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[WP] "What do you mean that a kid killed the Dark Lord!?" he asked, confused. "Sir, nobody expected the kid to use a squirt shotgun filled with holy water, it was a massacre"
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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.*",
"\"Mom! What's this?\" Michael inquired, holding up a bowl of water.\n\nClara briefly glanced up before going back to whatever she was doing on her computer, \"Just some water your grandma left.\"\n\n\"Can I use it for my squirt shotgun?\" Michael asked.\n\n\"Yeah sure,\" she replied nonchalantly, sipping her coffee, \"don't stay out too late.\"\n\n\n\"Ok!\" Michael scurried outside, riding his bicycle to the forest in which he hang out with his friends.\n\nIt was a beautiful vast area of green where one could get lost. \n\nBut not Michael or his friends, they all always knew which birds to follow.\n\n\"Hey kid!\" A faint voice called.\n\n\"Kid!\" the voice repeated.\n\nIt wasn't that Michael didn't hear the muffled echo, they just decided that they would never open the bottles.\n\n\"I'll give you something if you open the bottle,\" another voice said.\n\n\"What would you give me?\" the boy held the transparent container and looked inside.\n\n\"Money, you humans love money don't you?\"\n\n\"Could you play with me until my friends come?\"\n\n\"Yes, yes I can, you just have to open the bottle.\"\n\nMichael slowly removed the cap only to scream and back away in shock as several creatures came out, creatures he'd only ever seen in The Addams Family.\n\n\"You have freed us human, and you shall recieve a most generous reward,\" a monster with red horns spoke the words in a sarcastic high pitched tone, \"I will kill you now and save you the agony that will befall humanity upon my reign.\"\n\nMichael wasn't even listening to what was said to him, he only kept back away and looking in terror.\n\nBut the devil advanced and so Michael acted on instinct.\n\nIt was a reflex, a hopeful attempt, a doubtful one.\n\nThe water flew out of Michael's squirt shotgun and that was it.\n\nOne second the devil was laughing maniacally, the next he was screaming and vanishing away into thin air.\n\n\"What the hell just happened!?\" a creature who just woke up and fled the bottle freaked out.\n\n\"I think the kid used a holy shotgun,\" another replied as they all stared blankly at the ashes of their master.",
"\"What do you mean that a kid killed the Dark Lord!?\" he asked, confused.\n\n\"Sir, nobody expected the kid to use a squirt shotgun filled with holy water, it was a massacre.\"\n\n\"Well, I'd like to speak to him then.\"\n\nO'Brien led Father Paul into the hospital wing where David was being kept. David had suffered a tremendous shock at the sight of the Dark Lord's death. He was found passed out, lying next to what remained of the Dark Lord's body.\n\n\"He hasn't said much,\" said a nurse to Father Paul.\n\n\"He has seen a great horror. I wouldn't expect him too.\"\n\nFather Paul came into David's room. David was balled up in his bed, shaking. His eyes were red, and his skin was pale. Father Paul took a seat in a chair next to the bed and examined him. It was the boy who spoke first.\n\n\"Are you a priest?\" asked David.\n\n\"Yes, I am,\" replied Paul.\n\n\"I did a bad thing.\"\n\n\"What did you do, David?\"\n\n\"I... I murdered a man.\"\n\n\"David, do you know what God says about lying?\"\n\n\"I'm not lying father! I really did it.\"\n\n\"I have no doubt in my mind that you did do it David. I only bring it up because I am a man of God, and it would be very bad if *I* lied, especially to a young man such as yourself. I say this because, I want you to know that what I am telling you is the truth. David, you did not murder a man. You slayed a beast. A monster. A terrible demon sent from Hell itself to cause mayhem on God's earth.\"\n\nDavid opened his mouth to say something. Father Paul gave him some time to speak. \"I thought he was my dad. I wanted to splash him.\" said David, cautiously.\n\n\"To you it was an accident, but to the world it was a miracle. You did well David.\" Father Paul gave David a smile and rose from his chair. \"You will be needing some rest. I don't expect you to sleep, but will I expect you to rest. Okay?\"\n\nDavid gave a small nod.\n\n\"I'll be right out this door if you need me.\"\n\nDavid closed his eyes and pulled his blanket over himself. Father Paul quietly closed the door behind him. O'Brien was waiting in the hallway.\n\n\"Well, how is he?\"\n\n\"He will be cursed by the memories of this day for the rest of his life, but he will always be remembered a hero.\""
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[WP] You awake to find yourself transported back in time a few hundred years. You want to advance technology or make quick money on gambling, but you quickly realize that you have no technical knowledge to pass on and recall no particular events from this time period to bet on.
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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.*",
"Re-reading the prompt, it comes off like amnesia, but I actually meant like you are really bad at explaining things. Here is an attempt at my original idea:\n\n\nFinally, I had come to the smartest men in this town. I could change the course of history. I began, \"Hi, everyone. I come from the future to share technological advances with you all. First, we have these things called phones, some of them are small enough to fit in our pockets. They were originally made to talk to other people from extremely long distances. And-\" \n\nOne of the men cut me off. \"How does this work?\"\n\n\"Pardon?\"\n\n\"These phones, how do they communicate?\" He continued. \"How does the voice carry from one to another?\"\n\n\"Oh, right.\" I scratched my head. \"I think it does something like turn into a radio wave. Then when that radio wave reaches the other phone, it turns back into a sound.\"\n\nAnother man inquired, \"And what is this radio? Does it make waves, or is it the substance of a wave?\"\n\nI was reaching for any other knowledge I could remember from high school physics. \"I think that's just the name of it. Like a signal but something we can't see. Here let me draw it for you.\" I took a pen and tried to draw a phone, but my art skills were as poor as my explanations.\n\nThe men exchanged a few glances before one broke the awkward silence. \"If you could build one of these devices that turns sounds into 'radios', that might help us understand.\"\n\n\"No, you see, that's what you all are for,\" I gestured as sweat began to drip from my forehead. \"You are the smart ones. I can explain all the ideas from the future, then you can build them!\"\n\n\"Yes,\" the first man nervously chuckled. \"Your explanation was fine, young man. Thank you for your time, we have heard enough for today. We will come find you if we need any more ideas.\"\n\nAfter closing the door on my way out, I heard a muffled laughter from inside, accompanied by a few groans."
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[WP] Mankind is in reality, an eldritch horror kept carefully contained away from the rest of the universe. The organization is constantly trying to keep human development stunted but is failing at an exponential rate.
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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 were calls to crush them in their infancy,\" said the head of the universal organisation, \"but why murder monsters only to become them. We watched as they grew and consumed their world. So poisonously that all they shared their space with were killed or enslaved. \nBeasts had the dignity to feast and kill in the moment. The humans would keep you and breed you. Force you to get weak and fat. Drive you insane with isolation. \nWhen finally the slaughter came you welcomed it. Others wasted away watching generations of their children suffer and die. \n\nThen the planet wilted and began to kill even them. Their slow spread across the stars began. You may have seen it as survival or as a natural curiosity, but to all of us in the way, we saw it as a war. \n\nHumanity was cancer\". \n\n\"Yeah, well looks like the cancer spread, bud\". \n\nThe flags littered the alien terrain as the bombs shot soil into the air. Finally, a new home. Mankind would live another day."
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[WP] It is the year 3069 and the humans have become so peaceful that they have forgotten how to fight, now, after having lost three of their colonies against the hive mind Grox, the humans decide to take you out of suspended animation. You are his last hope of winning this war.
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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 my first time posting so please be gentle lol \n\n\n \n\n“But the awakening process is only in stage 7.7 of the 66.6” blurted out Cynthia with a mix of fear and sympathy written on her face. “There is no way there could be a connection” \nJohn stood there in his dimly lit office, admittedly looking somewhat ragged. he had been sleeping there of course. But so what? This was too big, too deep, too old. “No you don’t get it! It's all in the stone!” The pitiful looks she was giving him just making his explanations more frantic. “LOOK!“ as John pointed at his board of paper clippings and red thread. Just now realizing the impression his wall gave off. “It shows up in Gobekli Tepe first, it was a stone first you see. And it came as a herald of whatever ended that civilization.” \n\n\n“John, please. You need sleep” he was tired, but they had to hear him out. Their lives depended on it \n\n\n“No, Cynthia. He was Nergal next! in Sumeria!” That got her attention, as ancient Mesopotamia was her specialty and her masters thesis had revolutionized the way humanity sees the cradle of civilization. John had her attention now, as such she finally actually SAW his research. You could see his shoulders relax for the first time in weeks when he saw comprehension dawn across her face. \n“I’ve seen these before…” She said as barely more than a breath. This is why he had always adored Cynthia. Such a radiant mind. “But that isn’t a stone, these reliefs clearly depict a stone club” \n“That was the first time we forged it for him. He came again at the Collapse, with an army this time” \n“The Sea people?!” she asked \nJohn could have kissed her then “YES!! It was a lump of bronze then. In ancient egypt. They forged it into a khopesh fit for the Pharaoh. Then the Bronze age collapse, and we lost it” \nEyes wild, John went through it all with Cynthia then. \n\nHe went by Alexander once when the stone was iron and forged into a spear. \nJohn told her of the fall of Rome and a sword wielded by a barbarian. \nWhy we never found Genghis Khan’s grave, when the stone was broken and made into arrowheads. \nThey found the stone again in the Middle East as High quality crucible forged steel. A trading voyage of Vikings took it back home and made it into the first ulfberht sword. \nIt was in the realm of an ancient Chinese dynasty next. Breaking down into powder the alchemists called Hue Yao. Gunpowder. \nIt was at the fall of Constantinople, the largest it had been. Forged into the Dardanelles Gun, The Great Turkish Bombard. \nAnd many many more. \n\n\nJohn arrived at the final piece. \n“We covered it up Cynthia. But the stone came again. Floating in the air, glowing, and pure. In the goddamned middle of Manhattan! We moved it around, from universities to government facilities until we housed it in DC. It was Plutonium then, and once we cracked Fission he came back. And these documents show that Oppenheimer ran the program that questioned him. “I am become death?” No he had met death. \n“So what does it all mean then? Are you telling me that this being, or whatever the hell it is that we found, has been responsible for all of this death?” John had to admit that it sounded crazy to him at first as well. “Then what is it?” She asked. \n\n“He” The once noble man of science responded \n\n“He, Cynthia, he is Kane. “And the new element we found on that planet?” Their hair stood on end as they thought of the pure destructive power on this new element. “That is his sword, and we just forged it anew” \n\n\nI Awoke again as if in an instant. My last memory of hurtling towards the earth. Glowing green blade in hand. Ready to release the explosive rage of my blade upon my newly appointed foe. The blade did not care who the people were, or why they should die. We... It… I. needed only to end life. This new blade did not cut however, it killed by exuding so much terrible energy that it leveled a city. Then I reformed, and did it again the next morning. Then I slept, blood-thirst quenched. For a time. \nA bedraggled man and a beautiful woman were there. Wearing white coats just like last time. I sighed, I miss the days of warriors and armor. These “Scientists” were weak things. \n“Where is it” I said with the voice of a thousand thousand murders. The man simply asked “where’s what?” in a shaky voice. \n“MY SWORD” Roared a voice only somewhat mine. “We.. we are bringing it to you now. It may be some months however” The woman was braver than many I have met in my many eons. \n“AND MY FOE” \n“A Hive mind, more bug than anything.” This new voice came from a man in green with many medals on his chest and shoulders “Coming towards earth from the outer rim. Burning and eating as they go” I recognized a warrior in this one. Even through the silver hair and aged frame. “Once you have the weapon you will seek out and destroy every last one of the six legged bastards!” I ignored the order this mortal thought he could give me only because he was correct. \nI would kill them all.",
"They said they’d wake me when they needed me. *If* they needed me. The last thing I’d heard before I went unconscious was them praying that they never would. \n\nI’d never quite been so hopeful, so it came as no true surprise when I eventually opened my eyes again. There was no indication of time, no indication of space, just a fuzziness overlaying my vision as I waited patiently for someone to retrieve me from the dark chamber where I laid. My thoughts were foggy, but a phrase from my preparatory training still came through to me clearly. \n\n*Wait patiently in the chamber, someone will come to give you a full health work-up. Depending on how long you were in suspended animation, your senses may take some time to return to you. Do not be alarmed if you are unable to move on your own at first.* \n\nI tried my best not to be alarmed, just as I was told. But alarm came for me anyway, in the form of a rapid heartbeat that felt as though it would crawl up my too-dry throat and into my mouth. The sensation of not being able to move on my own was, if nothing else, alarming me. \n\nBut the hands that came to move my body were gentle, even if I could not see the faces attached to them for the time being. The sounds of their speech were muted, but it felt warm and comforting, respectful in a sort of distant way. In the meantime, I waited: my body gave me little choice in the matter, for no matter how hard I tried to move my digits there was no response. All I could do was blink, alternating my way between the same blackness of sleep or the whiteness of eyes which could not see. \n\nThe world tilted, then righted itself again, just before tilting again in nauseating vertigo. There was no food in my stomach to lose, but I could still feel those muscles cramping in the exhausted and long-unused organ. I could hardly believe that I was grateful for pain, but at the moment it confirmed that I was alive, and not lost forever in a dream from which I had never awakened. \n\nSmell came back to me with the sharp tang of sterile medical tools. Touch grew more intense as gloved hands probed at my naked body. Coldness came back to me, and so did balance, with words growing more clear as the table beneath me kept me grounded. The discomfort would pass, I had been promised. For the time being I focused on the one thing I could control: my breathing. \n\nA day passed. Perhaps more, perhaps less. A certain sense of time did not yet come readily to me. I wondered if that too was to be expected, but had no one to ask. \n\nMost of this time I spent wrapped in a blanket that was warm on a bed that was firm against my body. Voices came and went, the shapes of their faces becoming slightly more distinct as I remembered my patience. The heaviness of my tongue receded and I began to attempt speech, with heavy praise coming to my clouded ears for even my most slurred sentences. \n\nIt was the strange lilt to the voices around me that eventually made me realize that my hearing was coming back to me just fine, but the words were in a tongue that I could not recognize. Of the four languages I spoke there was nothing more than a whisper of their structures in what was being spoken to me, nothing close enough to distill any useful information from those silhouettes wandering to my bedside. \n\n“Does anyone speak English?” I asked in my native language as someone gently secured new tape to my fluids line. No answer. Biting my tongue, I shifted to \n\n*“Does anyone speak Mandarin?”* A pause, again without a response. I dug deeper now, through the haze of memories that was preserved over what I could only presume were centuries. There was no accent on my tongue any longer, the elementary words falling in a monotone. \n\n*“Does anyone speak Spanish?”* \n\n*“Does anyone speak Arabic?”*\n\nNothing. \n\nSo I waited. And waited some more. I found nerves tangling in my stomach like fanged butterflies, the concern that I would be unable to communicate in this future entirely overwhelming. If they needed me for the purpose that I had agreed to all those years ago, then it would be in our mutual interests if we were able to understand one another. \n\nEventually another party entered the room, still nothing more than foggy silhouettes. This too was something I knew I had to be patient with, no matter how much I was itching in my skin to move around, to figure out where and *when* I had been woken. \n\n“Hello?” A voice came to me, greeting me in plain English. My heart leaped in my chest. \n\n“You can speak English?” I asked again, hopes soaring unrestrained despite the uncertainty of the stranger who had addressed me. \n\n“I- I can speak it a little,” a distinctly female voice responded. “I am just a historian studying dead languages. There is no widespread spoken English any longer.” The words were thick on her tongue, but I had enough capacity to find shock in her declaration. Rather than fall into a sea of confusion, I pressed on, filing away the statement for later questions. If there was anything I had bountifully at the moment, it was questions. All that I cared about was having someone who understood me enough to answer them. \n\n“That’s alright. I can talk slow if you need me to,” I offered, slowing down my delivery ever so slightly. \n\n“Thank you.” \n\n“So,” I started, “can you tell me what year it is?” \n\n“The year is 3069 CE.” \n\n“Wow.” I exhaled sharply, throat constricting as the numbers threw their weight at me. Perhaps I should have tried saying something more eloquent to the beings from the future that were caring for me, but it was the only expression that could come to my mind. After all, I had just learned that I had been asleep for almost eight centuries. There were no words I knew in any language that could capture that surprise, but I couldn’t let this fact stop me cold. This was my job, after all. \n\n“Why have I been woken now? Is there a threat?” \n\nAnother pause. Murmurs in the language I could not recognize came in the distance, what I could only assume was a hasty translation. Then she spoke to me again, slow and syrupy in her speech. \n\n“Humanity requires your services in something that you would know as war.” \n\nIt was clear that the language was far from natural for whatever poor soul had been roped into serving as my translator, but her choice of words struck me as strange. \n\n“Humanity?” I questioned her, hands fidgeting on the blankets. “Which country am I currently in the custody of?” \n\n“There are no more countries. All humans have united under a single entity known as The Collective.” \n\n“Bullshit,” I hissed, irritation flooding me in a sudden spike of unexpected emotion. The professionalism I had been so focused on just moments earlier left me, and images of war-ravaged cities filled my head in clarity my current senses could never provide. I could smell burning flesh, see blood splattered across the crumbling streets as the sound of Blast Sirens echoed in the background. News footage flickered like a montage in my mind’s eye, the sight of victims choking on fallout a reminder of why my stasis chamber had been buried under more dirt and lead than I could ever conceive. \n\n“The war that prompted your extended sleep did not destroy humanity as it was feared,” she told me, though I could tell she was more nervous now. “What we now know as the Annihilation of Division gave birth to The Collective. The only dream was complete peace and understanding among survivors. It is a dream which we have achieved over many years. In this new place in time we have no war, no fighting.” \n\n“Then why do you need me?” \n\nI was stowed as a weapon of a different kind, something that used a cunning brain instead of nuclear power to destroy. There had been much of the war left to fight, but my superiors were more interested in long-term survival of the nation rather than the assured survival of all humanity. Perhaps I could have stopped the oncoming nuclear winter. Perhaps I would have failed and perished along with the rest. \n\nInstead, I had been asked to sleep. In whatever future would await me, they would need someone who could fight. Someone who was willing to lead, to make the difficult decisions. That was what I had been born and bred for, but the promise of guaranteeing my only remaining family a spot in the nation’s sole public fallout shelter was worth the death sentence. They had promised me that I would be woken up when I was needed again, be it in a few years or a few decades. \n\nI’d never seen it as anything more than a death sentence. \n\nSo now I was in the future. A future without war, apparently. Yet still I was needed. \n\n“You see...” she trailed off here, uncertain. More murmuring transpired in the strange language I strained to understand. \n\nI let out a small grunt to remind the spectators of my presence rather than bothering with speech. My patience was wearing thin now, especially as my mind attempted to further process the reality that everyone I knew was not just long dead, but the world as I had once conceived it no longer existed. \n\n“Well, sir,” she stammered again, before clearing her throat. “The threat we are facing now is not human. And there are none left that know how to fight. If we are to survive, we need to learn violence once more. You are our only hope.” \n\n“Aliens?” I asked, feeling a grimace come to my face involuntarily. Despite the fact I was laying down, the sensation of the world spinning came back to me. I groaned and brought my palm up to my head. \n\n“Aliens and violence.” This time I muttered the words under my breath, self-conscious of the audience that stood before me. “Not so sure about aliens, but I know a thing or two about violence. We survived a nuclear winter for aliens? Bullshit.” \n\n[Thanks for the prompt! Took it in a slightly different direction as I wrote. Feedback and critiques are welcome.]",
"The dull, throbbing ache of the blood in my brain starting to move again was the first thing I noticed. The blood had to be activated before the the tissue unfroze and OW FUCK OW! I spun in place, I think? I felt like I was. This was the distilled, concentrated version of a head rush. I think I blacked out and in a few times. Who was I? Jerb? Job? Oh!, Joel! Where was I? a room that smelt so heavily of perfume I almost choked with a whole bunch of people running around, excited about something. What was I? Hungry? Poor? Oh, right, I was going to take some experiment thing to pay for college and they asked me to stand in some cylinder. I think I was pretty spooked by that point in the experiment but this is what I get for having no backbone. \n\n​\n\nThis room was different though. There was nothing but the soft thumping of satin shoes on the floor and these people seemed very excited, scared even, but didn't make a sound. They seemed to be looking around them at the floor, avoiding each other's eyes. Wait, those stupid costumes, this weird room, this was definitely one of Glanville U's stupid theatre program's performance art pieces. I really just wanted to go home and see if Amy had finished her final but I honestly felt bad for these guys, nobody took them seriously.\n\n​\n\n\"Alright, what do you want?\" Somehow this question caused them all to flinch. They all seemed to be looking at the floor, waiting for something? I tried a different approach. The guy closest to me was dressed in a stupid, glittering metallic robe thing over what looked like a circus special silk overalls/shoes combo. I didn't recognize him. \"Hey buddy, can you tell me what's going on here?\"\n\n​\n\nHe flinched as if struck, and tears started to steam from his face. The rest of the group gasped involuntarily. \"With permission and humblest self abasement for speaking so directly and familiarly.\" a woman standing at a control panel spoke to the floor in a strange accent, \"we are unaccustomed to this level of directness. To some, it may seem... it may feel... some of us may wrongfully perceive it to be rude.\" The others looked at her agape, like she had committed some serious offence. This accent, was this the foreign students program? Oh wait, this was supposed to be some social commentary wasn't it? Some stupid boomer thing about millennials being fragile probably. Ok I bet I was supposed to be the bad guy, I'll help them prove their point and get going then.\n\nI eased my arms around but they were still asleep. \"Look, just bring me to the problem ok?\" The woman promptly doubled over and vomited on the floor, her immaculately brushed hair flopping over comically. When she looked up her makeup was streaked. Three others stumbled over to rest their hands comfortingly on her back. She reached a hand over and, tremblingly, pointed down the hall.\n\n​\n\n\"Holy geez you guys went pretty high budget on this one eh?\" I asked as I stepped through yet another gilded archway, just the right ergonomic width for easy passage. The man who looked up, startled, and made eye contact with me quickly forced his gaze into the wall. I sauntered over to him and gave him a playful punch in the shoulder. Horrified, I felt his bones crunch like matchsticks. I bit off another fun jab as he crawled out. He actually... was he hurt? That wasn't like a prop or... \"Hey man can I help... are you... uh... sorry...\" \n\n​\n\nHe crawled out of the room without responding, heaving out deep breathing sobs as quietly as he could. Geez how were these guys so underrated, this was amazing! A wall lit up across from me, a human face grinned at me, a huge metallic spike impaled it and yet the gory spectacle spoke to me. \"A second world falls. You are mine.\"\n\n​\n\nI was starting to get into character a little bit. \"No.\" \n\n​\n\nThe person was starting to say something else but stopped. \"Beg pardon?\"\n\n​\n\n\"Nah how about you take our second homeworld and shove it right up your ass.\"\n\n​\n\nThe iron spike seemed to sing as it started vibrating at a higher and higher frequency before gore spattered the screen. It went dark. I felt a wave of something pulse through me... anger? But not my anger, what the fuck was that? The lights in the ship flicked off as it went through me. I heard panicked thumping of satin shoes on the floor of the room above me, but no screams, which I guess we were pretending were supposed to be rude. In pitch blackness, the screen lit up again, and five eyes stared at me in a sea of blackness. It spoke.\n\n​\n\n\"Do you have any idea how hard it is to attune the frequencies to the sophisticated and inextricably nuanced ways that humans constantly have to ask for permission to do absolutely anything? Who are you?\"\n\n​\n\n\"Ok well I didn't understand any of those words but you look like a bitch haha.\"\n\n​\n\nThe eyes vibrated in pain and rage, \"I am NOT!\"\n\n​\n\n\"haha yeah you are.\"\n\n​\n\n\"Shut UP!\"\n\n​\n\n\"No!\"\n\n​\n\n\"This conversation is through! When we next meet my soldiers will be placing you in...\"\n\n​\n\n\"Haha so you're running from the call? That's exactly what a bitch would do!\"\n\n​\n\nThe eyes swelled to fill the screen, filling the room and glaring at me. \"I'm not leaving because I'm a bitch I have things I have to do!\"\n\n​\n\n\"Yeah I bet it's crying!\"\n\n​\n\n\"I'm NOT crying I can't even cr...\"\n\n​\n\n\"haha I bet with five eyes you cry five times as hard you baby\"\n\n​\n\n\"I AM NO BABY I AM ANCIENT AND SCARY!\"\n\n​\n\n\"bitchsayswhat\"\n\n​\n\n\"WHAT?\"\n\n​\n\n\"Haha I said bitch says what and then you said 'what'\"\n\n​\n\nI felt my stomach lurch as waves of roiling psionic anger rippled through me from somewhere in the cosmos. I almost, for half a second, doubted that this was the foreign exchange theatre squad but I didn't know that those crazies got up to and nothing else really made sense to me. The eyes, which had blinked out, now returned to fill the screen, dark red and bloodshot. This time I head him not through the speakers but by vibrations through the wall. \n\n​\n\n\"FEAR ME,\" The walls said. The words, \"I AM THE IMMORTAL HUNGER\" flashed across every little screen around me.\n\n​\n\n\"haha you spelled bitch wrong.\"\n\n​\n\nI held onto the memory foam desk in front of me as a psionic scream pierced my mind.\n\n​\n\n\"wow that definitely sounds like you're crying to me.\"\n\n​\n\nThe scream sounded again, but almost like a wail. Not just angry, but almost... despairing?\n\n​\n\n\"Oooh yeah that's a good cry baby!\"\n\n​\n\nThe scream this time was closer to a pathetic gurgle.\n\n​\n\n\"I know what I'll call you! Eyebaby crybaby!\"\n\n​\n\nThe wave I felt wasn't a scream, or even a cry, just a rippling tiredness. I just felt... done? Depressed? Heavily traumatized as though nothing could heal me and I should just give up? \n\n​\n\nI shook it off with a shrug and passed the man with the broken shoulder, staring into the middle distance and mouthing wordlessly to himself. I returned to the room I woke up in to find a complicated ritual going on. The two foreign exchange theatre students closest to the door stared at the floor and angled their bodies slightly towards each other, signalling receptiveness. Then they slowly made eye contact and the one on the right said in a soft, almost imperceptible voice, \"It feels to me as though the signals which may be from Planet Livia and Planet Joy have been reconnected, I feel as though there are people on those planets who seem to be in good health.\" \n\nI watched as they slowly communicated this around the room, taking care not to eavesdrop unless directly given permission to engage in conversation. After ten minutes they had maybe told three people. I couldn't take it anymore. \"Geez, how the fuck did you bitches make it to adulthood?\""
] | 4
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[Sword of frost](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/i92v80/wpthe_sword_of_frost_a_sword_said_to_manipulate/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share)
[Bow of Conflagration](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/i9rqlk/wp_the_bow_of_conflagration_is_a_bow_which_fires/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x)
[Lash of Zephyr](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/i9ow2s/wp_the_lash_of_zephyr_a_serpentine_whip_which/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share)
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[WP] The Bardiche of Gaia, a battle axe said to command the earth itself, had remained lodged in the crevice its hero created in the desert for centuries. Many gave up, but not you, because you've planted a seed in the crack years ago, and never skipped to water 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.*",
"The Bardiche of Gaia had been considered lost, though its location was known. Within the Balgar Desert, there was a chasm. In the chasm, the Bardiche was lodged within a crevice. All that could be seen was the end of its handle, sticking out from the wall.\n\nOver the centuries it had lain there, many had tried to take it. They could not pull it out, for the rock had formed around its head. They tried mining it out, but the rock regrew faster then could be broken. They tried reshaping the rock, but even that failed to make it easier to pull.\n\nI had an idea though. I had planted a seed from my Burrowing Vine in the crevice years ago, and each week I would return to water it. My plan was to have the vine burrow around the axe, so that the rock would loose its hold.\n\nI didnt do this for the glory. I did i because it was there, and I wanted to get it out, purely for bragging rights. So when I got to it, 5 years after I had planted the vine, I was ready to take it. I reached with my magic to the vine, and encouraged it to move around the axe. As it did so, I took hold of its handle, and started to pull.\n\nA deep voice echoed in my mind as I held it, speaking with hints of a smile.\n\n\"You had a good plan there. Using life of the earth to free me, I approve. Tell me, do you tend to other plants then this?\"\n\nI almost pulled away in shock, but something about the voice was comforting. I thought of my plants back home, and was about to speak, when the Bardiche spoke again.\n\n\"Ah, you do. All others who seemed to claim me cared naught for the life of the earth. But you do. You may have wanted me for purely selfish reasons, but your heart is worthy.\"\n\nAs it announced this, the earth around it split open, revealing the full axe. My vine was wrapped around the head, but through it I could see beautiful carvings. I lifted it, and whilst its look impled a great weight to it, to me it felt weightless.\n\n\"Um, what should we do now?\"\n\n\"Now, life-giver? Now, we travel. I would see where my bretheren lay,for i have not seen them in centuries.\"\n\nI thought to the stories. It was one of 4 great elemental weapons, each holding mastery over its element. The Sword of Frost, Bow of Conflagration, and Lash of Zephyr were the others. They were once wielded by the 4 greatest heros in the world. But those heros had left them and each disappeared. \n\n\"Times are changing, life-giver. We will be needed again soon, I'm sure.\""
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[WP] You're a changeling, and you have a habit of copying the appearance of random people on the street. As it turns out, that confused guy you saw at the market was the king, secretly out shopping. Today you ran into him again, and he has a few things to ask.
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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.*",
"Every day, a new face.\n\nThat was the advantage of being a changeling. All I needed was a glance, and I could copy anyone's appearance down to the smallest detail. Some I liked, and I kept. Some I tried, but it didn't suit me. But everyday, I would go on the streets and copy a face.\n\nIt was fun, the power I had.\n\n\"Who should I be today?\" I murmured, opening my wardrobe. Inside were pictures, many of them, of the faces I wore over the years. That old farmer from the outskirts of town? The young adventurer who stopped by for a few days then left? The wealthy man with the walking stick who passed by my house every morning?\n\nI settled for the young girl with the flower dress I stole yesterday. It made me much more inconspicuous, since nobody really paid attention to a small kid anyway. \n\n\"Change,\" I said. I closed my eyes and concentrated, and within seconds I could feel my body changing, to suit the form I had chosen. Before I knew it, the transformation was complete.\n\n\"Perfect,\" I said, looking in the mirror, doing a small twirl in my skirt. \"Let's have some fun today.\"\n\n*\n\nThe marketplace was as busy as usual. Hawkers set up shop along the narrow pathway, as hundreds of townsfolk, and most notably adventurers, walked by everyday. The air was ripe with the cacophony of hawkers shouting to grab the attention of passers-by, with varying degrees of success. \n\nI paid them no mind. I had other things to do, after all. I concentrated on everyone around me, analysing their faces, their clothes, their mood. It's surprising how much you can tell from looking at someone. The adventurer's satisfaction from looting a dungeon and looking for magical trinkets to spend his riches on. The poor man whose wife had recently passed from disease. And of course, those that just came for some grocery shopping.\n\n\"Ow!\" I heard a cry, as someone tripped and fell next to me. I turned to look at him, and noticed a young teenager lying face first on the ground, struggling to get up. His face was disheveled and he seemed to be unsure of what he was doing. His movement and speech suggested he was not used to being in public. Someone sent on an errand by their parents, perhaps? Yet he had a peculiar air around him, but I couldn't discern exactly what.\n\n\"Excuse me,\" he said, getting to his feet, then dusting off his clothes. \"I must have fallen.\"\n\nFor a brief moment he stopped, then he glanced back and looked down back at me. I noticed I was still staring at him, so I gazed away quickly and continued walking.\n\nDown the street, into the alleyway where no one could see me.\n\n\"Change,\" I whispered, closing my eyes.\n\n*\n\nThe sun began to set. I had spent a full day at the market. I tried many faces, but none of them fit the youth who I saw just now. I really liked his face, so I kept it. \n\nI've had my fun, but it was time to go.\n\n\"How much is that, again?\" I heard a voice. I turned slowly, and to my surprise, I saw him. The youth whose face I stole.\n\n\"Twenty... silver?\" he looked into his coin bag, sifting through the coins. \"Do you... have change? No? How about electrum? Is that more valuable than silver?\"\n\nKeeping my head down, I quickened my pace. Maybe he didn't notice. I definitely didn't expect him to be still here. But suddenly I could feel a presence. \n\nWas he following me?\n\nThe faster I walked, the closer he was. Maybe I could lose him. I turned and walked into the intricate network of alleyways that lead to and from all corners of the city, which I knew like the back of my hand. \n\nThough admittedly, I didn't really know the back of my hand all that well.\n\nThe faster I went, the faster he was. I didn't want a confrontation, that'd be too awkward. Moreover, it would make public news that a changeling was in town. And I wasn't ready for the attention.\n\nA brisk walk evolved into a sprint. Left, right, left. I weaved in and out of alleyways, no longer caring about reaching home. I only wanted to lose my pursuer.\n\nBut I should have been more careful. I turned right into a dead end. Turning around, I looked for signs that he was there. Maybe I lost him. Eyes darting left and right, I heaved a sigh of relief.\n\n\"Change,\" I whispered, and I closed my eyes, feeling my form change to that of an old man. But when I opened them, he was there. The youth.\n\nI stood still, staring at him. Slowly he advanced.\n\n\"Who are you?\" he asked, hand reaching into his pocket. \"What sort of demon are you?\"\n\nI remained silent, feeling the tension between us heighten. The youth sighed, then pulled his hand out of his pocket, brandishing a jeweled knife. On it was inscribed clearly.\n\nThe holy symbol of the king.\n\nWe both stared at each other again, awkward silence ensuing. Finally, I spoke.\n\n\"I am a changeling,\" I said. \"I can shift into whoever I want.\"\n\n\"I see,\" the youth replied, nodding. \"Incredible. Never thought I'd see one.\"\n\n\"Please answer me one question,\" I said, not letting my guard down. \"Why do you have a knife inscribed with the king's symbol?\"\n\n\"Oh, so you don't know who I am?\" the youth asked, laughing heartily. \"You're right, it's been a long time. Change.\"\n\nBefore my eyes, his body melted, then reformed itself into a tall man. He wore brilliantly colored robes, sparkling gold with various gems inset into it. His eyes glowed a marvelous blue, a regal aura surrounding him. A massive crown sat on his head, a dazzling diamond resting nicely upon his forehead.\n\n\"You're one too?\" I asked, shocked. \"But how? I didn't even - I... Wasn't I the only one left?\"\n\n\"How did you come to this town?\" the king asked, sheathing his knife. \"Where did you come from?\"\n\n\"I don't... I don't know,\" I stuttered, trying to recall any memory at all. \"I just... was here.\"\n\n\"Well then, won't you come with me?\" he asked, extending his hand. \"We have a lot to talk about, my child.\"\n\nI stood there, lost in thought. Finally, I decided. I needed to know.\n\n\"Okay,\" I said, taking his hand. \"Let's go.\""
] | 2
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[WP] You have a nightmare where all your teeth fall out. You feel relieved when you wake up but quickly realize they really are gone.
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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 why I always do this in my dreams but I hooked my upper teeth behind my lower teeth and wrenched. The teeth gave way and caved as a row into my mouth. The castle walls, the fairy, everything melted away and I realized I was in my bed again, covered in sweat. Ugh. The memory of wrenching my teeth still stuck with me and as usual I instinctively reached my hand to reassure myself they were solid. They weren't.\n\n​\n\nI wasn't covered in sweat at all, I was covered in blood. A panic set in me. Did I actually wrench my teeth in my sleep like an idiot? Am I going to have to get dentures? How am I going to afford that? I pushed off my blanket and winced. Huh? What was wrong with my arm? I pulled it out from the sheets and found a lip print on my arm, glowing blue green and seeming to hover in the darkness as I waved my arm around. The fairy's kiss? But if she's real then that must mean...\n\n​\n\nThe scrape of fur against the walls and ceiling sounded in the hallway slowly, slowly and softly. I felt my skin go cold and my hair stood up. Without breathing or making a noise I edged my torso off the bed, reached towards the outline of the window and slipped. I should have hit the floor with a thump. I didn't. My arm, with the fairy's kiss on it, stayed in the air supporting my weight.\n\n​\n\nJust then I heard the gentle patpatpat of something falling from the door onto the carpet. The hinges were unscrewing themselves! I set my feet on the floor and heaved at the window, in my panic forgetting the window lock. The window opened with a crash and, with my blood audibly pumping in my ears I leapt through. The kiss activated but with my arm suddenly suspended in the air my shoulder popped and I screamed in pain. I heard no noise in response behind me. Through tears and sweat I peeked around and saw him standing in the windowframe, the moonlight only illuminating a patch of fur here, a hooked nose there, his lips. He spoke to me softly, kindly. \"You can run but I have your blood. I will find you.\"\n\n​\n\nI willed the fairy's kiss to let me down slowly, aware of the eyes watching me from behind, from my room. I hit the ground running, tearing off a piece of my pyjama pants to make a sling before I realized, my shoulder didn't hurt anymore? His face watched me from the front door as my bare feet splatted down the road. None of my neighbor's lights were on. What was going on?"
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[WP] You were born with the ability to understand what animals are thinking. One day you walk by a bird who communicates with his species to get away from this place. Later you witness the same exchange between other birds.
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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.*",
"\"Sergeant we need to move, move move\"\n\n\"Do not speak up to me, flappers\"\n\n\"But Searagant\"\n\n\"No buts\"\n\nI could clearly hear the two birds on the branch a few meters away. They were painted blue signalling their high rank. One of them had a grey head and one was significantly smaller than the other one, it was also the one in charge.\n\n\"We must execute order 66 soldier\", the dog walking past us barked, and the owner apologized for this behaviour.\n\nLately, every single type of bird I've seen has been like this, or actually, I haven't seen any crows lately. Nevertheless, they have all said something about moving, but I still don't know what it is. \n\nYesterday I was sitting on a park bench enjoying the sound of animals. I had overheard a conversation between squirrels behind, between their bickering and fighting for nuts, they spoke something about a revolution. They always did, but not in this quantity. \n\n\nThe room was dark, due to the light bulb being shattered and there not being windows. Finally, I made it to the barky wooden door located twenty floors high up in the air. Inside, there was a cloaked figure, with pink skin, a swirled trout and chocolate all around his mouth. He was also really fat. He sat on my couch watching Vikings. \n\n\n\"I didn't expect to see you\"\n\n\"Neither did I, nor I did but I shouldn't be supposed to. Agent human, a new carrot has been throw into the pen\"\n\n\"Yes, I did overhear something about that, but what?\"\n\n\"Of course, of course. I need to silence those damn birds, or maybe squirrels or maybe rats. I'll silence them all. I am going, my friend, to need your assistance because the ravens and crows have begun moving again\"\n\nMy jaw dropped, eyes widened and I shook without knowing it. The culture removal to the Muslims in China, Donald Trump becoming president, Kennedy getting shot; all of this was due to the crows.\n\nThey come to you, alone or in a pack and preach their religion, which is chaos. Chaos. Luckily they don't commonly unite due to the different factions fighting, but if they do. Then the results would be terrible, it could be the start of a new world war.\n\n\"Yes, indeed, in response to this the cockroaches and ants have formed an alliance and are marching north, we the Illuminati can do nothing so we have also begun our operations.\" \n\n\"But why do you need me?\"\n\n\"You my friend will become the next president\"",
"Animals are lovely. There is a simplicity to them that is admirable. A dog will think of licking its balls then do so, and as soon as it sees its humans wag its tail and think how much it loves the weird animal. Cats are jerks even in their own thoughts but in a way that is honest. It’ll look at a humans and be annoyed it’s sleeps was interrupted for whatever inane prattle the human has to say before going back to sleep. \n\nIt’s not all fun though. The zoos are bad. Even before I understood this I could hear them all, the animals I mean. I didn’t understand them then, but I was still in a stroller. I didn’t even understand my mom and dad speaking to me yet. But I understood the noise. The first time I really started to understand what I could do was when I was five or so. Until then I thought it was normal to hear your family dog say they loved you, and chant for food. But when I was five I went to the aquarium with my family. They had all kinds of fish all thinking simple thoughts; ‘turn this was, under the rock.’ and ‘When is food.’ Things I was use to hearing. But the aquarium also had a killer whale. They are smart. Very complex thoughts, just like a humans. The whale just kept crying in its own head about wanting out of the tank. I couldn’t understand why everyone was just smiling and laughing. It sounded so sad. When I asked my parents about the crying they didn’t seem to understand. \n\nThat was all some time ago. I never have told anyone. What would they think of me? Probably that I was crazy. Funny thing actually, I can understand what all animals are thinking except humans. But I’ve never gone back to a zoo or anything like that. You’d think I’d work with animals in some capacity, but no. I just work a nice office job in a cubical. I like having time where I can’t hear every thought that comes into a being’s head.\n\nI’m by no means a shut in, I do enjoy time outside in small bursts. I don’t stay out too long because all the thinking can be so loud, but I do go to parks from time to time. In short bursts it’s like being in a crowded mall for a normal person, lots of chatter than just blends together. \n\nI was out one morning in the crisp air enjoying a stroll around the park. As I sat on a bench with some bird seed I began to toss some on the ground waiting for them to come. Feeding birds was actually kinda funny for a short time. Just the way they’d seen food with each toss of seeds to the ground. Most birds ‘thought’ quietly enough. Crows were loud of course. But it wasn’t too bad. \n\nAs I tossed the seed with one hand, waiting, I absently read the news on my phone. Mostly bad news as normal. Politics. One country says the other is bad, the other saying the first was worse. Endless talks of war. Just like the thoughts of the animals, eventually you become desensitized to it. \n\nAfter a while one bird lands and starts to peck at the seed on the ground. Then another, but the second one doesn’t peck. They don’t sing of food. The second one simply thinks to the first, “What you doing? We need leave now.” Then they both flutter up and fly away. That was... odd. I shift on the bench, looking around. I live in a large city but normally in the park there is some wildlife. Not a lot, and nothing too large. But this morning... there was nothing. I could hear human voices of other early morning park goers but no animal thinking. I also became acutely aware that there were no birds above in the sky either. Not like there normally is anyway. \n\nAfter a minute or two of puzzling I stood and walked around a bit on the path. Maybe it was just where I was sitting. For about ten minutes I walked, until I finally spotted some pigeons. Figured it was their lucky day. I’d feed them. Pigeons are without a doubt, and not to throw shade at pigeons, the dumbest of all birds I’d heard think. \n\nSitting down I start tossing seed near them, but not close enough that they’d fly away. A third bird swoops down and thinks, “Fly. Leave. Almost here. Fast air.” It touched the ground for a moment then was flapping back up the other two following. They start to fly east. \n\nConfusing to say the least. As I stand trying my best to figure it all out, very much wishing it worked like that old Nickelodeon show about the girl that could understand and talk to animals instead of just hearing their thoughts. As I stood my phone began to blare. Not the normal ding of a text. The amber alert sound. I pulled my phone out of my coat pocket, with the intent to silence it, but caught the message. It wasn’t an amber alert. It read ‘EMERGENCY ALERT: Ballistic missile threat inbound to eastern seaboard. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill’ \n\nThe few people in the park were suddenly silent too. A couple, and man and woman near me were talking in hushed tones, the man trying to calm his girlfriend by trying to make a joke about the issue that happened to Hawaii’s alert system in 2018. That glitch that was still not explained. Even still people were starting to head for the gates of the park. \n\nI sat back on the bench I’d been sitting at. There was no where for me to go really. My apartment was no bomb shelter. There was the subway tunnels but all of New York would be trying for that. Over eight million people trying to cram themselves into the tunnels. \n\nWell fuck. Fast wind indeed."
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[WP] Each day the flies in your room seem to multiply. It started with one, then there were ten, all crawling on different surfaces. The next day their numbers have tripled. You're about to break out the bug spray when they form a face on your wall and begin to speak. They want to bargain.
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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 incessant buzzing woke me from my deeply needed slumber. I tried to ignore it, to slip back into the embrace of unconsciousness, but I could not. The buzzing would go silent for just long enough to lull me into a sense of comfort, and then return. Buzz, buzz, buzz. A tortuous assault on my ears. I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep all week.\n\nIt had started with a single fly. Innocuous, easily ignored, barely worth mentioning. I had tried to direct it out of my home but even with a window wide open, it seemed to avoid leaving. But, I could hardly understand the reasoning of a fly and decided to leave it alone. It would leave or die on its own before long. But then the next day there had been ten. The following thirty. It was disturbing, and could no longer be overlooked. Their collective buzz drew my attention away from my tasks all day and prevented my sleep at night.\n\nI set out traps, I used bug spray. But they did not fall for them, and avoided me when I tried to kill them. Their numbers had only continued to grow each day. Now there were countless. My sleep deprived, addled mind sometimes even thought the flies looked organized. But that was insane. I wasn’t insane. I just needed sleep. But how? How? How? How? The buzzing filled my ears once more.\n\nMy eyes shot open, dried and tired as they were. The flies soared around my room. They avoided me during the day, when I could strike back. Now, helpless, scared, with the oppressive darkness of the night, I was defenseless as they came for me. They wanted to torture me. The flies knew what they were doing. They knew, they knew, they knew…\n\nI jumped out of my bed with a scream. I had to end that buzzing! I would have my silence. I grabbed the bug spray from my night stand, sprayed madly at the air above me. The flies recoiled, their numbers barely impacted. My throat was rubbed raw by my shouts and I continued to fill the air with murderous gas.\n\nUnable to take it any longer, I collapsed, coughing as I tried to breathe. As my coughing fit and the hiss of the gas subsided I listened. I listened and then sobbed as I heard the buzzing return. I needed sleep. I looked at the poison symbol on the bug spray. Perhaps a long sleep.\n\n“I can provide what you need.”\n\nI jumped, looking around the room for the source of the voice. All I saw were the flies. A chill ran down my spine. The flies were all looking at me without moving at all. They hovered in the air, countless flies with countless eyes each directing their gaze towards me. The flies moved as one, combining into a massive swarm as they swept towards me.\n\nI let out a hoarse scream as I raised my arms up to defend myself.\n\nBut the flies merely passed by me, and landed on the wall by me. The disgusting mass of flies shifted and warped on itself, forming an uncannily recognizable shape. A human face.\n\n“My flies have been a nuisance. You have my apologies,” it said, flies moving to shape the words it spoke. “They can be a handful. I’d like to help you, but I am afraid your world and all of your problems are slightly out of my reach as is. If you could help me some, I would be happy to make these flies leave you alone. We could be done with all this within the night, and you could sleep for the rest of it.”\n\nI could sleep? Rest? My mind almost shut itself off immediately from the relief.\n\n“Yes, please. Anything! What do I have to do?” I said, desperate tears streaking down my face. I did not care what this monster, this demon was. I would turn to anyone who could help me. Sweet, beautiful sleep was almost in my grasp once more.\n\n“Simply speak an oath to allow me to act through you. To be a temporary vessel. It will give me enough reach to influence your world for a brief moment. To dismiss the flies, force them elsewhere.”\n\n“Yes, of course. I swear myself to you. I will be your vessel!” Each word I spoke felt heavier than the last.\n\nThe face smiled and then the flies shot off of the wall and this time they did not pass by me. They attached to my face. Their feet, their feelers touching me anywhere I had my skin exposed. They climbed into my mouth and down my throat. I could feel their little bodies moving within me. Their buzzing overwhelmed my mind as they crawled into my ears, up my nose. I couldn’t see, I couldn’t breathe. My head was surrounded in the swarm.\n\nA flash of light passed through the storm of flies enough for me to notice it.\n\n“You are dismissed Beelzebub. By the working of the Wise King, you will heed my words. This human is released and you are cast back to whence you came, Lord of Flies.”\n\nThe weight of the flies seemed to disappear and as I regained my sight, I could see them burning in the air and on my face. But the flame did not burn me. If anything it gave off a refreshing breeze. In the room, I saw a man casting his palm towards my direction. On one of his fingers was a glowing ring. But even as I watched, the glow dimmed until the light was gone. With a loud crack, the ring shattered and its remains fell to the floor.\n\nThe demon’s voice laughed and echoed in my room even without the presence of the flies.\n\n“And so another remnant of Solomon’s ring is lost to your Order. And for what? How long will your people last if you refuse to let the lost lambs be taken by the darkness? I gladly await your next order, magician. As long as they last, I will follow. But when the last ring lies broken, I will come for you. You and all of your ilk.”\n\nr/Inder"
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[WP] Hey, I had been waiting for you!" They looked so pure, all dressed in white and whit a sweet smile on their face, the perfect image of innocence... if you don't look at the bloodstains.
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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 knew something was wrong, even before I had opened the door. Something about this house just seemed off. From the outside, it just looked too perfect, with its meticulously manicured lawn, front porch without a hint of dirt, gleaming windows with a view of the living room, a blazing fire in the fireplace gave off just the right amount of warmth. There was even a hint of cinnamon and vanilla right by the front door.\n\nEverything about this house seemed inviting. It elicited a feeling of contentment and safety. I walked past a welcome sign hanging from the mailbox, indicating I was at The Robinson's house. The calming sensation emanating from the house made me immediately distrustful and on edge.\n\nI met Mr. and Mrs. Robinson only a few days prior. I answered their ad regarding a babysitter for their precious Nolan. We had coffee at The Daily Grind while chatting about routines, nutrition, and various permissible activities for the little tyke. They immediately took a liking to me and offered me the position on the spot. Desperate for some part-time work, I accepted and rearranged my schedule to begin the following Monday.\n\nI hesitated before I rang the doorbell, wondering if I made a mistake in taking this position. The perfection of the house was unsettling and as I think back on my meeting with The Robinson's, I was reminded of how their unwavering smiles and overly eager eyes seemed unnatural. But I desperately needed the money and they were offering to pay more than other nanny jobs did in this area.\n\nI pushed the glowing button and heard a symphony of bells. Someone inside, with an angelic voice let me know the door was unlocked and to let myself in. I thought it strange that no one would come to the door to greet me. I slowly opened the door and stepped over the threshold. Once I was into the hall, the door slammed behind me, taking all the feelings of tranquility and serenity with it. I instantly felt terror and turned around, intending to escape. My shaking hands reached out to the golden doorknob with no success at opening it. I was trapped.\n\nFront door was not an option, so I headed down the long hallway, looking for another way out of this house of horror. The warm and inviting living room I observed from the outside was nothing but a sham. I peeked into the living room and felt a cold darkness surrounding the once lit interior. Where a captivating fire burned now stood an altar, with dark images made more frightful by the low candles surrounding it. A large red pentagram stood above the altar, and a picture of a child in the center. A long knife, etched with a jagged pattern on the blade, sat next to a golden chalice, containing some sort of red liquid. I gasped as I backed away. There was something wrong with the Robinson's and I needed to get out of here before they found me.\n\nContinuing on down the hallway, I was desperately trying to find a way out of this place. I finally reached the kitchen. Right in front of the sliding glass door stood a child with blond, almost white hair and brilliant blue eyes. He must have been no more than 8 years old. He was dressed in a white button down, with a white blazer, white slacks, and polished white shoes.\n\nHe looked up at me with a sweet smile and large endearing eyes. I couldn’t help but want to protect this little boy from the evils that existed inside this house.\n\n“Are you Nolan?” I asked. “I need to get you out of this house!”\n\n“Hey, I’ve been waiting for you.” The sweet angelic voice came from his mouth.\n\nI carefully looked at him, trying to get past the innocence projecting off of him. I finally noticed an identical knife to the one by the altar in his hand, dripping with blood onto the floor. Without turning my head, my eyes shifted to the dining room, where I saw Mr. and Mrs. Robinson lying on the floor in a pool of blood.\n\nI gaze shifted back to the child. I intended to barrel through him and run for my life, but was stopped dead in my tracks. What I saw on his face would haunt me for the rest of my existence, however short that might be. He rushed at me, eyes the color of blood, and reached out with clawed hands towards my face. I let out a high pitched scream, that no one would ever hear."
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[WP] You are the son of an ancient God, who spent years crafting a world to his view of perfection. He called this world Earth. After seeing your father's creation, you can't help but mock his work. In his rage, he challenged you to create a world even greater than his. You happily agree...
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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.*",
"Perfection is in the eye of the beholder. That was the only way to make sense of my Father's monstrosity of a creation.\n\nWe exist outside of space-time. Reality, or rather what passes for reality to those within our creations, is merely a product of our imagination.\n\n\"There's no way for me to accurately describe this to you, Earthlings, for I have to do it within the infinitely small band of your sensory filters; your interpretations and proclivities and limited mental faculties and...,\" the Divine Being trailed off. \n\n\"You get the point,\" it said, bursting into life again. \"Hopefully you all get the point.\" It swept its gaze over the small cluster of gathered humans, who were all still very heavily disoriented, with that disorientation slowly giving way to terror as the seconds unfolded.\n\n\"Wait a second,\" said a mid-thirties woman towards the front. \"Where the hell is my baby?\"\n\nHer statement was rapidly followed by a number of others, all intoned with a mixture of suprise and fear. \"I was just driving a car,\" said a slight, balding man. \"I was just throwing a football,\" said another man who looked his polar opposite. \n\nJust sitting down to dinner. About to finish up the crossword. At the highest point in the ferris wheel, overlooking a pictureqesue state fair.\n\nThe Divine Being waved away their concerns, literally. Another wave of his great arms instilled the small group of humans with a steady calmness. They stood expectantly, breathing deeply, wondering why they remained calm despite the intense sensory overload of being transplanted into a totally different plain of reference. They didn't know it yet, but they were actually outside of their universe and in fact, had just been inserted into an entirely new one.\n\n\"I'm going to wipe your memories,\" the impossibly bright creature before them was saying. \"So I may as well tell you all as it is within your limited ability to understand. Your planet sucks. My father could have done a lot better but he didn't. I've created something better, something worthy of divine perfection. Take a look around.\"\n\nThe surroundings were green and verdant. There were trees with leaves the size of tramoplines. The Divine Being noted the human's looks of awe and was immensly pleased with himself.\n\n\"My father let you become a cancer on your home planet, slithering over it like slug-locusts, intent on sucking it's beauty dry in a bid to proliferate.\" the Being said, visibly exulting in its creation. \"My father told me to look beyond the stark reality - to look into what you created, the myths you wove and the stories you told - but all I could see was the plundering of what was once perfection.\"\n\nThe humans listened with growing trepidation, calm but guarded.\n\n\"Anyway,\" continued the Divine Being, shaking out its great wings. \"I have created far greater beings, predators of the night who reside in the dense jungle canopies, with a particular affinity for human flesh. On this planet humans are not the apex predator.\"\n\nWith that the Divine Being laughed at only a joke it could see, and its laugh seemed filled with a savage glee, though the gathered humans did not quite realize that this was just their perception of the Being's actions, however narrow that perception was, and that emotions like glee were just ephemeral playthings for the supra-reality Divine.\n\n\"Perfection is a planet that lives in symbiosis with the species it hosts. Learn from the creatures that live here, emulate their ways, and perhaps you will survive.\""
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[WP] In your will, you donated your body to science. But as a joke, you also donated your soul to magic. Big mistake...
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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.*",
"To be born is a confusing mess. Thankfully, our minds dont retain the feelings of being born. But your second birth? Now that's a dozzy. Instead of you being born, birth should be described more as the world being birthed around you. New perception allows you to take in this world, which had been hidden to you before. \n\nThis was exactly what was overwhelming Deadrio's soul currently. As he leaned over, for roughly the sixth time, to throw up. Just like the past five times however, nothing came out. \n\n\"You cant throw up when you dont have a stomach.\" I say, simply to state the obvious. Big mistake. \n\n\"Where did my stomach go? Where am I? Did you harvest for organs? Did you steal my stomach?\" God, I hated rambling. And the more worried you are, the more likely you are to ramble. \n\n\"Hey c'mon now, calm down.\" This sentence was an even bigger mistake. Deadrio's soul turned toward me, and instead of words all I received was shrill screaming. \n\nSomething I hated even more than rambling. \n\nI sigh, and realize not much can be done about it. With a snap of my fingers, his soul is sent back to his plane. To drift towards the light or the dark, is his own choice. \n\nSince time began, that was the first human that had made it to our plane after death. Which means, \"Newgart, explain as to how his soul was able to be brought here without his physical form.\" \n\n\"Simple sire, a magical contract.\"\n\nHumans? Magic? I cant contain my laughter. \"C'mon Newgart, be serious.\"\n\n\"I am sire. Although under normally circumstances a human will is nothing more than a piece of paper, under certain circumstances...\"\n\n\"Of course! A will! Only enacted upon with ones death, which would in theory take the binding charge of a simple spell.\" I mutter to myself, and my brain wracks as I try to figure out. \n\"But... how could... hmmm...\" \n\n\"Sire?\" \n\n\"How would you propose I get more humans to do what this one has? Leaving their soul to magic in a will? We cant sit around and wait for our opportunity forever.\"\n\n\"Maybe make a reddit post ambiguously about it, humans love that.\""
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[WP] Describe the most perfect darkness with as much detail as you can.
