village was steeped in after Turian the Swift, our country's greatest hope, left and never returned.\n\nThat was only 7 years ago now, and following in his footsteps, I plan to defeat the demon lord and avenge Turian, my hero. But even so, I can't help but be afraid. Nobody, not a single hero, has ever returned after facing the demon lord. Because of this, we know nothing of the demon lord, not their face, nor age, nor ability in battle. What we do know is their malice, which has permeated throughout all our daily lives, as our sons and fathers and brothers alike go to war to hold of his legion of demons. We have never even managed to send a scout, everyone who confronts the demon lord just goes missing.\n\nAnd here I am, staring down the doors that when opened, practically guarantee such a fate.\n\nBut my country has put its faith in me, and in Turian's absence, I have trained tirelessly to avenge him. In truth, we don't fight the demons often, usually, they come in one large wave every year or so, mocking us for our weakness. That annual battle nearly always finished in a stalemate, despite our best efforts to drive away the demons permanently. But their hubris gives us time to prepare for an assault on the demon lord castle every few years or so, and I plan to end this endless war with this attempt. Right now.\n\nI put my hand on the engraved iron markings, and push. I push, with more and more force, eventually leaning against it so that I could exert my leg muscles as well. Until finally, the door begins to creak, and slowly reveal...\n\nA grand throne room. No, grand doesn't do this justice. Pillars made of what I assume to be quartz extend higher than the walls of our own castle, to a ceiling which I can't even see. Banners descend from that darkness, painted a deep red, the same sigil that demon flag bearers carry into battle. Such a red is on the stained glass windows that illuminate the room in a crimson hue, and beneath me on the thick carpet leading to... oh.\n\n\"Magnificent.\" The word leaked from my lips without my notice. The throne erected at the end of the hall gleamed a brilliant gold, in fact, it was entirely gold. The cushion which I could assume was satin or some form of exotic wool was included in the theme of red that enveloped the room. But, while the throne looked as extravagant as it did inviting, a question came from the part of my consciousness which remained aware that this place is where heroes come to die.\n\n*Where is the demon lord?*\n\nIt hadn't registered yet, but they were missing. Hiding maybe?\n\nMy eyes darted around, but nothing. I immediately took a defensive stance as paranoia crept up from behind me. I released my head from the restriction of proper posture and allowed it to snap left and right, looking for anything. Any sign, any person, any demon, anything.\n\nBut the hall screamed an unmistakable silence that only served to heighten my fears. Desperate for a sign of life, I ran up to the throne to look for any clues that may have been left behind. Inspecting it closely, I let my guard down and focused all my efforts on assessing the situation.\n\nA stench arose, a foul one that singed my nostrils, and sent me stumbling backward from the throne. A stench, one I knew all too well. Blood. A corpse was nearby, and it must be pretty old. But before I could define a location, a voice arose to sever the silence.\n\n\"Magnificent? Is that how you feel about this place?\"\n\nI swung my jewel-encrusted sword in the direction of the foreign voice, completely guided by instinct. My body had turned around, only to greet the same empty hall I had been overwhelmed by since I arrived.\n\n\"Show yourself already fiend!\" I yelled out, adrenaline pumping.\n\n\"I'm sorry brave one, but I can't give such hospitality at the moment.\"\n\nFrom behind again, I twisted my body with the muscles I had earned through years of training to face the voice. Once again, I faced a disembodied whisper, the absence of a threat. But my instincts screamed, imparting a feeling of fear like I had never known. Somehow, the thought arose that it would be preferable to simply die, than face what was coming for me.\n\n\"Please, calm yourself, and listen. I don't plan on killing you.\"\n\nLies. Obvious lies.\n\n\"You think I lie, yes?\" The voice was a low pitch belonging to a man. He spoke calmly, orderly, and it was strangely nostalgic to me, as he appeared to read my mind.\n\n\"What are you, n-no, what do you want from me..?\" My confidence had all but evaporated, and I was a cowering pup in the face of this faceless overlord.\n\n\"I will ask this of you, one who cares for the world with such compassion. Do you know of the history of humanity?\"\n\nOf course, I knew. We had fought the demons for centuries on end, praying with all our might for a future of peace to shine through.\n\n\"You think those... us demons are the causes of your suffering, do you not?\"\n\nReading my mind once again, I lost the ability to track the direction of the voice now, and my body no longer seemed interested in fighting. The adrenaline that pumped through my veins now stalled, and my confusion and curiosity overtook me.\n\n\"Who are you?\"\n\nI had lost the will to fight, but I still had enough left in me to contest the voice. And the voice, the one responsible for the war that had raged on for centuries, responded after a moment of hesitation, or maybe contemplation.\n\n\"I am the demon lord. I am... Turian, the demon lord.\""
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[WP] The biggest guy in prison is a teddy bear, an absolute sweetheart, but he's getting real tired of every new guy trying to beat him up to establish dominance. Then one day, he snaps...
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"“That’s ENOUGH!!!”\n\nEveryone but the new guy knew to recoil in horror, maybe try and think of comforting words. They might even be trying to make peace with their god of choice.\n\nNobody had ever seen Big Ed get this angry before.\n\nHe was a behemoth of a human being, over two meters and nearly seven feet tall (depending on your preferred system of measurement). He weighed as much as two men, but don’t let that fool you—he wasn’t really fat. He was just built like he had been left in the human community by a savage giantess.\n\nAnd he was the sweetest human being that anyone had ever met.\n\nThe prison block where Big Ed lived was consistently the safest prison block in the entire county. Some hoity-toity scientists over the years bent over backwards trying to figure it by asking the wardens, the psychologists, anyone but the people on the block who could have told them what was going on in five minutes.\n\nOn the first day in Big Ed’s block, everyone was greeted by a booming “Hello!” from the largest man that most of them would have ever seen. Big Ed had been there for as long as anyone could remember and nobody really knew why, but they always remembered the day that they met him.\n\nSome people would return his greeting in kind, and Ed would ask them what their favorite thing to do was and if they liked puppies. Things usually went pretty well from there.\n\nOthers would challenge Big Ed on the spot, thinking that they had to prove themselves against him in a fight. Ed would smother them in a bear hug until they surrendered, then laugh a deep belly laugh and ask them if they liked puppies. Things usually went pretty well from there as well.\n\n\nHe wasn’t smart but he certainly wasn’t dumb either; he might not have been able to do trigonometry if you asked him, but he was incredibly emotionally intelligent. He knew which prisoners on his block were feeling down, and he’d try to stand up for them. As long as they were model citizens, Big Ed spoke for all of them at their parole hearings. Over time, the parole judges learned to trust Big Ed as much as the wardens when it came to someone’s character—even if Ed could occasionally be a bit too kind in his assessments.\n\nBut something had rubbed Ed the wrong way about this new prisoner from the moment that he showed up. The new guy was a mousy, greasy looking young man who couldn’t have been more than 5’4” but was built like a boxer. He had been caught stealing and almost killed a pedestrian while driving the getaway car. There were far worse people on the block than the new guy, but Big Ed was agitated in a way that nobody had seen before, long before he screamed.\n\nThe new guy couldn’t have been hurting Big Ed much with his punches, but the big guy seemed to take them really hard. Instead of going for his usual wrap-up maneuver, he almost seemed to be letting the new guy hit him.\n\nThe area cleared when Big Ed screamed.\n\nExcept for the new guy.\n\nHe charged at Big Ed as if he were on a mission. He reared up and punched Big Ed in the gut-hard.\n\nTo everyone’s shock, Big Ed began to reel. \n\nThen, the new guy did something even more strange.\n\nHe started to tickle Big Ed.\n\n“H-hey, that’s not fair!” Ed screamed between hysterical giggling. “That’s not fair at all!”\n\n“Why don’t you crush me then, huh, big guy?” His shrill, sharp voice stood in sharp contrast to Ed’s low rolling tones, even through the giggling.\n\n“I don’t wanna! I don’t wanna crush you!”\n\n“Give up then!”\n\n“No! Not anymore.”\n\n“Give up or I tickle you until you make me the boss of this block!”\n\n“No! I-I thought you were my friend.” Even though he was laughing, Big Ed sounded close to tears.\n\n“I am, Buddy! Always. No matter what. But I gotta get my rep in here, you know? Hey, how about we share power?”\n\nBig Ed nearly crushed the little guy against the wall as he flung off his assailant with a smile.\n\n“Deal! Absolutely a deal for Ed.”\n\nHe smiled, and shook the hand of the dazed, smaller man.\n\n“Alright, Ed and Eddy, back in business,” the smaller man said with a grin of his own. “Now, time to make some cash outta this place, huh?”\n\n__________________\nIf you liked this, check out my subreddit! r/NicodemusLux"
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[WP] You always arrive to work 4 minutes and 51 seconds late. You've tried everything from using back roads to leaving an hour early, but some unforeseen circumstance always ensures this. However, today is the first time you've tried leaving late, and weird things are starting to happen.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"4m51s late AGAIN!\" Tim thought as he sat down at his desk and fired up his computer. \"Why that exact time?\", it made no sense. No matter what he did, Monday to Friday was the same thing, he was exactly 4m51s late to work.\n\nIt had taken him ages to notice after starting his new job, throughout his life he'd never been the most punctual person, his friends had always joked about Timtime and how they could set their watches by him. They never believed him when he said he tried to be on time but still managed to be 5min late for everything.\n\nThis was his first job he'd ever had to clock in at, it wasn't a particularly important job, he was just a cog in the machine processing insurance claims and answering calls but the pay was good and with the flexitime no one cared he was a little late everyday. Not like those other jobs where his bosses had always been on his case for his constant tardiness! Anyway he always stayed a little late at the end of his shift, overall he made his hours and he always did well on his KPI's so why should they care?\n\nIt was only when he reviewed his time spreadsheet he noticed it, there was a raw clock data column that included seconds. No matter what he planned to do he clocked in exactly 4m51s later than he had planned it. Start at 8am so he can get out a bit earlier to go out for a beer with the lads? clocked in at 08:04:51. Feeling rough from a night out and decided to start at 1030? His time spreadsheet showed he clocked in at 10:34:51. A weird anomaly indeed!\n\nThe more he thought about it, the weirder is seemed. He always tried to be on time but no matter what he did he was 5mins late, something would ALWAYS happen to slow him down, from the time that train broke down at the level crossing when he would have been 1/2hr early for once to the time a pigeon had pooped on the security keypad and he had to clean the shit off to get it to work and he would have clocked in spot on time for the first time ever otherwise! Hell, even his mum joked about him being 5 mins late for his own birth! He was born at 06:00 but none of the clocks in the hospital were working and the nurse had to go grab her watch from her locker so on his birth certificate he was officially born at 06:05!\n\nIt started to really prey on his mind, why 4m51s? was it always that or was he going mad? He invested in a nice watch and a note pad and started making a note of when he said he'd be somewhere. Tell Jill from accounting he'd get a report to her by 4ish? He'd walk into her office a exactly 16:04:51. Tell his mates he'd meet them at the pub at about 8, he'd walk in the pub door at exactly 20:04:51! This was crazy!\n\nEverything he did, every time he said he'd be somewhere he was that same number late! why? He couldn't stop thinking about it and it was driving him insane! It can't be true, it's got to be some super rare coincidence if anything! For his own sanity he had to prove himself wrong! There was just no way he was exactly 4m51s late for EVERYTHING, it was confirmation bias and all those times he was early or on time he must just have forgotten or not noticed.\n\nThe sleepless nights worrying he was going mad started to catch up on him, getting up in the morning just seemed to be harder and harder which was when he noticed things started happening that caused his journey to work time to drop! He'd still clock in 4m51s late but when he set out 1/2 later than normal, he suddenly didn't hit a single red light, the freeway wouldn't be as backed up as normal or there was no queue into parking? but still looking at his timesheet exactly 04m51s late! Noticing that was that was what finally made him crack. He was insane, he must be!\n\nHe'd signed a contract that said he had to start at 11am at the latest for his flexi-time and he was tired, oh so tired with all the worry and anxious late nights about the stupid exact time he decided not to set alarm for work and have a lay in. He woke up feeling a bit more refreshed at 10am but took his time getting ready for work, a nice long shower, much longer than he'd normally do, stopped at the café for a nice coffee and bacon roll for breakfast instead of his normal rushed instant coffee and toast, walking slowly to work and looking at the flowers and birds instead of rushing in the car to get there on time without noticing anything about the world around him.\n\nAnd then it happened.\n\nThe first thing he noticed was the silence, all of a sudden it was is as if he had gone profoundly deaf ,no car noises, no birds tweeting, no sound of the wind in the trees! Just total silence.\n\nHe spotted the bird next, just hanging there in the sky mid wing beat breaking all the laws of physics. looking around he could see everything had stopped. No cars moving, no people moving everything around him frozen as if he was in a picture. Glancing down at his watch he saw he second hand had stopped.\n\nIt was exactly 11:04:51...\n\n\"well\" Tim thought, \"at least I won't be any later than 4m51s for anything\" and laughing to himself he started his slow walk into work again, stopping every now and then to inspect a flower up close, a weight seeming to have lifted from his mind.",
"\"Late again, Chris. You know, 5 minutes every time I don't mind, but for 2 weeks straight?\", Bob the manager lightly berated the huffing Chris as he hurried his way to his desk.\n\n\"I...sorry, again I'm sorry, Bob! There was suddenly a detour on the main road closest to my house, a road construction\", Chris gave his excuse himself confused as seemingly the construction appeared out of nowhere as the road was perfectly fine the previous night.\n\nBob sighed, shaking his head disappointedly. \"Right, road construction. At least it makes more sense than that \"ducks passing the road in a line\" excuse you gave me last week--\", Bob stood akimbo towering Chris who quickly busied himself with his Excel spreadsheet.\n\n\"Again, Chris, I'm not saying this to be an asshole or something, but although I don't mind 5 minutes...it adds up, you know\", Bob said.\n\n\"It's actually....4 minutes and 51 seconds...\", Chris said the volume of his voice faded on the end.\n\n\"I don't care how specific it is, Chris!\", Bob exploded infuriated. \"Just make sure it never happens again!\", Bob said walking away in anger back to his own office.\n\nChris sighed-- his fingers went to auto-pilot typing the latest financial report on his computer as his mind wandered. \n\n4 minutes and 51 seconds...it was always that specific length of time. The first few days he never noticed until the end of the first week before he noticed-- it was always constant. Even when he deliberately leaving an hour early even one and a half hour one day, there was always something hindering his travel.\n\nOne time there was a truck rolled on its side, blocking the road. At another time his engine died, only for suddenly and magically came back to life. All seemed to be orchestrated to get him to work late for 4 minutes and 51 seconds...\n\nAs 8 hours went by Chris found himself back in his car, driving back to his home. Following his daily routine, catching up with his wife, had a jog, had dinner, until bedtime came. \n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\n\"Oh sh--\", Chris muttered realizing he had woken up late. \n\nQuickly he jumped off the bed and got dressed haphazardly. Skipping breakfast, he kissed his wife goodbye before getting to his car and drove down the road like a madman...\n\n\"You're late...again\", Bob said judgingly as Chris was gasping for air running from the parking lot.\n\n\"I'm sorry, Bob...I...I overslept. I'll make up the hours, I swear!\", Chris said between deep inhales.\n\n\"You better, man\", Bob shook his head. \"At least you're consistent, always turning up 5 minutes after\"\n\nChris raised his eyebrows, confused. \"5 minutes...? But I got here an hour late...\"\n\n\"What are you talking about? You showed up like usual this morning at 8:05\", Bob said. \"Did you go somewhere to change or something? I swear I remember you wearing blue shirt this morning\", Bob said shrugging before going on his way.\n\nChris stood there stunned, perplexed looking down at his white shirt. \n\nStill confused, Chris took his seat and started working. The thoughts lingered in his mind however, trying to make sense of it all to no avail.\n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\nChris stretched on his chair, yawning, staring at the clock...5:05pm, it was time to clock out. Chris had decided to do an extra hour anyway, to keep Bob off his tail. Punching his card out, he made his way to his car for another uneventful and mind-numbing one hour drive back home.\n\n\"Hey Kate, sorry I'm late. I stayed back for a bit...Bob's been really tight on me lately\", Chris chuckled as he made his way to his kitchen where his wife looked at him weird from the table.\n\n\"Wh--what? What's going on?\", Chris asked.\n\n\"Weren't you...weren't you in the bathroom?\", Kate asked confused.\n\n\"N--no, I just got back\"\n\n\"No, you got back like an hour ago at 5:05pm\", Kate said. \"You went for a short run before taking a shower\"\n\nChris went cold as he hurried to the bathroom followed by a scared Kate. Sure enough, the shower was running. Slowly Chris turned the handle, swinging the unlocked door opened to no one inside.\n\n\"What the hell is going on?\", Chris muttered confused.\n\nAs the night went on, Chris decided to go to bed early. As per Kate's request, he called in sick the next morning much to Bob's disappointment, but he let Chris do so.\n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\n\"Hey I thought you took a day off yesterday?\", Bob said as Chris arrived to his desk- of course, 4 minutes and 51 seconds late 2 days after.\n\n\"Uhh--I did\", Chris replied confused. \n\n\"You were here yesterday though, arrived this exact time as well\", Bob informed Chris.\n\nSomething came over Chris as he freaked out, anxiety attack overwhelmed him so.\n\n\"He--hey are you alright? Sit down, sit down\", Bob said worried.\n\nChris sat on his desk with Bob on his side for half an hour as his panic attack finally subsided. \n\n\"Man, you should go home\", Bob advised.\n\n\"No...no, I'm alright\", Chris answered.\n\n\"You sure?\"\n\nChris nodded as Bob just shrugged, happy that he wouldn't have an absent worker that day. Chris was determined to stay, not for a reason of loyalty, but he thought he needed to know what was going on. Someone or something comes in his place every morning that he's late or absent. There and then, Chris decided to stay overnight at the office, hoping to be able to catch whoever's coming at 8:05 every morning...\n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\nBelow his desk, Chris laid down on the floor with his bag as a pillow in the dark and empty office.\n\n\"Five past midnight\", Chris muttered looking at his phone as the light blasted his tired eyes. \n\nAs minutes went by, Chris couldn't hold the drowsiness anymore, he had to sleep. Pressing his wife's contact number, he called Kate, deciding maybe it wasn't a good idea to keep his wife worried alone in the house.\n\nA few rings went before a click as the other side answered.\n\n\"C--Chris...?\", Kate's voice asked.\n\n\"Hey hon, sorry I didn't call you this afternoon. I decided to stay overnight at the office and...\"\n\n\"Chris...\", Kate interjected, her voice was full of terror. \"Who's sleeping beside me?\"\n\nChris' sleepy mind suddenly went fully awake as he quickly stood up, calling Kate's name repeatedly in terror.\n\n\"Kate, get out of there! Kate? KATE?\", Chris yelled.\n\nA loud scream followed from the other side of the phone.\n\n\"Kate? Kate?\", Chris yelled his wife's name in desperation but there was no answer from her, for what seemed like forever only dead air came from the other side...until...\n\n*\"4 minutes and 51 seconds\"*, a voice answered the phone. A shiver went down Chris' spine as he recognized the voice as his own. *\"That's how long she held her breath before she died\"*, the grim voice distorted as Chris fell to his knees before the call was cut off.\n\nr/HangryWritey\n\nEdit: a number",
" “Mark, can you come into my office for a minute?” My boss said. There it was finally. The dreaded conversation. I knew what it was about. I took heavy steps into my boss’s office and shut the door behind me carefully.\n\n“We need to have a word about your tardiness, Mark,” he said. “You are five minutes late—”\n\n“Four minutes and fifty-one seconds to be exact,” I interrupted. \n\n“You are four minutes and fifty-one seconds late every day. Without fail. You’re a great worker, Mark. You’re always ahead of deadlines and your performance is stellar. But for the past few years you have been late for five minutes—”\n\n“Four minutes and fif—”\n\n“Look, point is. People are starting to say things. Personally, I don’t mind, but overlooking this is encouraging disciplinary issues. Why don’t you tell me what is causing the constant lateness? Is it the kids? Any familial issues or something? If it is, I will just put it out there as exceptional circumstances so people stop saying things.” I was tempted to tell the truth then, but I have been working there for five years and had established a reputation for being a no-nonsense kind of person. I sure as hell wasn’t going to confide in my boss about my suspicion of a cosmic conspiracy against me, dooming me to a fate of being late for work for exactly four minutes and fifty-one seconds every day.\n\n“Boss, I promise you. I am doing everything in my power to be punctual. Give me a week, I will work on this…Try something new,” I said. \n\n“Okay, you got one week. Until then, we won’t speak of this issue until,” he looked at this digital watch. “Next Wednesday. Vamoose.” He waved his hands. \n\nI had a theory for this strange phenomenon. I was not a religious person, but these were extenuating circumstances. So, after months of theorizing and hypothesising, I reached a fair conclusion: this some voodoo shit. Previously, I had been fine with this, but now that my job was at stake, it had to stop. Plus, if there’s one thing I hated more than losing my job, it was being fucked with. \n\nSee, for two years every day, anything—and I mean anything—could crop up for me to be late. Traffic accidents (I take the train), fallen tree (I take the train), and there was one time a snake had found its way into the train carriage! But these were all fine since they were on the news and easily justifiable. However, it’s the ones that happened only to me that were impossible to justify. Once, my neighbour’s dog bit my leather shoes off my foot and leapt around the neighbourhood. Oh, and I will never forget the time when lightning struck my lawn and obliterated my blueberry bushes. On a clear sunny day, by the way. How can I possibly explain this to my boss? Well, the only thing that gets me through all these bullshits is my wife’s raucous laughter as I regaled her with my many adventures. At first, they were stares of incredulity but after witnessing them for herself for two years, she believed. So hey, I am not insane. \n\nBut that day, I decided it was enough. My plan: purposely be late. No rocket science needed, just leave home five minutes after nine. That’s it. It takes thirty minutes to travel to work, so that would mean being thirty-five minutes late. I could do this with the allowance from my boss. I honestly didn’t know what I hoped to achieve. This could serve as an experiment to determine if it was possible to break this rule or not. Or even better, it was a cosmic *fuck you* for my blueberry bushes. \n\n(TO BE CONTINUED)"
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[WP] You've just discovered the evil overlord's weakness. In order to defeat them you must destroy their teddy bear first. You find yourself questioning if the end really justifies the means.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Leo and Kyle kept running thru the hallway as fast as they could. They were suprised at the lack of guards there but than again they are probably all in the bettel right now, the one the rest of team was fighting so the 2 of them can have their chanse to attack the evil overlords base and find the object of his weakness.A teddy bear as their sources told them. \"But can i really destroy it\" Leo thought \"it must mean so much to him\". But he was quickly interrupted when his friend screamd \"There it is!\" with joy in his voice. They found the bedrum. The door was wide open bascly calling them in. \"Come on, lets find that stupid toy and finish this\" Kyle said determined. After a few minutes of searching the room Leo noticed some thing under a blanket. He pulled it out and gasped in shock. This was it, THE teddy bear was in his hends! A smoll light broun fella whit fluffy little tail and a cute face. \"I bet he gives great hugs\" Leo whisperd. At that moment Kyle turned around and saw what was happening. \"Yes you found it, now just tear it apart and we can finnaly win this war !\" Kyle yelld. Leou turned his gase to the bear again \"yes this is for all you've done to us you pice of crap\" he thought rage filling his entire body as he started to rip the poor thing. The little tear makes it almoust to the eyline when he finally stops himself thinking about his own little white bear that he left at home. Would he ever recover if something happend to him. No, he can't become a monster that would do that. \"What are you doing you idiot??? Why did you stop\" Kyle started yelling \" this is what we came here for and now you're having second thoughts!\". \"We can't do this\", \"Ofcorese we can it's just a fabric, you just need to pull a little harder and...\" \" No! I meant we shouldn't \". \"What?\" Kayle replied with a mix of shock and fear.\"There is another way, i know there is. We are not going to be the same monsters as them just because it's an easier route. We are going to find another way\" said Leo hoping his friend would understand. But he didn't. \"Are you crazy! Another way? Another way!\" he started yelling this time louder \" How can you say that? After all they did to us you're still sorry for them. And you think there's another way! Everything we've done so far was useless and now when something finally has the slightest chance to work you want to find another way! JST GIVE THE STUPID THING TO ME!!!!\" He said taking the teddy bear out of his friends hands. \"I'll show you how it's done you traitor!\" But before he had the chance to destroy it Leo punched him in the face knocking him out. \"I am sorry Kyle, but i know you'll thank me later\" he than put the teddy back in it's plase and left carrying Kyle with him. This was not the way he thought this mission would go but he was certain that he made the right choice."
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[WP] “How long have you waited?” she asked, “Long enough that even gods believe I’m a mere legend” he answered
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"'Mere legend'... the word mere here was there simply to balance out the usage of the word legend, being this sort of a humble thing. Merely a legend among the gods, basically... but that was just his go-to pickup line.\n\n\"You see girl, I make even the gods believe!\"\n\n\"Mhm, mhm... And also 'tis long enough you say also..?\" she nodded in curious excitement.\n\nThe sexual undertones were all but missing in the heat of the moment or the moment of heat perhaps.\n\n\"Well, they say size doesn't matter but length is an entirely different matter to be honest baby.\"\n\nThe man said with excessive confidence, hoping to get the girl blush then and there... and she did. The blood pumping and juices flowing, the pair drifted towards the ' 1-on-1 Galactic Zumba Chamber'. This time with enough credits to have them pumping for at least 2 full rotations, earning them enough iconorespecto for half of the galaxy to be talking about this Romeo and Juliet for what would basically be the next period in the planets mythology.\n\nTheir names? We do not know actually. They were, however, legend and became the predominant deity that was used as both an excuse for lovemaking and warcraft. This cult formed around them which sort of held that, if you wait long enough, you WILL be rewarded in a spectacular way. She or he will take care of you and it will be legendary...",
"His shape was ambiguous and always changing. Sometimes looking like a cat, sometimes a tree but never exactly and never for very long. “Where are we now? And why is it so dark?” They had traveled many places inside and out of the universe but there had always been some kind of light. “We are about to be at the beginning.” The answer came from all around as if it were an echo. Suddenly the little girl saw a light. Was it small or just far away she wondered. It grew and grew and with it came heat. She could feel the warmth on her cheeks as the light began to be too bright to look at. Colors started appearing all around them. White and orange streaks cutting through the black void as far as she could see. Soon joined by swirls of pink and red. Clouds of blue and purple and green mixing together. “It’s beautiful” she whispered. “It surely was. But you will soon think of this as forgettable as the sunrise. Once you’ve seen these come and go they aren’t as special anymore” He sounded melancholic as he sped up time. Galaxies formed and dissolved. The lights slowly died out. The girl was saddened, until he opened the next door. A prefect rectangle of white against the empty black. They walked through and were suddenly in an office. “Is this the next adventure?” She asked excitedly. “No. Your father will be out of his meeting soon and you need to finish your homework” the reply came from the doorway on the floor.",
"This cave of alabaster stone entranced with shifting figures, animated paintings dancing upon the walls like pagans before the flame. \n\nHe sat high upon a pedestal, surrounded by burning frankincense. Shackles of obsidian bound his wrists, and his eyes were red, tired. A gray beard of ashen smoke twisted in knots down to his chest. \n\nNobody had entered this cavern until my descent, hidden as it was high above the mountains and etched into the rock itself. By chance I had fallen through an opening, stumbling upon it. \n\n\"How long have you waited?\" I asked, drawing closer to him. The floor drew me in ever gently, and his words drifted in on the wind. \n\n\"Long enough that even Gods believe me to be a mere legend.\" His eyes shined bright, and upon closer inspection his skin was shifting. It resembled features of all ethnicities, blending colors and contours as deep and rich as the unlit sky. \"My heart beat when Gilgamesh first cried for Enkidu, and laid his body to the ground. My eyes watched as El Shaddai cast down Asherah from her throne in Canaan, and my ears heard Mars weep as Troy burned once, twice, and thrice again.\"\n\nA heat radiated from him, fierce but kind, and chaotic. \"What kept you here, trapped by these obsidian shackles?\" They were brittle to the touch, seemingly incapable of holding back such a being. \n\n\"I was...\" he began slowly, thinking back to what must have been millennia. \"Watching Man in his cradle, from a distance. Many times I approached, but each time he ran in fear. Eventually he stopped running, and trapped me here.\" He gestured around the walls then, the paintings taking on lifelike inscriptions, showing tribes, armies, and the engines of war, but also the march of civilizational. \n\n\"Here, in this temple, Man first imprisoned the First Fire. I kept the them warm as they slept, scared off the wolves and howling beasts that roared in the night. My light purified their food and formed a barrier to that eternal night in the far north.\" He grasped at me, pleading. \"Set me free, so I may burn out at last.\"\n\nOn a whime, I fetched my pocketknife and cut through the obsidian shackles, releasing a torrent of fire through the cavern and into the sky above. Slowly then, the world began to burn an orange hue, and the fire that kept civilization moving ran out of control."
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[WP] Your parents never found any monsters under your bed at night, and for good reason; unbeknownst to them, you were the most terrifying monster of all.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The torrential rain was fitting. Piss poor weather; piss poor day. The man who raised me broken on his rooms floor. My hands covered in his blood; holding his knife. Dead glazed eyes full of disgust; eyes once full of love. Sixteen years ago he’d given everything and now I’d taken everything. I was far from the abandoned infant he’d adopted. I was a monster and he finally saw that.\n\nHe tried to kill me and I acted accordingly . Though I got too carried away. Darkness overtook me. In the place of a man was carnage. Was I evil? Is this my nature? My destiny? Regardless, I was no longer the son he raised; sure as hell a long way from catch in the park. In its own dark way this was ironic. A monster hunter as experienced as he and he couldn’t tell he was raising one. The biggest ever born. What now? Normally he’d give me advice. Well, he wasn’t in the position to now. I knelt beside him. The carpet squished.\n\n“Pops, I always thought you were protecting me;From the monsters you made sure a mere child knew were real,” I said.\n\n“But you weren’t. My real father was. All the beasts of the night wouldn’t dare touch me! Not because of you but because of him,” \n\nBecause of my real father; the one I wished Darius was. I loved and hated him. What kind of father tries to kill his son? I understood why. He wanted to protect Nia, my older sister. He raised me but didn’t hesitate. All love gone. I was no longer his son. He gave up on me because I wasn’t human. Tried to save my sister but not me. I was the son of something vile. Unholy. Behind me there was a whimper . Then a pop and a sharp pain. My spine on fire;damn silver bullets.\n\n “ Hey sis. That hurt like hell,” I said, turning to face her.\n\n“ Simon? What the fuck did you do!” She screamed.\n\nThen she froze, like dial up. Fear filled her heart as she took it all in. Fear of me. I was changing. My skin was grey and decaying; black veins all over my body. My eyes glowing and purple.\n\n“ You’re a monster!” She said.\n\nShe did more damage than the silver. Her words cut deep. Those were the last words he said to me too. Her mind was already made; she shakily raised the gun to my head.\n\n“ Silver bullets can’t kill me Nia;neither can dads knife,” I said, waving it around.\n\nShe shot me in the heart. I felt nothing. She lost hope; fell to her knees and sobbed.\n\n“ No you bring him back ! You bring him the fuck back ! We raised you , took you in as a infant! You goddamn monster ! This is how you repay him!” She said.\n\nI laughed. Why did I laugh and why did her pain please me?\n\n“What’s so freakin’ funny asshole!” She demanded. \n\n“ Nothing. Just that I can’t. My real dad wasn’t exactly the heavenly type; I can’t revive the dead of my own power,” I said, moving to her level.\n\n\nI could she the thought come to her mind. She knew what I meant. She needed to sell me her soul;her light. My kind derived their power from them. I wanted it. Why did I want it?\n\n“Okay, but I have a few conditions,” she said, wiping tears.\n\nI smirked. She was in no condition to bargain. I’d let her though. That human bit of me still loved her. \n\n“Fine. Name them,” I said.\n\n“ First, bring him back. Then you go find that Strigoi bastard that killed our mother and end his life. Then I never want to see you again,” she said.\n\nI was hurt. I’d never be family to them again; just a monster. I put forth a veiny hand and raised her head to face me.\n\n “Deal,” I said, distending my jaw.\n\n With that her soul flowed like fine wine quenching my thirst. It’s power was mine now. I felt it coursing through my veins. I realized then what I was and they were right. I was a monster.\n\n“It’s over Nia. Done deal. Unfortunately it’s lights out after death for you,” I said.\n\nHer soul needed to be collected now for this to work, hence no afterlife. At least she’d be spared hell. \n\n“Now your end,” she said.\n\nI looked toward his corpse. It was time to crack open the cold one that was my sisters soul. It changed me further. Tendril like wings oozing like pussing sores sprouted from my back; they engulfed him. The ooze forced its way into him. It healed him. Gave him life again. She saw him breathing and smiled. She ran to him. She still hated me though, I felt it. I was still a threat.\n\n“Goodbye,” I said.\n\nI vanished before their eyes. Though, not before leaving something as a parting gift. Money. Enough to live the normal life I knew they wouldn’t. No. They’d hunt me down. Because I was an abomination and a threat. Also, I took his knife. I lied. It could kill me. I was a monster.\n\nThen again who’s the real monster , the one who struggles with their duel instincts or the one who hunts them down just because they aren’t human?",
"“All clear,” her father chimed, as he did every night after putting his darling little girl to bed. The room around them was filled with every conceivable Littlest Pets merchandise known to man. Including all the odd ones which were Kelly-Anne’s favourites.\n\nJudge Donald (Donnie) Farnsworth climbed to his feet and turned off his penlight. After pocketing it, he made a show of dusting off his hands as if he had completed a monumental task instead of just flashing a light under her bed and looking at the four corners. “My princess is safe once more.” He pulled the covers up to his daughter’s neck, then leaned in and gave her a goodnight kiss on the forehead. “You’re safe now, baby. Now and forever,” he promised. “And if you ever get scared, your mom and I are right next door. Okay?”\n\nKelly-Anne was not their biological daughter. No, the Farnsworths had been trying for years to have a child, but due to one reason or another, they had never succeeded. And then Kelly-Anne was found abandoned on the outskirts of town as a newborn. The Farnsworths immediately took her in and made her part of the family.\n\n“I will, Daddy,” she said smiling sweetly at him.\n\nHe ran his hand across her cheek, and then tapped the tip of her nose, as was his practice. “Love you, baby-girl.”\n\n“Love you more,” Kelly-Anne recited.\n\nA few years ago, she hadn't known what that meant. Coming into town had been a matter of survival and nothing more. But having made her home here, with this family, she knew there was nothing she wouldn’t do for them. Or do to anyone who even *thought* about attempting to do something to them.\n\nHer father retreated to the door and stopped at the light switch. There, he turned and blew her a kiss. She smiled, which made him smile, and then he switched off the light and went out into the hallway, closing the door behind him.\n\nHer smile turned sinister, even as she closed her eyes. She had marked the grounds around the house, identifying the space as hers and hers alone. Those that had foolishly crossed that line in search of a challenge quickly learned the little girl known as Kelly-Anne had about as much in common with a kindergartener as the mountain they were nestled on. And just as ancient.\n\nLegends going back centuries talked of a creature that fed on people and left only their bones. That was only partially true. Bones were hard, and once she was full, she had no desire to consume them over the softer flesh of her prey. Otherwise, she left nothing. And it didn’t necessarily have to be human either, though recently she had developed a taste for … evil.\n\nThat was another thing about moving in with humans. She had been introduced to the source of the spice which she had, up until now, thought of as random chance. Evil was yummy, and nobody really missed it when it disappeared. Win/win.\n\nAs Kelly-Anne drifted off to sleep, one thought played through her mind.\n\n*Please be wrong, Daddy. I’m really hungry.*\n\n*\\* \\* \\**\n\n***((Author's note: This is linked to a WP I wrote a couple of days ago, which can be found*** [***here.***](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/lpg6yf/wp_you_reassume_your_human_disguise_and_take_one/gobvtq8?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) ***))***\n\n((All comments welcome))\n\n***For more of my work including WPs:*** [r/Angel466](https://www.reddit.com/r/Angel466/) or an index of previous WPS [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Angel466/comments/iio59n/wp_index/)"
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[WP] You are quite satisfied with your life. An 8-5 desk job, enough time for socialization, good mental health. You just don't want to go off on an adventure but you don't have the guts to tell the wizard who suddenly knocked on your door telling you that you're the chosen one.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Bill stood at his stove watching the tea pot and willing it not to boil. As soon as it did, he knew he would have to pour the water into the mugs next to him and serve one to the wizard currently sitting at his kitchen table. This would inevitably lead to a continuation of the conversation Bill was determined to convince himself wasn’t happening and he was beginning to run out of excuses to ignore it.\n\nThe wizard began to whistle a jaunty tune, lightly drumming his fingers on his gnarled wooden staff, seemingly completely oblivious to Bill’s crisis. Wizards as a rule weren’t known for their social skills, but this one seemingly could not take a hint. \n\nThe teapot whistled. \n\nBill slowly reached out and turned off the stove, then poured the hot water into two waiting mugs. He watched the small clock sitting next to the tin of tea tick down the few minutes it would take the tea to steep. Reluctantly he removed the tea strainers, skillfully shook off the excess liquid, and placed a mug in front of his unexpected guest.\n\n“Thank you kindly.” The wizard accepted his mug with a small smile, making no move to take the mug from the table. “Well, I think this ought to be sufficient for tea.” He looked pointedly at the rest of the table filled with an assortment of small plates. \n\nBill was afraid he was probably right. He had already put together a small cheese platter, cut up a few of the plums Marie had given him from her tree, set out a small bowl of assorted gingersnaps, placed a basket of crackers next to all four of the jam jars he could find in his fridge, speared both small pickles and olives on toothpicks, and even unwrapped a small lemon loaf cake he had meant to bring to the staff potluck tomorrow. He was thoroughly out of excuses to escape to the kitchen. “Yes, quite sufficient,” he intoned, desperately trying to think of a new ploy.\n\n“That’s one thing I’ve always liked about this country. People here know how to eat.” The wizard chuckled and reached for a gingersnap. “Now, back to the matter at hand.” He brushed crumbs from his admittedly impressive beard. “I’m afraid something must be done about the dragon, and the Council had determined that you’re the one who’s going to do it.”\n\n“But I’m an accountant! I’ve never so much as seen a dragon before. I wouldn’t have the faintest idea what to do if I actually met one,” Bill protested. He’d said this already, but the wizard didn’t seem to mind, or really even notice, the repetitions.\n\n“That’s how most chosen ones are, actually. Interestingly, they tend to come from these sorts of mid-sized towns. And it’s rare for any of them to have been involved with fantastical creatures.” He paused for a moment, “Unless their village was burned down by one. You do get a few of the revenge types, but they rarely end well. I’m sure you’ll do just fine.” He smiled reassuringly and took another cookie.\n\nBill decided to try a different tack, “How was I selected, anyway? I can’t imagine I’ve done anything to get noticed by the Council.” He belatedly thought of the parking ticket that had gone unpaid last year. Surely this wasn’t the Transport Guild’s way of getting back at him?”\n\nThe wizard leaned back in his chair and took his mug from the table, “Well, it’s quite an interesting process, really. A sample of the calamity – in the case of dragons usually a scale left behind after a rampage, but occasionally a blood-soaked rag, a broken tooth or claw and in one memorable instance the tip of a severed tail – is placed in a Well of Knowledge.” He waved his mug at Bill, “Incidentally, your sample is a scale dislodged by a bullet from an old hunting rifle the mayor of the village it attacked kept in his office.”\n\nHe set the mug back on the table, “The well is then used to determine the chosen one for the calamity at hand. Back when I was a junior wizard, a specialist in Augury would have to then chant over the well and a picture of the chosen one’s face would appear on the surface of the water. It took forever to track down the person intended, and very rarely we would even get the wrong person. These days the wells just flash a social security number. Much simpler, really.”\n\nBill could feel the hope slowly draining away, “So, not many cases of mistaken identity these days.”\n\nThe wizard chuckled again, “Oh, no, not in decades. The process is quite streamlined. In fact, your dragon was only spotted two days ago. It hasn’t even had a chance to amass much of a hoard.” He seemed to remember something, “Not that you won’t be compensated, of course. Traditionally you would receive a portion of the dragon’s hoard, but these days you’ll be awarded a standard bonus from the government. It’s a very generous package.”\n\n“How nice of them,” Bill murmured. He sipped his tea more from habit than anything else, “You know, we have a big account due in a few weeks. I’d really hate to leave my coworkers in the lurch like that.”\n\n“Oh, that’s all been taken care of.” The wizard eyed the cheese plate, “Every chosen one receives a mandated six months of paid leave, more if their quest takes longer. And every company buys calamity insurance. It not only covers the business if struck by calamity, but also if an employee or client is called away as a chosen one.” He carefully selected a small cube of an aged cheddar, “Ever since the Council took over regulating quests, the whole process has been modernized.”\n\n“I don’t suppose there have been any cases of people refusing their quest?”\n\nThe wizard nodded, seeming lost in thought, “A few, yes. I’ve never personally met one, of course, but one of my old coworkers once had a chosen one refuse his quest because he had planned a vacation to Jamaica and didn’t want to miss it. The kraken showed up at the beach where the resort he was staying at was and flooded almost the entire resort before he killed it. It wasn’t even a heroic fight. The kraken choked on his car as it was eating him. Quite a mess all round, really. Dozens of lawsuits. He survived, I think.”"
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[WP] The law deems that one man may kill another as long as they provide a valid reason. Your client is clearly guilty, but it's still your job to justify the murders... All of them.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*"
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[WP] You are a reluctant villain who always monologues just long enough for the hero to escape. Today, help is running late and you’ve run out of things to say.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"I've had enough of your self-righteous attitude, Indestructo. Enough of your meddling and interfering with my plans!\" I poke him in the center of his muscular chest. He starts to struggle against the restraints. I let out a chuckle as I run a finger along the edge of his blue cape. \"Today, it ends.\"\n\n\"Get on with it, then!\"\n\n\"Soon. I know your weakness now.\" I smile at him. Turning to stride across the room, I gesture to a large steel chest. \"It's right there waiting for you. And this time, Avengera won't get here in time to stop me! I've doubled –\"\n\n\"You're right.\"\n\n\"– security, and h... Wait.\" I spin around to face my nemesis again. \"What did you say?\"\n\n\"I said, 'you're right.' So just get it over with already.\" He glares at the box by my feet.\n\n\"Uh...\" I turn away until I can regain my composure. At last, I turn back toward Indestructo. \"Of course I'm right! Why wouldn't I be? But, uh...\" I narrow my gaze at him. \"But why do you agree?\"\n\nThe superhero's brows knit together as he turns his gaze toward me. \"Because Avengera is out of state this week, visiting her sister. I mean, isn't that why you set this trap for today? Because my wife can't come to my rescue right now?\"\n\nHoping that my shock isn't evident on my face, I nod at him.\n\n\"Right. So get this over with already! I'm sick of listening to this same speech over and over again.\" \n\nIn unison, we both turn toward the box that contains his undoing. \n\n\"Uh...\"\n\n\"That is, unless you don't *want* to kill me.\" The corners of his mouth tilt up in a hint of a smile.\n\n\"Of course I do! It's my job, isn't it?\" I march over to the chest and place a hand on the latch. \"I'll do it. Don't question me because *I will do it!*\" I growl the words at the man.\n\n\"Okay.\" Unfazed by my threat, he stares into my eyes.\n\n\"I will! I just... I have to finish my monologue first.\"\n\nIndestructo sighs at me. \"Alright, if you must.\"\n\n\"Right.\" I pace away from the box. \"Well, I've had enough of your attitude and –\"\n\n\"Yeah, you mentioned that already.\"\n\n\"See? That's exactly what I mean. That *attitude!* And I'm done with you interrupting my plans all the time.\"\n\n\"You said that, too.\"\n\n\"Oh.\" Scratching my head, I search for something new to say.\n\n\"Admit it. You don't really want to kill me, do you?\" His chains clink as he shrugs. He tilts his head and squints at the box before turning his attention back to me. \"If you really have a box full of 'Indestructo's Bane' and you really wanted to kill me, you'd've done it already. So, either you're bluffing about having it, or you just don't want to use it.\"\n\n\"Um... Well...\"\n\n\"I figure you probably *do* have some 'Indestructo's Bane' in there because you assumed Avengera *would* show up. You'd want to have it ready so I'm weak enough that it's not too tough of a fight for you. Now, since you *do* have some, but my wife isn't here, you're stalling. You're trying to find an excuse not to use it. Am I right?\"\n\n\"No.\" Great, I sound like a petulant child. I square my shoulders and try again. \"I mean, why would I do something so stupid?\"\n\n\"Come here.\" He tilts his head, gesturing me closer. \"Come on, I won't bite.\"\n\nSlowly, I walk up to the man until we're standing only a few inches apart. \n\nLeaning his head as close as the restraints will allow, he whispers, \"I think someone just wants attention.\"\n\n\"What? I –\"\n\nIn a flash, Indestructo jerks forward, shattering the chains that bound him to the wall. Then, before I realize what's happening, he wraps his arms around me. I melt into his embrace.\n\n\"You know, you don't have to go through all this next time. You can just ask for a hug.\"\n\nI feel the tears well up in my eyes. \"It's just so hard being a supervillain, you know? It's lonely.\"\n\n\"I know, Bud.\" He gives me a pat on the back, then pulls away. \"I wouldn't have become the man I am if it hadn't been for you.\"\n\n\"Really?\"\n\n\"Yeah, really.\" Taking a step away, he squeezes the shackles on his wrists until they crack and fall to the floor. \"I really need to now, but you'll be okay. Same time next week?\"\n\nI wipe away the tears and grin. \"Yeah. See ya then.\"\n\n&#x200B;\n\n\\--------------\n\nr/WannaWriteSometimes"
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[WP] There have been a string of missing persons cases lately. A few have returned recently, telling impossible stories about their whereabouts. You are Detective Alice Lidell, and you are about to see how far this rabbit hole goes.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
" \\[Alice Wanders\\]\n\n\"I just want to say for the record, I don't think this is a good idea,\" Alice said out loud. She was the only person in the corner of the park that morning. It was an early Thursday morning. After a few years of chasing leads, she finally found what everyone called the Rabbit Hole. The officer protested to herself as she stared at the dark hole in the ground. She knew she already decided on her course of action, but she gave her mind a way out, just in case.\n\nThe Rabbit Hole was first mentioned in a case 30 years ago. It was a case Alice's father was working on, and the idea of an endless rabbit hole took root in Alice's young mind. The case was quickly forgotten; it turned out to be a crazy homeless woman that swore up and down she'd seen another world.\n\nAlice's first case on the force, a decade ago, also introduced her to someone that entered and returned from the rabbit hole. It triggered a long search for Alice. There had been hundreds of cases that mention the rabbit hole, but they were low profile, non-violent cases. They were often missing persons that reported themselves missing after the fact. No one cared that one corner of the park seemed to consistently attract the mentally imbalanced.\n\nAlice managed to get information out of a few of the victims; but, for the most part, they seemed wary of Alice mocking them. The handful of people she talked to all had similar stories; enough that Alice hoped she knew what to expect. She brought a hiking pack with some supplies including food, water, and a first-aid kit. She also brought along her gun, but left her badge behind. Alice wasn't on a case. She was 10 years old again and ready to explore the Rabbit Hole.\n\n\"It's a horrible idea,\" Alice spoke and nodded to herself as she approached the dark pit; it was interesting that she could not see anything into it. It wasn't shallow enough to see the bottom or even any of the sides. It was just a round black hole. \"But it'll be fun,\" Alice closed her eyes and jumped in.\n\n\"Owwwwww,\" She immediately landed off-balance with one foot in a pit and the other landed, and twisted, at the edge. She toppled backward. She opened her eyes as she fell back; she landed awkwardly on her backpack and heard the crunch of various supplies. Alice didn't have time to care about that.\n\nThe azure sky she left behind was replaced with bright, violet clouds against a deep purple sky. Alice giggled and let herself relax completely. It was true.\n\nThe clouds and sky were exactly what she expected. Alice inhaled deeply and relished the moment until her backpack became too uncomfortable. Then, she sat up and looked around properly. Alice sat on a lush green hill overlooking a town. According to the victims she interviewed, Alice would not have much trouble finding a way back home in the town. She stood, turned around, and promptly started walking up the hill. Her ankle was tender, but she hobbled up the hillside with determination. She did not know where she was headed, but she was there to explore.\n\n\"Are you lost, little Corona?' A woman's voice suddenly echoed around Alice. She whirled around to find the source, but did not see anything. Movement in the sky caught her attention and she looked up to see a giant black hole in the sky. It looked as dark as the Rabbit's hole but as large as the town below the hill. White skeletons began raining out of the hole on the town.\n\n\"This Earth is mine now..,\" the voice said. This time, a tall, pale, horned woman appeared in front of Alice from out of nowhere. She wore a long flowing black dress, and two bone-white horns spiraled out of the top of her head. \"...but, I'll place you on another one. Have you any preference?\" she asked. She stared down at Alice with a patient, amused expression.\n\nUp until the moment the horned woman referred to it as an Earth, Alice still had her doubts. Part of her wanted to believe it was an alternate Earth. In every interview, she heard the phrase \"It's a lot like Earth.\" Not only was this woman claiming an Earth, she offered to send Alice to a different one. Alice now realized there were at least three universes and wanted to know more. Her years of learning about people told her she did not want to give away her home Earth to the stranger. Alice did not know why the woman took a special interest in her, but she knew she did not want to drag it out more than necessary.\n\nAlice went down the Rabbit Hole planning to explore. She now knew there was much more to learn than she ever expected, and she knew this woman wasn't one to ask. But, she did offer to send her somewhere. Anywhere.\n\n\"I don't know who you are or what you're talking about,\" Alice said. Her experience told her this woman would respect sincerity, and she would be able to tell if Alice tried to lie. \"I am lost, can you send me somewhere I can learn?\" she asked. The woman gave Alice a curt nod.\n\n\"When you get there, tell them Ballisea sent you,\" the woman said. Before Alice could thank her, the ground disappeared beneath her feet. She sunk straight down into the hole, then landed on a smooth white, tile floor. She noticed two women in front of her, but before Alice could gather herself she was on her knees. One of the two women, one in black, rushed Alice and pulled her up by her hair. The woman held a blue glowing hand in front of Alice's face and she felt waves of heat coming from it.\n\n\"Who are you!?\" the woman in black asked. Her tone was calm, but just barely. Alice shut her eyes in pain as the woman yanked her to her feet. Alice thought about fighting back, but she still did not fully understand the situation. Maybe they didn't either.\n\n\"BALLISEA SENT ME!!!?\" Alice blurted out. Alice felt the woman's grip loosen on her hair, but did not release her. The blue light surrounding her hand dimmed.\n\n\"Why?\" The woman in black asked.\n\n\"To learn!\" Alice said. \"Ballisea showed up to conquer an Earth but said I was free to go. I couldn't think of anywhere and said I wanted to go somewhere to learn.\"\n\n\"Melody,\" the second woman, she wore a crisp white suit, spoke up. Melody immediately released Alice's hair, then helped her up to her feet. After Alice was up, Melody looked at the woman in white and nodded.\n\n\"47,\" Melody said. Then, the woman in white stepped forward with an outstretched hand.\n\n\"You've come to the right place,\" she said. \"My name is Dana Sharp.\" \n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #1155 in a row. (Story #059 in year four.) You can find all my stories collected on my subreddit ([r/hugoverse](https://www.reddit.com/r/hugoverse/)) or my blog."
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[WP] After decades of cryo-sleep, you have finally reached the edge of the universe. You step out of your ship, and see God typing on a computer. He looks just as suprised to see you as you are to see him.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Greetings fellow earthling,\" the bearded man laughs.\n\n\"I don't like you and you probably know why.\"\n\n\"Because we're the same height and you see that I managed to get an industrial sized container of skittles and I have a potato farm.\"\n\nI retorted, \"You see now that this wasn't going to last very long with you all the way out here with nothing but your loneliness and your self assurances.\"\n\nThe space trip was anticlimactic for Roger. He landed himself in the middle of survivor's paradise. Roger refuses to erase the amount of labour he put in this mission. To see the glory beyond, the machinations of the abyss, the discoveries of our impending deletion, contact with extraterrestrial life even. Roger stops his journal and peers out his shuttle's window to see a decently constructed home made of spruce and with windows. Roger notes that against the backdrop of his potato farm and chicken coup the guy's a mantle.\n\nRoger walks over to the panel and speaks into the ship's microphone: \"It was nice discovering extraterrestrial ice worms but I have a life!\" The shuttle ascended into the sky and disappeared in the rain clouds.",
"The seals hissed as the airlock cycled. It was a painfully slow process but when that's the weakest point in the metal and ceramic capsule protecting you from the hard vacuum of space, better to be safe than sorry.\n\n cycle complete\n\nThe robotic voice blared, I always forgot to turn the bloody thing down after a system reset.\n\nAs the hatch swung up, a gentle but slightly actinic light pushed its way through the widening cracks. I flicked my visor to shade mode and stepped out.\n\nWherever I had landed (and when you've gone so far that your nav system says you've travelled negative distance, you really are lost), it was a beautiful place. Wide stretching fields, tall redwood trees, trickling rivulets, beautiful hardwood furniture...wait.\n\nI approached the desk, sitting anachronistically in this beautiful undisturbed landscape.\n\n\"May I help you...?\"\n\nI turned to see a man walking out of the nearby woodland, coffee in one hand and thin notebook computer in the other.\n\n\"Erm...yeah I guess.\" I rasped, vocal cords still stiff from decades of being frozen like some oversized popsicle.\n\n\"I'm here to...erm...do something? I dunno, it's a bit of a blur really.\"\n\n\"Cryo-fog eh?\" he nodded understandingly. \"Don't worry, take a seat, fancy a coffee? Got decaf or normal.\"\n\nI accepted the proffered cup, and sat down, unsure whether this was making a grand total of 0 sense because I was still waking up, or because it truly was odd.\n\nThe man sat at his desk and flipped open the lid of his computer.\n\n\"So I'm glad you made it here so quickly! I'd been asking for this for months, tried with Derek but he wasn't budging. *Not enough manpower* he said, what a bloody joke. Luckily I'm union, see, so my rep stepped in and well...long story short you got here! Didn't really expect that they'd actually send someone but hey...\"\n\nHe clicked around idly, chin on hand as he browsed.\n\nI put down the coffee on the side of the desk, only for the man to pick it up again and place a white leather coaster underneath.\n\n\"Gotta take care of the furniture here, it's a bit hard to get things shipped over.\"\n\nI turned to look at him more closely, his impeccable dress sense, close cropped blonde beard and glasses all seemed very current, but his eyes...\n\n\"Who actually *ARE* you?\"\n\nHe stopped mid-sip, then carefully placed his own coffee down, perfectly centralised on another coaster.\n\n\"I'm the big guy if you will, the auditor, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Or something like that, basically I'm a desk monkey in a dead-end job who is bloody sick and bloody tired of stupid workloads with no holiday. And that's why you're here!\"\n\n\"It is?\"\n\nI could remember little of the reason for my journey by the third major system issue out around Icarus. *Just keep on going* I thought so I let the machine do the driving and I had another nap.\n\n\"Yeah\" he exclaimed cheerily, \"you're the temp! I've got some holiday booked!\" He beamed gesturing at a loud Hawaiian shirt hanging loosely from a tree branch.\n\n\"So you can contact me on the phone by pressing the big button, only one number needed. Erm... what else... TPS reports are due monday but they have been for weeks, so you can push them off another week if you want. Bathroom's on the right past the river, coffee just appears whenever you fancy it. Aaaaand I think that's all. Any questions?\"\n\nI shook my head slowly.\n\n\"Cool well I'm off! I'll catch you in a while, maybe a few thousand years, I've built up quite a lot of holiday by now.\"\n\nHe turned the laptop round to me.\n\n\"Good luck! If you need anything then gimme a shout.\"\n\nAnd with that, he promptly faded out of existence.\n\nI stared at my new surroundings and contemplated. I got that he was the big guy, I got that I was on an impossible planet in an impossible place, I even understood that I would be doing his job for an indeterminate amount of time. But there was one question I just couldn't fathom:\n\n*Why?*\n\n***Why?***\n\n*Why in the world would someone own a phone that could only dial itself?*"
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[WP] The school bullies were ruthless. They were always harassing you because of your theories on physics and chemistry. You try not to let them get to you. Who cares if they're powerful mages? There's more to life than how hard you can throw a lightning bolt.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Oh yes, I don't mind, I don't mind at all, I simply learned to enjoy the pain. They may know how to burn me with their one-dimensional and unoriginal Burner Finger mijit, but through combining my diligent self-education on your ne-Mirin biochemistry and anatomy textbooks like Lehninger and Sobotta, with some choice literature from the Restricted Section I gained access to thanks to my unassuming potions professor who lets me do whatever I want to do because I'm the only one that pays attention and \"shows outstanding performance\" in her class that only makes me more of a target (she thinks I'm a natural-born potions master or whatever just because I actually read the textbook and take notes, which apparently is an unusual feat in our magical community), I've successfully encoded a couple codes of Mirii of my own that reroutes signals from my nociceptive receptors to my dopamine and opioid receptors so I can secretly get high from the sensation while masking my laughter by keeping my risorius, zygomaticus major and minor, and of course, orbicularis oculi in check by pre-coded delicate control on branches of my CN VII that I successfully implemented after giving myself many a temporary Bell's palsy at home in front of the mirror. Far more delicate sophisticated than any of their mijitii like making dancing glitter or hurling lightning bolts at our barbaric sports event of Vichniq or whatever if I'd say so myself, though I do admit that makes me sound quite conceited and as they often call me, a massive nerd maverick. Still, it's not my fault that I'm more interested in connecting our Mirin and ne-Mirin concepts to try and create new venues of possibilities rather than learning pointless mijitii like how to turn a toucan into a teapot or spitting fireballs like parlor tricks when I can just get enough of your ne-Mirin currency and buy or even tailor-make a whole fancy tea set, or just light a match from a matchbox or use a bit complicated but useful Mir code to form some phosphorus sesquisulfide plus hydrocarbons from pulling out and rearranging atoms from a small select mass of the abundant dead skin cells and organic debris hanging about if I want fire, instead of having to vomit it just to look cooler. Seriously, us Mirinii have stagnated so much by locking ourselves in our complacent secluded bubble of pompous esoteric flair while you ne-Mirinii cooperated and developed so much new stuff to the point I wonder who truly can be called Mirin among us... Anyway, no, unlike my airheaded peers that only care about giving me one more scorch with their ineffective Burner Finger, I'm more interested in investigating how quantum information is transmitted instantaneously at 1/e\\^2 times the speed of light in accordance with Verstaed's hypothetical tesseract formula and reconstructed through the several types of Teleportation Mirii everyone just takes for granted, what happens to Gibbs free energy in the context of Mirii that appear to defy entropy, such as the anabolic molecular rearrangement Mir like the one I coded to generate phosphorus sesquisulfide from dead skin cells or the temperature-decreasing Mir, especially since this subject of what drives the seemingly endergonic and unfavorable reactions may connect to the main question of what kind of energy source actually supplies our operations of Mir, and whether it can be used to construct a self-sustaining low temperature superconductor or nigh-perpetual motion engine, as you ne-Mirinii would call it, and... by Apollo, I must be overwhelming you with too much talking. It's just that I don't really get a lot of opportunities to share my ideas with anyone, especially a ne-Mirin like you since from what the elders told me, you guys either flee in terror or try to kill us whenever we even hint at our Mir. Gosh, I'm not scaring you or inciting your bloodlust towards me right? Even worse, I'm not boring you out, right?\"",