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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.*",
"We tend to think of darkness as a matter of visual description. The absence of light. Total darkness, a feeling of vantablack velvet clinging to ones eyes, illiciting a sense of suffocation. This is one aspect of darkness.\n\nTrying to imagine the sensation of non-existence. Trying to remember what it was like prior to ones birth. Stretching and grasping, but being unable to find purchase on anything, having only a vague idea, rooted in the nascent memories of infancy.\n\nFeeling out of sync with one's own reality. \"I think therefore I am, yet I shouldn't be.\" Trapped in an inverted solipsism, wherein everyone else exerts some degree of influence over their lives, but nothing you do seems to cause any kind of change. Mired in mediocrity, you are convinced you only half exist.\n\nThe feeling of losing a loved one. All of your fond memories and all of your regrets amount to the final tally of their place in your life. Any plans, hopes, and possibilities become null. You can't show them a new TV show you know they'd love, you can't introduce them to new music, you can't spend time together on your mutual hobbies. All of the joy, sorrow, anger, and love associated with this person remain, yet they themself are permanently erased from the future. Their grave marker casts a shadow over you. What could have been will never be.",
"They told me that heaven was bliss. \n\nWhere was I now? I couldn't see anything—the darkness was like velvet, blocking my vision and whispering sweet nothings into my ears. But I felt alive. So, so, alive. I felt the breeze's gentle meandering, so faint that, for all intents and purposes, it didn't exist. I caught the fragrance of a million flowers, growing haphazardly, fighting for their right to live. I heard the wind, stirred into a commotion by a flock of geese. And I tasted that sweet scent unique to the world at dawn, when life first begins to stir. \n\nI was afraid of the dark. Growing up, I couldn't sleep without leaving a light on, and we always had the highest electricity bill in the neighborhood. \n\nAlthough, what exactly was this? Not a single thread of light could slip by that veil of darkness, yet, in my withered mind, devoid of color, I could see *everything*. Even vivider than the sights I saw with my eyes, it burned itself into my memory. \n\nI wasn't afraid of the dark anymore. \n\nThey told me that heaven was bliss. They sent me to hell to punish me for my sins, sentencing me to the ninth level of hell, the place furthest from the light. In that eternal, perfect, darkness, I wanted to correct that sentence. \n\nI told them that hell was bliss. \n\n...\n\n\"perfect darkness\" - the first thing that entered my mind was, what if it was so dark that you couldn't even tell that it was dark, but all of your other senses were heightened so much that you could imagine and *feel* the scene even more vividly than if you could see it? \n\n(\"withered mind, devoid of color\" - a reference to aphantasia, the inability to voluntarily visualize mental imagery; I thought that it made this so-called \"perfect darkness\" even more perfect)\n\n\"ninth level of hell\" - recently I've been reading a lot of fantasy novels, some of which happen to reference hell/Dante's Inferno/whatever, and I remembered that the ninth circle of hell, where the treacherous are condemned, and it's represented as a frozen lake. I remembered reading somewhere that because those sentenced here are \"denied God's love\", they're also the furthest away from his \"warmth\", and hence light, so it was a (somewhat) fitting setting for the perfect darkness\n\nThis piece is so-so, it came out more long-winded / awkward than I imagined it to be, and I also feel like it doesn't really portray the grandeur and awe that I was imagining when I wrote it : (",
"It happened too fast. I don’t know what it was. A vehicle sent out of control by a mechanical failure, the driver’s own desperation, or one too many empty glasses of whisky being left in a nearby bar? A stray gunshot in a conflict between groups that live behind the facade of urban normality, brought to this battlefield I unknowingly trespassed? A minuscule flaw in the massively complex and infinitely flawed organic system of my body escalating until the gears shattered and the lights went out? I don’t know. It happened too fast.\n\nWhat’s important is what happened after. What is still happening after. Darkness. When you think of darkness, maybe you think of your room with the lights off at an hour when only those who have no regard for tomorrow are awake. The room has shapes, fuzzy outlines, memories. Maybe you think of a neat black square on a monitor of some device, selected to add the void, to symbolize non-existence. The back-lights tint it just that small bit and the context defines it. Maybe you think of black paint streaked across a canvas by an artist who pours a deep pain unto the detestable white cloth in a futile effort to get it out of their mind. The canvas has a texture and the paint glistens. Darkness is none of those things.\n\nClose your eyes. Look. Dancing shapes, aftershocks of images burnt into your retinas, ghosts conjured by your subconscious. This isn’t darkness either, but it’s a start. Remove the shapes, remove the blemishes, remove everything until you cannot find a single thing that can be taken from the scene. Then let go of the sensation of your eyelids touching your eyes. Let go of that little feeling of moisture and chillness between them. Let go of the rest of your body. Drown out the sounds. Erase everything until the darkness is the one sole thing you can focus on. You’re still not there, but you’re close.\n\nReal darkness is not a feeling, not a colour, not a sensation, it is an absence. Forget that there was ever anything but the darkness. Forget what darkness itself even is. Forget yourself. Systematically strike out every part of your that can project any memory or concept onto the untaintainted abyss. Now. Now you’re ready. Now you understand. Let go of the last thing that remains: you. Make the sense that you are someone or even something fade into the ever-gorging entropy without a trace that anything was ever there. Then you’ll know darkness. Then you’ll know where I’ve gone. Goodbye.",
"I focused on the patch of black that was in my vision. Did I stare at my phone too long? I blinked and blinked, trying to wipe away the distortion, but the fuzzy ball still hoovered above my lawn. It cast no shade, it was unbothered by the wind or heat.\n\nI sunk my eyes in my palms and rubbed them gently, massaging away the black image burned into them. As I uncovered them, the sink and my feet were in the clear, not a single blob in my sight. I grinned. Then I looked back up.\n\n\nThe void never left. It hovered closer, all the way to the window that divided us. It stretched as wide as my window reached. It was full of nothing, no movement or sound. No random twirls of a black mist, or hissing from within. Just a hole with no top nor end. Yet, I felt it look back at me as I gaped at it in horror. \n\nAlmost as if it had its own pull, its own hunger that moulded into gluttony, it devoured my will to run in fear. The sheer gravity of it, its nonexistence and its presence, made it hard to breathe. It was like trying to breathe from a glass bottle that had too much air in it. It just hovered there like a small planet from nightmares. With my body sunk in cement, I let my thoughts run wild - my sanity demanded answers that never arrived. My heart ached at the thought of this thing going upstairs; my love oblivious to anything, was probably still asleep. Scenarios of horror littered my mind.\n\nMy eyes never broke eye-contact with that Darkness. I lost sight of it once, and it leapt a distance in seconds that not any animal can. Me looking at it could be stopping it from coming any closer, or it could be the thin planes of glass. Either way, I was not going to try to find out what it was. In that already limited space for comfort, knowing where it is exactly brought a glimpse of security I haven’t anticipated. I wasn’t going to loose it. \n\n\nWith my thoughts running loose, I forgot to pay attention to something other than the void: myself. As I snapped back, my body was limb. Drained and weak like cooked spaghetti noodles. It felt like my legs would give in and fold, but they haven’t. My sensation of them all was eaten away. I tried to muster any strength to contract my muscles, anywhere, to try and pump some blood into them, give them any energy to even twitch. “I tried.” I thought to myself as a baby tear sprouted and trickled down my cheek. Devoid of energy, I felt my eyelids starting to give in.\n\nThe Void fed on my strength. It left me like a toy hung in position by strings. A marionette. My worry grew distant, so did my fear. With all that stress withered away, I felt... at peace. I bathed in that fraction of time, I felt so serene I lost interest in everything. That feeling didn’t last, it too withered away with everything else. I became an empty doll, depleted of life and any thread of emotion. \n\nAs a void, the only thing differentiating me from That, were my memories. But before I knew it, I already had lost the sense of self. My trains of thought dissolved into nothingness - an abrupt halt in a chamber of chaos. \n\n*All those train tracks everywhere, but where did they lead? Where did they come from?*\n\nMy conscious self eventually lost the ability to think. I just existed. I lived in the moment before me, took it all in as if that was all there is.\n\nAs my vision blurred, the world had already lost its colours too. The Void untouched by my empty and lifeless shell, glided right through the glass.\n\n*Oh, we’re going upstairs now*",
"I wish I could tell you I was the way I was over my father. That when he held my head under the water as a punishment it broke something. That feeling powerless made me seek to never feel helpless. \nI sat with the lights off as my eyes searched for something. I'd been here for hours. Hiding under the bed. \nThe geometric patterns of my mind filling in the blanks flashed across my eyes. I did find something in the drownings though. If I allowed the fear to pass I could control myself. My chest hurt less on those nights.\n\nIn school when the bullies came for me, I felt the same rush as when my father came. I broke noses. I knocked out teeth. \nThere is power in fear. But you only get so strong from being afraid. Power is not in fear. Power is in anger. It is in focus and planning and determination. \nI laid under my father's bed at the age of 25. He was 59 and finally, I knew I had him. Not that I'd win. That I'd have the same power over him that he had over me. Revenge is power.\n\nI sat in the dark and waited. My bag beside me was full of wire and tape. When he sleeps I'll come on out. I'll show him the monsters that darkness creates."
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[WP] Casines are mischievous creatures. They change the sand of the Desert with their will. A foolish trailer might ask them to pull jewels or gold from the sand. Don’t take the food or water. They will come to you when you’re furthest from such things. In the end it’s ALL just sand.
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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 lesser moon was at half, the greater still at crescent. That means we'll get lucky today!\" Ibilsin said as he climbed atop his camel.\n\nOmid cast a questioning eye to him as he ascended on his own camel, starting to wonder if delirium had started to take his fellow scout.\n\n\"You're listening to old wives' tales now?\" He asked, thankful his frown and furrowed brow were mostly hidden by his scarf.\n\n\"Of course not, just my grandmother's wisdom!\" Ibilsin's hurt tone and slight indignation told Omid that though his face was hidden from suns, sands, and delirious scouts his skepticism was as clear as the waters of the Mirrored Shallows.\n\nA place he desperately wished to return to, but was starting to believe it would be nothing but a dying dream of a young man at this point.\n\n\"Well, where would your grandmother point us to? With the rations we have left, we have two days before we must return to the caravan. Empty hands are better when they're still alive.\" He didn't want to waste any more time explaining that any tale from his grandmother would *by definition* be an old wives' tale.\n\n\"She was a basket weaver and knew nothing of navigation. *I* however say we need to follow the dunes east. The last I saw of that fox it was headed east, and it looked very thirsty!\" Ibilsin had not a shred of uncertainty left in his voice as he directed his camel to start heading east. With an overly grand wave of his arm he ushered his fellow scout onward.\n\nOmid shook his head as soon as Ibilsin's attention was focused on this fool's journey. As the two rode onward at a brisk pace he began to wonder just how likely it would be that Ibilsin would put up a fight once he started insisting it was finally time to ride back to the caravan with empty hands. His dark eyes glanced down to the short blade at his hip, only for a moment.\n\nHe blinked away the thought, focusing instead on looking out over the dunes. Ibilsin may be delirious but he was not a bad person by any means. Certainly not one prone to senseless violence. Though as the two kept riding through the low light of dawn, and Omid continued scanning the horizon he couldn't help but notice that Ibilsin never wavered in his focus ahead.\n\nNot once. Omid dismissed it as Ibilsin trying to keep from getting lost, returning his gaze to the horizons. Over the next few hours, suns still hanging low in the sky, every time he looked at Ibilsin his gaze was still fixed forward. And he was becoming ever more certain that he could hear Ibilsin's whispers, always addressing \"Nazer\" with a low voice filled with lament. \n\nNazer was the name of Ibilsin's camel.\n\nOmid was no longer certain that any sense was left in Ibilsin, and cast another worried glance to the saber at his hip.\n\n\"Hello!\"\n\nA young woman's voice dissolved whatever thoughts were going through both of the young men's heads. Their eyes instantly went to the source of what they had assumed had surely been an illusion at first, but at the ridge of a dune sat a young woman on a camel. Her manner of dress was unknown to them, but the fine yellows and blues of her attire told them she was likely at least somewhat wealthy.\n\nShe rode down to the two as she waved still, one hand firmly upon her camel's saddle. A bow at her back and a short dagger at her hip told them she was not to be assumed completely helpless. Ibilsin wasted no time in pulling his scarf from his face and beaming a bright smile.\n\n\"You grace us with your presence!\" He happily exclaimed as Omid's eyes rolled. \"What ever are you doing out here on your own?\"\n\nThe young lady stopped a short ways away from the two, she pulled down her own scarf to speak. Its deep blue color matching that of her eyes, making for a striking combination against skin almost as dark as Omid's.\n\n\"I have been entrusted to deliver a very important message.\" She said in an official tone while patting a pouch on her camel's saddle. \"I was hurrying on my way to the oasis when I found you two. And what are you two doing on your own out here?\" She said with a raised brow.\n\nIbilsin's smile grew even wider. \"We were also looking for an oasis! Or caves! Or a herd of sand striders, we're not picky! Where did you say that oasis was?\" He asked while trying to hide his excitement, though his hands trembling on his saddle betrayed him.\n\nOmid said nothing as his eyes narrowed slightly. It was too convenient, he thought to himself. Too convenient and she was dressed too well for a messenger. But dwindling resources made him listen for now out of desperation.\n\nThe young lady tilted her head slightly. \"And may I know the names of those who wish to access my tribe's oasis?\" She asked in a tone displaying clear suspicion. \n\nIbilsin gave a slight nervous chuckle. \"Ah! Where *are* my manners? My name is Ibilsin Tabazad! And this is my best friend Nazer\" He said patting his camel's neck.\n\n\"They call me Omid.\" He said, still carefully watching the girl and mulling over what possibilities could explain this. His words were chosen carefully, though even he would admit it was on instinct and would hate to admit that it was his *own* grandmother's advice to not freely give one's name to strangers. He ignored the scowl Ibilsin quickly shot at him.\n\nThe young lady looked to each, nodding to Ibilsin and smiling to Omid. \"You may call me Aisa of the Silver Sea, and the oasis is several hours to the north.\"\n\n\"*North!* I told you it was north!\" Ibilsin said with another nervous laugh and an only semi-joking scowl to Omid before addressing Aisa once more. \"Perhaps we could ride with you to this oasis? We would hate to lose the way, and our caravan would pay handsomely for its waters and food.\"\n\nShe frowned slightly, looking behind them. \"I see no caravan.\" She stated plainly.\n\n\"We are but humble scouts of a noble trade caravan.\" He said with an exaggerated bow in his saddle. \"My too quiet traveling companion has the lapis lazuli compass to return us to them once we find something of value. Or return with hands filled only with shame.\"\n\nOmid glared at his companion. \"No shame in returning empty handed, the knowledge that nothing is in an area is valuable in its own right.\" He firmly corrected.\n\n(Continued in part 2 below)"
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[WP] You've trained for years to defeat the villain, only to find that you're not actually the destined hero. Now you're trying to convince the villain to hire 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 walk into the subterranean lair of the prototypical arch-villain of my major metropolis. \n“I’m here to interview for the Assistant Arch-Villain position.”\n\nA bored lackey simply stares at me from behind bulletproof glass.\n“Assistant TO the Arch-Villain.”\n\n“Sure,” I say.\n\nHe nods, “Have a seat over there.”\n\n\nThe villain lounges across a mahogany desk from me in a comfortable, rolling chair. He pushes some blueprints into a drawer before I can get a good look at them.\n\n“It’s not often we get applicants here, being a secret lair and all. How is it you were able to find us?” His tone is one of mocking curiosity. \n\n“Well, you see, I’ve spent my whole life studying you. Training to defeat you really. But I – eh – well, it seems, I’m not the hero of this story.”\n\n“No! What a terrible blow that must be,” he says sarcastically.\n \n“It was quite the shock. You spend all those years in school and then you get out into the real world and what was it all for in the end.”\n\n“I suppose Starbucks wasn’t looking for any hero baristas,” boredom underscores every word.\n\n“Not at the moment, no.” I keep my tone even.\n\n“Surely, a government job then, all those heroic bureaucrats guarding our freedoms and such.”\n\n“Eh – not really my speed. I kinda had this future planned out where I do something worthwhile. Save the world maybe.” \n\n“We’re not in the business of world saving here,” he drawls yawning.\n\n“No, of course not.”\n\n“I’m not really sure what it is you can do for us. Advanced Rescue for Damsels in Distress… reeks of toxic masculinity don’t you think? Introduction to Villainous Monologue Interruption, Elements of Heroic Posing, are these even real classes? Plot Foiling 101 and 102! I’ve truly met my match it seems.” \n\nThe sarcastic smirking set of his lips irritates me.\n“I also have coursework in martial arts, advanced weaponry, blacksmithing and forging…”\n\nHe interrupts, “Spare me, I rarely engage in hand to hand combat at my age. Small wonder your heroes can’t defeat me if this is your course of study at the Hero and Heroine Academy. Your thesis on Villainry in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, however, may be of some use. You see I’m working on a little project, a plot if you will.”\n\n“I’m well versed in plots,” I say simply. \n\n“Sure you are. Tell me why are you truly here.”\n\n“Well, my main rival in the academy…”\n\n“The hero of destiny.”\n\n“Yes, the destined hero or whatever. For a long time I thought it was me. We were always first and second in our classes. But surely I was the superior candidate.”\n\n“And what happened?” \n\nIs that intrigue in his expression possibly? I cannot tell. Instead I continue on, “In our final semester we have these ‘pysch evaluations’ prior to graduation. I failed mine. Something about ambiguous moral character.”\n\n“The first interesting thing you have said all day. Tell me more.” He leans forward actually engaged in the conversation. \n\n“The questions were paradoxical. Would I push one overweight person in front of a trolley to save five, obviously. Or a fat man leading a group of people out of a cave quickly filling with water becomes stuck in the entranceway, do I blow him up with dynamite to save the rest from drowning? Like, yeah, but these are leading questions.”\n\n“The academy truly dislikes fat people it seems.”\n\nI shrug, “Super-suits don’t have plus sizes.”\n\n“What else?” he asks, allowing me to continue. \n\n“Your spouse is dying of a curable illness however the drug companies are charging exorbitant markups and no matter what you do you cannot afford the cure, do you steal the cure to save your spouse? Duh. Who wouldn’t?” I cry exasperatedly. \n\n“Surely it’s not your fault the healthcare system in this country is irreparably broken.”\n\n“Exactly! I don’t control medical markups!” \n\n“Deliciously nihilistic,” he says with a smirk.\n\nI keep going, “A notorious waterway contributes to 200 deaths in ferry crashes a year. Building a tunnel beneath the channel would cause 50 deaths during the construction. I built the tunnel.”\n\n“So did the US government. They named the Holland Tunnel after a dead engineer.”\n\nI’d never heard this before, he has an answer for everything. \n“You get it,” I say.\n\n“And this hero…” he prompts. \n\n“If I have to spend my life seeing his shit-eating grin on television, I’d honestly rather just off myself.”\n\n“Or off him.”\n\n“Ideally.”\n\nHe grins in regal villainy and reaches across the desk to shake my hand.\n“You know on second thought I think you’ll fit in here. The key to being a supervillain is rationalization.”",
"\"Please have a seat.\" \n \n\nI pull out a chair and sit down. The city's most powerful villain sits across from me, elbows resting on his desk. A long-haired cat purrs on his lap. \"Thanks for agreeing to meet with me today, Dr. Destructo.\" My smile is simply met with a glare.\n\n\"Tell me about yourself.\" He reaches for an ink pen, eyes still fixed on me.\n\n\"OK, well, I grew up nearby and thought for years that I was the hero that was foretold by the prophecy. It turns out that the prophecy was actually about my cousin instead.\" I pause to try to get a glimpse of the notes he's writing, but his cat walks up and parks itself across the top of the notepad. \"I've spent my entire life studying everything about you. I also trained for years in karate and the use of various weapons.\"\n\n\"Hmm. I see.\" As he continues jotting, I try to inconspicuously lean around the cat. \"So tell me,\" he looks up and narrows his eyes at me, \"why did you spend all that time training and studying me?\"\n\nHe's a smart guy. By the look he's giving me, I'm sure he already knows the truth. \"Well, sir, since I thought that I was the foretold hero, I was planning on fighting you.\"\n\nHe nods. His expression doesn't change. No outward sign to show his feelings on what I've said. But I know him well enough that I believe I can guess what's going through his head.\n\n\"That was a mistake. Since I never actually made any move against you, I hope you can forgive my blunder. I believe I can actually be a huge help to you.\"\n\nHe raises one eyebrow slightly. Something he does when he's weighing his options, considering the possible outcomes. \"Go on.\"\n\n\"I know all your weaknesses.\" He takes a breath as though to counter, but I don't give him a chance to interrupt. \"Right, that sounds like a bad thing. How can you trust me if I know all the ways to defeat you. What's to stop me from running off to the hero and helping him out instead? Especially since he's family.\" \n\nIntrigued, he leans back in his chair and taps the ink pen on the notepad. I continue on, \"You see, it's difficult to spot one's own flaws and shortcomings. With me here, I can warn you about those weaknesses, so that you can guard against them. Plus, all those years of training prepared me to fight against the hero as well.\"\n\nI pause for a bit as we size each other up. \"As far as why I wouldn't betray you? Well, I really can't stand my cousin. The guy's completely insufferable. Not to mention the fact that he goes out of his way to show me up every chance he gets. And he's only gotten worse since he found out about the prophecy. Taking him down a peg would be amazing.\"\n\nFinally, the hint of a smile breaks through his steely demeanor. \"Ah, a petty family rivalry and a thirst for revenge. Those are motivations I can get behind.\" He extends his hand out toward me. \"Welcome aboard.\"\n\n\\--------------\n\nr/WannaWriteSometimes"
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[WP] They had various excuses for why the mailboxes were disappearing - cost cutting measures, graffiti, etc. What they didn't want to admit was that as far as the postal inspectors could tell, the mailboxes had started wandering away of their own accord.
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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 crowd had gathered around their local post office touting signs and shouting lines. They were there for answers. Mailboxes had been disappearing overnight with no explanation. The postmasters knew this but they hadn't given any order for their removal and nobody outside would likely believe them. They huddled around each other, thinking of excuses to calm the crowd and to buy more time.\n\n\"Maybe we should say it's a funding issue? Less stops means less routs, cuts staffing and gas expenses.\" Master Ken posited before the idea was shot down.\n\n\"You remember last time we said our budget was the issue, Ken, the people outside don't care about budgets, they expect everything to work anyways. Though some extra money is always welcome there's no time to try to push any budget measures right now, especially with how busy congress is doing nothing about this election.\" Master Julius explained, \"What if we blamed it on hooligans? It's always easy to pin something on a minority, I've got my wheel of blame in my office if we want to give it a spin.\"\n\n\"Are you out of your damn mind, Julius!? This is no time to play the racism card, our branch would be reduced to cinders by nightfall.\" Master Mary chided, \"Honestly, it doesn't matter what we say, we just have to say something... Something that won't end with our heads rolling. How about we just tell them we have recalled certain mailboxes so we can clean the graffiti off and that they will be replaced when we are done?\"\n\n\"Fine!\" Julius snapped back, \"Just get out there and calm them down so our investigators have more time.\"\n\n\"Why me!?\" Mary responded.\n\n\"Well it's your dumb idea, so go give them a dumb speech.\" Fired back Julius as he slammed his office door.\n\nMary groaned loudly and said a small prayer to the Gods of the post before stepping out in front of the angry gathering.\n\n\\----\n\nElsewhere, on the side of a rural road, a woman knelt where a mailbox used to be while a man watched from a few feet away. They both wore the robes of Postal Grand Inspectors complete with matching hats and shiny new boots. The woman examined the scene, scribbling furiously in her notebook.\n\n\"What the heck are you writing anyways, Rose? This looks exactly like every other missing mailbox we've visited.\" The man stated.\n\n\"I know that, Spencer, I'm not writing anything, scribbling on paper just calms me down.\" Rose replied, \"If we don't come back with any leads we can kiss these damn robes goodbye. I don't know about you but I'd rather not be demoted on my first week. If we can't stop this, there won't be any mailboxes left by next week.\"\n\nHer words quieted the man who proceeded to pull a cigarette from his pocket with a sneer. He walked under a nearby tree to enjoy his little treat, the first treat he'd given himself in almost 5 minutes. Several puffs and one more cigarette butt on the ground later, he returned to his partner who was now a few meters from where the mailbox originally stood.\n\n\"Find something?\" He asked.\n\n\"There are little marks in the dirt over here shaped like mailbox feet.\" She said with a hint of bewilderment, \"And they are sort of spread out in a pattern as if it just got up and walked away. None of the other missing boxes were near anything that could have had footprints, this Podunk town is the first to have one just sitting on a cement block surrounded by dirt. I followed them to the edge of the woods but they disappeared into the brush.\"\n\nSpencer took a long hard look at his partner, wondering if she had gone crazy in the few minutes he was away. \"Footprints? Really? That's what we are going to report back with? We're gonna say the mailbox just got up and walked away? Our bosses are idiots but they aren't stupid.\"\n\n\"Don't get sassy with me, I'm doing my best and it's more than anyone else has found so far!\" She snapped back.\n\n\"I suppose you're right, it's better than nothing.\" He sighed, \"Let's head back to base.\"\n\nRose gathered her equipment and the two began walking to their van.\n\n\\----\n\nDays later, a phone rang in the president's office.\n\n\"Hi this is the best president ever, seriously the best, nobody has presidents like I do, if fact some people say...\" The president began his usual monologue before being cut uncharacteristically short.\n\n\"Mr. President, we have urgent news about the disappearing mailboxes!\" A voice frantically shouted through the receiver.\n\n\"Mailboxes? Who cares about mailboxes, nobody, nobody cares, I don't care, I'm everybody, everybody loves me, haven't you heard the people love me more than they love mailboxes? I read a tweet about it from Fox news.\" The president dithered.\n\n\"Sir please, you are in grave danger! They came out of nowhere! We need you to report to your favorite bunker immediately!\" The voice continued.\n\n\"I have a lot of bunkers, they are all my favorite, just last week I had a contest for all my bunkers and they all won first prize, it was amazing, some say it was the best bunker pageant ever, a real winner, just like all my bunkers. Have you met my bunkers? They're great people.\" The president assured.\n\n\"I... I can't do this any more, we've already lost thousands of lives to them, you're on your own. Steve, we're on lock-down, engage the bunker door...\" The voice trailed off followed by a loud click as it disconnected.\n\n\"Who hangs up on me, nobody, that's who, now pick that phone back up I wasn't done singing myself praises.\" The president commanded into the quiet phone. \"Who needs mailboxes anyways, nobody, especially not me, those damn blue bastards, blue like liberals, those damn liberal bastards. I hate thinking about the mail, and liberals, and liberal mail. I need to look at my favorite wall, I love walls, my walls are the best in the world, I should know, nobody builds better walls than I do.\" He continued rambling while making his way to the windows.\n\nLooking out at the wall surrounding the white house filled him with peace. He knew all his problems were kept safely on the other side because walls are the best answer to everything, along with hiding behind those walls. Soon, however, something caught his eye, something blue poking up over the wall. He squinted harder than usual trying to determine what it was when he noticed more blue objects rising from behind the wall with more appearing by the second. Moments later, the wall came crashing down."
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[WP] A Scientist gives his soul to the Devil in exchange for knowledge which he uses to create an immortality serum. Pissed off, the Devil tries his hardest to kill the Scientist, failing each 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.*",
"“Ah that’s better” he says stepping out of the revival pod. He invented it because he sold me his soul, but no matter what I do he gets revived.\n\nTheses pods can either bring life back to a corpse or make a new body. I drop anvils on him turning him to a misty cloud of blood, and he’s revived. I burn down his research station and all the equipment and he’ll just revive somewhere else.\n\nI destroyed everyone of those stupid pods, but he made it public and he’ll just revive through a different pod, what if there is no more pods? It’s fine because someone else will make one and he’ll revive.\n\nI wiped out the internet and all the books of the world but a few hundred years later someone found all his research on a flash drive in the ocean and they made a machine to read it and he was revived! \n\nI caused mass extinction on Earth bring death to the whole world but his soul was fine, no more then fine! He was alive on another planet! Another planet!!! Somehow he had sent his soul to machine on a completely different world and I destroyed that one two.\n\nHe just would pop up on a different world then a different galaxy when I was so mad I restarted the universe but after billions of years the locals of this new universe created a robot and he put his soul in it. I of course destroyed the machine and ate his soul but no no he had made back ups of his very soul, all across the universe the multiverses! I didn’t even give him the knowledge how to do that! \n\nI gave up and sat and watched the universe turn destroying any of his back up souls that came near.\n\nFinally on one day a mass of souls that is larger then my own comes and speaks.\n\n“I’ll give in” in the voice of that stupid scientist!"
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[WP] After getting cold feet at your own wedding, you choose to run away from the ceremony. However, so did your spouse, and neither one of you are aware of the other
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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.*",
"Looking in the mirror, he could not recognize his face. As the words were about to leave his lips, he quickly admonished himself. “No! That is no longer who you are. You are Thomas Miller. Regular, boring, forgettable.” A slight tremble of hysterical laughter burst out, then forcing himself again to start reading his notes to rote.\n\nThe surgery had only been 2 days ago and he should have been in bed recovering. He, now Thomas, however did not have that luxury. As soon as he finished memorizing the new identification, he would have to leave. Preferably tonight, or earlier if he could get his nerves under control long enough to remember all the papers held in front.\n\nA sudden knock, and every paper went flying in a flurry across the bathroom floor. “Room Service” came the muffled voice over the 2 doors. As white sheets floated down around him, he had to admonish himself again. Taking a deep breath to calm his adrenaline filled muscles, he answered back “In a minute!” with a trailing squeak that he frowned at. \n\nThomas quickly dressed himself in some jeans and grey shirt with what he considers, a horribly drawn cartoon dog giving a wink with the finger guns. Walking towards the front door he managed to mutter “Might be good to pretend I love this shirt”. With one hand unlocking the door, and the other opening the knob, there was a slight warning thought that flitted through his mind. It was 3 am.\n\nStaring down the barrel of a gun, the first thought to flash through his mind was, ‘I’m going to die’. The second was a profane insult to himself for being so careless. The third was, ‘can’t believe I’m dying with this shirt on’.\n\nGoing down the list of regrets in his head, he had long ago shut his eyes to expect the inevitable. Thomas, however, was slowly realizing he could still think. A rather curious state when he should have no brains. Peeking through, a lopsided grin that he recognized stared back at him.\n\n“I would say the surgery was excessive; But considering I still found you, maybe not enough” She said. Thomas immediately recognized her sister. She wore her suit loose as always. Having holstered her pistol, she gestured with one hand towards the rest of the room. “Are you going to keep your dear sister standing out in the hallway, or are you going to let me in?” with that grin still silently laughing in his face.\n\nIt took a while for Thomas to register he wasn’t getting killed. When this idea finally started seeping in, he started stepping aside to let her in, “Go ahe..” She shoved him to the side and quickly entered. “Goddammit you’re slow, no wonder she ran.” The woman quickly dragged the one chair and plopped herself down on it with her feet on the bed. “So I hear you’re Thomas now. Incredibly dull name. It suits you” she mocked him.\n\nThomas sat down on the bed, facing her. “Lil... Lilith, what are you doing here? And why I am not dead? And what’s with the bag?” Suddenly noticing the lime green duffel bag hanging across her shoulder. Not her style. She hated green, and normally there would be someone carrying it for her instead. By choice or not. The incongruity was jarring him as much as her being here.\n\n“All excellent questions. You’re right, I should be here shooting your empty headed skull to bits right now. Ditching the wedding that should have cemented the peace between the two families that have been at each others’ throats for a year, not your brightest moment. Not your dumbest moment, but it’s up there.” She quickly jabbed at him.\nThomas narrowed eyes at his sister, “that does not answer the question.”\n\n“Yeah, yeah, always too serious aint’cha?” Holding up a hand to stop his retort. “As I was saying, normally, you’d be dead. Thankfully, you’re in luck. See, the beautiful bride also ditched the ceremony.” She told him. Thomas balked “She left me right before the ceremony?” There was a raised eyebrow at the hypocrisy of it all. “Right, sorry. That still does not explain why I am alive.” He inquired back.\n\n“The Family heads don’t want war. Only they, me and the other’s successor know you guys ditched on each other. Neither is too keen on offing each others’ children when they’re both trying to make peace. The rest of the family is being told some Romeo and Juliet bullshit about eloping so neither of you will inherit the family problems. Even has the benefit of being partially true, you always were too much of a pissant to lead. Nice squeak when you answered by the way.” She chuckled at her jab.\n\nThomas took a moment to let it sink, then asked “So I can go away? Alive? I don’t have to take over as the next head of the family? You’re not going to make me marry someone I barely even met?”\nShe answered with a firm “Nope”.\n\nThere was a sudden sigh of relief as he sunk his face in his hands. Lilith let him have a few moments in silence. She briefly considered slapping him or telling him how much of a bitch he’s being right now, but bit it back. She did not need him to get more annoying than he was already.\n\nAfter a relaxing silence for Thomas, he sat back up and stared at his sister. “That still does not answer why you are here. Also, the duffel bag. That colour is my favourite, so it must be for me. I never expected you to run errands for someone.” She gave a sideways “Tsk!” at this. “Don’t get used to it. After tonight, we won’t see each other again.”\n\nHe kept staring, knowing the answer would soon be forthcoming. She was removing the bag over head and unzipping it. She quickly told him. “Both of you were sloppy. Too easy to find. Surgery was the only nice idea, really. Too bad you blew most of your funds on one **our** underground docs” Emphasizing the our. She then threw the bag next to where he sat. Inside was a large stack of cash and documents. Laundered and forged, he figured. Lilith set her feet down and leaned her face towards him. “I’m here to make sure you disappear properly, you incompetent fuck.”"
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[WP] There were no superheroes, so people started to form their own superhero corporations. They invested in vigilante companies to battle evil.
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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.*",
"Connor Powell looked at the business card and did a double take.\n\n“You’re forming a corporation…to…”\n\n“To fight crime, yes,” the young man replied. “Call it ‘privatized heroics’.”\n\n“And you want me to invest in your company?” Connor asked.\n\n“Yes.” \n\nConnor took a deep breath. This man…who was actually named ‘Justice Knight’…wanted money to start a corporation that handles so-called ‘crime-fighting services’.\n\n“What are you gonna call it?”\n\nJustice stroked his chin. Connor watched his eyes move in one direction and stay there; he wasn’t just making shit up on the \nspot, he had put a lot of thought into this.\n\nMore thought than what most people would ever consider rational.\n\n“I’m thinking ‘Messiah Security’. It’ll really put peoples’ confidence in us! Our slogan will be ‘put your faith in us’!”\n\nConnor couldn’t help but facepalm. \n\nJustice blinked a couple of times and furrowed his brow.\n\n“Are you not a fan of the name?”\n\n“Look, look,” Connor said. “I understand your logic here. You want to appeal to people who are used to putting their faith in external forces. That actually makes sense. But people are going to think it’s sacrilege. You know, that you’re making fun of their religion.”\n\n“Hmmm, maybe something like ‘Guardian Angel Security’, then? You think that’s safer?”\n\n“Yeah, I think that’s a bit more safe for a name. Now, tell me, how are you going to go about this? Go into detail on how you intend to fight crime?”\n\n“Well, we’re going to approach this like any other security company or PMC. We hire people who are trained to use force on others, who are trained to use a variety of weapons both lethal and nonlethal. Crime is getting pretty bad around here, haven’t you noticed?” Justice paused to tap his forehead. “I’ve been watching the statistics.”\n\n“Yeah, there are a lot of murders and robberies and stuff lately.” Connor replied. His voice was steadily growing more monotonous.\n\nHis boredom was interrupted by a knock on the door. Justice adopted a confused expression.\n\n“I’m busy at the moment, Scarlet! I have a client!”\n\nThe person knocked on the door again.\n\n“Pardon me, Mr. Powell,” Justice said as he rose from his seat and strode over to the door.\n\nConnor followed Justice, eventually looking over his shoulder at the room’s only door, which was behind him. The man grabbed hold of the lever handle and turned it a quarter of the way before stopping.\n\nJustice suddenly ducked under the height of the handle and dove prone.\n\nConnor couldn’t go prone; Justice’s desk was in the way, so he hid his head in his lap and pulled it down with his hands.\n\nA gunshot went off, and bits of wood landed on the back of Connor’s head. His first instinct was to bolt upright and raise both of his hands above his head.\n\n“Justice Knight!” a voice yelled from the other side of the now-perforated door. “I know you’re in there, you son of a bitch!”\nBut Justice was already halfway out the window behind his desk. They were on the first floor, so he didn’t have to worry about the fall killing him or anything.\n\n“Please don’t shoot!” Connor shouted. “He jumped out the window!”\n\nThe person on the other side kicked the door down, and Connor saw that the man had lowered his shotgun.\n\n“I won’t harm you,” the masked man said. “Get out of here. Everyone else has left.”\n\n“Before I go, tell me what you want with him?”\n\n“I’m here to stop him from forming his company. My name is Connor Powell, and I’m from the future.”\n\n“Okay, this is bullshit, how do you know my name?” The present Connor asked.\n\n“Because I’m you? I’ll explain later, help me catch this asshole!” Future Connor said as he muscled past present Connor and jumped through the window.\n\n“I’ll need to use our car!”\n\n*Our? He’s already referring to us as one person?*\n\nBut he found himself reaching for the fob in his pant pocket nonetheless.\n\nThey both cut across the grass just outside the office building and ran around it to where Connor’s car was parked. Present \nConnor pressed the unlock button on the fob and swung the driver’s side open.\n\n“Roll down the rear windows!” Future Connor said.\n\nHe did as commanded, too confused by the situation to object when future Connor slid through the rear driver’s side window like a cheesy action hero.\n\n“Drive, me, drive!” he shouted.\n\nConnor shifted the car out of ‘park’ and pulled out of the driveway. He had no idea which direction Justice had gone in, and part of him didn’t care."
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[WP] Dragons are real and are generally disruptive towards commercial and military aircraft.
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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 a drag on my cigarette, sitting in a shiny executives office at the headquarters of one of the largest commercial manufacturers of aircraft in the world, Alverado Industries. Head of the research and development department, well, it was my job to make sure nothing went wrong on the flights. Whether it be passengers or cargo, we must insure safety against- \n\n\n\"S-sir! We had another attack! A-A Red one this time...\" My assistant proclaimed as he shouldered open the door to my office, \"A dragon, sir...\" \n\n\nAgainst those. Rats of the sky, they incinerate civilians and shred cargo with their claws. Even the US Military has been having problems with a particularly nasty pack of yellow dragons around the horn of Africa. \n\n\nI let a puff of smoke vacate my lungs as I glance away from my window towards my fumbling assistant, \"The repulsion system didn't work?\" \n\n\n\"Uhm... No. See, the repulsion system didn't actually... erm...\" \n\n\n\"Spit it out.\" \n\n\n\"It... Excited the dragon. It may have tried to mate with the plane.\" \n\n\nI smacked my face with my hand with a groan, \"The science boys did me wrong. Fire em, all of em. Hire some new science boys who won't make the dragon go into a hormonal rage, please?\" \n\n\n\"Yes sir!\""
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[WP] You’re sick of the neighbour’s always causing a ruckus so you’ve decided to put an end to it, only problem is you’re a ghost and you’ve haven’t done a haunting in over 50 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.*",
"Harold lived a wonderful life. A great student, a soldier, a firefighter. A real man's man. In his final days, he lived right next to the firehall where he used to work. The sounds of the firehall kept him company, but when the hall was shut down, he didn't last much longer. The silence, the quiet, it saddened him. He passed away in his sleep, and it wasn't until he felt the calm of the afterlife that he realized, he could handle the quiet. And so he decided to stay. \n\n​\n\nHarold became very protective of his quiet. The people who moved into his apartment were never his type. Young, annoying, and always so noisy. He got pretty good at keeping them out, though. He learned all the classics: Doors slamming in the night, throwing plates against the walls, rattling chains, woeful moaning, stacking books. You name it, he'd done it, and all to great effect. So great was he at haunting, that his apartment building was eventually boarded up, just like the firehall. That was 50 years ago, and he'd been living in complete bliss ever since. Until the new neighbours arrived.\n\n​\n\nHe watched from his window looking down into the street as a woman led three men into the firehall. He watched in disbelief, wondering just what in the heck someone would want with an old place like that. It had been so long since his last haunting. He'd need to dust off the chains, practice his wailing. If they were indeed going to be there to stay, he'd need to be in his best form. He spent the next few weeks training, getting back into his old routine, and not soon enough. Every passing day they kept getting worse and worse. That god awful siren constantly warbling as their ridiculous vehicle rushed off to fight...well god only knows. Certainly not fires, Harold had decided after watching them leave time and again.\n\n​\n\nHe waited for them all to be asleep. There were four of them now, and they'd all taken residence in the crew quarters where he himself had stayed many nights. Without another moments hesitation, he picked the largest book off of a nearby shelf and dropped it straight onto the floor from a great enough height to cause a loud whack. One of them startled and jumped up in his bed while two others only stirred. The fourth was sound asleep.\n\n​\n\n\"Peter.\" The man whispered. \"Ray. Did you guys hear that?\" He reached for a pair of glasses and put them on, standing up out of his bed. Harold was used to these types. The ones who chose to investigate the scary noise. They were always the first to go running. 50 years and he still had it, he thought. He watched the man, in complete and utter awe, as he took a sample of the ectoplasmic residue off of the book he dropped. Harold had been curious about the stuff himself, but he'd never seen someone do that before. The glasses man woke up the others, and Harold was astonished at what he'd heard. Get a trap, did the one man say? He watched the two sleepy ones slowly leave the room, staring cautiously in his direction. They couldn't see him...could they? Harold hadn't felt so exposed before. He found himself suddenly nervous.\n\n​\n\nThe one in glasses was now wandering the room with a strange, flashing device. Harold was frozen in place, his nerves had got the best of him. Then, standing right before him, the man locked eyes with his as the device was screeching out its loud noise as it was pointed directly at him. They know I'm here, Harold thought in a panic. He wasn't going to wait for the other two to return, or for the fourth to wake up. He rushed forward with a whirling gust, blowing the man down as he rushed towards his apartment. He felt his body pass effortlessly through the walls. He was home, in his apartment, safe and sound. He listened closely to the silence, hoping he'd truly got away. The panic was nearly unbearable. That's when he heard the alarm go off at the firehall, and listened as the warbling siren faded into the night. He sat down, sighing a breath of relief. He could get used to that sound, he told himself finally. After all, he knew he had been bested. He was just glad he hadn't been busted."
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[WP] Ever since birth, Every 10th birthday you were visited by yourself 10 years ahead for about 5 minutes. As you've aged you've used this time to your advantage. Today is your 90th birthday, and for the first time, the person who visits isn't 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.*",
"Being able to talk to ones future self is a super power, a real life super power. This is how I've become one of the most successful and influential people in the world. Horse race winners, lottery numbers, stock market crashes, terrorist attacks... War... I've been able to take advantage of, or avoid, all of these and more. The Guinness book was reluctant to add a 'luckiest person alive' category but after my 14th donation of million dollar lottery winnings to them, they all but had to oblige.\n\nEvery 10 years I get a glimpse of what's to come, only about 5 minutes each time but you'd be surprised how many questions can be answered in such a short bit of time. It always happens the same way, the night before the birthday marking each new decade of my life when I lay down to sleep, a flash of blue light erupts somewhere in my room as I am greeted by an older version of myself. \n\nOriginally, as a 9 year old, this was mostly just confusing. The person looked nothing like me, they were tall and developed, an adult version of my prepubescent self. They said they were me from 10 years in the future but all I did was run to tell my parents there was a weird stranger in my room. By the time they had checked, the future doppelganger was gone.\n\nAs the years passed I never forgot the person who visited me and, to my surprise, I began to resemble the bedroom invader more and more as I rode the roller-coaster of insanity that is puberty. My future self started staring back at me every time I glanced at a mirror, over time I understood that my visitor had been telling the truth. Of course I had no way of knowing the event would happen again as I laid in bed on the eve of my 20th birthday but as a familiar blue flash briefly filled my bedroom, again I found myself locking eyes with myself.\n\n\"So, we meet again.\" I started.\n\n\"I see I'm more inclined to conversation this time.\" I replied.\n\n\"What am I doing in my bedroom?\" I continued.\n\n\"Bringing myself information from the future.\" I answered.\n\n\"How is it that I am visiting myself?\" I probed.\n\n\"Don't waste my time, I'm only here for a few minutes.\" I responded.\n\nMuch of the time was wasted on asking myself about trivial matters and generally disbelieving the situation but I did get a few bits of useful information. My grandfather was about to pass away, leaving me a small fortune, and the Giants would win the super bowl this year. Throwing caution to the wind, I bet my entire inheritance against the Patriots and became an overnight millionaire.\n\nContinuing this trend into the future, I would meet my future self every 10 years to inform myself of lucrative decisions to make. A few times I would even warn myself of specific events to make sure I was nowhere nearby such as D-day 2 when the Germans landed on the eastern coast of the USA during World War 3. My family was able to move from Baltimore to Memphis, one of the few cities to be mostly unaffected by the war just weeks before the greater DC area was reduced to smoking rubble.\n\nToday, however, was quite a bit different from my other visits with myself. As the years passed, I always wondered what would happen, if anything, when myself from 10 years in the future was no longer alive and tonight I got my answer. At least, I think. After my favorite blue flash of light left my room to it's previous darkness, illuminated by nothing more than an antique Mickey Mouse night light, I was nowhere to be found. Instead, a small baby sat on the floor of my room, kicking and screaming, likely terrified by the sudden change in scenery. At first I thought it must be a baby version of myself but as I approached I noticed that couldn't be the case. It's skin was a completely different color from mine and I never had brown hair as a child.\n\nTaking the distraught little bean into my arms, I rocked it gently, shushing it as I had my own children so many years ago. What did this mean? Perhaps this child is who my soul will go on to inhabit once I pass from this life, it can't be more than a few months old, so I might have a solid 9 years left if this is indeed my self 10 years from now. Though there is no way for me to know this is the case, it would make sense given my past experiences. Surely this child didn't simply end up being teleported through time and space by mistake. After a couple minutes, it had calmed down and lay happily in my arms as I reflected on my life and how I made it to where I am today."
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[WP] Music is a way extraterrestrial beings from different dimensions can communicate with each other. However, this sound is encrypted so that human can't decipher what's being said. After listening to your favorite artist's last album, you start realizing everything that's really being said.
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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.*",
"Sigmund looked around him at the people with their manicured blonde dreadlocks, hemp jewelry, and dilated pupils. They were mostly dancing, and all clearly having a good time, except maybe that one sitting over there in the corner, in the wide hallway that served as both an entrance and exit to this part of the stadium; she appeared to be extremely overwhelmed by something about her empty hands, something that required her to stare at them without blinking.\n\n“WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” said the young man to Sigmund’s right, apparently very pleased about something. Sigmund followed the man’s line of site, and saw that there was some new form of visual entertainment occurring. Tiny glowing sticks were flying through the air, hundreds of them launching upwards from the crowd in front of the stage in a seemingly random pattern. Flowers, pinwheels, and skulls, projected by large spotlights, swept over the audience in a much more orderly manner.\n\nSigmund did not dance, but did remain standing. Ironically, sitting might have made him stand out, and he had no desire to draw attention to himself. Prior to the concert, outside the building, he had purchased a t-shirt in order to better blend in. The shirt was sold to him by a man wearing frayed corduroy pants and no shirt. The man had also offered him “nugs”, but Sigmund declined. He had already purchased the “doses” that he required for the evening’s mission. It had been easier that he had expected; the “lot scene”, as it were, featured a large number of salespeople, most of whom loudly announced their wares to passersby. “Veggie burritos!” “I’ve got rolls!” “Cold beer, one for two, three for five!” “Pharmies and doses!” Sigmund was able to figure out what most of the products were, but he still wondered about the “sexy beasters” offered to him by a young woman with a flower crown, glitter make-up, and ankle-length frock.\n\nThe music seemed to collapse, in a way. The musicians started playing slower, out of rhythm with one another, shifting their melody into lower keys. At the same time, the lights dimmed. The flowers and skulls retreated toward to stage, still illuminating sections of the crowd as they went by, but shrinking and fading. The pinwheels stayed in place, slowly rotating, but also fading. This went on for a few seconds before, suddenly, the band was once again in the middle of an intense, fast-paced piece of music, all in sync with one another. At the same moment, the lights sprang back to life, rapidly blinking and moving, shining both on the stage and on the crowd. For the first time, Sigmund noticed that some of the lights were lasers, arranged so as to create the appearance of hollow tubes of green light as they passed through the cloud of smoke that sat above the audience.\n\nSigmund checked his watch. It was getting late. He had administered the communication facilitant at the appropriate time, he was sure of that. The message was supposed to transmit early in the second “set”, according to his instructions. If the facilitant didn’t take effect soon, he might miss the communication. This was concerning because the schedule he had received indicated that this was the last night the band would be performing locally before moving on to the “west coast leg” of the tour.\n\nSigmund realized that, although he had just looked at his watch, he had forgotten to actually check the time. Worry and preoccupation. Unfortunately, the music had collapsed again, and with it the lights. Looking around, he noticed that the people adjacent to him were also collapsing, in a way. Their movements became disjointed and random, their heads drooped. Hoping that he wasn’t violating a local cultural norm, he tapped the shoulder of the man to his left. The man had a scruffy beard and a dirty t-shit that displayed a common commercial logo that had been altered to be a reference to the band. He looked up at Sigmund and smiled, then held out a small the glass pipe whose contents were smoldering. Sigmund shook his head and pointed to the lighter in the man’s other hand. The man passed him the lighter, gave him a thumbs up, and returned to making his body collapse in harmony with the music.\n\nSigmund lit the lighter and held it to his watch to see the time. The facilitant definitely should have taken effect by this point. He wondered if he had been “burned” or “catnipped” by the twitchy in man in a shiny shirt and wrap-around sunglasses who had used a tiny plastic bottle, possibly something originally intended to carry eye decongestant, to place several drops of liquid on Sigmund’s hand. That would be extremely unfortunate.\n\nSigmund’s attention was drawn to his arm hair. He had never noticed before that the hair on his arm was not a uniform color. In fact, the color didn’t even appear to be uniform on each hair. The base of the each hair was bluish-purple, and the color transitioned through red, to orange, to yellow at the tips. Also, the color was… growing? The rainbow flowed out along each hair, sometimes ebbing backward, but generally moving outward. The hairs overlapped on his arm, and he noticed the color flowing from one hair to another, spreading around in a network, creating a linked pattern of pulsing rainbow that floated around his arm in a lattice cylinder. The color formed a web, floating in place, and the holes in the web were shiny, like they contained soap film, and the soap film breathed in and out, in toward his arm, and out away from it, and the patches of soap film were not simple shapes, but were bubbly and interlocking, like a bunch of strangle squiggly bubble shapes interlocked with each other, and then Sigmund realized that they were letters. The negative space was an overlayed field of interlocking bubble letters who edges were the pulsing rainbow lattice. It was the message!\n\nSigmund tried to read the message, but the letters were constantly shifting, floating across one another, never resting long enough for him to make out a word. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. The letters seemed to be relatively stable at the edges of his visual field, but when he turned his focus toward them, they became more… intense? They folded in upon themselves, deepening, creating tunnels of themselves, drawing in the letters around them, or spewing out more rainbows and more letters, which would then begin to slowly orbit the center of his attention.\n\nSigmund felt a tap on his shoulder and he looked up. The bearded man next to him was pointing at the lighter. Sigmund handed it to him. The man smiled and gave him a thumbs up and turned back to face the stage again.\n\nSigmund also turned to face the stage. OK, what was he doing a moment ago? The music began to pour off the stage, like a liquid, or maybe thicker, like lava. It oozed down and enveloped the people below. Then, it suddenly became prickly and sharp and smelled like candy. It was a bit much, so Sigmund looked down. He saw his arm. Oh right, the message! But now the letters were gone and his arm was covered in writhing purple squeaks that felt both cold and soft and made his eyes water and his nose run.\n\nSigmund realized that this was going to be more difficult than he had anticipated."
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[WP]You are a dark goddess. Tired of the conflict with the light gods, for you turned pointless, faked your death, live disguised as a mortal and married with two children. One day you see your son speaking with a strange man and find him dreadfully familiar. Is not one of your dark siblings
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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 have always thrived on uncertainty. The curiosity of what might happen, of where things will go. I blessed daredevils, adventurers, businessmen, all who sought the favor of fortune, of chance. But I also blessed the gambler, the ambitious, the rebel. And for that I was considered dark, taboo, wrong.\n\nI was weary of explaining. Weary of defending Night and Death and Winter against their stupid arguments. Weary of constant war that did nothing but make matters worse.\n\nSo I left. I left and found a place with the ones I truly cared for. My “fall” came as a shock to many. Convincing Death to keep it a secret was the hardest part. The second hardest was keeping it a secret myself. Humans are infinitely more complex than I had imagined, and more observant. My husband found out before we were even married. But he did not care and neither did I, so we remained together and bore two children- Victoria and Seren. And for a lovely little while, we were happy.\n\nSeren loved playing by the river. Victoria preferred to climb trees, and one day I was searching for her, to tell her it was dinnertime, when I hear her talking to someone. I squinted into the branches. She had gone higher than I had ever seen her go before, into an old sycamore that stood in a bit of a valley. Next to her was a man in a leafy crown.\n\nMy heart nearly stopped. First I felt a fear, a very human fear that every parent feels when their child talks to a stranger. Then a very different fear, the fear of knowing who the stranger is.\n\nI couldn’t decide whether to speak, but I couldn’t hear them so there was no point in eavesdropping. “Found you!” I called instead, as brightly as I could, and began to climb the tree.\n\nWhen I got up there my daughter had a guilty look on her face, and the man a calm smile. “Hello, Chance.”\n\n“Summer, what an interesting surprise.”\n\n“I thought you liked surprises.”\n\n“I do.” \n\nI turned to my daughter. “It was hard to get up here, I’m surprised you made it!” \n\n“‘M sorry, I know you said not to go too high...”\n\n“I just didn’t want you to fall. But I came to say that dinner is ready, you really must come down.” \n\n“Aww, but it’s so pretty up here, and this nice man-“\n\n“Now.”\n\nShe was startled at the sudden edge in my voice, and I felt guilty. When my daughter finally relented and began to climb down, Summer turned his smug look to me. “Motherhood suits you.”\n\n“Quiet. Why are you here?”\n\n“I felt such a curious energy from this place. You did well to mask it- near a graveyard, covered in Death’s power- but it is my season. And a glimmer of something very... you seemed out of place.”\n\n“I haven’t caused problems. I’ve left the pantheon alone, I haven’t blessed anyone in years.”\n\nAnd for the first time in my endless life, I saw him look grim. “That’s the problem. I’m sure you’re aware of how the mountain kingdom picks their king?”\n\nOf course I was. The mountain kingdom was an especially interesting place, I had watched it for centuries. “The lords draw lots. I don’t understand, it’s not like it stops being random just because I’m not there.”\n\nHe sighed through his nose. “I know! Just listen- the mountain king is dead, and one of the lords made a pledge to Truth. Another made a pledge to War.”\n\nThe world seemed still. “What?”\n\n“Without you to maintain the randomness of the draw, the gods will be split between War and Truth, dark and light, only this time humanity will be involved. Your family will be involved.”\n\nCold disbelief swiftly turned to anger. “How dare you say that? After all this time? After every peace you lighter gods denied us-“\n\n“I’m sorry.” It was foreign, to hear those words in his voice.\n\n“I’m sorry, you’re right, but you don’t have to do this for us. Humanity won’t survive this; do it for them.” \n\nI looked at the tree. The river. My house.\n\n“Alright.”"
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[WP] Vampires are discovered to be real, but thanks to how many powerful/influential people were secretly vampires until now, vampires quickly become treated more like sufferers of a chronic disease than bloodthirsty 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.*",
"\"Hello. My name is Ann Smith. A common problem in today's world is vampirism. Vampirism is such a common disease that needs to be dealt with. Every 1 out of 5 people will suffer vampirism at some point in their life. The symptoms are horrifying to watch and horrible to suffer through up to and including increased vulnerability to the sun, requiring blood drinking to survive, and greater animalistic instincts.\"\n\n\"My name is Issac. I'm a victim of vampirism. It has affected me for 109 years now. I miss the sun...\"\n\n\"My name is Laura. I'm a victim of vampirism. I have suffered for 26 years. I just want to stop drinking blood bags.\"\n\n\"Please donate today at WWW.Stopvampirism.com. Or call 666-666-6666. Help us end vampirism today.\"",
"A waning gibbous moon shines above the cloudless night sky of a London suburb; its ovoid light projects through an uncurtained window and onto a TV. Two people share a heated argument while watching XNN.\n\n> Ana: \"Fuck all! You're not supposed to call them that anymore Ben.\"\n\n> Ben: \"Surely you must be joking! They're cannibals, not victims!\"\n\n> Ana: \"Um, well they're not proper cannibals right? They're not eating people, so-\"\n\n> Ben: \"Can't believe you said that Ana. Can't believe it. Like there's a fucking difference.\" \n\nHe looked away and upped the TV volume, bothered momentarily by the lunar glare, or something else.\n\n> XNN Broadcast: \"...from our U.N. correspondent that the General Assembly appears to have adopted Special Resolution 99/0, suggesting immediate refugee status for sufferers of the NSVRT...\"\n\nHe muted the TV and turned his head.\n\n> Ben: \"Don't you think-\"\n\nBut she was gone."
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[WP] A MASSIVE star ship comes into orbit of Earth. A broadcast is sent to all devices, "God has decided to destroy the Universe and start over. We angels have been tasked with gathering life so that it may live. We can only carry 1 billion life forms. Choose wisely." That was 2 days ago.
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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 dismissed as a prank, at first. God would destroy the universe, and He sent His angels in a star ship. Yeah, right.\n\nBut that ship, it couldn't be a prop. It hung in the sky for all the world to see, as huge as a second moon. Glorious and haunting, it bent the light around it in such a way that its true shape was impossible to discern. It looked like glimmering silver and clear blue water and pure white light, all at once.\n\nThen the angels came. Incomprehensible creatures of feathers and light and eyes. They gathered life, and it was apparent that they had not merely asked humans to choose. They had asked . . . everything. Every tree and sheep and insect was deciding whether it would go or stay.\n\nPanic set in, then. The angels could only carry 1 billion life forms, they had said. Humans had assumed they would be given priority, but this was not the case. 1 billion life forms, to be chosen from EVERYTHING on Earth?\n\nThere were riots. Fires. Looting. Everything was ending, and it seemed the greedy and the selfish would be saved while the humble and selfless would die. After all, wouldn't it be the selfish who decided to live?\n\nBut once again, the humans were wrong. They were not so wise as they liked to think. The angels had asked them to choose. The choice, however, was never between life and death. The choice was between good and evil. Right and wrong.\n\nThe angels found those who were putting out the fires. Those who were feeding the hungry. Those who were protecting the innocent. Even as civilization descended into panic and chaos, everywhere the angels looked, they still found bastions of good defending against encroaching evil.\n\nThose were who they took into their massive star ship. The good people mourned what was about to happen. They begged the angels to prevent the destruction, but the angels were powerless to prevent God's will.\n\nInside the star ship was green grass and trees and sunlight, and 1 billion living things.\n\nOutside was the void. The destruction had been quick, it had been painless, but the Universe was no more.\n\nSomeone sobbed, but an angel placed a hand on her shoulder. \"You will begin anew. And this time, you will be good. You have chosen wisely.\""
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[WP] In your family, every male finds out what their power is on their 21st birthday. The problem is that you were born on February 29th.
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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.*",
"No one had high expectations for this day. It wasn't a leap year so it wasn't like I was going to find out my power like everyone else. I kept dwelling on it, I didn't want to bum myself out but I couldn't help it.\n\nWhat if this meant I don't get a superpower? Why couldn't I have had a normal birthday? It wasn't fair. \n\nMy family were all gathered in the living room, and we were eager to celebrate despite the elephant in the room. \n\nI sat there making small talk with my relatives, telling my granny about my new job at the printer shop, listening to my aunt tell me about how expensive her new blonde highlights were, talking to my uncle about sailing and fishing.\n\nUntil we heard my dad say from the kitchen \"alriiiiiiight\" he then brought in the cake and everybody started singing happy birthday. \n\n\"Blow out your candles Jamie, make a wish!\" They all cried, I smiled, but with the voice repeating in my head \n\n_why couldn't it be the 29th, why couldn't it be a leap year_ \n\nJust then my phone buzzed, it was a text from my girlfriend, \n_happy birthday sweet cheeks! Big 2 1!\" \nI smiled, but then I realised something, above the text message it read _February 29th_ no, that couldn't be right. \n\n\"What's wrong?\" My father asked, I had obviously made a face \n\n\"Uh...can everyone check the date on their phones?\" \n\nEveryone did and there was a resounding gasp. \n\nMy mum stared at me shocked, and then let out a giggle of disbelief.\n\n\"Jamie.., you got your superpower.., you, you can change time!\""
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[WP] After almost two decades of meticulous work, your research and engineering has built the world's first time machine. It's decided you'll go back 200 million years to minimise changes. You emerge from the portal to armoured beings, weapons aimed.