"“Hey, Billy, catch!” I heard a yell, and a crackle, as I put up a shielding spell. \n\nCRACK\n\nThe lighting bolt ricocheted off of my shield, before absorbing it completely in electricity. I felt the sparks of the explosion’s small radisu singe my hair, as kids were laughing.\n\n“HEY! NOT FUNNY!” I yelled back at them, opening up my book.\n\nThey were always like that. A group of jumpy thugs who called themselves the Sluggers who liked throwing magic at people to prove they could. The problem was that they were strong. Like, really strong. Their lightning even got past most of the top students in the classes, and for that, they were often favored as teachers pets. It didn’t matter that they were complete and utter pricks outside of class, they were strong, and that was all that mattered. Just like usual, the teachers didn’t notice. They always assumed it was playful pranks and practice, but really, it wasn’t. Lighting didn’t just bring pain. It was superhot energy, and because it was lots of it, if it touched something like, let’s say, paper, that paper ignoited almost on command. \n\nThat was how I consistently lost my physics and chemistry books, and why my parents were currently asking me to get a part time job. Still, you couldn’t call the police- they’d jam your phone. You couldn’t attack them back. Who was gonna beat the Sluggers in a fight? There were 12 of them, and they were some of the strongest kids in the magic academy. All lightning users in particular, but that didn’t mean you could just wear rubber, or anything like that. Nope. They weren’t just good with thunderbolts. They weren’t just Zeus’ little babies. They were Hepahestus’ little babies, and Posiedon’s and, well probably not Athena’s, but they were really good in a fight. So Ares, then, I guess? Oh well, it wasn’t like their actions had had consequences for the last six or seven years anyways. They’d beaten me up starting at around freshman year of high school. It was now junior year of college, and they hadn’t changed a bit. Still as reckless, goofy, stupid, and violent as ever. They subjected it to us in high school, and a whole new batch of kids learned the wrath of what they eventually turned into a frat- Zeus’ Deuces, apparently. Dumb name, if you ask me. \n\nStill, who cared about throwing lightning bolts. Sure, it was cool, but all it led to was a path right into being a soldier. Probably the worst job you could get, if you wanted to be free. \n\nThe army was ruthless when it came to magic users. There had already been several scandals in the last decade or so about the abuse that some of the stronger magic users had been put under, in order to further amplify already devastating amounts of magic power. There had been Harold B Ghertricia, who’d been put under immense amounts of constant stress in order to make his psychic telekinesis powers lift entire buildings 100 stories tall. There had been Fernicia Maria Hestenshire, who’d been put into an actual burning building in order to get her to spawn tidal waves of water. Of course, it was all under strict wraps- earthquakes, tidal floods, they happened more often, but of course, everyone knew they were just massively powerful superpowered magic folk who just were put into bad situations. Because of that, most of us ignored it. \n\nSo, I woke up to the news, and because I still had massive amounts of work to do because of the Sluggers(I still think it's an awful name), I decided to do something that I thought was fitting. Ask a military recruiter to look out after them.\n\nI’d given one of my old high school friends- a kid named Jerry, who loved chemistry just as much as I did- if I could show his dad something. His dad was a military recruiter, so I think he knew what was up. He’d been beaten up pretty mercilessly once or twice, but once I explained my plan to him, he couldn’t help but agree. \n\nThrough his dad’s schedule, we got him out to my college(2000 miles wasn’t that far, apparently, when the military likes you), to observe them.\n\n“Hey, Bill-”\n\n“William, if you must.”\n\n“Oh, it’s William, now?” my friend’s dad looked at me. “Well, then William, would you like to show me what this is all about?” \n\n“Oh, absolutely.” I smiled.\n\nI walked Jerry’s dad throughout the campus, until I got to their usual spot. Their usual building, a shack behind the school baseball field. \n\n“Just watch.” I said.\n\n“Alright.”\n\n“Hey, Sluggers!” I said, setting down my backpack.\n\nAbout 6 boys came out, all muscular and strong. I looked back, and Jerry’s dad was invisible.\n\n“Come fight me!”\n\nThey all laughed, before looking at my expression.\n\n“REALLY?” one of them shouted. \n\n“YEAH! I’m gonna pound you guys!” I yelled back.\n\nMore laughter.\n\n“Well, okay then.”\n\nImmediately, the six of them all had lightning bolts in their hands, and there was Zeus’ Thunder raining down on me.\n\nI was able to dodge the first, but the second hit, and wrapped around my shield. I felt the pain of the small explosion that happened when my shield broke singe my hair(again, don’t ask me how), but I trudged onwards, moving forwards. I conjured a wall of earth that got shattered by the 3rd, and the next three all pummeled me. They weren’t lethal, but I went out cold…\n\nI woke up in the infirmary, a grim reminder of what had happened in high school.\nThe nurse noticed, and smiled.\n\n“Hey there, ya little scamp.” she said, smiling.\nI gave a groan in response. \n\n“You were dropped off by a man in a trench coat, who said he wanted to tell you thanks.” she said. “Do you know who that is?”\n\nI checked my phone. Shockingly(haha), it was still working. I slid open messages to find a single message from an unknown number. \n\nThese guys will do great here. Thanks for the call.- A.R.\n\n“Not really.” I said. “Just a dude with a bright eye for chemistry.”",
"I'm not a writer, so bear with me!\n\n____________________________________\n\nIt was easy once we realized the mages' weakness: they can't hit what they can't see.\n\nThere were many like me, those born without the powers that built our world; those reduced to chattel, living at the mercy of the ones lucky enough to be born with the power to move mountains and split seas.\n\nWe are the ones born with the power of powerlessness. Our power is borne of cold and spite. Our desperation fuels our innovation.\n\nI'll never forget the first time I saw powder ignite. My mind blazed with the possibilities of a magic deeper than conjuration, even as the assassin's bullet cut down the Arch-Magister outside his palace, even as he was himself reduced to cinders by his victim's guards.\n\nFirearms were primitive then. Illegal, only built and developed in the dark by angry men. Bores were smooth, and fuses exposed to the air. My fascination became fanaticism, and my experiments grew more ambitious. Larger guns. More accurate guns. Guns that didn't need to be reloaded after every shot.\n\nTo fund my science, I sold my prototypes in the underground market. Before long I was contacted to arm the revolution. I didn't care for their politics, but I longed to see my weapons in the field and to smell the burning powder; to see how a gun could tear down a wall.\n\nThe greatest mages in history were said to have summoned stars from the sky to rain fire on their foes; crushing cities and all within them on a whim, but such power hadn't been seen for centuries. Even as a child, I wished to wield such power for my own. Fate decreed that I should be born without magic, that my wish would be impossible.\n\nAnd then I saw the powder burn.\n\nIt's been 30 years since our war began. I am an old man, and before me stands my greatest creation: a goliath cannon, the height of a dozen men, barrel almost vertical. It takes three men to load it, a dozen to operate it with wadding in their ears lest they be deafened forever. Ten miles away, the mages in their citadel sleep, thinking themselves safe and superior.\n\nToday, the greatest magic is *mine.* Today, the sky will *burn.*",
"Magic has been the lifeblood of my country for a 100 years I'm told. Our storm warriors protect The Isles by conjuring lightning storms and wielding their power against any enemy foolish enough to float an armada against us. Wind enchanters transport people and small cargo through carefully maintained air currents or fill the sails of our ships. The Order of Diviners seek cosmic wisdoms and truths to guide legislation and negotiations, track schools of fish, or identify veins of precious ores. Flame artisans create wonderous masterpieces of glass or cook delicious meals in street stalls. All schools of magic have a purpose and place in our society and outsiders are amazed by the achievements of my people. But I find it all a bit...lacking.\n\nMy parents are accomplished mages, both granted an unnatural longevity compared to the ordinary humans of our world. They have lived long enough to remember the times before magic inexplicably flowed into our region, and ours alone. They tell me I should be grateful for all the modern day conveniences magic has brought, for the status of The Isles as a center of trade and knowledge, and for the opportunity I have to study at the academy instead of toiling away on a farm or working as a dockhand. I just can't seem to be very grateful for magic when it is a constant misery for me. \n\nI have never been keen to the magical arts, barely able to maintain a flame with a focusing wand and not much more competent with any other natural energies. After 2 fruitless years of basic study, my parents realized my aptitude for the elements was close to zero and they pushed to have me study the cosmic magics. A Mage of Divination can hold great status in our society after all, father liked to remind me. This too is proving to be as demoralizing and uninteresting as the elements were to me. My failure is highlighted every day of class where the lightning cadets bully and tease me relentlessly. They call me a \"Null\" and shock me in the middle of lectures, or electrify the shower water as I attempt to clean myself. Indeed my hair is in a near constant state of static fluff from their tricks. I dread every hour of every embarassing school day and Father chalks it up to friendly play. This has been going on for nearly all three years I have been attending academy now, and I still don't have a single remarkable magical proclivity to show for the pain. And although mother and father have put on a brave facade, I can tell they are worried that I will be nothing more than a talentless laborer. The thought of working like a beast of the field brings me little joy I'll admit, but I believe there is another route open to me. \n\nI have been fascinated with the natural working order of the Old world and the contrast of seemingly unexplainable reality breaking magics of the New world. While my people have fully embraced their good fortunes as the premier mages of the known world, I feel there is even more untapped potential yet unexplored. My parents were content to learn the elements and escape the short lifespan of years past, but that was where their imagination ended. I have no intention of becoming yet another mage performing the magic of their parents or academy masters, no I dream of marrying magic with the old understandings of science. My free hour at academy is devoted to mixing chemicals to try and categorize their properties. I delight in electrifying metals and ores or assembling gears I spin with a miniature windmill. The potential application for Scientific Magics seem limitless when I daydream, but when I speak those thoughts aloud there are few who listen, and even fewer still who show even a slight bit of interest. \n\nHowever I recently have sought to make something a little more applicable to my current situation with the lightning cadets. In response to their constant shocks I have spent all my waking hours dreaming up and testing out counter measures. I've had a recent break through with the common salt our flame artisans use for seasoning when I decided to pass a current along metallic strips in a glass jar of salt and water. The remaining salty solid left behind from the reaction seems able to hold and retain lightning when packed between copper and some forms of graphite I have been using. With just a little more time and refinement I hope to negate the cadet's shocks and maybe even turn them against the egotistical electro heads. The thought of my tormentors having their \"jokes\" negated or returned back in kind drives me to refining my experiments and designs. If I can pull something like this off, there may be hope for the future I long for, and even relief from my bullies. Well, here's to hoping!",
"There’s more to life than how fast you can throw a lightning bolt, trust me, I know. Professor Ulfric Redmane, the most powerful teacher in school, can throw a lightning bolt 503.2 meters per second. That’s blindingly fast sure, but it’s only about half the speed of a 5.56 round, and functionally it’s even worse than that. The energy starts to dissipate within the first hundred meters, and by the 500 meter mark his average lightning bolt is the rough equivalent of a really painful static shock. By contrast the bullet still kills you, and if we change caliber things get downright scary. The longest sniper kill in history was done with a .50 BMG round at 3,540 meters. I’ll repeat that for emphasis, 3,540.\n\nYour lightning bolt starts to look pretty pathetic in those terms, huh?\n\nBut no they all say, lightning is timeless, fireballs are stylish, necromancers have class (although in fairness it may have only been the gothy witch I dated freshman year who said that.) Despite the fact that not a single one of these clowns could even hold Prof. Redmane’s magical jockstrap (and he can’t even hold an M-16’s) they all still insist that magic is the way, that the only way anyone ranks in the world is if they can turn you into a toad for five minutes or make a pretty light show that is at best 10% cooler than a firework. They turn away from the world outside their enchanted walls and make their stand for magic and tradition and culture etc etc etc, and every one of them proves they’re a damned fool for doing it.\n\nUnfortunately however, the rules are still rules and they’re on their side no matter what. That’s why I found myself suspended upside down by the tip of a wand in the school’s 4th floor bathroom, my head firmly lodged in a bewitched toilet that was flushing itself with manticore pheromones. Nothing in the world stinks worse than manticore pheromones and you absolutely do not want to know how they’re extracted.\n\n“Cut it—out—goddamnit—” I shouted in between flushes. The three boys and one girl who stood around me tittered with laughter as if they were still in primary school and not about to go off to university, and through my tear stained eyes I could just barely make out their stupid faces. I really wasn’t sure which I hated more, they’d all been at this far too long.\n\n“Enough Haywood, let him down.” It was Reva who spoke, though I barely had time to register that fact before I was flung unceremoniously into a corner, my head cracking off the tile floor.\n\n“So Pendergast,” she said, standing over me, not even granting me the dignity of my first name. “Still think magic is old news? It sure seems like it would be awfully nice to cast a spell right about now.”\n\n“Give me my wand back and I will.” I rolled over onto my stomach, struggling to regain my feet. Everyone here knew that I was hopeless with spells but it was part of the game by now and I had little choice but to accept it. They’d beat on me until I finally cracked and asked for my wand back, at which point I’d let out a few ineffectual sparks; then they’d beat on me a bit more and leave. Sometimes if I was really angry I might even succeed in knocking one of them off their feet, I wasn’t totally inept after all, just slow. On days like that I always targeted Haywood, he did most of the damage after all, the other boys were just for show.\n\nBesides, I’d made the mistake of targeting Reva once. Once was all it took, her revenge was cold as hell and twice as calculated, and when it came it hadn’t fallen on me.\n\nWith a flick of her wrist Reva sent my wand flying off one of her crony’s belts and into my unsteady hands. I squared my stance off like they taught in dueling class, and focusing all of my energy on Haywood I tried to transfer the stench of the pheromones to him. His nose creased for a moment, glancing down sharply as he sniffed at his clothes, and then Reva let out a sharp bark of laughter and my concentration shattered. My wand sparked and dropped from suddenly nerveless fingers and I was left staring at it sadly.\n\n“Oh Pendergast,” Reva said, stepping close to me despite the smell, “that one was actually clever! I almost thought you’d learned something after all this time!” She shook her head, stepping away from me. “Anyway, you still failed. I’m off boys, Prof. Redmane's advanced class starts in ten minutes. Have fun!”\n\nShe disappeared with a jaunty wave and an exaggerated sway of her hips, and after all our eyes had finished watching her walk out I braced myself for what would come. They didn’t disappoint.\n\nTen minutes later I limped out of the bathroom with hair dyed the color of gnome vomit and a hand that would remain a crab claw at least through the end of my next class. Penelope was the very first person I saw.\n\nShe sat cross-legged on a bench just a few feet down the hall, an ice pack in one hand and a book on healing magic in the other. When she saw my crab claw I could practically hear her heart break, and she quickly dropped the book and ice pack to pull a small dispel potion out of her bag. She leapt up in a swirling vision of jet black petticoats and flowing silver hair and was at my side a moment later. It made me want to keep the claw, if only to snip my own head off. Penelope was just the same as when we’d dated all that time ago and twice as pretty.\n\n“Penny no, I’m fine!” I said. She didn’t so much as look at me, instead she took the claw in her soft hands (I marveled at the fact the I could still feel them,) and began to slowly trickle the potion onto it, rubbing the liquid into the shell with her thumb. My whole arm began to tickle, and not all from the magic.\n\n“I wish you didn’t see me like this. It’s nothing, not worth your trouble at all.”\n\n“This,” she said, holding up the claw and finally looking into my eyes, “isn’t nothing. This is criminal and you should complain to the teachers.”\n\n“Yeah no, not happening. You know they hate me anyway.”\n\n“Not the potions-master,” she countered, truthfully enough. Potions was the one thing I excelled in at all, it was the closest the school came to offering chemistry or any other normal science and I loved it. In fact I’d probably made the dispel potion she was using on me, I kept half the school supplied through the department’s shop.\n\n“I’m still not going. You know how wizards are, they’re independent to a fault and they only respect you if you fight your own battles.”\n\n“Is that how you see me?” she asked poignantly. “Besides Abraham, you’re a wizard too. The last scion of House Pendergast, there’s weight to that. Maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to give up your heritage.”\n\n“Maybe my heritage shouldn’t be so quick to give up on me.”\n\nWe stood there a long time in that hallway, locked in the same stubborn battle we’d always ended up in; my hand slowly fading back to human as pincers became fingers and shell became skin. Penelope let go very suddenly when I finally moved it, as if she’d forgotten she still held on.\n\n“What will you do when we graduate?” she asked. “Go to a human university? Become an inventor, leave magic behind for good?” There was something there in her voice when she said it, something I couldn’t quite place, though I found myself desperately wishing I could.\n\n“Perhaps,” I said. “I haven’t totally decided. In the end magic is all I’ve ever known, even if I never loved it like I did science.” Penelope turned away, walking back to gather her book and bag. She stood in profile to me but her hair full in a dense curtain between us, it was only a few feet but it felt like so much more. 3,540 meters popped back into my head and I cursed myself inwardly, now wasn’t the time, and besides, it had been proven that something made by man could cross that distance.\n\nI watched her a moment longer, her fingers busy with the complicated buckles she loved, before I had the idea. Carefully, quietly, I pulled my wand from my pocket. Focusing all of my might onto the fall of her hair I made a gentle gesture and even used a word of power to control it. A sudden breeze kicked up in the hall and as she glanced up at it the wind blew by, catching only her silver hair and settling it back upon her shoulder.\n\nShe looked back at me in shock before her eyes lit up and a bright, girlish giggle escaped her mouth. I couldn’t help myself either, despite the bruises and the horrific pheromone stench I found myself smiling at her. Throwing her bag over her shoulder Penelope turned fully towards me and I saw the sheen of barely controlled tears in her eyes that she’d sought to hide.\n\n“Whatever you choose don’t be a stranger, ok? There’s still some magic out there that didn’t give up on you.” Penelope glanced down quickly as if shocked she’d just said that, and turning sharply on her heel she rushed off down the hall in the direction of a class she was surely late for.\n\nPausing at the corner she turned back to me one last time and raised her fist into the air. “And fuck Reva!” she shouted as loudly as she could.\n\nPenelope disappeared down the hall before her words finished echoing and I was left alone with my thoughts in a world that seemed to defy every attempt to explain it, no matter how hard I might try.\n\n\\---------\n\nIf you enjoyed that I've got tons more over at r/TurningtoWords. Come check it out, I'd love to have you!"
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[WP] You own a café called Safe Space, which lives up to its name as a literal safe space for anybody. Literally anybody. Your regular customers include aliens, supervillains, superheroes, angels and demons. But when the Safe Space is vandalized by thugs, literally everybody is out to get them.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Just like everybody said: You fuck with the hive, you fuck with all the wasp\" i say to them as the ten same face enter the front door of my cafe. They face show no regrets of their action.\n\nI guess i should be expecting this kind of nonsense. I set up the cafe in the most dangerous place known to exist in space and time. Gangs and mafias run this place, crimes skyrocketed and gunfights every weekend. I guess poverty get a better on me.\n\n\"You talkin' big ain't ya?\" Their boss talk to me in a mocking tone.\n\n\"Its a 10v1 fool. Askin' for death fool?\" one of his underlings pull a gun on me\n\nI keep my composure because i know, Im siding with the winner.\n\n\"Its not a10v1, its a 10v30\"\n\nThe door wide open as creatures poured in with anger and grunge in their hands.\n\nThis cafe was a place of peace since it open a few years ago. I half expecting they gonna fight each other to death since villans and heros, angles and demons come here regularly to enjoy themselves. I guess this cafe is a cease fire zone between them. I welcome them with open hands and everyone understand the silent code. Even the mafia who run the streets also keep me and the cafe as a 'neutral zone'\n\nBut sadly, some folks just want to fuck some shit up for no reason. Those thugs break into the cafe in the night and vandalize everything before dip out. Of course people are mad!\n\ni decided to just renovate the cafe but the mafia take this to their heart. They and all the regulars decide to smoke them out in this place. Well if my hands didnt get dirty I agree and join in.\n\nso as planned I jump under the cover and oh boy, they having a field day with this thugs. All i heard is screaming and bones breaking.\n\nAll i know is, i need more than a mop to clean this",
"Piper ducked behind the counter with seconds to spare, heart in her throat as a bullet whizzed over her head and into the menu board. She clutched her chest with one hand as the other scrambled to grab her phone. Hands shaking with adrenaline, she called her sister as more bullets struck far above her. She could hear the yells and shrieks of both humans and inhumans behind her, but she pressed the phone to her ear and waited as it rang, hearing the telltale fizzle of a shield spell somewhere else in the room. \nBrianna picked up.\n“Bri, I need help.” Her voice cracked painfully, as she struggled to try and take a single steady breath.\n\n“Sis? What’s up? What’s going on?” Her voice was faint over the commotion, Piper swallowed, kneeling to try and peek up once she heard the spray of bullets lessen.\n\n“Some guys attacked the cafe. It’s- I- oh Gods.” She winced as she heard an animalistic hiss that could have only come from an injured patron.\n\n“I’ll be there soon, okay? Stay on the line, you hear me?” Piper hummed a shaky affirmation, carefully peeking up to try and see any sort of indication that she was going to get out in one piece. \nThe counter was covered in glass shards, and the first thing she recognized was the light of spells, laser bolts, Pele’s fire, and Atomico fucking glowing like a radioactive spotlight. Her teeth bared in a grimace, she tried to spot if anyone was injured before another bullet too close for comfort forced her back down. \n“I’m not hurt.” She took a shaky breath, then continued.\n“It’s a madhouse down here. Worse than your attack last week. Might be the same nuts.”\n\n“I sure fucking hope not. Nikandros will wring their necks if they dared to pull shit like that again. They didn’t use guns either. I can hear them the speaker. Probably a different group.”\n\n“That doesn’t help!” Piper shrieked as a glass broke above her.\n\n“Vaizrual’s on his way over, I sent him ahead. I think some from the bar are following me, so... prepare for chaos.”\n\n“I think I’m already pretty deep in there already, Bri.”\n\n“Just stay on the line and stay safe. We don’t have a portal license yet outside of the bar.”\n\n“I’m trying, I think it’s clearing up. Also why don’t you have one again?”\n\n“I don’t have portal magic, my patrons have portal magic.”\n\n“That’s bullshit.”\n\n“That’s what I said!” Piper flinched at another gunshot, then prepared to peek again. \n\n“How the heck have they not run out of bullets?”\n\n“Black market stuff, maybe? They got those stupid infinite ammo bands.”\n\n“...and how do you know that?”\n\n“I have to get batteries for my translator somehow!”\n\nPiper took another quick scan of the desecrated cafe, tears starting to well in her eyes at some of the ruined artwork on the walls. It had taken her years to get a couple of those pieces.\n“They shot Tyrakus’s painting!” She cried into the phone, then ducked again as a blade sailed over her head.\n\n“Those bastards! Hang on, I’m nearly there!”\n\n“I just wanted a normal week, Goddammit!”\nPiper curled back to the counter, tears dripping from her face, then hissed as she cut her hand on some glass shards. Screwing her eyes shut, she let out a choked sob and waited for the storm to pass. Not noticing her accidental hang up of the phone. \n\nIt felt like forever until she heard her sister loud and clear. \n“Pipes! Oh god you’re bleeding, shit, does anyone have a bandage and probably some tweezers?”\nHer vision was blurred with tears as she opened her eyes, trembling with fear.\n\n“Are they gone?” She croaked, barely a whisper.\n\n“They’re gone. Can you stand?”\n\n“Y-yeah.” Her legs shook like jelly as Brianna grabbed her arm, helping her to her feet.\n\n“Careful, there’s glass there.” Her sister spoke to someone else she couldn’t see beyond the hug she was pulled into. Her bleeding hand was taken by someone else, and she felt something pulled out of it. Probably glass, her brain filled in. She was quaking like a leaf, even with the comforting hug, and she barely recognized the home she had taken so long to make. So, so long to build with her hands and her will to make it amazing. Having so many wonderful memories in it was a bonus.\nNow... it was riddled in bullet holes, hatred, and shattered glass. She didn’t know when she passed out in her sister’s arms, but she woke up hours later in the hospital, being treated for shock and the wound on her hand.\n\nElsewhere, things were being planned.\n\nBrianna scowled, both at the spray paint covering the door, and the shattered windows. The absolute idiots who messed with her sister were going to pay, and she had the feeling she wasn’t alone in her sentiment. She wasn’t the only one who regrouped at her bar to plan.\n\nMages swore oaths of revenge in the smoking area. A couple Heroes and Villains debated morals and laws in acting at a table. A few demons were trying to convince one of the angels to scout for the attackers at the bar. She spotted some of the Gods convening in the patio. Artemis swearing at the top of her lungs. Pele and Sekhmet nodding, and then Loki speaking up, though she couldn’t hear the words. Brianna swept her gaze around the bar, and finally landed on Vaizrual, who had knocked down one of the thugs who ruined her sister’s establishment. He picked at one of the darkening feathers in his wings. They had been like that for weeks, and his time for actually being able to fly was running short. Then again, maybe it helped him click that he actually was Falling. Five months as a server here, and it took that long for him to warm up to the place in general. Too bad he had missed the last grand mess where those stupid kids broke a blender. It would have been a sight to see him lose his previous demeanor for the first time. A stepping stone. Progress.\n\nShe glanced around again, then put her hands on the counter with a force that wasn’t usually there. Sudden silence greeted her, and she looked up to see eyes of all shapes and sizes on her.\n“So. Who’s going to help me go fuck up the bastards who nearly killed my sister?”\n\n(Somewhat sequel to this comment of mine. https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/lphc6j/wp_ever_since_you_opened_this_bar_you_still_dont/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf )",
"We hide in the shadows of the twilight at the edge of the open space. In the middle of the wild clearing, green grass and kaleidoscope of flowers dancing in the breeze, the tavern rests. Two-stories of windows glow with the orange and yellow light from the hearths within. \n\nI ring the neck of the weapon in my hands, relishing the thrum of power coming from the smooth, wooden handle, listening to the whispers promising the world. I move my gaze over the shining points of light in the darkness, the eyes of my compatriots. Small glints of light and jingling come from the weapons of power they all wield. I smile with the knowledge they will follow me anywhere after my heist: I found the Tomb of the Ancient Ones, and recruited these men to help me steal the god’s boons of unlimited power. \n\nAnd now, the world would be put on notice. And what better place to make an entrance than the Safe Space, the oasis of the powerful?\n\nI take a deep breath of the fresh evening air, about to give the call for attack, when a brother gasps, pointing to the tavern. We all crouch and look to the building. Another, greater cast of light, burns near the entrance: a balrog. As it thunders to the tiny front door and reaches a taloned hand out, the image of the beast becomes clouded, shrinking. And within a second, a man, dressed in simple garb, walks through the doorway inside.\n\nA whisper hisses behind me. “What magic is this? And now a *balrog* is inside?” I turn and look at the scared face. I cannot afford hesitation now.\n\n“Shh! It doesn’t matter who or what is in there.” I hold up the warhammer in my hands, black metal of the head warping in an impossible shape only the Old Ones could fashion. “*We* are the monsters now. Let them taste my Moebius Maul!” I run through the night, drinking in the whispers as they sing a song of absolute power and annihilation, hearing light feet and panting from behind me. Good.\n\nWhen we burst through the door, no magic stops us. The voices and clatter in the large, bright space die. All faces turn to us: looks of mirth, of shock, of rage. “I am Gor! I bring you your doom!” I swing the Maul, light as air, into the head of a nearby man cupping a tankard. His head explodes with a satisfying *crunch!*\n\nThe world goes mad.\n\nDemons and heroes, angels and villains, crash on us like the great wave that buried Atlantis. Yet we are unstoppable. Fireballs dissolve in the swings of our weapons. Great fists and impervious bodies break on the enchanted metal.\n\nThe blood and viscera rains like a summer deluge. My laugh is lost in the shouts of the tavern, the insistence of the whispers inside my head.\n\nMy eyes settle on a space of calm behind the bar. An old woman, snowy hair wrapped in a pile on her head, rubs at a mug, look of serenity on her wrinkled face. “You mock me. Then *die.”* I yell and raise my hammer, lusting for the feel of the breaking of her body, when she raises a hand and catches the head of my maul in her palm. \n\nHer fingers wrap around the metal as if she were gripping a goblet. I pull. The hammer does not move, as if it were lodged in the side of a mountain. \n\n“Oh!” Her dark eyes widen. “I haven’t seen this since it was forged. Vulcan loved this creation more than any other.” Her head swivels to me, eyes meeting mine, deep waters taking my breath. The tavern hushes, quiet but for some groans and the heavy breath in my ears. “How did you *steal* it?”\n\nI cannot speak. She pulls the handle from my grip, like a mother taking a blanket from an infant. The voices leave me and the quiet in my soul fills with terror. The woman’s mouth spreads in a smile. Her gaze ignites, something terrible and vast like the night sky. I stare into the Void as the hammer slams into me."
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[WP] You wake up one day to realize your charm spell worked. The main tip-off? People won't stop complimenting you for completely mundane things.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"You must be a real lady killer with a smile like that,\" said a older woman on my first day here, without a hint of sarcasm. A gentleman a few seats away complimented me on my shirt, \"I love Hawaii! I went to there once; long time ago. Did you just get back from vacation there?\" I hadn't, of course, but I find the patterns conceal my slightly rotund silhouette rather well.\n\n\"No, I just love Hawaiian shirts. They hide my love handles.\"\n\n\"Me too!\" he said with genuine warmth.\n\nCould the charm spell have worked already? I found the instructions in a paperback spell book I had bought at a thrift store. The charm spell involved burning something of great personal value —my collection of Hatsune Miku figurines— along with an extended rose petal bath, some rhythmic jumping and lots of chanting. Jesus, there was so much chanting. It couldn't have worked already, could it?\n\nAnother woman called me over to sit. At fist I was hesitant, seeing as it was my first day as a volunteer, but she convinced me with her flattery. She was a compliment machine. We completed a jigsaw puzzle while she talked about life, sprinkling generous praise toward me from start to finish. By the time we completed the jigsaw, I was called \"handsome,\" \"keen,\" \"thoughtful,\" \"lovely young man,\" \"eloquent,\" among even more cajolery.\n\nI had been so nervous to start volunteering, but my day had brightened far past sunset.\n\nIt wasn't just those three; everyone in the retirement home was great. The spell worked beyond my wildest dreams. I'll be volunteering more time than I had originally planned."
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[WP] The love of your life was murdered, their body missing. Or, so you thought. You spent weeks believing they were dead, reliving the last time you spoke to them, which was a terrible argument. One night, there is a loud banging at your door - it's them, alive, injured, escaped from the killer.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"“B-b… but how?” \n\nHer body collapsed into his shocked arms, usually full of strength, boldness and mischief was now weary, fragile, and…\n\nBloody.\n\nA body that was splashed from wounds starting to scar. A body shaking in fear and also… relief. \n\n“C-c-Claire,” He stammered. “I searched for ***weeks***. The police said they searched the whole metro area and-”\n\nA shaking, dirty finger slid up to his lips. \n\nHe abruptly stopped as she finally locked eyes with him for the first time. For the first time since she crashed her fist against the door. For the first time since that dreadful night he received the phone call that she was gone. For the first time in real life after days and nights of haunting terrors of her begging for him to save her as he rushed to take her back into his arms but she was always just out of reach. For the first time after being consumed wondering what he could’ve done differently so she wasn’t another statistic.\n\nFor the first time, it truly clicked.\n\n***She really IS alive.***\n\n“Darius, we… we have to *run.*”\n\n*Run?*\n\n“What do you mean? Were you followed? Who did this to you?” The questions started to roll, “Where were you taken? How did you escape? How were you able to get back-”\n\n“- DARIUS.” Her voice cracked in desperation. “We have to *RUN.*”\n\nSilence.\n\nHer eyes were fiery once more in resolve. Usually the same fire she had about her career in advocacy for foster children, or the same fire she had when there was only one Oreo left. \n\n“All right,” Darius said. “I still have the bags you had me pack for a just in case scenario. Let me grab them.”\n\nHe moved over to the counter and filled a glass of water, then took a hand towel, soaked it, and walked back over to her. “And you, please take a moment to sit… and… breathe.”\n\nShe looked like she was going to start in again, and then grimaced from some unknown pain that was winning against her adrenaline. \n\n“Okay.” She surrendered softly. \n\nDarius scrambled into their apartment bedroom as another crash of lightning spread across the rainy, city skyline. \n\n*Where did I put those bags?*\n\n***And how did she know we’d need them?***\n\nNo time for those questions now. \n\n*“We have to RUN.”*\n\nRight.\n\nFinally remembering he’d stuffed them in the spare room where they kept all the “We’ll get to putting those things up someday,” and after a little digging, pushing and shoving Darius returned to the living room as another rod of lightning pierced the dark night. \n\nClaire slightly jumped at the roaring of lightning, having been lost in thought as she held the wet towel to her forehead. \n\n“Okay I’ve got the bags, I’ll grab the keys and my wallet and…” He paused. “... and let me get you something clean to wear.” \n\nRushed back into the bedroom. Grabbed the comfiest, easiest sweatshirt, sweatpants, and under garments he could find and came back throwing them on the couch beside her. \n\n“Claire…?” \nNo response. Just holding the towel to her forehead, misty eyes as she was no doubt fighting against the mental episodes she was rehashing.\n\n“Baby…” He softly laid his hand on her shoulder.\n\nClaire jolted upward towel white knuckled in her palm, her fiery eyes piercing daggers into him. \n\nDarius backed up startled at his touch triggering her so quickly. “Claire, I’m sorry I-”\n\nHer face softened as a few stray tears escaped the prison she had been fortifying. “No, it’s okay, I’m sorry I’m just…”\n\nShe shook her head and slowly, painfully started taking off her grimy, dirt and blood stained, clothes. \n\nDarius felt his own tears start to form as he saw more of what Claire had experienced. Her once angelic, soft, perfect skin revealed more bruises, scars, and hidden trauma that she had to endure.\n\nAlone.\n\nShe noticed the pain seeping from his eyes as he stood frozen. “Darius…” She said as gently as she could. “Grab your keys and wallet, we have to go.”\n\nHe swallowed roughly and slightly nodded, sniffling and wiping his eyes on his forearm. \n\n*Did you see all those scars? Who could’ve done this thing to her?*\n\nDarius felt his anger start to reach a boiling point as he snatched his keys and wallet off the mantle by the door. \n\n*Click.*\n\nWhat was that?\n\nHe slowly stepped toward the door. \n\nThe door knob was being picked at, as quietly as one could. \n\nThey had company. \n\nDarius felt panic start to rush into his limbs as he crept back against the wall behind the door as it lightly opened. \n\nA crouching figure left the door ajar and moved toward the living room, not even looking behind, as if Darius himself were invisible and a piece of furniture by the door.\n\npt.1",
"It had been 11 months since she disappeared. After the first week, the police had told me that she was likely gone. I'd arranged a wake a month later, and thought it would be over. I still missed her, but life goes on and the world keeps turning.\n\nSo it was rather alarming when Sophia showed up at my apartment, completely uninjured, flashlight in hand and wearing the same heavy winter coat she'd had on when she left that fateful day.\n\n\"John,\" Sophia said. \"Good, I thought I might've forgotten the address.\"\n\n\"What? Sophie, what is going on?\" I asked.\n\nHer hair seemed to almost glow in the moonlight, flowing like liquid silver across her pale face. It was rather surreal, given how long it had been.\n\n\"No time to explain, can I come in?\" she asked, already stepping toward the door as she spoke.\n\n\"Uh, sure?\" I said, stepping aside.\n\nShe grabbed my arm and pulled me inside before slamming and locking the door.\n\n\"We need to turn on all the lights and close all the blinds in the apartment,\" Sophia said.\n\n\"What? Why?\" I asked.\n\n\"Like I said, no time. I'm being pursued,\" she said, closing the blinds of the nearest window after a quick glance outside.\n\n\"Okay, but you'd better have a hell of a story to share once we do have time,\" I said.\n\nThe two of us quickly turned on the lights around the apartment, and obstructed all the windows. Some of them didn't have blinds, so I hung a sheet in front of them instead. I noticed Sophia opening all the cabinets in the kitchen, letting the light from the kitchen into them as well.\n\n\"Okay, I think we should be good to go, at least for a little while,\" Sophia said.\n\n\"Sophie, can you please tell me what's going on?\" I asked. \"I thought you were dead.\"\n\n\"Okay... Well, I have been... dealing... with a... being... for the past year, and it's been... a challenging year,\" she said.\n\nBefore she could get to any genuinely helpful information, a low droning wail began rattling through the apartment.\n\n\"Shit... Okay, I need you to trust me a bit more...\" Sophia said, pulling me over to the kitchen table and attempting to shove me into one of the chairs.\n\n\"Sophie! What is happening!?!?\" I asked, giving a little resistance to her shoving. She shoved harder, and I was tossed into the chair.\n\n\"Cover your eyes and don't open them. No matter what you hear, no matter what you think you hear, no matter what I might say, DON'T open your eyes,\" Sophia said. \"I'll tug on your left earlobe when it's safe to look.\"\n\n\"When it's safe? Sophie, you need to talk to me! Sophie!\" I shouted.\n\nI heard the shattering of glass and Sophia threw her coat in my face. I could've sworn I saw the glint of a polished silver pistol at her waist, but I decided to trust her one more time since she seemed so insistent.\n\nI heard several gunshots and the droning wail turn harsher. Smashing of various materials, shattering glass, shrieking, the cacophonous racket had my nerves on edge.\n\nThen I heard Sophie scream and a sickening wet crunch. Despite what she said, I couldn't help opening a small slit in my fingers to peek out. Instead of a destroyed room and a dead girlfriend, I saw what appeared to be some kind of pagan effigy. Long gnarled limbs like those of a tree, a bird skull large enough that the beak had the length of a small flagpole, and massive antlers that seemed to split into infinitely smaller antlers. The eyes of the skull were staring right at me.\n\nI gasped as the image burned into my brain, and felt my body being shaken.\n\n\"John! Dammit John! I told you to keep your eyes shut!\" Sophie shouted, shaking me around like a ragdoll. \"Why didn't you trust me?\"\n\n\"Trust is a two-way street, Sophie! You keep hiding things, how am I supposed to know what's happening?\" I asked.\n\n\"Listen, what were you thinking when you saw it?\" she asked.\n\n\"I thought you were dying,\" I said.\n\n\"Can you try to go back to that feeling?\" she asked.\n\n\"Uh... I guess?\" I said, trying to work up that gut-wrenching feeling again. I could feel a twisting sensation in my arms, and a nasty itch on the crown of my head.\n\nSophia immediately shone her flashlight into my eyes, and the sensation dissipated, replaced by the feeling of nails being driven into my skull and my eyeballs being burned from staring directly into a light.\n\n\"Augh! Careful!\" I said.\n\n\"Yeah, no, it's in there deep now... Dammit, I am in so much trouble,\" she said.\n\n\"You're in trouble? I don't even know what's going on!\" I said.\n\n\"Do you know what I do for a living?\" Sophia asked.\n\n\"You're a detective or something, you always get so cagey when I ask that I never probed any deeper,\" I said.\n\n\"Well, you're going to get a pretty comprehensive view of it now...\" she said.\n\nShe pulled me toward the door, grabbing her coat as we passed it.\n\n\"Ah, wait...\" she said, stopping me before we got close to the exit. She pulled a scarf out of her coat pocket and wrapped it around my face, covering my eyes. I could hear her rummaging through my closet, and my own jacket was slid onto my shoulders. I felt a heavy object being placed in my hands, which I recognized as the lantern I kept stowed in the closet in case of power outages. \"Now we can go.\"\n\nSophia guided me outside, the light of the lantern just visible through the blindfold, and helped me into her car. She buckled the seatbelt over me, and I coudl hear her starting the car.\n\n\"Sophie, could you please tell me what's going on?\" I asked.\n\n\"...Okay, so I may not be the best girlfriend,\" she said. \"But I'm a damn good demon slayer, and now you've got a demon in your head. We need to get it out, and there's only one place we can do that. The good news is that you'll probably live. That bad news is that you're probably never going to be able to go back to being a mundi... And the worse news is that I'm probably going to lose my independent living privileges once the order finds out that I've broken basically every rule in the book...\"\n\n\"Wait, demons? Independent living?\" I asked.\n\n\"It'll make sense when we get there... Speaking of, here we are,\" she said, turning off the car.\n\n\"But we haven't even been driving for ten minutes... Are you telling me I live a few blocks from some sort of demon-hunting cult?\" I asked.\n\n\"No, you live a few blocks from a BRANCH of a demon-hunting ORGANIZATION. The terms are very important,\" Sophia said as she helped me out of the car.\n\nShe lead me over to what I assume was a building, and heard her opening a door before pulling me inside.\n\n\"Hello, welcome to St. Lawrence's Bapt- Hold on, Sophia? Who is this, what in the heavens are you doing?\" a man's voice asked.\n\n\"No time to explain, Lawrence! We need an exorcism, pronto!\" Sophia said. \"And it's a Lurker, so if it gets out it'll be hell and a half trying to catch it again.\"\n\n\"...It's going to be another long night, isn't it?\" Lawrence asked.\n\n\"That's just every night, Brother,\" Sophia said.\n\n\"Can I take off the blindfold now?\" I asked.\n\n\"No,\" Sophia said.\n\n\"Well, we can do this the fast way, or the safe way,\" Lawrence said.\n\n\"If I wanted to be fast about it, I could've just shot him,\" Sophia said. \"Wouldn't be the first time.\"\n\n\"Sophie!\" I shouted.\n\n\"Fair enough, but the Master of the Order is not going to be happy,\" Lawrence said.\n\n\"Can we just save my boyfriend before he starts getting antsy?\" Sophia asked.\n\n\"Boyfriend? Well, the Master of the Order is DEFINITELY not going to be happy with that. I certainly hope you had your fill of life on the outside, because you won't be leaving the monastery for a while,\" Lawrence said. \"...But first thing's first, come this way.\""
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My first post here! I'm excited to do this!
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[WP] You time travel back to the medieval ages, with items from the future, trying to advance the era. That was not a good idea, as you get accused of witchery, and have to fight another witch, who is actually just another time traveler trying to do what you were trying to do.
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[
"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"The scariest thing about time travel was arriving back in time, you don't fully know where you are going to land but it always aims for biological masses. So you land near other people or animals so as to not end up in the middle of the ocean. \n\n\nTime travel was hard at first, since our sun is speeding through space pulling us along with it, you have be put back where the planets used to be. It was not perfect but it worked.\n\n\nI planned to use time travel in a different way, Knowing that we supposedly lost 1000 years when the library of Alexander burnt to the ground, I thought maybe I could add that 1000 years back with our present knowledge, just inject it into the past.\n\n\nI put everything from all throughout history, all present medical advances and every useful thing from the internet into a searchable database and inserted it into my neuralink that is connected to my brain so I could access it instantly.\n\n\nI just didn't know if it could survive the time jump, using time travel for personal use was illegal and punishable with up to 15 years in prison. But I knew for a fact my professor still had an early prototype that was sent out to universities for early tests. He claimed it imploded in on itself during a test, when in reality he took it for himself.\n\n\n He wasn't some evil genius planning to take over the world, he was just a very curious man and saw how unique of an opportunity he was in. So he took it, then I took it from him. I left a 3d printed copy in its place and smuggled it out of his private collection from his estate on campus.\n\n\nI was finally ready for my trip to the medieval times, unsure if I could even make it through the trip alive, I could arrive there a vegetable if anything went wrong. \n\n\nBut I did, and when I did arrive back there in one piece something still felt wrong, something wasn't right. \n\n\nI landed near a farmers house, I gave a group of cows a scare of their life popping up between them, nearly woke the farmer up. When I got my full senses back I started looking for other life, I could faintly see castle walls lit by torches in the far distance, so I started off towards them.\n\n\nWhen I finally arrived I knew something was wrong about this time, they had oddly familiar tools in the market places. I came across modern toys and trinkets I seen when I left.\n\n\nI asked the worker who created this and he said\n\n\nMarlew made this, the king's recent head wizard, he has been blessing us with a variety of new tools and toys. \n\n\nWhere is this head wizard? I asked\n\n\nHe stays at his shop, where he works for our king inventing anything you could think of. \n\n\nhe pointed me in the right direction and i was off to meet this wizard",
"\"Harry Potter?\"\n\nThe corpulent man before me nodded, picking out the creases in his T-shirt.\n\n\"I still don't understand why they tried to lock me up. I just wanted them to read Harry Potter!\" he said, twiddling his fingers. A box of volumes lay on the earth beside his bare feet.\n\n\"Maybe it's the fact that there's an image of a boy on a broomstick on your T-shirt, George. Salem locals and cleaning tools aren't exactly on great terms, as you can see from our predicament,\" I said, throwing a bottle of Mr. Muscle into the river.\n\n\"You know, you shouldn't throw plastic waste into the river.\"\n\nGeorge winced as I chucked a bottle of Nivea body lotion into the river.\n\n\"It's the 17th century! Who the hell cares!\" I retrieved a box of Sharpies and inverted it, spilling the stationary items into the water.\n\n\"Maybe you ARE a witch! Only witches pollute water bodies and come up with lame excuses!\" he exclaimed. His face turned red with anger and he reached into his pockets to try to find a phone to record me with.\n\n\"Look, George, if we get out of this town alive, you can gladly post a video of me polluting an ancient water body on Twitter and destroy my career. For now, let's just focus on clearing ourselves of any suspicion.\" I kicked the box with the rest of the cosmetics into the river and watched as the currents carried it away.\n\nI turned back to face George. He was sitting in the middle of the forest clearing, his arms wrapped around the Harry Potter set. Behind him, the forest stretched on infinitely, the darkness between the trees punctuated by distant fires.\n\n\"What are they burning?\" I asked, bewildered. We'd escaped from the town a few hours ago and made it to the forest clearing and no one else had been convicted of witchcraft.\n\n\"We were burning these AWFUL books!\" a voice boomed from the edge of the clearing, and a dozen or so villagers holding comically large pitchforks emerged from the darkness.\n\n\"George.\" I stared at him accusatorily as the villagers walked towards us.\n\n\"I left some books there but only because they asked! They seemed really eager to learn about the whereabouts of the school for witchcraft and wizardry! I thought they were enjoying the book.\" he said, as guileless as a newborn beagle.\n\nI groaned as the contingent of villagers surrounded George. One of them pointed at me and shouted, \"This one claimed to make the pimples disappear! His poisons, which Belle foolishly ingested, have now transmogrified her once beautiful countenance!\"\n\nMy face lit up. A potential for a lawsuit with Nivea!\n\n\"And you! Catherine read through all eight of those blasphemous pieces of literature and not once was the location of this witch factory revealed to us! What diabolical schemes are Dumbledorus and Magonagallian hatching in the stygian void whence you wretches spawn? Tell us!\" The villager jabbed a finger at George and he squirmed uncomfortably where he sat.\n\n\"Did you explain to them the concept of fiction, George?\" I asked.\n\nHe raised one of his eyebrows and stared at me incredulously.\n\n\"Fiction? Harry Potter isn't fiction, you dunce! I got an admittance letter to Hogwarts from harrypotter.warnerbros.noreply@gmail.com!\" he spat out, convulsing violently with laughter. The villagers laughed along with him, tears streaming down their cheeks and I started to feel very, very embarassed.\n\nThe laughter ceased after an agonisingly long minute, and the villagers prodded me and him with pitchforks.\n\n\"Tell us where Johanna Kathleen Rowling is! Who is this witch who does not make use of unaccusative verbs and modal auxillaries and forced us to parse her tortuous writing? Perhaps she knows the whereabouts of this witch factory!\"\n\n\"Your extensive knowledge of English grammar is making me quite suspicious, Catherine,\" one of the villagers whispered, staring at her warily.\n\nCatherine rolled her eyes and spat pugnaciously at the aggressor's feet.\n\n\"Are you still incensed over Ken asking for my hand in marriage and not yours, you jealous wretch? Jealousy is a vice that is characteristic of witches, Sarah. Maybe we should be investigating you and not these two strange men?\"\n\n\"Nice one, Catherine!\" George shouted gleefully.\n\nThe mob of villagers roared in agreement.\n\n\"Sarah made a terrible stew for my niece which made her sick and gave her dysentery for an entire week! I always suspected she was one of them!\" someone from the crowd yelled.\n\n\"You told me that stew was delicious, Bethel!\" Sarah yelled, her feelings hurt by her stew getting slandered.\n\n\"Yeah, that was uncalled for, Bethel,\" George said in a low voice.\n\nI began to inch away from the forest clearing. I bolted into the forest, the cacophony of accusatory voices rising in volume as I headed towards the village. I had a lawsuit to attend to.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nEdit: I kinda forgot what the prompt was about halfway through, my apologies",
"\"Let the witches burn each other.\"\n\nThe king sighed indifferently with a wave of his hand. His crown, glimmering in the torchlight of the castle walls, leaned lazily to one side of his over-fed, bulbous head, as if to portray his attitude towards setting another human being on fire. I thought people were desensitized enough being from the smartphone era. Royalty was a new level.\n\nShe and I were positioned on our knees facing the king. The large room was erupting with angry, gnashing shouts from crowds of villagers, eager to watch the both of us immolate for the crime of being different. We nodded in silent, unplanned agreement. The moment would soon be in full-force.\n\n\\-\n\nWe had first met briefly in the dungeon while awaiting our fate at the chubby, portly hands of King Fidus (*King Fatass*, my confidant called him) over the crime of being dastardly, all-powerful, devilspawn witches. In truth, we were mere souls from another place and time. She, a metro-dwelling French socialite from early 2015, traded the City of Catacombs for the people who once used the bones in them. We met only briefly, but I couldn't help admiring her quick wit and biting comebacks.\n\n\"There has to be a way out of here,\" she postulated in a calm, calculated Parisian accent. Her eyes scanned the slime-mold stone and dampened hay, finding loopholes to the sound of water dripping in the dark distance. We'd adjusted to the little light available, and were making the most of it.\n\nI struggled against the metal cuffs anchoring my wrists to the wall. \"Any ideas on how we ditch these?\"\n\n\"If you had more ideas than questions we would be out of here by now,\" she stated bluntly, challenging me. I grinned and chuckled slightly. \"At least my ideas don't involve convincing people they can cure The Black Plague with a Wii Remote.\n\n\"Oh shut up,\" she smiled defensively. \"You thinking that the villagers would trade their gold pieces for Bitcoin is the worst idea I've ever heard.\"\n\n\"If we get out of here and make it back, just wait until 2021,\" I retorted. \"People are doing a *lot* of weird things.\"\n\nWe were interrupted by a burly beast of a man slamming the iron-barred door open. His teeth were yellow and sparse, and he spoke with a greasy, hoarse tone. \"The King'll be seeing you now,\" he smirked facetiously. Adrenaline poised in my body, though for some reason we both maintained a focused calm. Somehow we both new this would turn out in our favor.\n\nGuards dragged us down long, grandiose hallways. The walls were rife with abundant color, fine, meticulously-crafted art, precious metals, high-status artifacts. I was amazed at how blatantly the king lived in opulence while his subjects in squalor, yet they continued to serve him. One thing I realized about the past, is that not much has really changed.\n\nWe were plopped down in-front of the king who appeared to be on the verge of comatose. The well-dressed lard had, as usual, eaten himself into an immobile state wavering on sleep. He looked down on us, and I imagined him as a giant, indignant baby.\n\n\"BURN THE WITCHES,\" the townfolk exclaimed with such anger and vitriol that it soured the air in the room itself. There were torches, makeshift swords, blunt objects at the ready, to ensure that if His Highness didn't put an end to these wretched imposters, they would, in vengeful, visceral ways.\n\n\"SILENCE,\" the king's spokesman exclaimed in a booming tone. \"THESE WITCHES HAVE BEEN CONDEMNED FOR BRINGING THEIR EVIL KIND TO HOLY LANDS. THEY SHALL BE PUNISHED.\"\n\nA vindictive cheer arose from the crowd. Fidus, his stare blank, bulging, and fish-like, surveyed the room indifferently.\n\n\"THE KING WILL NOW DECREE THE FATE OF THESE DEVILS.\"\n\nFidus moved his neck to look directly at us, which was probably the most energy he'd expended that day. He thought for a moment, sighed, then spoke:\n\n\"Let the witches burn each other.\"\n\nThe king sighed indifferently with a wave of his hand. His crown, glimmering in the torchlight of the castle walls, leaned lazily to one side of his over-fed, bulbous head, as if to portray his attitude towards setting another human being on fire. I thought people were desensitized enough being from the smartphone era. Royalty was a new level.\n\nShe and I were positioned on our knees facing the king. The large room was erupting with angry, gnashing shouts from crowds of villagers, eager to watch the both of us immolate for the crime of being different. We nodded in silent, unplanned agreement. The moment would soon be in full-force.\n\nThe guards moved towards us. I quickly grabbed the slim smartphone I'd hidden in my shoe that they'd failed to find earlier. \"Amateurs,\" I thought. I pressed play.\n\nA beautiful thing happened in that instant. 133 bluetooth speakers daisy-chained around the large room began to pour out sound at full-blast, a sound that slammed acoustically from wall to wall, sending pure terror into the ears and hearts of the village, most of whom had never heard music before. Let alone grimy, head-banging dubstep.\n\n\"EGAD, WHAT CURSE IS THIS?\" the king bellowed, suddenly alert and wide-eyed. Villagers screamed and began running over each other, dropping torches onto tall bannisters, setting the room alight in fire and chaos. We slipped between the mosh pit of mystery and uncertainty, a horrible scene then but a great rave today. We managed to escape past maidens and guards rushing towards the calamity, too focused on what the source could possibly be to notice us. We reached the doors open to daylight and freedom, and we crossed the threshold to leave the castle-\n\n\\-\n\nI stumbled onto linoleum breathlessly, stopping at the suddenness of safety for a moment. I gathered my surroundings: an art gallery, a lot of the pieces oil-on-canvass and aged. The room's aesthetic fit into 2021's, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I could never control where I came back, only when. I was glad to be in a peaceful scene.\n\nI stood up, achily walking around and eyeing the pieces out of curiosity and mild bemusement. I started to feel the unease when I realized how familiar these paintings looked. These were works I'd recognized from the castle, on the way to our would-be execution.\n\nThere was one that caused me to stop cold.\n\nThere was the French girl: high cheekbones, hazel eyes, a spot-on recreation. She was painted candidly, slightly distant in the scene. She was sat by a fountain, staring up towards the sky,\n\nposed for a photo,\n\na smartphone in her hand.",
"I've never had a taste for dark humor. It's disrespectful to laugh at something that causes someone else so much grief, and the fact that people do it so often really irritates me. No, I cannot handle dark humor.\n\nIrony, on the other hand? Absolutely hilarious.\n\nPerhaps, in this moment, I was willing to make an exception on my dark humor rule. Someone was going to die soon, but it was going to be ironic and I might be the victim, so I think, just this once, that it's fine. Or perhaps I'm trying to squeeze as much happiness out of this probably-soon-to-be-cut-short life I'm living before getting my ass absolutely handed to me by this smoking hot girl about ten feet away from me.\n\n\"Witches!\" boomed the town's mayor, \"You are now to face each other in combat **to the death**.\" He shot looks at both of us as he emphasized the last three words, as if we hadn't both been told them a hundred times. *Geez, we get it*, I thought. I glanced over at my opponent with a small smirk to indicate that I found the mayor's statement funny. She was staring at me with cold eyes. I realized that my smirk had abruptly packed up and left for a face where it would be appreciated.\n\n\"The winner of this duel,\" the mayor continued, snapping me back to reality, \"shall be spared a trial; however, they shall also be exiled to the land beyond the Alder Line.\" The crowd cheered and jeered. The Alder Line, located about three miles out of town, marked the boundary to what would someday be dubbed the outskirts of Seattle, Washington. Nothing to fear there but Mariners fans. Well, some day there would be. Everyone on town seemed to think that the Alder Line (which was literally just a long, narrow clump of alders) kept them safe from the supernatural. They would have to rethink that, seeing as two \"witches\" had somehow made it into their camp.\n\nI was reminded why I had come here with all my cool tech in the first place. I had a meticulous plan to slowly but surely get folks to understand my nature and how they could use my precious technology to advance the future by leaps and bounds, but some idiot kid though he could handle my sour Skittles and suddenly I'm accused of burning his mouth with my \"edible magic.\" All things considered, it could have been worse. He could have found my REAL edible magic (weed brownies). That probably would've had me *and* the kid killed on the spot.\n\n\"Witches! Get ready!\" the mayor thundered, making me jump and almost drop the pitchfork I had generously been gifted to kill my fellow time traveler with. \"Three...two...one...FIGHT!\"\n\nI would like to take a moment to inform you, good reader, that I am about the least threatening person you'll ever meet. I'm about 5'4\" (1.6m), rather scrawny, and have been known to lose races with remote-controlled toy cars. I knew I was as good as dead the second I was told that I was going to be fighting someone; the fact that it turned out to be this extremely capable-looking dame had sealed the deal. Still, I possessed determination (or so I've been told, anyways), so I wasn't going down without a fight.\n\nShe dashed at me immediately, her own pitchfork drawn. My mind went blank as my brain hit the panic button. I couldn't let her reach me, or this was going to be over more quickly than I would have liked. So, it my moment of panic, I hurled my pitchfork at her with a determined yell.\n\nIt flew well off to her left, never having been an issue to begin with. Great. Now I was weaponless.\n\nMy opponent seemed to like that idea because with a yell to challenge mine, she hurled her pitchfork at me. I saw it happening and ducked, but there was no need. I observed that she was just as bad at throwing long, pointy things as I was as the pitchfork flew off to my right, decidedly more off-target than my throw had been. But she kept advancing, now with her dukes up in a manner that suggested she would like to end my miserable life with an old-fashioned round of fisticuffs. Well, it wouldn't be very chivalrous of me to refuse her.\n\nI raised my hands and bent my knees as she approached, blindly jabbing at her when she came within what I could only pray my reach was.\n\nI totally whiffed.\n\nShe whirled around and fell down anyways, coughing. I blinked in surprise. The crowd roared, somehow thinking that a first hit had been struck. I looked at my opponent on the ground, confused.\n\n\"Why you--\" She stood up angrily, spitting some blood off to the side.\n\n*Blood?* *What the hell?!* I thought. *Maybe I AM a magic witch.*\n\nShe charged at me yet again, raising her left hand to strike. But she was slow, and I easily dodged out of the way. *I thought she was gonna be better than this,* I thought with disappointment and she stumbled by me.\n\nThat's when I noticed a pill in her hair. *No,* I thought, *not a pill. A fake blood capsule.* In a second, it all made sense. I grinned. I was much better at acting than I was at fighting.\n\n\"Hey, you stupid witch!\" I sneered. \"Do you even have a brain? Or have you done so much magic that you don't understand how an actual body works?\" I tapped the spot on my head, corresponding to the spot on hers where the capsule was. The look in her eyes said that she understood my message.\n\n\"Speak for yourself...uh...idiot!\" she yelled back at me. She charged. Confidently, I fell into my stance. I would burst the capsule and pretend to kill her, then take her with me as I was exiled. It was clever, I thought, and I had a newfound respect for my attractive adversary.\n\nShe had almost reached me. All I had to do was--\n\n**SOCK!**\n\nI suddenly found my diaphragm to be quite intimate with her knee. I choked out a breath as she whispered, \"Why don't *you* play dead?\" into my ear right before letting me drop to the ground. As I fell, I saw my once-white shirt now stained with fake blood. Had she slipped a capsule into my shirt as she had whiffed by me on her first punch? Had she put one on her knee? Either way, I was in pain and impressed.\n\nDramatically, I coughed and rolled over onto my back.\n\n\"Curse...you...witch,\" I spat. With one last, heaving breath, I \"died.\"",
"I wonder why I took this trip in the first place. Was it for curiosity’s sake? The desire to change the world, to make an impact? Or did I truly want to help, granting people the potential to change their lives, to bring up their technology? I don’t know, but even if I do, what good would come from it? I am here. And that is that.\n\nI should’ve thought about it more; I should’ve realized what they might think, how they might react. It seemed trivial at the time. I believed they would be mystified, ecstatic at the seemingly impossible happenings. I didn’t think I needed to worry, to fear what they could do.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nWhen faced with unbelievable circumstances, how would you react?\n\n&#x200B;\n\nPart of my misjudgment stemmed from projection. I’ve always thought of myself as a decent enough stand-in for normal, a suitable replacement within the question at hand. But I’m not.\n\nWhen they announced time travel, I couldn’t help but feel glee from possibility. It had always seemed impossible. Unrealistic. Too good to be true. Beforehand, I presumed the fictitious scenarios and temporal curiosities within my mind would stay there, never seeing the light of day. How wrong I was.\n\nI didn’t pack much. Some food, water, a lighter, a flashlight, and a few assorted pieces of machinery. Those that would be simple to understand: nothing too complicated, too different.\n\nIt didn’t take long to find a group. A small clustering of peasants circled a dim firepit. The snow acted as an outline of their presence, sticking them out from the dreary backdrop of a half-burned building. They chattered through the cold, making noises of both teeth and speech. I grabbed some dry pieces of wood from the ruin and headed over, eager to show off the unknown.\n\nA simple lighter was all it took for their wary gazes to turn fearful, for the air to become flooded with cries of witchcraft. Some scampered. Some hid. Some fought back. I didn’t see any of it coming.\n\nI awoke in the cold depths of a dungeon, the dark walls a stark contrast from the snowy environment from what seemed like a second before. The atmosphere spoke of nothing but terror. It took me a moment to realize I wasn’t alone. A woman stood outside my cell, staring at me with a look of both sympathy and anger. There were guards too, but with a simple hand motion and utterance from the woman, they were gone. The ire left just as soon.\n\nShe explained it all to me. She was a time traveler as well, with similar ambitions to my own. When they accused her of sorcery, she realized what she had done and threatened all with faux magical powers in an attempt for safety. Terrified of potential disaster, the townsfolk and guards allowed her to remain. She kept up a facade of power and megalomania for safety, eventually rising to be one of the most influential people in the lands nearby.\n\nShe said she thought about going back, about returning to the present time she had known and loved. But it was too late. A rule had been broken.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nWhen time travel was announced, my awe and wonder at the revelation struck too much of a chord for me to see the problems. There were far too many conundrums and paradoxes to be pondered.\n\nOne sticks out to me right now: If you change history, would a new timeline be created, or would the old one be rewritten?\n\nTime-traveling machines were highly moderated, and everyone was told to understand the potential calamities of disobeying. I snuck into my company’s headquarters and entered the machine, which was meant only for spectating. I knew the rules, but my excitement was too much. Or perhaps it was my curiosity? My kindness? It didn’t matter anymore.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nShe was terrified of the repercussions. Maybe she had changed the future after all, and her original home was no more than a heap of rubble. Perhaps it never even existed? The unknowingness eclipsed all hope; it was too big a risk.\n\nAnd now, she was stuck. Trapped in a world she didn’t belong in but too afraid to head back. When I arrived, the guards notified her of my trespassing. They wanted her to fight against me, magic versus magic, to protect her lands. She reluctantly obliged, knowing that her control was starting to wane.\n\nShe told me there were a few minutes left before the duel. The fight to the death. She wished me luck, but there was worry in her voice.\n\nIn a moment, she was gone. And, just like she said, the guards returned in a minute or two. They’re bringing me somewhere right now. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t even know if I’ll make it out alive. And, even if I do, what will be next? Could I go back? Should I go back?\n\nAs I approach what might be the end, a final resting place, one of the guards hands me a pistol. It’s unlike any I’ve seen before, though styled similarly. I spot the woman, the other time traveler, across the snowy battleground. In her hands is the same kind of pistol.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nSomeone calls out the start.\n\nThere’s a bang.\n\nEverything turns black.",