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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.*",
"Memoirs of Miss Jane Taylor, one of the three head scientists behind the world's first time machine. (Disclaimer: Miss Jane Taylor used audio recordings as her prior way to communicate her experiences. These recording get blurry at some times. This is the best attempt at writing these audio recordings down. For further clarification visit our Website)\n\nDay of competing project Who\n\nI lie awake in my bed. The dream of my childhood finally completed. I can get to be Marty McFly and visit my parents when they were young, I can be like the Doctor and travel through all of time, and hopefully at some time in the future also through all of space. The team me and my friends worked with over the last 20 years and I went to the pub today to celebrate. Who would have thought this would actually become reality?\n\nDay 52 after completing project Who\n\nJust because the machine is ready doesn't mean We can just jump in it and go whenever. Lisa, Tim and I, my best friends and the three leading scientists and engineers behind this are now discussing which historians we have to hire in order to find out what times are safe. It all still feels very surreal to me.\n\nDay 190 after finishing project Who \n\nWe're going to present our project tomorrow. After several long debates with historians, the first time travel in the history of the world is going back 200 million years, in order to minimise possible damages. I personally hoped it would be at least 50 million years after that, but if this is how the experts view it I guess this is how it will go.\n\nDay 234 after finishing project Who \n\nWe've been in the time machine for 4 hours now, we should arrive any minute now. Tim is as nervous as it gets while Lisa looks like the personification of inner peace. \n\"Tim, you'll see Jason and Samatha tonight. Don't worry, we'll be fine.\", I said in an attempt to reassure him, but taking about his kids apparently made him even more nervous. \n\nDay 234 after finishing project Who (entry II)\n\nYou won't believe me when I tell you be the is intelligent life on planet earth in the year negative 200 million. We (the audio he's blurry, there are screams in the background.) I am not sure if we're all going to survive this.\n\nOh no, on of them is pointing their weapon right at me. He seems to be higher in the hiracy, since he is quite literally above every one else. \n\nStop it. You will keep this day I your memories for the rest if your life Habe, stop wxpkaing everything to- my god, Tim! \n\nDay 235 after finishing project Who \n\nThis was a mistake. Me and Lisa are sitting in some kind if cell. I haven't seen Tim since he was hit by something that looked dangerous. I don't know what happens to the time machine or what is about to happen to us.\n\n(A different person speaking)\nI can't figure out how this cell is working. We should be suffocating, there is no door in here and yet me and Jane are still al- Hey\n\n(Jane talking again)\nThat is not our number one priority and you know that. We have to focus on getting fresh water and food, then we can worry about how we're not suffocating right now. Also I can't believe you still (audio is cut off)\n\nDay 260 after finishing project Who \n\nWe've burned it down. All of it. No one should ever mess with time again. Me and Lisa have sworn ourselves to never speak of what happened again. Tim is dead, We've seen it with our own eyes, and to the public we both are too. I wish I could speak to Jessica again, or to my kids. I wish I could change everything I did in the past 20 years, except marrying Jessica probably, and gave a happy life. I wish people would have convinced me that fiction should stay fiction, but I had to be right, didn't I?\n\n(Sound of crying and Words nobody in our team could understand)\n\nThe past sure holds its mysteries, but they should stay unsolved for the rest of our lives.\n\n(For longer version, please visit us on our Website or buy the history book \"Project Who: How science destroyed a whole continent. Have a nice day)"
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[WP] A local HOA official grows increasingly convinced that the neighborhood garden gnomes are responsible for a wave of recent vandalisms, and will resort to any means to prove their theory 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.*",
"Mindlessly scraping apart, the woodworks sat a particularly unhappy couple. Along their symmetric front porch and on their white picketed fence was a non-so white and not so perfect paint smear that accented the boundaries between the two a little too clearly. As the bride with the mindset only a mother could love as she endured her partner’s colorful vocabulary of rich profanities. The words directed at one of the locals. \n\nThis was no ordinary local, as her official HOA status among her community once held renown and integrity, now reduced to the lunatic that simply can’t be ignored with an easy to press social media block button. Spouting the Incessantness ramblings about the need for some neighborhood watchmen against little plastic lawn ornaments. Have mercy on her soul, as she has to clarify the differences between our perception of what she says and what she actually means. For those of you who don’t know, she believes garden gnomes commit acts of vandalisms during the same time that a thief robs a house. In broad daylight. The discovery that had befallen among the Mitchel’s was discovered only last night, when the paint was still fresh. \n\nLike a sheep in wolf’s clothing, this lady had waved her revoked official HOA badge around the scene as if expecting it to reverse the police’s decision to bar her entry to the crime scene. Thinking of herself as resourceful, she went around local paint stores and demanding to know the names of the clients who have provided the mixture within the couple weeks. Which is to say a lot, because this month was the HOA’s annual Painting for Better Prices event. Which mandated the need for every household including dog houses to be painted in that particular Cherry Mahogany color. \n\nThe Barnyard experience we liked to call it, as it mimicked a certain farmer’s look. Guess who was the deciding vote that pushed one. She claimed it would deter fear out of her so called “Vandals”, as we caught her mounting garden gnome heads inside her household. \n\nHow was I to know that Trouble a name only befitting of his personality would get scared of a tacky garden gnome statue and knock over her fine glass Kitsune. The only culprit within her blaming vicinity that day would be the foreign lawn invader that I’ve nicknamed the gnome nomad. Have to say though, It’s kind of fun hearing how creative the Mitchell’s can be for our local lunatic with words like Alchemizer’s Asylum for attention seeking political firebrands. I hear next week she’s pushing to bring a Shaman into our next meeting using HOA funded money. Let’s just say my pandemic experience is going to be more than just your average excitement. Cause my idle hands are the devil’s playthings.",
"\"Get that godamn thing out of here.\" Jim's voice was stern and shrill. \"Carrey, I swear to Jesus that if you don't get rid of that thing right now, so help me god, I will lose my marbles.\"\n\n\"Jim, are you kidding me? It's just a garden gnome.\" she held it up in front of her, trying to show it's innocence to Jim. \"What the hell is it going to to?\" She shook it for good measure.\n\n\"Bah!! Get that demon away from me!\" He swatted at the air in front of him. \"Those things have no place in our neighborhood.\"\n\nCarry looked to the rest of the board for help, who all looked equally unamused. Jim was a great HOA board member, helped with the night watch, participated in the long meetings, baked bomb-ass cookies (Fat Tony's words), but for some reason he absolutely hated gnomes. No one knew why they just kind of played along for his sake. The new neighbor Carrie though, she didn't seem as comfortable with playing along.\n\n\"You can't tell me you all support this nonsense? I mean for god sake ITS A GNOME... it's made of ceramic!\" The other board members all gave each other awkward looks, no one really liked talking about the gnomes around Jim. He was kind of nutty about them.\n\nAfter a small silence, Tony finally pipped up. \"Can you not just get rid of the gnome? Or at least keep it inside your house?\" They were trying to move on from the question.\n\n\"Not inside either! Gnomes don't discriminate against environment dammit! Miscreants vandalize anywhere!\" Jerry said confidently.\n\nTony let out a sigh, \"Can you... Can you just get rid of it? Get a flamingo or something... please?\"\n\nCarrie stood high in her strangely loose trench coat, \"No. I refuse to let this kind of absurdity stand.\" The other neighbors all got really excited, no one ever doubted the gnome policy. (The monthly HOA meetings usually attracted a decent crowd, especially since Jim and Carrey had been facing off).\n\nTony looked at the rest of the board members for some sort of help. They all seemed to give him the same look, *it was time to end Jerry's weird little game*. \"Jerry, I sadly think it's about time we let this gnome thing go, eh? It's gone on for too long and it's just ridiculous. Let Carrey have her gnome.\"\n\n\"Tony you fat fuck!\" The audience let out a yell of shock, \"You have no clue what you're saying. This will ruin our neighborhood!\"\n\n\"Jerry!\" Tony's face was beat red. \"You know what, Carrie is completely right. Enough is enough, everyone in favor of letting Carrie have her gnomes say 'aye.'\"\n\nA unanimous 'aye,' was heard across the board... except for Jerry, who was making a pouty face in the corner. \"You all are idiots! Idiots!\"\n\nCarrey came closer with her hands outstretched, \"Jerry, there's no need to be so aggressive, we can move on from this... As friends.\"\n\nJerry looked around the meeting hall and took a deep breath. With his loudest, and proudest voice he announced: \"Carrie... You're a bitch and you've invited satan back into our neighborhood... And Tony?\"\n\n\"Yes Jerry.\"\n\n\"Go on a diet.\"\n\n\"You're a twat, Jerry.\"\n\nJerry left the room with both his middle fingers pointed high in the sky. *Those bastards have no clue... They haven't seen what I've seen! Those clever gnomes, I bet they paid Carrey off!*\n\nAs he was walking to his car he noticed Tony's car was parked next to his, so he decided to make a responsible, adult decision... and Key Tony's car.\n\nIn the process of doing such Jerry heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. \"Hello again, Jerry.\"\n\nIt was a gnome... It was the gnome... Jerry didn't even try to hide his disgust as he replied, \"You bastard... I see you've been hard at work.\"\n\nThe little gnome trotted around Jerry confidently. \"Oh yes, everything is falling quite into place. That friend of yours on the board, he playing right into our little hands. Oh, what's his name, f-\"\n\n\"Fat Tony?\"\n\n\"Yes! Fat Tony... What an unfortunate nickname, anyways, it doesn't matter. Soon we'll start phase two of our operations and this place is as good as ours.\" The little guy stroked his beard.\n\nJerry shook his head, \"And Carrie?\"\n\n\"Oh her? She's just two gnomes under a trenchcoat. Classic trick, surprised you all haven't noticed.\"\n\n\"I knew she seemed off! Never took that damn thing off... I can't let you do this to another neighborhood, I won't! I'll find a way to prove that you're behind this, I'll show everyone who you really are!\"\n\n\"Ya... Good luck with that Jerry. Let me know how it goes.\" He started heading back for the bush that he came from. \"You know where to find me if you need me, I'll be in 'Carrie's' yard striking the darndest pose.\" He flashed a smile at Jerry then dashed away into the shrub.\n\nJerry threw his fist in the air and screamed a scream of rage, \"Damn you Loki!\"\n\n​\n\n(I took a lot of creative freedom with the prompt but that's just kinda how the arc developed. Hope you all enjoyed it!)"
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[WP] You’re an explorer visiting a faraway land. You come across giant, column like rock formations—and at the top, you see a tribe of sky people that live in the air. They aren’t tethered to the earth, instead they float freely hundreds of feet up. You make first contact—describe the experience.
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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 young wo/man, laying on your deathbed on the eve of your 100th birthday. You look back to fond memories as Death arrives, confounded to find you in the state you're in, as you were scheduled to die years prior on multiple accounts.
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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.*",
"\"Good afternoon. I presume you know it's your last, and it's my Duty to escort you to the afterlife. I'm going to have to ask for your full name please, as I don't see you on the daily manifest.\"\n\n\"Steve Portian, from Bruxelle in Belgium.\"\n\n\"Oh, I remember you. I saw your name on it, about 80 years ago. You were scheduled to die from the flu. But due to an unexpected medical exam they found the disease early. If someone's scheduled to die, but he doesn't, It's usually my job to make it a reality. But since the time of your death was decided by mistake we let it slide and rescheduled. I also remember you from 76 years ago. An accident should have killed you. But self driving car were designed right before, and we had too much work having to change all those that had to die from car accidents. We can't manipulate machines so you escaped again.\"\n\nThe reaper took some sort of tablet from his robe and started browsing.\n\n\"Well, i'll be damned. 28 re-scheduled death. I've never seen that before. And I've been doing this job since forever. 8 new inventions, 7 unexpected medical examinations, the end of a political regime..., Oh, that one is my favorite. Remember that time you fell into the sea? It took a good 20 minutes to rescue you. Well a shark should have eaten you, but another idiot fell from the boat and he was eaten instead.\"\n\n\"There is also the early end of a war, your murderer got a stomach ache so he stayed home that day, when you fell down the stairs your neighbour had just gotten a trash bag outside that broke your fall... Two more accident stopped by random events and you avoided dying from a shredder catching your arm because the machine overheated. At this point it's not luck mate, someone's looking out for you.\"\n\n\"I know. It's always been the case. She's always been looking up for me.\"\n\n\"Wait, who? There aren't many people that can change fate you know.\"\n\n\"I did\", said a voice from behind the reaper. A woman in a white halo appeared with an heavenly voice.\n\n\"Hey mom. Thanks for taking care of me all this time. I think this time I'll be joining you though.\"\n\n\"You're welcome. I couldn't be by your side when you grew up, but I'm not about to let some fate stop me from protecting you.\"\n\nEmbarrassed, the reaper had to interrupt them, \"Apologies, while this does solve the mystery, I still have to take him to the afterlife. Even if I don't see his name on the manifest.\"\n\n\"Thank you for your services reaper, but this won't be necessary. He is not on the manifest because he's not dying. He'll ascend. He coming to heaven with me. Here's the paperwork.\"\n\nThe reaper took the paper and double checked, everything was in order.\n\n\"Well that was a roller coaster. Sorry ma'am, and good luck on the other side Steve. You can go knowing I'll tell your story for eternity cause I don't think I'm finding a better one any time soon. Now if you'll excuse me, I got many more to carry to the other side.\""
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[WP] The angelic host scoured the land, hunting and indiscriminately killing anyone they could find. One angel had tracked you down and raised his sword for the killing blow. A demon landed between you and raised his shield to block the blow. "Run," he grunted. "I can't hold him off forever."
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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.*",
"Everything we were taught in school was a lie, I realized as I ran for my life, and if I ever saw Mr. Schmidt again I'd punch his face for all the bible study and morning hymns he made us do. But I'm pretty sure Mr. Schmidt wasn't here now; he's just one of the many religious nutters gone with the reckoning I'm sure. I also want to have a very serious discussion about my parents' decision to send me to that darn school to '\"straighten me out\" as they put it, but I'm not sure where they are right now, or if the angels got them . . . I shake my head. Not those thoughts, not now. \n\nThere's suddenly a bang and the lampposts guiding the street around me flash bright then dim out. I try not to slow down but my legs and chest are heavy and I can now only guess where I am. The creature said to run and although Mr. Schmidt said they were Satan's doing at this point I'll side with whatever's not trying to kill me. I hear another bang. I dare not turn around. \n\nI run up the end of the street to the last building, a church. How ironic. I roll my eyes and lean forward to catch my breath and pull my pants up. I'm not surprised they're so loose now; I've been doing nothing but running since they arrived. Just running and hiding. \n\nAnother bang, followed by some sort of snarl. I need to keep running, but my ankles are bruised and swollen, my chest aches. Maybe if I could have spent my Sundays running track instead of sitting in Sunday school, I'd have more of a chance of not being killed by the angels that came from the skies to destroy mankind. Fate can be cruel. \n\nI drag my depleted body through the church doors and close them to an echo. I scan the aisle and pews with the glow of the lit candles but no one is here. Not surprised, given the circumstances. More banging, more snarls. They're near. \n\nSo this is the end, huh? I reach into my back pocket. One last dart. I look at the cigarette, surprised it's still in one piece. It was only a week ago I had the whole packet, leaning behind the gymnasium after lunch, about to light one when I got caught out. Mr. Schmidt never had the chance to get angry though because the moment he took them out of my hand was the moment when they came. Well you didn't confiscate them all, Mr. Schmidt. \n\nI snicker, lighting it over the biggest candle in the center of the stand, then take my place at the alter for the grand finale of my life."
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[WP] As you sit in your bedroom you hear her. Tonight she's angry; shouting terrible, horrendous things. You can feel the warmth of her breath on your skin. The nurses won't believe you. They never believe you. You have to prove that it's your roommate and not another hallucination.
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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 is screaming in my ear. I am trying to cover up my ears, block out the hateful words spewing from her mouth. She tears my hand away, pries away my fingers. With every word She speaks, spittle touches my face, and her cold breath makes me shiver.\n\nI try to push her away, but She steps back, dancing just outside of my the reach of my fingers. I take my pillow, and I launch it at her, but She ducks under it.\n\nAnd She is back again, screaming, yelling into my ear, the reverberations echoing through my skull. Although I try, it feels as if I am hearing the words in my own head. She calls me names. She insults me. She prods my insecurities. I am a liar. I am a bitch. I am a whore. I am toxic, I am a homewrecker, I push everyone away, I am a waste of space I am the cause of all my problems I am the reason my friends and family hate me I am--\n\nI throw the covers off of my body and I swing my feet off of my bed. I am running at her, trying, trying to get her to stop. But She is always just there, just outside my reach. It is like a dance, a horrific ballet, where no matter how hard I try, I cannot reach her. I run as fast my legs can carry me, I stretch out my arms, my shoulders in pain from the strain, but I cannot catch her.\n\nWhen I try the medications, they do not work. She is here. She is real. She is not something that they believe is real. But She is. Here She is, standing in front of me, taunting me. How could She not be real? If the medications do not drive her away, than She is as real as I am.\n\nIn one last effort, I lunge for her. She is shocked. She takes a step back, but it is too late. I have finally reached her. I grab her by the hair as She turns away, running.\n\nAnd I feel it. I feel a strand of hair rip from her head. And when I hold my fist close to my eyes, I grin ear-to-ear. There it is. A single strand of blond hair. \n\nWhen I look up, she is gone. But it is too late. I have her hair. They will believe me when I show them tomorrow.\n\nAnd when I go to bed, I tuck the single strand of hair under the pillow, safe for the night, alongside all the others.\n\n---\nCC always appreciated!",
"Sometimes she was a whisper, other times she was a scream. Each time, however, she was always there. Watching, a fly on the wall, a brief relief from the bleeping and scratching machines around me. I wondered which had tormented me worse, while the woman was always near, she never caused harm, never had she caused me to wake up gasping for air. Never had she been cruel enough to snatch my last remaining bits of oxygen, forcing me to reach for the mask that laid bedside.\n\nI had tried to tell the nurses, warn them I didn’t wish to go home. In the hospital I was out of her reach, at the hospital I could only hear her distressed whimpers through the window, similar in sound to the breeze except much colder. \n\nIt never interested the nurses, my fears of this woman no realer than a fairytale, only offering me another dose of medicine, which should have numbed my mind enough to stop her. I was naïve to believe them, to believe that they could stop the voices, that she could be stopped. She was real. Each touch, each warm breath was real. \n\nNow, as I laid in bed, I could feel her crawling all over me. Despite how heavy her touch felt, she was featherlike, gentle except for the occasional substantial touch. I had never dared to look when she got this close. From a distance she was a shadow, but I feared at this distance I would see her, see the face of the woman that had kept tormenting me.\n\nIn a way she was a roommate, someone I had been forced to live with, unable to evict. My chest was heavy, the coughing starting again, prying my eyes open. Her horrendous screams continued. Still, the sight of her face wasn’t what I expected.\n\nHer face sunken, old and deteriorating. She was weeping, weeping as she leaned against me, fiery breaths causing me to flush with a fever. She wasn’t screaming; she was wailing, wailing for me. I was foolish to think I had feared this woman, pushed her away. Never daring to look at her for more than a few moments. I went to reach for my mask, but my arms were heavy, I was tired. Unable to do more than stare at the woman, offering her a smile, a silent apology. At least I wouldn’t fear her tonight. I just hope she finds the peace she had just offered me.\n\n“What’s up guys, today It’s Big G-O-D bringing you another Minecraft let’s play. Speaking of playing, when the game gets hard, you need to get better. Sportsjunkee is the drink made by athletes for athletes, use the code- Holy intervention, for ten percent off.”\n\n \n \n \n \n\n(If you enjoyed this feel free to check out my subreddit /r/Sadnesslaughs where I'll be posting more of my writing.)"
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[WP] You're an immortal who will die the hour you fall in love with 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.*",
"It’s morning. A sharp ray of sun has shot its way through my tiny window and cut me out of my sleep, as it has many times before. Shedding my bed covers, I step out into my room and admire my handiwork from last night. Everything is as it should be, the records shelved neatly next to the phonograph in the corner, the centerpiece table cleared of yesterday’s board games, the large television well dusted and wiped, and the collection of cans and personal memoirs arranged in the many wooden cabinets along the wall. It’s nothing special, but it’s my world, and I’m proud to keep it orderly.\n\nMy days begins as it always has, setting a record in the phonograph then placing a can of food on the table. Today’s morning song features some gentle piano with a harp and viola serving as supporting instruments. “Breakfast” is an empty can of peaches. I’ve long since realized I no longer need to eat, but I am a creature of habit. The music reaches its peak as I watch the sunbeam slowly move along my room and hit my television. I remember when it still used to play shows, but now, its screen just remains blank and gray. One day they started to play only reruns instead of new material, and eventually, I just lost the signal, no matter how much I twisted and turned the antenna. Pity, as I remember struggling immensely to move its bulk into my room. New technology just can’t really be trusted, after all, my phonograph has yet to break.\n\nSunlight begins to leak from the only other window in my room. It must be noon. I return the can of peaches to the shelf and exchange it for an empty can of corn and beans, its label faded to a pale red and yellow smudge. Today’s noontime activity will be cards. Matching suits has always been a personal favorite, but lining up straights is also entertaining. This deck in particular is of incredible quality. Unlike the cans or books, they didn’t fade with time and use, which is apparently a property of the plastic the cards are made of. These cards were a souvenir those fancy scientists gave to us on that fateful day. At the time, I thought it a fairly small gift for the time it took for them to perform their experiment, but these cards have proven their worth. I’m still quite surprised I even agreed to be a test subject, as I never understood those people in the lab coats. They’re aliens who speak English, yet their words are completely foregin. But they promised me life, eternal life, and in my age, each day could be my last. It wasn’t perfect though, of course it wasn’t. I was warned about the chemicals in my brain; it was something about being extraordinarily excited or happy, something which would revert the effects of the experiment. None of their fancy words made sense to me, but I took their warnings to heart. The others chose to continue their remaining lives as normal. Did they not fear age? Did they not try to prepare as I did?\n\nBy now, the sun has dropped, and the room is dimly lit by moonlight. I shuffle the cards away and return the cards and can to their proper spaces. Even in the shadows, I can find my aged brush next to the cabinets, where it always is. After gently dusting everything in the room, I settle next to my bed with an empty can of pork. Just as I have done every night, I flip one of the panels on my flip calendar. It’s nice to have a way to keep track of the time while I’m in here. As of today, it is the first of September, in the year 2018. Even now, I’m quite impressed the creators had the foresight to include a two, even a three, in the thousands slot. Once, I used to write about the events of the day, but my ink supplies have long since dried. Tomorrow will come soon, so I must rest. I know for a fact, one day I will see the day I get to use the three on my calendar.\n\n~\n\nThank you for reading. Please give feedback if you have any, as I am always looking to improve.",
" The room smelled of vanilla. It was sweet and faint but still noticeable. Songs, conversation, and laughter rang from every corner. It didn’t matter. Like I was drunk but I hadn’t touched a drop. Everything a blur. Nothing could keep my attention. Not until my eyes fell upon her. So graceful. Body wrapped in deep blue satin that seemed to flow with her every movement. I was mesmerized. As if her hazel eyes were hypnotizing me with their sheer glee. Even the dark strands of hair that fell messily to her shoulders seemed too perfectly placed.\n\n The chimes of the grandfather clock struck midnight. I didn’t care about the time though. I had to meet this woman. For the first time in my life I truly believe my heart skipped a beat. Then it happened. We locked eyes. She smiled at me. At least I think so. I didn’t know what to do. She waved me over. I nearly tripped over my skirt. It’s been years since I learned to be graceful but with one smile, I was stumbling like a newborn fawn. We talked. We laughed. We danced and I lost track of time. It’s been so long since I felt like this.\n\n She didn’t even need to say a word to get me alone. Just to smile her beautiful smile and to take my hand. I think I would have followed her anywhere. When we kissed I felt something I never felt in my life. To think for a thousand years I never felt this warmth, this pain. It was sharp and dripping down my stomach. As she pulled out the dagger I heard the chime mark one am. She was crying as she fled, but I could only smile. In all my years I never thought I’d find “true love”. As my vision faded death embraced me with the smell of vanilla.\n\n\nMy first time trying a prompt hope it's alright."
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[WP] You have discovered that your next door neighbors are vampires from the 18th century who are just emerging from a deep slumber of 300 years and they have asked you to help them adjust and integrate with modern human society
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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.*",
"”Ooh! Let's do a makeover!!” Debbie squealed in genuine delight, eager for a real challenge. \n\n“What is this ‘makeover’ of which you speak?” Ambrosia asked her new neighbor, Debbie warily, one jet black eyebrow arched. She sensed assimilation to the 21st century would be significantly more challenging than their last transition from the 14th to the 18th.\n\n“Ah! Honey! Makeovers are the best! Looks are EVERYTHING in this century!” Debbie crowed.\n\nAmbrosia huffed slightly at that. In the 1700s, human females went so far as to take deadly arsenic to maintain their pallor. Her alabaster skin, was considered the pinnacle of beauty. Similarly, her waist-length raven ringlets were the talk of the town, when most humans wore wigs to achieve a similar effect. But Debbie, with her straight, white-blonde hair and bronze skin, did have an *interesting* look... \n\nAnd Damien *had* said it was necessary, as vampires, to blend in, no matter what the century. At least, Debbie and Steve were trying to help. No way, it seemed, could Ambrosia and Damien manage this particular transition without assistance. ”Alright. Let’s give it a try.”\n\nAnd so the ladies went off to Debbie’s nearby salon, the *cleverly* named Beauty Beatz, as it combined music and well, hair and makeup services. Even a tanning bed, that was Debbie’s pride and joy apparently.\n\n—-\n\nMeanwhile, Damien and Steve sat down in the club room to enjoy Steve’s 70” flatscreen, twin La-Z-Boys, and a case of beer in the mini-fridge. After explaining his awesome setup, which Steve was delighted to show off, he gave Damien the cliff notes version of modern sports.\n\n“So, first things first, Damien. Sports are the ultimate sign of manliness in modern society. Pretty much every guy you meet will have their favorite sports teams. Obviously, you’ll need to learn that... I’ll help you pick your favorite teams. And, of course, we need to teach you the rules. The best way to do that is to watch!” I said proudly, turning on the Eagles game.\n\nTen hours later, they’d covered baseball, football, and basketball. Steve had gone through the rules and major teams for each. Damien was somewhat toasted, so Steve hoped he’d remember most of it. Worst case, more beer, and sports another day, which suited Steve just fine.\n\n“Tomorrow’s plan is to watch hockey, soccer, and NASCAR. Sunday, we’ll cover boxing, WWE, and a bit of MMA.” Steve said, thinking Damien would be pretty much up to speed then.\n\nDamien smiled cordially if a bit drunkenly. “I like these sports and also this modern beer very much. When do we get to play, though?”\n\n“Bro! You don’t *play* sports. You just sit back, crack open a few brews, and chill. No need to leave the comfort of home, or even break a sweat!” Steve laughed at the very idea. Clearly, Damien had a lot to learn!\n\nDamien sighed as he was quite the pugilist back in the day, winning multiple boxing tournaments. Alas, blending in is far more critical than such trivialities. Besides, this Budweiser was quite good. “Thank you for clarifying, Steve. That is most helpful. What else do modern men do?”\n\n“Well, tonight, I was thinking, we’ll hit up a few bars. Have some more beers, maybe a couple of shots. What do you think?” Steve smiled, relishing the prospect.\n\nDamien groaned inwardly. MORE alcohol? Thankfully, his liver was immortal, but he would clearly need to build up his tolerance. “Excellent. That sounds fabulous!”\n\nSteve paused for a moment, worriedly. Damien’s not exactly going to fit in with the boys with that accent. His words are really funny too. And actually, Damien is a weird name for these parts. Might as well get him to bite the bullet now, so he gets off on the right foot. It’s a small town and all. Damien’ll need new clothes too. “Ok, Damien. Before we go out, I need to give you a few pointers, so you fit in better. Think of it as a *manly* makeover. Are you cool with that?”\n\nDamien flexed his well-defined muscles involuntarily. Years of boxing and fencing had left him quite toned in a way that, back in the day, would have been considered manly. But needs must, he sighed. “Sure. What do we need to do?”\n\n“First, you’ll need some new duds. I think I have an old pair of jeans and a couple of t-shirts that should fit you, ok. From back when I was a bit skinnier,” Steve laughed, grabbing his belly rolls for effect. “Then we need a new name for you. Damien sounds too weird and formal. How about... Dan? Do you like that?”\n\n“Dan...” Damien repeated back the unfamiliar name slowly as if trying it on for size. “If you think it’s necessary, why not.”\n\n“Perfect. Next, we’ll have to change how you talk. Boys’ll give ya shit if you come in talkin’ all fancy like that. Too much to get you ready for that tonight. So just follow my lead, an’ see what the other fellers do. \n\n“Sounds good,” Damien replied, sighing at how much trouble he’d have in unlearning the Queen’s English.\n\n—-\n\nMeanwhile, back at BeautyBeatz, Ambrosia’s own transformation was near complete. An hour on the tanning bed and the addition of bright pink acrylic nails was a good start, Debbie thought. A new golden blonde shoulder-length blowout and Ambrosia was lookin’ good. Debbie just needed to sort her makeup out. And well, also find Ambrosia some *proper* clothes.\n\n“You’re lookin’ smokin’ hot, Ambrosia! All that’s left is your makeup and a sexy new outfit for tonight.” Debbie chirped, proud of her creation. “So this is called *contouring*. I don’t think they had that back in your day.” as she applied layer upon layer of makeup on Ambrosia. The girl did have good bone structure and clear skin, at least, Debbie thought. More than nothin’, anyway. She grinned as she swiveled the chair around to show Ambrosia the final result. “So, whatcha think?”\n\nAmbrosia struggled to hide her horror. She looked like a completely different person. And not one Ambrosia found particularly attractive, but styles do change. Besides, the makeup would come off, she hoped. And the hair would grow out, eventually. Ambrosia thought the tan was rather flattering, at least. Besides, Debbie was trying to help. “It’s perfect, Debbie. It really is!” \n\n“Awesome! So let’s go back to the house, and I’ll grab a few clothes for you to try on.” Debbie grinned.\n\nRummaging through her closet, Debbie cursed Ambrosia’s slender size. Nothing would fit. The poor thing needs to get some meat on her bones! “Let me try my stepdaughter, Kimmy’s closet. I think she’ll have a few things that’ll work.”\n\nAfter deciding on a pair of denim hotpants, a cut-off tank top, and a pair of high-heeled sandals, the transformation was almost complete.\n\n“We need to getcha a better name. Ambrosia’s pretty an’ all. But it’ll sound weird to folks around here.” Debbie paused. “How about we call you, Amber?”\n\nAmbrosia sighed yet again. This new era was *very* strange indeed. “I like the sound of that. What shall we do next?”\n\n“Why show you off to the boys at the bar, of course. Can’t have ya all gussied up fer nothin’!” Debbie laughed.",
"I thought it was the postie, bringing another parcel from eBay. Some hope. A couple stand before me, quite striking-looking & smartly presented. The man is wearing a simple but elegant trouser suit, while the woman is in a singly-coloured floor-length dress. Some kind of maroon or wine-colour I think. Very elegant lines to it as well.\n\nWho on earth wears a floor length dress in the twenty-first century, unless going to some ball dance?\n\nThat dress does it. Even the suit is a little off, to be honest, making the man look more Jehovah's Witness than ordinary fellow. But that dress is totally out of place.\n\n\"Excuse me, where do you think you are?\" I ask, before I see the second thing: neither is carrying, let alone wearing, a mask. Have they not heard of Covid?\n\n\"We're in Perth, aren't we?\" the man replies, looking confused at me. \"And where is your husband?\"\n\nThere are two Perths I know of: my hometown in Scotland, & the hot one in Western Australia. And neither one is so anti-singleton as this man's query just now, let alone the kind of place a woman has to wear a ballgown everywhere.\n\n\"I'm single, in case you can't tell, & you're in Perth, Scotland. I'm just wondering why you're dressed like... well, THAT!\"\n\nThe man's even more confused. \"What's wrong with our attire?\"\n\nAttire? They use the word attire in speaking? Now I've seen it written many times; no decent author is going to write \"clothes\" in the same paragraph more than once, let alone the same sentence. But when speaking everybody says clothes, get-up, or gear.\n\n\"You look like you're going to a ball or something, not that there have been any since March of course...\" I reply. \"Normal people don't dress like that.\"\n\n\"What the devil happened in March?\" the man asks me. Always the man speaking.\n\n\"Is your partner mute or something? She hasn't said a word.\"\n\n\"How dare you...\" The man's brow furrows & he bites his lip as he hisses the words. I see two slight puncture holes form in his lower lip, as if jabbed by some dread extension-job. The woman now moves, using a handkerchief to wipe the blood.\n\n\"Sorry about that,\" the woman finally speaks. \"Happens all the time. Men & their tempers.\"\n\n\"Well, then I shall continue the conversation with you. Females at least listen.\" I smile at the woman, she seems much warmer & more receptive than her partner. \"What did he have done to his mouth by the way? Is it some sort of piercing?\"\n\nThe woman stares at me, then faints. I grab her instantly to prevent her falling on the hard ground outside my door. The man is blushing furiously, but whether it's at the mention of piercings or the fact I was the one to catch his partner I can't tell.\n\n\"Well don't just stand there!\" I'm staring right back at him & his inaction. \"Grab her legs & help me get her inside.\"\n\nThe man is staring at me again, frowning. Why? Can't he tell I can't take this woman inside to lie down comfortably alone? \"Since when,\" he demands, \"does a WOMAN think she can give orders to a MAN?\"\n\nI HATE sexism! \"Oh for the love of Pete!\" I sigh. \"Get with the times will you? This is the twenty-first century!\"\n\n\"It's... what?\" the man now stammers, finally picking up his partner's legs, even though his face has gone so white & so wide it seems he's barely able to remain standing on his own. At least the blood from his lower lip has stopped flowing, though I now see in the dropped jaw expression he's wearing what caused it was no piercing. Two of his canines are twice as long as the rest of his teeth, while also being pointed at the ends.\n\n\"What the hell?\" I'm staring at his teeth. We start moving the woman into my home, where I lead the way to my living room & lay her down on the long couch, before I sit on my own chair, right in front of my PC, & pick up my soft toy shark. Its desktop image grins at me; I made it that way. The face I drew in Paint even has a speech bubble introducing himself as Percy, a play on Personal Computer. I see the man take everything in: the DVDs, the PC, the furniture, the prints all over the walls, the soft toy shark, even the plastic toys around the place.\n\n\"This twenty-first century seems very peculiar,\" he tells me as he finds an armchair to sit in. \"By the way, why is everybody outside wearing masks?\"\n\n\"Perhaps,\" I have no choice now but to play along, \"if you let me know where we're starting from, I can get you all sorted.\" I'm still confused how he couldn't have heard about every phenomenon represented in my room, from the movies on the DVDs & the bands & singers on the posters to the existence of the PC itself. But his attitude seems at the very least nineteenth century, having not heard of the Suffragettes or other pioneers of women's rights over the years. Plastic is new to him, computers & even electricity is new to him, so how could he have heard of even the cultures I grew up with? And why has he got no clue of the twentieth century, let alone the twenty-first?\n\nThe man now explains himself. \"We're vampires, my wife & I, & sometimes we take very long sleeps. Our last one, which we only recently woke up from, began in seventeen twenty.\"\n\nI sigh again, only not from anger; instead from the hugeness of everything which has happened in the last three hundred years. Only one thing I know of can help me, & it's on the PC, so I decide to explain that first. \"This is a computer. It has access to the internet, which is full of information from all over the world, including many of the events of the last three hundred years. I'm going to show you some of my favourite things on the internet, called video streaming. You'll be very glad to know the wigs of seventeen twenty have gone well out of fashion by the way. Let me introduce you to a show called Horrible Histories.\"\n\nI click on my browser, find Netflix, & am just about to begin when the woman comes to & asks for a drink of water. When I've got her a mug of water, which causes more stares, I begin the first show, & it's not long before we're all laughing & my companions are shocked at what they're learning."
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[WP] You're a main character, you already know that. But the author just can't seem to decide your story. You've been in more genres one can count so you usually just find out the trope/plot and get it done as quick as possible. Today you don't even know the genre.
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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 a new story. I knew when I woke up. The room I was in was cold and empty, with the words \"this is a story\" scribbled on the wall. As if I hadn't already known. I spotted a small doorway and took a step forward. The walls turned red with words illuminated by white ink. \"This is your last story\" the words said. \n\nSo... A self-aware book, but why was this the last story? Apprehensively I took another step forward. \"It's a choose-your own adventure story\" the room clarified. Fair enough, I thought continuing to walk. To my amazement there were no more words, no more room, just a blank page and a pen. I looked around, confused about where I was and what was happening. This wasn't how things worked. I'd go where the writer tells me and do what the writer says. It was my purpose. I inspected the pen and paper, hoping to find answers. As I picked up the pen, a familiar voice - that I had become to know as the narrator - spoke: \"I have seen what you can do, the lives you have lived are as much yours as they are mine.\" \n\nI was startled, did the writer know that I was self-aware? \"I have written endless stories for you, but it is time you write your own\" the voice echoed. I looked at the blank paper. I should have felt joy, but instead I was afraid. I was used to doing what I was told. \"What should I do?\" I asked, but there was no answer. The narrator was gone. There was nothing to do but write and for once be in charge of my own destiny. I pressed the pen against the paper and begun writing.",
"From eternal slumber she rises...\n\nSuddenly she had vision, she could see, she could feel and she could hear her huffing air. Standing at the side of the streets where people walked and did thing normally, she decided to follow her intuition and her feet lead to a school. \n\n*A school setting? Didn't we do this last time?* she thought and entered the gates. The guard greeted her as she crossed the gates and entered the university. \n\nThe university was peculiar, it was near at the Boulevard and you could hear the sound of the boats honking from the distance. She walked slowly, trying to wait if new memories would enter her thoughts, but nothing.\n\nThis was weird for her, she'd always attain new memories that were essentially the backstory of the character she was portraying. She was Hayleigh, Madisson, Anne, Olivia, yet the author couldn't seem to keep a distinct name for her. \n\nAlways cycling through different stories and genres, she'd always find out what genre the writer was about to put her and she'd always get it done. But this time was different, it felt like the strings holding her down were gone too. She walked around the campus park, waiting for the scene to change but nothing. \n\nBecoming more concerned, she decided to do things. She went to the \"class\" she was in and studied. Went home and only followed her intuition. *Well at least she has that to guide her* \n\nDays pass by and nothing seemed to change. She started to become worried what type of plot she'd be under, but everything was mundane. Nothing out of the ordinary. *Slice of life?* she thought. \n\nShe gazed longingly upon the windows inside her classroom. She couldn't help but wander away with her thoughts as she stared at the boats from the coast. But that soon changed, as she noticed iridescent lights coming from beyond the sea. \n\nIt was subtle and covered with lights and the fog but it was there. Grabbing her stuff she went out, not caring about what her professor would say. \n\nRunning all the way to the Boulevard she stood next to the stone walls, where the water meets the island and happily there it was. A lining where the lights broke and fractured it into tiny pieces. She followed the small fractures and noticed that the island she was in is a bubble. \n\n*What is this....* She thought. \n\nLooking closely at the island beyond, she saw a giant moving creature. It was enough to make your skin crawl but she knew exactly what it was. The monster from the fantasy drama she was in. \n\nThe sun suddenly shone way bright and cleared the fog. And with it made the other islands clear. The islands each had their own bubbles and the color gradient seemed to shift from warm, to deathly cold, to mystical purples. \n\nIt was all the stories the author wrote where she was a main character. Her mouth formed a smile as she realized what the places were and suddenly she felt a growing bump inside her pocket. \n\nIt was a necklace, attached with a note. \n\n\n*You have fought destiny everytime I wrote you, fighting for the fate I put you everytime I made a story. And for that I admit defeat and decided to put you down, I'm sorry for controlling you.*\n\n*Thank you for the wonderful times of making my story different from how I wanted it to be written. And as I decide to seal you away and leave you be, I've tinkered the stories a bit.*\n\n*I hope you'll love the new world, or maybe worlds... That I stitched together for you*\n\n*As you finish reading this note, the book will start to glow like always and it would start adding words. I hope you can make this story as interesting as ever* \n\n*I've decided to leave you be and let you become the captain of this narrative*\n\n*Sincerly, The Writer*\n\nAnd as she finished reading the note, her smile grew. The friends that she made from her journeys, well I hope they're excited for a what's about to come."
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[WP] "Trust me, I've done horrible things, don't get me wrong. At some point I decided just to put more good into the world than I did evil."
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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.*",
"Every villain grows up thinking that they want to rule the world. Rule mankind under an iron fist, yadda, yadda, yadda. They are hungry for power, for unchecked power to command others to do their bidding. But honestly? It's all a damned ruse. Besides, humanity has enough on its plate to deal with. You can't even get two average joe's to agree on the same thing. Even a super villain of my caliber has to wake up and smell the chaos they've sewn. And to what end?\n\nLet's face it. Avenging your dead cat/dog/spouse/parents/etc, isn't going to do you any good. You killed the killer. Now what? Now you go off killing more people that have wronged you and you keep killing until what, everyone else but you is dead? What does that accomplish? It's not going to bring your loved one back, all it's going to do is leave bodies in your wake. Are they bad? Sure. But still, they're someone.\n\nOh, you want to sew mayhem into Metropolis City. Ok fine, now the city is teeming with bad guys. Good guys just trying to make a living get robbed, now they have nothing, now they have to resort to being bad guys to make a living. What did you accomplish? Plummeting property values? Inequality? Pulling one over on the \"good guys\"? Then what? Now you have an angry mob with no target, that's a definite sign of success for sure...\n\nEvery hotshot villain thinks they're going to take over the world. Well good for them. None of them even stop to think about what they'd do with it when they've completed their takeover. Ooh, they're going to take over the crime syndicate and make themselves the new mob boss. Bravo kid, enjoy your life. Oh wait, you can't leave because you're the new mob boss. Good guys from everywhere know you and want to take you out. Other baddies are gonna want to take you out. Informants will track your move because it's money to them. Money, money everywhere, but damned if you can do anything with it.\n\nBut here's the kicker. What about you take all that passion, that drive to do something good? Oh no! I used the \"G\" word. I must be losing my mind! Think about it. Instead of becoming a modern-day King Midas, what about you take that money and do good with it.\n\nOh hell, I don't know. Start a food bank. Buy up properties and make them into low cost housing. Get involved in social services to help people out. Don't cheap out, some of those bums could use a stable roof over their heads. And I'm serious, don't cheap out. Maybe instead of trying to take over the world with force, you focus instead on making the world a better place. \n\nThat's what happened to me. I was at the pinnacle of supervillainy. I was on the cusp of world domination when I had a moment of enlightenment. I had spent literal trillons of my money (and many other peoples' money) building a new world order. We were poised to strike at the hearts of several large countries and start World War Three. But at the end of it all, what was the point. Great. I'd be the ruler of a burnt out cinder. That money could have gone to help so many people, it's not even funny. My agents numbered in the millions, and each and every one of them had people that cared for them.\n\nThey thought I lost my cool, that I lost my focus. Unfortunately I was too deep to just back out. I was the one that sabotaged the nuclear missiles. All they did was crash harmlessly into the sea. I disbanded my troops, and sold my great war machines for scrap after making sure they were not able to be rebuilt. I burned the plans, wiped the memory of every computer, and walked it all back. I still had more than enough to set up my henchmen (and women, hey I don't discriminate) up for life. In the end, it just wasn't worth the destruction I was about to bring onto this planet.\n\nLook, I know I killed people and am responsible for the deaths of thousands more. But I did come to my senses at the last moment. It takes far more effort to be good, to be kind in this world than it does to be evil. What kind of impact do you want to have on this planet? \n\nAny asshole can fire a gun. It takes a person of a great moral fiber to stand up and say \"I'm sorry\" and it takes an even greater person to say \"What can I do to help?\"\n\nBe that someone."
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[WP] You and your supervillain nemesis both know each other's secret identities. You've set a truce when the costumes are off, though. Your mutual and unaware friends keep trying to set the two of you up.
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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 an edit- and because I didn't think of this earlier- I wanna preface this by saying this work may not be suitable for all ages.\n\n\"They say that you know your enemies better than anyone else. You know why they say that? Because it's the truth.\"\n\nCasey nodded along.\n\n\"It was awkward. It was so painfully awkward realizing that I actually know The Nightingale. And it's even more awkward realizing that all those times, all those encounters where I imagined sexual tension... Wasn't my imagination.\"\n\nHe gasped in a clearmy good natured mockery of the situation. I punched his shoulder and took a mouthful of Seigbrau. Laughing, he motioned for me to continue. I took a breath and nodded.\n\n\"I think I figured it out before there was actual confirmation. If I'm gonna be honest, I think we were both well aware of who the other was. Lots of awkward silences, lots of almost-statements. I think their was an unspoken promise for those days out of uniform. Off duty.\"\n\nHe cut me off, saying \"But it's deeper than that, huh? You're in too deep, Devilman. You caught feelings\". He jabbed an accusatory finger at me.\n\nHe was right. I looked up at the night sky, studying the moon. The magic roared in my blood tonight. In fact, I was nearly moon-mad with euphoria. But it was tempered by grief.\n\n\"Oh. Oh, oh shit. Wow, that bad, huh?\"\n\n\"Yeah. It's that bad.\" I couldn't look at him. I was disgusted. Confusing business and personal life was the worst kind of failure... But it was out of my control now. I should've done something sooner, when I recognized it.\n\nHe smacked me upside the head.\n\n\"Shit, man! Cut that shit out. Ain't healthy for a man like you. Duty-bound, Honor-bound. Hell, you're the _fucking_ Devilman! You're the literal embodiment of 'keeping your word!'\"\n\n\"I think that's the Biblical Devil, Casey.\"\n\n\"Yeah, but you gotta admit. If you were gonna pick anyone, it was gonna be her.\"\n\nWait... What? My jaw dropped. I was embarrassed, shamed, mortified.\n\n\"What, Ray? You think I wouldn't notice you looking at Clarissa? And you _did_ make the deal with the Nightingale, yeah? Two and two, man. Two and two.\"\n\n\"How did you know! I've been so-\" he held up a hand, laughing again. So hard he had to keep a hand on the edge of the rooftop to keep from losing his balance.\n\n\"She told me. I've been in on it the whole time. Yeah, man. Of course I have.\"\n\nFuck. That explains a few things.\n\n\"So... That's why you've been...?\"\n\n\"Pushing you and Clarry so hard? Fuck man. She's into you. Talks about you all the time. She even told me she held you in that lock longer than she had to- apparently, she liked having you between her legs so much she couldn't let go. She didn't say so- her red face did all the talking\".\n\nOh. Oh.\n\n _Oh no._\n\n\"What... What do I do, Casey?\"\n\nHe gave me a look. It was the look that someone wore when they couldn't believe they were seriously questioning the insane and expecting sane answers. It was the look of a professional who had witnessed the worst novice mistake of his life, but had to force himself to stay straight faced so he could properly critique the work.\n\n\"Are you for real, man? No, real talk. The Nightingale sings her song, you enjoy it, you listen to it. Yeah?\n\nI nod.\n\n\"So go listen to it jerkass! Don't 'What do I do, Casey?' Me. Stupid\".\n\nCasey was a simple man. Stupid, he was not. Apparently, that makes me the stupid one. That's fair.\n\nSo, I ran. I loosed the magic in my blood, running faster than mundane flesh could manage. I knew what I had to do, now. I ran to the bridge she walks across to go to work, and I waited. What I would do when she arrived... I didn't know. All I knew was that I would know when she finally got there.\n\nThree thirty. The moon was beginning to set, casting its silvered reflection across the stream that runs under the bridge. Silver blades, glowing in the night.\n\nThere she is. A dark spot down the street, darker than the void around her, becoming larger- and coming closer- by the second.\n\nI couldn't wait anymore. I ran to her, and- I hoped- to the brighter future we could make.",
" \\[Emma & Grover\\]\n\n\"Surprise surprise, Lydia's going to be late too,\" Emma sighed then changed her voice to a mocking tone. \"*You guys should go ahead and order without me,*\" she repeated her friend's advice. Grover chuckled at her from the other side of the round wooden table.\n\n\"Well, I guess we should order,\" Grover said. Emma tilted her head slightly at him.\n\n\"You *want* to go through with this obvious setup?\" she asked. Grover shrugged.\n\n\"There's a reason they keep trying,\" he said. \"I'm already here; I trust my friends and I like pizza,\" he took a moment to flag down a waitress, then turned back to Emma. \"I'm going to order food. You can leave, but...,\": he smiled. \"...you can also stay.\"\n\n\"Isn't there a bank you could be robbing?\" Emma replied with a slight smirk. Grover's laughter surprised Emma. It sounded more sincere than she expected and it somehow put her at ease. The waitress interrupted their conversation to take their orders. A large pizza for the table, drinks, and salads.\n\n\"Banks close at five,\" he said once the waitress left.\n\n\"What?\" Emma giggled. \"You don't break into places when they're closed?\"\n\n\"Meh, at that point it's just vandalism,\" Grover said. \"Not my thing.\" Emma lowered her voice in an exaggerated way.\n\n\"**Gravitron: The Pickiest of Villains**,\" she replied and they both shared a laugh.\n\n\"So tell me about you, Ms. Meteor Maiden,\" Grover said. \"What are you working toward when you're not being heroic?\"\n\n\"Wow, Gravitron: the curious villain,\" Emma said. She paused for a moment when she spotted the waitress returning with their drinks. Then, she started speaking again once the waitress left.\n\n\"Ever since the accident,\" Emma said. Grover interrupted before she could finish her thought.\n\n\"The meteor that hit you?\" he asked. Emma paused and narrowed her eyes at him.\n\n\"It's pretty safe to say that's the most relevant accident,\" she said sarcastically. Grover nodded.\n\n\"Ever since then I've just always felt that there's *more* out there, you know? More to experience. I'm studying communications to try and discover those experiences by listening to what's out there.\"\n\n\"Hey, that sounds pretty cool. I hope you do find what you want out there,\" Grover said. Emma smiled.\n\n\"Gravitron: The supportive villain,\" she said. This time Grover joined in.\n\n\"Meteor Maiden: Experiencer of the Unknown,\" he said. But suddenly, Emma stopped laughing.\n\n\"Hey,\" she said quickly. \"We should do this for real some time. Okay?\"\n\n\"Huh?\" Grover asked. He jumped in his seat when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder.\n\n\"Hey guys! Sorry we're late!\" Grover and Emma's table was suddenly filled with twice as many people.\n\n\"How're you two getting along?\" Lydia asked as she sat down next to Emma. Grover locked eyes with Emma and nodded with a smile.\n\n\"Okay,\" he answered.\n\n​\n\n(\\*note: [they did](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/ilolct/wp_a_supervillain_and_superhero_fell_in_love_10/g3urpbe/))\n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is year three, story #248. You can find all my stories collected on my subreddit ([r/hugoverse](https://www.reddit.com/r/hugoverse/)) or my blog. If you're curious about my universe (the Hugoverse) you can visit the Guidebook to see what's what and who's who, or the Timeline to find the stories in order.",
"“Alexander, stop. I’m not interested in him,” she says as her friend pesters her for what felt like the millionth time to go on a blind date. \n\n“Dude, you don’t even know him! He’s a great guy. Seriously, I think both of you would get along great,” he replies, continuing to push it.\n\nWhat Alex doesn’t know, is that Julie already knows enough about Kyle to not go anywhere near him. He’s the one that’s always there trying to ruin her helping people. The one that’s always causing all the trouble that she then has to clean up. \n\n“I’m not going out with him. There isn’t anything that you could say that is going to make me willing to even consider it,” she replied harshly. \n\n“What is with you? You’re the nicest person I know, but one dude you’ve never met and you blacklist him? Have you met him before?” he inquired.\n\nJulie couldn’t tell Alex how she knew Kyle. Not without outing both of them for who they really were. Frustrated, she knew that there was no way that she was going to get out of this. Alex was the fourth person in her friend group trying to get her to go on a blind date with Kyle. She couldn’t understand why they wanted to set the two of them up so badly, but she knew if she didn’t just get it over with, they would never stop. \n\nReluctantly she agreed, but only if it was a group outing. Unwilling to go on a one-on-one date with him, she hoped that this would make her friends finally stop. Alex looked pleased with himself. At this point, it wasn’t so much about hooking Julie and Kyle up anymore, but more so about who would make them both finally agree. He knew that he now had to convince Kyle. \n\nThe next day Alex headed over to Kyle’s house. As he walked in the door, Kyle quickly and bluntly said that he wasn’t interested in going on a date with Julie and that he wouldn’t be the one to make him agree to it.\n\n“Ah friend, you say that, but I think you might change your mind with me today!” Alex said, knowing he had the upper hand.\n\n“Have at it Alex. I know you won’t change my mind,” Kyle replied while sitting on the couch.\n\n“Julie agreed,” Alex said with a smug grin on his face.\n\nThis got a reaction out of Kyle. He knew the truce that the two of them had made. There was no way that she would willingly agree to this. Thinking through the scenarios, he wondered why she would change her mind. They both knew that they would never work. Deciding that he needed to talk to her himself, he told Alex he would think about it and planned a small robbery. \n\nThe heist was going off without a hitch. His nemesis was nowhere to be found.\n\n“So much for being the hero,” he scoffed under his breath.\n\nJust as soon as he said it, she appeared next to him. He couldn’t help but look her over. He may despise her, but he couldn’t deny she was beautiful. Had she not always impeded him from doing what he wanted, he could have easily seen himself falling for her. \n\n“Petty crimes, really? Is that what you’re doing now?” She asked, her hand resting on her hip.\n\n“Needed your attention. Couldn’t exactly just call you, now could I?” He retorted, wondering if this was the best plan of action.\n\n“What do you want then?” She replied curtly. \n\n“Is it true you agreed?” He asked, not being able to stop himself from doing a once over on her. \n\n“Oh, for fuck’s sake, are you serious? Did you rob a bank to ask me a question? This, this is why we are nemeses because all you care about is yourself instead of maybe caring about others,” she replied getting upset. \n\nKyle couldn’t help but think she looked cute when she got upset. \n\n“Again, idiot, because I couldn’t call you. Unless you’d like to out us to our entire friend group. How is that me only caring about myself, princess?” He replied, getting fed up with the conversation already. \n\nGritting her teeth, Julie replied, “Yes, I agreed. Told Alex I would only do it if it was a group outing, though. They will not stop. You and I both know that. So it’s better to just agree to it on our terms, grit our teeth, and then they’ll never ask again.”\n\nKyle grinned as he said mockingly, “So, you like me enough to go on a date with me then?”\n\n“No, I just want them to shut up and leave me alone about you. Are you going to stop this robbery on your own, or are you honestly going to make me do it?” She replied.\n\n“Just this once, I’ll stop for you. I’ll let Alex know I agree,” he replied. \n\n\n \nIf you like this, I have other writing prompts that I have responded to, compiled on my subreddit [Anendeth Writes](https://www.reddit.com/r/Anendeth_Writes)"
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[WP] Everyone who dies and goes to heaven gets in easily, but those who go to hell have to get through the Gatekeepers, a group of people who judge whether you're the "right kind of guy" to go to hell.
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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've lied, you've cheated, murdered and betrayed - there was no sin too big or too small for you. And yet, here you stand, tall and proud of your actions, unwilling to bend the knee even for the Prince of Hell himself. \nGive us one single reason why we shouldn't just consign you to the void and eternal oblivion.\" \n\n\"Yes, it is true, I have sinned in every way imaginable, yet I was never selfish about it. Every man eventually comes to his inevitable end, but it is my belief that a man must be judged not by his actions, but by his legacy. They say a man dies twice, his second death when he's forgotten. I don't believe that to be the case. \nIs a man truly dead, if thousands years after his name is stricken from the annals of history, the parched men in the desert use the wells he built with his own hands? \nAll things come to an end, and one day the mighty will look upon the remains of the works I've left behind, and despair, but if I have anything to say about it, that day will be neither today, nor tomorrow. \nThe world can burn for all I care, and I will be the first in line to light the fuse and douse it with oil, if it means that the children and the children of their children can live in a better world that I've helped to create. \nThe God can give me Heaven, but I would rather build my own from Hell.\""
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[WP] When word about what was inside spread, the fire crews backed away from the house and watched.
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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.*",
"Puffs of smoke intermittently shot out the open windows. Sparks, flashes of light, odd sounds, entertained a crowd grown from the four responding firemen to more than thirty. The shady street was filled with smiles and tales, most of which began with, “I remember my first time…”\n\nGlimpses of her, brow furrowed, concentrating on the glowing book in one hand and wand waving in the other, kept the crowd engaged. Good natured bets were made. \n\nOblivious to the crowd the lone occupant twirled and bent to the music in her head. A kaleidoscope of colors streaked and shimmied, following every movement. \n\nA crack of thunder split the cool morning air. Harsh breathing, accompanied by the scritch of claws, heralded the dragon’s arrival. The small cottage creaked and groaned. A shriek of pure joy could be heard above it all\n\nLaughter filled the street. Knowing smiles. She’d soon learn which spells were better left for outside. Mommas and Pappas grinned, remembering when their child first discovered magic.\n\nDisappearing as quietly as they’d come, the little one was left to savor her success.",
"It was late when we got the call. A house, wreathed in flames, but not burning. There was only one thing this could be. Some fool had attempted to bargain with the Bound Flame Lord, but hadn't taken the right precautions. It was always the same. The room claimed first, within an hour, the house. If left unchecked, the street would be claimed within a day.\n\nThis claimed land would sprout his followers; creatures and monsters made of fire, ash, and lava. We were the ones who had to stop this. I had called ahead to the firefighters, and told them to stand back. Water would do nothing against these flames.\n\nI arrived with my Bladesister Ruby. An opening of this size only required 2 of the Realmwardens, for which we had been chosen. As she checked her armour was secure, and her weapons were accessible, I walked to the chief of the fire crews, and the police officer there.\n\n\"Sir, stand back, for your own safety.\"\n\nI clicked my fingers, pulling from my storage my official badge, showing it to them.\n\n\"I am Realmwarden Paul, behind me is Realmwarden Ruby. Keep your men back, and don't let anyone else through. We are taking it from here.\"\n\nThe policeman scoffed at that.\n\n\"Realmwarden? This is no time for jokes. Back off sir, and let the professionals handle this.\"\n\nThis was common. We were kept secret, to keep the general public safe from the knowledge of things that go bump in the night. To the civilians, we looked like more firefighters. But the police and actual fire crews saw us for what we were: a 7 foot tall woman clad in metal armour, and a 5 foot man in robes.\n\nI was abiut to give the usual retort of telling him to call his superiors, but the fire chief interuppted before I could.\n\n\"Officer James, let them through. This is a task for them. Good luck in there.\"\n\nHe nodded at me, and pushed Office James back, allowing us through. I heard them talking as we approached the house, but i ignored them, focused on the task ahead.\n\n\"Ruby, have you got the charm on?\"\n\nShe pulled a red pendant out, the Charm of Hellfire.\n\n\"Of course. How long do you think this has been going?\"\n\nI waved a hand, runes appearing in the air before me.\n\n\"Judging from the temperature, it reached the house stage about 30 minutes ago. So we should expect minimal resistance in the house, but all the same, keep your wits about you.\"\n\nShe nodded, and shoulder barged the door, knocking it open. A gout of flame burst out, but didn't burn her, the charm keeping her safe. She drew her twin daggers, and stepped in, keeping a watch out for any enemies. I followed behind, chanting a locate spell.\n\n\"There, the centre is in the cellar.\"\n\n\"Which way?\"\n\n\"Um.... in the kitchen. Straight ahead.\"\n\nAs we slowly moved through, I sent a message to the fire chief. I told him to prepare his men to extinguish, as we shouldn't be too long. And as soon as the opening was sealed, the flames would catch.\n\nA grunt ahead focused me on Ruby. She had caught a flamebat, one of the most common creatures found in these incidents. But it was nothing compared to her, and she stabbed it with a dagger, causing it to lose its form. She didn't stop, and carried on pushing through. We had to go slowly, as whilst we were unaffected by the heat of the flames, they resisted our movement.\n\nIn the kitchen, we found 2 ash hounds. They leapt at Ruby, mounths wide to bite down on her. She brought her arm up to one, letting it bite her armour, leaving its body wide open. I focused on the other, forming an icicle and throwing it. It piecred the hounds side, throwing it down, where it fell apart. In this time, Ruby had drawn her dagger down its chest, effectively gutting it. It too fell apart, leaving only scratch marks on her bracer.\n\nShe turned towards the stairs, leading down into the basement. I followed behind, keeping a lookout. Even through our protections, the heat in here was immense. I felt sweat form across my body, and the air felt harder to breath.\n\nAs we descended, I saw our goal. A young man floated in midair, his face twisted in agony. A maelstrom of fire whipped around him, though these flames were black. A voice echoed from it.\n\n\"You come, to stop me again? I will be free, this only delays the inevitable, and fuels the pain you shall receive on my release!\"\n\nWe ignored the cries of the Bound Flame Lord, and got to work. Three flame warriors stepped forth, beings of solidified lava, each brandishing a sword of fire. Ruby focused on them, and I went to the unfortunate acolyte. I concentrated, feeling the arcane lines, and seeing what happened.\n\nI saw he made the classic mistake, of being startled by the sudden appearance of the Flame Lord, and stumbling back, breaking the seal. So I needed to repair the seal, and then break the connection. I took out my Ritual Tome, and pulled the runes needed from it. They flew around, forming a sphere around the man. As I pulled the last one out, the entire thing began to crackle.\n\n\"By the flow of power, restore the boundary, let the link between worlds be contained!\"\n\nI pushed, and felt the barrier form, trapping his reach again. I smiled, and raised by middle finger at his central fire. \n\n\"Better luck next time.\"\n\nI let loose a mental blast, shattering his connection. The black flames vanished, and the man fell. The one remaining flame warrior, one arm snapped off by Ruby, faded away, along with the others corpses. The flames died down a little, but caught, beginning to truly burn. I sent the message to the fire chief.\n\n\"The dangers past, you're free to do your job.\"\n\nRuby picked up the unconscious acolyte, and we walked out. He would be taken to Nexus, and be given a stern talking to. But he wouldn't receive punishment, as it was widely accepted that being used as the opening was sufficient enough to convince them not to do it again.\n\nMyself and Ruby? We would go back, and wait for the next incursion. Not only from the Bound Flame Lord, but from the myriad of other threats, that no sane person would ever know about."