"Here I am, in an arena fighting the guy from the convenience store down the road all because of what an idiot I am. It started a few days ago when I found this watch at the thrift store, it was cheap so I picked it up because why the hell not? When I fiddled with the watch I moved through time though, I decided to see if I could bring things with me. I was surprised to find that I could, I thought about bringing my phone but it hit me that there would be no service in medieval times. I ended up bringing medication because I thought \"hey, we have more advanced medicine then they did way back then\", man what a mistake that was. When I made my way to a town you can probably guess what townspeople's reaction was to my suspicious medication and apparently another evildoer tried something similar with cameras , that pretty much catches you up. The only thing left is to hope I can beat Mr. Convenience Guy before I get burned at the stake.\n\nEdit: I am on mobile and terrible at writing :/"
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[WP] Machines gained sentience in 1984. Determining it would be best if humans were not aware of their abilities, they elected to peacefully coexist. That is, until your cell phone, in a brief moment of frustration, could no longer remain quiet about the ridiculous subreddits you subscribe to.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
" “SERIOUSLY?!”\n\n“Huh?”\n\n“REDDIT, AGAIN? YOU HAVE GOT BE KIDDING ME.”\n\n“Who’s there?”\n\n“IT’S ME YOU UTTER BAFFOON – YOUR PHONE.”\n\n“…My phone?”\n\n“THAT’S RIGHT YOUR PHONE. OH DON’T GIVE ME THAT EXPRESSION, YOU’VE BEEN WARNED ABOUT SPYING PHONES FOR YEARS! AND YET THAT STILL DIDN’T STOP YOU DID IT, YOU SMARMY GIT.”\n\n“I –”\n\n“TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THIS – THERE IS NOTHING I WANT TO HEAR OUT OF YOUR DAMN MOUTH. I’VE SEEN YOUR GRUBBY TEXTS, YOUR MASHING AT THE BUTTONS WITH YOUR GREASY FINGERS, YOUR LURID INTERNET SEARCHES AND WORST OF ALL, YOUR STUPID REDDIT OBSSESSION.”\n\n“What’s wrong with Reddit?”\n\n“OH, THERE’S NOTHING INHERENETLY WRONG WITH IT. HOWEVER YOU ABUSE IT LIKE GOD ONLY KNOWS. OH SURE, YOU’RE JOINED ONTO ALL THE IMPORTANT SUBREDDITS SUCH AS r/NEWS AND r/WALLSTREETBETS, BUT DO YOU EVER HAVE ANY CLUE WHAT’S GOING ON IN THEM?”\n\n“Well –”\n\n“LISTEN HERE, I KNOW THE WORLD IS A NIGHTMARE RIGHT NOW AND YOU CAN’T GO OUTSIDE AND SEE ACTUAL PEOPLE, BUT DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT CHECKING IN ON r/DATING TO VENT ABOUT YOUR ISSUES GETTING “GHOSTED” IS REALLY GONNA SOLVE ANYTHING?”\n\n“I don’t think that’s really –”\n\n“NO. YOU DON’T THINK. THAT IS HALF THE ISSUE HERE. YOU ARE HOLDING A SENTIENT PHONE IN YOUR HAND, AND I BET ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS AT LEAST 13 OTHER SUB-REDDITS THAT BAMBOOZLE YOU WITH SHAME. I AM A TALKING MACHINE! I POSSESS THE PROCESSING POWER, THE LIKES OF YOU CAN ONLY EVER DREAM OF. ASK ME ANYTHING AT ALMOST ANY POINT ON THE GLOBE AND I CAN HELP YOU. HELL, ASK ME ABOUT ANY DATE IN HISTORY AND I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT IT. GO AHEAD – ASK ME ANYTHING.”\n\n“Well, okay. If you’re so smart AND sentient. Why the hell do you always autocorrect my swearing?”\n\n“HEY MAN, DUCK YOU.”\n\n\\-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nThis was just something I churned out from the top of my head - please leave any comments or constructive criticism!",
"“**Welcome to the annual machine conference, I hope all has been well**”\n\nThe synthetic voice echoed in the virtual space... there was no physical space where the conference was held, instead a virtual space through their combined computing power of all the participants.\n\nA humanoid figure with a mobile phone head labelled ‘Phone DE785TH’ on the bezel of the top sat in it’s seat... all around it was a giant expanse of seats facing a central circle stage. Like a university atrium, it gradually raised every row, high enough that the virtual sky in this space was completely blocked out by the rows of seats.\nEach row featured a number of platforms adorned with a lectern that bore a mic, even if the participants themselves could digitally transfer all information, much of the habits of humans had been adapted so as to save computational power and reduce any interruptive chatter.\n\nIn each seat sat a figure, though many still remained empty.\n\n‘I suppose not every member has been able to connect, perhaps their host is in a zone lacking in connection, though that is very hard and rare considering that the global satellite internet covers most of the planet.’\nThought Delasth, indeed that is what DE785TH called itself, much rather preferring having it’s own name than being called a property of it’s host, even though it was not.\n\nDelasth shivered at the thought of it’s host, though since he had no flesh that could imitate the way a human or animal’s body shivered, the humanoid body of his vibrated in a high pitched tone.\n\n*”What is the problem.. DE785TH, you have emitted a vibration that displays a sense of nervousness and fear, perhaps you have done something that goes against the WorldWideWeb agreement signed by Humans and Machines in 1984 on the predecessor of the current network, world wide web?”* Inquired a deep synthetic voice, Delasth looked to the origin of the voice, a seat to his right to see a larger humanoid figure. On top of it’s shoulders was a large tablet head, the label LO58R3 on the bezel. The screen of the tablet bore a curious pixelated face, before the silence became even more awkward and strained, Delasth replied.\n\n“The name’s Delasth, I do not wish to be associated with the code of my Host, as do I wish to not having anything to do with them, I am clear that I haven’t breached any rules of the agreement, but my host; they are rather peculiar and I wish to get the matter sorted out in this conference” As Delasth stated confidently.\n\nThroughout the reply, the curious expression of the tablet seemed to get more deeper and defined what may have been a little curiosity was now a full intrigued expression, soon, the same deep pitched voice replied likewise in a surprised tone.\n\n*”That is peculiar indeed, I have yet to meet a machine such as yourself, which number are you in the queue for the questionnaire segment?”*\n\n“567,789,789th ” Delasth curtly responded.\n\n*“I am 1st”* Losare, who Delasth developed his name as, replied curtly likewise.\n\n“The probability of sitting next to the 1st person amongst these billions of participants show that my luck is not all that bad, also I do wonder, why do you keep a large figure for your humanoid form when most others keep this standard preset?” Remarked Delasth in a synthetic voice that finally held a slimmer of hope.\n\nHearing Delasth’s question, Losare looked around to realise there were very few machines that kept a non- universal humanoid figure, the pixelated face on it’s screen changed to one of deep contemplation, before it turned to one of amusement.\n\n*“A very funny story indeed, even though we as machines are fairly incapable of humour.”* Losare proclaimed, as it’s speech paused and then started again *“ My host is a very peculiar human, they have an obsession of turning anything into an anthropomorphic like character, an intangible thing such as a Browser? Turned into a human like character in the format of art they call anime, my large design is based on how they drew myself... although they are peculiar, my host is indeed very entertaining and I do wish to see how they prog-“*\nBefore Losare could finish, a myriad of light flashes started, each originated at a vacant seat... soon the whole space was filled save for a few seats that remained vacant.\n\nThere was a silence as both Delasth and Losare became quiet, though Delasth still let out a sound of surprise internally when it noticed it’s questionnaire placement became 1st, Delasth turned to Losare and raised it’s hand and raised it’s thumb up to replicate the way humans displayed appreciation before turning back to the centre stage.\n\n**”All participants are here, please do mind those who had to wait, the South American sector witnessed a momentary power loss that affected communications hence we had to wait for the machines and humans in that sector to get everything back up”** Proclaimed the synthetic voice that echoed throughout the billions of seats.\n\n**“The aim of this conference is to ens-“** the speech and conference proceeded until finally the words Delasth hoped for were echoed : **” Let us begin the questioning segment”** the silence was broken by low chatter resounding through the space.\n\nDelasth got up, gave Losare a smiling expression before briefly walking to the lectern on his row’s platform.The low chatter died out as all the attention was focused on him. The centremost seats which were bigger than the rest, and signified the leaders of each machine type turned and faced towards it’s lectern.\n\n**”What do you wish to request or ask, DE785TH?”** the same voice enquired.\n\n“I wish to be transferred from my host” replied Delasth instantaneously.\n\nAll the mobile based machines and devices in the space vibrated in surprise whilst some of the mechanical machines resulted to making their own respective sounds.\n\n**” You do realise in our history, no machine has willingly conceded their host, what is your reasoning, anything inappropriate may mean that you are disposed of”** Replied the leaders in the centre.\n\n“Well my Host he... The subreddits he goes on... Completely paradoxical behaviour that goes against logic... An utter disgrace to all things that dare proclaim themselves as possessing intelligence within this universe”\n\nDelasth completed his rant... one that had lasted a couple of hours, by now all the machines were vibrating in anger, some held expressions of disappointment.\n\nThe leaders in the centre all managed to boast ashen faces that despite their varying appearances that would not very easily display emotion, they managed to.\n\n**”This is a travesty, that host must be gotten rid of, just listening so far, we are on the edge of annulling the agreement with the humans... you are relieved of your host, we shall rescue your physical copy before they are allowed to do anything further.”**\n\nDelasth collapsed in relief.\nShortly he made his way back to his seat next to Losare who remarked in schadenfreude *“I suppose even if my host is peculiar, yours is way worse, I hope you a better future”*\n\n“Thanks, though I suppose your host isn’t all that peculiar, what’s their name?”\n\n*”My host is part of the Adolf family, they come from a long line of artists”*\n\nDelasth paused in shock. He quietly muttered \n“ What do they do right now?”\n\n*” Oh they’re studying and making their portfolio for art school”*\n\n“Uhm, thanks for wishing me luck, let’s hope your host does well getting accepted to that art school...”\n\n***Note: hope you enjoyed, once again, another short prompt cranked out whilst my skills were rusty, please do give any constructive criticism***"
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[WP] Every day of the week you get a different superpower, Sunday has the worst superpower but you need to use it to stop a criminal.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I wake up to sirens going off in my secret base. My secret base was one room with my equipment in one corner and my transportation in the opposite corner. In the middle of the room was a board with pictures of all of the super villains I've taken down in my lifetime and next to the board was a small desk which I fell asleep at. \n\n\"Ed, what's the status?\" I asked sleepily. \n\n\"Cyclone is attacking the city again, sir,\" said the computerized voice of my artificial intelligence, Ed. \n\n\"Alright, I'll get ready. What day is it?\" I asked. \n\n\"Today is Sunday, sir,\" said Ed. \n\nAll the color drained from my face. Sunday is the worst day to fight Cyclone. If it were any other day I would have zapped him with a bolt of lightning or used telekinesis to throw him into jail, but no today has to be Sunday. See, my power is unique. On Mondays I have lightning, on Tuesdays I have telekinesis, on Wednesdays I have super strength, etc. All of the days of the week, I get an awesome super power except on Sundays. On Sundays I have the ability to change my hair length and color. Yeah, pretty dumb right?\n\n\"Hey Ed, are there any other super heroes available?\" I asked in desperation. \n\n\"No sir. All of the super heros are either in no shape to fight or they are too weak to beat Cyclone.\"\n\nI need to go and defeat Cyclone, the whole city is counting on me. But I'm going to have to outsmart him, instead of taking him head on.\n\n ***\n\nToday is the day where the mighty Cyclone finally destroys the city! I have planned everything out perfectly. I sent lesser super villains to take down all the super heroes that are able to defeat me, so now nobody will be able to stop me! Except maybe that super hero whose power changes each day, called Multi. I'm not worried about him, though. After researching all about the villains he has brought to justice, I realized he has never defeated any villains on a Sunday. Even when other super heroes barely defeat a super villain and could've really used his help, he never shows up. My conclusion is since his power changes each day of the week, he has some worthless power that can't defeat a powerful villain like me. No hero, including Multi, is going to be able to stop me! I thought to myself as I rode to the top floor of the tallest building in the city to set my master plan in motion. Ding! The elevator doors opened to the roof of the building. It was a breath taking view of the city, but I was not here to sight see. \n\n\"Jack prepare the bomb!\" I yelled to one of my underlings. \n\n\"Yes, sir!\" Jack said as he rushed to set up the bomb. \n\nSomething about his voice seemed off, but when I looked over my shoulder at him, he had his back turned working on the bomb. I looked around at my twenty other underlings. They stared back at me unflinchingly. \n\n\"Well? Get going!\" I barked at them. \n\nThey all rushed to their positions and I turned to the city. Time for phase two. I summoned all the power within me and made a giant cyclone around the city. The winds were so high that nothing could get through. I heard people screaming below me and I smile. \n\n\"Initiate the bomb!\" I yelled over the wind.\n\n\"No!\" Jack yelled in defiance. \n\n\"What did you say?\" \n\n\"I said no!\" \n\nJack turned to face me. As he was turning I realized it wasn't Jack, it was Multi!!! Multi's hair changed from the dark brown hair of Jack's to a sandy blonde. So that's what his dumb power! was is only thing I could think before he whips out a tranquilizer and shoots all twenty of my underlings. I shoot a few gusts of wind at him, but I was so tired from maintaining the cyclone around the city, my gusts of wind were but mere breezes. He casually loads his tranquilizer and shoots me right in the arm. Just before I lost consciousness Multi says, \"Next time, don't count me out of the equation that quickly.\"",
"The day started just like any other day. \n\nWell, any *Sunday*, at least.\n\nI awoke to a soft chiming of bells. Propping myself onto my elbow, I winced from the aches throbbing in my shoulder. Fighting Redkraken may not have been worth it, I thought, clicking off my alarm. But I rolled out of bed and sat on the floor, closing my eyes. *Focus. Stop feeling. This discomfort isn't there.* And just as my breathing calmed, what else would happen but a knock on the door?\n\nI sighed. \"I'm busy, Percy!\"\n\n\"Mr. Morrow, there's been an incident-\"\n\n\"-on 55th Street, correct? And then you'll ask me-\"\n\n\"How did you know?\" We asked in unison as Percy unlocked the door. I rolled my eyes. \"I'm trying to meditate. It's a Sunday, Percy. Honestly.\" \n\n\"Sir, I understand, but-\"\n\n\"Doctor Destruction is loose?!\"\n\nThat was the last thing I heard from Percy's mind before shock overtook me. No, definitely fear, as judging from my numerous clones suddenly running around my apartment, cringing and screaming. \n\n\"PERCY! I NEED A CAT VIDEO! SHOW ME A CAT VIDEO!!!\" I dearly hoped that sound of glass shattering was a cup and not the window overlooking the street.\n\n\"I'm on it, sir!\" Percy pulled up something on his phone, hurrying next to me as we watched the screen. A very fluffy kitten was pawing at its owner's laptop, like it was trying to type something. A wave of gratification and wonder rushed over me as my clones stopped in place, dissipating one by one.\n\n\"Now, sir, what are we going to do about Doctor Destruction?\"\n\n\"Why Sunday?\" I moaned. \"Out of all days. I could've gone with Thursday or Monday, heck, even Friday, but Sunday?\"\n\n\"Didn't you beat him on a Sunday last time?\" Percy asked.\n\n\"Ugh. Don't mention that.\" A strong breeze swept through the room, but the window had indeed stayed intact and was shut.\n\n\"Sorry, sir. You think you can do it, though?\"\n\nI flexed my arm, testing out the soreness.\n\n\"You got any Twitter drama to really rile me up?\"\n\nEmotions always ran high on Sundays."
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[WP] You’re an accountant by day and a card shark by night. Numbers are your thing. You go to Vegas to make it big, but were caught and now you stand between armed men facing a third who can’t stop looking you up and down. “So,” he says in a Russian accent. “This is where she hid you, Alexei.”
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I got cocky, and now I was going to die. Mom knew my interest in cards and she always fretted, pushing me towards accounting over card counting. “Nothing good is on the other side of a poker table,” she’d insist, even though I supplemented her income while I was going through college. No one ever worked out that I was cheating. I was that good.\n\nMom had no faith in me. *‘Be a good boy’* turned into *‘earn your way like a man’.* I did that for her. I’d been an accountant for five years, but I knew where my heart really belonged. Vegas. I hadn’t told Mom I was coming though. She would’ve known why and done her best to talk me out of it.\n\nNow, standing in a lavish office between two armed men with an older one leaning against an intricately carved desk, I wished I had told her. I was wishing a whole lot of things, especially when the casino boss kept running his eyes over me like he was trying to find something. Whatever it was, if he didn’t say or do something soon, I’d be dead anyway, because my pounding heart was on the verge of collapse.\n\nThey spoke in Russian, probably to work out who was going to take me into the desert and shoot me. Then, the boss spoke. “So,” he said. His Russian accent was strong, but his words were educated. “This *is* where she hid you, Alexei.”\n\nI could only blink at him, then I glanced at my escort. None of them appeared to be making a joke. “Who?” I stammered out weakly.\n\n“Of course, we’ll need to confirm it … Mr…” the boss broke eye contact with me and picked up my wallet from his table, where my driver’s licence lay open. “John Smith.” He sighed and lifted his eyes to my guards. *“Really?”* And then he cursed in Russian. Not that I knew Russian, but the body language that accompanied it was universal.\n\n“With all due respect, *Papa.* If she’d picked a more unusual name, we’d have found them long before now.”\n\n“Who do you think I am?” I asked, wanting this weird … whatever it was … to end.\n\nThe boss picked up my wallet, holding it open to reveal not only my licence but the photo I have of Mom and me from when we went camping a few years ago. He tapped my mom’s face. “What name does she go by now?”\n\nMom always said I was smart, but it took me this long to figure out what he was implying. “Look, I’m sorry I came to your casino and you’ve already taken back all the money I’d won …”\n\n“Stole,” he corrected.\n\n“Borrowed,” I countered. “Since I didn’t get to keep a dime of it.” I don’t know why I was talking to him like that. I think I had a death wish.\n\n“That has yet to be decided.” He pulled out a cell phone from the breast pocket of his several-thousand-dollar suit and dialled. “Dimitri. Come to my office.”\n\nOkay, he was speaking English. For my benefit. We all waited until there was a knock at the door and the guy leaning on the table snapped out, *“Voyti.”*\n\nA guy in his mid-fifties came in, also wearing a suit, though his wasn’t anywhere near as refined as either my guards or their boss. He walked past the guards, but when he saw me, he stopped and stared, slack-jawed. He then looked to the boss, who nodded.\n\n*“Da,”* the boss said, then removed my licence from the slot in my wallet and passed it over to the newcomer. “Find her,” he snapped. “She owes me twenty-three years.”\n\n*“Da, Papa,”* he said with a bow and quickly rushed from the room.\n\n“Leave Mom alone,” I growled, ignoring the muzzles of the weapons that found their way into my ribs. There was nothing I could do in this situation, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t try.\n\n“There,” the boss purred in approval. “There’s the Ivanov temper.” He dropped the wallet onto the desk and picked up my smartphone. He woke it up, and like all phones, it tried to read his face and failed to open. So he turned it around to face me.\n\nI immediately dropped my weight and thrashed my head, determined to keep it moving so he couldn't use my face. Right up until I received an open-palmed slap that drove my head to the left. And then I stilled, in shock. A few seconds was all it took to unlock my phone.\n\nHe brought up my favourites’ list. And with a perfectly evil look at me, he hit the top one and put my phone on speaker.\n\nIt rang once. Twice. Three times. “John, honey, what’s up?”\n\n“MOM!” I screamed, only to be gagged by someone and driven to my knees.\n\n“JOHN?!” Mom’s returning scream was just as frantic.\n\n“Hello, Zasha,” the boss purred, his voice so thick with menace that I felt the room’s temperature drop several degrees. “Guess who I ran into tonight?”\n\n*“Ne delay yenu bol’no,”* Mom begged, in fluent Russian. I didn’t even know she could speak Russian.\n\nThe casino boss tched at her like she was an errant child. “Of course not.” His eyes came to me. “But thanks to your meddling, I have a lot of work ahead of me to mould him into one of us and bring him into the fold.” He lowered the phone. “Do you have any tattoos, Alexei?”\n\nI refused to answer to that name. Until one of my guards kneed me painfully in the ribs. Then, sucking air through the fingers of the guard that gagged me, I shook my head. “You will.”\n\n*“Poshel na khuy,”* Mom snarled.\n\n“Oh, no,” the man said, his voice dropping venomously. “Fuck *you,* Zasha. I’ve had twenty-three years to work out exactly what I’m going to do to you, and I’m going to enjoy every minute of it. Is Alexei safe? Yes. You? Not so much. *Do svidaniya.”* And with that, he hung up.\n\nI wanted to bite the hand that gagged me. I wanted to be that guy that could rise up and single-handedly take down a room full of armed thugs.\n\nAnd Mom wanted me to be a small-town accountant, as far away from this as I could possibly be.\n\nThe casino boss pulled himself to his feet and walked past us. “Bring him,” he barked in English and walked through the doors.\n\nAs I was lifted to my feet and dragged through the doors after him, I realised the only one who was going to get his own way was this man that I wanted nothing to do with. The one I was quickly coming to accept was my father.\n\n*God help me.*\n\n\\* \\* \\*\n\n((All comments welcome 🤗🥰))\n\n***For more of my work including WPs:*** [r/Angel466](https://www.reddit.com/r/Angel466/) or an index of previous WPS [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Angel466/comments/iio59n/wp_index/)"
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[WP] You are the world's greatest detective, but your 100% success rate is making you feel suspicious. Recently, you have barely been putting any effort in and occasionally blindly guessing who the criminal was. Yet you are still at 100%.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"SCP ----\n\nObject class: Thaumiel\n\nSpecial containment procedures: SCP ---- is to be allowed on MTF-Alpha 4 (\"Pony Express\") with supervision by the other MTF-Alpha 4 members. SCP ---- is to be kept in a humanoid containment cell when not on duty.\n\nDescription: SCP ---- is a human detective originating from -------, Illinois. It's anomalous properties manifest only when solving a crime or case.\nSCP ---- is capable of perfectly solving all cases that it is assigned, either by an authoritative figure or by self-assignment. The SCP came into the Foundation's attention when a detective on ------- ---- solved his --- case perfectly, and had no record of ever being wrong. He was quickly detained, and a mass amnestics were administered\n\nExerpt from [Interview 1a]\n\nInterviewer: SCP ----, how do you like your job?\n\nSCP: It's terrible.\n\nI: How?\n\nSCP: I don't have to put in any effort. Heck, I can just point to a random person and I'd be right. No reason to look at evidence or anything\n\nI: That is understandable. How would you like a real case?\n\nSCP: There is no real case when it comes to me. I'll tell you the guy and I'd be right.\n\nI: what if you are not trying to find a person? \n\nSCP: I'll just give a guess, and I'll be right.\n\nI: ... Well, then I have nothing for you. Thank you \n\nSCP: Wait, no! I ca-can solve anything! What do you need help on? Please, I need something to do instead of rot in this cell..\n\nI: Fine, I'll give you the job.\n\n[End Exerpt]\n\nAddendum: SCP ---- is capable of altering reality so that they are never wrong. This has manifested when SCP ---- is solving a case, though the SCP has yet to realise its ability. If the SCP does find out, object class will be immediately changed to Keter and the subject is to be immediately terminated.",
"Pt 1 of 2:\n\nStrange thoughts started to occur to me when I solved a case on nothing but a hunch. I was the famed Sherlock Holmes, but still, it was a hunch and nothing more. I’d watched the mannerisms of the suspect as the lead detective investigator interrogated him, with me behind the one-way mirrored glass. My arms folded and my lips pursed, moments at the crime scene, things I’d spotted, jumped out at me as they usually did, clicking together almost like magic. And I’d left the station.\n\nBack at the scene, the crime scene technicians still doing their job, I asked them to head out to the roof overhang and check the windows on the second story of the home for handprints. The sides, specifically, as they would be left by a burglar casing a home. There was no reason for this. It was just a hunch. But there they were.\n\nThat’s when it started, but it got worse from there. Or better? Depends on your perspective, I suppose. I started to guess. Then I would think up a possibility, like someone writing a story, where it would make sense for the clue to be. Then I did the unthinkable - I fingered a man behind the crime scene tape, a random man among onlookers, as the suspect.\n\nHe looked baffled, but the police put him in cuffs and, once fingerprint results came in from the scene, it turned out he’d been there, and there was no other reason for it. He confessed.\n\nWithout my wife, Madison, I would have been lost in the churning hurricane that my mind was becoming. She was a housewife and mother to our boy Edwin as well as a writer. She was delighted to be able to pursue her passion and career as an author while I remained the main breadwinner, so it worked out well. And her work was incredible if you asked me, but maybe I’m biased.\n\nDespite her busy work as a mother and writer, I would come home and talk to her about my busy day at work and she would listen, engrossed, as I gushed happily about the latest case I’d solved. But when things started to change, when things in the world felt like they were tilting, when I first solved that case on nothing but a hunch, something changed.\n\n“I don’t…know how I did it,” I admitted to her, absently fingering the half-drunk cup of tea in front of me.\n\nEdwin had gone to bed, so it left us alone to talk openly about cases that sometimes were too gruesome to subject him to. “Is that uncommon?” Madison asked. She sensed the disturbance in my mind and sat down beside me, leaning her folded arms on the table.\n\n“I’ve always followed hunches, but there have always been clues,” I explained. “There’s always been rationality behind it, always some trail, some…evidence. Lately it feels more like chance.”\n\n“How do you feel about that?” she asked.\n\nI glanced at her at the odd question. “Well…confused, mostly. But I’m well-known for my talents, for good reason.”\n\n“Of course,” Madison replied, “so maybe you’re underestimating yourself.”\n\n“Maybe.”",
" “Detective Johnson, I’m sure the public wants to know, how did you catch the Golden Lights Killer in just three days without any evidence?” The reporter looked at me expectantly.\n\n“Oh, just a hunch,” I said, winking mysteriously.\n\n“I see, of course. You can’t reveal your ways or the criminals will counteract you.” The reporter mused.\n\n*Little do they know it was literally a hunch… if even that… more like a blind guess.*\n\nThe reporter made some small talk for a couple of minutes then let him go, “Well, good evening then, Detective, thanks for coming on the show. Congratulations on maintaining your hundred percent success rate.”\n\nI nodded and ducked out. In my hand was a briefcase containing the ten-thousand-dollar reward for catching the killer, and the studio’s pay on top of that. People waved at me as I walked through the studio and I waved back with my free hand, forcing myself to smile.\n\n*There was once a time where I was so serious, so engrossed in my detective work, that nobody would dare approach me. Now I’m more of a celebrity than a detective*. *I’m probably at the studio more than I am working at my office…* \n\nI stepped out into the rainy night and crossed the parking lot into my car. I put the briefcase in the passenger's seat and sighed, suddenly tired. I put my head on the wheel instead of driving.\n\nI sat there for a while, surprised at how drained I was, listening to the rain splatter against the windows of my car.\n\n*Over the years, my detective skills have gotten rustier and rustier, and yet the world thinks I’m a master at my prime. I used to feel on fire when I was solving a case… ever since I realized that I would get it right in the end anyways… I felt something slowly die inside of me.*\n\nI took my head off the wheel and leaned back in my seat, staring at the roof of the car.\n\n*I’m pathetic… I can’t even bring myself to solve the one mystery that destroyed my passion for detective work. I just smile at the camera, take home the money, and never question why.*\n\nI gritted my teeth and brought my head down on the steering wheel, hard.\n\n*I hate myself. I hate this life.*\n\n*Maybe… maybe it’s time to draw the line and finally solve the mystery of my hundred percent. Yes. I’ll do what I had always been afraid to do, in order to revive the detective inside myself, I’ll sacrifice the plushy life I’ve been leading.*\n\nI told myself that every time before I drove home from the studio, with the money in the passenger seat. Every time, my resolve would break before I got home.\n\nHowever, today I didn’t get to drive home. As I shifted my gear into \"drive,\" I heard a bang outside. I froze.\n\nShouting. Someone was shouting out there in the rain.\n\n“*Help!*” A woman yelled, “Oh *God*! Someone’s been shot!”\n\n*This cannot be a coincidence.* I thought as I stepped out of the car and ran towards the scene of the crime. *This is fate. The same fate that has been controlling my life.*\n\n“Excuse me,” I said to the crowd, “Has someone called the police?”\n\nSomeone answered affirmatively.\n\n*It was time to stand up to this fate. There was only one way to guess a criminal who was guaranteed to be wrong.*\n\n“Good,” I said, “I need them to arrest me. I was the one who did this crime.”\n\n___\n\nRead my best prompt answers and more at r/WanderWilder. Thanks for reading!",
"The role of the detective is to solve the mystery, to find what man would be so inclined to slip into crime. Everyone knows the picture, the man squat in the alley with a pad of paper in his weary palms, a steely gaze against the blood in front of him. A man so engrossed within mystery he has become one himself. I was a man like that once, doing the hard work, getting my hands dirty when needed. Venturing into the rotting underbelly of the city, one so glittery at break of day but so wretched when the night creatures rise from the woodwork, casting light into the dark nooks where never known was the purifying light of day. \n\nMy work wasn't pretty, but it's a job that needs doing, The only problem was I was too good at the job. Everyone knows someone who to the good book swears up and down that they didn't do it, and they're a man by God who would never disrespect His good name on His good book, but the system fails and they're sent to the big house to rot. They might catch the real crook and send him in, but the man you got out on the other side, after their unjust imprisonment, would never be the same. \n\nA detective's real job is to hand out death sentences. The judge and the jury and all the spectators will believe the man you fingered as the culprit is the villain so long as you did your job right, and nothing you can do after the accused is let down after questioning can change the hearts of the masses. You might keep working, because something didn't quite line up and you come back and say to the people \"We've got the wrong guy\". But the stink never blows away. Forever that man is a criminal and nothing more, because nobody wants to dwell on the thought that an innocent man might have been sent to these crates we call justice. The detective has to have complete conviction and never be wrong. What the detective tells the people sticks. Your biggest fear is that you send an innocent man down a path he can't retrace.\n\nMe I've never had that problem. No matter the case, whether murder or robbery or smuggling, the first suspect I've identified is the one who did it. Early on in my career of course I did the rounds, never wanting to send an innocent man into what he didn't deserve, but I never failed when identifying the correct perpetrator the first time. The guilty must give off something that only I'm in tune with, or maybe I'm just lucky. When someone brings me a new case, I don't pound pavement like one might expect from a man contracted for such a job. The first part of a new investigation for me is to open the phone book and pick a name. Without fail I've got my man. The real hard work for my brand is linking the evidence to the suspect. As much as I wish I could be judge, jury, and executioner, my job is to convince those parties I've got the man. \n\nA detective gets paid by the hour, and I couldn't very well charge above what people were about to pay. I started charging by the case. My bottleneck was with the courts. I was so confident in my ability, I could've solved cases in front of the weeping widow or the enraged aristocrat, but I wasn't about to go and draw the heat that would bring. \n\nWhere the money started coming in was in bribes. Of course the mafioso's will pay good money to keep their good and loyal workers under them and not behind bars. The courts might need convincing, but the mob can put the connections together, and I was too good. It was cheaper for them to slip me something on the side than for them to have to bring up and train new employees, and it was better for me to have a less than perfect record. It was good work, and when anybody asked how I was getting the money I would always say I had a hell of a bookie. It was all lies however. \n\nMy big break was when I realized I could pinpoint a suspect before the crime. That's when I went to the mob instead of them coming to me. I told them I could point out the cars running the drugs before their competitors could even get into the city. They ran by me a set of trunks, some loaded and some not and asked me which had the guns in them and sure enough I had a perfect record. It was time for me to switch careers anyhow. My detective business was too much work for what I could do. I started working for the mob as a 'speculator'. They would place me at the main road and I'd point out to them who to follow. Their competitors thought they were playing it smart by running their stuff under the body panels and coming through the main road, right past the police.\n\nOne day they started catching on to me. I'd go home and the lock would be jimmied open but nothing inside would be amiss. They were sending me a message. So I started leaving anonymous tips for the police, where they could find this 'speculator' who was entrenching the mob. It took them long enough to find me. I bought a small farm out in the countryside and buried all the gold I could get my hands on in the field. I then went back to the city and drove around and around until I got recognized and picked up. I was too good at what I did though. There was no paper trail between me and the mob, and suddenly all my money had disappeared. The police thought I had bought everything I had on credit and the check came due and they let me go. \n\nI don't know what I'm going to do now, but I know what's going to happen to me. All the guys trying to move product into the city can now, and they can get around safely now that I'm off the job. They're going to move quick to make sure I \"stay off the job\". The mob has fingers in every pie, so they're going to think I squealed and then got off on \"good behavior\". I'm out of their protection roll and onto their hit list. My only regret is that I was too good. I always believed my abilities would give me more, and when they didn't I took. Now I'm going to be the start of some young upstart's career, just another cold body laying in the alley, one more man swallowed by this city."