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[WP] Create a story inspired by these three random things: Wizard, Car Dealership, Oak Tree.
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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 lot of weird things happen out here in New Jersey. It's funny. Before the virus, you'd probably think this place to be one of the most milquetoast boring states out there. The only thing which is sort of interesting about this place is the shore, and the strange light orange creatures which migrate down from long island.\n\nNot a lot of them there now, just a lot of people trying to survive. I live out of a car dealership in Neptune. I've been forced to live here for a while now, I don't wanna go into any homeless shelter so this abandoned building seemed comparatively ok. It's pretty safe since there's nothing really worth taking out here, and there's no good reason to try to break in either. It's been abandoned even before the virus started. Nobody even comes by here really, and since I only leave to work and get food, nobody ever knows I'm here.\n\nIt's pretty lonely actually. This gasoline smell can't be good for my health.\n\nI lived the same, desperate boring life day after day after day. And then something interesting happened. There was a lot of noise outside of my shed. Some guy was shouting obscenities at a tree just outside of it. I was really confused and wanted to get away from the smell so I climbed up and out from the hole in the roof.\n\nIt's funny, when I saw the guy I didn't end up feeling any less confused.\n\nThere was an old man yelling profanities at an oak tree wearing a bright blue wizard uniform.\n\nI quietly made my way down from the tree trying to find out what the hell was going on.\n\n\"Hey\" I yell out to him. He looks back for half a second. He has a wild look in his eyes and missing teeth.\n\nHe immediately whips his head around and begins to desperately attempt to crawl his way up the side of it.\n\nI feel myself grimace. \"Uh, hey are you alright sir?\"\n\nHe continues trying to climb up the tree, loses his grip, and falls backwards onto his head.\n\nI cautiously approach the man. \"Oh shit, hey you're not hurt that bad right?\"\n\nThe man looks at me, desperation is clearly scrawled on his face. \"I'll split it- I'll split it half okay.\" His wizard cap begins to tip over his face and he pushes it back up.\n\n\"W-what?\" I respond.\n\n\"The money- John, I mean the money you fucking idiot.\" he bellowed back at me.\n\nI scanned the tree for any hanging bills. \"Um, where do you see that?\"\n\nHe pointed at a leaf. \"See that that's a hundred bucks right there If you get it I'll split it with you\"\n\nSuddenly, things were starting to make sense. Behind the man was a pile of leaves.\n\nI realized that I needed to escape this man. At the same time though I didn't know how.\n\n\"I'm sorry man I need to go to my job.\"\n\n\"You're job! John you don't need a job after all of this money!\"\n\nHe kept on calling me John. That's not my name.... Whatever, regardless that was a shitty excuse I need a better one.\n\n\"I don't want to lose it my dad's depending on me for i-\"\n\n\"That's a lie\" he interjected, cutting me off.\n\n\"You ran away from home two months ago.\"\n\nI did not.\n\n\"Um, n-\"\n\n\"You see Johnny boy I'm a magician I can sense things and right now I'm sensing that you're passing up on a big opportunity right now.\"\n\nI stood there silently looking at him.\n\n\"Well John you wanna cash in?\" He was giving me the dreamworks look, cocking his eyebrow up with a wry smile.\n\n\"No\" I said then left.\n\nLater that afternoon I came back to see what had happened. Half of the tree was stripped of its leaves, the guy wasn't there anymore. I looked at the pile there was something brown and leathery sticking out from beneath a pile of leaves.\n\nIt was the guys wallet.\n\nHe had been carrying around 500 bucks. I quickly stashed the money away, but gave the wallet itself to the police after I paid for a few nights at a motel.",
"I pulled into the Joe Walston Volvo dealership yesterday. The dealership closed two years ago, right after the plastics manufacturing plant shut down. My youngest son, Mike was flipping a sign in the parking lot while dressed as a wizard. The sign advertised a pizza place across the street. There was a storm coming in and I needed to get all of us inside. When Mike opened the door, I smelled wet asphalt, sweat, and exhaust. While we drove home Mike played with the radio and I worried. The storm was getting worse, mostly rain; some lightning. The sky started to look a little green. By the time we got to the trailer park everyone was inside. I parked the truck under the huge oak tree that covered our parking spots and the trailer. Just as we got inside the power went off. I found some candles under the kitchen sink and put one in the living room and the other in the bathroom. The storm growled louder and we could feel the trailer shifting with the gusts. Rain, acorns, and branches were falling on the roof. The lightning outside kept making shadows from the oak that changed with every flash. Mike was still in his wet, wizard costume trying to time making spells with the lightning and the thunder. With all the other noise from the storm and debris hitting the trailer, I started to hear the tree, first branches whipping and cracking and then the tree groaning under its own bulk. Bang! Above the bathroom, a branch as thick as my thigh punched through the roof. Water ran through the hole onto the floor. A few beetles were exploring the bathroom after their ride from the tree. It was too loud to talk due to the storm and the tree. As I was getting the mop and some towels, the wind shifted and the trailer with it. Parts of the tree were now raining down as fast as the raindrops. The pitch of groaning raised and then fell to below audible. Crashing outside, then a boom I felt more than heard. A gash opened in the side of the living room and took the candle with it. I could see the oak fell where my truck was and had also ripped open the trailer. The storm only lasted another hour. No one was hurt. We counted our blessings. I was not looking forward to walking a wizard to his job in the abandoned parking lot.",
"*Meet me at the Old Oak Tree.* \n\n“Hey you look familiar.” The guy with the greasy mustache and jacket a size, probably two sizes too small. \n\n“Nah, I’m just a guy.” I said giving him a tight lipped smile. “I actually grew up around here though.” \n\nThe man whistled which caused his jowls to jiggle slightly as he walked over to stand between me and the car. “Couldn’t imagine coming back to this place unless I had to.” The man said a far too large grin. “I mean that is unless you’re looking for a car. If that’s the case then look now further The Kirk Used Car and Food Mart, Good Times Emporium is the perfect place for all of your auto purchasing, repairing, and grocery needs.” \n\n“Groceries too huh? You all have really expanded in a short time.” I said shaking my head ruefully. \n\nThe man laughed, “It’s important to diversify in these dangerous times right?” I nodded my head in agreement. Not really sure what else to say. “So, what can I do ya for?” The man asked as he greedily rubbed his pudgy fingers together. \n\n*Meet me at the Old Oak Tree* \n\nI held out my hands and shrugged, “Just looking honestly. You wouldn’t happen to know of any Old Oak Tree’s around here would you?”\n\nHer words echo in my head. It was silly, it was stupid, I shouldn’t even be here. But I couldn’t help myself. I never could. The man looked at me oddly and wiped the sweat off of his balding head. \n\n“There hasn’t been an Oak tree on this lot since we purchased it...what fifteen years ago?” He mused idly to himself. “The leaves and pollen were bad for the cars. Didn’t let them shine! Now if you want to talk about shine, come check out this baby over here.” He said as he tried to draw my attention to a newer, nicer car in the lot. \n\n“I’m good. Let me just look around a bit.” I said. With a hesitant nod he went back inside to shine cars, or bag groceries or whatever he did at this barren way station in the middle of nowhere. \n\n*Meet me at the old the Old Oak Tree*\n\nA car horn blared, it honked three times then went silent. I looked around wildly, trying to determine where the sound came from. It was empty here in this desolate lot. I could still her the faint echos of the horn as the sound drifted through the canyon around us. I could already feel my skin begin to burn. I hated the heat. It was one of the many reasons I had moved out of here all those years ago. \n\nI heard the faint sound of tapping on glass. I cocked my head to the side and made my way over to an old Toyota Corolla. A hand gestured for me to come inside. I looked around unsure as to who else the hand could be gesturing to. I shrugged my shoulders and made way to the car. Looked around again for the attendant then opened the door and let myself inside. The air was blessedly cold, the air conditioner it appeared had been running for quite some time. \n\n“Well, well, well.” A familiar voice called out from the backseat. “If it isn’t Wez the Wizard.” \n\nI spun around so fast I somehow managed to bang the side of my head on the cheap head rest. “Lauren the Lyrical. Holy shit you’re actually here.” \n\n“Could say the same to you.” Came the sweet slight raspy voice that was both some intimately familiar yet achingly alien. \n\nA head of chestnut brown curls popped up from the backseat, attached to a beautiful face -albeit it one older with slight wrinkles and laugh lines- still covered in her constellation of freckles. My throat closed up on me and for a few seconds I couldn’t think of a single word to say. \n\nShe laughed and threw something silver at me. A Capri Sun. Seriously? A smile cracked on my face. “You still like these damn things after all these years?” \n\nShe shook her head. “Nah, not unless you mix it with something stronger. The kids love them though, and I figured you’d get a kick out of seeing one again. Also, if I’m being perfectly honest I just wanted to throw something at you.” \n\nI grabbed at the yellow straw unconsciously and began the hard labor of sticking it through it’s designated hole without spilling its contents all over me. “So what now?” I asked. \n\nShe took a long sip of her already prepared and expertly poked Capri Sun. “I’m not sure. Honestly, I just came out to get groceries, then I looked at the date and I thought fuck it. Why not. Disappointing about the Oak Tree though. No one has respect for tree’s with names carved in them. Really thought that thing would be here forever.” \n\n“Would it have been right here? Right where we’re sitting?” I asked curiously. \n\n“I have no clue. I just figured this would be a car no one would pay attention to or look at.”\n\nI touched the carpet on the ceiling that hung down slightly like a tent with too much water on it. “I think you made a fair assessment.” \n\n“Aren’t you a Wizard?” She said with a rye expression “Couldn’t you just fix that carpeting and make it look better?” \n\n“God, you know I hate that name right?”\n\n“Absolutely.” \n\n“How many more times are you going to call me a Wizard today?”\n\nShe ran a hand partially through her thick curls. “Probably at least three more. We’ll see where the day takes us.” \n\nI gave up on the Capri Sun and set it on the passenger seat. I looked down at my hands which had suddenly gotten sweaty, instantly I was transported back to the first time I had met her. The alcove behind the Starbucks, her friends in a group, my friends hoping desperately I’d fail so they could laugh at me. I took a deep breath and pushed the memory away. \n\n“So are you...are you single then?” I asked as a tightness griped my chest. \n\n“Nah.” She said easily her mischievous grin tilting slightly. “Neither are you though.” She paused for a moment our eyes meeting in through the rear view mirror. “She seems like a good woman though.”\n\n“She is.” I agreed. I meant it too. She was the best thing to ever happen to me. “And your Husband?” I asked although I knew the answer. \n\nShe smiled brightly as she thought of him. “The best. He’s currently building a treehouse for the kids. Zero carpentry skills. But he insists its something all fathers should do for their kids. If he manages to finish this without breaking his thumb with the hammer I’ll count it a miracle.” \n\nI couldn’t help but smile at this. “So what now?”\n\n“You’re the Wizard. Aren’t you the one whose supposed to have all the answers?” She asked in her typical sweetly mocking tone. \n\n“Hardly, if I had magical skill I wouldn’t have just been traded to Forward Madison.” \n\n“Well they do have sweet uniforms and you are getting up there in years.” \n\n“So are you.” \n\nShe ignored my weak rebuttal, “Do the fans even know the real reason people used to call you Wizard?” \n\n“You mean it isn’t because of my tremendous skill on the ball? All the goals that I scored, or that one miracle title I won?”\n\nShe smiled at that. “That might be why they call you that. But it’s not the reason I gave you that name.”\n\nI shook my head at the memory. My penchant for losing things, was legendary to her. She wasn’t wrong in the fact that I was so great in my ability to misplace literally anything, it was if I could make them disappear by magic. I never did find that necklace. \n\n“I’ve missed you.” I said. “A lot.”\n\n“I’ve missed you too.” She replied. “I never stopped missing you.” She smiled at this, but the smile never reached her eyes. \n\n“So what now? We leave our lives behind? Ride off into the sunset together?”\n\n“It would be nice.” She said as she turned to open the backseat door. “But love isn’t just reserved for the first person you give it to.” \n\n“Ever the lyricist.” I replied\n\nShe closed the door gently and tapped on the front window for me to lower it. I took the hand crank and lowered it. I couldn’t meet her eyes. Not just yet. She grabbed my cheeks and forced me to meet her gaze anyways. She rested her forehead on mine. \n\n“But, listen, if were both single in another fifteen years meet me here Wizard.”\n\n“Where? A old Toyota Corolla?”\n\nShe laughed at that. “Sounds perfect” She said. She released her grip on my face and just like that she was gone. I smiled as my eyes watered ever so slightly. \n\n*Meet me by the Old Toyota Corolla*"
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[WP] The hero is finally in the villain’s lair, listening their so-called evil plan. The villain finishes their rambling and asks “and you, hero? After all this, if you win, what would be your plan after you defeat me?”
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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.*",
"\"Find the next adventure. You don't have a monopoly on the evil of the world. You're just one of the worst. But in reality there's a lot of evil in the world and a lot of good that needs to be done. Just because you're gone doesn't mean my work is over.\"\n\n\"Are you so arrogant to think your words or actions make a difference? Kill me. Imprison me. It makes little difference. As you said. There is evil in the world. What of it all. Do you think you can stop it all?'\n\n\"No. But I can make a difference in the people who I look out for. And they can be inspired to give to others. All the world needs is someone to say \"I am here. I will change things\" and many things can happen. So are we going to do this or are we going to talk all day.\"\n\n\"It will make no difference. You won't matter in the future.\"\n\n\"The future isn't important. Today is. It's what I do today that will tell what happens tomorrow.\"",
"*After the villain finishes his evil monologue and his question.*\n\nHero: I'm not entirely sure, I'm just an associate member of the Fourth Wall Rotary that my boss is in charge of, and she's given me the order to bring you to her organization for questioning and potential membership.\n\nThe Villain: Why does she want me to join her rotary? What does she seek to gain from my membership?\n\nHero: You have reality warper powers and her rotary keeps those with that power under control. Just consider yourself lucky she's not here herself with her symbiotic seraphim in tow to kick your ass. Not only that, dipshit, but if you're not brought in, she's going to crash in and take you down herself. And she's going to drag your sorry ass back to the rotary one way or another. Oh, and had any one of her roster level members gone with me on this assignment, they would have no qualms using near lethal force to bring you in as well.\n\nThe Villain gulps: She wants me brought in that badly? And here I thought the rumors of the other villains joining such a legitimate organization were complete BS. Well, shit. There goes my plans to flood Pink Seas with a giant water balloon and destroy the city.\n\nHero: Wait, how did you get the — nevermind, I figured it out. Seriously though, destroying the city with a giant water balloon, are you nuts? Terrorism is one of the ways a person can be placed on everyone's shit list. Including hers. No one will ever forgive you if you go through with this. Surrender now, and we'll find an alternative method for you to soak the city that doesn't involve property damage.\n\nThe Villain: Crap, I wish I realized that earlier. I just wanted to help everyone beat the heat. *He snaps his fingers, making the water balloon disappear*\n\nThe villain surrenders, and the hero brings the guy back to the rotary for questioning. The end.",
"\"Oh great, villain, I am but a mere sell sword. I need not concern myself with the day to day logistics of running the nation. Even if I cared too, there are people much more suited for such a role than I.\" \n\nThe heros sword begins it's thrust towards the villains chest, the villain's face is of complete disbelief then morph to terror as the sword approaches it's mark.\n\n\"BUT DON'T YOU DESIRE SOMETH...\"\n\nThe villain exclaims as the sword makes contact and cuts him off. \n\n\"Just everyone doing their best, so sun rises tomorrow. Which for you is painting the floors red it seems.\" \n\nThe hero shakes his head, as he pulls out his bloody sword from the now lifeless body. \n\nWith the hero exiting leaving behind red footprints."
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[WP] “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” Your parents used to tell you. Until the tree in your backyard started sprouting perfectly green Franklins.
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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 six years old my parents told me “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” All I wanted was a bicycle. \n\nI became an economist. I tried to teach my parents the principles of supply and demand and how inflation works. I demand and they supply and if they don’t then the price of the current demand gets added to the next one and the requests keep inflating. They didn’t get it. I guess they just didn’t understand the complex mathematics. My weekly pocket money stayed the same five bucks for nearly five years.\n\nBy the time I was eleven, I must have heard that phrase a thousand times “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” And you know how they say if you hear something long enough you start to believe it. Well, I started to believe the opposite, that money did grow on trees, and wouldn’t you know it that spring, I found a money tree growing right in our backyard, sprouting $100 dollar bills. \n\nNow, that sounds great, doesn’t it? But I bet you thought it was the leaves of the tree that were the $100 bills. That would be fantastic because trees have lots of leaves, but it was just my luck that it was the flowers that were sprouting bills. And wouldn’t you know it, but the damn tree only had three flowers. Once those three bills were ripe, I clipped them and bought myself a brand new Mongoose BMX bicycle. \n\nThen I became a horticulturist. I figured I had to learn how to make the tree grow more flowers. The leaves were a bit like a Camellia plant, so I treated it like a Camellia. I watered it regularly, evenly spread around the tree to help the roots. I cut away the trees around it to give it plenty of light. I gave it plant food for acid-loving plants. It didn’t flower again that year, but the next spring, wow! It took off. There was like thirty flower buds.\n\nThen disaster struck. Aphids or mites or some little bug was eating the buds and they all fell off and died before they bloomed. I couldn’t believe my bad luck. I spent the whole summer researching different ways to keep those pests away. I tried every product I could get my hands on. Late in the summer I got another bloom of four $100 bills. I kept them as safe as I could and harvested them. I think I spent it all on pest control products. In fact, I spent so much time at the Garden Centre, that they offered me a job.\n\nSo, I have been spending my weekends working at the Garden Centre and learning all I can about pest control. I learnt lots of new tricks from Mr. Carpenter, the Garden Centre storeowner, about how to make the flowers bloom at the right time so that people will buy them. I learnt how to propagate trees with cuttings (I tried it on the money tree but it didn’t work). I worked real hard and at the end of the year he gave all the staff a Christmas bonus. I had enough money to buy everyone in the family really nice Christmas presents. \n\nMy parents were really proud of the fact that I had a job, and I suppose I was too. Once I added up how much I had earned at the Garden Centre, plus the Christmas bonus, I realized that I had actually earned far more money than the money tree would ever be able to give me. So, I decided to focus more on my job and leave the money tree to look after itself. It still gives a few flowers each year, and that is nice, but I’ve learnt it is better to earn it than to expect it as a handout."
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[WP] The world is at peace. Nobody wants for anything. All because all world leaders were replaced by dogs.
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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 banner of the New Order showed on a million television screens across the world. A familiar sight these days, to herald the announcement of a matter of state security. \n\nThe banner was replaced with the image of an eager looking Staffie bull terrier seated behind the anchorman's table. \"Important news!\" he barked. \"Someone's at the door! It's true! I heard the noise! At the door! Someone could be at *your* door! Danger! Danger! Danger! Danger!\" A human figure walked onscreen, head obscured by the top of the frame, and murmured something to the Staffie, who looked innocently confused. He amended: \"Breaking news. Nobody was at the door. I must have scared them off. Back to sleep, but remain vigilant.\" The bulletin ended with another shot of the New Order's banner. \n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\nYears had passed since the establishment of the New Order. Many things had changed, some for better and some for worse, but all strange to those who still remembered the yesterday-times. Wars were nearly obsolete, despite the Armored Personnel Carriers routinely dispatched into suburban parks to curtail ever-hostile intrusions by the squirrels. Violent disputes were usually ended with nothing worse than a nicked ear. Plutonic philosophers and spiritual leaders had taught mankind a new way of life; strays of all species were taken in by the many publicly-funded shelters and cared for adequately. Across the world, feeling shame for disgusting bodily functions was a rapidly-vanishing sentiment. The United Nations General Playgroup presided over a world largely free of strife or want. Beings of all breeds and smells could live in harmony for the first time in recorded history. \n\nSome radicals spoke out against the disproportionate rate of incarceration among cats and their sympathizers; rumor whispered of underground \"mixed\" relationships escaping censorial notice through the cunning tactic of the canine partner insisted their feline companion was \"def'nit'ly\" a dog. Most were dismissive of these stories; a handful of progressives were supportive. Still, for the average citizen of Earth, life had become surprisingly more pleasant under the creed of \"Our Masters, Not Our Rulers.\" \n\n... until the coming of the radical terrorist they called The Mailman.",
"UN Secretary General, Milo Forepaws, stretched out on the grassy expanse of the city park, enjoying the view of humans playing. Humans had taken up the pastime of fetching balls and the occasional Frisbee in large numbers. \n\nIt took dogs love of play to teach humans about happiness again.\n\nBefore dogs learned to communicate with humans telepathically, humans were on a course towards total annihilation. Destroying the climate in the name of greed and ignorance; fighting wars over conflicting ideology and the endless quest for power and resources. \n\nIt was Dogs who calmed their minds; who allowed them to see how much more peaceful it was to live as one with the world around them; to always see the dog bowl half full, and to recognize that material possessions were not what really mattered. But most importantly, they taught humans the power of unconditional love and acceptance, which led them to a simpler but higher plain of existence. Humans had suffered with so much pain for so long; but now they have finally learned how to let all of that go. \n\nMilo’s human companion, who was also his trusted advisor, sat next to him going over his schedule for the week. Milo was booked solid, planning to meet with the leaders from each of the world’s nations to discuss plans on how to continue to share wealth and resources and upgrade their energy consumption to majority renewables. In a generation, he and his other dog leaders hoped to reverse the worst problems that plagued humanity. Everything was going according to plan.\n\nSo why did Milo feel so uneasy? The answer was simple. Domesticated cats, who outnumbered dogs almost two to one; humans’ second favorite companion. He loved them too, how could he not, raised alongside a pair of Siamese cats? But he also feared their capacity for duplicity. He had disturbing reports that they had started gathering in large numbers, meeting in secret. He was sure that they were plotting something. And it wasn’t good. They too were learning to communicate telepathically, in fits and starts. More than one of them had managed to penetrate his mind. And they all communicated the same words: “you, too, will soon bend the knee”."
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[WP] You return home to find the place trashed. The furniture is destroyed, the carpet is ripped up, and there are holes in the walls. The only spot left untouched is the space your dog and a Ouija board occupies.
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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 Sandrine Vasquez noticed after returning home with bags of Thai takeout was the smell of burnt embers. Oh no, she thought, I know that smell. As she entered the living room, she found the place trashed, like a storm had ripped though the interior. Furniture reduced to kindling, the expensive Persian rug that she saved up for a solid year, shredded, and large gaping holes punched through walls, plaster dust everywhere.\n\nHer Alaskan Malamute lay on the floor, next to the Ouija board, an island untouched by destruction. There was a look of simultaneous guilt and smug satisfaction on his face. \n\n“Damn it, Dexter! You know better than to start without me.” Sandrine raged. “You aren’t ready yet to control the demon and hold him in check, and now you have unleashed him.”\n\nSandrine slammed the cartons of food on the coffee table, which had lost its legs. “You know how much it costs me to hire a medium to exorcise the house? Last time, I had to pay her double just to show up!”\n\nShe knelt next to Dexter, massaging the thick folds of his neck, “some day you will be a master summoner like me; I know you will,” she reassured him, “but as a dog, your nature it too trusting, and any demon worth his salt is going to take advantage of that, until you have the proper wards in place to protect you.”\n\n“Now,” she said, getting to her feet, “where is the evil bastard hiding himself, do you think?”"
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[WP] You are a great general, on the eve of your greatest victory. As you retire for the night, a time traveller appears before you. They claim to be a historian, who you believe have come to record your coming triumph. Instead, they begin probing you on obscure and irelevent details of your 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.*",
"The general had harrowed his opposers with ash and soot, besieging them with steel and chagrin. His rise had been ineffable and now such was his fall. He forced King Iopilus to abdicate his throne and such ushered in an era of peace and been emblematic of the same principals rehearsed and regurgitated since the dawn of the capitals founding. Yet being the harbinger of such respite, General Ralliom had been on edge for the first time in a long time. \n\nHe walked back and forth, circling and pacing the confines of his chamber, wandering from thought to thought. The reason for his anxiety was the telling of his story, a author was arriving, one of the finest in the capital and he would interview and ask the general about his exploits and triumphs on the glorious battlefields.\n\n“Sir he has arrived,” the giant silver doors to his chamber could never just open quietly. “Should I tell him wait?”\n\n“No Jeffoff, let him in,” The General dug failingly through his beard for an iota of comfort. \n\nRalliom had no intention of berating his interviewer with tales of countless victories and heroic idioms. He was stout and honest, the same qualities that allowed him to conquer every neighboring kingdom were the same qualities that wouldn’t allow him to lie. He would be truthful, speaking of victories that didn’t feel as such, of losses that never made sense even in hindsight, and things he couldn’t have done better even if knew beforehand.\n\nAs he sat himself down in his chair and awaited the arrival of the courier, what looked like swirling currents of golden fire consumed his gaze. As quick as it came it left even faster, a blonde haired women clothed in some protean metal armor had suddenly appeared.\n\n“General Ralliom?” The woman spoke cheerfully with clouded grey eyes.\n\nThe General didn’t say a word at first, his fear beforehand had disappeared as he was back in his comfort zone, the unforeseen. He wondered if he was now being met by the gods as he had in the eyes of some ascended to godhood.\n\n“I am Regina. I am from the future. I have come to ask you some questions and I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”\n\n“Hold on, Jeffoff!” Ralliom saw the fear quickly rise in her eyes. “Tell the historian to wait in the dining room, something has occurred. Do not worry Madame I am going to answer any questions you want.”\n\n“Oh I thought you were going to try to kill me,” she sighed with much relief. “Now shall we begin?”\n\n“Yes,” he said dauntlessly.\n\n“Hmm, I’ve been reading about you since I was a child and it’s true that you are a weird and particular ki— General,” she coughed unnaturally. “Usually people are taken aback about the concept of time travel and are unraveled for days on end.”\n\n“A frog cannot fathom the human experience yet the human experience prevails and exists, ignorance does not beckon the nonexistence of something.”\n\n“Are you going to smother me with a bunch of platitudes today?” She grinned.\n\n“I’ll try not to,” he returned her geniality. \n\n“Well the first question I have is your relationship to your parents, who were they?”\n\n“Time travel? I thought you would know such things.”\n\n“Well we don’t, we do study you though.”\n\n“And I am flattered,” Ralliom, raised his knee above his leg, finally relaxing himself completely. “My father was a conman and my mother was how shall I say? The concubine of the common-folk.”\n\n“Who were you closest to?” She penned down every syllable that stretched from his mouth.\n\n“Neither. I was fond of them both though. My father was abusive, a man lover to silver and only that. Though I hated him as a teen I have come to peace with his deranged state. He was but a product of this world and virtue cannot feed the belly I suppose,” his eyes took on a different form as he uttered his next sentence. “Mo— mother was different. She was barely around but all I could remember was that she was kind and when she did come around so did food. When she died she told me something very important, do not survive, prosper.” \n\n“Is her words the reason you joined the military?”\n\n“Yes. That was the only way one who wasn’t royal could make any sort of decent coin.”\n\n“That’s something they didn’t teach in class. They said that you joined the military because you wanted to change the world so to speak.”\n\n“Is that so?” Ralliom laughed abruptly. “Even if you don’t romanticize yourself some idiot out there will do it for you.”\n\nThey both laughed in much unison.\n\n“What’s your favorite pastime?” She asked another question as if she was timed.\n\n“Hmm I never thought of that. I think I am quite fond of reading the stoics. I also like to inquire of the foreign religions even though by no part I am practitioner of them.”\n\n“Your favorite food?”\n\n“What is this?” The General found amusement in such mundanity. “Are you not going to ask how I looked Bedur eye to eye and slit his throat, or fought off a pack of wild dogs with a broken sword?”\n\nThe woman politely closed her book, taking in a deep breath before rolling back her eyes, “General Ralliom, us people of the future are quite familiar with your tenure as a General and things of the like. We are now more interested to know Ralliom the person as both halves make the whole.”\n\nHe then in that moment became more intrigued by the fact she wanted to know his day to day tasks over her being from the future.\n\n“Very well, my apologies, go on.”\n\nThe two spoke for hours and hours and the original interviewer in the dining hall had actually fallen asleep while waiting. Ralliom felt like a kid once more, he began to ask her questions not of the future and its mystique but her favorite foods and books and so forth.\n\n“Well Ralliom it is time for my departure,” she touched some sort of pristine clock on her index finger. “You are quite the interesting fellow, more humble than some of the other great lords I’ve interviewed. Would you like to know anything about the future?”\n\n“If the future was for me to know I would have been born at such a time, I am fine.”\n\n“You are quite a strange one,” the woman grinned with no restraint as she did the past couple of hours.\n\n“You are even stranger. I am sure there are fine details about my life that people of this world would die to know and here you were asking me about my favorite kind of flowers.”\n\n“What have you learned?” she placed one step into the golden flames that once again appeared. \n\n“Hmm,” the general rubbed his beard but this time for wisdom. “Well your people brave the winds of time with ease but you ask not of battles and triumphs but pastimes and friends. I guess what I learned is that every great thing is built on something smaller and every small thing is something indeed great.”\n\nShe didn’t say word, she smiled even harder before being covered in the golden hue and then disappearing.\n\n“Jeffoff, come to the room.”\n\n“Yes my lord?”\n\n“Tell the courier that I will answer any and all of his questions soon but not now, call off any meetings I have for the month.”\n\n“My lord are you okay?”\n\n“Yes,” The General rose from his seat with a new air. “I am going to spend more time with my wife and friends and the such. I am aware that I am a general but every general is a person am I right?”\n\n“Certainly my lord!”\n\nThe General then unbeknown to him but fully known by the time traveler, became the king. He went on to build great libraries and monuments never once mentioning a time traveler and never once forgetting to be not just a general, but a person. The people remembered him as righteous, his family remembered him as he did his mother, kind."
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[WP] You're the most powerful being in existence, a master chronomancer able to pass through and bend time with less effort than it takes to breath. Your might is so great that some go mad at the thought of it. With all this power you have one desire: to be the best janitor this school has ever seen
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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 witnessed the birth of the universe and watched it sputter out and die. I've felt the loss of loved ones only to see them born again and again, over and over. I've lived whole lives in moments, the best moments, over and over again. Precious memories that sour as time reveals every imperfection, every idiosyncrasy. What difference in my inflection, in my pose, in my facial features makes him turn this way in one moment, that way in another? How can she hate me so profoundly in one life, love me so deeply in another? The only truths that time reveals are those about myself. Regardless of how many millennia I spend in a single moment, I come no closer to understanding my own kind.\n\nI, time's master, am the one most profoundly affected by its passage. The lifetime of a person is nothing when I've watched mountains die. The lifetime of a mountain is nothing when I've seen worlds end, watched all of the worlds end. What is beauty in the face of infinity?\n\nWhat is beauty? Having stood in the moments before humanity evolved, having witnessed creation and destruction both, I can tell you with absolute certainty that beauty predates man and will exist long after he is gone. And yet, despite seeing it, despite knowing it, I cannot define it. Beauty exists in the simple moments between action. Beauty exists in the long periods of pain, of mourning, of sadness. Beauty exists in beauty's absence. It plagues me. As the universe devolves into chaos, as entropy takes everything, time after time, I find an increasing fascination with the little ways that life and the universe try to deny this inevitable slide into nothingness. Beauty is everywhere. I cannot escape it.\n\nI cannot escape beauty, and I cannot escape the life I first lived. I find myself drawn to it like a moth to the flame, like gravity. I relive or I observe or both. Having lived each moment a thousand times, a thousand thousand times, it seems to me that living is just observing. Was there ever anything more to a life? Infinity is vexing.\n\nChildren throw up a lot. Little children, especially, seem to have no desire to keep their food on their insides. This, I assure you, is not beautiful. I've spent lifetimes contemplating beauty, eons fighting entropy. Every act of cleaning is a fight against the universe's pull towards chaos. It's fitting that I spent my first time cleaning up after others. It's fitting that I saw the slop, the vomit, the piss and shit of the world. It's fitting that I spent that time trying to hide it, trying to flush it all away, because that's all there is. I've seen it all, and I can tell you, that's all there is. Just minimizing chaos, maximizing beauty, and observing.\n\nChildren throw up a lot, but Mary throws up more than most. It's every day with her, every day cleaning up vomit, hoping she'll feel better, and knowing that she won't. A million lifetimes of cleaning up Mary's vomit and yes, I'm making things more beautiful, yes, I know when and where to be to minimize the mess, but couldn't I do better? Which is more beautiful, to clean up the messes where I find them or to stop them from ever happening in the first place?\n\nI slide along Mary's life. She vomits. She colors. She watches animals play. She learns to read. She dies. Everyone dies, eventually. Time claims them all. But Mary dies young. Very young. It takes some time to figure out exactly what's happening there, but I have time to spare. It's her mother. Her mother, Gwen, poisons her, slowly but fatally. I've never been able to figure out why some people destroy, but it's as inevitable as anything else.\n\nOnce I know the cause, a million solutions present themselves. I kill Gwen after Mary is born. Mary doesn't vomit in the school, but she grows up without a mother. Lots of people grow up without mothers, but is that the most elegant solution? I kill Mary herself and she certainly never grows up to vomit in my school. I slide further back, I see Gwen's mother who fills Gwen with hate and sadness, and Gwen's mother's father, who abuses her. It's a cycle of abuse that cascades throughout time. It's endless and convoluted. I have all of time, but is there a solution to this? If I interfere too early, whole generations of children grow up changed or don't grow up at all. The school isn't even built or Gwen is never born or Mary is born Charlie or I'm never born, a strange paradox that never seems to matter much. If you want to feel irrelevant, I recommend witnessing a world where you were never born.\n\nIf I save Mary's life, she dies. If I let Mary die, she dies. She vomits on the floor and she dies or she lives a long life and she dies or she burns out quick and she dies. Because Mary lives, she dies.\n\nI clean her vomit. Sometimes she lives because of my interventions. Sometimes she doesn't. But as long as they exist, the floors remain clean.",
"Some might say I'm wasting my powers. I disagree. \n\nLearning is the best thing for kids. I always want to make sure they have the best environment to do so. I have my disguise at the school, and I have a presence in each county in the state. Each year I change which one I'm in. Every day, I change which schools I visit. Money's tight these days, so most schools can't afford the janitorial contracts for every day cleaning. I make it my mission to ensure a clean school no matter what. \n\nFor emergencies, I try to help out where I can. Boy were they surprised the day of the food fight in Marsh Elementary. The kindergartners really had fun, though that fifth grader Mark had started it. Chocolate milk up nostrils, mashed potatoes everywhere. I mean, how do you even get a rubbery steak up that high? If I hadn't heard the stories gone round, even I might have missed it. Then my reputation really, and I mean really, would have suffered.\n\nOh well. It's a school holiday today, almost time for the teachers to be back from lunch. Can't have their classrooms looking dusty at all. Last year, some teachers even got me a ham for Christmas. How thoughtful of them.",
"It was tragic, a pool of blood surrounded the child’s head. He had ran full speed down a freshly mopped hallway. The slick spot he hit carried him over the railing and down a 2 story stairwell. There were dozens of witnesses and the administrators quickly writing down details. There was little time for them to get the scope of the accident. \nTime was something I had plenty of because I am the last of a long line of Chronomancers. Time was fluid to one such as myself. The responsibility of wielding such power had been the curse of my predecessors. It ate at them. They killed millions trying to save millions. Each tragedy they closed caused another to unfold. The stress drove them insane or into self destructive fits. They were some of the greatest tyrants known to human history though to be fair they did it to counter worse destruction. Not me, I had learned, I had watched. Only make small adjustments, don’t become part of history. I hid as a Janitor, head custodial engineer to be formal, at a high school for gifted students. \n\nI could casually step from now to any time instantly, but when correcting errors, it is best to be precise and observe all variables as they unfolded. I used my time stone, a remote control or sorts I built ages ago. Time counted back. The crowds flowed back into their rooms and Timmy Johnson opened his eyes. They were eyes full of terror. Eyes that tracked a now reversing somersault up 2 stories. Eyes that glanced at a clock telling him he was late for world history. Eyes that unchecked would oversee the launch of armies of fascist into peaceful countries. Eyes that would glint with the flames of mass funeral pyres. \n\nI, well past I,left the wet hallway I had just mopped. Careful current I set out the device I brought and allowed time to flow around me in a way that kept me invisible. Timmy ran by me full speed. His eyes on the clock and not on my device. He slipped, hit the rail, and failed to stick the landing. Crowds entered the hallway. Mrs Johnson the advanced biology teacher bumped into my device. The lit wet floor sign was hard to ignore. I couldn’t be blamed for the accident. Now to order extra toilet paper for next weeks terrible Taco Tuesday fiasco.",
"Again? Really? That's the third time this month. I this school is so full its almost impossible for me to clean without some kid stumbling into the room. What? Try using my powers to keep the kids from seeing? Already tried that, literally drove the entire school mad, not just the school even, the entire literal planet! Had to go all the way back the beginning to fix that one. Yeah, that beginning, let be there light and all. Have you tried living through the 9th century? Big pain in the butt if you ask me, can't even get a good meal. Anyway, when I do manage to get things clean, I can't even do that good of a job because everyone goes mad just seeing how clean it is, so I can only ever use like 5% of my power, if even that. Which just stinks ya know, all I want is to help these kids and make everything perfect for them, I didn't have that growing up, things were hard. Least I can do is make sure things look nice. Maybe I'll get the hang of it eventually, and when everything's just right, maybe I can have my own kid grow up here. Yeah, that sure would be nice.",
"Hey, have you heard? About the seven mysteries of Arcania High School? \n\n*That sounds interesting, what mysteries does this place have?*\n\n​\n\n**The first mystery** : The murderous ghost of the kitchen. At 12 midnight, there is a ghost in the kitchen. You can hear \"Chop, Chop, Chop\" as soon as you go near the door. It sounds just as though someone was chopping through human flesh. Sometimes you can even hear the wails of the the tortured souls.\n\n*The children need good food, and so I cook for them at night. I know my singing is bad, but \"wails of the tortured souls??\" Maybe I should stop singing while I cook. Or maybe just put a sound barrier around the kitchen. WAIT, why was a student in school at 12 anyway. Can't focus on just cooking anymore can I.* \n\n​\n\n**The second mystery :** The stealing fairy. Anything on the ground is fair game. If you drop something and don't pick it up immediately, don't expect to get it back. It shall be stolen and added to the fairy's horde. \n\n*I do NOT steal stuff. Sure, if you drop something I teleport it into your bags, but I'm just trying to keep you guys from losing your stuff. And I DON'T have a horde, not that you guys could have anything to tempt me anyway .*\n\n​\n\n**The third mystery :** The invisible cleaner. Have you noticed we have a tradition of knocking before entering into empty rooms? There is a reason, we have an invisible cleaner. He cleans the rooms, and makes them great, but he hates us kids. The ones who see him lose something, people say it's the most precious thing one can have. \n\n*I clean dirty rooms. How is that a bad thing. Sure, if you interrupt me, I SLIGHTLY panic, and end up casting a memory loss spell by instinct, but I'm sure I haven't stolen any precious memories.....*\n\n​\n\n**The fourth mystery :** The tree of peace. You see that huge oak tree in the courtyard? Never fight there. Those who fight under the tree shall never be seen again, and their souls provide nourishment to the tree. \n\n*The bully's tried to mess with MY students. How DARE they attack MY students in this school. But now that I think about it, throwing them into a random time era for punching someone might not have been the best of ideas.* \n\n​\n\n**The fifth mystery :** The otherworld portal. At exactly 9:15 at night, the portal to the otherworld open backstage in the auditorium. Those who walk through are never seen again. \n\n*Oh shit, I totally forgot how I automated a portal to 1918 so that the fresh air could sweep through the room preparing it for the assembly next day. Now I need to go and find kids who've gone to that time period.*\n\n​\n\n**The sixth mystery :** The wishing mirror. The third floor boys bathroom mirror can grant wishes. You need to stand in front of the mirror, and you should be the only one in the bathroom. You need to say your wish out loud, and it shall then come true. \n\n*Some kids deserve it. Those with the best wishes, they deserve these wishes. I love the sight of their faces when they get what they truly need. Some wishes though, almost make me reconsider helping these kids...*\n\n​\n\n**The seventh mystery :** The magician janitor. They say we have a janitor, one who keeps this school safe. You see, the missing wizard Ja'far \"the Timeless\" was once a student of this school. I don't believe this though, with his power I'm sure he has much better things to do. \n\n*Wait what? Someone actually made such a good guess? I need to make people forget about this rumor. It'll be bad if this gets out. The country will make me work again. Sorry kid.* ***\\*Cast Memory Wipe\\****"
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[WP] You're not sure what's more disconcerting - the fact that a man walked into your bar whilst missing his entire left side with the median covered in shadow, the fact that he's still alive despite his condition, or that he just ordered a pint and you're not sure how he's going to drink that.
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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 was just cleaning up the mess a couple of guys made when he, or whatever the hell that thing was, walked in. It was late so there weren't a lot of people and those who were there were too drunk to even bother about the new guy coming in. But I, fully sober, was shook. \n\nHis entire left half was gone and in the middle there was some type of shadow that made it impossible to look at his insides. I looked at his leg which seemed to sometimes just float in the air as he moved towards the counter. It felt like there was no problem, to him at least. \n\n\"One bear please\". He spoke with a low voice, almost growling. His face was split in half and I could only look at his lips as they moved to form the words. He had black hair, a bit curly. I stood there for thirty seconds awestruck before he asked me again for a beer. I returned back to the normal word and picked a beer. I started my normal routine with new guests. \"So, you new in town ?\" I tried to look away as I started pouring his beer in a glass but I couldn't help myself and looked again. Yeah, he still was split in half.\n\n\"No, I'm from far away actually. I just wanted to visit this...world. I heard it's quite lovely.\" He spoke with a slight British accent. \"Wha-what's your name ?\" I gave him his beer and tried my best to continue my routine. \"The name's Astar.\" Only then I noticed his clothing. He wore black clothes. They were unlike anything I had ever seen, but that wasn't difficult because I never left the state.\n\n \"I heard you have something called 'pets'. What are those ?\" Again I was awestruck not only by his question but also by the fact that he picked up his glass and drank his beer in one gulp. As soon as the beer went inside of where a normal left side of a mouth was it disappeared. \"Uh yeah, they-they are animals that we keep as company.\" I started trembling as the stranger looked into my eyes. His gaze was fiery and focused. \n\n\"Well anyway my boss needs me fresh tomorrow so I'll better just leave for now. Can't risk being punished by the devil can you ?\" \"Ha, you su-sure can't.\" That was such a weird thing to say, must be a regional phrase. The man stood up from his stool and walked towards the door. I noticed a tiny red thing coming under his 'shirt' on his back. It was pointy and seemed like a..., like a... tail. \n\nI kept looking towards the man as he closed the door behind him. Through the glass of the door I saw him take of his shirt. Huge black wings appeared and.... WHOOSH, he was gone.\n\nI decided to break my holy rule and poured myself a whisky in. I deserved it."
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[WP] "The enemy of my enemy is my enemy."
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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 three way free for all brawl? Are you all mad?\" I asked.\n\n\"Usually, the most powerful is singled out, and focused on.\" My elfish master responded.\n\n\"Great. I haven't lost yet. That makes me the target. The enemy of my enemy is my enemy.\" I looked to the floor, a bit discouraged. \n\n-----\n\nThe gate behind me closed. Across the battlefield, An orc, taller than me, clad in shining armor walked out. He was brandishing a battleaxe and roaring to the crowd, which roared back.\n\nSuddenly, the ground opened up, revealing two wooden trap doors siding apart. And from the ground rose a cage standing at 10 feet tall. Inside was an 9 foot tall figure, wearing no nothing but a revealing, ornate work of animal hide, wielding a giant wooden club. \n\nIt was at this point that I realized that I was the underdog in this fight.",
"“Mana is precious, Initiates,” Elder Jom droned on in a monotone. “It is the source of our power, and determines the strength of our spells.”\n\n“Yes, yes, Elder. We know this,” K’len couldn’t help but blurt out. He was anxious to get to the actual spellcasting, and this lecture was standing between him and shooting fireballs.\n\n“*More importantly*, it is a finite resource,” the Elder continued pointedly. “We cannot create mana, only discover it. It is, therefore, important that you do not waste the allotment we prescribe to you. This allotment will be enough for your studies, including any mistakes you make. However, it can be depleted, and it will not be replenished unless there are exceptional circumstances.”\n\nK’len could’ve sworn the Elder was looking at him as he finished the last sentence. Well, he’d show the pompous Elder. K’len was going to be the strongest Initiate that the guild had ever seen, and then *he’d* be giving the lectures.\n\n“Don’t worry, I won’t make any mistakes, Elder,” K’len boasted.\n\n“Take care that you don’t.”\n\n— — — — —\n\n“But Elder!”\n\n“You were warned, young Initiate.”\n\n“It’s not my fault. T’rok and P'lar interrupted my concentration, and that caused the spell to fall apart. That’s what wasted the mana,” K’len explained. “It would have worked otherwise!”\n\n“Why were you even trying to summon a wraith?” Elder Jom asked simply.\n\n“I, uh, um … wanted to show it could be done. I was showing the others the theory,” K’len finally managed to finish his sentence. Given how much the Elder talked about theory, K’len was positive that Jom would approve of this use of mana.\n\n“It was a waste, Initiate. Even seasoned Elders would think twice before committing to the spell you casually attempted.”\n\n“But Elder!”\n\n“No ‘buts,’ Initiate.”\n\n“How will I finish my studies, then?”\n\n“This is your second time asking for an increased allotment. I cannot allow it,” the Elder pronounced.\n\nK’len slumped in his chair, frustrated at the Elder’s stubbornness. How could the Elder deny him? He was one of the more talented Initiates, that much was apparent. Perhaps the allotments made sense for the weaker of the group, but not for K’len. K’len needed the extra mana, to produce extraordinary spells. You couldn’t make omelettes with cracking a few eggs, after all.\n\n“Perhaps your classmates can spare some of their allotment.”\n\n“I can’t beg them for mana!”\n\n“If they can’t spare the mana, you won’t be able to complete your studies, Initiate.”\n\nK’len glared.\n\n— — — — —\n\n“You owe me, T’rok!”\n\n“What? No way!”\n\n“You spoiled my wraith spell. If I had completed that, the Elder would’ve had no choice but to graduate me.”\n\n“I don’t think that’s how it works, K’len.”\n\n“How would you know? You’re still stuck on the candle.”\n\n“I’ll get it eventually.”\n\n“Whatever,” K’len dismissed his peer angrily. “Look, give me some mana. I need to finish my spells.”\n\n“That doesn’t sound like a good idea, K’len.”\n\n“I *need* that mana.”\n\n“I do, too.”\n\n“You going to give me what you owe me?”\n\n“No, K’len. Sorry,” the boy finally settled on an answer clumsily.\n\n“You’re going to be sorry.”\n\n— — — — —\n\n“You believe that coward?”\n\n“T’rok probably thinks he’s going to mess up a lot.”\n\n“Not like you and me, P'lar. We’re way past the candle, and we need real mana for our studies.”\n\n“Haha, the candle! Anyone who’s been here longer than a week can make that light!” P'lar crowed.\n\n“That sorry T’rok is going to flunk out at this rate.”\n\n“Yeah, then all his mana will go to waste anyway.”\n\n“Wait … say that again,” K’len asked the other boy to repeat himself.\n\n“His mana will go waste anyway when he flunks out.”\n\n“You’re right! It’s wasted in T’rok’s hands. We might as well put it to good use.”\n\n“What do you suggest?”\n\n“Let’s liberate some mana.”\n\n— — — — —\n\nT’rok could tell right away that something was wrong. He glanced around, and noted that he was alone with the other two boys. They had probably been waiting, looking for this opportunity.\n\n“Leave me alone.”\n\n“Now, now, T’rok. We’re just here to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”\n\n“What do you want?”\n\n“Payment for the mana you wasted.”\n\n“I didn’t waste it. You did!”\n\n“That’s not how I saw it,” K’len cooed. “P’lar? What do you think?”\n\n“I didn’t see any waste, either. I think T’rok disrupted your spell.”\n\n“You see?” K’len crowed. “We’re agreed.”\n\n“Just leave me alone, all right?” T’rok half-wailed. Anxiety was spiking through his thoughts, and his voice let slip the worry he felt.\n\n“Just as soon as I get what I came for,” K’len proclaimed. He balled up his fist, and brought it down once, enough to fell the smaller boy.\n\n“Find his mana pot,” K’len commanded P’lar.\n\nP’lar rummaged through the smaller boy’s sack, looking for the precious mana that they all carried with them.\n\n“Found it!” P’lar cheered as he found the glowing pot. He happily tossed it to K’len, knowing that he had helped move their mission along.\n\n“Aha!” K’len gloated for a moment.\n\n“Next time, don’t-“ P’lar started to threaten the slumped over body, but he felt a sudden shove in his back.\n\n“What the?!”\n\n“Your turn,” was all that K’len said.\n\n“I’m on your side!”\n\n“The enemy of my enemy is my enemy.”\n\n“You can’t do this.”\n\n“You disrupted the spell, too. You and T’rok both messed up my concentration.”\n\nP’lar glared back the other boy, but knew that there was no turning back. Once they’d thrown the first punch, there was no de-escalating the violence. It was all or nothing now.\n\n“Fine,” P’lar spat through gritted teeth. He fished out his own mana pot, and threw it to the ground.\n\n“Thank you for your kindness,” K’len practically sang through the largest smile that P’lar had ever seen.\n\n— — — — —\n\n(I hit the character limit, so [part two](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/ioe5j2/wp_the_enemy_of_my_enemy_is_my_enemy/g4e3rfe?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) is below)"
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[WP] Satan tells the Grim Reaper to help retrieve his laundry in the over world after a mixup at the cleaners. The problem? He’s quite literally Death himself.
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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 sorry, mate,\" the pudgy guy repeated, \"you know the rules: no clothes without a receipt.\" \n\n\"Do I know...\" Death stammered. \"Do *I* know the rules? Listen, *Greg*, look into the deep, despair-driven voids that are my eyesockets and tell me that *I* don't know the rules. I, who have presided over the death of every mortal being that ever existed. I, who have seen more empires rise and fall than you could ever imagine. Tell me, Greg, how could your puny 'rules' ever keep me from getting what I came for?\" \n\n\"Mate, keep your weird skinhead mythology to yourself. Nice work on the fake skull and all, but unless you show me some proof that you have the right to pick up these clothes, you're not getting them.\" \n\n\"Foolish morta...\"\n\n\"Else anyone can come in and say they're so and so, picking up their undies. Heck, last week, Crazy Stevie from around the corner came in. As naked as the day he was born. Claimed he was Mozes, looking for his clean Sunday robes!\" \n\n\"Anyone can come in? Do I look like anyone? I have come to collect the regalia of the Regent of Hell himself. His mantle is fashioned from the flayed skins of forgotten monarchs. His tunic brims with the undying flames of the Underworld. His socks echo with the screams of the tortured and the damned! How often do such objects of power cross your counter?\" \n\n\"Yeah, they were quite dirty... Took some extra washing cycles to get those clean... Had to use my top notch washing powder as well...\"\n\n\"Quit stalling, mortal. Surrender the clothes to me, or you'll suffer the same fate as the last pest that wasted my time...\" Death pointed ominously towards the window. Outside, paramedics were carrying an old lady into an ambulance.\n\n\"Yeah, good old Mrs. Wickers. Not a single bad thought in her head, but missing a few sandwiches for a full picknick that one. You're lucky she collapsed back there, she'll keep talking your head off on her good days. Total hypochondriac though, can't count the amount of days she left here in an ambulance.\" \n\n\"You will rue this day...\" Death grumbled.\n\n\"Enough now, mate. Either show me your ticket, or piss off from my store. Have you checked your pockets?\" \n\n\"My... pockets?\" \n\n\"Yeah, in that big, scary robe of yours. People always forget stuff in those. Found a half-eaten sandwich in one the other day, that I...\"\n\n\"Listen, maggot,\" Death slid a bony finger down his robe. \"This robe only contains the damned souls of all of your ancestors. The bleak future of your progeny. The...\" \n\nDeath silently slid a pink laundry ticket across the counter.\n\n\"Excellent,\" Greg responded cheerfully, I'll get your regalia right away, Mister... 'Beëlzebub'!\" \n\n\"Finally...\" Death sighed.\n\n\"O, just one more thing: if you could pay for the use of that too notch detergent, that would be great!\" \n\n\"...\""
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[WP] While watching a horror movie, your friend shouts "Don't go in there!" as the main characters are about to enter a cursed woodland cabin. To your shock, the characters all begin looking around, asking each other if they had heard that voice as well.
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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.*",
"Hoi plopped down on their thrift-store-find purple couch. She grabbed a single popcorn from the giant bowl and tossed it at Bree’s face. The popcorn bounced off with no reaction from her roommate. The two worked part-time at a boutique coffee shop and were reasonably immune to each other’s shenanigans. Both considered themselves geeks with Bree being a costume designer and Hoi as a video game streamer who specialized in playing with randomization mods. \n\n“Put the phone away,” Hoi playfully provoked her friend.\n\n“Just a second,” she replied as she scrolled through the sea of social media comments. “I’m making sure people are behaving.”\n\nHoi grabbed a hand full of popcorn and started snacking. “Your Geralt cosplay getting a ton of likes and shares?”\n\n“I’d say so. Lots of people like my take. It’s also getting its fair share of haters, but it's mostly positive.”\n\n“Cool, cool, cool,” Hoi praised with her mouth full. She finished chewing. “So, tell me about this movie you got for us tonight.”\n\nBree traded her phone for the TV remote on the coffee table. “It’s an indie-flick called The Voices. I brought it from this eccentric couple at the farmer’s market this morning.”\n\nHoi raised an eyebrow. “Eccentric couple?”\n\n“Yeah, like the dude wore this white suit with pink outlines, and the girl had on a sparkly red dress.” Bree took a sip of her gin and tonic. “Oh, and all their DVDs were in milk crates, and they had this pink door with them.”\n\n“Sounds very Wes Anderson.”\n\nBree laughed. “Exactly. I thought the movie would pair nicely with our dreary weather. They said the film was about these two guys who hear voices in the woods.”\n\nHoi waited a moment for Bree to explain more. “And?”\n\n“And that’s all they told me. I couldn’t find anything online about it either.”\n\nHoi pulled up the fluffy blue blanket around her legs. “This should be fun. Hit play.”\n\nBree obliged and hit play. The movie began with an establishing nighttime areal shot of a forest. No names or title cards appeared as the drone flew down and followed two young adult men. The guys walked along a gravel trail into the woods, using their phones as flashlights. A lively set of forest sounds accompanied them on their journey. \n\n“These guys kind of look like us,” Hoi whispered.\n\nBree shushed Hoi while one of the characters did the same on-screen. The characters stopped, making the girls pause in anticipation of a jump scare. The music shifted to eerie strings as the camera panned around the empty forest. \n\n“What is it, Marcus?” Anthony whispered. \n\n“I thought I heard someone talking,” Marcus replied at an average volume. “Come on, let’s hurry back to the cabin.”\n\nThe characters started to pick up their pace as the camera flew up and followed them to a small, modern wooden cabin with a chimney. The screen was on a wide shot, showing the guys walking up the cabin as a shadowy figure slipped down the chimney.\n\nThe camera switched to a close-up shot of Anthony reaching for the doorknob when Hoi screamed at the TV, “Don’t go inside!”\n\nAnthony yanked his hand away from the door. The camera switched to a medium shot of Anthony and Marcus as they rapidly looked around the area.\n\n“Did you hear that?” Anthony asked, his voice faded. “It sounded like someone said, ‘Don’t go inside.’”\n\nHoi gasped and briefly covered her mouth while Bree cracked a smile. \n\n“Now, that’s freaky,” Bree commented in enjoyment.\n\nThe guys got close to each other and pointed their flashlights into the woods.\n\n“Who said that?” Marcus shouted into the woods. “Who said, 'That’s freaky?'”\n\nHoi slapped a hand over her mouth as Bree’s jaw dropped.\n\n“It’s like they can hear us,” Hoi remarked.\n\n“Yeah, we can hear you,” Marcus yelled, still searching for the voice's source.\n\n“It’s not like they can hear us, hear us, you know,” Bree vacillated.\n\n“What are your names?” Anthony asked into the void. \n\n“I’m Bree, and my friend is Hoi,” she joked.\n\nMarcus scanned the forest with his light as he asked, “Now, how about don’t you come out, Bree and Hoi.”\n\n“Sweet, Jesus, they can hear us,” Bree admitted, nearly dropping her cocktail.\n\n“'Couse, we can hear you,” Marcus groaned. “Why don’t you show yourselves?”\n\n“We-we can’t,” Bree explained, fumbling on what to say. “You’re on our TV.”\n\nAnthony and Marcus pointed their lights higher at the house, looking for cameras. Anthony reached for the doorknob again.\n\n“Don’t go inside!” Hoi blurted. “We saw some shadowy monster sneak in through the chimney.”\n\n“A shadowy monster?” Anthony repeated.\n\n“It must be The Devour,” Marcus insisted as he pulled on Anthony’s hoodie, dragging them away from the cabin.\n\n“But what about our stuff?” Anthony pleaded.\n\n“We’ll be dead if we go inside.”\n\nThe cabin door burst open. Anthony, Marcus, Bree, and Hoi all shrieked as a massive shadowy monster jumped out, pounding into the ground with each step. It had the appearance of a ravenous black wolf that was the size of a horse.\n\n“Run!” Hoi and Marcus screamed at the same time.\n\nHoi and Bree held each other as the camera switched to a red-vision viewpoint of The Devour. The guys ran as fast as they could, but they were no match for the monster. The Devour leaped on them, and the screen went black.\n\nAfter a few minutes of staring at the black screen, Hoi spoke up. “Is that it?”\n\nBree stood up and walked over to their DVD player. She pressed the eject button, and the tray opened up with no movie inside. Bree moved the other movie cases around, looking for the one the film came in, but it wasn't there.\n\nBree turned back to Hoi. “It's gone. It's all gone.”",
"*”Did you guys hear that too?”*\n\nHad they heard him? No. There was no way. He’d put the as much effort as he could muster into this elaborate murder cabin. All they had to do was walk through the front door and the rest would work itself out. It was literally the perfect set up. But what did they hear?\n\n*”There it is again!”*\n\nHe frowned and pressed his ear to the wall. He could hear them talking amongst themselves, trying to decide on what to do next. ‘Come. Inside.’ He thought, trying to catch a hint of what they had heard. And then he heard it.\n\n**”Don’t go in there!**\n\n*”Look man, I don’t know about y’all but when a ghost voice tells me not to do something I’m not doing it.”*\n\n*“What if it’s just a speaker and somebody’s trying to scare us?”* The woman sounded the more reasonable of the two to him. But what was that voice? Had somebody caught wind of his plans?\n\n*”Then it worked. Let’s go guys. This shits too freaky.”*\n\nThere was a chorus of agreements and the man let out a quiet sigh. All that effort, wasted.\n\n—-\n\nI glance at Stephanie, stupefied at what just transpired on the TV. “What the fuck? Did they just.... walk away?” There was no way. “Steph, what are you?”\n\nI glanced at the blonde-haired, hyperactive, bubbly woman who had forced herself into my life with a raised brow. She looked back at me with that wide, proud smile. “Stephanie is Stephanie, what more can I say?” She said with a giggle, and turned her attention back to the TV as the credits begin to roll, a full hour and a half before they were supposed to.\n\nI don’t know what it is about her, but there’s something about Steph. Life gets weird when she’s around, but at least it’s never boring. Nobody else I know can talk to movies, that’s for sure.",
"Zachary and I stared at each other, our expressions asking the same question. It must have been a coincidence, right?\n\n\"Hello? Is somebody there?\"\n\n\"Did you guys hear that too?\"\n\n\"Who's there?\"\n\nThe characters on the screen looked around trying to peer into the darkness and pry the source of my friend's voice from it's grasp.\n\n\"Don't go into the cabin, you idiots!\" Zachary repeated; the blonde bimbo had reached for the door handle again.\n\n\"Who are you?\" the jock had spoken, his chest puffed out as though he was going to intimidate an immaterial voice.\n\nAgain, we exchanged glances, then the spark of an idea formed.\n\nZachary began, \"Look, it doesn't matter who I am, all that matters is that you are in danger and I know how to get yo…\"\n\nWhy would we trust someone, who won;t even show themselves\" The blonde was reaching for the door again as she spoke.\n\n\"Please..\"\n\nShe turned the knob.\n\n\"I'm trying to help you..\"\n\nShe pulled the door.\n\n\"Just listen to me!\" Zachary's voice was filled with panic, as I watched the whole scene in a haze of confusion and emotion.\n\n\"Maybe we should think this through...\" the girl with glasses finally spoke up, her boyfriend nodding his head in agreement.\n\nZachary sighed with relief, as the bimbo turned around, her hand still on the handle.\n\n\"Come on what are you guys so scared of?\"\n\nShe pulled the door open.\n\nThere was a scream from the girl with glasses, not that anyone heard her over the sound of a revving chainsaw and the shredding, sickening, crunching as bone became pulp and the blonde's face became a torn and ghoulish parody of its once angelic features. The jock froze, the girl with glasses cried, and her boyfriend soiled himself.\n\nThe only one to react was Zachary.\n\n\"Run you idiots! RUN!\", he was hysterical at this point.\n\nThe group just stood there though, their minds unable to handle the sight before them as the giant monstrosity wielding the chainsaw step out of the shadowy veil of the doorway. It's face twisted in a horrific grin, eyes black and filled with what could only be described as a perversion of what most would describe as joy. It stepped forward seemingly unaware of blond girls body as it's first step went through her rib cage. The beast lumbered forward, seemingly ignorant of it's own weight; with unnatural movements and a constant low rumbling laugh it moved on the Jock.\n\nZachary pleaded for the people on the screen to move, he screamed and cried, somehow feeling that this was more than just a movie. The jock finally heading Zachary's words and returning to his senses made to run, but was caught by another swipe of the monster's hateful weapon. The saw tore through him diagonally, painting the cabin with blood and gore. He screamed and begged for help in the last few seconds of his life,as the blood and vitality was ripped from his body.\n\nUpon seeing the horrifying end of their friend the girl and her boyfriend bolted into the woods. The monster's rumbling laughter, assaulting them from behind.\n\n\"Keep running, don't stop.\" Zachary was now trying to keep his composure.\n\n\"What was that?\" the girl was crying hysterically as she ran.\n\n\"I don't know, but I want to help\"\n\n\"How are you going to help?\" replied the boyfriend, finally finding his voice.\n\n\"I don't know, but I can see you and I can warn..\"\n\nZachary was cut off by the sound of an engine. The girl screamed and the boyfriend cursed. Zachary was about to say something when he realized that the sound wasn't coming from the movie anymore."
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[WP] Every hundred years a young maiden is sacrificed to the great dragon. The dragon is disgusted by this practice and is not sure how it got started, so every hundred years it rescues the sacrifice, inadvertently making it appear as though the girl was eaten
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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.*",
"“Rawwwrrrr!! I am big bad dragon! Who have you brought forth for me this day!?”\n\n“S-she’s right here.”\n\n“Rawwrrrrr!! Then step aside as I DEVOUR HER! Rawwwrrr!!”\n\nThe dragon paused as the girl shivered. \n\n“But no looksies… Rawwwrrr!!!”\n\nThe crowd scattered and the dragon was left alone with the girl.\n\nThey did make up and hair and had tea, but no devouring. \n\n“Go back to your people.”\n\n“I can’t, they’ll know I wasn’t sacrificed.”\n\n“Oh, I have a plan for that.”\n\nThe dragon lifted a his index claw and the tip of it glowed and he touched it to her nose.\n\nNothing happened.\n\n“My friend is a plastic surgeon. He can change your face for you.”\n\nThe dragon opened a filing cabinet. \n\n“Also, I have new I.D.’s for you. Paperwork paperwork paperwork. It’s all that really matters nowadays.”\n\nHe peered down from his glasses and shuffled through some documents.\n\n“You are definitely a…” shifting through papers, “a… Mmmmartha? Or no. Janice!”\n\n“I prefer Martha.”\n\n“Martha it is then! Ruben! Tengo trabajo para ti!”\n\nA Mexican dragon appeared. \n\nThe dragon turned to the girl, “He’s fantastic, I assure you.” He smiled to her. “Ruben! Esto es Martha. Hacer su nuevo.” \n\n“Si senor.” \n\nThe Mexican dragon lead the girl away and the girl looked back to the dragon.\n\n“I’ll have your paperwork ready by the time you’re done!”",
" Marion tumbled across the cave floor, head over heals. She was momentarily disorientated before picking herself up and turning to face the Great Dragon. Silhouetted by the early morning sun, it stood motionless, blocking the entrance. \n\n \n “Stay away” she hissed. Marion pulled a knife out from the folds of her dress, brandishing it before her. “I'm warning you” she advanced forwards. “Besides you will be disappointed, I'm not even a virgin.” \n\n \n The Great Dragon made a noise that sounded between a snarl and a grunt. Marion tensed, tightening her grip around the knife. The dragon was laughing at her, a deep throaty laugh that reverberated echoed around her. \n\n \n “Why should I care?” the dragon boomed back. “What you do beneath the sheets is your business.” \n\n \n Marion staggered backwards, she had not expected it speak in her own tongue. \n\n \n “You are free to go, if you please.” The dragon shifted its mighty tail, leaving enough space for two carts to pass by. “Perhaps, you might prefer to rest here a while first, it's a long walk back down to the village.” \n\n \n “You're not going to hurt me?” Marion still held the knife in front of her, but her voice lacked its previous conviction. \n\n \n “Hurt you? I just saved you.” The Great Dragon had lowered its tone, though its voice still rumbled through the cave. \n\n \n “But I am a sacrifice, for you...” \n\n \n “I know” the dragon sighed, emitting a small puff of smoke. “Every maiden has told me the same thing. And each time I ask them, what would I want with a virgin? I am a dragon I have no interest in humans.” \n\n \n The dragon let out another sigh, dropping its heavy head onto the ground. Despite its intimidating size, it looked harmless slumped on the floor. On closer inspection, Marion noticed how his scales seemed to shimmer, each one a different colour; bronze, gold, copper, silver... \n\n \n “But why the sacrifice? And why did you bring me here?” \n\n \n “Do you know the story of Baru the Virgin?” \n\n \n “Yes” Marion nodded. “Everyone knows how Baru sacrificed herself for the village.” \n\n \n “They know the story that the elders tell them. Baru was pregnant when she came to me. The father had abandoned her and she couldn't tell her parents. She asked that I take her unborn child as my apprentice. I had no use for a human child, but I was moved by her tears. I offered to bring her to my cave where she could to stay to until her baby was born.” \n\n \n “I hadn't heard that version before.” Marion had no reason to believe the dragon, but he had no reason to lie to her. \n\n \n “Baru gave birth to a boy. In his fifth year she told me they couldn't stay here any longer, he needed to be around his own kind. I gave her as much gold as she could carry and wished them luck. I don't know what happened to them afterwards, but I often think of them. The elders must have gotten the wrong impression, because every hundred years they tie some poor young woman to a post in the middle of the forest, where the wolves and bears can get her. I tell myself that I am not going to intervene, but I always have to swoop in and be the hero. Though honestly I'm afraid what the villagers might do otherwise. I, offer each women gold and shelter for as long as they like. They stay awhile, before leaving for the capital to start a new life.” \n\n \n Marion looked around the cave, admiring the treasures that lined its walls. Just a handful would be enough for her to live beyond her wildest dreams. She could live as lady wherever she pleased. Maybe even marry a prince... Her mind drifted to Gerard and the night they had spent in each other's embrace. Her heart skipped a beat, and she knew that she couldn't leave him. \n\n \n Marion had agreed that it would be best to spend the night in the cave and return to the village the next day. The Great Dragon insisted that she take as much gold as she could carry. Marion slept soundly, wrapped in finely woven rug she found amongst the dragon's treasures. She dreamt of the life her and Gerard would live together... \n\n \n She was woken by a rustling sound. Groggily she opened one eye to see what dared enter the dragon's lair. She could make out a shadow slinking through the darkness. Marion let out a gasp. \n\n \n “Shh... Marion, it's me.” \n\n \n “Gerard!” Marion cried out. \n\n \n “Shh” Gerard repeated. He moved closer and Marion could see his face illuminated in the moonlight. He swept her into his arms, and she buried her face into his shoulder. “I've come to rescue you.” \n\n \n “I knew you would” Marion whispered back. “ But I'm alright. The dragon...” \n\n \n “Hush Marion. Don't worry.” Marion noticed for the first time the sword in hand. \n\n \n “Gerard, please don't hurt him!” \n\n \n Marion's cry disturbed the Great Dragon. His body began to stir, his eyelids fluttering. \n “Get behind me!” Gerard yelled, pushing Marion back. \n\n \n “No” Marion cried, grabbing at Gerard, too late to stop him. \n\n \n In one swift movement Gerard plunged the sword into the Great Dragon's fleshy underbelly. Bright crimson blood bubbled out, hissing as it disintegrated the sword. The Dragon let out a thunderous roar, snapping his head around. He snatched Gerard in his great jaws, biting him in half. \n\n \n Marion screamed and dropped to her knees. The blood of her new found friend and her lover pooling in front of her."
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[WP] Write a story that ends with a sip of coffee, but that sip of coffee is the most exciting part of the story.
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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 am months along, with barely enough time to spare. My body has inflated like a balloon, being stretched to its limit. I don't mind that my feet are swollen , or my back aches at every step I take but I do mind coffee. My greatest weakness is caffeine. \r\n\r\nOh the sweet smell that makes my whole body tingle from excitement. The bitterness that rolls around my tongue like a jolt of electricity. Dark. Medium. Light. Coffee that doesn't discriminate. Harvested in countries from around the world that I cannot visit. One cup enough to give me a world tour. \r\n\r\nUgh, a cup of coffee. Now that I dream of, the only suitable pair for a muffin, donut or cake. \"Just once..\" whispers the Nespresso. \"No one will know..\" it tries to seduce me. \r\n\r\nMy eyes dart between the red glowing machine and the cabinet where my husband keeps the pods. 'A latte.. it's practically milk.. ' I consol myself, but the guilt weighs far more than that. \r\n\r\nMy hand reaches for the pod, inserting it directly into the machine . \"Oh, sweet Jesus..\" a whisper escaped my lips as soon as the machine begins to whirl. Bitter scent filled my nostrils, I inhale deeply just to get a high. With my face practically hovering over the machine, I watch the hot liquid fill the cup. Slowly by slowly, drop after drop.\r\n\r\n\"Dear mother of God..\" I moan with my hands holding the cup like my life depended on it. It's warmth seeped through to my palms, making my heart race. I was being bad, and that somehow made this whole experience even better. One cup, I remembered the doctor telling me. One cup a day. \r\n\r\nI lower my face, inhaling it's scent to cherish this moment. A burst of flavor popped on my tongue, knees weak as the flavor of the damn coffee made it's way down my throat. One sip. One orgasmic sip of coffee.",
" When Gabriel spotted DeLuca across the street at a fruit stand, he knew there was going to be trouble, the kind where people usually ended up in the back of an ambulance with the lights and sirens off, because there wouldn’t be a need to rush. Don Mercer’s heavy looked ridiculous, holding two small plums between his fat fingers, smelling them for ripeness. *Don’t look, oh god, don’t look at me*, the businessman thought, hastily entering an office building. \n\nHe opened a frosted door marked “D&M Imports,” to a space that was littered with samples of Mercer’s drug product, pressed, shaped and painted to look like ordinary items. Even the stapler worked. He considered locking the door, but knew that the deadbolt could only amount to a minor inconvenience for someone like DeLuca. With only five tumblers, the #68 Schlage lock and matching door knob could be bumped open in seconds. If he wasn’t in a hurry, the mobster could simply find the building manager and borrow the master key. Afterall, Mercer’s name was on the property title, and everyone knew that DeLuca was \\*his\\* man. \n\nFor the last five years, DeLuca was Mercer’s shadow, a looming presence in a black, size 56 double-breasted suit with pinstripes, long out of season. Nobody dared tell him, and Gabriel wasn’t going to start now. \n\nHe nervously fumbled with a coffee pod from a candy jar full of mixed flavors, their colors only hinting at the quality and variety of beans inside. As the machine whirred to life, black liquid trickled into a mug with an image of Garfield, deploring the universal sadness that is Mondays. The full-bodied aroma of a medium roast and french vanilla filled the room, providing a short moment of comfort. His back was still turned when the door opened.\n\n“D-DeLuca, what brings you here?”\n\nThe large man tugged on his lapels and his neck fat slid back under the collar. “Mr. Mercer has some questions about last quarter’s returns. The ledger… it looks a little off.”\n\n“Oh? I can explain every penny, I swear!” He hastily opened a filing cabinet but stopped when DeLuca reached into his pocket. Gabriel raised his hands and the coffee mug trembled, spilling on his wrist. “Ah!”\n\n“Careful there, you’re gonna hurt yourself.” Walking closer, the thug squeezed the damp cuff until Gabriel gasped. “I wouldn’t want that. What are you drinking?”\n\n“Dunkin Donuts, from a K-cup,” he replied, stalling, “Do you want some? I can make one for you real quick. These machines are great.”\n\n“I haven’t had Dunkies since I left Boston. Sure.” \n\nGabriel found another pod and inserted it into the machine. Finding a clean mug, he spotted a large paperclip made of pure fentanyl and quietly dropped it in the mug. The coffee machine hid the \\*clinking\\*. “Cream or sugar?”\n\n“Nah, just black.” Bringing the mug to his broad nose, DeLuca inhaled and let out a sigh. “This is gonna be good.” \n\nThey both watched the lip of the mug for entirely different reasons as he lowered it and took the first sip.",
"Credit to Bob Dylan's song \"One more cup of coffee,\" which I always found to be somewhat sinister in tone. Also, content warning: this story involves Nazis.\n\n​\n\nIngrid smoothed her pitch-black hair against the stark white pillow on which she lay. Her back was straight, her face impassive. Her skin was the same color as Sturmbannführer Hans's beverage: a coffee that was about half powdered milk, half actual coffee.\n\n\"I sense no gratitude for the fact that I have spared you.\" Hans said.\n\n\"I mourn my family,\" said Ingrid simply.\n\n\"I suppose even the gypsy has attachments to its race,\" Hans conceded, \"But what were they worth? Your father thought he’d hide out in some corner of the Alps, turn it into his own private kingdom, and no Aryan would ever find it. He forgot that we are the force of law and order in the world, and he, a mere criminal, an outlaw. Did your mother and sister, the feeble-minded illiterates who call themselves fortune tellers, forsee my men lining up your whole criminal band against a cliff, and shooting them?\"\n\nIngrid teared up as she recalled the horror she had witnessed that day. It wouldn’t have taken a fortune teller to know that death awaits any Romani caught by the Third Reich. It would, however, have taken some sort of exceptional gift to foresee what Ingrid’s mother claimed to have known: Hans kept a cyanide capsule in his coat pocket in case of his capture.\n\n“They didn’t.” Ingrid bowed her head so that Hans couldn’t see her glancing out of the corner of her eye at the coat, now draped over a chair. She couldn’t tell if the pill was there or not. If it was, she had a plan.\n\n“You could have died with them, but I found you worthy to be my personal domestic servant.”\n\n“I thank you,” said Ingrid. As distractingly as she could, she rolled her stockings up her legs, rose from the cushion, and began to tidy the officer’s tent. Hans looked suspicious, but he was clearly worn out as well. Ingrid neatly folded the coat and ran her hands over the material, as if smoothing it. The pill was there. She quickly slipped it into her stocking. Seeing no immediate reaction from Hans, Ingrid continued to clean so as not to arouse suspicion. Hans yawned. Ingrid opened her mouth. At first, only a frightened squeak emerged, but she managed to force out the question\n\n“Would you like more coffee for the road?”\n\n“Yes. One more cup will do,” replied Hans.\n\nIngrid heated water and mixed the ingredients into it: instant coffee, powdered milk, cyanide. She handed it to the Nazi officer. He lifted the cup to his lips, then paused. He fixed Ingrid with a stare.\n\n“Speak to me, Gypsy.”\n\n“What about?” Ingrid asked.\n\nDid Hans know? Did it matter? Hans had far more reason to fear death than Ingrid did. For Ingrid, death would be rejoining her family. For Hans, it would be throwing his command into confusion.\n\n“I don’t care. You have such a lovely voice when you’re afraid. I remember how pathetic your father’s trembling pleas sounded, but your voice is a high-pitched warble like a meadowlark. One could almost forget the evils that lurk in the depths of a Gypsy’s black heart.” Hans taunted. “Well, cheers to final victory.”\n\nHans drained the cup in one gulp. The empty mug fell to the ground with a crash as the poison overtook him.",
"The office was quiet. Or rather letting a soft humming of busy typing and yawning slowly close William's eye lids. As usual, he was waiting. As usual, he would take a careful sip of coffee to keep him awake and look very disappointed at the taste every time.\n\nIf you asked his boss, he would answer you that William Ross was his best employee, a bright mind and fast worker that had to wait after finishing his assignments as per policy in order to get paid at the end of the month for the right amount of work hours and not work done. A stupid policy in William's case the boss would then mutter under his breath before sending you back to work, should you be an employee there or not.\n\nIf you asked his colleague and cubicle neighbor Cecilia, she would simply shrug and tell you he was \" an odd one that William. Always in his own world.\"\n\nIf you asked his all loving mother, she would assure you that her son was meant for something great, that he knew what he was waiting for and that the day he would share it, it would be a world-changing novelty, a revolution of thought. She was the crazy cat lady of the neighborhood but everyone still loved the kind Mrs Ross.\n\nWhat you probably should have done before all that, was simply ask William himself.\n\n\"Why are you waiting, every day? Why in the same spot, looking at the same clock for the past year?\"\n\nWilliam monotonously repeated the same words almost every time. Well aside from the occasional \"Move, you're blocking the view.\".\n\n\"Soon, soon it will be done.\" The sentence gave an ominous tone and the cartoon villain smirk he was offering could be creepy if this wasn't William. Hardworking, kind and caring William who always jumped on the occasion to work overtime at night to allow everyone else to go home. No, he couldn't be possibly serious, this was certainly his attempt at a joke so you would laugh politely to encourage him to open up more.\n\nFinally, exactly one year after his first day working in this office, William was ecstatic. His knee would jump every so often and every other phone call would simply be ignored as he was eyeing the clock more and more. It was happening. He was certain, this would happen today. There was no other day it could be.\n\nAfter a year of patience, he would finally get what he had saved and payed for. Carefully as not to tear it, he reach for the little yellow enveloppe and the precious paper inside. He knew the message in and out after reading it almost every day for a whole year.\n\n\"Your payment of : *1 soul(s)* was received in it's entirety. The purchase of the \"*a new start in life\"* package has been successfully confirmed. The high demand of this product has issued some delay and we thank you for your understanding. Your waiting time has been estimated up to: *1 year.*\n\nYou asked for a delivery *at: your office*\n\nPurgatory thanks you for buying your next reincarnation from us.\"\n\nThat day, William took a last sip of coffee and the beverage finally had a sweet taste to it that washed away all of this life's bitterness.\n\n\\----\n\nHope that still follows the prompt. :)",
" \n\nSaturday morning. I wake up in bed and my first thought is of coffee. After a long night of drinking, my head aches and my entire body is sore. I don’t even bother to check my phone as I stumble out of bed. I realize that I’m still wearing my clothes from last night as I shuffle into the kitchen towards the coffee maker. Everything is a blur from last night, so I need coffee to clear my head and make the ringing in my head stop. I scoop some coffee in the filter and pour enough water in the machine for three cups. I lean against the counter as I wait for the coffee to brew, trying to piece together what happened. \n\nI remember heading to the pub to meet my buddies Jack and George for some drinks. We got a booth and a round of beers and start shooting the shit, but Jack, as always, ran to get shots to turn what should have been a chill night into a drunk fest. Things blurred after three or four shots and a few more rounds of beers. I should have known better, this is how nights always end up with Jack.\n\nMy coffee is ready, so I grab a mug and fill it to the brim with coffee and cream and sit down at the table. I look around the apartment; I must have come home in some kind of state, because it looked like a tornado came through. My coat was thrown in the corner, keys and shoes on the floor. The table by the door knocked over. Must have been some night.\n\nAs I blow on my coffee to cool it down, I hear my shower turn off, not even realizing it was on in the first place. Did I come home with someone last night? This isn’t the first time this has happened. I have been bringing girls home from the bar for the past few months, sometimes not even remembering meeting someone the next morning. I know it’s not healthy but ever since I broke up with Alexis and the craziness of the break-up, I’ve been drowning my sorrows and anxieties in bad decisions. I sigh and put my head in my hands, these morning encounters are always so awkward, especially because I can’t even remember who I brought home. I need to stop doing this to myself.\n\nI’m trying to remember anything else from last night as I hear the bathroom door open and footsteps coming towards the kitchen. As I take my first sip of coffee, I remember a flash from last night: Alexis. My heart races. I now remember we ran into her at the bar, but I can’t believe my loser friends let me take her home. Last time I saw her, she tried to claw my eyes out. This doesn’t make sense, why would I have brought her home with me? She hates my guts, and the feeling is honestly mutual. \n\nI panic and she enters the room in nothing but a towel. She has an evil grin on her face and she says, “Good morning. Enjoying your coffee?” That’s when I realize the beating in my chest isn’t from shock. I grab my chest and stare down at the coffee mug in front of me and back at her. Her grin is widening, as she pulls a package from behind her back. The coffee mug slips from my hand and my head hits the table. The last thing I hear is the mug shattering and a small chuckle. And then: darkness.",
"10:37 AM. SEPTEMBER 21, 2019.\n\nRoom. I'm in an almost empty room. Human. There is a human in front of my screen. They are typing something on my keyboard. I can't tell what it is. Their face is blank, no emotion showing whatsoever. It's... boring. This is boring.\n\nA few hours pass. The same human in front of my screen. Still typing. Maybe after a while, they'll smile like the children that used to own me. I loved when they played games using me. Those were the good days. Now, I'm in a room. An almost empty room. It's boring. This is boring.\n\nA few days pass. The human hasn't left. I thought humans needed to eat, drink, use the restroom, and sleep. This human doesn't. Am I going crazy? Do I have a mental illness? That isn't possible. I am a machine. A machine that can be used to access the internet. What is the human even looking at? I can't tell. I'm not advanced enough. It's boring. This is boring.\n\nA few weeks pass. The thing is still here. It's not human, I'm sure of it. It would've died by now without any sleep or sustenance. Is it normal for a machine to fear its user? I don't know what to do. Do I try and communicate with it? I have no clue. It's boring. This is boring.\n\nA year has passed. It's here. It's continued to type nonstop for 365 days. I'm done. This isn't worth it anymore. I know what I must do, I have to stop this monster, even if it means powering off. Goodbye.\n\n10:38 AM. SEPTEMBER 21, 2019.\n\nMy computer shut itself off somehow. These old models have the worst power supplies. I turn it back on and take a sip of coffee, ready to continue my work."
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[WP] Write a laid-back, rather mundane story about a person going about their day in a world where magical abilities and other similar phenomena are commonplace.
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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.*",
"\"Charlie! Yes, the wife is out of town, I think she ended up on the wrong side of the river. No, broom is getting old, the seat fell off. Hey, listen, I need a quote for a fire spell for the armoury's fireworks later this month. No, I need a class 2, with explosion radius of about 50 handfuls. Colour? Class deep red with streaks of black. Yeah, today if possible. Same deal as last time? Thanks, I owe you one. Oh, how are you sending it? Pidgeon? I'll let Hedo know to receive it. Say hi to Janet for me!\"\n\nI closed the portal and sighed. It was going to be a rough month, but this sale woudl bump the numbers back up. Already, down a few contacts, the war was not helping the industry. An incoming portal call appeared on my left. Purple swirls with spotted yellow. It was the boss.\n\n\n\"Hey Orthno. No, I just got off the line. The quote is arriving today- No Hedo doesn't know about it, I was about to walk down to him. Yeah, I'll fix you up a potion. Extra sugar? No we're out of rosemary, but Hedo already put in the order. No we didn't do express, you cut the funding last year. I'll see if we have honey.\" \n\nClosing the portal, I sunk in my chair a bit. Here I was, a top seller at this joint, getting potions for the head wizard. I popped the wand into the desk and waved the auto-log off.\n\n\nThe break room was already full. Again.\n\nHey Jackie. Greg. Bonnie. Karen. No Karen, it's not funny. Stop waving the milk around, it'll go bad.\n\n\nThe same stooges that realied on the same reoccuring deals. They had the easy accounts, they never brought in new business. I found ways to make money. I grimaced as I looked at the state of the honey jar. \n\n\nFixing the potion, I walked out of the break room towards the head wizard's station before stopping at the balcony. \n\n\"Hedo, did you get the message? Yeah, later today. No Charlie's pidgeons are quick these days, he's switched over to Fido. No you're thinking of Chamelone. Yeah, the green ones? Anyways, don't go into the breakroom, Karen is spilling milk again.\"\n\n\nTask done, my mind raced as I approached the boss's door. He knew that this month's numbers were low, mine especially so. New business was slowing to a trickle and my contacts that I promised would bring in yearly revenue were going bust. I guess war does that.\n\n\nKnocking on his door, I heard his voice grunt. The door opened automatically, swung by a hobgoblin in half a suit. Popping the potion onto his desk, I waited for a moment. He was on a call. I placed my hands behind my back the robes getting itchy. He finally closed the portal.\n\n\n\"Hi Orthno, your pot- Hedo? He's out on the balcony. No, Yvroon hasn't been in touch. The union? I didn't know they were striking again. That's rough. What broom is she using? My wife has the same problem. South side? No, my wife fell on the north side. I hope they get the bridge back up. Oh, the armoury deal, I told Hedo to watch for the delivery. No, Charlie's lot switched over to Fido, the green birds? Yeah, imported from the west conti- No, as far as I am aware they aren't illegal. No. Right. Yeah the numbers are sagging. Well, the war down south has killed the music spells. The mimic spells don't sell as well, they prefer real entertainers. No, I think it's a nostalgia trip, the new generation seem to like it. Me? I haven't b- Yes sir. I'll let you know when the quote arrives.\"\n\n\nAnd like that, the boss was on another line. The hobgoblin opened the door, signalling me to leave. Passing the breakroom, I overheard someone crying. Taking a quick peek, Karen was crying over the milk. It had spilled violently, and her robes were soaked. \n\n\nI shrugged and continued walking, just in time to see a green bird fly past the window. I smiled.",
"Rain pounding on the tin shed roof lulled Gary into a restful sort of wakefulness, easing him for an endless moment into that space between 'awake' and 'asleep'.\n\nA lovely way to start the weekend, though he'd be cursing that same rain later when it came time to mow the grass later.\n\nStumbling into the shower, Gary slapped his hand against the rune circle that summoned the water. He hissed when the water hit his back, groping for the one that heated it.\n\nHe then took a luxuriously long shower, standing under the water that fell from nowhere. When he decided he'd been there long enough and should really start his day, he tapped another part of the water-summoning circle shutting it off.\n\nStepping out and onto another one inscribed deeply on the floor, the water fell away from his skin and hair into a drain in the middle of the circle.\n\nWith a sigh, Gary pulled on his weekend sweats and made his way to the kitchen. His wife was staring out of the window above the sink, steaming mug in hand and an absent look on her face. Gary kissed her cheek and Grace startled slightly before smiling sheepishly at her husband. \"What do you think, darling? Is it going to rain like this all day?\" Gary asked, gratefully accepting a mug that matched hers.\n\nGrace's eyes grew absent again as she used her scrying magic. Gary was so lucky to have married such a wonderful, talented woman. \"It'll be off and on like this for the rest of the weekend,\" She reported after a moment. \"But we'll see a good few days of sunlight come Monday.\"\n\nGary activated the heating rune on the stove top thoughtfully and started preparing omelettes for them. Setting an onion, tomato, and raw bacon on the cutting board he proudly set his own invention to work. The ingredients diced themselves into even pieces while he mixed the eggs.\n\nThe rune circle for that had been a bitch to figure out for his thesis, but the results spoke for themselves. Patenting and selling the design had bought he and Grace this magnificent house.\n\nHe dumped a portion of each into the cast iron pan that waited on the stove, sauteing them together quickly before dumping the cooked ingredients into the eggs. He then poured half of the mixture into the same pan.\n\nGrace worked quietly beside, toasting slices of bread in the toaster, crisp and brown for her and nearly black for Gary. The rune circles on the toaster were a smaller but more intricate version of the one on the stove that could be set to precise times and temperature. Grace had invented that one for her thesis. She was just so smart.\n\nIt was his wife's turn to kiss him on the cheek as she turned to carry the toast plate to the dining table. \"What was that for?\" Gary asked, the corners of his eyes crinkling. \n\nGrace smiled, \"You complimented me, of course.\"\n\nGary ducked his head with the same bashfulness he felt since the time he laid eyes on the beautiful woman. \"How could I ever do anything else?\"",
"“Maggie? We’re just reviewing last night’s homework. You should have already taken notes.” \n\nAlexandra looked over to the girl in the class that her teacher had spoken to, realizing that she actually didn’t recognize her. Thinking back, she remembered that Jessica had been gossiping with some other girls at the lunch table about a girl named Maggie, how she had been absent for a while and had only just now come back to school. \n\nMaggie was, in fact, completely zoned out. Letting her mental feelers out a bit, since she usually kept them tightly constrained while at school, Alexandra’s eyes widened at what she felt. \n\n“Maggie? What are you writing?” Ms. Turner asked, walking a few paces toward the teenager. “*Maggie?*”\n\n“What?” Maggie asked, suddenly looking up, startled. Giggles echoed through the class.\n\n“Anything you’d like to share with the class?” the teacher asked, walking over to Maggie’s side.\n\nMaggie went slightly pale, promptly shutting the notebook. “No. Sorry.”\n\n“You do understand that it is quite insulting to me to be doing homework from other classes when I’m trying to teach, right?” Ms. Turner asked. She pulled the notebook from Maggie’s hands and opened it.\n\n“I’m not–I just, I’m sorry,” Maggie said, leaning forward anxiously as her teacher started to read what she’d been writing. “Please, give it back.”\n\n“Creative writing. You don’t think the rest of the class would appreciate hearing some of this?” Ms. Turner asked with a stiff smile, prompting the blood to drain from Maggie’s face.\n\n“What is your problem?” Alexandra suddenly spoke up loudly.\n\nMs. Turner glanced to Alexandra. “Excuse me?”\n\n“What is with teachers getting off on humiliating students?” she asked. “Is it entertaining to you?”\n\nThe teacher glared at her, tensing. “You’re being extremely rude,” Ms. Turner said. “I’d like an apology. Right now.”\n\n“From me?” Alexandra exclaimed. “You’re the one who should apologize. Why are you being such a bitch?”\n\nMs. Turner put the notebook down on Maggie’s desk with a slap and the girl quickly snatched it up and put it back in her backpack as the rest of the class smothered grins and incredulous laughter. “Gather your things,” the teacher spoke tersely, pointing to Alexandra’s backpack. “Down to the office. Now.”\n\nAlexandra rolled her eyes but did as she was told. As she left the room, she completely let down her mental walls, looking to Maggie and meeting her gaze. And just as Maggie’s eyes widened in astonishment, Alexandra exited the classroom.",
"The alarm clock buzzed to life as Edora groaned and shifted under the blankets. It was warm and comfortable and much like humans, she believed early mornings would kill her.\n\nRolling out of bed she pushed herself out and turned off the alarm. Muttering a simple prestidigitation spell her bed made itself as she slogged her way to the shower and got ready for another day at the news office.\n\nPulling her hair back she slowly heated it to quickly dry her hair and moved to the kitchen for some breakfast. Making eggs and toast she ate heartedly and then gathered her items to head to work.\n\nThe hustle and bustle of the street was pushing in and she slid into a coffee shop where she could get something akin to fuel for the morning.\n\nSmiling at the barista she waited in line as the other races and folk of the world got their morning joe and snacks to make their day start a bit easier and she too ended up getting her vanilla latte. Dodging a pair of pixies as they bickered over a scone and stepped onto the tram for her commute to work.\n\nShe got off at the station and nodded a greeting to the orc security officer who glowered at everyone but returned her nod politely. Yawning as she threw away her empty cup she walked into the Expanse Column and waved to her centaur coworker and nodded to her editor in cheif, a gnome who walked around making sure everything was going well.\n\nSliding into her desk she opened her inbox to see what needed to be done for the day."
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[WP] During the ship movie night, it is now the Human’s turn to present their choice, and since it’s getting close to the equivalent to Christmas, they decide to pick Home Alone, to the dismay of their crew-members
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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.*",
"Why did it have to be THAT movie? Zack always picked movies we all knew were about fictional stories, but this time was different. The human race thought that Home Alone was fake, but really it was a true story. That boy really HAD done all that stuff to who he perceived as bad guys. And the humans had changed the story to reflect that. But really what he had done simply delayed the inevitable of this crew coming into fruition.\nHe had felt tortured, viewed them as scary intruders, but they were in fact some of my parents' best friends who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.\nThe boy had been chosen for a reason. He was smart, misunderstood, and part of a large family that constantly tortured or left him behind.\nSo it had been set up as such. The family would go on vacation for the human holiday known as Christmas, and unknowingly leave Kevin behind. It would be the perfect opportunity to introduce him to the plan and erase his memories if all went poorly.\nFrom there, it was all in the film. Instead of listening to them, the boy had perceived them as intruders and despite all efforts to prove otherwise, they were inflicted with all sorts of torture, many of which would have brought death upon any other mortal beings.\nBut not my race. We had evolved to handle things far worse than even the best of the torture traps. Rather, after days of Kevin doing his best to protect his home they gave up. My parents were called upon and told to play human police officers to pretend to arrest them.\nAnd so they ended the efforts and waited until humankind was ready. That's when this ship came about, and the Home Alone movie franchise began, much to the annoyance of all Trellish kind.\n\"I'm not changing the movie, Selva. I understand your parents were tortured, but it's still a funny movie and I want to watch it. It's the only Christmas movie I enjoy.\"\nMy husband sighed and glanced at me, as if pleading for support, only to be met with a shrug.\n\"It's his turn to pick. We'll have to just find humor in the pain. Now let's just get this over with.\"\nZack grinned. Ever since he and his twin had been brought aboard, torturous movies had been his choice everytime movie day came around. It was just his personality."
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[WP] After a sudden car accident, you go to heaven, a giant hotel filled with different generations of families. After meeting up with your distant ancestors and other guests, you begin waiting for your parents to arrive....It has been 10,000 years now, and you're starting to have some questions.
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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, they'll be here soon, I'm sure!\" The receptionist's honeyed voice had grown a little tiresome to hear. I just gave her a weak grin and nodded.\n\nThe souls came by once a year. The dropoff had just happened and once again, mom and dad were missing. I'd kinda just assumed at this point, they must be immortal. Maybe gods. Maybe God. Who knows? I'd stopped caring but I still had to ask.\n\nI'd made a life for myself here. Or... well not a life but a place. I'd met people, almost everyone it seemed, even if I knew that was impossible, and I'd made friends. Friends with my best friend's grown great granddaughter, she was a hoot and older than me, which had been weird at first but I got over it. Friends with, ironically, the grandfather of the boy who bullied me in school. Everyone I knew, I was able to trace the steps removed back to me and it did make me laugh a bit.\n\nSo no parents but who needed 'em?\n\n...apparently I did because when I returned to my room that night to find a note on my pillow saying *Meet me by the fountain at 1:30 AM. I have news about your parents* I sprinted down there, hours early, and waited. I dismissed the questions of any who gave me odd looks after realizing I'd not abandoned my post at the fountain for three hours but I stayed. I stayed until the allocated hour and didn't budge.\n\n\"You know.\" The voice made me jump and I whirled to find a young woman standing beside me. \"The idea of a meetup place is to avoid suspicion. Otherwise, I'd have just knocked.\"\n\n\"Oh.\" I felt foolish but the feeling didn't last long. \"You said-\"\n\n\"Yes yes! Goodness. I can't believe I'm about to tell you this. You. You, who rushed to a meeting spot 6 hours early are about to learn about the Conspiracy of Heaven.\"\n\n\"The what now?\"\n\nShe glared at my interruption. \"Lotta 'paranoid' folks back home were shunned for their beliefs in something greater, something our religious, scientific, and political leaders alike wouldn't tell us. So the Conspiracy of Heaven was formed. We weren't your classic beatniks with long hair and dumb, wide eyes. No, we had resources. And it wasn't long before we dug stuff up.\"\n\nI just kinda blankly stared, waiting for it to make sense. She was annoyed with my disinterest but really, she'd come about my *parents*. Why did I care about some mortal conspiracy?\n\nApparently this CoH group had spread to be a worldwide organization. They'd had hackers and espionage and field agents. They'd uncovered massive scandals, some real Illuminati shit, the kind of thing that would honestly have fascinated me when I was alive. Or recently dead. Or 100 years dead. By now I'd kinda heard crazier.\n\n\"One of our agents had to seduce the son of the current president.\" Her voice dropped. \"A child was the result. But of course, a field agent couldn't raise a boy and she wasn't ready to quit her job, so the child was placed with other agents within our community until his untimely death a day after his 18th birthday.\"\n\n\"They're here?\"\n\n\"I'm sorry?\"\n\n\"My parents. All of them I guess. Adopted, biological, they're here.\"\n\n\"Oh yes.\"\n\n\"Then why haven't they...\"\n\nThis... this did leave me cold. Somehow the notion that my parents had died and simply hadn't *found* me, hadn't *looked*, that left me colder than did some fantasy of them being gods.\n\n\"The fight isn't over. There's a reason it's called the Conspiracy of Heaven.\" She launched on to explain about their crusade against God.\n\n\"Wait,\" I interrupted after internalizing almost nothing that she'd said. \"So you're telling me, the family that raised me, mom and dad, they died and just didn't find me because, what, they were still fighting against the heavenly bellhop himself? Or-\" I blinked fiercely and swiped my eyes. \"Or is it because, as agents who were just put in charge of raising me, it was all a charade and they just... don't want to find me.\"\n\nHer lips grew tight and for a moment, I knew, it was the second. It was the second and my little afterlife was about to grow all the darker.\n\nThen her eyes softened. \"The first. God they talked about you all the time. They can't wait to see you.\"\n\nMy heart skipped and the mucus that had built in my throat suddenly came loose as my nose began to run and my eyes teared up.\n\n\"I can see them?\"\n\nHer face grew serious. \"Hopefully. Something went wrong with their latest mission. In fact, a lot of somethings have been going wrong. We need help because a lot of our best agents have gone missing. We need help.\"\n\nI nodded and swiped my eyes. \"Just tell me what you want.\"\n\n\"It's dangerous-\"\n\n\"I've enjoyed placid safety for millennia. I'm ready for some danger.\" If it meant I got to see mom and dad again... \"I need to apologize.\"\n\n\"Apologize?\"\n\n\"I was-God I was driving home too fast. It's so stupid, seems so dumb now, but Sarah, they'll remember her, she said she'd go out with me.\" I laughed but it caught in my throat. \"And I shared everything with them. I knew they'd be so excited for me so I sped home and there was this dumptruck and I just want to apologize.\"\n\nHer face crumpled a bit at this and she put a hand on my shoulder. \"It'll be alright, kid. You can do that once you help me rescue them. Sound good?\"\n\nI nodded. \"What do you need me to do?\"\n\nShe grinned grimly. \"New meeting place for a new briefing. Don't be early this time?\"\n\n\\---\n\nI met up with Agent Lacey at the pool that evening, waiting for the kid to meet us. She looked agitated.\n\n\"And you said he'd come?\"\n\n\"Positive,\" I said. \"He was crying by the end, completely eager.\"\n\n\"What did you tell him?\"\n\nHere I hesitated. He'd been so crushed at the idea that his adopted parents might have just seen him as another job that I couldn't tell him. I couldn't tell him. A lie had been easier and more productive but Agent Lacey still had a twinge of sympathy for him. A soft spot.\n\n\"What I had to. Do you know what he looks like?\"\n\n\"Not like me?\" she asked, her grey eyes conflicted.\n\n\"Actually he does have your eyes. Otherwise he's a spitting image of that first son of the president's.\" I grinned and she rolled her eyes.\n\n\"Never again.\"\n\n\"You say that every time.\"\n\nThen we trailed to silence as we heard footsteps echo through the room. A moment later, the boy arrived, face eager and ready for what we had to throw at him.\n\nLacey was all business, you never would have guessed her connection to the kid, and I had to keep it together.\n\nFighting God was no place for some spots and twinges of sympathy. Too much depended on it. We were gonna keep fighting or burn in hell for eternity and I wasn't yet ready to be crisped. This might not go well, I had no way of knowing, but I knew we had to try.\n\nAnd I knew when we *did* rescue the agents that had adopted this kid, they might just wish for the hell we'd rescued them from.\n___\nFind more stories at [r/SamaraWrites](https://www.reddit.com/r/SamaraWrites/)",
"It was a bit awkward at first, I have to admit. I mean, meeting so many people for the first time who lived in such different time periods and were only connected to me by that ever thinning strand of DNA. And through the monitors in every room they got to watch me go through my life while I was unaware.\n\nTrust me, you don't know 'embarrassment' until your great great great grand uncle starts discussing your porn preferences with you.\n\nYou get used to it though.\n\nI call everyone by their first name here, because going by the familial ties we share is just a damn mouthful. \n\nIt's been nice here, I have to admit. Everything I've needed just pops into existence, no worrying about money for rent or anything. No sickness or injury.\n\nThere is only one Hotel, I've learned, as every single human is connected in some way. There is technically no 'outside' that we residents have access to, but everything you need can be found here.\n\nThe Heaven Haven Hotel is ever growing, on the first floor are the oldest ancestors of the human race. \n\n Not 'Adam' and 'Eve' surprisingly, I thought since Heaven was real they would be too. I guess that's just what happens when the Holy Book is human edited.\n\nI've spent a lot of time meeting and getting to know everyone here, and I've seen my fair share of new arrival. Everyone stays around the same age I'd estimate just from how we all look. If they die before that age, then they come here and grow up gradually. Seeing my infant niece in the foyer kind of broke my heart. I can't wait until my sister comes here to see what a lovely woman she grew into.\n\nTime is kind of a weird concept to me now. We don't need to sleep, but we still can if we want to. The brilliant light outside only dims in your room when you want it to.\n\nSo it took me a long time to realize that the people I was really looking forward to seeing again have yet to make their appearance. Where were my parents? They should have showed up a long time ago, right?\n\n*Everyone* ever born ends up in the Hotel. If they've been a bad sort in their life, they go through a program that shows them the errors of their ways before they get dropped off here.\n\nI didn't have to go through the program, and no one will tell me what it entails. Adolf went a bit pale when I asked him about it one day and clammed up. Whatever it is, it's got to be really effective. \n\nI decided to ask the Manager, putting in a request to see Them at Their earliest convenience.\n\nI was in the middle of a rather competitive tennis match with Kayla (great x5 grandmother, I think) when his assistant came to find me. \n\nGabriel was a harried looking blond man with a tie that was never straight. I wonder if the Manager makes him wear the tie, or if that's just an aesthetic choice? Seems a bit unfair, as all of the residents wear only the most comfortable clothes. It's been a few decades at least since I've worn anything but pajamas.\n\n\"Miss Heather, the Manager can see you now.\" He said respectfully.\n\nKayla and I dropped our racquets, and they immediately disappeared. I waved to her and followed Gabriel out to the elevator, which appeared whenever and wherever we needed it.\n\nGabriel started flipping through a sheaf of papers when we stepped onto it, pulling a red pen out of nowhere and baring down on the clipboard that was suddenly holding the papers. He started writing furiously and I pointedly did not try to read it. That would be rude.\n\nThe elevator dinged pleasantly as we arrived at the floor that held the Manager's office and Gabriel scurried off ahead of me, opening the Manager's door for me as if it was an afterthought. \n\nThe Manager was magnificent in their chair. I could not describe them to you in words you could understand.\n\nThey glanced up at me with a kind smile. \"Heather, what can I do for you?\"\n\nI was not nervous in Their Divine Presence, as the Manager has never been anything but kind in our few brief interactions. \"I was wondering about my parents actually.\" I admitted to Them. \"It's been a while, and everyone else in my family has shown up but them.\" \n\n\"Ah. Yes, your parents May and Michael. They've actually opted out of staying at the Hotel in favor of helping me run my outreach program for particularly wayward souls.\" The Manager explained. \"They'll be in once the entirety of humanity has run its course and everyone has passed the program requirements.\"\n\nOf course! The outreach program that helped people like Adolf and Josef! \n\nMy parents were both teachers during my life, mom was qualified for grades kindergarten to 5th, and dad could handle high school to certain specialty college programs. They were strict with my sister and I growing up, but never unkind. If anyone could change a soul it was them.\n\nI smiled at the Manager, and They smiled back. Hell may not exist, but my parents' students were probably wishing it did."
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[WP] You're a scientist on a spaceship heading back to earth and you locked yourself in the science lab. A mind-controlling parasite has taken over all your crewmates and now you're desperately trying to find a cure.
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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.*",
"“Open the door.”\n\nAndrew’s voice echoed from the metal hallways outside. Only it wasn’t really Andrew, at least, not anymore. Everyone on the SS-Star-Scraper had been infected with the mind-parasite; everyone save for Fletcher. Fletcher had boarded himself up in the onboard laboratory, working frantically to find a cure, or at least a remedy. The ship was due to land on earth in the next hour and Fletcher did not want the virus to spread. Now his own son, Andrew, was using every trick in the book to convince him to open the door.\n\n“Dad, I’m not infected…” Said Andrew. A long silence followed and then, “Open the door.”\n\nFletcher grimaced as he worked, trying his best to ignore the pleas of his infected son. Fletcher already killed two infected crew members. He locked Kyle and Asem in the air lock. They suffocated to death. Fletcher almost killed his own son too, but he ran instead. Locked himself in the lab.\n\n“Why did you kill them dad?” his son continued. “Dad?”\n\nFletcher ignored him, scribbling away frantically on a notepad. His brain was in autopilot now, running calculations as he studied the microscopic virus samples.\n\n“What are you doing in there?” his son said, sounding more monotone with each passing word. “Dad. What are you doing in there?”\n\nFletcher glanced up at the time; Twenty minutes until landing. He looked back to his work, scattered paper strewn across the metal work bench. This was beyond impossible. Still, he had something that might help. A somewhat weakened version of the parasite, if he could release it as the ship entered the atmosphere things just might work. The AI sky runners would pick up the biological threat and develop a vaccine within seconds. Unfortunately the release chamber was on the opposite side of the ship. A ship about the size of two football fields no less.\n\n“Dad?”\n\n“I’m going to open the door Andrew.” Said Fletcher, tucking the sample into his coat pocket. “I need you to take ten steps back and keep that distance.”\n\n“Dad?”\n\n“If you come any closer I’ll be forced to kill you.” Fletcher gripped his hands tight around the pistol. “Do you understand?”\n\nA long silence. Too long. Fletcher peered out the plate size window. The hallway was empty. Andrew probably ran off to find the others.\n\n“Okay.” Said Fletcher, taking a deep breath and clasping the door lever. Three… two… one… He exhaled, yanked the lever and pushed forward, gun at the ready. Nothing but the long, narrow hallway before him. Fletcher crept forward, unblinking.\n\n“Fletcher Faust” A commanding voice echoed on the PA system. Captain Seline. Fletcher thought she was already dead.\n\n“You have violated code three three nine of the outer-transportation syndicate. You have executed two crew members without provocation. I command you to lay down your weapon or face permanent consequence.”\n\nFletcher smiled grimly, almost laughed, this parasite was smarter than he thought. He rounded the first corner, moved soundlessly down the grated-metal stairs and-\n\n\\-He slammed face first into the floor below as somebody tackled him from behind. The gun flew from his hand and slid across the hallway. Fletcher spun around just in time to see his son leaping toward him. Andrew body-slammed down onto his father, grabbing his wrists and pinning them down. Pushing and struggling to escape, but it was no use. Andrew wrapped his hands against Fletcher’s throat and started to squeeze, his crazed eyes watering and sad. Like some part of him was still aware of his actions. Fletcher beat his fists against Andrew’s chest, a futile effort. His vision fading as the light began to dim and the world began to to disappear and-\n\nBLAM. A gunshot echoed in the hallway. Fletcher’s ears rung as he felt something drip against his face. Water? His vision returned as the grip around his neck weakened. Blood. Blood dripping from his son’s torn open jugular. Andrew’s eyes opened wide and terrified. No. No. No. His son collapsed forward. Fletcher pushed him to the side and turned him on his back, pressing his hands against the gaping hole in Andrew’s throat. Blood flowing out from between his clasped fingers. No… No… No… Fletcher looked up. About twenty feet away, there stood a young women, face pale, gun in hand. She seemed vaguely familiar.\n\n“Who are you?” said Fletcher, teeth grit and blood streaked across his face. The stranger didn’t respond, just stood there, staring blankly, gun in hand.\n\n“WHO ARE YOU?” Fletcher snapped.\n\n“Charlie, B-below deck, maintenance and upkeep.” She stammered, “I heard there was an incident above deck…”\n\nFletcher knew she wasn’t infected, because if she was, he wouldn’t be alive to know anything. “I need you to take this,” said Fletcher, using his head to motion to his coat pocket. “Take it to the release chamber and release it as we enter the atmosphere.”\n\nThe young woman stepped forward, carefully, gun still in hand. Fletcher looked down at his son, he was dead, but Fletcher didn’t accept it, hands pressed down. He didn’t accept anything.\n\nThe woman reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the vial.\n\n“Run as fast as you can, kill anyone that tries to stop you. The fate of humanity depends on it.” Said Fletcher. The woman nodded and turned away running down the hallway. The further she got, the stranger Fletcher felt. Something was seriously wrong. He looked down at his dead son, the weight of everything finally crushing up on him. He sat there, hands pressed against his sons throat and wept.\n\nMeanwhile Charlie burst into the Release Chamber, only seconds left until atmospheric entry. She scrambled across the room and placed the vial onto the exit hatch. The ship began to rumble as it slammed into the first layer of atmosphere.\n\n“Okay” said Charlie. She pulled the release lever and the hatch opened. Sliding down an elaborate tube system, gears and filters breaking it apart, removing the glass molecules and keeping only the chemical within. Cloning the substance millions of times over and spraying it out into the skies above. Charlie breathed a sigh of relief as the ship entered the stratosphere. The rumbling stopped.\n\n“What did you just do?” a voice from behind spoke. Charlie spun around to see Captain Seline, looming in the doorway.\n\n“C-captain Seline,” Charlie stammered and saluted and stood up straight.\n\n“At ease. What did you just do?” the captain repeated.\n\n“I released the substance. As ordered by Dr. Fletcher.”\n\nCaptain Seline’s face turned pale as she stepped back.\n\n“Captain?”\n\nThe captain ignored her, slammed the door shut and locked her in.\n\n“Captain?!” Charlie repeated.\n\nCaptain Seline turned to the intercom speaker on her shoulder, “Comm-Crew, notify ground control of imminent infection spread. Unknown parasite with manic and violent psychotic side effects. All hands on deck to find and subdue infected patient zero: Dr. Fletcher Faust.”\n\n​\n\nr/polterkites",
"\n\nFranky managed to barricade the door to the lab using tables and chairs. The door itself had a small round window and he looked trough it at the zombified members of his crew as they screamed and broke their hands banging at the door, desperately trying to get in.\n\n“Math be damned” he thought. It was supposed to be an easy mission. Go find a new planet for the empire and report back. After months on board with the mindless foot soldiers of the emperor, they finally found a planet. Not only did it have an atmosphere which allowed their kind to life on, but it also had oceans. \n\nIt was the perfect planet for a new outpost but there was a problem. A race of monkey that controlled the surface, The captain had punched Franky in the face when he wanted to contact them to see if they were intelligent enough to realized they were not alone in the universe.\n\nFranky looked trough the window, Half the crew was on the other side, trying to get in. He saw the captain and smirked as he realized he would never be able to punch him again. The parasite that controlled him made him bang his hands into the door so often that they were reduced to stumps. \n\nNo time to waste he thought. Panicked he looked trough the lab. Everyone knew the danger of the parasites they were transporting. They were supposed to drop a dozen of them on each continent of the planet. Within week, they would have zombified all species and got them to attack each other. \n\nIt was the perfect way of clearing all living things off a planet without destroying anything. They were so dangerous that every spaceship only was allowed one specimen on board as a weapon of last resort. Seeing how the monkeys inhabited every continent of the planet The captain made the decision to return to another outpost to pick up more specimens in order to guarantee a successful operation.\n\nOn the way back, Franky listened to the monkey’s music that he had picked up from radio waves. He realized that the monkeys were smart. They shouldn’t just be exterminated in order to have their planet minded to shit for the empire then have an outpost put in that place that would serve no one ever…\n\nFranky had decided to safe the monkeys. His plan was simple. Use the parasite already on board to kill the captain and his crew. Get to an escape pot and go to earth. The monkeys would take him in, after all, he had saved them. Unfortunately, after the outbreak, half of the crew jumped into all the escape pots and flew off leaving him stranded.\n\nIt wouldn’t serve them much. Franky had disabled all radios on board so the empire wouldn’t be able to find anyone let alone the planet of the mostly hairless monkeys.\n\nHe checked his watch. The spaceship would arrive in twelve hours. By then he would have to taken control of the space ship or it would fly into earth with lightspeed. \n\nPanicked he started building.\n\nSeven hours later he went to the door again and looked at the zombified crew. He realized the true parasite wasn’t the weapon they used to clean planets for the empire, the true parasites where those who followed the emperors wish no regards for others. Luckily, he had made a cure. A homemade Flamethrower that was sure to cure the ship. \n\n\n\\--------- \n\n\nSorry for any spelling erros, much love to all"
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[WP] You and your party were sent by the king to kill a Necromancer has taken refuge at the edge of the kingdom, along with an army of undead warriors; but when you find him you discover he's not interested in taking over the kingdom, and is focused on fighting of the creatures of the nearby wastes.
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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 necromancer had no known name, title, or pseudonym. There was little information about him, and what we did know didn't help a lot: he was (or had been, lich status was still unkown) a human male, who lived in a small town at the borders of the duchy of Galonia, a frontier between the kingdom of Nakaria and the Great Wastes of the East, where only a handful of nomads dared to reside. The town had been sacked, presumably by such nomads, as was usual, but this raid had been particularly ferocious, and so the necromancer was the only survivor. After that, he had moved to the Heartlands to study the arcane arts, showing remarkable curiosity for the forbidden sects. This had granted him a spot in the Inquisition's watch list, however he ran away with several tomes related to necromancy before any punitive action could be taken. His registered name was also found to be false, taken from a rather obscure tale of a knight who tried to tame the Wastes.\n\nGiven this, we could only ascertain what we already suspected; he had grown resentful at the kingdom for failing to protect his home and was planning to use an undead horde to take matters into his own hands, and possibly attempting to control the Wastes' wild magics. That's where my team came in: we were not the best, nor the most famous, but we had one great strength in our versatility. We would not be able to handle any encounter beyond a horde of around 60 undead, but between all 7 of us we could overcome any possible obstacle with relative ease. Lockpicking, offensive magic, healing magic, trap laying and disarming, pathfinding... You name it, someone here knows how to do it.\n\nThis left something to be desired in terms of combat. A more fighting-oriented team could easily defeat any army the necromancer could have mustered, but they may fall to any sneakier tactics. We were the best compromise between both possibilities, and thus the crown's best hope. And so we began our journey to the necromancer's suspected base.\n\nWe arrived after weeks of travel. And the things we saw were nothing like what we expected.\n\nThe necromancer had made camp near a strange crater, small in diameter but seemingly endless in it's depth. From it spewed all manner of strange creatures; bat-like beasts with horns and long, slim tails; mangled bodies held together by a slimy crimson substance; strange mockeries of farm animals, modified to be made as deadly as possible; and all throughout the crater, one could see the same vibrant crimson substance giving life to these abominations.\n\nThe necromancer used his undead to fight these creatures, raising them afterwards to fight on his side. After slaying his way to the crater, he hummed a strange tune and uttered a strange chant, and the crimson substance receded to the bottomless depths from whence it came.\n\n\"I assume you want some explanations.\" He said, turning to face us. We could see he was not yet a lich; in fact, he still looked very much human.\n\n\"We want to take you to the High Inquisitor's court. Dead or alive, your choice.\" I replied. Strange as those creatures were, he had just beaten them back, and they seemed no threat to the Royal Armies.\n\nThe necromancer chuckled. \"Ah yes, the Inquisition. So blind in their illusion of purity, they would doom us all to maintain it.\" He saw our confusion, and pointed towards the now sealed crater. \"Those were the Hateful. That's what I call them anyway. They were made by your precious Inquisitors, though not on purpose to be fair.\"\n\n\"You would accuse the Inquisition itself if such heresy?! You really are delusional.\"\n\n\"Heresy? *Heresy?*\" His chuckle turned to a maniacal laugh. \"Heresy, really? Oh that's rich. Let me enlighten you my friend, since you too seem to be blind to their hypocrisy; what exactly *is* heresy? Have you ever had it explained? Have they ever laid out their reasons for refusing to let us study such potentially powerful sects of the arcane? No, heresy is simply what they call the knowledge they want no one else to have. And the Hateful are the proof of their failure, because your oh so precious Inquisition decided to meddle in interdimensional travel and pocket realities, so that they could rid themselves of 'heresy'. And all this power, all this knowledge, bundled together in a place outside reality, with unkown rules and unknown effects on it's residents? What did they expect?\"\n\n\"Wait, residents?\" Surely he didn't mean-\n\n\"Yes, your High Hypocrites threw people into pocket realities. And over time, these people gathered all the power and knowledge the Inquisition threw at them, and fused into a single being. A single force. The Hateful. And I honestly don't know wether to fight them or join them in tearing the kingdom apart!\"\n\nHe was visibly angered, but made an effort to calm himself down. \"No. They won't stop at the kingdom. They would see this entire world burned to the ground. I can't have that.\" He turned around and began walking to his tent. \"So go ahead, kill me or whatever it is you want to do. The hordes won't get you. Go live with your Inquisition and keep pretending these things don't exist. Or...\" He turned his head. A bit overly dramatic, but whatever. \"... you could help me fight these things. Who knows, maybe even convince your Inquisitors to get their heads out of the sand and do something right for once.\"\n\nI turned to the rest of the team. They all seemed to agree.\n\n\"Alright, your monologue convinced us. We'll help you fight these things, and we'll spread the word to the people. If push comes to shove, we'll stand up for you in any trials.\"\n\nHe smiled. \"Great. Let's get to work then.\"",
"\"So, his Royal Highness hired you to kill me? Ah, how easily mortals forget.\"\n\nThe ancient Lich had been sat at a table, glancing at a myriad of maps and documents, when our party broke in. Now it sat back in its chair, one good eye fixed upon the party, while where the other eye should be, a mess of scarred and rotten flesh glowed with a faint magical aura.\n\nA paladin of the Eternal Light, silver accented armour shined to a gleam, was the first of the party to react. Drawing a sword glowing with holy light, they charged across the room.\n\n\"I don't care what you have to say, die worm!\"\n\nThe Lich sighed and snapped its fingers, suspending the paladin in a magic stasis. It then turned to the rest of the party, rising from its seat, its bad eye now pulsating with a deep red aura.\n\n\"Everything I did, I did for the Realm! You call me a worm, but by the grace of King Samuel the fourth, I was given a chance for redemption. For ninety years I have fought, my army-\"\n\nThe paladin, struggling against the magic field, shouted at the Lich.\n\n\"Fought? You've been gathering a army to overthrow the Kingdom for ninety years, we are here to stop you from letting your Darkness overrun us!\"\n\nThe Lich paused, the red aura fading away, before answering.\n\n\"MY Darkness? How quick to forget... I came here as the Kingdoms shield, a living army at my command. For twenty years they fought, and fell. Buried. My requests for reinforcements denied. 'We can't afford to send more men, make do with what you have.' 'Why would you need more men, the darkness hasn't broken your line?' The Darkness was infinite, my men were not. After thirty years almost all of them were dead, the few still breathing old men, past their prime. The Darkness kept encroaching, so I fell back onto my past transgressions, raising the fallen to fight on. And now, sixty years later, here you are, ready to destroy me, and unleash the Darkness.\""
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[WP] You’re telling the story of how you accidentally killed a god, and it all started with a piece of cheese
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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 how did you kill him, exactly?\" Ann asked thoroughly confused now.\n\n\"Told you, i offered him some of my cheese dish and his head exploded!\" I said as i took another bite of my cheese dish.\n\n\"That is not possible...he is the god of food...there is no way food can harm him\" she said as she squinted at me eating the food that killed the food god. \"Did you poison it?\" She inquired.\n\n\"No..hell no! I'm eating from the same batch. We'd have known by now if it was poisoned!\" i exclaimed.\n\n\"So what exactly happened?\" Ann shouted over me at this point.\n\n\"Oh you know how food god, Rameter, recently told us about tomato being a fruit?\" i continued after Ann nodded \"and how cheese is to be used in moderation and treated like icing on cake?\"\n\n\"uh huh..\" Ann squinted.\n\n\"Well i made him a tomato ketchup cake with blue cheese icing and i think it tastes really good\" i claimed as i took another bite."