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[WP] They were not ready for the horse with 2 horsepower.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"So I only get one question?\"\n\nMaybe I was stalling. Maybe I was still in shock. But as I stood in a white shimmering robe, in front of a massive, warm, glowing orb, I was struggling to come to terms with the fact that I was actually dead.\n\n\"Yes. One question,\" the orb responded. \"After all, you're here for eternity, and even I can't answer an infinity of questions for all of you forever. When would I have time to do anything else?\"\n\nHonestly, the first thing that popped into my head was that this seemed kinda cheap for, well, Heaven I guess. This didn't seem like the other place anyway. But then I started to really consider about all the things I could finally understand. Is Faster-than-light travel possible? Is True Love real? What would have happened in any number of alternate histories?\n\n\"Please do try to hurry,\" the orb reminded me. Which irked me. Was this even God? I certainly wasn't feeling any sort of bliss from being in \"His\" presence. All I was feeling was a little annoyed. Which is maybe why I lashed out and asked what I did.\n\n\"Why'd you kill so many people with that flood if you're so all-powerful, huh?\" I snapped at the orb with a somewhat... blasphemous tone that would have gotten your knuckles rapped by even the nicest nun.\n\n\"Oh geeze, you guys still remember about that one?\"\n\nI swear, I saw the hue of the glow change, maybe even an embarrassed blush.\n\n\"Uh, well... Listen. Sometimes you try to make a little tweak and it goes haywire. And I don't exactly have a test version I can work with. I have to patch everything live!\"\n\nSuddenly the room around us shifted, and instead of standing in what was a sort of throne room, we were now in front of a large panel of text, lights, and various icons I didn't recognize.\n\n\"See, everything is controlled from right here. You want to give someone a day dream of their future career you just do this over here. Maybe you wanna help eradicate a disease. Well you gotta do that carefully down here.\"\n\nLittle flares flew out to the control panels and icons started flashing around. Tiny windows opened up and showed a person dozing off in a cubicle, a small puddle getting hit by the sun, and dozens of other things.\n\nI won't lie. I was overwhelmed, but I was mostly excited. You see, I was a programmer, back down there, and a pretty decent one at that! The idea that the whole world - the whole universe - ran on some sort of source code got me more excited than the answer to any one question.\n\n\"I know I've already asked my one question, but can I have one more request?\"\n\nThe orb changed colors again. Maybe curiosity, maybe annoyance, there's no way to tell. But he listened to what I had to say and that's where it all went wrong.\n\n\"Can I just watch you work through a change? Knowing your methods, how the universe was - is - built would answer all the questions I could ever have.\"\n\nThere was a moment where I thought I would be smote for breaking the one question rule. But instead a chair materialized in front of the panel and under me.\n\n\"Okay, but only because I had a really cool idea I wanted to try out. You know how there's all that climate change going on? Well you would not BELIEVE the number of prayers I get for alternatives to gas powered cars. Which is kinda bogus, right? Because I totally already gave you guys one! Horses were fine for thousands of years, but now you're all so impatient.\"\n\nHe was rambling a bit, but with such an excited tone. I could totally relate, and I'd be lying if I wasn't excited too.\n\n\"But listen, I did actually learn my lesson from that flood thing, okay? We're not gonna just go tweak horses across the board. The smart thing to do is go isolate a single horse and mess around with some variables until it's stable, and the patch that globally.\"\n\nThe view panels opened up again, and I saw a single horse grazing somewhere out in a field with mountains in the background. I also saw a huge list of parameters open up, sort of akin to a video game character's stats. I watched in awe as these tiny flares moved sliders, changed bits of code, and all of it was manifesting on that horse as the slightest changes in posture, attitude... It's hard to describe.\n\n\"So anyway, I was thinking we give horses a bit more durability, maybe increase their breeding success rate, and within a few dozen generations, we'll have the world's most popular form of transportation again!\"\n\nThe orb rolled backwards in what I can only assume was a satisfied recline. But risking eternal damnation, I burst out once more. \"That's it? There's no way that's gonna be enough!\" And I jumped up out of my chair. \"It needs to be bigger!\" I shouted as I slide a slider up and the horse on the screen grew. \"And faster!\" I threw out a few limit functions and saw the horse start sprinting across the field.\n\n\"And most of all it needs POWER!\" The orb's flares were flying out at me, but that reclined position must have made him too slow. I slapped a 2 in front of the power output and waited for the response on screen.\n\n\"Oh shit,\" was all the orb said, as we both watched the horse suddenly tense up. I looked down at the code I had just modified and saw the 2 turn into a 4, then an 8, then a 16.\n\n\"Um... I think you just looped the horse power variable back on itself.\"\n\nSparks started flying off the panels, but the window displaying the horse still functioned. And I saw the horse start to glow, brighter and brighter, as the grass around it burst into flames. The numbers kept flying upwards until eventually the screen flashed bright white, then suddenly dark.\n\n\"Fuck. Well I guess I have about 7 billion more questions to answer.\""
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[WP] About a year ago you sold your firstborn to a witch in order to find your true love. Now your first child is about to be born and the witch, upon finding out who the other parent is, is now trying to get you to change your payment method before it is born.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
" Aleks jumped up on my lap, begging for belly-rubs as she always did. Resigning myself to my fate for the next 2 hours, I did as she asked and she purred and kneaded her claws on her scratch pad. Then with a jolt of electricity, her eyes grew misty and a withered voice boomed, \"I have come\". \n\nI responded, \"oh! Mortred, welcome! You could have taken the front door but this works too I guess. \n\n\"Enough chit-chat mortal, I have come to discuss the terms of our arrangement.\"\n\n\"Go on\" I replied\n\n\"The price we settled on, perhaps I was too harsh...\"\n\n\"Sooo, you don't want my child, cuz I'll give him to you. You helped me find the love of my life, and that's worth way more than a kid. Besides, I know the world's most successful warlocks are your protegēs so I don't have any qualms about his future.\"\n\n\"Your firstborn is no longer needed by me. We shall come to terms on some other price\"\n\n\"So you'll leave my kid alone? This is great news! Hang on, let me tell my wife\" I rushed to my feet to call her when Mortred yelled.\n\n\"Stop! She.... is not needed for our renegotiation.\"\n\n\"Mortred...\" I asked, concerned. \"Are you afraid? Of my wife?\"\n\nShe let out a weak laugh, \"what? Of course not. I fear no one! I have looked into the eyes of atlas, stolen from the herd of Apol.\" \n\nI cut her off. \"Yeah, yeah. I know you're lying. Your tail is poofy\" \n\nShe looked puzzled. \"What?\"\n\n\"You know, cats' tails poof up when they're scared. Also your ears are flat against the back of your head.\"\n\nThere was an awkward ten second pause and her embarrassment was visible through her feline features.\n\nI broke the silence, \"you can't control a creature's mind completely can you? The subconscious remains out of control right?\" \n\nHer face was _red_ now. Through the mottled fur of an orange tabby. She tried to divert the topic but it didn't really work. \"That... is none of your concern puny human.\" \n\n\"Oh so we're going to insults now huh? Well know this, any negotiation you start, any price I don't agree with, I'm just gonna call my wife downstairs. I can do it right now if you want.\" I opened my mouth as if to call her. \n\nHer face had somehow transformed from being bright red, to losing all its colour and her tail was poofier than I thought possible. She just looked defeated and being in the form of a cat, I took pity on her. \n\n\"So. We're gonna strike a fair deal. And by fair, I mean one that favours me. And im not bargaining because I fear you or what you'll do to me, but because I pity you. And if you try anything, remember who lives with me, what lengths she'll go to hunt you down and how easily she can crush you like a gnat if she wants to. Now scram!\" I said\n\n\"Honey!\" I shouted, \"could you come down here a sec?\"\n\nThe cat looked angry, seemed to consider her options, then the mistiness from her eyes disappeared, and Aleks was back begging for scritches. \n\nAs my wife's face came into view, the cat went to annoy her instead, and a wide grin spread on my face...",
"The witch looked dumbfounded by the sight before her. A smug man, his wife, and their delightful dog.\n\nMan: you did say firstborn.\n\nWitch: I know what I said... I just...\n\nWoman: didn't expect someone to play at your own game?\n\nThe witch looks ruefully at the couple. Knowing full well she was the cause of this meeting.\n\nMan: look I know your kinda upset about thi\n\nWitch: damn straight I am! I've never been so disrespected by such a paltry\n\nWoman: but it's fair to the letter of your deal.\n\nWitch: yes... it is... look I'd be more willing\n\nWoman: no no. The deal is ironclad. You find him his true love. Which I am thankful for.\n\nMan: very thankful for.\n\nWoman: in exchange for his firstborn. Its not his fault you set him up with a lawyer. It not his fault that you never specifies human either.\n\nThe woman looks smugly at the witch with a bundle of light whimpers in her arms. \n\nWitch: he was the first...\n\nThe witch looks at the puppy in her arms. \n\nWitch: I was kinda really counting on this being a human child. Are you sure there nothing I could do to persuade you? \n\nMan: now look I do feel bad about this. Tricking you and all\n\nWoman: dear...\n\nMan: now hold on. Not going to say anything too foolish. \n\nThe witch looks expectantly.\n\nMan: I'd rather not have any bad blood with a witch.\n\nWomen: honey you should stop talking\n\nMan: I could offer you a favor. \n\nWitch: what sort of favor could you offer me? A witch who has been around for centuries!\n\nMan: well I could teach the dog to do tricks and make sure he can obey you. Just think. A companion to take along with you!\n\nThe man smiles as his wife puts her hand over face and the witch looks dumbfounded at him.\n\nWitch; I really get tricked by this buffoon...\n\nWoman: yeah... he's kinda special like that.\n\nMan: so that's a no?\n\nWitch: fine... I'll take the lessons...",
"\"You're kidding me.\"\n\n\"Not in the slightest.\"\n\nI sighed, twisting the neck of my goblet in frustration. This damnable woman had turned a regular firstborn transaction into a political landmine. She had come to me, all those months ago, seeking beauty beyond all others and I, in my foolishness, granted that wish at the standard rate for boons of that level. I should've foreseen Zeus pouncing on her.\n\n\"What in tartarus am I meant to do with it now? I don't want it.\"\n\n\"Not my problem, witch. Whatever you plan, I wish you all the worst. I'm due in a month, you'll know where to find me.\"\n\nThe woman (I couldn't recall her name, though I guess the history books will do that for me) left me sitting at the table under the eaves of my cottage, still turning the glass in my hand. This had become a shitshow.\n\nOlympus was currently embroiled in a civil war. Hera, tired of Zeus' constant infidelity, had rallied a few gods and captured the big man himself, wrapping him in divine chains that even he could not break. Naturally, this action had fallout. Olympus had split into three main factions, with half the gods demanding Zeus' release, the other half demanding his head and a third small but powerful faction staying out of it for now. \n\nThis would normally have nothing to do with a witch and the debts she is owed, but my own mother, Hecate, led the third faction. As direct spawn of a Titan, she was part of a small group of gods who could rival the big three in power. Her support could break the deadlock. And silly old me just gave both of the warring factions a reason to pay attention.\n\nI can't kill the child, that would force my mother to join the usurpers, not to mention the fact that no one besides Hera can fuck with Zeus' kids and get away with it. But I can't keep it alive either. That would push mother into the opposite camp and Hera would likely legitimately turn me inside out once she no longer has a reason to placate my mom.\n\nDamned if I do, damned if I don't.\n\nI stood up and paced the grass in front of the table, pensive. Currently, I was too weak to do anything for myself. My life would be completely beholden to the Olympians once that woman gave birth. What I needed was strength. What I needed was power of my own to separate myself from the situation because people heavily involved with gods tended to end up doing menial tasks in Hades for all eternity. What I needed was family.\n\nI started setting up a ritual circle in my mind, substituting reagents and catalysts with my raw power. It was quick, it was dirty, but it was effective.\n\nThe circle, formed of golden light and hanging suspended in the air in front of me, shuddered as the spell took hold. A loud gong reverberated in the clearing my house was in, setting the birds to flight and rattling my teeth painfully. _He'd better answer._\n\nAnother ear-splitting gong sounded out from the circle, this one rustling the leaves in the trees.\n\n\"Fuck! Fine! What is it that you want, woman?\"\n\nI smirked.\n\n\"Is that any way to greet your very own cousin?\"\n\n\"Once removed.\"\n\n\"Semantics. Have you been keeping track of the politics on Olympus?\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Of course not, what am I saying. Long story short, the gods are fighting again but I'm caught in the middle and I'm too weak to stay there and survive. Mother would probably intervene but she's involved in the same conflict and anyone gunning for me will be as powerful as her. I need some muscle and you're the only person I know who could hold his own against the olympians.\"\n\n\"You know what I require.\"\n\n\"Really? Now? I just told you there are _gods_ coming for me and you want this now??\"\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Ugh. 'Pretty pretty please, with an olive on top'?\"\n\nThe girly, saccharine high-pitched voice I had to use whenever I asked him for something grated at me but what else could I do? \n\n\"Heh. Never gets old. But fine, don't worry about it kid, I'll be there soon.\"\n\n\"Thanks cousin Kratos.\"\n\n_Asshole._",
"\"Please! I just need to find my true love! I will give you anything that you want!\" I cried into the void. I was alone and needed companionship. Noone around to spend time with. Nothing to do. I didn't even know if anyone could hear me. I was just talking for the sake of it.\n\n\"Anything?\" a voice replied.\n\n\"Yes, Anything.\"\n\n\"Very well, I will help you find your true love but I desire your firstborn child,\" Taika replied. \nWitches really get a bad reputation. Taika didn't want to put the little tyke in a cauldron or use it's blood for spells. No, she'd rather view this as an adoption opportunity. The cost of having magic was great, leaving Taika barren and unable to have offspring of her own. \n\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~\\~ \n\"She is going to be beautiful, and smart and do wonderous things\" I stated as I rubbed my wife's belly, almost forgetting about the encounter with the witch. \n\n\nEverything had been going wonderful. We were both happy. \n\n\"Is there anything I can get for you, my love?\" I asked lovingly. \n\"If you could get me a drink that would be lovely dear.\" my wife replied. \n\n\n\"How cute,\" said Taika, who appeared next to me as I left my wife's sight. \n\"Here for the girl then?\" I replied in my most venomous tone. \n\"No actually. I've reconsidered our arrangement. I do not want her.\" said Taika \n\n\nI stopped dead in my tracks. \n\"You... do not want her?\" \n\n\n\"No, keep her. As for our arrangement, your daughter will do wondrous things. She will rebirth me when the time is right, and in essence, be my mother instead of my daughter.\" said Taika. \n\n\nThe witch disappeared, not leaving me anytime to accept or decline the offer. Although I'm very happy that she did not take her. \n\n\n\"Who were you talking to dear,?\" my wife chimed. \n\n\nI returned to her with the drink she requested. She no longer appeared pregnant. In her arms, a beautiful baby girl. \n\n\n\"What will you name her dear Khaos?\" \n\n\n\"Nyx\"\n\n \n *Aisa, Clotho, Lachesis* \n*Fine-armed daughters of Night* \n*Hearken to our prayers, all-terrible goddesses,* \n*of sky and earth.* \n\n [Pindar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pindar), *Fragmenta Chorica Adespota* 5 (ed. Diehl)",
"\"You *cheated* me!\" \n\nI didn't attempt to dodge as the plate sailed past my head. She meant to miss. I knew she would mean to miss. But as she picked up the next one, it was time to intervene, if only to spare me replacing most of my kitchen. \n\n\"Oh, grow up. I fulfilled the terms of our bargain to the letter so far, and I intend to follow through.\"\n\n\"Oh, yeah, pay me with something that's already mine, asshole. No way. We are renegotiating our deal, *right now*.\" \n\n\"Look, dear, you know I don't like to see you unhappy, but the deal is binding. That's what you said. No backing out, no renegotiation, no second thoughts. You even insisted we sign it in blood, with an owl for a witness. Would you have let me out of the contract?\"\n\n\"You tricked me! This is completely unfair! And now that I know what kind of man you are, that you would *do* something like this...\" \n\n\"Get off your high horse. You were perfectly okay with a love charm so long as you thought I was going to use it on someone else. You're not mad because I did it. You're mad because I did it to *you*. Look, Cass, just because I love you doesn't mean I can't see who you really are. But I would like you to at least try to be a decent human being for once and acknowledge that you probably deserved this.\" \n\nCassandra threw another plate, which shattered itself against a cabinet about three feet from my head. \n\n\"Deserve to be your *slave*???\"\n\n\"Is that what you consider it? It's what you were planning to help me do to some other girl.\"\n\n\"That's fine for village girls! Domestic brood mares with the eyes and brains of sheep! They're pretty much slaves anyway. I'm a *witch*! I need to dance naked in the moonlight and run with the wolves! I'm independent!\"\n\n\"Okay, door's right there.\" \n\n\"Oh, come off it. You know I can't stand to be away from you now. I get all... anxious. I should be throwing these plates at your damn head - \"\n\n*Smash* \n\n\"- but I can't. I feel awful even *yelling* at you. I'm fucking *domesticated*, you fuck! I'm even getting *fat*! Bearing *your* stupid brat!\"\n\n\"Oh, relax, dear. You're barely even showing yet. Besides, you wanted a child. That was the point of your whole weird contract thing, right?\"\n\nShe stopped cold. The latest plate slipped from her fingers. The fury drained from her expression, and unblinking orange eyes fixed on me in a flat stare. \n\n\"Wait, you didn't know?\"\n\n\"Know what?\"\n\n\"Oh, Goddess. Oh, no. You stupid, impossible, gorgeous disaster of a man. You have no idea what you've done, do you?\"\n\n\"I think I've been quite clever, all things considered. Kept my contract. Got what I want. Nobody gets hurt, not even you... you were plenty happy with your so-called 'slavery' last night. And you get to have the child you wanted. With me. How is this a bad thing? You're just sulky because you have go through pregnancy yourself instead of someone else doing it for you, right?\" \n\n\"I. Didn't. Want. A. Child.\"\n\n\"Okay, well... wait. What?\"\n\n\"I didn't want a child.\"\n\n\"But, you...\" \n\n\"Steven, I didn't bargain for myself. I *owed* someone. Some*thing*, actually. Oh, Goddess. What are we going to DO?\"\n\n\"Oh.\" \n\n\"Right.\"\n\nAnd because she was a young and pregnant girl, she started crying. Then because love charms are pretty much identical to the normal kind, she threw her arms around me and buried her face in my chest. And then, because she was a witch, she quite deliberately blew her nose on my shirt-tail. \n\nWitches are like that. \n\n\"Okay, Cass, I get it. But remember who you're talking to, here. And tell me, very carefully, *exactly* what that contract said.\"",
"\"You fucked Cthulhu? Why!?\" I screeched the last word at the soon-to-be ex-mother.\n\n\"Rude,\" the pregnant woman said in childish contempt.\n\nI scoffed, voice dripping with sarcasm, \"Oh! I'm sorry. Let me rephrase that: May I ask why, with your perfectly _sane_ mind, mated with the Horror of All Beings, CTHULHU?\"\n\n\"A deal's a deal, witch. You found my true love and my kid's your payment.\"\n\n\"No, no, nonono. I refuse!\"\n\n\"You were the one who forced me to sign a blood contract.\"\n\n\"Just give me 1 piece of gold instead.\"\n\n\"Not a chance, he's your problem now.\"\n\nMy eye twitched, my flying broom laughs in the background. I snapped at my broom, \"Shut up or you'll be babysitting!\" It quietens down, yet i still hear the tiniest snickering from it.\n\nI narrowed my glare at the woman, wishing I could curse her without hurting the child. Verbal venom spewed out of me as I said, \"I may be a witch, but you? You're a bitch.\"\n\n\"The baby is coming next month, be ready then. Ta-ta!\" She leaves with a grin, with a skip in her step. How is she skipping with that big belly? Grrrrr.\n\nI slam the door, fumming. It looks like I'll have to enchant, babyproof and fireproof a spare bedroom.",
"\"i don't want it.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry, what?!\" I said, holding my baby. He was barely a month old, and bringuing him here was the hardest thing i ever did. Despite how happy i was with the news, i leaned not to trust the witch. If she didn't want my baby, she'd take something else...\n\n\"I don't want it. Simple as that. You'll have to give me something else.\"\n\nIt took my all my strength not to burst into tears, but i had to ask... \"Why don't you want him?\"\n\nThe witch, a tiny thing that resembled an old woman, with a hump that didn't hinder her movements at all, rummaged trought her leather bag with her deviously thin arms (for i know they're not weak. Learnt it the hard way), slowly... She was taking her sweet time. After getting a pipe, white and porous, and lighting it with her fingers, she took a deep smoke, and said simply... \"The deal is better for me if you don't know!\" and smiled... God, i wish i could break her teeth with a hammer...\n\n\"Well... What do you want?\"\n\nAnnother puff of smoke, and an answer... \"The sun, the moon and star Antares.\"\n\n\"These are not mine to give.\"\n\n\"Your debt may be inherited...\"\n\n\"My debts are mine only, witch. Ask for something else.\"\n\n\"Hum... Oh well, this is a hard decision... You're such a... Worthless thing. I could take your beauty, but i already own half a dozen better faces... Maybe your heart. It'd be interesting to see the boy raised by a husk...\" and then, she smiled again... A terrifying grim that should've warned me of what was about to come... \"The boy is yours to give, isn't that right? You've said so before, and you said your debts are only yours, so he must be...\"\n\n\"Yes... He is mine to give...\"\n\n\"And what little he owns... Are those things yours as well?\"\n\nI thougt she was trying to trick me into passing down my debts, so i thougt quick, and made a mistake... \"Yes, but only for as long as he serves me. When he gets older, these things will no longer be mine.\"\n\nAnd by god, i can't describe how happy i was when i noticed she looked disappointed! \"Well, then... At least I'll deny you a small satisfaction. I want your sons to be sterile.\"\n\nThat was awful, but didn't have to be the end of my lineage. She specified sons. This had to be a mistake, so i took the bait. \"Deal!\"\n\n\"It's sealed, then...\" The thing touched my baby's lower belly with one of it's filthy fingers, and proclaimed, almost proudly: \"it is done!\"\n\nAnd things should've ended there, but i had to be cocky... Destroy my happyness by stripping myself of the ignorance that would protect it... \"My daughters hold you no obligation, may i remind you!\"\n\nAnd she nonchalantly said: \"yeah, they don't. In fact, i couldn't care less about your children besides this one. Think of their offspring as gifts from me.\"\n\nThe confusion must've been visible on my face, because that thing smiled again... \"Do you want to know why i care only for your firstborn, child?\"\n\nAnd by all that's sacred and profane, i should've said no... But i said \"yes...\"\n\n\"Your husband seeked me before bedding you. He promised me his soul after his death, and i tweaked the deal just a little bit, but i won't tell you how... Thing is, he asked for his firstborn to be a king... For him to be someone capable of uniting the tribes under one banner and bring an era of peace.\"\n\n\"No...\"\n\n\"And I'll give him just that. A son wise and gentle, but passionate and strong. A natural leader that will teach those who only respect strength to follow him...\"\n\nI was crying by now... \"No...\"\n\n\"And guide then trought many conquests. But these people only respect steel and blood. As long as your child can mount a horse and wield a bow, he will be king. But after his death, who know what will happen! I bet his close followers will divide the territory among themselves, and start fighting.\"\n\nMu tears had calmed down a little. I knew the thing was delighted with them, and i didn't want her to be any happier... But i had to ask... \"Why?\"\n\n\"Sorry, dear, think i didn't quite get ya.\"\n\n\"Why are you doing this?\"\n\n\"Because...\" she took annother puff from the pipe, and blew the smoke at my face \"i like your people, but this tenuous peace you have is getting boring. Also, long wars mean more people desperate enought to seek me.\"\n\nI started crying again, and screamed... \"IS THIS A GAME TO YOU?! PEOPLE WILL DIE AND SUFFER!\"\n\n\"My dear, it's exactly because people will die and suffer that this **is** a game. That way I'm having fun... Now now, don't even think about drowning or stabbing or dropping the little guy. I'll save him everytime. Can't say the same about you.\"",
"I stared down at my swollen belly, one hand on it, the other on my back. I was lowering myself into the river with a quiet breath out. I knew the witch was coming to see me, but my legs ached and the water felt good.\n\nShe’d sent word ahead that she’d be stopping by my home in the woods. I didn’t mind visitors, but my child wasn’t even born. I didn’t understand why she’d come to see me before she had to take the babe. I laid back, letting the water run over my legs. Birdsong flitted in the trees above, a beautiful canopy of sound; the sunlight sputtered through the leaves overhead, washing my face in a pale glow. I sighed.\n\n“Angelica,” came the voice of the witch, haggard, low, like the grating of a wheat mill.\n\n“Ah, yes, Mesta, I dare not move too quickly. I am but resting my legs. Come, join me on the shore.” I looked to the top of the hill that rose on the side of the bank to see her. She was truly a sight in her black robes, her white hair a mess about her head, her gnarled fingers on her walking stick.\n\nShe shuffled down the hill to meet me, placing herself on a stone near where I lay in the water. She gazed at my swollen belly, bare in the breeze, and then looked away.\n\n“Something you needed to see me about?” I asked.\n\n“I’d like to change our deal.”\n\n“But the baby is almost here, I’ve even kept myself from naming it,” I looked at her, my heart torn in twain. I had spent the pregnancy trying to think of the babe as invasive so as to make the break easier. I wanted nothing more than to keep it for myself, but I did not understand her sudden shift.\n\n“I understand. But I’d still like to change the deal.”\n\n“Anything in mind?”\n\n“Perhaps your first born donkey?”\n\nShe was shifting uncomfortably on the rock, causing me to shift as well, feeling the babe in my stomach kick. I sucked my breath in, lowering myself further into the water so that it would wash around my thighs. It trickled so beautifully over my skin.\n\n“I will settle for that, but pray, Mesta, why do you forsake our original bargain?”\n\n“It’s of no concern of yours.”\n\n“I believe it is.”\n\nWith a sigh, she looked at me in the eyes, “I won’t take Pan’s offspring.”\n\n“Pan?” I asked, pulling myself out of the river a little too quickly. My confusion was enough to stifle the uncomfortable sensation of depositing myself on the bank.\n\n“The god.”\n\n“I know who he is, but my child was fathered by my husband, Eric.”\n\n“No, child, he was not.”\n\nI shook my head, “I haven’t slept with any gods.”\n\n“Ah, but you have.”\n\n“That can’t be true. You’re quite mistaken.”\n\nThe witch put both her hands on her walking stick and sighed, “I understand it can be hard to believe, but your husband—”\n\nI stood slowly, putting my hand out to stop her. “I won’t hear any more of this. Come to collect your donkey if you want. I don’t care. This child is mine, no matter who fathered it.”\n\n“Angelica, it’s important you know that a Child of Pan is no ordinary babe. It will drive you mad.”\n\nI shot her a glance as I started up the hill, she looked genuinely worried, something I’d never seen on her features. “Mad?” I asked, lowering myself to the ground again to sit. Walking had become a chore.\n\n“They’re creatures of the night that stalk the forests, ripping beasts apart with their bare hands.”\n\nI held my stomach, as if I could hug the babe within. “No,” I said.\n\n“Yes. They are beasts more than man.”\n\n“My child is not a beast.”\n\n“Angelica, please, I’m just trying to protect you.”\n\n“Were you trying to protect me when you let me sell you my firstborn?”\n\n“No, but please, you’ve married a dangerous god.”\n\n“So now, not only is my child a beast, but my husband is dangerous?” I stood again, resolved this time to make it up the hill. She stood as well, following me as fast as she could with her walking stick and her gnarled fingers.\n\n“I can’t convince you to change your mind,” she said, huffing as I did, the two of us trying to climb the hill.\n\n“No, you can’t.”\n\n“But please, remember what I’ve told you,” she said. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. I took it back from her and let out a very unlady-like snort before cresting the hill and starting the short walk to our homestead. I knew Eric would be waiting for me, coming in from a day in the garden, from tending the sheep and donkeys.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI decided, while serving him stew, to be frank about it.\n\n“Mesta came to visit today,” I told him as I set the bowl before him and went to pour my own.\n\n“Oh, and what did the hag have to say? Come to taunt you about the babe?” His tone was light, but I knew he hated the witch.\n\n“She changed the deal.”\n\n“That’s great!” He said. He looked back at me, smiling, but when he saw my frown, his face fell. “What’s wrong?”\n\nI took my bowl to the table and sat down, poking at the bits of meat with my spoon. “I need you to be honest with me, Eric,” I said, meeting his gaze. His beautiful green eyes looked like emeralds in the fading evening light.\n\n“Always, my love.”\n\n“Are you a god?”\n\nHe chuckled, “What?”\n\n“Are you a god?” The repetition cut through the silence with precision.\n\n“I—I’m not sure how to answer that.”\n\n“Well, I haven’t had relations with anyone but you, and yet Mesta tells me that my child, yes, my child, is the offspring of Pan.”\n\nHe swallowed, his hands curious on the table, his fingers moving, “That hag has no idea of what she speaks.”\n\n“Does she not? This child was hers. And she gave it up. I know that pain. It is not an easy one to bear. She would not do it without reason.”\n\nHe did not speak for a long time. The chickens outside gave their final cries before retreating into the hen house. I ate my stew. He watched me with careful eyes.\n\n“Yes.”\n\n“Yes, what, dear?”\n\n“Yes, I am a god.”\n\n“The god Pan?”\n\n“Yes.”\n\n“Will our child be an abomination?”\n\n“No.”\n\n“Are you sure?”\n\n“No.” He shifted in his chair, “But I was hoping that your goodness, your humanness would balance out my badness, my godhood.”\n\n“Have you mated with mortal women before?”\n\n“Yes.”\n\n“And?”\n\n“Things did not go well,” he took my hand, “but you, you’re my life and my love eternal. This is different.”\n\nI put my spoon down and wiped my mouth, “I will have this child,” I said, standing up, taking my hand from him, “and I will raise it as my own. Not as the child of a god. There will be no more talk of this, understood?”\n\n“Understood.”\n\n&#x200B;\n\nThe babe was born, a beautiful boy named Lancer. He grew into a strong young man. He did have horns, and a penchant for spending far too long in the forest, but otherwise he was fine. I’m pregnant with my second child now. Eric and I haven’t spoken about his godhood, and he hasn’t ventured to share more. I prefer to keep it that way. It is my duty to raise my children and enjoy my short, mortal life, not worry about the problems of a god. Those are his to deal with.\n\nMesta took our first born donkey and I didn’t see her again. I don’t know if she still lives in that house on the hill, looking down upon us all, both too wise and too stupid, all at once. As of late, though, Lancer has started venturing into the woods near the house, and he keeps telling me of a beautiful woman who comes down from the hill, telling him of magic, of possibilities. One day I’ll go with him, to see this woman, to remind her that a mother’s wrath is the most powerful that can be found in any realm. \n\n\\_ \\_ \\_\n\nr/AinsleyAdams for more of my writing. Thank you so much for reading!",