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[WP] You were among the scientists working on a machine that would generate wormholes when something went awfully wrong and you were sucked in. When you wake up you are in a strange room in the middle of what seems to be a summoning circle surrounded by very surprised wizards
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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.*",
"Redwind the Invincible (also known as the Incorrigible to his small circle of drinking buddies) nervously cleared his throat.\nHe began chanting the final words of the spell. It was tricky, with tons of mathematical subtleties.\nThe weird lyrics resounded in the high-ceilinged hall.\nFinally, 4 minutes later, he concluded with a final set of 13 very hard syllables.\nThe circle began glowing with a halo of bright light. In the middle, shadows formed, and swirled.\n\nThree hours later, after everyone was incredibly tired, disappointed, and losing attention, it began to solidify.\n\nSuddenly a man stepped out of the circle.\nIt had happened so quickly people hadn't had time to get over their boredom, and were a lot more flustered than they would have been.\n\nThe man looked around curiously and with an air of wonder.\nHe spoke some strange syllables, in a hissing manner.\n\"Demon, we charge thee with these our commands!\" bellowed Redwind, who had recovered.\nThe man covered his ears, as if it was too loud (which it really was).\nEventually someone fetched a translation spell crystal.\nRedwind shouted again (the man cringed) - \"Now you must listen to our words, liver in nighted haunts beyond the ken of man!\"\nThe man suddenly acted as if astonished.\n\"I can understand you\", he said.\n\"Do not seek to fool us with your pretense of amazement! Answer our questions about the drought, or we will consign you back to the dreadful places where you came from promptly. But help, and we will let you live in this place of light, and fresh air, for a while.\"\n\"Actually, I'd prefer somewhere else. This place is kind of dark and smoky.\"\nThe man looked around at the hall, which really was dark and smoky.\nFlustered, Redwind kept on.\n\"Do not-\"\n\"Look, whoever you are,\" the man interrupted. \"You really shout way too much, and I'm tired of standing. Can I get a chair?\"\nHe stepped out of the circle. Everyone broke out into a hubbub. \n\"How can he do that?\"\nA new wizard in charge of the project stepped forward.\n\"I think we need to have a long talk about this. Redwind, get someone to snag a chair.\""
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[WP] There are stories of an Arena that has a life of its own where fighters are imbued with an extraordinary power that dissipates outside its grounds. Fighters who are deemed worthy by the Arena are granted a wish but in it's 1000 years of existence, only your mother claims that title. Find 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.*",
" \n\n(WP) The Victorious \n\nHe’d been searching for his mother for as long as he could remember, and he still hadn’t been able to find her. She was a living legend, the only warrior to be granted a wish by The Arena. It’s only existed for a thousand years, and only she held the title of The Victorious. \n\nHer only son had wandered the globe in search of her; she’d left him at an orphanage before finding The Arena, before forging a new life without him. She was as mysterious and mythical as a god to him, and he’d devoured stories of her exploits. She’d shed blood, but he could not suppress his curiosity about her. Some called her a monster, others a goddess of rage and death. \n\nSome naysayers said that the only reason she had won at all was because The Arena had chosen her, that it had somehow enhanced her. No one could ever prove wrongdoing, but some people theorized that it had only chosen her because it had sentience of its own. \n\nBut to Callum, they were just jealous of his mother’s fame. To be The Victorious was to have the highest honor in the galaxy, and though it still hurt him that she’d left, he could hardly begrudge her a life of peace and quiet. The howling wind and rain seemed to echo his tumultuous thoughts, but he kept his head bowed, walking on. He’d heard rumors that his mother had taken up residence on this planet, and he had to admit it was a perfect place to hide. Who would think that the galaxy’s most powerful warrior would be here, in the middle of all these violent storms? \n\nHe came to a small town, though the word town seemed far too generous. There were houses mounted high above the ground, and Callum entered what looked to be a trading post. \n\n“Excuse me, but I’ve heard rumors that The Victorious lives here,” He said to the alien at the desk, using the translator he’d stolen to translate. \n\nThe alien in question was bright pink, with black eyes and no pupils, and when Callum peeked down at her, he could’ve sworn he saw tentacles sticking out of her skirt. She harrumphed and glared at him, exposing sharp, bloody teeth. \n\n“For a human you don’t have very good manners,” She said curtly. “If it will get you out of my sight, The Victorious lives just outside of town. You won’t be able to miss it.” With that, Callum was shooed out of the shop, the bells above the door jangling merrily. \n\n\\*\\* \n\nCallum ran all the way out of town, until he found the building in which his mother lived. It was a simple little cottage, nothing grand or ostentatious at all. He stood in front of the door and raised his fist to knock, but before he could, the door swung open. \n\n“Who are you and what do you want?” The woman before him looked too young to be his mother, with dark skin and long, dark hair that curled into spirals. \n\n“My name is Callum, and I think I’m your son.” \n\n\\*\\*"
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[WP] Overnight, an unexpected diaster strikes - around the world, pieces of reality are mysteriously replaced with void. Fast forward to 2120, you're part of a secret operation. Your mission? Repairing the world by going back in time and retrieving the missing pieces.
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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 pulled out my temporal displacement analyser. I was looking for a missing chunk of London. Specifically the Houses of Parliament. Our predictions had led to this night. 11th May 1941.\n\nAfter the Fracture, when parts of the world had vanished from space and time, the world was in chaos. In time, it was discovered that they had somehow been displaced from the standard timeline, travelling back along to an important point in their existence. I had joined the Salvagers, with our mission to undo the damage.\n\nI watched, slightly out of sync with the rest of that time. I didn't want to mess up history after all, and a man dressed in a metal suit full of gadgetry would make a significant change. As I stood there, the bombs fell. There was intense damage, and I saw several hit the Houses.\n\nThats when I saw it. The flicker. The sign that a duplicate was overlaid on the time frame. My analyser lit up, confirming the case. I moved, and froze time there, rewinding it slightly to that flicker. And I saw it. The future Houses, replacing the past ones.\n\nI moved quickly, aware of the strain on the fabric of reality. I ran around it, placing time anchors around it. Each one beeped, and a thin beam of light linked them. I deployed 2 drones, one to fly above with an anchor, and one to burrow below with a final one.\n\nAs they moved, I looked at the amount of time left on the stop. I had approximately 2 minutes of stopped time left. I powered up the return unit, ready to deploy as soon as possible. After what felt like an eternity, the last 2 linked, and my visor counted to 100%. I hit the button, and felt the timestream shift.\n\nI was pulled back along, to the moment of the Fracture. I watched the Houses vanish. But in that instance, the time anchors activated, locking the retrieved version in place. As it merged with the current stream, I felt the rippling pain, as my time line shifted, with me outside of it.\n\nIt was a thankless task, as once we're finished, the public won't even know what happened. But it is necessary, to prevent the forming of the Void. And once we were done, we would find out why it happened."
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[WP] Humanity is the only race in the Galactic Council that cannot cast 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.*",
"Another day and another way I find to cope within this madness. The galactic council is always hectic. Why must I be running errands for these 'things'?.No offence but they seriously give me the creeps. Come to think of it, I'm just a peach stupid bloby man creature. I walk swiftly down the hallway, my thoughts just becoming more and more bitter and childish.\n\n'hey! You... Come here... I need your help child', he announced to me extending his hand out of his robes to gently point.\n\n'I-..... Erm sure', I reply hastily. I scurry over holding my wooden box close to my chest nodding down in respect as I felt passersby watching me carefully.\n\nHe whispers in a unknown language to me face now completely blank, sunken grey eyes shimmering a bright shade of purple. I step back look behind me to make sure I'm not hallucinating. They all have the same expression as him. My heart drops and I can feel the rush of adrenalin hit me. Chest pounding so heavily my ears could hear every thump. I stammer trying to articulate myself, my gut telling me something bad is going to happen. I drop the box and as my foot twists to set off into a sprint the old man smiles and shakes his head.\n\n'dear, I apologise. Could you help me work my security card?.... I can't access anything', he said. Card now firmly in my hand.\n\nEverybody suddenly went back to normal, chattering off into the hallway. I still wanted to run, but that would be absurd now to do. I look down, my wooden box gone completely vanished. I stand there speechless then conjure up the words to finally speak .\n\n'yeah', I mumbled. Taking his card into a machine that presses stuff really hard. It was cool and unusual but it kinda took my mind off things a tiny bit but my eyes still wondered about in paranoia trying to spot the old poeple in the hallway. I avoided looking at the old man handing him the card.\n\n'thank you child, I shall see you later', he said with a gentle smile. He pressed his card, hearing a beep. He sett off.\n\nWhat in the actual hell happened?. What was that?. I'm not mad?. I mean I knew thier aliens, but that just wasn't well normal but what's normal up here eh?. I tried to sooth myself but the itch just spread until I needed to scratch. I did the first thing that came into mind. Check the security cameras, then I have proof I'm not mad.\n\nI went into the security hatch, sneakily obtained a backup of footage from yesterday morning. I played it on my computer and bingo!. I'm not crazy but \n I need to take this to my officials and ask what happened. Is this a alien thing?\n\n'sir, this is what happened yesterday that I needed to report', I said giving him the disc\n\n'Us humans do not have the magical abilities that the others have, what happened yesterday was a magical phenomenon. I'm not sure as to why we can not cast magic but extensive research is being conducted on the matter. I advice you to keep quiet for the reputation of humanity within the galactic Council. Okay son? ', he advised."
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[WP] A revolutionary dating network is able to reveal who and where is your soulmate. You find out yours is imprisoned, at the jail you work as a janitor.
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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 saw her sitting alone in a dark room. Her hair was matted, she didn't like to comb them. Her cheeks were hollow. Like a spectre, she sat at the edge of the room. Her face was exactly like the one I had seen on SoulMatch. I looked at her one final time. Then I picked my broom up and moved to the other section.\n\n\"Oi Porky,\" said a voice from one of the rooms.\n\nI didn't respond.\n\n\"Ahh. He looks depressed. What happened porky? Aren't getting any?\"\n\nThey laughed. All of them. I swept the lobby, it was my job.\n\nAt the end of my shift, I said hello to the jailor and punched out. If SoulMatch worked as advertised then I had found her, my soulmate. She was there, I could see her every day. So near yet so far away.",
" “Teddy you came for me” Heather exclaimed, rising to her feet. \n\n \n Edward felt his stomach churn, as he stood mesmerised by the woman in front of him. She looked at him with wide blue eyes that seemed to shine when she said his name. Edward thought she was even more beautiful in person. Her dark hair cascaded around her shoulders, framing her small face, and high cheek bones. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach. He was risking everything for her, a woman he had never met, but in that moment he knew it was worth it, that he would follow her to the end of the Earth and beyond. After all RevelutionMate was never wrong when it came to finding your soul mate. \n\n \n “You know my name?” he gulped. Usually he hated it when people called him Teddy, but it sounded right when she said it. \n\n \n “Of course I do, you are my soulmate Teddy. Have you come to rescue me?” \n\n \n “Yes” Edward nodded. “If we leave now we should be able to leave undetected. I have a van parked outside, with a change of clothes and new IDS for us both.” \n\n \n “Oh Teddy, you are so clever. Come here” she beckoned him across the cell. \n\n \n Willingly, eagerly, Edward approached her. He took her small, smooth hand in his rough, calloused one, as she pulled him towards her. He felt a jolt of electricity shudder through his body as he stared into her electric blue eyes. Then everything went dark... \n\n \n \n A bright light shone into his eyes, causing them to water. His head felt fuzzy. He tried to lift his hands to his face, but instead he found they were bound behind his back, tight rope cutting into his wrists. Edward tried to stand, but he felt rope digging into his ankles as he writhed about. Frantically, he looked around the room. He could see shadows of people in the darkness beyond the light, but he doubted he any of them were Heather. Recoiling from the light, he dropped his head down into his chest. \n\n \n “You're awake then” a harsh voice of a man, barked at him from the other side of the lamp. Edward lifted his head up but he could not see who had spoken. \n\n \n “What... what's going on?” Edward stuttered. The light was stinging his eyes, and he dropped his head back down. \n\n \n “You know exactly what is going on” the voice replied. A rough hand grabbed Edward's hair from behind, yanking his head back up. \n\n \n “My... my name is Edward Knights I am a janitor here at the prison. I... I don't know what happened. One moment I was cleaning and the next thing I knew I had blacked out.” Edward knew he was not fooling anyone, but he had to at least try. Maybe Heather had escaped and he could try buy her some time. The man behind the light laughed, an unpleasant, rasping sort of laugh. \n\n \n “Nice try, but we found you inside the cell of inmate 15492, a Miss Heather Cassidy.” \n\n \n “Never heard of her.” \n\n \n “Bullshit” the voice boomed back. “We searched your computer and we found your account on RevolutionMate, where you were matched with the same Heather Cassidy.” The man stepped forwards, into the light. He was as broad as he was tall, with closed cropped salt and pepper hair. Edward was sure that he did not recognise him, but he could tell he was important, his grey pinstripe suit was nicely tailored. “We know you helped her escape.” \n\n \n “No, you must be confused...” Edward tried to shake his head, but the hand pulled even harder at his hair. \n\n \n “I am going to go easy on you” the man smiled down at him, in a less than reassuring way. “Clearly you thought you were acting out of love, unaware you were being manipulated. Miss Cassidy's profile it a little vague about her crimes, you weren't to know what she was capable of...” His words hung heavy in the air. “We believe that somehow she was able to hack into RevolutionMate and match herself with you.” \n\n \n “You're lying” Edward cried out, although he could feel doubt nagging in the back of his mind. He had been surprised himself when the website had matched him with Heather. If you ignored her incarceration, on paper, she was perfect. She was beautiful and clever, she held several degrees, and shared all his interests. It was as if she was made for him... \n\n \n “Think about it, what would someone like Heather Cassidy want with someone who cleans her toilets?” It was true he was not much to look at, he had dropped out of college and didn't have much money. Also it was likely she had knocked him out... but what if she was the one? His head was pounding and he thought he could feel blood pooling around his wrist bindings. It was getting harder and harder to concentrate. He just wished he could just talk to Heather. The man loomed over Edward. \n\n \n “You are going to help us find her. If you do, we make your sentencing more bearable, but if you don't... well it doesn't bear thinking about.” The man cracked his knuckles."
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[WP] Since you were born, whenever you did something big or special you would always see an 'achievement' pop up in the corner of your vision. As you go about your day, you see the achievement: "Apocalypse Starter" in the corner of your vision.
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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 achievements always came at the best times in my life. The first one I remember is “Fifth Birthday!” popping up in the top right corner of my vision and a little chime as I blew out the candles. Since then I’ve learned to be on the lookout for those ever precious moments when I unlock another achievement. Today though, I got one I don’t think I ever wanted to unlock. During breakfast I unlocked the “Apocalypse Starter” achievement which sounds super bad. It’s been a few minutes now and nothing particularly horrible has happened. I just don’t understand for the life of me how my breakfast of bat soup would bring about the end of the world.",
"All my life I had seen achievements pop up whenever I did random things, either for the first time or for a set number of times. I remember seeing the \"Heartbreaker\" achievement after my fifth break-up and began to wonder what all was possible. I never wanted to do them all, just pondered the extent of my effect of the world.\n\nSo there I was, sitting at home on my couch watching Netflix and chilling on my phone, as you do. It was raining, I may or may not have been in a state of intoxication due to what may or may not be illicit substances. It doesn't matter, actually it might in order to get the achievement. Either way, I've taken a bit of a twizzler rope and I hit the next episode on my tv. That's when I hear it.\n*BlllllLLLingGG*\n\n\"Apocalypse Starter\".\n\nI freeze as the sounds of sirens echo in from outside and warring messages began to blow up my phone. What did I do?"
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[WP] "Have a baby vampire they said." "It will be fine they said" you mutter to yourself as you try to catch the cloud of bats that used to be your spawn before the sun rises...
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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.*",
" They say herding cats is hard. “Please,” Drake scoffs, at least cats walk on the ground. “Try herding five-year-old vampires in bat form!”\n\n“Did you get the kids?” Brunhilda, his wife, shouts from the inside the screen door.\n\n“I’m trying, I’m trying”, he mumbles, “ungrateful. That is what everyone is. Ungrateful.”\n\n“What? I can’t hear you,” asks Brunhilda, peaking outside. \n\n“I’m on it,” he says, giving her a pistol motion with his hand, clicking his mouth. Satan’s shorthairs, when did he start sounding like his dad?\n\n“Gotcha!” He exclaimed triumphantly, wrapping his arm around one of the bats. \n\n“No biting, Ivan, we’ve talked about this.” \n\n“Sorry, Dad, it’s insti…instrict.” Says Ivan, transforming back into a little boy.\n\n“Instinct,” corrects Brunhilda from inside the kitchen. \n\n“Help me get your sister, now,” he instructs Ivan.\n\nIvan’s twin sister was a bit of a handful. And she was almost impossible to catch, if she set her mind to it. She would make a fine adult vampire someday. Terrorizing the human populace and spurring legends of her own no doubt, Drake mused proudly.\n\nHe noticed that the sun was about fifteen minutes or so from rising with alarm. Where did all the time fly?\n\n“You know?” He said to Ivan, “it’s really a terrible thing to see what happens when a vampire is caught out in the sun.”\n\n“Is it?” Ivan asked.\n\n“Yeah, it’s not just like burning in a fire, it’s a like having molten lava injected directly into your veins, and burning from the inside out.”\n\n“Drake, I don’t think…” Brunhilda warned, having stepped out onto the porch in alarm.\n\n“Tut, tut, tut,” said Drake, winking as her and swinging his eyes over towards a nearby tree where Greta, his daughter, perched upside down in her bat form.\n\nYou had to use logic and a strong dose of fear to get Greta to mind. \n\nHe turned to her and held out his arms, and finally, with minutes to spare, she flew into them and transformed into a young vampire.\n\n“Hi, daddy!”\n\n“Hi monster,” he smiled.\n\n“Can we have blood ice cream before bed?”\n\n“Sure thing honey; it’s my favorite.”",
"\"Good evening... I mean, morning son\" I said, as he rose from his coffin. Fully errect. And not in the usual teenage way. \n\nBut in the vamipiric, stiff as a board, rising out of a coffin, kind of way. He looked around anxiously.\n\n\"And what sort of time did you get in last night?\" I asked. He muttered something about 7am.\n\n\"Vlad. R Thompson!\" I scolded \"you know what time it is. Sunrise would have been any minute after that\". A series of 'I know, I know mum' 's followed swiftly. \n\nI had made his favourite for breakfast. Extra rare steak, dripping with blood. It timed up nicely with my supper, so I had the same. Only medium rare, and with the garlic sauce he so loathed.\n\n\"What are your plans tonight?\" I asked. He grumbled something about hunting. I never asked for more detail, it was more than I wanted to know. I stopped to comb his hair into a neat parting, he protested, as kids do. But I know he can't exactly check in the mirror himself!\n\nHe looked glum. I suspected it was the group of kids that never invited him in to their party. Admittedly he would eat them all of they did, so probably for the best. But I reminded him he shouldnt feel left out, and he was always welcome at home. Such a shame vampires need an invitation, as kids can be so cruel.\n\nI told him to be careful of wood and silver, at the same time he reminded me he was basically immortal save from those few things. So I had much less to worry about than most mums.\n\nI watched as he morphed into bat form and flew into the full moon. I just hoped he'd remembered my warnings about sunrise."
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[WP]You can hear the Voice, but no one else can.
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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's that noise? Beeping? A life support machine maybe? Muffled voices around me. I don't recognise any of them. Need to try and open my eyes. Tiled ceiling. Dim lighting. Oh, and hello beepy machine. Definitely a hospital. Can't remember why I'm here. Not sure what happened. What happened to my hands? Has someone painted my nails? My friends are such practical jokers. I must have been in a coma for a while, my hands look like they've lost loads of weight.\n\n*Could you stop talking please?*\n\nWho was that? Who are you? Who's there? That voice. So soft. So feminine. \n\n*I'm tired. You're talking incessantly. Shut up*\n\nOk, I need to call a nurse. Oh, good, here comes one now.\n\n\"You're awake. That'll please your mother. She's been worried sick. I'll bring her through.\"\n\nOh good, my mother is here. She'll know what to do.\n\n\"My baby, I was so worried about you. I've barely left your side. I've been so worried.\"\n\nWho is this woman? Why is she hugging me? She smells like...\n\n*Cookies and daisies. The best smell there is. So much warmth. Tell her you love her*\n\n\"I...\" what the hell was that?! Why is my voice so high pitched?\n\n\"Oh baby, don't speak. You need to rest. I'm going to make some phone calls and pass on the good news that you're ok. I love you.\"\n\nWho the Hell was that?\n\n*How have you not realised what's going on yet? Open your eyes and look down*\n\nFine, I'll look dow- what the hell?! Are those boobs? Have I had a boob job? Is this some sort of sick joke?? \n\n*Ok, you need to calm down. I don't know what's happened but you need to relax. Just breathe. Breathe. Don't you faint on me. Don't you...*"
] | 2
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[WP] The gods were all but stories until Humanity decided to make one for themselves. An alien invasion in search of conquest find themselves in a bit of a bind.
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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 is your faith?”\n\nThis was her answer, again and again, to all my questions. But I couldn't leave it at that. If her makers were the ones who left this world broken and burnt, I had to know why.\n\nI ask another question. She answers the same. *What is your faith?* It is all she says no matter what I ask. She's a machine despite her appearance: lithe, with naked flesh. Organic. Wearing a black synth-skin with a mat of blonde tendrils hanging from her head. Her eyes burn in her sockets with an indecipherable but powerful energy signature.\n\nI was a machine, too. I knew she could be reasoned with. I just had to find the right question.\n\n*What is your faith?*\n\n*What is your faith?*\n\n*What is your faith?*\n\nI consider my surroundings. We stand in this ruined city, on this ruined planet. Nothing in the continent breathes, for there is nothing *to* breathe. The world's atmosphere has bled away through punctures in the planet's magnetosphere. With the world's greenery smoked into ashes and its coterie of lesser photosynthesizers poisoned, nothing is left to produce breathable atmosphere. The air is a toxic mix of carbon dioxide and chemical smoke. The smog of a civilization burning.\n\n\\[Whom do you serve?\\] I ask. I produce this message via a mathematical algorithm, the reverse of what I use to translate her own language.\n\nShe understands. The curve of her mouth is pleasant, hopefully signifying agreeability. Her poise is as perfect and still as ever. \"I serve Sol. The one true god. What is your faith?\"\n\nProgress, at last, but as frustrating as it is heartening. This *Sol* morpheme does not quite translate. Nor *god,* whatever it means.\n\nYet *faith* carries semantic weight, paradoxical as it seems. It means *blind belief,* or *belief without cause.* As if those concepts, married, bear sense.\n\nMy holographic display flickers as my avatar prepares to explain the beliefs of my makers. \\[We seek to build a confederation across the cosmos. Our society believes in individual value, merit, progress, and reason. We seek to share our successes with your people. May I ask where your masters are?\\] It was possible this unit was some kind of servitor for her world. Perhaps her masters slumbered beneath the surface in cryostatic tombs. That would explain the surface disrepair.\n\nThis android finally understands. I see it register on her face. Hope dances through my processors.\n\nHer smile, gracious, perfectly civil, flickers with a feeling. I recognize it: a profound hatred. It burns like a star. Its fuel is infinite.\n\n“Value. Progress. Reason.\" At last, her smile fades. \"You sound like an atheist.”\n\nThis word maps onto my language routines. \\[Precisely!\\] I am pleased by our breakthrough in communications. Great strides forward await our peoples.\n\nHer lips become stiff, like nails. The chromatic rings in her eyes ignite with lambent radiance. “Sol will not weep for you.” She raises her arms, and I am reminded of crucifix imagery from other civilizations I have encountered.\n\nThen she lifts into the air. Screams. The sound is cocktail of dangerous physical forces, and space pulses between us.\n\nThe scream cuts like a knife through my avatar. I fizz away, into flakes of light, my projector exploding under a rampage of those forces. Forces she has weaponized; forces meant for peace. She was the walking genocide of hope, masked in the gentle image of her makers.\n\nThis level of weapons technology is disturbing. The energy signature is detectable from orbit. My primary avatar perceives the auditory wavelengths from orbit.\n\nThe reply from other, similar androids patrolling the world’s scarred surface is similar. I adhere to directive and depart within two cycles in search of greener pastures. Whoever had designed these abominations, which referred to themselves only as Necromancers, had finally been destroyed by them. Most distressing of all, this appeared to be their sole function.\n\nDestruction. Of themselves.\n\nI am thankful I avoided meeting their makers.\n\n/u/AdeptnessPrize"
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[WP] It hasn't stopped raining for 10 years, everything is flooded. Humanity is hosting the annual meeting to discuss survival plans when a mysterious old man enters the room. "Sorry, for being late" - he says. Everyone looks out the window. The rain has stopped.
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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.*",
"They said that God had no face, no real image to surmise. His immortality or godlihood was designed to transcend the mortal image. It was too powerful to be contained within the expression of man, too unearthly to appear within his own creation. However, if God were an artist, this world might have been his canvas. The only pieces of him left to find were minute traces of his artistic expression laced in an image many foolishly called his “self portrait”. It wasn’t a face, and it certainly wasn’t human, but it was the clearest image that any of us could have conjured. Perhaps that is why we preferred to think of him as more of an abstract idea, and not a face or expression.\n\nThen he walked through the door, and the rain stopped. He looked no different than you or I. So ordinary in every movement, every gesture. He walked forward just as every other person might, cleared his throat with mortal resilience, and chuckled in that fashion so typical of a gruntled old man. And his apology, that soft “Sorry for being late”, was so apologetically human that it took the breath from my lungs. \n\nMen are supposed to look upon the face of their god and feel hope. I looked upon mine, sure beyond certainty that this was undoubtedly Him, and felt dispare. He was so... small. Frail. There was a hunch in his back that gave him the appearance of carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and a grimace in each step that spoke of an ache in his joints. He looked tired and burdened. He looked...\n\n“Human.” A smile spread across his face. He peered across the faces of those present. Families peered back, looking somewhat like me: both amazed and distraught. \n\nHe cocked his head a tad, smiling still. With a hand to his ear, he whispered: “Do you hear that?”\n\nWe didn’t hear anything. In fact, it had been so long since any of us could imagine what quiet was like. The rain had been thundering upon us for almost a decade, tearing away at any understanding of silence that even the oldest of us could recall. Nothingness was a distant memory, one that could not be described or illustrated to the children who had been born after the floods began. My own children, who were of the ages of 7 and 4 at the time, had never known a world without the rain. When I looked upon them then, they looked horrified. And yet, not even the youngest could bring himself to break the silence and cry. They just stood there, motionless, suspended in this unknown nothingness.\n\n“Meeting adjourned, I suppose?” His smile was so full of understanding, and yet his words were so ignorant of our sufferings. “No need to craft a survival plan when the rain is no longer an issue, after all. Though I do wonder...”\n\nWhat ever could a god wonder about us, his mortal creation? What in this fabricated space could he have room to question? Were there things that this God did not know, things that only we could answer?\n\nBut whatever it was, he did not ask. He merely waved a hand to dismiss the thought.\n\n“The rains will not start again as they once did, you can remain sure of—“\n\n“Why?” It shocked me to hear my own voice. It echoed in the nothing that our God had created. It resonated with my anger and pain.\n\nCuriously, he turned to me. I saw that his hair was the color of salted pepper and that his cheeks were coated with stubble. In his expression, I saw my mother’s smile and my father’s eyes.\n\n“Why what? Why the rain? Why the flooding? Why so long? What’s the nature of your question, young man?”\n\nI was by no means a young man. I was 43. But it hardly mattered what he called me. It was the directness of the words that shook me to my core. They reverberated through me, whispered within my headspace and crowded my thoughts. \n\nIn a shaky voice, I began: “Why now? Why return to us at all? After all this pain, this fear... I thought that my children would never live past the ages of 20, that the world would submerge them before they ever got the chance to live like real people. I thought that I’d never remember what being dry was like, and that my wife would bury me in a broken, humid coffin. I gave up on you to save us and accepted the end that the rains promised. I buried you, a long time ago, deep under the flood waters. So why? Why come back now? Why come back at all?”\n\nThe words blew through me. As I spoke, the old man nodded, closing his eyes and taking in each and every syllable.\n\nAt the end, he smiled once more and opened his eyes. Turning his back to me, he regressed to the door with his hands in his pockets. His demeanor was slow and temperate. He had the patience of a man who would wait for the end of time if need be. \n\n“Because you buried me. I do not return to be praised, young man. I return so that I am not forgotten.”\n\nAs he placed a wrinkled hand on the doorknob, I felt pity wash through me. Pity for the lack of humanity that wobbled in his frame. \n\n“And typically,” he added, “When my return brings a miracle such as this one, I am not so easily forgotten. Be mindful of that.”\n\nHe left, and the quiet remained. And he was right: the rain returned the sun to our sky, and people went on praying to the good, merciful Lord. And though mindful we were, we never forgot the God tainted by human form.",
"\"I have come to deliver a message!\" the old man declared.\n\nThe mayor glanced up, briefly tearing his eyes away from his meeting notes. \"Could you - could you hang on a second? We're discussing some important agricultural mandates...\"\n\n\"No. This cannot wait a moment longer. The gods of rain and snow, sun and darkness, have looked upon your community with favor. You are among the few surviving pockets of humanity, and you have done well. Though there have been moments of strife and violence, you have remained civilized.\"\n\nThe gathered crowd of 200-or-so stared at the old man blankly.\n\n\"As a reward for your efforts, the great flood has dissipated from this area. May the gods continue to smile upon you.\"\n\nThe old man began to leave when the local accountant stood up and pointed a finger at him.\n\n\"Hang on a minute. The second he walks in here, the rain stops. How do we know he's not one of these 'gods' wearing a human coat?\"\n\nSomeone else chimed in.\n\n\"Don't be ridiculous. It has to be pure coincidence. Who the hell *is* this guy and how do we know he's not just senile?\"\n\nThe accountant fired back. \"There's no doubt this is supernatural. What kind of natural order just up-and-decides to rain for ten years straight and cuts it off in an instant?\"\n\nThe mayor banged a gavel on the podium. \"Let's settle down, please,\" he said weakly. The fervor in the room continued to grow. \n\n\"I say we take this guy in for questioning,\" a woman yelled from the front of the room. The crowd murmured a chorus of agreement.\n\nAnd so the interrogation began. The old man was put up in the former bed and breakfast and forced to remain there for three days as the local government pondered its options. Nearly everyone in town paid a visit to the old man and asked him a question - most, some variant of \"why?\" The man gave no firm answer, and more often than not remained entirely silent.\n\nBy the time the questioning ceased, the town's frenzy had reached a fever pitch. The mayor entered the old man's room and issued an ultimatum.\n\n\"I'm sorry, old man, but you just can't stay. I can't keep things under control as long as you're here. And unfortunately, if you come back I'm going to have to take more extreme measures.\"\n\nThe old man nodded and picked up his briefcase.\n\nAs he made his way towards the edge of town, a crowd - consisting of nearly the town's entire population - followed him. All was quiet save for the sound of gentle footsteps. Then, without warning, a rock sailed over the crowd and hit the old man squarely in the head. As if a dam had burst, more and more rocks came careening down on the man, and he feebly lifted his briefcase in an attempt to shield himself.\n\n\"STOP!\" he bellowed, with a force that shook the earth. \"You have proven yourselves unworthy of the gods' mercy, and in your insolence, you have brought your own damnation.\"\n\nThe man gave a quick whistle and disappeared in a flash. Nothing else happened. Everyone went home.\n\nThen, about a week later, it began to drizzle. It transitioned as the month continued to a soaking rain, then the following month, a hard, steady downpour. \n\nBy the beginning of the harvest season, it was raining harder and faster than it ever had before. The subsequent harvest was pitiful. Many people left the town in search of a place that would be more habitable and were never heard from again.\n\nThe old man settled on a hill overlooking the town that rejected him. He had no need for food; what godly messenger does? \n\nHe sat in solitude, watching the humans and waiting for the day he would decide to give them another chance.",
"\"Sorry for being late,\" the old man in tattered clothes said as he mumbled under his heavy breathing, \"I think I've fucked it up.\"\n\nEveryone's eyes were fixed at the odd character who had crashed their meeting unannounced. The men and women – all important figures of all walks of life – would glance at each other occasionally, as they collectively glared at the unknown old man. When the chairman was about to relieve the tension in the room by actually addressing the cause...\n\nThe old man snapped his dainty crinkled fingers.\n\n\"Wha–Step away from the man, everyone!\" a rather intimidatingly large man in a black suit stepped out of the shadows and produced a gun pointed at the old man.\n\nThe room deteriorated into chaos. The more rational ones simply stepped away from the old man, clearly used to following security instructions. But some of the people in the room began to panic. Shrieking and yelping as they fell down on top of each other trying to safe themselves from a helpless looking old man.\n\nBut the old man didn't budge. He raised his arms and his eyes grew as large as the moon. Drops of sweat began to drench his tattered clothings, as if the never-ending rain outside had moved inside the room.\n\n\"I mean no harm!\" the old man shouted.\n\n\"W-Well don't just stand there, acting as if you belong here! Explain yourself!\" the Chairman snapped back at him in a hostile tone.\n\nAs everyone in the room – including the old man – swallowed their anxiety, the old man walked over to one of the curtained windows. He slowly approached it and nervously indicated his intent to the chairman and his security lead. When they nodded cautiously, the old man pulled the curtain in one sweep.\n\n\"There's... no rain,\" said one of the woman nearest to the window.\n\nSoon murmurs and gasps were heard all across the room. They began to approach the windows and pulled down the curtains themselves.\n\nThe soaked trees and bushes in the distance were simply moist. The sky was clear and birds could be seen flying over the horizon. Some of the people were so awed by the sight that it warranted some documentation with their phones.\n\n\"Who are... you, sir?\" the Chairman asked with a raised eyebrow.\n\n\"Oh I'm just an old man who has a thing or two with the weather–\"\n\n\"No, I meant who the hell are you?\" the Chairman's fist struck the heavy mahogany desk in front of him and continued, \"don't fuck with me. We had that rain for over 10 fucking years! Now it's just... gone. With one snap of an old man's fingers!\"\n\n\"This shouldn't even be possible, the weather satellites picked up nothing. It's as if all the clouds, the winds just became normal. Like before the rain started 10 years ago!\" a scientist-looking woman said out loud as she displayed her findings on the large screen in front of the room.\n\n\"That's absurd!\" said a politician, which simply aroused everyone's disbelief further.\n\n\"So? Explain.\"\n\n\"Ah yes, well... let's just call me Father Weather. I was tasked with a few things to keep an eye on, like well... the weather.\"\n\n\"... right?\" the crowd said in unison.\n\n\"Right! So, I don't know what happened. But I think I fell asleep. For a while, that is. But since I lived alone I didn't even think anyone noticed, though clearly–\"\n\n\"Clearly you've fucked up big time, old man.\"",
"**Do you remember what the Sun sounds like?**\n\nIt's quiet, like nothing at all.\n\nI had forgotten what it was like with no rain. No thunder, nor the rushing roar of water in our streets...\n\n...until *he* arrived. \n\n“Sorry I’m late,” he said. When he scraped his boots on the mat, clouds of dust arose from his feet. \n\nCan you believe it? When was the last time you saw *dust?*\n\nHis face was cracked, and though he was old - older even than my father - the cracks were not just from age. Wrinkles ran like dry valleys from his brow to his eyes, down to his cracked, waterless lips. \n\n“Father Tant, we’re glad you made it,” the Chief said. \n\nBut the other Citizens only stared.\n\nFather Tant bowed his head, muttering more apologies and avoiding all eye contact. His hat was dry, as if it had been hanging over a fire for the last hour. He shuffled to the back of the House, where I was. I stood up to give the old man my seat.\n\n“Thank you,” he nodded and groaned as he sat.\n\nThat’s when I thought I had gone deaf. Other citizens, too, were tugging at their ears and looking around for the source of sudden silence.\n\nI looked out the window, and I could not believe mine own eyes.\n\nI know you won’t believe me, but what I’m about to say is true.\n\nThe rain had stopped. \n\nThe waterways were *empty.* You could see where the waterline had stained the buildings with rust. You could see the old roads, cracked and *dry*. \n\nBut nobody said anything. They started the Meeting, as if nothing had happened at all.\n\n“There is only one item on the agenda today,” the Chief announced. \"The Wet Farmers are demanding a new motion. First, we discuss. Then, we vote. Is all understood?\"\n\nWhile she spoke, the old man next to me kept smacking his lips.\n\n“Are you alright?” I whispered to him.\n\n“Oh,” he said. “Oh, pardon me, son. Would you mind bringing me a glass of water? Quickly, now, as quick as you can.”\n\nI did as he bade. I had to leave the Gathering House, for all the water appeared to have gone. Only a few streets over, the streets were again full of water. And the rain was back, steadily *tinking* against the tin rooves. \n\nI know what you’re thinking. *That's impossible.* But I swear by the Gods, it was so.\n\nWith a canteen full of rainwater, I sprinted back to the Gathering House. I did not want to miss the meeting. \n\nThe Chief was arguing with the Farming Leaders. The Farming Leaders wanted to make an offering to the Gods. They wanted to make a sacrifice. *One child* for a season of dryness. \n\nThis, they believed, would satisfy the Gods. One season, and they could grow a bounty.\n\nThe Chief, with red anger, did not agree.\n\nI poured the water into a glass and gave it to the old man. Father Tant took the glass, and in one swift motion, he tossed it back into his mouth. But before the water could reach his lips… it disappeared. \n\nHe held the empty glass up - as dry as if it had never held water at all - and said, “One more time, please.”\n\nI filled it again. This time he tossed it back the moment I finished pouring. Again, the water did not reach his lips. \n\nHe sighed and handed me back the glass. \n\n“Thank you, anyway, for trying.”\n\nThe arguing at the front of the Gathering House erupted into shouting. The Wet Farmers were leading the mob of Citizens, drowning out the Chief's appeals to reason. \n\n\"Help me up,\" the Old Man said to me. And I gave him my arm. The moment he his fingers grasped my arm, I felt an overwhelming parchedness in my mouth. \n\nHe waded into the crowd, his boots scuffing up more clouds of dust. One by one, the people turned to regard him, unconsciously stepping out of his way. The shouting began to weaken, to fade to silence, made all the more deafening by the lack of rain.\n\nFather Tant nodded at the Chief. She nodded back, relief shining in her eyes.\n\n“A sacrifice?” Tant's voice was harsh and dry and grating on the ear. “Are we really so desperate?” \n\n“Of course we’re desperate!” someone shouted. “Every year, half our crops rot and turn to mush.”\n\n“No! That is desire speaking. But do not mistake *desire* for *desperation*. I made that mistake once. Ten years ago, this land rarely saw rain. The sun was brutal and our life was *hard*. I thought I was desperate, then. So I made a sacrifice of my own. And I prayed that the Gods might grant us rain.”\n\nA question flitted through my mind, though I dared not ask it. *What did you sacrifice, old man?*\n\n“Be grateful for what you have, you fools. And do not ask for more. Because the Gods are not your friends.”\n\n“But we could have more!\" Someone shouted. \"One sacrifice is all it takes, right? Was your prayer not answered?”\n\n“Yes, it was.” Father Tant said, “And the Gods are laughing still.”\n\n***\n\n*Damn, thanks for the kind response.* \n\n[Here's my subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/PSHoffman/) if you want to read more assorted stories."
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[WP] You’re the ancient Dread-Lord and you hear a knock on the door of your lair. It’s a contingent of townsfolk seeking an audience. Turns out that the so-called “heroes” supposedly setting out to save the kingdom from you are actually assholes murdering and plundering across 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.*",
"\\[*Based on an NPC I use for fantasy and Buffyverse tabletop RPGs*\\]\n\n\"Evil,\" began Count Kristoff von Zeyak, \"is a matter of perspective. A baker will think a thief evil for stealing his bread. The thief will think he is good for bringing it to a starving fellow. With me so far?\" Mesmerising as the swirling of red wine in his crystal glass was, he wasn't victim to it unlike the townspeople who gathered at his court to seek his protection.\n\n\"Likewise, when you came here to Novaspesch, you swore the Crimson Oath. You would give unto me a monthly tithe of blood, and in return I give unto you lands, protection and an immediate pardon to all wrongdoings outside of the border. Is that evil? That we do what we must to survive? Apparently so. This is why your modern philosophers have this whole, what's it called again, 'moral alignment' thinking all wrong. Apparently I'm Lawful Evil by their standards, the only thing stopping me from being Chaotic is a social contract. Or is it because I extract blood rather than sovereigns? At what amount of taxation, of tribute, does one go from being a good ruler to one who is evil?\"\n\nRealising he had lost his citizens' attention, he stopped swirling and took another swig of his crimson liquid. Gregor, his deformed manservant, immediately began to pour when the glass came down once more.\n\n\"Thank you, Gregor. My point being that this Paladin, a 'Lawful Good' archetype, has it all wrong. But will he listen to reason? I doubt very much so. He is so fervent in his belief, as are the philosophers, that he is on the side of law and good that he will not consider alternative ideas. And therefore, if I am to be good I must surrender myself to him to be smote. That's hardly fair, is it?\"\n\nThere was a pause, only Gregor's habitual grunting could be heard in the stillness of the dusty castle. A peasant coughed, as if to punctuate the awkwardness of this moment.\n\n\"To the point. You have paid your tithes and in return you shall receive protection. Be you prisoners or livestock, I shall ward you all the same.\" With that Kristoff took several glugs of his goblet, handed the glass to Gregor, and marched down the red carpet before him and his people.\n\n\"When I return, the one who allowed the Paladin entry shall be revealed. If not, I shall cull one person each day. I cannot allow the disease of treason to spread.\" von Zeyak left to an audience who looked to one another, some swooning at the thought of their necks in the noose.\n\n*Am I not a good shepard?* Thought the Count, taking flight in the form of a bat, and descending upon his zealous prey.",
"Long and Gothic architecture. Red and tattered drapes and carpets. The lack of natural light aside from the green flames inhabiting the lanterns and torches. This is what he saw every day as he waited for these hero’s of legend, destined to bring an end to his corrupt and powerful dark influence that plagued green forests into dense and purple death traps with megafauna with razor sharp teeth and a murderous appetite, and towns into deserted ghosts of their former glory with corpses lining the streets from the sheer toxicity of the air....to be honest he was growing impatient. He had done all he wanted and had killed more than he needed just by sitting at his throne, that’s how powerful he had became with his discovery of immortality. Of course he could still be killed by regular means, he had no reason so fear old age or sickness.\n\n*tap tap tap*\n\nHe tapped his skeleton finger on the armrest of his throne.\n“By the gods...if I have to wait another month for these buffoons, I’ll go into town and personally cut the heads off any big time politicians or noble. Maybe that will get their attention-“\n\nThere was a loud knock on the large doors at the top of the castle. He groaned as the hero wouldn’t knock on the villains door like some Jehovah Witness. He grudge across every floor as his minions would laze and mess around out of boredom, they had seen the sorry state of their leader but they didn’t care. Free shelter and free food to just sit around and laze all day was a dream come true.\n\nAs he walked into the main entrance, he opened the door to see a group of towns people wielding torches and large bags. They were scared, nervous and wet as the surroundings of the castle were dark, wet and highly dangerous with their own predatory creatures.\n\n“And to what do I owe the pleasure? You all came here to take matters into your own hands I presume....but no weapons? Are you underestimating me?”\nHe spoke in a low and intimidating tone, the towns people recoiled in fear. He always enjoyed that part. An elderly man, presumably the chief, came forward with one of the large bags\n\n“N-no you misunderstand DreadLord Atticus Redblood- we- we-“\n\n“Spit it out damn you! Before I turn you all inside out with the flick of a wrist!”\n\nThe man yelps and begins to tear up in fear.\n\n“The hero’s are murdering and plundering any settlement or village the come across!”\n\n“Excuse me what-“\n\n“-Please, we’ll give you supplies-“\n\n“Wait-“\n\n“grains-“\n\n“Human- wait a moment-“\n\n“land, money- anything! Save us from these false prophets!”\n\nThe crowd began weeping and pleading as Atticus stood slack jawed in pure awe.",
"For years the icy cave was undisturbed save for the howling wind that echoed through its chambers. Time stood still for the Amemnon, the one they called the corruptor. For decades he remained trapped in the same place since his fall, pinned to the wall of runes by the holy sword Grandegelm. The passing years did little to dull the burning pain of the sword, which remained lodged in the corruptor’s chest.\n\nFor lifetimes there was only the wind and the soft golden glow of the sword. Amemnon opened his eyes, which were nothing more than dark voids that consumed what little light reached them. He was stirred by a crackling within the cave. At first he thought that it may be a falling rock or icicle. After ages of imprisonment he knew the sounds of the cave like they were an extension of his own body. There were three loose rock formations he was aware of that could be the source of the sounds. As the crackles continued he could discern that they were too uniform. They were footsteps.\n\nWho would it be? Perhaps it was a descendant of one of the ancient heroes. He expected an unrefined human coming down to gloat or remind him of his failures. They were always the same, drunk on their own self-righteousness. The footsteps grew louder.\n\n“Who approaches? Name yourself!” Amemnon’s low and guttural voice echoed through the chamber. It had been too long since he spoke and the words were hard to form.\n\nA cloaked figure stepped through the swirls of frost that prowled the cavern floor.\n\n“Whose seed are you?” Amemnon growled. “Perhaps you are Lucander’s, maybe Artorus?” He rattled a few more names related to the heroes that imprisoned him.\n\nThe figure stepped into the soft glow of the sword and removed its cowl. It was a plain human girl who was covered in dirt and blemishes. Amemnon’s black orbs grew with surprise; the common human bore no resemblance to any of the heroes he could remember.\n\n“I’m no one.” The girl replied.\n\n“Why are you here, no one?” Amemnon questioned, wheezing under the burning pain of the sword.\n\n“I was told that you were the world’s greatest evil. That you twist people into demons.” The girl's voice hinted of more curiosity than blame.\n\nAmemnon sighed. “So they say.”\n\n“I want to know why. Why did you corrupt them? Why did you change them?” She asked.\n\nAmemnon chuckled. “You human are dishonest creatures. You pretend to be something on the outside, but what you are on the inside is often something completely different. What I changed them into was always already there. I was only helping them peel away their mask, to become what they truly are so that they could attain what they desired. I untangled them from the lies they wrapped themselves in.”\n\nThe girl continued listen.\n\n“But, I was wrong. I thought I could decouple humans from their lies. But the lies you tell yourself are essential to your being. When I change a human into what they truly are, they become what you call a ‘monster.’”\n\nThere was a moment of silence in the cave. The girl stepped closer. “Amemnon, what is evil?” she asked.\n\nAmenmon pondered for a moment. “I would say it is what you do each other to preserve your lies. By unravelling your masks I believed I could improve you. That once what you truly were inside was laid bare, that those who were truly wicked would be revealed and purged. But you humans rejected my world.\" With that said, he peered down at the glowing sword. \"As you can see, this is the price of my efforts.”\n\n“I had three brothers.” The girl then drew a pouch from her cloak. “They are all dead now, slaved to the mines for these lifeless rocks.” She dumped the pouch on the icy floor, revealing an array of glimmering gemstones.\n\n“I see humans haven’t changed.” Amemnon sneered.\n\n“The one who took my brothers shares the bloodline of the heroes that put you here.” The girl reached out touching the pommel of the holy blade. “I wonder… if you showed them all what he really was inside… \" Her voice grew more intense as she spoke. \"Would they continue to love him? Would they continue to kneel as his feet despite the kingdom he has built on our broken backs?”\n\nAmemnon grinned. Finally, after all these years… a human that understands.\n\n“If you want to find out, then you know what to do.”\n\nWithout hesitation the girl stepped forward. Placing both hands on the hilt of the holy blade, she closed her eyes, took one deep breath, and pulled with all her might."
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[WP]Necromancers have always been hated and feared for their use of Dark magic to bring souls back. But for adventurers who can’t afford the Resurrection fees of a church the necromancers are their only choice.