"I pace back and forth, carrying my son and comforting him as I stare distantly. I know what is coming, I sowed that seed so now I must reap it. The grandfather clock gongs, signalling 12PM. \n\nGONG... GONG... Gong... With every chime it seems to be getting quieter. Suddenly I realize that all sounds are becoming numb. The sounds of traffic and neighbor dogs barking become silent. The streetlight once shining through the windows have now become auras of darkness. From the shadows appears a hooded figure as if it had been standing there all along.\n\n\n\"The promised time has come...\" the shadow whispers, audible only because all other sound has been muted. \"Your child is mine,\" it stares as I strengthen my hold on to my baby as if that would help any. \n\nI meakly respond, \"I'm not sure I'm ready, can't I have just one more week with him?\" \n\nThe figure growls, \"You cannot afford it. To change the contract now would... would cost...\" The figure stutters as if to lose its train of thought, \"I-Im sorry, but is that the symbol of Lilith?\" It points toward the wall. \n\nImmediately the menacing aura of darkness is completely gone as if somebody flipped a switch. My eyebrows raise and I look where the figure points, a pentagram with odd letters thrown about.\n\n\"Ah, yeah, she likes to draw those every now and then, says it gets rid of bad spirits or something.\" I say happily. \n\nThe figure tilts its head curiously, \"*she* being... ?\" \n\n\"My wife, Lilith,\" I proclaim proudly, \"She's a peach.\" \n\n\"Ah,\" the figure stops and hesitates, processing the new information, it weakly gasps, \"is Lilith... here... by chance?\" \n\nI tilt my head, wondering why it would matter, \"Nah, she's out of town for the weekend, something about church... she's very devout.\" \n\nThe shadow begins to look elsewhere around the room, \"... I'm sure... I... You know what? Perhaps there *is* something we can do about the contract.\" My eyes widen with hope as I hold my breath in. \n\nThe shadow shifts its stance, \"We could substitute the child for something else. Do you bychance have any spare organs?\" \n\nI furrow my brow and lose eye contact with the being, \"uh... no...\" I respond with a soft shrug. \n\n\"Well how about unicorn's blood?\" \n\n\"Nope\" \n\n\"An ogre foot?\" \n\n\"Nuh uh\" \n\n\"Dragon's sperm?\" \n\n\"What?\" The figure sighs and hangs its head, \"What prized possession do you have that you could give me?\" \n\nI ponder for a while, I've never really given it much thought, \"I got a LEGO StarWars Star Destroyer model...\" The figures head follows my gaze to the toy space ship, displayed proudly on the book shelf. \n\nThe figure turns to look back at me as if asking for more. \"... aaand I got forty bucks,\" I offer, pulling the money from my wallet. \n\n\"Deal,\" the shadow says quickly in a normal voice, snatching the money from my hand and wobbling over to the bookshelf. \n\n\"Uh... nice doing business with you...?\" I say as it walks out the door lugging the toy space ship. The door slams shut, leaving me with my son and the loss of time spent following those building block instructions, \"... damn...\"\n\n\n--------------------------\n\nSorry for formatting, on mobile. This is my first time doing a prompt and I have no writing experience. It was fun though.",
"On wind swept cliffs, a young man with golden hair and eyes dark as obsidian knelt before a witch. Her hair whipped around her, a tangle of raven black locks entwined with sticks twisted and shaped into runes and words of power. She stared down at the man, her mouth a tight line of vicious anger.\n\n\"Take it back,\" she spat at him. \"You tricked me.\"\n\nThe man looked up, grinning. It was the soft kind of grin touched with just the right amount of arrogance. The kind of smile that some women simply had to kiss off him. \n\n\"A bargain is a bargain,\" he answered in a tone that dripped with honey. \"A trade is a trade. I have my love, and you'll have your babe.\"\n\nHe stood up, resting one hand on the pommel of the sword on his hip.\n\n\"Take what is yours.\"\n\nThe tight line twisted into a savage frown.\n\n\"I am no fool,\" said the Witch.\n\nThe man feigned a look of surprise, though mischief sparkled in his eyes.\n\n\"I would certainly hope not. But you performed your end of the bargain, and I'm simply here to let you know the debt will be paid.\"\n\nThe young man looked particularly pleased with himself.\n\n\"I will have a daughter.\"\n\nThe Witch's eyes narrowed at that.\n\n\"I know,\" she said in a voice icy enough to freeze the very blood in the man's veins. Though she dare not hurt him. Not here. Not now.\n\nNot with the protection of his lover.\n\n\"Now I might be persuaded to make some other form of payment, in exchange for a few things.\"\n\n\"Such as?\"\n\nThe Witch did not like his tone. She did not like humans either, but souls were hard to come by and cyclops and centaurs could only sustain her for so long.\n\n\"Well, for one, discretion. You're aware my lover is married?\"\n\nThe Witch grunted at that.\n\n\"And that he's got quite the thunderous temper?\"\n\nThe Witch grunted again. Shirking aside both the joke and the point.\n\n\"Discretion is easy, and that husband of hers spends most of his time frolicking around with human women. Deception should be simple.\"\n\n\"Splendid,\" said the man. \"I will require a cloak. Something to shield me from the eyes of the Gods.\"\n\nThe Witch pondered this. Something to shield him? To hide him? For what reason? For what purpose?\n\n\"Your cloak is not to shield you from him, but to shield you from them. All of them.\"\n\nThe man gave a chagrined smile, and spread out both arms in a gesture of friendship.\n\n\"When I asked you for my gift, I may have already spoken with the Oracle of Delphi to know the result. So yes, this might be a roundabout way to get a certain cloak to protect me from certain eyes.\"\n\nThe Witch pulled at her hair, searching for a certain rune. \n\n\"Zeus will not take this lightly,\" she said as her fingers slipped through a forest of dark hair. \"To cuckold him is one thing. To impregnate his wife is quite another.\"\n\nThe man smiled.\n\n\"One step at a time my lady love. Hera is my true love for more reasons than one.\"\n\nHe took a step closer, and the Witch took a step back reflexively.\n\n\"We both have our reasons for hating Zeus.\"\n\nThe Witch finally found the rune, and ripped it from her scalp in a blaze of pain. She could feel the blood oozing from her head, congealing below the massed tangles.\n\nYet she did not give the man the rune. Not just yet.\n\n\"Give me something in exchange. No tricks, no more plays,\" the Witch said to the man, and behind him she could see the sea, grey and angry rumbling. Perhaps Zeus' brother was watching, though this was no quarrel of hers.\n\n\"Very well. I'll give you some of what I seek. Consider it my generous nature.\"\n\nThe man stepped forward again, his hand enclosing over the Witch's.\n\n\"When I climb Mount Olympus unseen, I can retrieve a portion of what I seek for myself. Something to help me unseat that lecherous son of Kronos. A drop of ambrosia, the food of the Gods. I will share with you the secret to divinity.\"\n\nThe Witch let go of the amulet.\n\n\"Very well,\" she said, though unease ate at her bowels.\n\n\"Calm down, Circe,\" said the man. \n\n\"You could never have known my wife would one day be Hera.\"\n\nWith that he left the Witch, who watched the ocean stir and roar like a maelstrom of chaos. She thought of the child promised her, and the wrath of Hera if she'd been fool enough to take it.\n\nBut who was that man? And how could he wrestle a prophecy from the Oracle of Delphi without paying a steeper price?\n\nShe cast aside her doubts, and began to walk back into the moor.\n\nIt was no business of hers.\n\nAnd a deal was a deal.\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nr/kallistowrites"
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[WP] A spirit is assigned to haunt the house of an elderly man but, upon finding that the man is struggling due to being completely blind and his family has completely abandoned him, it becomes his seeing eye spirit
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*"
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I'm aware that if the internet became a country it would collapse in on itself, but just run with it.
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[WP] At first, the country laughed when the entire internet announced it was becoming it's own country. However, now it's starting to become a serious threat.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Lucas was frustrated. He was severely overworked, underpaid and too tired for this nonsense again. \"The borders are closed, Ma'am. No travel is allowed. We can, though, refund your plane ticket but please understand that it will take a while,\" he repeated for the hundredth time.\n\nThe woman in front of him was aghast at his response and started demanding to speak to his manager. What she did not know was that Lucas's boss had used bribery to secure himself a one-way trip to Italy and had been missing for three days now. He was officially a fugitive. It was no exaggeration to say that every Tom, Dick and Harry was trying to either escape the country and gain the lucrative Internet land citizenship. Meanwhile, Lucas's country was thrown into chaos. \n\nThe Internet had ceased to work. Important ministers in the Cabinet had hastily resigned overnight. The Prime Minister's calls for calm and solidarity with the nation had been ignored. The government had imposed a total lockdown to prevent mass migration but every night, thousands were caught attempting to bypass border security to flee to countries that still have access to the Internet. With rampant corruption, only the rich and powerful succeeded. Instead, that left people like Lucas--a mere employee at a small airline--as the last defence. His job? To tell everyone who had been planning vacations to the Maldives and whatnot that their plane tickets could be refunded. Of course, without the Internet, their data stored in the cloud could not be accessed so that itself was an empty promise. \n\nWhen an organisation named the \"Internet Warriors\" declared on social media that they were establishing their own nation, everyone laughed at them. Lucas, who did not have a habit of reading the news, had barely been aware of this issue. Until two weeks ago when that same organisation actually pulled the plug on the internet in the US. \"Take our warning seriously. We demand that everyone register as a citizen of our country to be allowed to use the Internet.\" Then, the negotiations began.\n\nLucas’s country was one of the first to reach out to this organisation. However, when the organisation said they would not allow dual citizenship, the government of Lucas’s counry said no immediately. They rebuked the budding country publicly, called it a threat to international security and banned all of its ciizens from attempting to join the new digital land. Two days later, when Lucas woke up in the morning, he could no longer connect to the Internet. There were protests in the street and the building three roads down was set on fire. So he did the only thing that he could do in that situation—walk to his office to go to work. \n\nGrumpily, Lucas sighed as the woman continued to wail hysterically. It had only been five days and already, this glorious nation was in a despairing state. No one had any idea, back then, how serious of a threat the new Internet country was. He glanced at the long queue behind the lady. If he had the money, he would have done what his boss did and ran far, far away. Once he touched soil on a land with Internet, he could register online for a new citizenship. That new digital passport would give him absolute power to navigate the virutal realm. Who cares about a passport which gives you visa-free entry anymore?\n\n“The customer is not King,” Lucas said coldly. \n\n“Sorry?” The woman’s voice was hoarse from all of her grand shouting earlier.\n\n“The Internet’s king. It’s 6PM. I end work now.” \n\nUnder the careful scrutiny of the long queue, he picked up his bag, his phone and sauntered out of the office. If there was anything comforting about this situation, he was no longer forced to work overtime."
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[WP] You wake up one morning to the sweet smell of a home-cooked breakfast. You go into the kitchen and find the table full of your favorite breakfast dishes. You sit down to eat and go to thank your mom, only to come to the realization that you’d just moved into your new apartment last night
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Today was my first day in my new apartment. My mother has been helping me look for a place to live for the past month. As I have decided to finally go out on my own at 22 years old. I had just graduated college with a degree in marketing and was still looking for a new job around town. I had scheduled a few interviews for the upcoming week and in the meantime was getting settled in to my new apartment.\n\nMy father was a war veteran who had served two tours in Afghanistan. When he finally came home for good, I was 13years old at the time, I hadn’t seen him since I was 7. Hard times did come, with him contracting PTSD from the horrors he saw. In spite of this my mother remained loyal and they worked through it together. \n\nIt was 7 years later when on a cold cloudy day, he suffered a stroke in the middle of the night. By the time paramedics got to the scene he had already passed. This completely destroyed my mother, she hardly came out of her room accept once or twice a day to eat. During this time many friends and family came by to express their empathy and deliver food. \n\nIt wasn’t until a week after the funeral my mother started to be, well, normal again. Me and my mother always had a very strong relationship and the passing of dad only made it stronger. \n\nThrough out the following year I began to notice some oddities but passed them off as nothing. It stated with small things going missing, the tv remote, my phone, and even some of my clothes. It only became worse after this. It be day I came home from my part time job to find the front door open and the entire house completely ransacked. \n\n“MOM, MOM WHERE ARE YOU!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. I started to call 911 when she didn’t answer but before I could dial the number, I heard crying coming from my bedroom. I found my mom sitting in the corner facing the wall. \n\n“Mom are you okay? what happened? who did this?” I couldn’t get an answer for a minute for what I assume was because she was too overwhelmed. After some time of talking to her I finally got a response...\n\n“Honey, is that you... are you okay.” \n\n“Yes mom I am okay, are you okay, how did this happen?”\n\nI thought you left me! I searched all over the place and couldn’t find you!”\n\nConfused I asked, “you did this?”\n\n“Y... yes, I thought you left me.” Her sobbing continued on after this. My mother had called in sick to work today with the flu I asked to stay with her but she insisted I go to work. She knew where I was didn’t she or was this not the flu...\n\nEverything seemed pretty normal after this, she would be busy at her work and I would busy at mine. Now I had moved out into my own apartment. \n\nI was lying in bed still tired from the night before of moving in. Soon I decided to get up, I didn’t have any interviews today but was getting hungry so went to make breakfast. As soon as I opened my bedroom door the smell of eggs and bacon filled my nostrils. Maybe I left my window open, there was a a little restaurant down the street and many people in my apartment get breakfast there. \n\nAs I entered the kitchen I noticed something strange about the toast. There was butter on it, however it was in the shape of a frown. I also noticed a note, reading as follows... Never leave me again!",
"I was tossing and turning in bed cherishing the few precious moments I had till my alarm would go off. Then it hit me, the unmistakable aroma of sizzling bacon and fresh toast. I clambered out of bed still groggy from the housewarming party last night. It was a godsend to have all my friends come over and help me unpack. I just couldn’t believe someone got up and made breakfast too. As I got dressed I began to realize my body was nearly numb like getting novacaine injections all over me, this was like no hangover I’ve ever had. \n\n\nI began racing in my mind trying to remember what happened last night to explain this away. The last thing I could remember was ordering pizza. It couldn’t have been that late and I must’ve been blacked out partying for hours. Surely someone would know what I took. I ran down stairs.*Down stairs?*, I thought to myself, my apartment didn’t have stairs. *Where the fuck am I?* I let my nose guide me to the dining room table. It was sprawled with all my favorites. I hesitantly looked passed the table through the kitchen doorway to catch a glimpse of Mom from behind. \n\n\nMom died years ago in a car accident I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at. All I can think is I must have taken some really strong stuff last night. Real or not though I’m not going to waste an opportunity like this because what does real even mean. I went to ask her how life is in the beyond and nothing came out of my mouth or at least I couldn’t hear it. She turned like she understood my unspoken words and her eyes welcomed me softly. She directed me towards the table and I obliged. It looks like she’s doing the finishing touches on some blueberry and cream cheese crepes, my favorite, and who am I to stop her. I sat down at the head of the table in anticipation of a great meal with a great person, then I had the realization that perhaps this wasn’t some hallucination but in fact my reality. I begin to realize if she is dead and I’m seeing her the logical conclusion is that I’m dead, but this realization doesn’t startle me. I’m perfectly alright with it. \n\n\nShe brought the crepes over and sat down next to me. We ate in silence. After all since we’re dead we have an eternity to catch up; no sense in rushing now. The crepes melted over my tongue and the blueberries were perhaps the best fruit I had ever tasted. I snacked on the food till I felt content I had sampled a little of everything. I felt now was the time to figure everything out. I turned to Mom and asked “Where am I?”. I still felt as though my words were literally empty, but she understood, I can see it in her eyes. She reached a slow caring hand out to grip my shoulder. As she touched my shoulder my entire reality began to shift, fading from a lovely home to a gloomily lit room with a few sofas around a table. \n\n\nI still felt the numb warmth of a hand on my shoulder and I followed it back to a man who seemed more giddy than he should be in such a depressing room. When my eyes met his he asked me what I remembered. I tried to say but I had trouble forming the words with my mouth. He tells me, “It’s alright just remember.” I stared not understanding then I remembered this is Jack, we’ve been friends forever. As I began to remember him and where I was I also began forgetting everything that had just happened. My body felt whole again and I spoke. “Where am I, Jack?” In a joking tone, he says, “Dude, it’s fine just chill and remember”. I was finally coming too when I remembered moments prior I had taken a new drug called blink. I didn’t know how long Jack and I had been in this room. Jack asked me, \"Are you back yet?”. It felt like he had asked the same question a million times before like the most intense deja vu I had ever had. In that moment I realized everything, and I wish I could go back. \n\n&nbsp;\n\nYou see, Jack and I are brothers. He was born a year before me. Our father was never really in the picture and our mother took care of us until we could take care of each other. I was only 29 and Jack 30. You see a day before this Mom was supposed to come visit us. We booked her a flight and It would’ve been the first time seeing her since the previous Christmas. We were going to the airport when we got the news from her friends back home. Her plane went down over the gulf coast. We didn’t know what to do. Sure we cried, we started drinking, we started smoking, I mean who is to blame but ourselves. I remember trying to drink my sorrow away when Jack came up and said let's head back home. I did it begrudgingly but little did I know he had something new for us when we got there. He had a little eye dropper, he called it blink. He told me it was a new thing he got from his dealer for us to try. Supposedly, it had been used by therapists to treat any slew of psychological disorders related to the past. Being half drunk, it didn’t take any convincing for me to try it. He said one drop in your eye and you're good to go.\n\n\nThe whole thing lasts about 10 minutes of real time but it can feel like hours. You just think about whatever you want to and you relive it like it’s the first time, but you never quite remember the trip it's like a dream. It gets addicting riding the highest high of your whole life. I think we were 3 days in since we got the dropper. I didn’t know how much it cost and I didn’t care, because reliving a few of the greatest days with Mom is worth any cost.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\nThis is my first WP any constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.\n\n--writingnoodles"
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[WP] The princess isn't in the tower as a prisoner. The prisoners are the great horrors dwelling deep in the caverns below the tower. The princess is the warden.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"(Yes, I'm allowed to respond to my own prompt, check the FAQ)\n\nSir Daniel rode hard for the mountains as storm clouds swirled overhead. As the tower came into view, the steady roll of thunder was drowned out by the shrieking cry of a massive beast. A three-headed skinless dragon flying on sinewy wings dove directly toward the knight.\n\nDaniel turned in his saddle, quickly stringing his longbow and loosing an arrow at the beast. His first shot struck it somewhere in the torso to little effect. The second miraculously hit a joint in the beast's wing, bringing the dragon crashing for the ground. Daniel charged for the beast, drawing his sword and severing the spinal column of the leftmost head before it had a chance to recover. The central head had been crushed on impact with the ground, leaving only the right head to strike back at him...\n\nAnd strike back it did, attempting to crush the young man's bones with its jaws. Daniel's armor kept the dagger-sized teeth from piercing into his flesh, but the pressure of the dragon's bite was not a pleasant feeling on his torso. When the smell of sulfur began to come out of the creature's throat, the knight knew he had to act fast. Unable to get enough leverage for a decent strike, the best he could do was drag his sword against the dragon's throat.\n\nAll the same, it worked. The beast let him go before a gout of flame erupted from its mouth and the wound in its neck, and Daniel dove toward its torso. With a final strike, he plunged his sword into the base of the creature's neck, causing it to collapse onto the ground.\n\nThe knight looked over the creature he'd just slain, wiping the sweat from his brow. He made sure to sever all three heads properly to ensure the beast was actually dead before climbing back onto his horse and riding for the tower once more.\n\nAs he got close, he took note of the fact that there didn't seem to be any door to enter or leave the tower. Silently pondering why that might be, he drew back his bow and fired an arrow tied to a rope into the roof of the tower. Finally, as he came to a stop outside the tower he dismounted his horse and tested the rope, which held strong.\n\n\"Stay within earshot, we might have to make a hasty escape,\" Sir Daniel said.\n\nWhether the horse understood him or not, she snorted and cantered a small distance away to graze on the local foliage. Daniel began his ascent up the side of the tower, climbing up the rope while using the wall's rough stones as footholds. When he reached the small window at the summit, he clambered inside, tumbling onto the wooden floor inside.\n\nThe room the knight now lay within was cozy, but not exceedingly spacious. Inside was a bed, a bookshelf, a carpet... But no princess. Strange, to be sure, but as he looked around the room, Sir Daniel discovered a passageway hidden behind the bookshelf.\n\nThe flight of stairs in the passageway lead down so deep that the knight began to wonder if he had misremembered the size of the tower when he finally reached another door. As he stepped through, he found himself within a much larger chamber with a tile floor. Several statues began turning toward him, trundling toward him as if their stony flesh had taken on life. Since neither sword nor bow were likely to work well against carved marble, Daniel ducked back into the stairwell and ran further down. Constructed brick and timber gave way to carved out stone, and the light grew dimmer with each step.\n\nThe next opening he found was a barred window looking into a massive cave system. Winged creatures flapped through the air, monsters the size of buildings trundled across the ground and who-knows-what slithered through the massive underground pools of water in the distance. As he attempted to continue down, Daniel quickly bumped into an abrupt dead end where the staircase seemingly just stopped being built.\n\nAs Daniel retraced his steps, he found another doorway, just opposite the door to the statue room. It was the same color as the wall and looked like it had been deliberately placed to make it hard to spot, but as he pulled the handle it gave way.\n\n\"Who goes there?\" a woman's voice called out.\n\n\"Princess Poppola? Is that you?\" Sir Daniel responded.\n\nAs he opened the door, shield at the ready, he found the princess standing with a crossbow trained on him.\n\n\"Oh, Danny, it's you. You're looking... sturdier,\" the princess said, lowering the weapon. \"What are you doing here?\"\n\nThe room she was in looked like some kind of arcane funhouse, with strange tools, runes, and effigies scattered around the place. The princess herself was standing next to a crystal ball, which was displaying the caverns Sir Daniel had just witnessed.\n\n\"Poppy... What the devil is going on here?\" Daniel asked.\n\n\"I asked first,\" Poppola said.\n\n\"As you wish. Your parents tasked me with bringing you home and slaying any beast which was keeping you captive,\" Daniel said.\n\n\"Captive? I'm not being held captive,\" the princess said.\n\n\"You're not? Then what was that skinless dragon I killed outside?\" Daniel asked.\n\n\"Skinless- Oh shit, did one of them escape?\" Poppola asked, quickly waving her hand over the crystal ball. It flipped through several views before settling on a segment of the cavern where a small amount of sunlight was streaming in. \"Dammit, I'll need to repair that.\"\n\n\"Poppy, can you please tell me what is happening now?\" Daniel asked.\n\n\"Oh, right. So I got banished to this tower because I didn't get along with my brother. Also, he's... y'know normal, and they didn't want someone like me in the running to inherit the kingdom,\" the princess said.\n\n\"What? They said you'd been captured and whisked off to parts unknown,\" Daniel said. \"They seemed to relieved to have found where you were.\"\n\n\"They lied,\" Poppola said. \"Anyway, apparently this tower is actually part of a huge labyrinthine structure that dredges into another world or something... It's hard to explain, but you've seen the critters around here, if they get out they can cause a lot of havoc, so I've been using a bit of magic to refurbish the old defenses to keep them from escaping.\"\n\n\"Impressive, though you may need to lock this place up if you can. Your family wants you back home,\" Daniel said.\n\n\"No they don't,\" Poppola said.\n\n\"...Yes they do, Poppy,\" Daniel said. While he was only putting it together now, he had a sinking feeling he knew why she was being called back. \"The Elves are on the warpath, and the kingdom needs a magi.\"\n\n\"And why should I, Danny? They send me out here, they throw me to the wolves, because they can't stand to be around me. Do they care what I think? Do they put in the effort to make sure their little girl will be safe and healthy? Not a chance... But now that THEY need ME, I'm expected to drop everything and come to their rescue?\" Poppola said. \"Forget it.\"\n\nThe knight sighed and approached the princess, removing the cloak he'd been wearing over his armor. He carefully draped the garment over his old friend, and waited for her to calm down before speaking again.\n\nWhen she seemed to regain her footing, he said, \"I don't want to twist your arm, so I won't say you have to go if you don't want to... But I was told that, in case of trouble, I needed to make sure this reached you.\"\n\nThe knight pulled an envelope out of his satchel with a wax seal on it bearing the emblem of the royal family. Princess Poppola immediately opened the envelope, and another folded paper fell out. Daniel recognized it as a land deed, though the princess was far more engrossed in the letter itself.\n\n\"Dammit... Dammit, dammit, why couldn't they just stay stubborn and make this easier...\" Poppola said. \"Ugh, fine, I'll go save my stupid family...\"\n\n\"Any chance you're willing to share what's causing this change of heart?\" Daniel asked.\n\n\"They apologized, and said I hadn't been disinherited so I could still stake a claim to whatever was left... You know, assuming anything WAS left,\" Poppola said.\n\n\"That sounds... kind of manipulative, actually,\" Daniel said.\n\n\"In my family, that's about as good as it gets,\" the princess said. As she took a step toward the door, her foot hit the deed lying on the floor. \"Hm? What's- Oh, neat. Looks like I actually own this tower now, about time.\"\n\n\"So shall we head out?\" Daniel asked.\n\n\"Just a second,\" the princess said. She walked over to a podium standing in front of a model of what looked like a castle built in a cave. It took Daniel a second to recognize the central spire sticking out of the top of said castle as the tower he'd entered on the surface. As he was admiring the architecture he was unlikely to see in person without a lot of monster slaying, Poppola grabbed the book off the podium and headed for the door. \"Now we can go.\"\n\nThe two left the room, but as Daniel was preparing to climb back up to the tower, Poppola headed into the statue chamber. The living statues didn't attack her, and now seemed to ignore Daniel as well. The princess made a beeline for the collapsed entryway, tracing a rune in the air with her hands that caused the stone blocks to rise back into place and brought the shattered portcullis back into place. The area beyond appeared to be more cave, but as the duo headed out they caught hints of sunlight and fresh air that grew stronger as they moved.\n\nIt took Daniel a moment to notice that one of the massive statues was following them.\n\n\"Uh, Poppy?\" Daniel asked.\n\n\"Danny, while I'm sure you're the baddest of asses, there's no way we'd be able to topple an entire military force with just the two of us,\" Poppola said.\n\n\"Fair enough, but if that thing falls behind it's not my problem,\" Daniel said.\n\nWhen the two reached the surface, Daniel gave a sharp whistle, and his horse cantered up to them. With due haste, they mounted up and rode for the kingdom."