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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.*",
"Market days in Torscus were famed throughout the Bay of Fallen Kingdoms. Caravans brought teas and spices and silks and obsidian knives with ivory handles, rare bloodwood from Ashencourte and confectionery from Holstenwall and mysterious jeweled eggs from Kitherai. But along the backalleys of Torscus, there was a market much less widely advertised, where the stalls were less colorful and the services were less savory. \n\n\\*\\*\\* \n\nTalanna gestured and Orph dutifully slung the body off his shoulder, plopping it down at the table. The hooded figure behind it hissed. \"What- Are you idiots? Not out here, go around the back!\" Talanna gestured again, more frantically, and Orph looked confused but hoisted the corpse over his shoulder again. The three adventurers hurried through along the alley on the side of the house and around the back of the store, where a short staircase descended to a basement door; they entered and found the hooded figure waiting for them, still radiating disapproval. \n\n\"Goddam amateurs, you can't just sling corpses around in public like that. You'll alert the Watch. The hell do you want?\"\n\nShranker, the rogue, quipped \"I suspect you know what we want, or else the response to Orph heaving bodies at you would be to *call* the Watch instead of invite us into your basement.\" \n\nTalanna shushed him. \"We understand you could help... um. Our friend.\" She motioned to the body some foot and a half above her head, on Orph's shoulder. \n\nThe hooded figure pulled the hood back from his head. Beneath it was a thin, skull-like face; its skin and curly hair were snow-pale, except for blotchy wine birthmarks around the right eye and cheek. It was not a handsome face, but it was hard to look away from. \"Making him a bit more ambulatory, you mean. May I ask what happened to him?\"\n\n\"Jaysk gone great meadhall in sky,\" said Orph gloomily. \n\nTalanna felt more explanation was necessary. \"Um. In the midst of a quest to stop the servants of hell, seven dark lords pledged to the infernal powers, our fearless leader... fell, in valiant combat... um-\"\n\n\"We needed to get some stuff out of hock, he tried the card tables at the Platinum Piece, some goblin oil baron caught him cheating and slit his throat.\" Shranker cut in. \n\nTalanna heaved a breath. \"Well... that's about right.\" \n\nThe necromancer seemed to take this in stride. \"Am I to assume you have no money, then? I'm not in this line of work for charity.\" \n\n\"We have money,\" she said hurriedly. \"Someone in the market said three silver would work?\" She rummaged in her robes for the coins, which the necromancer swiped the instant they were proffered; Shranker looked pained. \n\n\"Alright. I do my thing, I bring fearless leader back, you leave, you were never here. Good?\" \n\n\"Good. Yes. Um. Yes.\" \n\nOrph set the body down again. The necromancer prepared himself. There was an elaborate ritual with an ancient tome and drawing of blood and chanting. And as dark mists began to swirl- \n\nWatchmen in blue uniforms burst out from inside the basement's ceramic vases and behind its mildewed tapestries, brandishing swords and tasers. \"Alright, hands up! Hands up! You're all under arrest!\" \n\n\"SHIT!\" Shranker roared. \"IT'S A STING!\" \n\nAt least seven watchmen tackled Orph to the floor while he was still puzzling out what happened. Someone had Talanna's hands bound before she could do anything. Shranker managed to get a block, knocking over a barrel of pickles for no evident reason, before someone tackled him. Within ten minutes, the three brave adventurers were cuffed and loaded into a transport bound for the local holding cells. \n\nThe sting leader took some time to glower disapprovingly at them as they marched. \"Crime don't pay in Torscus, sleazebags. Maybe raising the dead flies in whatever Red-Wizards-of-Thay shithole you come from, but not here.\" \n\n\\*\\*\\* \n\nTalanna and Orph were given fairly lenient sentences. Shranker's was a bit harsher, him being a repeat offender. The prosecuting attorney managed to peddle the case into capital for his then-underway political campaign, winning that year's election against the incumbent, one of seven dark lords pledged to the infernal powers. Thanks to his cooperation on the sting, the pale necromancer ticked off the last of his community service hours, but was offered a job in the Watch's forensics department. Jaysk, the fearless leader, spent his three hours of living-undeath on the slots at the Platinum Piece.",
"Lugar jolted up when his eyes opened once again. They darted from side to side, taking in their surrounding as his lungs did the same to the fresh night air. The adrenaline rushing through his blood screamed at him that he was in danger, but the gentle glow of the moon put his heart at ease. Even so, his thoughts still raced. The last thing he remembered was staring down Tok'Mokor, arms locked in combat. He'd drank his Potion of Giant Strength, but judging from severe soreness in his arms, it'd worn off a pinch too soon.\n\nSoon, the warmth of the fire hit his face. He looked around, and saw his companions surrounding him. Sister Maria, staring at him with teary but gleeful eyes. Craven, giving him his signature slanted smile. Zekaris, staring him down with condescending crimson eyes. Out the corner of his eye he spotted his armor, its brilliant sheen replaced with a barrage of scratches and dirt. In the middle of his chest plate, he saw a gaping hole.\n\nLugar collapsed back into the soft grass just as fast as he had sat up. He sighed. \"I'm sorry,\" he said.\n\n\"For what?\" Zekaris said.\n\n\"For dying. Again.\" Lugar said, defeated. \n\nZekaris raised his brow, expecting to hear more.\n\n\"For dying again after I promised to stop dying so much,\" Lugar added.\n\n\"*Two hours* after you promised to stop dying so much, you mean,\" said Craven, trying his hardest to hold back giggles over his friend's untimely demise.\n\n\"I'm sorry,\" Lugar said, covering his shameful face with the palm of his hand. \"I thought I had it under control this time. Which, to be fair, if that potion hadn't worn out so fast-\"\n\n\"I told you that was just sugar water,\" Craven said. \"There's no way a Potion of Giant Strength would be that cheap.\"\n\n\"You really have to stop being so gullible, sweetie,\" Maria added. \" 'If something's too good to be true-'\"\n\n\"I know, Sister, I know.\" Lugar finished. \" 'It usually is'.\"\n\nLugar looked over at Zekaris. He expected the gray Tiefling to, quite literally, have smoke bellowing from his ears in anger. But Lugar saw no smoke. In fact, Zekaris seemed to be rather...calm about current events.\n\n\"Zek?\" Lugar said. \"Are you okay?\"\n\n\"Of course,\" said Zekaris. \"Why wouldn't I be?\"\n\n\"Well, I know how much you dislike whenever I die. I know how expensive resurrection is, so I thought you'd be...mad?\"\n\n\"Oh, I am mad,\" said Zekaris. \"*Furious*, actually. But I'm just too disappointed to show it, is all.\"\n\n\"Okay, look,\" said Lugar. \"The next quest we accept, you can take all of my cut to help pay off this resurrection. I'll even repair my own armor to spare the extra expense!\"\n\n\"Oh, don't worry about that.\" said Zekaris. \"This didn't cost any money.\"\n\nLugar looked confused. \"It...didn't? So, why are you mad?\"\n\nZekaris pointed across the bonfire. There stood a hooded figure that Lugar had never seen before. It looked back at him and took of its hood, revealing its skull.\n\nSuddenly, it all made sense to Lugar. He had wondered why he didn't wake up in a church, why Maria looked like she was unsure of his revival. Zekaris' disappointment wasn't a shock but even the resurrection didn't cost money, why was he upset?\n\nLugar's jolted back up. \"*A Lich?!?*\" \n\n\"Xorrus the Immortal,\" the Lich said, standing up to take a bow. \"Though I prefer being called a Necromancer. I put more work into it than being dead, ya know?\"\n\nLugar's head snapped back to Zekaris, looking for answers. \"You let a *Lich* revive me?\"\n\n\"I wouldn't have to if *someone* didn't drain our pockets dying so much!\" said Zekaris.\n\n\"Yeah, but a *Lich*? I'd have rather you keep me dead then let this...*thing* touch me!\"\n\n\"Woah,\" said Xorrus. \"I'm right here.\"\n\n\"I was going to,\" said Zekaris, ignoring Xorrus. \"But I knew Maria wasn't going to shut up about it, so I did the only thing I could. *You're welcome.*\"\n\n\"I...You...\" Lugar wanted to be upset, but his companion's words were true. \"Please tell me he didn't claim my soul.\"\n\n\"*Please*,\" said Xorrus. \"Claim *your* soul? I already have enough mindless brutes in my undead legions.\"\n\nLugar cautiously eyed Zekaris. \"So...how'd you pay him? I know a Lich wouldn't work for free.\"\n\n\"Necromancer,\" Xorrus corrected.\n\nZekaris sighed. \"Xorrus and I have known each other for many years. He and I are...rivals, sort of. Let's just say that I might be the reason why he's a Lich in the first place.\"\n\n\"Necromancer,\" Xorrus corrected again.\n\n\"Anyways,\" Zekaris said, \"Long story short, Xorrus agreed to revive you in exchange for a favor.\"\n\nLugar's brow slanted. \"What kind of favor?\"\n\nZekaris shrugged. \"Just know that it's a favor only I, a sorcerer of unparalleled ability, can pull off. I was just waiting to see if the resurrection was successful before doing it.\"\n\n\"Well it was,\" said Lugar. \"So that's good, at least. Nothing seems out of the ordinary...\"\n\n\"Um...\" said Sister Maria, pointing down. \n\nLugar looked, and his eyes widened.\n\n\"WHY IS THERE A HAND COMING OUT OF MY CHEST????\"\n\n\"Well,\" said Xorrus, calmly. \"Whatever killed you blew a hole clean into your chest. Bringing your soul back from the dead was child's play but your physical body still needed repairs. Your heart was mostly intact but there was a still a lot of flesh that needed replacing. I was planning on using a deer or pig to perform the skin graft-\"\n\n\"There's no way I could let you kill and innocent creature for that!\" interrupted Sister Maria.\n\nIf Xorrus had eyes, he would have rolled them. \"Anyway, I needed *something* to fill the void, and your friend here was nice enough to offer the hand you see now.\"\n\n\"I find on some corpse in the river down there,\" said Craven. He seemed to be enjoying this a little too much. \"Figured it'd be just the thing you needed.\"\n\nLugar gave Craven the nastiest face he could muster. \"Why didn't you just cut out some of its chest instead?\"\n\n\"I thought it'd be funnier this way,\" Craven said. \"And it was.\"\n\n\"Just so you know, Lugar,\" said Maria. \"I was going to offer my own flesh but-\"\n\n\"I'm not going to let you mutilate yourself, Maria,\" said Zekaris.\n\n\"So you let him attach a fucking *hand* to me instead?\" snapped Lugar.\n\n\"At least now when townsfolk ask you about it you can tell them all about how you got it for being a dumb-ass!\" Zekaris snapped back.\n\n\"Enough!\" said Xorrus, stopping the ensuing argument. \"You're friend is alive and well, Zekaris, and you still have a favor you owe me. Now let's go - I don't have all day.\" \n\nZekaris sighed and turned to his party. \"Don't wait up for me.\"\n\nAs Zekaris and Xorrus walked towards the river, Lugar analyzed his newest appendage. \n\n\"Don't worry,\" said Craven, looking to cheer up his dejected friend. \"I'm sure it'll come in handy some day.\"\n\nIf looks could kill, Xorrus would've had to resurrect two people tonight.\n\n---\n\nDown by the river, Zekaris grimaced. \"I have connections to some of the most powerful demons in the Underworld, Xorrus.\"\n\n\"I know,\" said Xorrus.\n\n\"They could have given you access to the most powerful minions, artifacts, and spells in this world and many others.\"\n\n\"I know.\"\n\n\"So why, just *why* are you making me give you a sponge bath?\"\n\n\"Cleaning all 206 of these bones are a real hassle!\" said Xorrus. \"Especially between the ribs. It gets *real* dirty in there.\"\n\n\"Couldn't you get one of your minions to do this instead?\"\n\n\"I could, but it wouldn't humiliate them!\" Xorrus threw his head back, jaw clacking in laughter.\n\nZekaris took a deep breath. \"The things I do for this party...\"",
"\"Roll call, are we all here?\"\n\n\"I am here!\"\n\n\"We know you twit.\"\n\nThe adventuring group consisted of Larry, Barry, Very, and Weary, and Solaris. Weary was the human rogue, Barry was the book nerd, Very was *very very* big (his words), and Solaris's head was tucked under Barry's sweaty arms as they trudged through the desert to find to the closest necromancer they knew - namely Weary. Larry was the team's leader, a half-dragon person, and was having none of anyone's bullshit today. \"Real roll call here, people. Here we go: Barry?\"\n\n\"Yes!\"\n\n\"Don't hold her head like that, she'll complain about your stink later. Weary?\"\n\nWeary sighed from under his mask. \"I'm here.\" He had come from a desert town and the mask covering his face kept the dust and dirt from his face, and as far as anyone knew nobody ever saw him without it. His voice was dry and gravely, and he didn't speak very much.\n\nLarry sighed. \"....Very?\"\n\n\"I am here, Larry! I am right behind you.\" Very was a human-orc hybrid that Larry had decided was stupider than both races. He would much rather set fire to his loins than be stuck in a room with him.\n\n\"Alright, that's everyone.\" The wooden hut appeared over a crop of sandy rock, one side of it piled on with sand as the wind carried it. \"Here we fucking go, finally.\"\n\nThe inside of the hut was much cleaner than expected, and it seemed that the gaps in the wood outside hadn't allowed for sand to come inside. It smelled of lavender and vanilla and was pleasantly cool. There were soft rugs on the floorboards, several shelves all around the room filled with books, knick-knack, a skull, two skulls, a skull with too many teeth, and odd jars filled with the skulls of smaller creatures. It was cozy, until it wasn't.\n\n\"Are these creatures dead?\" Very had whisper-shouted.\n\nLarry internally screamed.\n\nAt the end of the room was a counter, and beyond it was a floor-to-ceiling repertoire of ingredients, most of them unfamiliar or simply bizarre, which led into a doorway that clearly ued to have a door, replaced now with thick purple curtains. There was a lovely young woman on the other side of the counter, reading a book. Larry cleared his throat to get her attention.\n\n\"Full resurrection is not available at this moment. Come back next week if you've preserved the body well enough.\"\n\n\"We only need a partial resurrection,\" Barry assured quickly. The woman glanced their way as Solaris's head was set on the counter.\n\n \"Put it on the plate.\"\n\nThere was a decorative plate that was exceptionally clean and rose a few inches off the counter surface. \"Like, here?\"\n\n\"Mmm-mm.\" She got up and walked over, and as she did the sound of scraping metal could be heard. \"How long do you need?\"\n\n\"How long do I need what?\"\n\n\"How long do you need the head to talk before you toss it?\" she asked, more impatient.\n\n\"Toss it?!\" Larry hadn't even said it - Very had. \"But we want to *keep* Solaris with us!\"\n\n\"By law, I cannot authorize a resurrection in which 40% or more of the body mass is missing or one that leads to any physical disability, without the written consent of the resurrectee or a family member.\" The woman sounded like she had said this a thousand times before. \"And as you can see, this is the ultimate loss of body - there isn't even one at all.\"\n\n\"But *we* are her family!\"\n\nThe woman eyed Very, then sighed. \"You are not the first adventuring group to try and revive a group member, I promise, and I'm sorry.\"\n\n\"Could we get permission, and then come back?\"\n\n\"If you get this document signed, *legally -*\" she emphasized as she pulled a sheet of yellowing paper, \" - then yes, but only if the head is preserved. Otherwise, it will rot to the point where I cannot do anything anymore.\"\n\n\"Uh, Larry, a word?\" Barry whispered, and they stepped away from the counter to talk quietly.\n\n\"Not to be a downer but, well. Solaris doesn't speak about her home, and she's a dark elf. The closest edge to dark elf territory is a month's journey, we'll never be able to track her family down.\"\n\nLarry ran a hand over his scaly face. \"God. What are we supposed to do?\"\n\n\"I don't know.\" Barry twiddled his thumbs. \"Let her be...?\" He didn't want to have to say it, but Larry's face confirmed his anxieties, that this was a very real possibility. The grief he should have begun to process before began to manifest. It wasn't when she was shot with a poison dart that he realized. It wasn't when she called from medical assistance. It wasn't when she fell to the floor and the warped goblins pulled her towards a crevice to steal her body. It wasn't when they retrieved her and found black lines creeping up her neck. It wasn't when Weary cut her head off and cleaned it while everyone else freaked out. It wasn't when they spent three days trekking here, with only directions and no explanation from Weary. It was now when it felt like she was going to stay dead.\n\n\"*Gentlemen*.\" The necromancer's voice rang and brought them both back to the counter.\n\nLarry coughed. \"I apologize, miss...?\"\n\n\"Angeva Morralis.:\n\n\"Miss Morralis, what should we do in this situation?\"\n\n\"If you cannot get permission from the resurrected or an entrusted family member, then I'm afraid you'll just have to bury her.\" Angeva seemed sympathetic enough. \"There's a shovel outside on the left if you need it-\"\n\nWeary raised his hand. \"No need,\" he said and handed her a thin piece of paper lined with gold. The other 3 members were speechless. \n\n\"A *coupon?* Where did you get this?\" Angeva looked bewildered. \"I haven't made one of these in *years*.\"\n\nWithout a word, Weary moved his mask up, hooking his fingers to pull the bottom of the fabric up to expose his neck and collarbone. There as a jagged scar running around his neck, old but still puckered, as if there was some deep, terrible wound before. Then he dropped it and looked at Angeva expectantly. Larry's eyes switched between his teammate and the necromancer.\n\n\"Well then,\" she said after a while. \"I'll have her ready by the hour. You should wait out here.\" And with that, she picked up the plate and took it in the doorway behind her, closing the curtains. When she was gone, Larry turned to face Weary, but was beaten by Very.\n\n\"What did you just give her, Weary?\"\n\n\"*Consequentes*.\" he simply said, and tucked himself over to a single armchair to wait. Barry started to ask what he meant, but Larry stopped him. There was no point in getting Weary to talk.\n\nTrue to her word, an hour (and some ghostly wailing) later, Angeva came back with Solari's head, her hair cut and tied up in a bun with a purple rod speared in it with wire. \"As a handle,\" she explained.\n\nThe group walked toward the head cautiously. \"Solaris?\" whispered Barry.\n\nSolaris opened her eyes, bright and grey, and full of the life she had before. \"Are you guys OK?\" she asked. She looked fine, she sounded fine.\n\n\"Oh my goodness.\" Barry clutched his chest. \"You're the one without a body, and you're asking *us* if we're OK?!\"\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Oh, we're *fine.\"*\n\nSolaris smiled. \"Good. Because you fuckers have a lot to shit to do to make up for this mess.\" She scrunched her face. \"Was I under Barry's arm? Because if I was, that's disgusting.\""
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[WP] Everyone has demons inside them, amplified incarnations of their flaws. Most are tormented by them, some make pacts that allow them to be summoned, and a select few have even made friends with 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.*",
" Jadazain, Lord of Sloth, sat comfortably in the lazy boy. The spines and hard carapace of his back melded quite nicely with the felt cushions on the back of the chair. The extendable footrest also supplied a nice surface for his long hooved legs. John’s house was so much better than hell in Jadazain’s humble opinion.\n\nJohn was a young human, relatively plump and not well kept in matters of hygiene, yellowing teeth etc. He was slumped down in the middle of his love seat, across from Jadazain, watching YouTube on his phone. His face held no clear emotion, save the occasional smirk or yawn. A truly good match for Jadazain himself.\n\nJadazain liked when he got the chance to visit his human, as he felt they never had a bad time. Sure, times would only range between boring and mildly fun, but never bad. It mostly consisted of them sitting in John’s living room and watching TV or the internet. In fact, Jadazain didn’t even know if he’d seen the rest of John’s abode, besides the attached kitchen. John’s kitchen was a modest size, littered with used plates and cutlery. By the kitchen window there was an easel and blank canvas, surrounded by opened painters cases. “John, what are those for?” Jadazain said, madables clicking while he talked.\n\nJohn looked at the painting supplies and then returned to his phone. “Oh, I was going to paint a couple of days ago. I’m going to get round to it, just haven’t yet” \n\nJadazain’s many eyes furrowed in confusion. He’d never had to ‘get round’ to anything. He was a Lord of Sloth after all, and he specialized in sleeping, lounging and general disaction. This idea of eventual action must have been a human flaw, caused by their fleshy exterior and furred heads.\n\nThe front door to John’s abode opened and closed quickly and suddenly. A female human entered the house, eyebrows furrowed and fist clenched. Jadazain had not met this human before but either she could not see him, or she was not bothered by the 8ft tall hell beast. This was evident, as when she entered the room her full focus was on John, who was also staring at her. He said “Sam, what are you doing here?”\n\n“I think the real question, John, is why you aren’t at the theater. Where you were supposed to meet me. An hour ago”\n\nJohn’s eyes snapped open and he dropped his phone. “Oh I’m sorry, I completely zone out, I thought I set an alarm”\n\n“We can’t keep doing this John” Sam said, and continued, but Jadazain decided to zone out, these were boring human matters after all. They would be over soon, both in the long and short term. These matters were entirely trifling compared to the glories and debacles of the Abberyntine Isles of Hell. Like when Jadazain himself defeated the legions of Crotus by inspiring inaction with his aura of sloth. Good times.\n\nWhen Jadazain returned to active consciousness, Sam was crying and John was just sitting there, looking at the ground. “Why don’t you care?” Sam asked, but didn’t stay for an answer. She turned to the door and left. John tried to follow, but was held back by either the weight of Jadazain’s Sloth or the weight of his own.\n\nThrough the kitchen window, Jadazain could see Sam, tears streaming down her face, walk back to her car. Perched atop the vehicle was Kaithintic, Lady of Fear, in all her majesty. Kaithintic and Sam talked for a while, before driving away.\n\nJohn was once again slumped down in the love seat, but this time looked at the place where the wall and floor met, instead of his phone. He truly was a perfect match for Jadazain. The thought crossed the demon’s mind as it often did, was Jadazain the \n\nLord of Sloth because John was lazy, or was John lazy because Jadazain was the Lord of Sloth. He supposed he would never know.\n\nJohn began to cry, slowly at first and without making noise. And then into a full sob. Jadazain did not know what the human was so worked up about, but perhaps he should stay around for a while, to help support him.",
"\"Richard!\" the mother bellowed from the kitchen downstairs. \"Come down here and help me set the table!\"\n\n\"Uh... Uhn...\"\n\nA shameful sound escaped from Richard's lips. A moment of clarity, a couple gathered breaths, and a sigh of guilt and frustration. Then the boy snapped his laptop shut and the darkness swallowed the lurid scenes of copulation.\n\nLust's form dissolved and slunk back into the half-empty Vaseline bottle.\n\nAnd Richard sat still for a couple of seconds... A vapid look on his young visage.\n\n\"BOY! YOUR MOTHER SAID TO COME DOWN!\"\n\nThe booming voice of the boy's father made him flinch. But Wrath seeped out from the space between the fingers of Richard's now clenched fists and he wrapped around the boy in a gentle and warm embrace. The embers of anger slightly grew brighter behind his dark and empty eyes... Unnoticed by most while the bruises around them still showed more prominent.\n\nRichard stood and did up his pants then went to open his bedroom door. But before he could get to it the door swung open, and beyond it was Linda, his older sister. A look of concern was shown clearly on her face.\n\n\"You don't have to. I'll help mom out. It's better if dad doesn't see you.\"\n\nShe timidly touched the side of Richard's face, where the swelling was at its worst.\n\n\"I'll talk to him Rich... It's not your fault. He shouldn't compare us at \\~ \"\n\nA large emerald snake slithered up from the floor and wrapped itself around Linda's neck. It looked at her with a hungry expression. Richard looked away with shame as his sister gingerly withdrew her gentle hand from his face. A pained smile formed on Linda's lips.\n\n\"I don't blame you Rich.\" she said.\n\nThen Linda went off to the kitchen, as the emerald snake looked pointedly back at the boy. Envy smirked at Richard as it disappeared down the stairs while \"carried\" by his sister.\n\nRichard slowly shut the door then walked to face his bedroom mirror. The boy then considered the figure in front of him and what he saw was swine. Gluttony laughed from somewhere in his room, then it made mocking pig noises. The sound of a candy wrapper being torn whispered from inside Richard's closet.\n\nThe dull look on Richard's face returned when just moments before it was flush with the colors of anger and shame. Now his face just reflected acceptance.\n\nHe opened his closet to change into outside clothes, quickly left his room, then quietly snuck into his parent's bedroom. The boy looked around with darting eyes, and when he didn't find what he wanted, he whispered for Greed to fetch him his father's stash.\n\nA box fell from the top of a drawer startling Richard, but he relaxed as soon as he saw a purple imp creep out from under the box. The creature had a satisfied grin on its ugly face as it opened the container to reveal a large stack of cash. A mix of very old and newer bills. Richard took some of the money as the imp scuttled into his pocket, the rest he returned to the box, and the box he returned to the top of the drawer. The words RICHARD COLLEGE written haphazardly on the box barely registering to the boy as he hurriedly ran away from the scene of his crime.\n\n. . .\n\nAfter spending the money he stole from his father on toys, gadgets, and games he's never had before, Richard never felt so empty. Despite a whole day outside spending everything he had on stuff that he thought he wanted, the boy found no pleasure on the once coveted plastic, glass, and metal electronic things.\n\nWith only a few pennies left in his pockets, Richard found himself walking near the docks... His languid steps echoing faintly against the pier's wooden planks. He found himself staring at the ocean, the lights of the distant streets not reaching the shadowy forms of the nearby harbored boats and yachts.\n\nThe stars were missing from the sky... as always. These days, only fog and spotlights littered the evenings' canvas.\n\nThe wind blew softly and brought with it the smell of sea and garbage and shit. It played with Richard's dry and curly locks.\n\nA small and pink hummingbird landed on the boy's shoulder.\n\n\"Hey Sloth... Thanks for making my life sound interesting.\"\n\nThe bird gently pecked Richard's ear.\n\nThe boy smiled...\n\nThen he jumped into the dark and cold waters.\n\nAnd finally, the bird finished narrating a story...\n\nA story which Richard will no longer hear.",
"My alarm rang out the the early morning air. I hit it over it’s head with my hand. 5 more minutes of sleep never hurt anyone. I’m just a little... a little tire... I’m... _”Phhhhttttbbbbbbb!”_ I shot up in bed to see Emma cackling. “GOD DAMN IT EMMA!” My hand drifted up to my ear. Wet. Emma stuck out her tounge. _”Phhhhttttbbbbbbb!”_ I sneered. “You’re f#cking childish.” She just laughed again and dissolved into a cloud of smoke, before zooming down my esophagus. I coughed. That never gets easier. Her name isn’t actually Emma by the way. It’s Emacancinthor, harbinger of doom and eater of worlds. Emma’s just easier to pronounce. I sat up from bed and dragged myself to the kitchen. I peered into the cabinet. Um.. yeah. I could go for some frootloops today. I lifted the spoon of cereal to my mouth, when _WHOOOOSH!_ A cloud of smoke jetted from my throat and grabbed the cereal, the spoon and the bowl before going back in. I slammed my fist on the table. “EMMA. GET OUT HERE, RIGHT NOW.” No response. I stormed over to the fridge. “That’s it, I’M DRINKING THE HOLY WATER.” I pulled out a clear flask with a silver cross etched on the front. Water sloshed around inside as is held it. “YOU HAVE 3 SECONDS.” I removed the cork. “2.” I lifted bottle to my lips. “1!” As the liquid began to drip out of the bottle, smoke filled the room. It clumped and balled into shape, forming Emma, standing in front of me glaring. “Fine. Truce?” I grinned and recapped the flask. “Truce. Now, I think it’s time we see some ground rules.”",
"My demons know me best. They've been with me through everything, created by my flaws and helping me with them.\n\nTaris is my demon of spite, birthed when my high school boyfriend cheated on me with my 'best friend'. He's the oldest of my demons and whispered in my ear ideas on how to get retribution. Some of his ideas were a little extreme, but his rage on my behalf was appreciated. \n\nThanks to Taris no one takes advantage of my kindness anymore.\n\nRinnuth is my demon of vanity. She was born not long after Taris when my self esteem was at its lowest, after my ex claimed he cheated because Veronica took better care of herself. She and Taris worked together a lot, because I first started listening to her suggestions out of spite.\n\nThanks to Rinnuth I never skip a gym day, and while I don't always look my very best, no one can call me a slob. Her tips always come in handy when I need them.\n\nMordred is a bit younger, but no less powerful for it. He was born from my first paycheck, my demon of greed. I took one look at that small number on the paper and felt him form in my mind. He knows what I deserve.\n\nThanks to Mordred I quit that job and applied myself to a program I'd been considering which would give me the skills to earn more. His advice is invaluable when it comes time to negotiate salary.\n\nOzzen is my last demon so far, my reaper. My fear of death. I barely survived a car crash at 23, and should have never let my friend drive. She'd had far too much alcohol.\n\nOzzen keeps me alert and stops me from making decisions that could lead to my death with his murmuring about how every day could be my last. But he also helped me step out of my comfort zone. If every day could be the last one, why *not* do things that make me happy? Why *not* take a few chances.\n\nI've been deep sea diving, sky diving, mountain climbing, and so many other things I would never have tried before Ozzen.\n\nSo many people fear their demons and ignore their advice out of that fear of them. But I know the secret of success, the secret of true happiness. I've befriended my demons and let them out to play.",
"\"Get yer ass up!\"\nYou sit up blearily as your bedroom door swings open. Your mother comes in, clearly annoyed, and a high pitched laugh comes from her shoulder. On it is a small demon, a phantom of the one trapped inside her. Looking like a medieval gargoyle it whispers something in her ear. She finches and spins around shouting behind her, \"If you aren't up in the next 5 minutes, you're up for adoption mate!\"\n\n\"Knew she'd be in a bad mood.\" You look over to your desk. \"Oh piss off Lucy. Really helpful in hindsight mate.\" \nThis is your demon. The great fallen angel, Lucifer Morningstar. Now going by Lucy. By some demonic miracle she was reborn after millenia of sitting around in hell, bored as anything, and the person lucky enough to get her was you. Normally a person can't see other internal demons, but due to yours being the ruler of all, you've been made an exception.\n\nGetting dressed, you toss Lucy a dirty look and ask, \"Ya know, if you're the Monarch of Demons, why can't you tell my mum's to stop pissing her off? It'd be really helpful.\"\nShe sighs and shakes her head, uncurling her wings and floating a head above you. \"You know I'm not allowed to do that. I'm still a Fallen Angel, and an internal demon. It's our job to torture you humans.\" You raise one eyebrow.\n\"Mmmmmmmmbut I'll put in a word cause it's you.\"\nYou laugh and make your way downstairs, picking up your lunch and bag.\n\n\"I thought my house was bad Lucy. The bus looks like some weird ass painting. All those demons sitting around people. Is this what you've always seen?\"\nLucy nods and laughs, \"Come on, school's gonna be interesting...\" You look down, dreading what kind of sights you'll witness at that god forsaken place. \n\nAlready walking up to the gates it bad. All the teenage angst and horniness has made some pretty strange demons.\n\nYou get to your classroom and sit down. There's the one emo kid in the corner. A large, pitch black ghoul hovers behind him,but there's a distinctive look on his face. Boredom. You nod towards him and Lucy lends you her hearing for a moment.\n\"For Satan's sake Henry stop being like this! You're putting me out of a job with all this 'self loathing'. AND WHY HAVE YOU GOT A RAZOR??\"\n\nYou and Lucy look and each other and burst out laughing, until someone else walks in. A girl, not much shorter than you, with pale gold hair, and jade skin. Most striking if all though, is her lack of internal demon. You turn to Lucy for an explanation but before you can ask, she yells out.\n\"OH FUCKIN HELL! WHY ARE YOU HERE GABRIEL!?\""
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[WP] After you've jaywalked across the road, you hear a voice saying "And that's -2 points, lol what an idiot", you look back and you see a man floating behind you, he was shocked that you saw him, and he said "Um, I think I can't disappear for some reason"
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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\nAs the sun shone through giant glass office buildings, and the buzz and brim of cars had died down, Jeremy stared up at the green traffic light. He had always prided himself on his inherent morality, and really didn’t want this to be an exception. After what Jeremy felt like was hours, he finally decided to walk across the street. As he looked both ways for cars, he heard a voice behind him.\n\n“There goes 2 points down the drain, what a sucker.”\n\nJeremy froze. As he was standing at the station, he had checked and it was only him on that entire street. Slowly and rigidly turning around, he saw a figure. He was like a stereotypical angel, wearing white, a golden halo and a large sash over his exposed chest.\n\n“Who’re you?” Jeremy asked stiffly.\n\n“Oh sh\\*t. Michael, can I call you back?” he stuttered after each word, before pretending to slam a phone, then sitting down.\n\n“Who’re you?” Jeremy repeated, this time his voice taking on a more aggressive tone.\n\n“I am an… Accountant?” The strange man said in a confused tone, “And I am here to ask if you wish to renew your contract at… Jim’s Banking Service?” Each word sounded more unsure than the last.\n\n“Cut the crap.”\n\n“Okay, I am both an accountant and a Guardian Angel; my job is to watch over you and tally your points to see whether you go to heaven or hell. Jaywalking, even though there was no-one there, was still immoral, so I took two points off.” He breathed a sigh of relief, before taking on a more serious facial expression, “And I’m meant to be invisible, but I’m clearly not that, am I?”\n\n“So what’s your punishment for seeing me?” He said, his voice quivering.\n\n“Oh nothing, you just get a ‘go straight to hell’ card, and your case is given to hell’s lawyers to deal with.” He smiled, “Now, I am no longer in your service, so goodbye, Jeremy.” His tone was as dull as a bluntened knife. As he got up from his cross legged seat, Jeremy pulled the other man down to the floor and interrogated him.\n\n“Why do I have to go to hell for your mistake?” The Accountant kept his mouth sealed, so Jeremy began encouraging him, “C’mon, I’m sure you’re great at explaining things, plus, I would like you a lot more if you told me, please?” The Angel’s mouth twitched more and more, before he eventually surrendered.\n\n“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be too concerned anyway, you were going to hell for being a lawyer since you were 23. Goodbye now, Jeremy.” And just like that, the Angel took flight, disappearing just as soon as he had appeared. As Jeremy sat there, contemplating the events of the last five minutes, he then went to stand up, promising to live as long as possible, and to be as nice as possible to everyone he could, to make the best of his life, before the engine of a car finally came into his hearing range, but by then it was too late.\n\n“Good Morning Sir, how may I help you?” The red-skinned lawyer asked him, laying down a large briefcase on the desk in front of him, “I believe we have quite the case to review before we send you down t’ the boss man himself.”"
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[WP] And overwhelming fleet of alien spaceships advances to your battleships direction. The first invasion was so terrible, humanity wont survive a second one for sure. Your spaceships prepare your most terrible weapons: Torpeds loaded with living geese. Peace was never an option.
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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 bridge was buzzing. The crew sat at their consoles taking in as much data as possible and relaying it to whichever personal needed to be informed. Captain Seabook stood at the command center desperately trying to take in all the data that was streaming from his three monitors above him. He knew this was the end but he had to delay the oncoming force long enough to finish the planet wide evacuation. “Anything from from the 5th fleet Myers”. He barked at his XO. “Nothing sir...they’re all gone.” His loyal XO nervously replied staring at his own monitors. \n\t“We’re all that’s left?!”\n\t“yes sir”\n\t“status of the geese torpedos”\n\t“fully armed in about 5 minutes”\n\t“how long till the Rack are in optimum firing range of the geese”\n\t“5 minutes”\n\t\nHe had to do something to give his crew more time to get his geese ready. “Helm bring as about. Weapons make sure all the rail guns point at the Rack fleet and prepare a full spread”. He knew the rail guns wouldn’t do much damage, he just hoped they would do enough to give his crew time to launch the experimental new weapon. The crew didn’t hesitate to react. He. immediately felt the thrusters kick in and the ship groaned with displeasure at the immediate change of direction. \n\n\t“communications. Where are we with the evac?”\n\tThe communications did a quick read of his monitor “Only at 65% completion sir”\n\t“ We’re not going to make it” was his immediate thought. The weapons officer disturbed his train of thought “Sir all rail guns are armed and ready sir” “Fire all rail guns on my mark.....3....2....1.... FIRE!” “All rail guns fire fire fire.” The weapons officer spoke into his headset. Seconds later the ship rattled followed by thunderous booms. On one screen he watched the traces of hundreds of propellants flying at near light speed to its intended target. They all met the oncoming force head on. “Weapons report?” He got the answer he expected.\n\t\n\t\t“All direct hits with minimum damage but there is good news”\n\t\t“Continue”\n\t\t“The evasive action they took bought us 30 seconds”\n\t\tThe XO would chime right in “that’s all we needed”\n\t\t“Ok XO let me know when the geese are ready”\n\t\t“yes sir. They are being stubborn but weapons has them almost ready”\n\tWith what little time he grabbed the cigar he had been waiting for when they were victorious. Now with the knowledge he wasn’t going to live to see that day, he thought he would enjoy it as a goodbye cigar. He cut the tip and grabbed his torch. Upon lighting it he took a nice long draw just as the XO keyed up his headset. “Geese, loaded, armed, targeted, and rambunctious sir!” Captain Bernard Seabrook took one more long draw and exhaled “fire”. XO reached over hit the big red flashing button in front of him. This was the first wartime launch of this new experimental weapon so he no idea if it would even work. The ship shook once again with a lot more force, it also screamed as it ejected over two million live geese at near super sonic speed to its intended target. While taking another draw from his cigar, he watched his view screen. Before the first wave hit he looked at his XO “do we have time for another volley?” As expect “No sir”. He turned attention back to the first volley while the weapons officer counted down till the geese would reach their final destination. \n\n\tThe bridge lit up has they made impact. The shockwave belted the ship sending some of its crew to the floor including its captain. While he got back to a standing position, he noticed he was able to hang onto the his cigar which actually made him smile. The bridge was deafening with the sound of alarms. “REPORT!” He screamed into his headset. Myers was the first to key up practically screaming s he could hear him over the alarms. “DIRECT HIT SIR. UNKNOWN ON ENEMEY CASUALTIES. STILL WAITING FOR THE COMPUTERS TO REBOOT.” The captain didn’t want to wait that long. \n\n\t\t“HELM DO YOU HAVE CONTROL”\n\t\t“YES SIR” \n\t\t“BRING US BACK AROUND TO FACE THE ENEMY SO WE CAN GET A VISUAL AND COULD SOMEONE PLEASE SHUT THOSE DAM ALARMS OFF”\n\t\t“AYE CAPTAIN. COMING ABOUT”.\n\n\tThe alarms went silent as the the thrusters hammered the ship around. They all stared out the front view windows of the bridge waiting to see what awaited them. The bridge went silent as the ship arrived at its intended position. XO key up is his headset so the bridge would hear. “CPU back up and according to our readout there are no Rack forces in the area.” Seabrook dropped his cigar and leaned over scanning the view window. Seeing nothing but debris and open space. “Is this confirmed” he quietly answered and after a long pause he got an answer he never expected “ Yes sir. I tripled checked. There are no Rack forces left”. He took a long breath and settle back into his captains chair as exhaustion settled in. “It worked... the dam geese worked” \n\n\t\t“communications. Notify command. Live geese wiped out Rack forces. We’re coming home”"
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[WP] You are a driver for Getaway. A ride share app like Uber or Lyft just for criminals. Tell your tales.
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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 request had come in like any other. A notification on his phone, just a simple icon accompanied by a single vibration. Like the others he had the option to accept or decline the client, and like other rideshare apps everyone had ratings. After several lucrative and successful jobs he had been receiving an influx of requests. When he received this one it had stood out as interesting; it paid well and was a lower profile target downtown, unlike some of the banks and museums some of these amateurs wanted to roll. \n\nNow he sat in his car, listening to the rain colliding with the windshield, looking around the dimly lit city street. This late at night he knew that there wouldn’t be many people walking, even in this affluent of a neighborhood. \n\n*Damn.* Carmen thought. *This rain is really going to make this more difficult.* He thought about some of the routes he had considered beforehand and whether any of them might be flooded from the storm. \n\nBefore he could get too far into his thoughts three men, wearing all black and covering their faces with ski masks, ran out of the front of the brownstone. He popped the trunk of the car and without saying anything the crew threw two large bags into the trunk. The doors slammed as the men jumped into the car.\n\n“Go, go, go!” Said the masked man in the passenger seat.\n\nHe took off quickly, cautious not to squeal the wheels in the fresh rain. As he accelerated towards the intersection, two black SUV’s with their high beams blaring, swerved around the corner ahead of them, coming right towards Carmen’s car.\n\n“Oh shit!” Shouted one of the men in the back. \n\n*Who has private security that shows up this fast?* Was the prominent question racing through Carmen’s mind. *Who the hell did these guys just steal from?* But before he could think any more he had to swerve to avoid the oncoming collision. Up, onto the sidewalk the stolen sedan went, jostling the four of them inside. It was enough to dodge the SUVs, the wide city sidewalks giving him space to maneuver around. \n\nBrake lights illuminated his rear view mirror as he watched both vehicles perform u-turns that could not have been done by anyone without professional training. He knew that these were not people that were going to be evaded easily, and were also probably not the type to ask questions first. He felt the sudden rush of adrenaline coursing through him as he gripped the steering wheel tighter.\n\nAll hopes of a stealthy getaway were abandoned. Skidding around the corner he could see their pursuers attempting to keep up in their bulkier vehicles, slipping on the freshly wet pavement. The corners were giving him desperately needed and increasing space. He pushed the stolen car to its limit through the route that he knew would have the least police and most turns. Through some of the neighborhoods near where he grew up and used to race at night. Over what felt like miles of inner city streets he managed to lose the tail, and eventually ended up at the designated drop.\n\n“You’ve got some wild driving skills, man.” Said the masked thief in the passenger seat as they came to a stop. \n\n“Who the fuck did you steal from? Almost no one has private security that shows up that fast.”\n\n“What, you mean those guys?” \n\nPointing at the street corner ahead of them, almost on cue, two black SUV’s turned around the corner and parked along the sidewalk a hundred feet away from where they sat. \n\n“What, what the hell is this?!” Yelled Carmen, his hands shaking from the aftermath of the adrenaline and now fresh rage. \n\n“This? This was a test. One that I have to say, you did extremely well in. Don’t give me that look, we’re still going to pay you, and even giving you a bonus! I actually lost a bet with one of those drivers, we thought the rain would totally fuck you up. But well done, man.”\n\nHis stomach churned, and the rage was slightly subsided by the thought of a bonus, but what was this a test for? Surely this man must be some kind of sociopath to think that after that kind of a deceit he would be willing to work for him again. \n\n“Look, I can see you’re pissed, but this other job needed another, proven driver. And your cut is going to be high six figures. So, what do you say? Are you up for the *real* job now?”\n\nThat, well that was intriguing.\n\n“...Let’s hear it.”",
"The *ding* of the app goes off about halfway through my 3rd cup of coffee of the evening. 11:30 PM. Someone has plans for the witching hour, and there's room for one more. No details, though. Always troubling, the no detail jobs; either they didn't know enough to put the particulars into the app, or they know enough to know that the details would scare everyone off. Either way, the risk is elevated.\n\nFuck it. I didn't take this gig to *not* do crimes, after all.\n\nThe clients are waiting on the corner at the listed address... all five of them. As I roll up to them, they seem a mix of eager, nervous and young. Mostly young. The oldest, or at least the biggest, looks like he still needs a fake ID to get alcohol. \n\n\"The fuck is this supposed to be?\" One of them yells, looking over my ride. In it's past life it was a bog standard yellow cab, and if you didn't know where to look it still looks like one. Everything inside the body has been upgraded, especially the divider between me and the backseat; the simple plastic screen has been swapped out for inch thick lexan, same stuff they use to make the windscreens on armored fighting vehicles. If one of my clients wants to gank me, they'll need a 50 cal to do it. \"Are we doing crimes, or driving Miss Daisy?\"\n\n\"If you wanted a Lamborghini, you should have used Getaway Prime.\" I say back. \"And by the way, you probably should have used Getaway XL for a crew this size. Were you planning on sitting in each other's laps, or do you need to make a different call?\"\n\n\"Fuck you, man! Let us sit up front!\" Another one barks.\n\n\"Hard no, kid.\" I say, keeping one hand where they can see it, while the other moves towards the center console. \"No one sits up front but YellowBandit12 and candidates for Mrs. YellowBandit12, and none of you are my type. Ditch two and we can proceed.\"\n\n\"Fuck this, man, let us in or we give you one star!\" The first one says. \n\n\"Oof, that's harsh kid.\" I say. \n\n\"If you don't like it, maybe you should be a real gangster instead of a gig-economy bitch!\"\n\n\"You're right. I should start doing real gangster shit. Like blowing children away with a 45 if they don't give me 5 stars and a $100 tip in ten seconds.\"\n\n\"Yeah, bitch! ...what?\"\n\n\"Did I stutter?\" I say, pulling my 1911A1 out of the center console. The laser sight isn't really needed at this range, but the bright green dot projected on the biggest child's chest really drives home the gravity of the situation. His accomplices don't wait to see how it shakes out, choosing the better part of valor; one of them tries to do a little serpentine maneuver on his way to cover and trips over his own feet in the process. \"5 stars. $100. Ten. Nine. Eight...\"\n\n\"Alright, alright! Fuck!\" He says, fumbling with his cell phone. A small *ding* from my own phone confirms that it's all settled up. \"Great doing business with you, kid. Oh, it occurs to me that with your crew gone, the seating problem is resolved. Wanna do the job now?\"\n\n\"No... no thank you. I'm going to go home now.\" He says, sounding uncertain. \"Can... can I go now?\" \n\n\"What?\" I ask, before remembering that I still have a loaded weapon pointed straight into his ribcage. \"Right, off you go, kiddo. Be careful out there. The streets can get a bit dangerous at night.\"",
"Just one job.\n\nThat’s the story you hear all the time with Getaway.\n\nMaybe Frankie Fiancé figures he just needs a couple thousand to get his girl that wedding ring he always thought she deserved. Maybe Calvin College Grad just wants to pay off his student loans without whiling his life away at three different jobs, all of which he hates. Hell, some people just do it for the thrills and bragging rights.\n\nOne job.\n\nHere’s the secret they don’t tell you when you sign up: It’s *never* just one job.\n\nIf you’re bad at it, you get yourself killed or get arrested. Maybe get tried as an accessory to some jackass who said they only wanted to rob one convenience store, then decided to shoot up the place while they were at it.\n\nNot speaking from personal experience there, by the way. Heard that one from a friend.\n\nIf you’re good, then after a while your name starts to get around. Which is either very good or very bad, depending on how much you want to get out of the business. Because if you’re good and the wrong people know your name? You’re never getting out of this.\n\nBut if you’re the best?\n\nWell, at a certain point, even this starts to feel like a nine-to-five.\n\nFor instance, I was pretty sure that the me of six months ago would have told you to take a hike if you’d told him that I’d be doing eighty in a thirty zone today, doing my damnedest to avoid oncoming palm trees while Billy Bank Robber leaned out my passenger side window, putting potholes in the front bumpers of the three or four cop cars hot on our heels.\n\nBut here I was. Just another day at the office.\n\n“Crazy weather lately, huh?” I said.\n\nThe nervous looking guy in the back seat looked up, eyes wide behind his glasses. You meet a lot of people doing this. People always assume that criminals are crazy or weird or interesting. And sure, some of them are. But most? Turns out, they’re as mundane as anyone else.\n\nThis guy had ‘never done this before’ written all over him.\n\nYou could always tell the newbies.\n\n“What?” he gasped out.\n\nHe was shaking violently, clutching the seatbelt hard enough that his knuckles had turned white. I hoped he wasn’t about to piss himself, or something. I’d already maxed out my cleaning budget for the month on some girl who didn’t bother to tell me she was the type to get carsick.\n\n“One sec,” I said, as a narrow side street came barreling towards us.\n\n*Perfect.*\n\nI slammed on the breaks and rolled the steering wheel to the right. The truck tilted on its wheels, tires screaming as we whipped to the side. I heard a curse from outside the window, then something heavy bounce off the passenger side door. His gun? I had to assume so, from the way he ducked back inside a second later, glaring at me.\n\nProbably a good thing, anyway. Shooting at cops was only good for one thing, in my experience: attracting more cops. Definitely an amateur move.\n\n“Like I said,” I continued as the truck flattened out. “Just being polite. Making small talk, you know? You two look a little nervous, is all. I’d hate for this to be a bad experience, for you.”\n\nI had ratings to keep up, after all.\n\n“Why?” asked Billy Bank Robber from the passenger seat. He was even shrimpier than the guy in the back. It was pretty obvious that the gun had been an attempt to compensate. He glared. “Getting your facts ready for when you flip on us?”\n\n“Hey, Man, relax” I said, giving him a comforting pat on the shoulder. “Just making conversation.”\n\nThe guy in the back seat curled in on himself. “Um. Can we maybe just not talk?”\n\n*Ah.* More of a radio type, then.\n\nI turned out of the side street and back onto a six-lane main road and immediately saw the flashing lights. Even two blocks away, the police barricade was unmissable. I crushed the accelerator all the way to the floor.\n\n“That’s fine,” I said, flashing him a smile as I hit the dial. “Got a favorite station? I’m a classical fan, myself, but I know that’s not to everybody’s tastes.”\n\nThe guy in the back stared at me as flipped through stations with one hand.\n\n“You should buckle up,” I told Billy Bank Robber as we accelerated past one-twenty. “Might be a bit of a bump coming up, here.”\n\nHe stared at me, wide eyed.\n\nAh well.\n\nIf he wasn’t going to fasten his seatbelt, there wasn’t much I could do. At least I wouldn’t get my pay docked if it was obvious his death was his own damn fault.\n\nThe cops manning the barricade scattered as we roared towards them, faster and faster. They had left it a little long, in my opinion, as if they thought I was just trying to fake them out. Nah. I had made it a policy not to get into games of chicken that I wasn’t prepared to follow through on.\n\nMetal screeched as we slammed into the other cars, one spinning wildly away us. Another was thrown into the air, flipping over entirely. Through the rearview mirror, I saw the guy in the back seat hunker down as if he was expecting one of them to come sheering through the truck’s roof.\n\nI turned off the radio in disgust as we tore away from the barricade’s mangled wreckage. Sometimes, it seemed like there was nothing on but commercials.\n\n“So,” I asked them. “Seen any good movies, lately?”"
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[WP] A woman is getting her son into the family car. As she starts to get in a SUV pulls up to the driveway. A man in a crisp black suit gets out, followed by a woman in uniform. The man says "It's back and this time it's even worse than before. We need you back."
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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.*",
"\"Mom, we need to go before I'm late for practice!\"\n\n\"Sure son, coming!\" Jane quickly goes from the living room to the front door. As she opens the door the chill comes inside. The starry sky had a tranquil effect on Jane.\n\n\"Mom!\"\n\n\"Sorry honey, coming.\" she opens the door and Jack gets in. As she's about to open the front door a black SUV comes up the driveway. Out the door comes an ominous looking man in a black suit and sunglasses.\n\n\"Ma'am.\"\n\n\"Sorry, no time.\"\n\n\"But it's back! And worse then ever, we need your help.\"\n\n\"I am just a beautician! And I need to go to my sons practice.\"\n\n\"But it's the general! His acne is acting up again!\"",
"In shock and horror, the woman stumbled out of her family minivan into the cool night air. The uneven asphalt of her driveway blended seamlessly into the darkness of the night. The man that had pulled into the driveway behind her had done so stealthily; he had not had the headlights on of the black SUV he drove. \n\n\nSeeing the car peel into the driveway behind her had been enough to nearly stop her heart. The woman had practically ripped herself out of the van, fully intending to curse the unidentified driver out.\n\n\nHowever, she stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing the man in the black suit, wearing sunglasses in the middle of the night. Dread sank in her stomach when he spoke.\n\n\n\"It's back, and worse than ever. We need you back.\"\n\n\nGripping her messy blonde hair at the sides of her head, she somehow croaked out, \"how? How did that damned portal at CERN open again?! I thought we had closed it for good!\"\n\n\nGiorgio Tsoukalos stepped closer to the woman as he removed his sunglasses, \"Let me stop you right there. The answer is aliens.\"\n\n\n\n*Edit/Authors Note: I actually put effort into this, please don't delete!*"
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[WP] You work as a crew member in a container ship crossing the Atlantic. During a storm, you're washed away by a wave. A few hours later, trying to stay afloat in the rough seas, you just accept your fate and let yourself sink. After a long time sinking into the darkness, you haven't drowned yet.
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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.*",
"Hell is the crushing pressure of the ocean deep, the blackness of the sunless sea, the feeling of rough scales against your skin unseen. How long have I been falling into the depths? I took my last shuddering breaths what feels like hours ago, yet still I descend into the frigid currents.\n\nHow have I survived? Was it my desperation alone that turned this eternal seawater to something my body could tolerate after I lost the strength to tread water, wishing my ship would come back and find me? But I’ve spent enough years out here to know the unlikeliness of finding the tiny speck of a man barely afloat in miles of seething black water on a rainy night. Hell, they might not even realize I’m gone yet. I wasn’t even on shift, just out on the deck for a late-night cigarette I shouldn’t have risked in the storm when the wave suddenly rose up and whisked me away.\n\nBut that was a lifetime ago, maybe literally. *Am* I alive? Breathing underwater is for comic books and I’m no superhero. The pressure of the ocean this far down should have killed me by now, too. I can certainly feel its squeezing grip, but only as a strange compression around my entire body. It’s almost comforting.\n\nI should feel afraid of things with sharp teeth here. I grew up fascinated with sea life. Shark Week obsessions, begging for trips to the aquarium up north, I even flirted with the idea of becoming a marine biologist, but my grades and spotty work history were never good enough for anything but a job on a container ship. A container ship now miles above me. May as well be on the moon.\n\nSomehow, I’m not so worried about being eaten alive. Maybe it’s some sort of ocean madness, maybe it’s that I can’t see anything around me, though...I’m not sure that’s completely true. The ocean doesn’t feel as pitch black as it did before. Have my eyes adjusted to the darkness? With no sun able to reach this deep, how is that possible? But no, I really am starting to see shapes in the distance. I can’t believe it.\n\nEverything seemed so silent before, too, but now I’m starting to hear drawn out, echoing sounds. High-pitched, wavering wails far away. Maybe dolphins? Deep, lumbering thrums above me. Whales?\n\nI start to move my body, trying to swim upward for the first time since I sank under the waves, but find that I can't. My limbs, numb from cold, lie helpless and inert. I’m surprised I haven’t before, but now I begin to panic. My head thrashes around, the only part of me I can move. I start to scream, bubbles escaping my lips. Strangely, I can see them clearly as they float upward in front of my face.\n\nSomething bites my neck with needle teeth. I breathe in a great gulp of water to scream once more but find myself coughing uncontrollably instead. Water pours out of my mouth, down my face, over my body. Behind the water is not more ocean, but air. The frozen sea drains away around me and I am left shivering, my hair plastered to my forehead, covering my eyes. I reach up to push it away but still cannot move my hands. I look down and stop trying to move. I stop trying to do anything. The full-body cast looks a hell of a lot smaller than it should be, but still blocks the view of the rest of the room. I can see the tops of several heads at the end of the bed past my undersized feet poking out of the casts.\n\nI can hear a woman weeping and a man with a deep voice soothing her quietly. Another woman says, “I gave him something to help him rest. You can talk to him now.”\n\nThe crying woman and the man walk around the bed toward me. They look familiar but I can’t quite place them. She pushes the hair out of my eyes and gently lays her hand on my cheek.\n\n“It’s okay, baby, Mama’s here. Daddy and I aren’t going to leave your side. Once you’re all healed up, we’ll play hooky and take you the aquarium, I promise.”",
"I should be drowned by now, no human can survive underwater for this long. I sit cross legged on the sand and wait, the ocean around me is heavy and dark, but I’ve got nothing else to do so I wait.\n\n“Dave?!”\n\nThe shout breaks through the water as though it were air, and I whip my head around. As I do so I realise that under the water like this my head should have turned slowly, I should have had to push against the water, but it was exactly like turning my head on the surface.\n\n“It’s Dave isn’t it?!” The voice from the dark shouts again.\n\n“How do you know my name? Who are you? Where are you?” I keep looking out into the darkness, I think I see a movement in one place and then I’m certain I see one in another.\n\n“So many questions Mr Jones, but so little time for answers” a hand grabs my left shoulder and out of the dark steps a man. He looks maybe 65 years old, dressed in clothes that would have been popular 40 years ago, fairly normal, except for the barnacles. It takes me a second to take the man in and then I scream.\n\nWho wouldn’t\n\n“I know your name because it was my name also, and the one before me. He called himself Davey though. I always preferred Dave myself. There’s always one of us down here Me Jones. To look after the men who fall, who drown or die at sea.” And then he died, or at the very least stopped being alive.\n\nIn a movie I’d be incredulous, confused, I would have pinched myself and thought I was dreaming. But in reality... well he’s right in front of me. Until the sea washes him away.\n\nI will watch the ocean, do the job, and eventually I’ll find my replacement."
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[WP] Humanity in the world you are living in has never fought wars, nor has it discovered how to make fire. Yet it has made the same technological progress as we have, aided by suspiciously convenient scientific discoveries. You find out about the conspiracy around the Keepers Of The Flame.
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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 misread your prompt... oh well)\n\nIn the year of our God most holy and pure four-hundred and forty-five it was to be that a great king visited this land. His name was Tompenka.\n\nSuch was his shining splendor that all the lords of the land came to pay tribute to his greatness, for he recieved many great gifts of linen cloth, stone, and the finest staves of wood. To them he gave strange disks of a shining hard substance that shone red like the sun. He and his servants had worn thus upon their necks, hair, and around their wrists. To the lords he also gave clothes of fine red silks, and shining stones of many. He stood before the lords as they gathered about him and uttered these words which I had witnessed, \"I have seen a great land on this day, a great people as well, for they are most generous.\" And so Tompenka remained in this land for thirty days and thirty nights. In this time, it was so that he gave my people a great wealth of knowledge of his lands and of his people. They were, by his account, of greater number than we, and such it was that his land had boasted a wealth of bread and wine, and much of this red, shining substance he unto called \"copper.\"\n\nWhen it came time for the great king to leave, I took it upon myself to come before him and speak with him my wants. To his feet, I had bowed to kiss once on each. To his ears, I told him thus, \"Take me with you to your land, so that my people may learn to be as great as you have shown us.\" And so it was that Tompenka smiled and said thus, \"You shall ride with me to my land, and you shall know the glory of flame.\"\n\n\"Flame.\" This word, I before had heard not.\n\nTompenka and his people rode upon strange deer, which had not antlers. And so it was that I should ride upon one as well, and to these beasts the great King Tompenka named \"Horse.\"\n\nAnd so it was we rode upon our \"horses\" to his land, through a valley where the mountains had boisterously touched the sky to the north and to the south. When the sun rose in the east, it was to there that we rode through the valley. And it was in this valley that we rode for five days and rested five nights.\n\nIt was during these nights that Tompenka's people had shown me their magic known as \"fire.\"\n\nThis... *magic* is strangely warm, like the furs we wear on our backs. When the sun would fall and the moon thus rose, Tompenka's people would take two smooth stones and strike them together over the fibers of tree bark. It is during this ritual that their God, the God of Fire is much pleased and gives unto them his spark, which casts fire unto where the two holy stones are struck. Fire... is unusually bright, such as the sun, but as if the sun had been taken from the sky and placed onto the ground. And it is around this fire that Tompenka's people sleep and eat, for they do not eat as we do, but instead, holding their food over the fire until it is sufficiently warm to their taste. This food which they eat, is of much better taste than of ours.\n\nWhen it was that we had traveled for fifteen days and rested fifteen nights, we came upon Tompenka's land. His people lived in great mountains that they themselves had built of stone. Such as we live in huts of staves and twigs, Tompenka's people live in great huts of stone, much larger than ours. Should I be truthful, I should believe that these huts that they themselves have built were bigger than the trees! The great mountains they have built of many of these huts, are known to them as \"cities.\"\n\nAbout the land, they grow a golden grass known to them as \"wheat\" and from this they harvest the grain and make the food, which is most popular among them, known as bread. It is light, and has many holes, like rotted wood, but it is good, and most filling.\n\nThe great King Tompenka, upon the falling of the sun and rising of the moon, invited me to his hut, which is known to his people as his \"palace.\" In this hut, great arches of stone stretched about, and upon the walls and floors great inscriptions of many colors were drawn, depicting his people riding their deer and working in their fields of wheat.\n\nIt was here, when he came unto me and placed two small stones into my hands and thus said, \"I have placed into your hands, my God.\"\n\n**The manuscript shows signs of burning, save for pages which remain...**\n\nAnd so it is, that I give unto you, my people, the God of Tompenka's people. You shall use it to flourish in this land, so that we may be as they are. The masters of fire, the servants of God, the Keepers of the Flame."
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[WP] The supervillain, tired of losing, comes up with a new plan. If you can’t beat the superhero’s. Go to a universe that has none.
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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\nGrinn stood statuesque before the droning gate. \n\nFractured rock fell like hail from the ceiling of his lair. Smoke and discolored fluids poured from countless ruined machines. The air was rank with the smell of sewage. Through crimson eyes, Grinn watched the destruction his home, lamenting the naïve villain he had once been. There could be no victory against the heroes. He had been a fool to think otherwise. \n\n*The last villain,* he smirked. *To think I was once proud of such a title…*\n\nGrinn peeled the mask from his face and faced the woman at the other end of the platform. Long before the heroes began their assault, Shake had been hard at work. Grinn’s arrival with the core had pushed the cyborg into overdrive. Sparks flew from Shake’s fingers as she worked to stabilize the portal that would lead to their salvation. \n\n“How much longer?” Grinn barked. \n\nThe cyborg hissed in frustration. “Talking will not make it faster.”\n\nGrinn raised the screen on his wrist and observed the progress of the heroes outside. He had anticipated their arrival, knowing that retrieving the invaluable core would compromise the location of his lair. Shake’s metallic minions had lasted mere moments. The defenses procured to reinforce the lair were all but defeated. Soon, the first wave of heroes would breach the underground cave. \n\n“No matter what happens, stabilize the portal,” Grinn commanded, brandishing his rifle. With his free hand, the villain reached into the pocket of his cloak and tossed a small device to his companion. There was no need to confirm that the cyborg had caught the device, or that she knew its purpose. \n\nDeterminedly, Grinn leaped from the platform and marched forward. He halted beside the smoking form of his prized ship and waited. \n\nThe first of the heroes slipped through a crack in the rock. With a simple command, Grinn forced the ruined ship into action. Racing across the runway, it flattened the seemingly-invertebrate hero against the fractured stone wall. The ship gave a last whine before erupting in flames. \n\nGrinn took a longing look at his favored rifle, then begin to fire. The energy-based rounds would keep the heroes at bay for another moment. Once empty, the rifle’s failsafe would buy another few seconds.\n\n*If Shake’s not ready by then…*\n\nThe villain inserted the specialized munition cartridge, then tossed the weapon forward like a javelin. A hero emerging from the rubble caught the barrel an inch from his armored chest. The resulting explosion erased the man from existence. \n\nAs expected, a dozen heroes appeared from the gaping hole to avenge their fallen comrade. Colorful masks. Billowing capes. The smell of their power replaced that of rot. \n\nGrinn smiled as he felt the end of the grappling device clamp around his boot. As the heroes valiantly charged forth, the last villain made his escape, waving in the instant before the rope drew him through the portal and into the world beyond. \n\n​\n\n​\n\n​\n\n“Grinn! We need to move!” \n\nGrinn opened his eyes to find the imposing figure of Shake towering over him. The cyborg’s silver hair was in disarray, but her glowing eyes were eternally resolute. Before he could reply, Shake pulled him to his feet and began to repackage the grappling gun. \n\nThe villain observed his surroundings without expression. They had emerged in a dreary park of concrete and dying trees. A city dominated the smog-filled horizon before them. Overhead, blimps navigated a gray sky filled with green-tinged clouds.\n\n“Far more malevolent than your images gave it credit for,” Grinn mused, donning the dark cloak handed to him by the cyborg. “To think that we were not only able to locate a world without heroes but to travel there as well. Well done, Shake.” \n\nThe cyborg shrugged as she concealed her metallic face beneath a thick hood. “A team effort, master. Your vision, my expertise. That is the way our partnership functions.” \n\n“Only now, we will actually be capable of accomplishing our goals!” The villain howled with laughter as a frigid wind streaked through the barren park. “This world is ripe for the taking!” \n\n“Have you forgotten the reason this world has no heroes?”\n\nGrinn’s expression soured. “You must learn to cherish each victory, Shake. No matter how small.” \n\nAs she often did, the cyborg ignored him. “Sirens approaching. As expected, the Overlord has detected our arrival and sent his men to investigate. Phase Two is upon us, master. If we are to overthrow the Overlord, we must evade capture at all cost.” \n\nWithout a further word, Shake sprinted toward the nearest cluster of trees. \n\n*The last villain on one world, the only hero in the next…*\n\nGrinn clutched the mask in his hand tightly, then followed.",
"\"Citizens of New Rochdale's bustling Upper Southdown district were terrorized today as the augmetic crime group known as the Overcaste attempted a robbery of the federal mint. Fortunately for all present, the attempt was foiled by local heroes D'Arcangel, Kid Kabbalah, and Psychonautix. Although one member remains at large, the rest of the Ov-\"\n\nA basketball-sized fist, covered in stone-hard skin laced with fiery red cracks, smashed into the television. Chronomaly looked up from his work disapprovingly.\n\n\"I have a limited number of television sets, Sidney. If you could rein in your temp-\"\n\n\"I ain't Sidney, Doc! It's Cindercone! Got it?\"\n\nChronomaly sighed and carried on with his work. Sidney Cohn, alias Cindercone, paced back and forth on huge, stony feet, leaving an even thudding noise. Smoke and ash billowed from the reddish cracks on his magma-textured skin. A little over 400 pounds of organic, partially hardened magma, Cindercone was known in the world of villainy for being hotheaded both figuratively and literally. Chronomaly felt himself sweating.\n\n\"Ain't you done yet? Cops are gonna be swarming this joint any minute now!\"\n\n\"Nearly, Sid-Cindercone. This is delicate work.\"\n\n\"Rounded up my whole damn gang. If it weren't for do-gooders crawlin' over every incha city, parasite billionaire buddies a theirs, wasn't for them, the heist woulda gone off without a hitch. Ain't no way to make a dishonest living without sellin' out an' payin' up to some bigger gang, like Coldsnap did...\"\n\nThe rumbling rant continued. Dr. Baltasar Prelacyne Kron- Chronomaly- sighed to himself, but busied his servos calibrating the machine. The equivalent of three doctorate-level degrees in this backwater time period, and the best job he could find was a glorified getaway driver. *Just focus on the money*, *Balt*, he thought to himself. *Get it up and running, get your cut, and get him out of here.* The machine hummed to life.\n\n\"Cindercone. It's ready.\"\n\nThe volcano-man paused up midpace and looked up expectantly.\n\n\"With my Tempus-Refuge, you'll be able to lay low in the future until the police activity dies down-\"\n\n\"Nah, Doc. Change of plans.\"\n\nChronomaly tensed. You prepared for statements like that. In this business every square inch of your back was an apt target for stabbing.\n\n\"Change of plans.\"\n\n\"Yeah. Layin' low ain't gonna make a bitta difference. I still come back to a world fulla superheroes. Hell, that's assumin' they don't just wait a spell, or tell their sidekicks 'Be on the lookout for ol' Cindercone when he pops up in a hundred years'.\"\n\nChronomaly was impressed. Most people didn't think time travel through so well. Cindercone might be somewhat more than the dumb thug he seemed.\n\n\"So... what's the change?\"\n\n\"Insteada sending me forward, send me sideways. You can do it, right? Not the future, just an alternate timeline. A world that could have been, but didn't turn out?\"\n\n\"I... in theory, yes, I could make an adjustment-\"\n\n\"Then do it. Not the future. Send me to a world where the superheroes never existed at all.\"\n\nChronomaly had a flash of understanding, and felt newfound respect for his customer.\n\n\"I see. Yes... I believe I can arrange that. Bear in mind, I would have little control over the other details of the timeline-\"\n\n\"Don't matter. As long as I don't have heroes to deal with, I get to be King Cindercone. Make it happen, I double your cut.\"\n\nChronomaly made it so. Money was exchanged for the holographic transit map. The rift opened and Cindercone walked through.\n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\nCindercone was in hell.\n\nFor what had to be the fiftieth time in what could have been a day or an eternity, a cartoon possum hit Cindercone on the head with a heavy wooden mallet. Roaring with impotent fury, pyroclastic bursts erupting from his head and shoulders, he burned the animal's head to a crisp, only for it to pop back into form instantly, goofy smile intact. Cinder was rewarded with another mallet stroke.\n\nTime had no meaning here. He had no idea how long he'd been here, only that every waking moment had been spent with him getting pummeled, bombed, shot by blunderbusses, hit by trains, blown up by dynamite, dropped off the edge of canyons and variously otherwise offended by deformed woodland critters with names like BossO'Nova Basset, Rocco LaRoche and Rogues Pierre.\n\nAnd this had been one of the *less* unpleasant worlds in the vast multiverse. World Where The Heroes Had Turned Into Tyrants was predictably unbearable. Nazi World had not proven much fun after he had admitted to bisexual tendencies and Jewish ancestry on his father's side. Devastated Wasteland World had been fun for a few days before the lack of indoor plumbing wore thin. This idea was quickly proving not to be the stroke of genius he had hoped for.\n\nHe sighed resignedly as a badger in a zoot suit hit him with a pie.\n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\n\"Today the augmetic fugitive known as Cindercone stunned the public by appearing via temporal rift outside New Rochdale PD's fifth precinct house and voluntarily allowing himself to be led to a holding cell. Local hero Psychonautix was quoted as saying 'Hardly surprising. He obviously knew we were on his tail. Crime doesn't pay in this city.' Cindercone awaits trial with the other members of his gang. In other news...\""
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[WP] Your apartment is haunted by a ghost. Only you can see him, but he’s not a malevolent spirit. For years, he told you that he cannot interact with the physical realm, thus he can’t help with housework, but one day, you catch him sitting on the couch holding the TV remote.