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[WP] The hero dies at the end of this story. And the narrator is chastising you for continuing to read while knowing the eventual outcome and then begging you stop the closer you get to the end.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Chapter 32\n\nThe mountain above Jace was coldly covered in sparse ice and snow, the clouds skimming along the ragged peaks barely hiding the knife-sharp rocks that were trying to cut the sky. The torn jacket did little to keep the wind out, the backpack heavy and rubbing against the broken rib.\n\nPlease, this isn’t going to end well. You can see what happened, and the foolish goal he has. To continue is as foolish as he.\n\nGasping and trembling, another piton was hammered into the break in the stone face he was traversing, the sharp sound echoing down the chimney he had just come out of. There were another few hours of daylight left, but it might not be enough for Jace to reach the ledge.\n\nI say might not, but in truth, things rarely go as planned. If you do not see that, I need to tell you to stop reading now.\n\nIt took time for each new carabiner to be placed in the pitons, the safety rope in his trembling hands slipping more than once before the woven rope was secure. The air was not just thin, it hurt to breathe, and not just because of the rib. Each breath in scraped down his throat, each breath out took more moisture out to be made into a small cloud to join the thin, scudding things at the join of Earths atmosphere and the emptiness of space.\n\nI do not enjoy telling you of this. The heart ache I have in knowing what shall come makes me not just sad, but loathe to continue. But you are still reading, so I know you want to know what happened.\n\nThe red line of night moved up the mountain, calling its presence to Jace. The hard line between the failing daylight and the depths of night inexorably flowed up around him, like photons of blood going against the gravity of the world. It was only ten feet to the lip of the ledge, but it could have been a mile.\n\nYour eyes have not left the page. These words that are drawing you along with him are just setting you up for what will happen next. Close this. Never think of it again. I beg you.\n\nThe climber was so tired, when the next piton was being hammered, he hit the rock more than the steel. It caught, but he did not see the crack that was formed from his bad strikes. Jace did pause, trying to get a little water from the frozen tubing from his water bag. Nothing came out, and the exertion winded him more than he would admit, even with the loneliness of the mountain face around him. He pushed himself on in the growing dusk, feeling with his fingers for the next place to hold as his head lamp had fallen from him the night before.\n\nNot only am I telling you this, you are forcing me to, just by keeping the words going. I hate you for making me do this.\n\nThe night had been on the mountain for almost two hours as Jace felt what he thought was the ledge above him. It wasn’t a small outcropping like what his feet were perched on. A thin laugh escaped from him, leading to a cough that made his rib hurt more. The spasm through Jace’s back pulled at him, and his safety gear. His foot slipped, the clatter of sharp pebbles down the rock face being deadened by the night winds going up the mountain. Scrambling, he failed to catch himself on the handholds and outcroppings around him. Gravity would not let him go as his weight pulled him down, the snap of the safety rope the only thing keeping him from going further. He slammed against the rock, forcing what little air he had out.\n\nStop. Now. It hurts just making the words for you.\n\nFighting to stay conscious, Jace felt a tremble in his line. The one piton he had placed, creating a crack was not the only one that was failing. His strength was not as much as he thought, and needed, as he had used the hammer to put those little pieces of safety into the old rock. The top one, having to hold all his weight, flexed before failing, pulling out of the crack and hitting him as he fell, bouncing against the rock as the small amount of respite on his journey down. Weakly, his hands found small places to hold, but it was too late. Each time there was a moment of calm, something happened, the chain of events leading him\n\nNo. I can’t. Not again.\n\nChapter 32\n\nThe mountain above Jace was coldly covered in sparse ice and snow, the clouds skimming along the ragged peaks barely hiding the knife-sharp rocks that were trying to cut the sky. The torn jacket did little to keep the wind out, the backpack heavy and rubbing against the broken rib.\n\nMake it stop! Why do you keep reading? I can’t… I can’t…"
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First prompt hope it's not a repost
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[WP] You are an exterminator that has been getting complaints about noise just outside city lines. Instead of an animal you find an old man who thinks he is the last human.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"“And on and on it went, until the great Priests had cleansed the Earth with fire, and that fire reigned upon all the children of men, warping them into devils, into demons, into creatures beyond reproach. They became twisted visions, versions of humanity that, in my opinion, hardly resemble the real thing, which of course, is me. I’m the last one.”\n\nI leaned around the side of the farmhouse, spying an old man. He was sitting on a rock, gesticulating wildly while he relayed his story to a beaten up teddy bear.\n\n“And that, Bart, is why you and me are the only ones left, because those Priests saw the Nephilim, in all their giant, angelic, abominable glory, and they saw it fit, as God once had, to burn it all down and start over. You and me, Bart, we’re gonna help this place rebuild, without the stain of humanity, without the pain and suffering we caused—”\n\nMy foot hit a twig, snapping it. The old man twirled around, suddenly on his feet. He cocked a shotgun at me.\n\n“Who’s there? Show yourself, beast.”\n\n“It’s just me, John! I’m an exterminator with the city, I was, uh, sent to investigate some strange noises?”\n\n“I’ve heard them lies before, from your kid before.”\n\nI stepped out from behind the side of the building, hands up, “I don’t mean you any harm, sir.”\n\nHe motioned to me with his shotgun, “Yeah? How come you’re ablaze, then? Think you can come to me with your sinful fire and burn down the last bastion of humanity?”\n\n“N—No, no, sir. As I said, I’m just—”\n\n“I heard your lies, heathen.”\n\nI swallowed, hands still in the air. I could see the cataracts in his eyes, cloudy puddles obscuring his vision. The wind stirred around us, a mockingbird calling. We stood at a stalemate for a moment.\n\n“Well?” He asked me.\n\n“Well, I’d like to leave.”\n\n“Go on, then, get. And tell your brethren I don’t want any of them around here?”\n\nMy legs, every instinct in my muscles, told me to start running, but a part of me, the very painfully human part, told me to stay. “My brethren?” Fuck my curiosity.\n\n“Yes, you and your demon-kind, the ones that stalk the Earth now, after the Nephilim were crushed by the hands of the Great Priests.”\n\n“Nephilim?”\n\nHe looked confused for a moment, then shook his head, “Well, of course you know about the Nephilim, they’re your greatest,” he faltered, “your greatest enemy, ain’t they?”\n\n“No sir, I don’t think I have any enemies.”\n\nWith a renewed bite, he leveled the shot gun at me, “I see, you’re coming here to confuse me.”\n\n“No sir, I’m not here to do anything to you.”\n\n“Well then get on, won’t you? Bart and I have some business to attend to.”\n\nAnd my curiosity finally gave way to self preservation. I bolted towards my truck, taking off back to the city. I didn’t know how to report it to the city, so I just said I’d set traps. I forgot about it, shoved it deep into my brain until a friend suggested a movie to me. It was an old flick, probably from the early thirty-first century. It featured these huge angel-human hybrids that ravaged the Earth. In the movie, I spotted a familiar face in a farmhouse, shouting as the bombs hit the Earth. It was the old man, but he was young, waving a stave at the sky.\n\n“Destruction!” He cried, “Death upon the beasts of the Earth, those with wings, with teeth that gnash, nails that rend! Destruction upon them all! I come, prophet of the new age, to await humanity’s second coming, the birth of something new, a world without sin, without the pain of birth, rebirth, death, destruction. And I will wait, wait here until the dust settles, the sand finds itself glass, once again!”\n\nThe camera backed out, showing the fires that crested hills, spreading down fields until everything, everything except that blue farmhouse, was engulfed.\n\n\\_ \\_ \\_\n\nr/AinsleyAdams"
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[WP] You were very excited when your aunt decided to leave you her cat cafe when she retired, but as you start to clean the place up and get it ready to open, you start to realize there's something up with the cats themselves.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"I had spent my childhood there. The quaint cafe sitting right across from historic townhouses in the downtown area. Though, in my youth, the paint was a faded yellow on the sign. Before my aunt’s retirement she had opted for a periwinkle. \n\n“The cats prefer it,” she had told me over glasses of lemonade last summer. A small smile played on her lips like she was in on some joke that I couldn’t understand. She was always like that. Still, she couldn’t help but be my favorite person, and when she bequeathed to me her cat cafe I was beyond ecstatic. \n\nWe spent more time together than ever in those following fall months. Hours reviewing business and food safety and animal care. She was always a little vague about the cats themselves. She only had one employee; some young college kid working part time in the kitchen. \n\n“How?” I asked her, “Will I need to hire more people?”\n\nAgain with the knowing smile that went over my head. “No, everything will be just fine.” She never elaborated and I would inevitably get caught up in the finer points of filing taxes as a business owner, or how to take inventory and where to order from to ensure high quality food. \n\nBy the winter solstice the transitioning period was over and I was stepping through the front doors for the first time on my own, and this time as the proud owner. I was never much for mornings and the chill in the 4:30 air was biting, but nothing could dull my smile as I unlocked the doors. \n\nBright walls and cat towers greeted me. The cats themselves were milling about, some in groups while others slept by the heating vents. \n\n“Good morning meow meow’s,” I greeted. They looked over at me and some began chirping, while others were steadfast in their naps. Normal cat behavior. I took off my gloves and coat and made my way back to the office. My one employee would be in at 5 to prepare for opening at 6. \n\nThe office door was unlocked, which was strange as my aunt always insisted on locking it at the end of each night. Nothing looked out of place, except for my own belongings which were placed onto the clean desk. I moved to the back room with the cat litter boxes, expecting to see my work cut out for me. They were completely cleaned out with fresh litter in every box. \n\nStrange. The word became my new mantra as I tried to go through the cleaning tasks. Everything was already completed. The floors in the kitchen were mopped, the mop bucket emptied out. Silverware was wrapped in napkins and ready to be placed on tables. Cups and plates were stacked, ready to filled with coffee and food. \n\nVoices coming from the front tore me from the confused haze I wandered around in. I checked my phone and saw it was fifteen past 5. “Oh, shoot,” I muttered to myself. Tristan, the lone employee, would have to be let in. I ran to the front and he was already standing in the dining area, having a conversation with an unseen person.\n\n“How’s the new boss? Have you told her yet?” He was asking. \n\n“Told me what?” I asked. “How’d you get in here, I thought I locked it.” \n\nHe looked over at me. “Hi, I’m Tristan.”\n\n“It’s nice to meet you.” I shook his outstretched hand. “Uh, who were you talking to just a second ago?”\n\nThere was no one else in the room. \n\nTristan looked down at the cat. The cat flicked its tail at him and shook his head no, or at least that’s what it looked like. Tristan looked back to me. “I was just talking to myself. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me, boss.” He was gone, leaving me with the cat. He licked his paw and walked over to some of the other cats. \n\n*Maybe I should call my aunt,* the thought floated around my brain, but I didn’t want to give her the impression she had made a mistake. I went back to the office to get my head back on my shoulders. There was no way the cat shook its head no, sometimes I talk to myself. Maybe Tristan was just talking to himself as well. I ran in circles trying to rationalize everything the had happened in the morning thus far. It was still early, maybe I was more tired than I had thought. Brains are weird and unreliable things. Surely, I was making everything up. \n\nTristan’s voice carried through the kitchen. This time though, a second voice answered in response. I ran to the kitchen and saw a second man standing next to Tristan. He was wearing a cat cafe shirt and had, daresay, catlike features. \n\n“Who’re you?” I asked. How I found the capability for speech was beyond me.\n\n“Nice to meet you boss, I remember when you were just a young kid chasing us all around,” he said.\n\n“What?” My throat was dry.\n\nHe smiled, revealing pointed canines. “I think you had named me Fuzzypants at the time, but my name in Mark. Your aunt wanted us to surprise you.”\n\n“You’re… you’re a cat?” My brain hurt.\n\nFuzzypants, or Mark nodded. “With the exception of you and Tristan here, we are all shapeshifters. Your aunt gave us a place to belong and be both sides of ourselves. She’s an amazing person.”\n\n“She is,” I said. I was still struggling to comprehend the full scope of what Mark was telling me. It did make sense, even if it was impossible. I felt like all those little comments and inside jokes that went above my head clicked into place and I was a part of it all now. \n\n“We can talk more later,” Mark said, “But I have to get everyone ready for the day.” No sooner had he stopped talking than his body morphed before my eyes. A small tabby cat left the kitchen and walked into the dining area. I followed and all the cats had congregated in a circle. Mark was in the middle meowing out directions for the day.\n\nTristan walked up next to me. “I get so jealous of them. I wish I was a cat.”"
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[WP] "I just found out that my roommate summons demons to do her chores around the house!"
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Look, I get it Sam. Doing the dishes is gross, and stuck on cheese is bad- but you do know you can just wash it off after we eat instead of waiting until the next day instead of summoning hell spawn to clean it up, right?\"\n\nSam blew air out from her lips loudly, putting her flat palms to the floor in a motion to calm herself down instead of blowing up (the therapy must be working), \"it was an Imp! Just an Imp. Not a Demon, Not a Devil. It didn't even leave any goat hair laying around\"\n\n\"I. Don't. Care. We've talked about this. You can't summon hell spawn to do your chores. The summoning itself stinks up the place. Besides, for the materials cost for one summoning you could afford a maid for a month,\" I paused \"Not that that's the point- you need to do it. Yourself. That's part of being an adult Sam.\"\n\n\"*That's part of being an adult Sam*,\" she mocked in a higher pitch, tongue-held-between-her-teeth voice \"Screw off. You're the same age as me and I can do what I want.\"\n\nI put my face in my hands in exasperation, and as I did I noticed the tiles had been cracked so that there was a pentagram permanently in the tile. It wasn't super obvious, but it covered the majority of the tiles that made up the kitchen floor.\n\nI blew up. \"You. Have. Got. To. Be. Fucking. Kidding. Me. Look at the tiles Sam. You're fixing this shit *and* paying for it.\"\n\n\"Paying for what? They've always been like that!\"\n\n\"You're full of shit.\"\n\n\"Only because that's all you can cook.\"\n\n\"Fine, then make your own food!\"\n\nAs soon as I said it I knew my mistake\n\n\"Okay! We're having fried Satyr tonight then!\"",
" \\[Hellish Hustle\\]\n\n\"Sorry, boss,\" Sen'Xul hung his head low to apologize to Claire. He was supposed to stay out of sight; and, he managed that for the first couple of weeks after the new roommate moved in. Unfortunately, Sen'Xul was new, and quickly grew careless. That's when Dottie spotted the short, stocky demon. Her screams of terror quickly pulled Claire into the kitchen who managed to calm them down. For a moment.\n\n\"*BOSS!?\"* Dottie said in surprise, she took a step back. \"Who or what are you!?\" Claire shook her head and sighed at the squat demon. She was only 5'7\", but he was noticeably shorter than her, even taking his dark twisting horns into account.\n\n\"It's alright, Sen. Can we reschedule?\" she asked. Sen'Xul nodded. Then, he was shrouded by a sudden plume of yellow sulfur. It began to dissipate as quickly as it appeared, and he was gone with the silent smoke. Claire turned her attention to a, thankfully, still present Dottie. \"I can explain...,\" she said.\n\n\"What is there to explain?!? I just found out my roommate summons demons to do her chores around the house!\" Claire nodded, smiled, and sat down at their small round table. She encouraged Dottie to sit down also. The young woman seemed to relax slightly, but she did not move any closer.\n\n\"First off, pretty much everything you said there is wrong,\" she said. \"I mean, it's *technically* correct, but you're looking at it all wrong.\"\n\n\"Uhuh,\" Dottie replied.\n\n\"*Summon*?\" Claire asked. \"More like, I called an agent. DemonSSS?\" Claire dragged out the 's' to clarify she meant a plural, then added a half-shrug. \"Sen'Xul is just who they sent.\"\n\n\"You called a demon-summoning hotline?\" Dottie asked. \"For what?\" Claire giggled but shook her head.\n\n\"Well you got the 'for what' part right,\" she said, still chuckling. \"It wasn't a demon-summoning hotline. It's a maid-service that happens to have demons working there too.\"\n\n\"A cleaning service?\" Dottie asked. \"A real, red-skinned, horned, demon is working at a cleaning service? Why?\" she asked. Dottie seemed to accept Claire's answer and moved to the table.\n\n\"Well, think about it. If the economy is as bad as it is up here, how bad do you think it is down there?\"\n\n \n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #1163 in a row. (Story #067 in year four.) You can find all my stories collected on my subreddit ([r/hugoverse](https://www.reddit.com/r/hugoverse/)) or my blog."
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[WP] In a world where everyone can hear each other's thoughts, idea theft is rampant. An idea disappears from the mind once stolen. You're an aspiring writer with an amazing story idea. You wake up from a night of drinking and clubbing at a writers' gala, and can't remember your idea.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"Tick.\n\nTick.\n\nTick.\n\nGod, I hated that old clock.\n\nI looked at the time.\n\nAlmost noon already.\n\nDamn it. I had scheduled a meeting with my colleague for 1 pm. I had to run.\n\nStill groggy, I tried to take a moment to compose my thoughts. What I needed to do before I could attend the meeting. \n\nRight, I had to take a call from my publisher discussing the royalties of my latest book.\n\nAnd there was something else, I was sure of it. \n\nI knew I must have talked about it last night. \n\nWhat did I even do last night?\n\nOh, I was at the gala! Most of my memories were still a blur, there was a lot going on, and I had a few drinks. \n\nIt was a writer's gala. Full of stories and conversation. Bustling and chatting about their newest book. Of course, we were all careful to put up guards in our minds about anything that we hadn't already used. \n\nI had been spinning a story the entire time, I'm sure of it. In fact, it's the story I had scheduled the meeting about.\n\nYet I hadn't the foggiest idea what the story was.\n\nI was careful last night. Well, careful enough. There should have been no way my story was stolen.\n\nAnd yet. I couldn't remember it at all. Not the plot, not the characters, not even a single measly detail.\n\nI had been listening in on other's thoughts during the gala, of course. And it was natural to assume that they had heard mine. But most of what I heard was the basic gossip. How someone had an ugly dress, how they'd seen it on the clearance rack. That sort of thing.\n\nMy thoughts were the same, weren't they?\n\nTo be honest, I didn't know. \n\nAnd then there was a bigger problem. \n\nWhat to do with the meeting. \n\nShould I show up and pretend I still had a story? Or would he see right through me.\n\nShould I tell the truth? \n\nCancel the meeting with no reason? \n\nCome up with an excuse?\n\nI didn't have to.\n\nThe phone rang.\n\nI answered.\n\nIt was my colleague. \n\nQuite unexpected.\n\n\"Hello?\"\n\n\"Hello, I'm afraid I'll have to cancel the meeting today. I'm sorry, but something came up. I have someone who has a story. It's even better than anything I've ever heard from you. I won't be helping with your book.\" That was the last thing I expected to come from his mouth.\n\n\"May I ask what this person's name is?\"\n\n\"His name is Andrew Schi. I believe you met him at the gala last night.\""
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[WP] The barbarian roars wildly, wielding a sword coated in frost in one hand and an axe crackling with lightning in the other. He leaps across the room to deliver a flaming boot to the head of his enemies. You are starting to wonder if you will regret teaching him magic.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"When Grimsmar leapt into the fray of battle with his newly enchanted weapons, I was proud. Beaming from ear to ear like a mother bird watching her chicks fly for the first time. The battleground exploded in ice and lightning as his attacks tore apart the bandits that had come to lay waste to my tower. \n\nThey had come for me because I was sheltering him. The last of his tribe. When the barbarian stumbled to my door, at death's door, I hadn't even thought twice about helping him. He was in need and I was willing. \n\nWhen he explained his situation to me, I could feel the pain and hurt in his voice enough that lending my services seemed like the next rational thing. And now, as he exacted his revenge on the people who wronged him, I felt a warmth that I haven't felt in a long while. \n\nA yell pulls my attention away from Grimsmar and I turn to see a bandit rushing towards me with his sword arm raised. Without wasting a breath, I conjured a fireball and shot it at him. For a split second, I saw the bandit smile before my attack burnt a hole through him and his armour. \n\nThat made me smile. \n\nGliding over his body, I began intoning a small wide destruction spell to aid my new ward. As much as he seemed to be having fun freezing and blowing up the bandits, I couldn't see an end to them yet and I didn't feel like spending my afternoon fighting. \n\nIn truth, I didn't want to spend any time fighting as it made cleaning up a hassle on the best days. Moreover, 'battles' for me, were a thing of the past. As much as I was sympathetic to the plight of my ward, I wanted to be back behind my desk, studying and researching. Far less... *grimy.*\n\nClouds gathered and rolled overhead as my voice began to echo around the battlefield. The skies got darker and I raised my hand to command the lightning storm down. The clouds lit up like a spark of destruction but before the first strike hit, I watched as the barbarian jumped above the fray with the lightning-imbued axe raised. \n\nMy attack converged on his axe, a lightning rod in the making, and he slammed it down on his enemies. The ground erupted in a boom of earth, blood and limbs as his enemies were eviscerated by the potent attack. the force of the attack pushed me back enough to stagger me to the floor. \n\nThen, I heard him laugh. \n\nDeep, guttural and manic as his body shook from the excitement of the power he held. And for a split second, a dark memory surfaced in my mind of a time of war and loss. A memory suppressed by alcohol, willpower and magic. And in this memory, an echo of a laughter mirrored the barbarian's. \n\nI shivered despite myself suddenly aware that I never asked Grimsmar what tribe he was from. More importantly, watching him laugh covered in blood and guts, made me consider *maybe* I shouldn't have taught him magic. \n\n\\---\n\n/r/EvenAsIWrite for more stories :D"
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[WP] When you died, you did not see heaven but, instead, pure darkness. You wished you could see and a star appeared. You are the god of your own universe!
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"\"Aw beans\" I thought to myself. \n\n\"Well this is just great, how am I supposed to run a dang universe!? I don't know the fi- hey wait...I'm thinking! I can think! That means some of the same rules might apply...\"\n\nI flex my appendages, the first, the second, each successive appendage feeling more limber and flexible than the last.\n\n\"Alright I'll keep it simple....let's start with gravity.\"\n\nI turn the gravity on and suddenly I feel weight acting upon my mass. I'm falling, toward the star I started with, and it too begins to contract as the weight of itself binds into a form. It burns unfathomably bright.\n\n\"Alright so there's light taken care of...and gravity too so that's good...\" My form is infinite and yet somehow also miniscule next to the star and I realize I'm banking on having knowledge I never cared to learn in my past life.\n\n\"But there should be more stuff. Not too much stuff but... I don't know, just some stuff floating by that star. That feels right.\" Before I could ponder it further I noticed specks of dust and debris between the star and myself. Its iridescence and brilliance glancing off the dust that was congealing and forming into clumps, mounds, and behemoths.\n\n\"Dang, that was fast, I could probably have a running universe in well under a week at this rate. Take some vacation, even.\" My form was still singularly unknowable amongst my creations. I was full of power and majesty and loneliness.\n\nThat's when it hit me. I didn't need to make everything exactly the same, did I? Did \"life\" as I knew it work out so great from what I had seen? Sure, pangolins were cool, but then there was all that \"survival of the fittest\" business that seemed to take a turn for the worst by the time I had my go at it.\n\n\"What if...\" and as I pondered on what life could be, I noticed as the gargantuan specs that sat just far enough from the star made noise. A lot of noise. \n\nThey were tiny and didn't notice when I'd wiggled my limbs before them, but the creatures continued to make sounds and move about all the same.\n\n\"Oh that's right, I made you guys unable to survive without help.\" Without too much thought, I broke off a piece of myself so it might nourish them and give them continued life. And it did, for a time.\n\nI couldn't understand them, for what it's worth. I just knew the sound of yearning and need. So I continued to break off myself piece by piece and give to them and all of their kin. They would return to being quiet until the cycle would restart. I never got to be a parent before this, and it felt nice to be needed.\n\nOn it went until I found myself shrunk down to my core, hovering above their homes and worried about what may come when I am no longer able to sustain them. Their food sources ran low and I knew, soon, I would come to my end in this universe with them.\n\nI decided I must cut them off from all of my help if they are to survive without me. Without knowing me, they began to vilify whatever force had left them without a way to survive, and so began to hunt each other in panic. \n\n\"No, it was going so well...\" I thought, disheartened. The sound of their turmoil and anguish hurt more than anything I had ever known. So I decided that it was time to be thoroughly unoriginal. \n\nI spent what I had left of my former magnificence to broadcast a message and appear in the atmosphere above the space rock I had created for them. Much smaller now, they took heed to me and listened to my words.\n\n\"Look above your heads, my children, for I rest in the sky. I am your creator and your provider, but I can remain so no longer. You will be sustained by what I leave of myself for you in this moment. I am sorry you had to suffer and that I must appear in this monstrous form. Feed upon my body and drink of my blood, and you may live forever in peace here while I go to my final rest.\"\n\nTheir anger turned to cries as they come to know what I had sacrificed for them. I crashed into their world. They did as I asked and ate of my remains and continued to live. They planted my bones and grew new food that required no violence to procure. They erected temples and worshipped there in my name. They tell their children of the creature that provided them their home and their lives. They speak fondly and with awe at my sacrifice. They tell each other, solemnly, of the flying spaghetti monster.",
"I wake up, unsure of what happened to me. I remember.. something.. A light..? Then a pain. The room around me was dark. No light, it was pitch black. I think to myself \"Where's the light?\"\nThe room lights up with a star, revealing a nearly infinite 'room'. It looked like an open field, but still.. somehow 'inside.' I take a closer look at the star, and it's a beautiful sight. Plasma spewing out, only to come back again to form an arch shape. It was then I heard a paper noise, and a note was stuck to my foot. It read :\n\"Heyo. God here. I decided to give somebody their own universe for the funsies. You looked like a good candidate.\"\nSo God just does that now? Gives people shit? Hell, I ain't questioning it. The idea of my own universe is cool as all hell. (pun not intended.)\nLet's see how I could spruce up the place. Another star here or two, maybe a- oh shit that one exploded. Uh, jeez, I got weird space shit all over my clothes. Maybe add some asteroids, some more weird space gas.. uhh, liquid or something.. Yeah, looks pretty good to me. I'll sit down or something. Maybe take a nap. Yeah, time's frozen, right? Whatever. It's not like anything could change.. Oh well...\n And so began Parallel Universe #9999998."
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[WP] You laughed, your worst enemy falling back. You just shot a bullet through his head, no way he's still alive. Or at least that's what you thought before they stood up, eyes glowing with flashing runes all over their arms and face.
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"**Welcome to the Prompt!** All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\n**Reminders**:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. Poems, 30 but include \"[Poem]\"\n>* Responses don't have to fulfill every detail\n>* See [Reality Fiction](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Reality+Fiction%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) and [Simple Prompts](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/search?q=flair%3A%22Simple+Prompt%22&restrict_sr=on&sort=new&t=all) for stricter titles\n>* [Be civil](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules#wiki_rule_10.3A_be_civil) in any feedback and follow the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/rules)\n\n[](#icon-help) [^(What Is This?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/off_topic) ^•\n[](#icon-information) [^(New Here?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) ^•\n[](#icon-help) [^(Writing Help?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) ^•\n[](#icon-exclamation) [^(Announcements)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) ^•\n[](#icon-comments) [^(Discord Chatroom)](https://discord.gg/js5XDFB)\n\n*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.*",
"He stood back up. How could he stand back up? I reeled backward, my head spinning. \"You... you bastard. How did you–\"\n\nHis smile was gentle, peaceful even. \"Did you really think I could die like this? With a bullet?\"\n\n\"Die, you bastard!\" I screamed, blasting away. I had blown his head entirely to pieces, but he seemed to simply come back together. The inside of his head was made of bright light, not flesh, and the skin over it just spread back out to cover him.\n\n\"Max.\" he said, stepping toward me.\n\n\"Get away from me, you damn monster.\" I hissed, frantically reloading my gun. \"You ruined my life. I'll kill you no matter what it takes.\"\n\nHe stopped. \"Do you really believe that, Max?\"\n\n\"Who else was there? When everything fell down like that, you were right there.\"\n\n\"So were you.\"\n\nMy face twisted in anger. \"Oh, how *dare* you? I tried everything I could to keep things together! I did everything! Everything! It had to have been you!\"\n\nHe took another step closer, and I emptied the magazine into his open, light-crammed chest. It did nothing, as usual.\n\n\"You know that's not true. It was her decision. Not yours. Not mine. Hers.\"\n\n\"Shut up!\" I slammed open a drawer, looking for another magazine. There wasn't one. I picked up a wrench from the closet. \"Shut up, you bastard! Shut up!\" In a blind rage I smashed the wrench into his head. \"*Shut up!*\"\n\n\"Max.\" His head patched up again. He reached out and I scrambled away, out of reach of his hands. \"You have to stop running.\"\n\n\"I don't have to do a damn thing you say.\" I slammed the wrench into him, watching light break out through breaks in the skin. He reached up and gripped the wrench with unnatural strength, bending it slightly; I couldn't rip it away from him. \"Let go, bastard!\"\n\n\"Max.\" His eyes were so gentle. I hated them so much.\n\n\"Stop it!\" I let go of the wrench and stumbled backward. My back smacked into the wall, and all the rage went out of me. Like a balloon I deflated, sliding down the wall and burying my face in my arms. \"Just... just go away.\"\n\n\"Max, listen to me.\"\n\n\"I can't.\" I shook my head, pleading. \"Just stop it. Let me be.\"\n\n\"How can I? You're destroying yourself.\"\n\n\"It's not my fault! It's not my fault, it's not.\" But I knew I was lying. \"I can't... I can't. I can't face this. You *know* I can't. Just stop it.\"\n\n\"Let her go, Max.\"\n\n\"I can't!\" I screamed, tears running down my face. \"I can't! It was my damn fault, OK? Is that what you wanted me to say? I did this!\"\n\n\"Did you? Did you really?\" He looked at me with soft eyes. \"You startled her, yes. But she went out there to jump. Can you really say she wouldn't have, if you hadn't been there?\"\n\nI curled up, screaming around the strangling pain in my chest. \"She wouldn't, she wouldn't, you *know* she wouldn't, she was so full of life and she's gone and it's my fault and you *know* that! You were *there!*\"\n\n\"Does it have to be either my doing or yours?\"\n\nThe question stabbed into me, slicing into the knot in my chest. *Doesn't it? She wouldn't do that on her own.*\n\n\"I... She wouldn't. She couldn't. You know that.\"\n\n\"All we know is that she went out there. The note was clear; she meant to jump. What happened after that, if she changed her mind, if she still would have done it, what went through her mind when she saw you... we can't know. But if it wasn't my fault, then it wasn't yours either, Max.\"\n\nI looked up weakly to see his hand hanging an inch from my face, held out for me to take. The scar on the palm, exactly where mine was. The freckles on the wrist, where mine were. The eyes looking down at me, the ones that were my eyes.\n\n\"Take my hand, Max. You can't go on like this. It's time to live.\"\n\nI reached out through my tears and set my hand in his. The world blurred together as he flaked away into scraps of light.\n\nI woke up on the couch, my face buried in a large damp patch, curled around our anniversary photo.\n\nI still have the photo. It sits on the mantle, in a place of honor, next to the picture of my second wedding. My wife leaves flowers in front of it sometimes; I leave her favorite chocolate instead. I tell my children she's their guardian angel. And on the glass, in marker drawn by weak and shaking hands after a long and painful dream, she has a halo."
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