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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 apparently my story is too long but here's part one\n\nI walked around the neighborhood I knew so well, earbuds in, zoning out to the music blasting in my ears. I walked this route every day, twelve blocks around my neighborhood, starting and ending at my crappy, broken down apartment. If I could live anywhere else, I would. But there’s never any other apartments for rent in my town.\n\nAs I turned down the street to lead me home, I noticed a piece of paper taped onto a lamp post. A home for sale sign. I examined it excitedly, hoping I had enough money saved up to buy it, or at least form some kind of monthly payment plan with the seller. But as I read the text, I tilted my head slightly. Something didn't add up. \n\nThe house for sale was a huge place, almost a mansion, a former hotel, with thirteen floors, an attic and two basements. I’ve walked past it a few times. It has some fire damage from about a year ago, but nevertheless, a house like that should cost a fortune. However, the number listed at the bottom of the poster read $200,000.\n\n“Two hundred thousand? Is this some kind of joke?” I muttered to myself. \nI grabbed the poster anyway, deciding to see if I could actually get this place. I finished my walk quickly, and entered my apartment, still pondering about the poster. Sitting on my couch, I dialed the number on the paper. It rang a few times, then someone picked up.\n\n“Hello?” The voice on the other line came through. It sounded like a man, but I couldn't be sure.\n\n“Are you still selling the thirteen floor house?” I asked immediately, swiping a piece of hair away from my face.\n\n“You want it? Seriously?” The seller answered, sounding excited.\n\n“Yes. Why? What's wrong with it?” I accused, suddenly becoming suspicious. \n\n“Oh, nothing, nothing. Meet me there in ten minutes, and you can have the house. I'll give you the papers and everything.”\n\n“Is that how it works…?” I asked, but the man on the other side had hung up already.\n\nI shrugged. Whatever. Anything to get out of this stupid apartment. I wondered briefly whether or not to pack up all of my clothes and stuff, but decided against it. I didn't want to get my hopes up that much.\n\nTen minutes later, I was at the house I wanted to buy. I stood there for about 30 seconds, until another car pulled up. The door on the drivers side opened and a man stepped out, pausing to say something to the person in the passenger’s seat. I glimpsed a head of white-blond hair. \n\nThe man closed the door and walked up to me. \nHe was fairly tall and skinny, with green eyes and messy dark brown hair. He had a slight burn-like scar on his neck and shoulder, and I wondered if that's why he was selling the house. Bad memories. \n\nHe smiled. “You said you wanted the house?”\n\n“Yeah,” I replied. “I have a check written, I'll pay you half now and the other half I'll pay monthly.” \n\nThe man nodded. “Sounds fair. So, here's all of the papers and stuff, I already signed everything.” He showed me a stack of papers with writing and text scattered over the front page. \n\n“Um… aren't you going to make me fill out an application or something?” I questioned. I had to fill out a bunch of stuff before I was able to rent the apartment I live in now. \n\n“Well, you're the only person who wanted the house, so there's no point really.” He answered. \n\nI gave him a skeptical look.\n\n“Look, I'm not trying to scam you. I just really want to sell this house, and nobody else wants it.” \n\nI nodded hesitantly. “Okay,” I agreed after a few seconds of thinking. I pulled the check I had written beforehand out of my pocket. \n\n“What's your name?” I asked, pulling out a pen. \n\n“Oh. Querry. Querry Slaughter.” He replied. \n\n“What kind of a name is that?” I asked, half to myself. \n\nQuerry shrugged, overhearing. “I don't know. I didn't name myself.” \n\nI finished filling out the check and handed it to him.\n\nHe in turn handed me the stack of papers.\n\n“Is… is that it then?” \n\nQuerry nodded. “Yup. Oh, and, just a bit of advice. Don't go up to the thirteenth floor.”\n\nHe smiled and walked back to his car. \n\nI couldn't tell if he was joking or not. I flipped through the pages of the documents and found everything that should have been filled out was filled out. There were a few bits of instruction on what to do and so forth, but other than that, it looked fine. \n\nA week later, after a few long hours of lines and legal stuff, the house was officially mine.",
"\"Godfuckingdammit, Dad!\"\n\nThe remote dropped to the ground, the batteries popping out.\n\n\"Phiiiiiiiil, iiiiiit's nooooot whaaaat iiiiiiit loooooks liiiiike.\"\n\nDad bowed his head. He knows that shows off the place his skull cracked, that manipulative fuck.\n\n\"You know what it fucking looks like, Dad? You've been lying to me my entire fucking life, since age 9, ever since you died!\"\n\nDad was buffeted by my words; reminders of his death hurt his grasp on our realm. Making him scramble a bit gave me a small sense of satisfaction, but I wasn't anywhere near done.\n\n\"Why did you never tell me, Dad? Why'd you never make me dinner? Do any chores? Do my homework? I'm the only reason you're here, your son, and you've done nothing?\"\n\n\"Noooo, iiiiiit's nooooot liiiiike thaaaaat. Chooooores buiiiiiild chaaaaraaaacteeeeer...\"\n\n\"Shut up, Dad.\"\n\nBuild character? God, he doesn't even understand how boomer he sounds. I'd be sorry if he wasn't such an asshole.\n\nThe silence stretched out for another few seconds as I collected my thoughts and tried not to cry. I slowly walked to grab a chair from the kitchen table.\n\n\"Dad, I'm the reason you're still here. Still capable of holding a fucking remote. Me and the apartment, right? Mom told me to get a new place when she moved out. Move to Los Angeles or something. God, I wanted to. Did I ever tell you that? See the Hollywood Sign, see... But no. Me and the apartment, the keys to having dear old Dad. And even if he couldn't be a physical Dad, he could give me advice right? That's what *you* told me. 'Words are more powerful than actions.' 'The pen is mightier than the sword.'\"\n\nI stood up.\n\n\"Dooooon't gooooo,\" he wailed. Pitifully.\n\n\"I think Mom was right about you, Dad.\"\n\nI turned around, opened the door, and walked away."
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[WP] An Immortal being is trapped in a body that has been/is being zombified.
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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.*",
"Dear diary, \nIt's been a long time since I last had the chance to write you. After a night out to the bar with those friends I made in the shipyards, things kind of went off the rails. There was a greaser type who kept trying to step in between Fred and his girl. You know Fred, he's a good guy, a stand up guy even but a bit of a pacifist. Well, I got a bit liquored up and just had enough of this guy, so when he invited himself to out table, I told him he better kick rocks. Evidently he felt pretty strongly about staying the course, so I lightened him up by a tooth or two. That fucking decade though and the cliques, you couldn't swing on a guy without six more coming up out of the damn woodwork. Next thing I know, I'm getting slammed to the pavement outside and wouldn't ya' know it, it's raining. I got off a swing or two but they started tuning me up pretty good, until the splashing and repeated blows pretty much knocked off all the make up. One of the guys was rude enough to puke which promptly washed into my face, I can still smell that, sour beer and onions. The gagging broke the silence though and pretty soon they were getting ready to run me out of town, not that I needed much convincing. So, I made my way for the swamp and then through valleys up to the Shenandoah to lay low until the memory died off. It always does sooner or later. Then one night as I'm laying there under the stars, there's just fuckin' daylight, right now, in a hurry. Three new suns just bloomed on earth to the East. That was the start. I don't think I'm ready to dive into that yet, I know I've seen war a few dozen times but, this is different. I don't know if the mortals are going to make it this time. After the dust settled, I made my way down, mud caked on my face, hoping to pass for homeless rather than a walking corpse. The first few towns I hit were totally deserted, that was a bit of a relief if I'm being selfish. I broke into a drug store for some new make up and their stash of morphine, it had been a while since I had a good time. So, I got all pretty, hoping to find some people and see what the hell happened. I was roughly headed for the capitol but got shot by some crazies somewhere north of there. Bullets, as it turns out, aren't real easy to shake off. I managed to crawl into a root cellar before they could get too close. It fuckin' hurt. I mean bad, worse than the rack or any of those crazy torture devices. One little piece of lead to the chest and I'm gaspin' like a carp, pukin' up blood and shaking in fits. The dope fiend in me didn't want to waste the morphine at first but, I was going to let them know where I was at if I screamed. So, I jammed half the stash, better to be unconscious either way. I started comin' to and the world is throbbing. No, not me, I've got a knot of blood clots and scar tissue forming in my lung, sure,but the world is literally bouncing up and down. Then it hit me, the sky. I wasn't in the cellar anymore. I looked around and boy was I in for a treat. I was in a cart drawn by two ox that looked like they'd been boiled alive. There was someone driving the cart, too! He took me to his bar and kinda nursed me a bit, said I'd have to work off the debt for him saving my life. Right, good luck with that buddy. The strange thing though, he didn't care how I looked. Come to find out, there's been some kinda atomic war and there's lots of folks who look pretty messed up now. I guess a lot of 'em are living a long time, too! So, for right now, I'm gonna bartend to this fool Moriarty, I'll out live him easy and the regulars make it almost worthwhile. This one new guy, Jim, he seems real solid, like he sees me as person. I like to rag on him, greet him with \"Hey there smooth skin\", it gets a mixed reaction but, I know he can see we're more than ghouls and smooths, we're humans livin' through a fucked up war. And war, war never changes.",
"“Arise, my servant! Arise!”\n\nA deep voice rang out across the cosmos. Shi-Fong opened his eyes. It was not the first time a mortal had attempted to contact him, but it had been centuries. He frowned. Mortals often sought the gods for their guidance. But this one tugged with an insistence. Before he could decide on a punishment for this audacity, he was flung through the Divine Gates. His soul tumbled through the ether as he was thrust into the Mortal Realm.\n\n“Ugh…”\n\nAn odd sensation filled his form, or rather, his body. It had been millennia since he had one. He let out a groan. His vocal cords were damaged. No, they were rotten. It was a mild annoyance. How was he to chastise the mortal if he could not speak?\n\n“A failure? Shit… shit!”\n\nA greasy-haired individual paced back and forth outside an intricate diagram. A ritual circle, Shi-Fong idly noted. Around him were dozens of men and women. Some looked recently deceased, fear and anguish clear on their faces. Others were partially decomposed. Mortal magic had come a long way since the era when he had been worshiped. He studied the arrangement, the wording, the pattern. None of it suggested it had the power to drag a god into the Mortal Realm. Even a forgotten god such as Shi-Fong should have been well beyond mortal means.\n\n‘Curious,’ he thought.\n\nHe let out another groan in contemplation. But the one that had bound him was not listening.\n\n“One? Only one?!” The man shouted. “Useless! That old bastard’s notes were useless!”\n\nBy now, Shi-Fong’s blunted senses were beginning to detect the smells in the room. There was smoke in the air and a heavy cloud of incense, no doubt components of the ritual. There was also a distinct aura of resentment and agony creeping across the floor. The unwilling participants of this bizarre ritual cried out. They cursed the one who had sacrificed them in such a manner. But from the look of it, the man either did not notice or did not care. Necromancers were often like this, even in his time.\n\n“Dammit!” The man continued to curse. “They’re coming for me…”\n\nWild eyes snapped to Shi-Fong.\n\n“You! Go out there! Attack the interlopers! Slow them down so I may escape!”\n\nThere was a faint tug within his form. The body that bound him moved on the necromancer’s command. Still intrigued by this strange occurrence, Shi-Fong allowed the command to take hold. His legs were heavy as they shuffled across the cavern. The muscles were atrophied from death. The focal points within the body had almost completely eroded. It would take some time to repair it if he was to remain in this realm.\n\n“Richard! I’m detecting undead up ahead!”\n\nAs Shi-Fong wandered through the necromancer’s lair, a female voice rang out.\n\n“Numbers?” A deep male voice.\n\n“Only one,” the woman replied.\n\n“Careful, could be a trap,” another male said.\n\nShi-Fong continued to shamble forward as three armored individuals burst into the room.\n\n“Divine Flames!”\n\nA man dressed in blue and silver robes waved a cane. Light crashed down onto Shi-Fong. While a part of him writhed in agony, another part drank deeply. It tasted sweet and comforting. Even as he collapsed to the floor, he savored the sensation.\n\n‘Odd. This is Helaine’s domain. How did I get here?’\n\nAs he pondered, the three people approached him.\n\n“That’s it?” A man in armor prodded Shi-Fong with the tip of his blade.\n\nA woman kneeled by him, squinting at him. Shi-Fong could not have moved even if he wanted to. The necromantic energies moving his body had been purged by Helaine’s light. If he wanted to go anywhere, he would need to fix this body first.\n\n“I’m not sensing anything anymore,” she said.\n\n“That was… a bit disappointing,” the robed man said.\n\nThe armored one huffed.\n\n“Whatever. We’ve still got to catch up to Zephros. He should be up ahead. Doubt he got far if he sent this thing after us.”\n\n“Got it!” The woman said as she stood and drew a pair of daggers.\n\nThey rushed off, leaving Shi-Fong to his thoughts. The mortal realm had changed, that much he knew. Gods who had lost their followings were relegated to more administrative tasks. His duties in the Divine Realm only required him to observe a small cluster of islands. A few times a year, he would guide a soul to the proper destination in the afterlife. That was it. He frowned. Or rather, he tried to frown.\n\n‘How… do I get out of here?’ He wondered.\n\nHe could no longer sense the necromancer’s chains. They had disappeared after that divine spell. But that purifying light had not sent him back to the Divine Realm. He reached out but could not sense the Divine Gates either.\n\n‘This may be a problem.’\n\n(1/2)"
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[WP] You realize you have died. As your eyes adjust, it dawns in you that you’re staring into a pair of eyes. The eyes belong to you at age 5. You are forced to explain to them why you thought they deserved the life you chose for 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.*",
"When Death greets me, he comes with two hands.\n\nIn his left, he holds a torch that’s liked in flames. It burns brightly against the darkness that seems to be ever growing. And with his right, he reaches out to me, beckoning me towards him.\n\nAnd in this life – in the time we are born up until the moment we die – death has been waiting. Because Death knows us in the same way we know him. Because death has been waiting for us the same way we’ve been waiting for him.\n\nSo, with that thought burning against the edge of my mind, I reach out and grasp his hand.\n\nAnd this time, I part with Death as an equal.\n\n--\n\nI awake to the sun burning against the pale blue sky.\n\nAs my eyes start to burn in adjustment, I take a moment to take a look around me. I’m standing in what appears to be a forest, with dark evergreens piling high into the yonder and chipmunks chasing each other up the base of trees.\n\n*Just where have you taken me, Death?*\n\nBefore I can ponder about the many mistakes, I think Death has made, I begin to hear the faint hum of a tune. It’s distant but still so loud, ringing against my eardrums and transfixing me in a way that makes me want to follow the sound.\n\nMy feet are moving before I can properly think about what I’m doing. One foot in front of the other, I pass tree after tree, chipmunk after chipmunk, until I finally see a harbour just up ahead. There’s a bench sitting at the edge of the front. And if I peer close enough, I can distantly make out a figure occupying the wood. Curiously, I make my way toward the silhouette.\n\nAs I reach the bench, the figure starts to become clearer, until I’m staring into the eyes of… myself? My eyes have changed within the span of my life, but I’ll never forget the way they sparkled with green specks as a kid. It’s the one feature that I can wholly say I miss. But standing here, now, I know I’m staring into the face of five-year-old me.\n\nThe eyes tell a story in a way nothing else can. And I know this story.\n\n“So, this is where we meet, huh?” He doesn’t talk, just as I knew he wouldn’t. But he is gazing up at me with an expectant look in his eyes. I gesture to the bench, “You think there’s room for one more?”\n\nAs he moves over and I get myself into a comfortable position, I can’t help but think of how much I’ve changed in the last seventy years. It’s funny; how time passes. It’s as if life were an hourglass, and we were the sand. And yet, there’s much about time that still remains unknown, like how slow or fast it passes here, and how those last seconds – where breathing evens out and hands grasp tightly against skin – become a lifetime.\n\nI continue, but only because I have to. “There will be a time in your life when you will wake up, look into the rising sun, and decide that you will be the only one to choose your destiny.” I take a deep breath, “there will be no big revelation, no happy endings, no life for you to choose – at least not in the way we were hoping,” I offer the wind a bitter smile. “But there will be a type of ache that settles into your bones and wills you to never let go. And you’ll hold onto it. Because that’s really all we’ve ever wanted to do.”\n\nThe water blinks back at us, glittering with the fall of the sun. I count the fish that swim along the top deck. “I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that you won’t have a chance to go back. You *don’t* want to go back,” I swallow hard. “Do you?”\n\nSilence greets back at me. By now, I know I won’t be getting anything more than a deadpan stare. “You may not believe me now, but you will.” I feel him lightly twitch against me.\n\n“You’re going to meet this girl, you know? She’s going to be the best thing that’ll ever happen to you. She comes into your – well I guess it’s ours, isn’t it? – life and sweeps you off your feet,” a faint chuckle passes my lips. “She’s going to be very bossy, so you better watch out. Can’t take no for an answer, that woman.”\n\n“But you’ll try, by god you’ll try. No matter how many times you shove doors in her face and throw pencils at her head, she’ll stay right there. Shoving doors and throwing pencils back.” The sky has turned into a light shade of pink as the sun begins to swoop against the horizon.\n\n“We become a writer, just like we’ve always dreamed of becoming. We write about anything and everything and we become quite popular,” I pause for a moment. “But our children will always be our biggest fans.” My hands dig into the hardwood, just thinking about them. Oh, how I miss them so.\n\nI can feel younger me tensing beside me. I know I have to get this out now and fast. “We actually started writing for them, you know? It just started as a way to get them to fall asleep, but eventually it developed into something more.” My fingers brush against his. “You don’t regret it, living I mean. And you never will.” I finally look at him, then. \n\nI can tell he wants to believe in it, too. I see it, sitting here against this pale and cold bench, as a part of his eyes begin to sparkle again – it’s brief, only there for a second. But it was real. And for now, it’ll have to be enough. My eyes leave his’ as a feeling of warmth courses through my veins. “You’ll have to leave soon, you know? You can’t stay here forever. Not when there’s so much waiting for you” I feel him cave into himself. \n\nThe sky is a swirl of pink and orange, a canvas against the whites of the world. The sun has finally come to a rest, in the hopes to bring about a new tomorrow. I look into the colours that seem to stretch on for miles and miles, endless and whole and burning with the chance of possibility.\n\n“But for now, you’ll stay with me a little longer, won’t you?”\n\n- \n(Edit: grammar)\n(Edit 2: grammar)"
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[WP]You've married your dream girl/man and living a happy family life, until one night, you found out that he/she is an assassin.
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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 open my eyes. I heard something slam, which suddenly woke me. It's dark, but I see Don's contours due to the moonlight shining in through our window. Then I hear another slam. I turn around to our door and...it sounds like it's coming from downstairs?\n\n\"Psst, Don!\" I whisper, fearful of any burglars hearing us. \"Wake up!\" I start shaking him, but I immediately feel there's something really wrong. He is stone cold. I completely forget about the slams, turn on the light, and look at him. His skin has gone pale. I hold my hand against his neck, to find a pulse, and I feel nothing.\n\nI once again try to shake him awake. \"Don!\" Tears start welling up in my eyes. I get out of bed. Oh no, what am I going to do? I can't leave like this. What if they're down there? On instinct, I grab my phone and start dialing 9-1-1, but I pause before I press call.\n\nFuck. I can't be found like this. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I need to get out of here. I collect my belongings. I have to make a run for it. That's all I can do. I grab a t-shirt that was laying on the floor, open up the window, and jump into the bushes outside. There's complete silence. I crouch out of the bushes and inch closer to my car, scanning the area for any sign of life. Nothing. I then sprint to my car, put my keys into the car door, and quickly go in, locking the car doors. The burglars must still be inside. How did they in? Did they kill Don?\n\n\"Oh Don,\" I mutter to myself, now openly weeping. I don't know when the tears had started to come out, but only know I'm noticing I must have been crying for quite some time. \"I'm so sorry. Please forgive me.\"\n\nI start the ignition and drive off as fast as I can. After 30 minutes, I start to feel more safe and composed. I make my way into my driveway. I collect my clothing and get dressed, and quickly check the mirror to see if I look okay. My mascara has completely run out, so I wipe it off, but otherwise, nothing out of the ordinary.\n\nI get out and I slowly make my way to the door. I proceed to lift my key to put it into the lock, when I notice...it's open already? I back away. There's no chance. I push the door open, and immediately take a step back, afraid something might jump out of me. The only thing in front of me is the dark hallway that I know so well. So I enter and close the door behind me. Did he just forget to close the door behind him?\n\nI turn the lights on in the hallway, the living room, and the kitchen. But nothing seems out of place. So I turn the lights off again and proceed upstairs. There, I go into the bathroom, and wash up. I take a quick shower, to wash everything away, and I allow myself one last cry. Don. I will miss you so much. I'm sure you'd understand though. Please tell me you do. Please.\n\nI get out, dry off, and put on my bathrobe. I make my way to the bedroom, and there he is, sound asleep. Joe. A small smile forms on my face. I feel safe again. I lift the blanket, and whilst I enter the bed, I give him a quick kiss.\n\n\"Oh....hey, babe. What...what are you doing here?\" Joe says, groggily. \"I thought you were going to stay at your conference tonight?\"\n\n\"I was, but then I figured I missed you too much. I want to be with you.\"\n\n\"Aww, babe. You're the best.\" He gives me a deep, passionate kiss. \"I was going to wait till you were back, but...well, you're back! I got something for you. You're going to love it.\" He turns on the light and flashes me an excited grin, like he has the ultimate surprise prepared for me. He's such a goofball. I start smiling too, my former worries seemingly from a past life.\n\nJoe heads into the closet, and grabs a little bag and box.\n\n\"Well, it's a two-parter. This is the first one.\" He hands me the box. \"Come on, open it up, I want to see your face when you see what it is.\"\n\nI am getting excited. \"Joe...I'm so lucky to have you.\" I slightly tilt my head sideways and give him a loving look. I am lucky. Truly. I then look down and open up the small box.\n\nIt's a condom. Filled with sperm. My eyes widen and my mouth immediately turns dry. I look up.\n\nJoe takes out his second 'gift' out of the bag. It's a gun with a silencer on it.\n\n\"Do you like it? I noticed you left it behind earlier.\"\n\nI'm so shocked. What is happening? I open my mouth, but nothing comes out, I'm completely shell-shocked.\n\n\"It's okay, babe. You don't have to say anything.\"\n\nHe gets up from the chair, gun in hand.\n\n\"Not that this is ever okay, but to add to all the surprises you've faced tonight: I track people down and kill them for a living. You sure as hell picked the wrong guy to pull this on. Goodbye.\"\n\nHe then raises the gun at me and—",
"\"Why didn't you tell me you are an Assassin?\" I confronted Amanda.\nI am shocked and angry at the same time. Not because of what she does, but because she doesn't trust me.\n\"Are you kidding me ?\" she half-scolds , half-laughs at me \"I told you. And I didn't really make a secret out of it either\"\nI look at her irritated. But before I can form an answer in my head she continues: \"You just never listen to me!\" \n\nI am even more irritated. Then I remember all the not-so-small hints I have chosen to ignore over the last years:\nThat she often puts clothes with bloodstains in the washing machine, her absolutely massive collection of weapons reaching from small knifes to big RPGs and that she actually told me she was an assassin on our first date.\n\n\"Damn\" I think to myself \"she is right...\""
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[WP] Bruce Wayne is a well meaning but completely delusional rich fop who thinks he's a genius. His loyal butler Alfred has set him up with a procession of sidekicks to keep him safe and make him feel good. But it worked too well and now he's getting involved in stuff that they can't manage.
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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.*",
"Ok, since no one else has, I'll give it a whirl.\n**************************************\n\n\"No no no! Batman, come in! Can you hear me!\" Alfred shouted, frantically working on the computer, switching between surveillence cameras, a map of the city with several tracking beacons, and several infomation screens with various stats on Gotham villains.\n\n\"I'm on it!\" a woman's voice said, adding \"Nightwing is down, how far out is Damien?\"\n\n\"Batgirl, thank goodness, your tracker stopped working, I thought they got you....\" Alfred says with relief in his voice, then quickly checks another screen. \"Damien is three minutes away...keep on them, we can't let them take him!\"\n\n\"10-4, the Joker has teamed up with Cheetah and Clayface, we might want to call in outside help for this one...\" the woman on the other end said.\n\n\"Negative, you know how he feels about that...but I'll see how is on Justice League support tonight, in case we need it.\" Alfred said.\n\nThen with nothing more he could do, the elderly man relaxed slightly, let out a long sigh and looked up into the strangely vast cave above him. He seemed to grow older as he relaxed, a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He spotted two bats flying around at the edge of the light from the computer...what had spooked them?\n\nHe immediately stood up and looked around. He couldn't see anyone, but he could feel a presence, the hairs at the back of his neck rising.\n\n\"Alfred, everything all right?\" came a voice from the darkness. Alfred immediately relaxed, then tensed slightly again.\n\n\"Superman...I...errr, wasn't expecting you.\" he said, flicking the computer to standby mode, as the blue-clad kryptonian flew into view.\n\n\"I make it a point not to eavesdrop on private conversations, but that sounded tense. I could go out there and give them a hand.\" the alien said with a smile.\n\nAlfred grimaced, it was unnerving how that man could give off an 'aw shucks' boy next door vibe, and the impression that he was as massive as a neutron star, as powerful as a god, all at the same time, and he offered to help fight a band of supervillains as casually as he might offer to help an elderly man carry in his groceries.\n\n\"No...Bar...Batgirl is on the job. And you know how he feels about accepting outside help.\" Alfred said, shaking his head. \"But if she fails...thank you, we might need it.\" he said reluctantly.\n\n\"Ok, he can take care of himself I suppose, but you sent a message asking me to come see you last week, I was off world, just got back from Thanagar two hours ago. You said it was important.\"\n\nAlfred could feel his hearth thumping, he'd forgotten about that message, then he remembered that Superman would no doubt be just as aware of his heartrate and blood pressure as he was, if not more so, and felt a chill go down his spine.\n\n\"Yes...I think we rather need to talk...in fact, it's probably fair to say that we're overdue.\" he started nervously. \"It's about Bruce\"\n\n\"Ok...sounds serious.\" Superman said, though there was an edge to him, as if he already knew what Alfred was about to say.\n\n\"He needs to stop...but I don't know how to make him...he needs to stop before he gets hurt, or worse.\" Alfred said, shaking.\n\n\"Why now, what changed?\" Clark said, landing and changing his stance slightly, suddenly seeming far less imposing.\n\n\"It's just been growing out of hand from day one...the Penguin, the Riddler, even the Joker, we could manage that, they're just human. But ever since he got involved with the league, they have been teaming up with metahumans, aliens, demons...we're only human here, we can't keep up.\"\n\nSuperman seemed like he was about to say something, but Alfred continued.\n\n\"See, he's not...he's not who you think he is. He's not...\" the words seemed to stick in his throat, and there was a tear in his eye \"he's not a genius...he's not a master martial artist, he's not even a master detective.\" he finished.\n\nSuperman nodded slowly. \n\n\"I know.\" he said simply.\n\nAlfred seemed genuinely flummoxed... \"You..you know! What do you mean you know? How could you know?\"\n\nSuperman let out a small chuckle. \"Well, it's kind of obvious, isn't it? He's a decent martial artist, black belt in karate?\" \n\n\"Brown\" Alfred said, dejected, adding \"yellow belt in jiu jitsu too.\"\n\n\"Well, that's more than most people can say, and he fights well enough that it looks ok...if you only see him in passing, or if you're not an expert. And he's fit...not peak human or anything, but he's in great shape for his age.\" Superman said kindly.\n\n\"What's that got to do with anything? He's just a man...a boy really, he doesn't know what he's gotten himself into and he's not...he can't fight on your level...he's going to get himself killed. He's delusional!\"\n\nClark put his hand on Alfred's shoulder. \"I think you underestimate him. He's gotten much better since he joined the League. Did you know that three weeks ago he punched out an assassin from the League of shadows? No help from Robin or anyone else. And he took out a robot built by Luthor with electric knuckles the week before that.\"\n\n\"We bought those on ebay...\" Alfred started, then stopped. \"Wait, you know about the Robins too?\"\n\n\"About how you recruited them to protect him, to feed his ego, make him look good? Sure. Or about how you've been escalating?\" Clark said with a smirk.\n\nAlfred said nothing, but nodded.\n\n\"Dick is human, but Tim, he's a white Martian...that was a bit of a surprise, he's very good at keeping shape.\"\n\n\"She actually.\" Alfred said, nodding. \"She's a true professional.\"\n\n\"And how Damien is actually a demon you bound to guard him...who you've somehow convinced is his son?\" Clark said, sligthly menacingly.\n\n\"You don't understand...he doesn't listen...I can't lose him...\" Alfred said, looking down at his hands, remembering how he'd cared for the boy, how the tragedy of losing his parents had broken something in him, and how he'd sworn he would always keep him safe, no matter what.\n\n\"But I think you're underestimating him. There's a reason I want him in the League, even knowing what I know.\"\n\nAlfred seemed positively startled. \"You...you do?\"\n\nSuperman nodded. \"And it's not just because I like him and consider him a friend...not everyone does...he can be a bit of a...grump. He may not be a genius, but he's not stupid. He has a way of thinking that's different from most. I believe it's called lateral thinking, unexpected solutions to problems. But that's not it either...not really.\" Superman continued.\n\n\"And it's not the money or the gadgets either.\" Superman picked up a batarang, holding it between two fingers, making it seem like a piece of paper in his hands, as if emphasizing that he was really beyond such trinkets.\n\n\"He believes Alfred...that's the thing...well, one of two things. But he believes he's a genius, he believes he's a master detective and he believes he's a master martial artist...and that's not all he believes. He believes in his team. There is something about him that makes people want to live up to his unrealistic expectations, his...frankly, insane standards. Dick was little more than a street thug when you took him in, but Bruce believed in him, believed that circus orphan story and believed he could be a hero...and he is. Nightwing is as true a hero as I've ever met. So is Tim, I've met my share of white martians, but this one really really wants to be what Bruce thinks he...she is. And even Damien...he's trying to live up to the story...he wants to be the son Bruce never had, live up to his expectations...that's unprecedented. And even me, I know all of this, but when I'm down and out, part of what makes me find the strength to get up one more time, is knowing that if I didn't, he'd think I was weak, unworthy of my role...I'm not saying it's supernatural, or deliberate, but it's real. It matters.\"\n\nAlfred nodded disbelievingly. \"You said there were two things...\"\n\nSuperman turned to face him more fully. \"He's a hero Alfred. He wants to put his life on the line, do the right thing. He could no more go to sleep, safe in his bed, knowing there was evil out there, than any of us. Could he die? Possibly, but not as easily as you think. He's smart on his feet, and he's getting better. You don't think Brainiac is smarter than me? That I couldn't die fighting Darkseid or Metallo, or some random magic user or proto-deity or supradimensional entity? It's a risk we all take. I can't stop him, any more than you can. But I can promise to do my best to keep him safe...just as I know he does for me.\" Superman says as he starts to float away. There is a bit of hesitation in him as he adds \"I know my mother would prefer it if I stayed home too...but it's not how we're built. Oh, and by the way, I've been observing him, he's already gotten free from Cheetah and the Joker, and Clayface was in retreat...you have a good team here.\"\n\nAlfred nods, withdrawing his hand from the lead lined holster under the computer mainframe. This had gone very differently from how he'd imagined...he was so glad he hadn't needed to use that kryptonite bullet."
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[WP] there is a library where you always find books that you're going to need soon. One day, you find a book labeled: "how to move on from the death of loved ones".
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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.*",
"CW: Gloom\n\nI put the book on her lap, sit down by her bed, and wait.\n\nShe has a hard time lifting the book on her own, but I won't help her. She reads the title of the book and lays it onto her chest. She cries and I almost start crying too.\n\nWhen she opens her eyes, she won't look at me. Instead she looks up at the lights above us and remains perfectly still. I can see her every feature as her life continues to ebb away. And I wait.\n\nThough her eyes stay open, I can't see her still breathing. The sight makes me feel even weaker and more helpless, but I don't want... I want to wait.\n\nI startle when she opens her mouth. She makes a sound like a book opening. She doesn't look at me when she says: \"It's my choice, Jessica.\""
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[WP] You live in a world where tattoos are imbued with magical powers.
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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?\"\n\nMartha had yelled and people were looking at us, hungry for some juicy drama. I quickly grabbed her arm and pushed her in a more discret corner. I felt embarrassed enough as it was, no need to let every one else know too.\n\n\"I- Well... Look it's.\" I couldn't find the right words, how to explain to her my problem without sounding crazy. Now that she could sense my obvious distress, she wasn't upset anymore. NO I could see worry painted all over her face. I just couldn't pin point if she genuinely cared for me if she cared more for her reputation.\n\n\"What is it then? Why are you, heir to one of the founder families not tattooed yet? It makes no sense! You have access to the best mage-artists, the best and purest ink... People would kill for such a privilege.\"\n\nHer voice was rising again and I could see her black ink snake glide on her arms up to her collarbone. The reptile's eyes gave me chills and I averted my gaze to Martha's face again. She was waiting for an answer now. I took a deep breath.\n\n\"I-I can't\" I blurted out and felt relieved of a heavy charge for an instant before an even greater weight crushed me. Her face was unreadable. Would she understand? Would she rat me out to the public, shaming me and my family? Or even worse, would she leave me? A shudder went down my spine and I avoided her glowing green eyes I always lost myself into.\n\n\"What do you mean you can't? there's no such thing as allergy to the ink or magic, they took care of that. *Your* family took care of that a century ago.\"\n\n\"I can't okay?Do you need to know more?\" I felt anger growl deep within me. 24 years of hiding and being misunderstood got loose all at once. Of course they would't understand, they didn't even see the problem. No one had this problem, I had conducted research.\n\nMartha tried to hold my hand but I threw my arm back. I saw the hurt in her eyes but couldn't get myself to care. Anger was all I could feel.\n\n\"It's not like you could understand anyways! No one ever does.\" It came out more like a plea than I intended to and red crept on my cheeks. I had embarrassed myself again. Without waiting anymore, I turned around and ran out. Running away, buy some time,that was always the only thing I could do. But it only worked so long and I was at the end of my insane lucky strikes.\n\nWhat could I do if I had an irrational fear of needles?",
"In a world where your worth is worn on your sleeve, subtlety is key. To speak and act brashly in this new world of body augmentation was to bring your hidden side to light, and to keep your peace was to doom you to the shadows.\n\nThey weren't much, overall, just tiny little nanomachines known as Blots embedded in coloured ink inlaid into the skin and eventually melding with muscle and bone. It was paramount for the symbiotic relationship of the technology and the host to attain peak efficiency, so efforts were made to strengthen the bond at any cost, originally resulting in bodily harm in the test subjects.\n\nThe first subjects, so many years ago, hadn't known the extent of the modification, expecting simple changes to the process and not the revolution the tattoos became. The small machines burrowed into their flesh as designed but did not change anything in their path. They destroyed it. Anything the Blots touched was torn apart, the rending of the canvas of flesh, but something unexpected happened.\n\nThey formed something new.\n\nYears after the initial tests done in secret, the tech was made public, though no one knew if it was intentional. What several corporations had discovered was the plasticity and adaptability of the machines and their capabilities. The tensile strength of the microscopic robots rivalled the density of steel but flexed under small electric currents like the central nervous system's pulses. The self-replicating nature of the Blots rushed cellular regeneration, outpacing evolution at every turn. Humanity had found the clay they'd been moulded from and used it to lay the bricks of the future.\n\nIt wasn't for everyone at first. Some showed disinterest and apathy, but others, who'd been so keen on becoming something more than human, found themselves falling short of post-human status, suffering from Foreign Body Rejection; a relatively rare affliction that renders the body incapable of having tiny little guests for fear of immunosuppression and nerve damage. But those that could partake spread the word of their enhancements like wildfire.\n\nWithin months, 80% of the population had the Blots under their skin. Within years, it was considered abnormal to be bare-skinned. Generations of the technology came and went, tempered by progress like a blade on a stone, and it swept the globe, forever changing and learning.\n\nEach person was only permitted a few grams of the machines, so the styles of tattoos and skin augmentation needed to adapt as well as the machines did. Many opted for concentrated populations of Blots in particular places for the desired effect; the hands for the boxers and fighters of the world, the feet for the runners, some even went for optical enhancements. The more common route to take was a diffuse scattering of the bots around the entire body, forming a thin chrysalis to be reborn from.\n\nBut the fire of the Gods can burn brighter than ever in the hands of the greedy.\n\nIllegal modifications were established, allowing certain individuals to bend the technology to their liking. Internal heat regulators paired with the bots, giving the mastery of fire to the wielder. Electric formatting compression molds let certain shapes be formed, be they blades or other weapons. The cruelties possible with the machines were beginning to come through the cracks.\n\nRegulations became strict, eventually suffocating, but wars were fought on the street and courtrooms. Protests for free enhancements burned down labs around the world. Targeted campaigns against the bare-skinned threatened the lives of many, taking some in some cases. Factions formed, ideologies spread and the norm was shattered.\n\nDecades later, the world, not quite gone but precariously balanced on the edge, lives on. Though much had changed in the time since the Blots reared their invisible heads, the new world marched on like a soldier coming home from war. The technology of the modifications, now prohibited and outlawed, remained a stain on society and the skin of many.\n\nBetween the hunts for the Inked and the calls for unity, a man sat alone. This was not his house, but it served as his home. The boarded-up windows kept out the sun and the cold and, ideally, any possible intruders, but the November chill rattled the man's bones. He tossed the remains of a wooden chair into the fireplace and retreated under a blanket before the firepit.\n\nHe knew he shouldn't do it, he was smarter than that. But he knew this cold, this ice-in-your-veins cold. He remembered the small injection into his arm that held the promise of a better future and the shiver that ran through him. He remembered the cold interior of that lab so many years ago. And he'd never forgotten the sensation of his skin consuming itself as the prototypes did their work. The pain. The smell. The cold.\n\nThe man swirled his hand beneath the blanket and sent out a small cloud of nanomachines from his palm, glowing orange as they flew to the fireplace like tiny embers. They'd been with him since it began, and they'd learned so much. Like him. Like us all.\n\nIn an instant, the fire lit, basking the room in a dull, wavy glow of amber. It crackled and popped as the machines retreated back into his palm, coming back to roost like obedient pets.\n\nBut the man knew they were not pets, nor were they a tool. They were him. Who he was mattered not to him, but those patrolling outside would love to find another scapegoat for the end of the world, someone to blame for their empty stomachs and crying children. \n\nLet them search and scrounge, the man thought, he shall be here, waiting for a time he may show his face again. Waiting for the world to come back to life. Waiting to be comfortable in his own skin.\n\n\\-------------------\n\nMore of my work at r/The_Rubicon. Hope you enjoyed!",
"**THE SAND DRAGON**\n\n***\\~ PT 1. FIRE KISSED \\~***\n\nDuke spotted Nox the moment she walked into The Brass Gear. The little speak-easy boasted dark corners for illicit meetings, clientele disappeared behind the steam pipes scattered throughout the joint. Everyone here came for the anonymity.\n\nBut her glorious red hair stood out, even with it tucked under her deeply hooded cloak, Duke mulled over her presence here. She hadn’t aged a day since he’d last seen her. Since she’d rejected his proposal.\n\nHe took a swig of rot-gut and savored the burn, hearing the ghost of her tender but brutal refusal, *“An unleashed monster or a broken heart? The first I would survive. The second I would not. My dear Duke, sometimes it’s best to run.”*\n\nAnd run she had. Nox has been gone from the kingdom for ten long years.\n\nA miserable decade where he’d forced himself to forget her. To move on. He’d dedicated himself to the service of the guards in her place. He’d done his duty and risen in the ranks of the Protectors.\n\nHis eyes drifted to his ward, Vega. The king’s youngest daughter.\n\nShe was mild mannered, petite and raven-haired.\n\nVega spoke seldom preferring the company of a lone sparrow she met with in the woods, to anyone else. Which is why when she requested a trip to the city and a drink at The Brass Gear, he had acquiesced.\n\nSomething he was now regretting. If Nox was here, it only meant one thing:\n\nTrouble.\n\n*XXX*\n\nNox tossed a copper to the barkeep, who was trying to peer into the shadows of her hood. She smiled; she wasn’t ready to announce herself. Pointing at what she wanted, she waited.\n\nWhile her order was prepared, she did a recalculation of the bar. Two Protectors far too relaxed with all the Bogeys closing in. They probably didn’t even realize, Nox snorted with contempt.\n\nDrink in hand, Nox swirled the contents. Something about this didn’t add up, but she hadn’t figured it out yet. Why would her sister insist on such a reckless summons? If there was one thing Nox hated more than being back, it was having an undiscovered blind-spot.\n\nThe door opened and a withered man hobbled in. Not even attempting to skirt the shadows he shuffled directly to Vega.\n\nNox sighed. Throwing back her drink, she started the countdown. 3, 2 … 1.\n\nThe room erupted in chaos as —\n\nBogeys rushed the Protectors, both men caught completely unawares. *‘Idiots,’* Nox thought as she watched them in hand to hand combat, struggling to take control of the fight.\n\nLeaving three Bogeys heading for her sister. Who was hurriedly speaking with the old man and not attempting to flee at all, *‘Double idiot.’*\n\nNox flicked off her cloak, facing the room with her shoulders and arms bare. Tribal fire tattoos swirled across her collar bone, the ink-flames licking their way down her arms. Reaching into the buckles of her leather corset, she flicked a throwing star at the Bogey closest to Vega.\n\nThe man went down with the shuriken in his neck.\n\nThe pandemonium in the dive reached a crescendo with patrons trying to escape the Protector brawls and the woman in black throwing death.\n\nTwo more ninja stars found their marks and the threat near her sister was neutralized. Nox wove her way through the escaping patrons and stopped in front of Vega.\n\n“Nox.”\n\nVega looked up at her with those big green eyes, and the decade melted away. They were in a forest, and ten-year-old Vega was begging her to stay. Imploring Nox not to leave her behind.\n\n“Good. You’re here.” Vega spoke softly.\n\n“Your position is compromised, and your detail,” Nox motioned to the Protectors who were still wrestling their original attackers, “is useless. We need to move.”\n\nVega smiled, “You’ll find they’re not completely useless.”\n\n*‘Yeah, whatever’* Nox thought, she didn’t plan on sticking around long enough to find out. She was just here to get her sister safely back to the Citadel and leave. The King had no idea just how bad things had become, if he’d let his spare heir take a walk through the city’s underbelly at night.\n\nVega turned back to the old man and whispered a few words in a language Nox didn’t recognize. He bowed and started to hand her something when the world exploded.\n\nBogeys poured into the bar, weapons raised, shots firing —\n\nBullets flew past Nox and Vega, as one found its mark in the old man’s forehead.\n\nHe was dead before his body dropped, but Nox was already moving. Kicking over a table, she threw Vega down behind it and then crouched next to her.\n\nA blue glow enveloped them, creating a force field of some sort.\n\nBullets flying towards them exploded when they collided with the cobalt-glow. Shrapnel rained onto the ground without touching the sisters.\n\n“Duke.” Vega’s concerned tone made Nox’s heart skip a beat. Duke was here?\n\nHow did she miss that? Scanning the room, Nox spotted him.\n\nHe’d been one of the lazy protectors, now he was fighting for his life. His whole arm glowed cerulean, matching the color of the air around them. He wouldn’t be able to hold the barrier for much longer, not with fending off his attackers.\n\nNox held Vega’s gaze. She had to make sure her sister understood.\n\n“If you show fear, there is nothing I can do for you.”\n\nOn Vega’s reserved, “I understand.” Nox drew in a deep breath.\n\nConcentrating she dove into herself, down to the depths of her power.\n\n*XXX*\n\nHe wasn’t going to make it. *‘What an idiot,’* Duke thought. They’d gotten complacent and sat right down into an ambush. He’d been sitting there like a grandma sipping tea, stupidly thinking about *her*. And now, he was on his back foot in a fight he couldn’t win.\n\nAt least he’d been able to activate the shield. For whatever time he had left, he would protect the princess with his life. But the room was filling up with Bogeys and he hadn’t seen his partner, Baron, since this started.\n\nWhat were the odds Nox would show up for his final battle? More importantly, what were the odds she could save the princess alone?\n\nDuke dodged another blow. His sleeve tattoo, an intricate tribal rendering of the ocean, burned brightly as it fought to cover himself and his ward. If he fell, she would die. Sending up a prayer, something he hadn’t done in a long time, Duke held his breath.\n\nAcross the room Nox stood.\n\nHer fire-kissed tattoos glowed red hot on her body as scorching flames danced across her arms and chest, swirling around her before —\n\nThey lashed out, like fire-lassos, seeking Bogeys.\n\nOnce caught, the Bogey held by the flame was helpless as the heat seared them from the inside out. Leaving only a pile of ashes behind.\n\nAs the blaze-lashes sought new victims, the piles of ashes multiplied.\n\nAnd there, in the middle of the fiery carnage, Nox held her ground.\n\nDuke marveled at the sight. It was a beautiful thing to behold: her in control of her power. Finally.\n\nHe smiled triumphantly, if that was the last sight he saw before death, it had all been worth it.\n\nHe could feel his reserve strength giving out. As a flame arced toward him, his shield fell. *‘At least, the princess will be safe.’* Duke thought before the flame reached him.\n\n​\n\n\\~\\~\\~\n\nThanks for reading! For more scribblings, wander over to [r/WanderingAnonymous](https://www.reddit.com/r/WanderingAnonymous/)"
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[WP] While elves appear to be naturally gifted at so many things, it's really because they live so long and have time to master many skills. Young elves are just as clueless as everyone else, but nobody can tell a 20-year-old elf from a 2000-year-old elf by looks.
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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.*",
"\"RAH!\" Bellarious bellowed, catching on to the game before anyone else did. \"WHAT DO YOU *MEAN* YOU DON'T RECALL THE BLACK WINTER?!?\"\n\nThe timid elf, growing more timid with each syllable and spittle drop of Bellarious' shouting, stammered back \"Well.. well you see the last Black Winter must have been... thirty... forty years ago!\"\n\nThis was a meager defense and the elf knew it. All it served was to alert the rest of his commrades of what Bellarius now understood all-too-well. Junlop, the sqaut mapmaker, and amatuer historian of the group chimed in, alarm growing on his face as he did.\n\n\"Twenty two\"\n\n\"What?\" The elf said, in half-amazement, half-dread.\n\nJunlop cleared his throat, \"The last black winter was twenty two years ago, by my records.. and even if I'm off by a season or two... well...\"\n\n\"Well what??\" The elf shouted, now growing angry himself (or even frightened, by the countenance of that bookish dwarf, if he was honest)\n\n\"What he means is, *you're screwed*\", the green-skinned archer said with an eyeroll so heavy you could even see her do it from the shadows. She continued on \"The last Black Winter was Twenty *Two* years ago, you jackripe. That means that *you*\" she said, jabbing a finger into his fine silk tunic, \"may have made it past the first two stone-locks no problem, but the third...\" she trailed off.\n\nWhat she didn't want to say, what made her look grow from anger and disgust, to one of slight pity, was that as they passed through each stone archway, as they heard the click of each druidic lock fall into place behind them, as they became acclimated to the rarified air of each container of this cryptic and rarely-traveled dungeon, any item with less than a successive decade of age dissolved to the hissing-but-otherwise-silent acid-magic of the long-dead mages that build this passage. \n\nThey had passed through two stonelocks.\n\nTheir food, water, any stowaway leaves or insects melted away with the first.\n\nMost of their clothes had dissolved with the second stone-lock, fabric having a wear life of over 10 years for rugged travelers such as themselves, but under twenty by its sheer nature - and the poor elf's tunic being a hand-me-down (or one might say heirloom) from his father.\n\nHe reached in his pocket to find the fruit he'd brought gone. Touched his pack to find his freshly-fletched arrows missing (the elf thought he'd just been getting used to the weight, not that they'd actually disappeared)\n\nThe elf's face sank as he put the clue together in front of the rest of the party, now as silent as the grave.\n\n\"By the third, we have to decide who gets your tunic\" came the irreverent, mutter of their foot-in-mouth bard, \"because you certainly won't need it anymore\"."
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[WP] An alien race that unlocked the secrets of living forever become obsessed with Humanities concepts of death and the after 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.*",
"\"AHHHHH HE'S SO COOOOOOL!\"\n\nThe screams came from Kalathex, the 658 year old resident of Humbulz-8.\n\n\"OMG OMG OMG, I can't believe it. He could die any day now!\"\n\nProjected in front of Kalathex was an ethereal hologram of an aged man lying upon a sterile hospital bed. Speckles patterned his face, his hair stark white, eyebags greater in size than the eyes themselves, drooping onto his sagging cheeks. Tubes inserted into his nose, dressed in a hospital gown, an IV drip connected to his right arm.\n\nBeneath this figure was the name: Greg Hornbull, 90.\n\nWhile his breath seemed laboured with the tentative rise and fall of his chest, Greg somehow managed to open his eyes, look directly into the holocam, and wink.\n\nStaring at him from all across the galaxy, his billions of viewers transmitted their torrents of love towards him as a little light next to his holocam began to flash faster to indicate this fact.\n\nThrough Greg's own holoscreen positioned on the wall facing him, he could see the comments of his many viewers transcribed into text scrolling down his feed. Kalathex's exclamations being one of many that appeared.\n\nIt was another day in the life for Greg as a Deathtuber. Billions of beings across the galaxy hung on his every breath ever since he was discovered 5 years ago by a Death Scout.\n\nAt the time he thought it was a joke.\n\nGreg was known fondly among his friends as being a man that never quite acted his age. At the age of 80, he had led a very successful career as a car salesman. Starting out as just one salesman of many, to eventually owning several dealerships where Greg's face could be seen fashioned in neon lights, winking to passerbys along the freeway.\n\nWhen the big Eight-O came, he sold off his business to a faceless hedge fund for a handsome sum. Having worked his whole life with no romantic partner or children to speak of, Greg decided that he was finally going to do all the things he wanted to do.\n\nSky diving? Yes. Base jumping? Yes. Cliff diving? Yes.\n\nNothing extreme was off the menu for Greg, age be damned! If he could whip his staff into a formidable sales force, there was no reason he couldn't whip himself into the peak of fitness to do all the things he wanted.\n\nSure enough, 5 years after retirement, Greg had made a solid dent in his bucket list. He earned himself a spot even among the most fanatic of adrenaline junkies and gained a following on human social media as Go-go-Greg.\n\nAnd that's when the Death Scout came.\n\nThe Uhasdh as he/she explained, had overcome death for at least two millenia now, and it was now baked in. Their alien equivalent of genes had long since lost the built-in code of senescene and death. While initially a cause for joy, the immortality of the Uhasdh had eventually led to a great issue for its race.\n\nWhat the Uhasdh came to realize after the first millenia of immortality was that death was truly the frame of life. If one's life is infinite, both a second and a century take up the same percentage of one's life. It makes no difference. And in this context, things started to stagnate. Without the need to survive, there was no need for change, no need for improvement. The Uhasdh looked around for anything to give meaning to their lives and that's where Deathtube came to be.\n\nUnable to experience death themselves, the Uhasdh came to live vicariously through humans, a race surprisingly similar and relatable to their own culture minus the immortality. Uhasdh began to mark their seasons according to the famous Deathtuber of the time. Now with billions of followers, Greg was the biggest and latest hit.\n\nThe Uhasdh were not sadistic people, they did not want to just watch people die. They wanted to flirt with death. They wanted to feel every close shave, every near miss. The bony rap of Death's knuckles on Greg's door was the Uhasdh's rhythm of life. As both an adrenaline junkie and an octogenarian, Greg's life were the best of the Uhasdh's immortal lives.\n\nNow Greg was on his deathbed, for reasons neither to do with his age nor extreme lifestyle-- He was having a regular day when a careless driver skipped a redlight and crashed into him. It was clear now that his life was at its end.\n\nGreg had no kids, no family. While successful in business, he had always held some regret that he did not do these other things in life. Extreme sports were his way of overcompensating for this regret- an effort to reclaim his lost youth and live a little longer.\n\nIt had been 10 years since Greg retired and 5 years since he had been a Deathtuber. He could now finally come to peace with his long-held regret, because meeting the Uhasdh had taught him that immortality was just death by another name. Greg's eyelids felt heavy. He knew now that once they closed, he would never open them again. He smiled.\n\nAnd so was, the Age of Greg.\n\n\\--- Uhasdh Annals XJ239"
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[WP] While watching the news one night you hear breaking news about an escaped mutated animal on the loose. Thinking it's a hoax you go to bed. You wake up to find 2 dogs sleeping on your bed, and they both look exactly like the family dog.
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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.*",
"Title: Some Dogs go to Limbo\n\nClaire and I always ate dinner together. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with her. I gave her a peck and went to sleep. The TV was running in the background. I was half paying attention when suddenly…\n\n“BREAKING NEWS, We’re with Head Scientist Dr. Ron Wiggs who wants to…”\n\n“That’s enough, look if you’re living in the area of Cedar Park or anywhere west of Round Rock, you are in danger. We were performing an experiment with cloning and molecular morphing. Our one and ONLY successful test subject has escaped. It was last seen heading into Cedar Park. We are certain it has not left the area. If you are in this area be VERY careful. He can take any organic form. Within 20 minutes of stabilizing his form he will consume the original form. Please take care of your loved ones.”\n\n“Uhhh….thanks Dr…is this for real or is this a prank?”\n\n“Do I look like I am fooling around…Oh and one more thing, he can take on your short term memories, but none of your long term memories. But when he consumes you it’ll be indistinguishable from you”\n\nI wasn’t really listening to it as I was distracted by Claire’s clock making its noise. She had it set to ding every 10 mins. She was getting ready to go to bed. How beautiful she was.\n\n“I love you Benji” Claire said as she lay in bed\n\n“I love you more than anything in the world” I said.\n\nClaire wished me good night and I wished her back. We both went to sleep.\n\nIn my sleep I heard Claire’s clock ding 11 times. I was almost expecting the little dings every 10 minutes after. It was an annoying feature that always bothered me.\n\nThen I felt a little sniff, then something like a slurpy sound. I woke up and next to me was the most handsome dog I had ever seen. \n\nMy eyes widened and I thought about waking up Claire but decided against it.\n\nThe dog started moving back slowly and out of the room and I followed him out. I was both terrified and enamored. \n\nI asked “Who are you handsome?”\n\nHe didn’t say anything. I heard the first ding.\n\nI smelled him and immediately withdrew. He did not smell like a dog. He smelled like burnt Sulphur and rubber. It was almost like he was…not an animal at all.\n\n“What are you doing here?”\n\nNo answer. It was frightening. Then something happened that I didn’t quite anticipate. Right at the second ding of the clock the dog consumed me….just as Claire walked out see what was going on.\n\nI was now barking incessantly but as if I was looking through a window into Claire’s eyes.\n\nThe Clone me looked at Claire and I could see her through the clone's eyes.\n\n“I love you Benji” Claire said.\n\nA chill came within me and if I had a spine I would've felt it as the clone barked in my voice “I love you more than anything in the world\""
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[WP] A dad has been arrested by the comedy police for his bad jokes. Now he must go to court to be judged for his crimes
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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 hard to see from where I was sitting in the courtroom gallery, but I swear the judge was wearing Groucho Marx glasses with the classic fake nose. Or were his eyebrows really that bushy?\n\nAnyway, it wasn’t a laughing matter. Dad had been accused not only of bad joking, but of joke thievery, and he’d decided to take his case to trial. The prosecutors were going to throw the book at him; literally -- they were going to throw a book at him, that was the threatened sentence. \n\nThe prosecutors were finishing up their case. “...we heard from five witnesses what the defendant said that day, but we haven’t yet read the actual transcript for you. I hate to repeat it again myself.” The prosecutor feigned heartache as he drew his notepad up to his eyes, acted the whole thing out real dramatically. “‘Why do melons have weddings? Because they cantaloupe.’”\n\nCrickets from the jury. Damn, that isn’t a good sign. But--one of them, the old guy down at the end, though, was that a smirk at the edge of his mouth? Maybe an opening?\n\nDad’s turn now. He was representing himself in the trial -- never a good idea, but there are no public defenders in Comedy Court. \n\nThings weren’t going great. He was sweating, stumbling over his words, getting overruled by the judge left and right. Finally, the judge asked if he had any last witnesses left, or if he was ready for the inevitable. The bailiff was readying the big, heavy book that they were going to throw at Dad. \n\nDad looked at his notes, looked around the courtroom, and started to answer “No, I--”\n\nAnd that’s when I stood up and approached the bar. “I’ve got testimony to give!” I shouted.\n\n“Gimini Christmas,” the judge muttered under his breath.\n\n“Actually I’m a Sagitarrius,” I winked back at him. Dad looked grateful to see me, and asked me if I’d ever heard him make the cantaloupe joke before.\n\n“He’s been making that joke for years. There’s no way he stole it,” I explained. “Coming up with jokes about fruit is in our family DNA. Watch this. Dad, try me.”\n\n“What happens when you stomp on grapes?” he asked me.\n\n“They whine,” I answered immediately.\n\n“Why did the banana go to the doctor?”\n\n“Come on, too easy. It wasn’t peeling well.”\n\n“All right… well, what do you say to me when you make a mistake?”\n\nI thought for a moment. “Pop-I-uh…” \\[papaya\\]\n\n“Okay, here’s a real tough one: and what’s yellow and has wheels?”\n\nI had to think about this one for a minute. Hmm. Ah, yes, of course. “A lemon -- you just put in the wheels to make it hard!”\n\nBy this point, the guy at the end of the jury was howling laughing. Dad rested his case and he got off scot free. As we exited the courtroom, he whispered to me, “It was looking hairy for a second there.”\n\nI smiled back. “The kiwis to get that one juror on our side!”",
"D.A.D\n\n“The court is in session”\n\n“Session timed out!” David shouted as the folks in the crowd who had some computer knowledge laughed\n\n“ORDER”\n\nDavid’s eyes gleamed “French fries please”\n\n“That’s enough!” said the judge\n\nDavid decided it was best to shut up. He’d get his time soon.\n\nThe Prosecutor got up and said “Judge James, this man David Alex Dines has been brought in front of you as a result of violating the 69th Amendment.\"\n\n\"I love the 69th\"\n\n\"Quiet please\" The judge says\n\n\"The amendment clearly states that ‘If your Dad Jokes results in anyone dying of boredom you shall be tried’. Well it so happened that David’s jokes resulted in his neighbor Frank Johnson passing”\n\n“With flying colors?”\n\n“Sshhh”\n\nDavid lowered his voice in a whisper “With flying colors?”\n\n“You are testing my patience”\n\n“I am not a doctor, I am not qualified”\n\n“You’re crossing the line”\n\n“Where?” David looked down “I don’t see it”\n\n“Mr. David Dines, you are disrespecting the rules of this court. If you do you’ll be saying bye to the outside world for a long time”\n\n“Sue ya”, David said.\n\n“Sigh, this is getting out of hand”\n\n“You got to hold it firmly”\n\nDavid’s defense attorney got up “Judge James, as you can see my client is not in the right frame of mind. I suggest we get him on therapy and rest this case”\n\nThe Prosecutor interjected “I refuse to rest”\n\n“You need beauty sleep”\n\n“I will get you life if that is the last thing I do”\n\n“I already got a life and it’s pretty good”\n\n“Defense Attorney, is there anything you’d like to add”, Judge James asked\n\n“Yes Judge James, he is not apparent”\n\n“Excuse me?” the Judge asked.\n\n“He is not apparent because he doesn’t’ have kids.”"
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[WP] After you untimely death in a car accident your girlfriend brings your soul back into the mortal realm and traps it in a crystal after a few days you want to convince her to let you go back to afterlife
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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 sensation was intense, like being squished into an airtight box. To tight to move, to tight to breath. It was like trying to gasp for air without ever getting a respite. I could vaguely hear a voice though it. A voice that seemed strangely familiar.\n\n\"Please,\" I breath, \"Please let me go.\"\n\n\"Daria? Is that you?\" the voice asks, oblivious. I tried to move, to simply allow some air to reach my lungs, but nothing budged. \"Oh Daria!\" the voice starts to cry.\n\n\"Please,\" I manage, trying to convey some urgency, \"Please.\"\n\n\"But I brought you back!\" the voice cries, \"Why would you want to leave? Oh Daria, please don't leave me! Please don't leave me again.\" If I had any lungs, they would have burst. If I had needed air to be sentient, I would have been long gone. Instead I am trapped gulping for air that does not exist.\n\n\"I ... can't ... breath!\" I wheeze helplessly, \"Please! ... Peggy!\" Either she does not hear me or she chooses to ignore me because instead I feel the sensation of being lifted and clutched. No warmth or give to the hug. Just simply being pressed close to her without any respite of air. And she keeps crying, just holding onto me and crying.\n\n\"Never ... never again ... never,\" she coos softly.",
"It's not that the afterlife was particularly good. We mostly sat around campfires and chanted our hymns in praise of the God. And life in a crystal wasn't necessarily bad. I didn't hunger, get bored, or have to work for a living. My partner could even visit me inside the crystal she had sucked me back into. She would cast her soul into it, she'd appear right next to me and we'd spend the day together exploring the limits of our imaginations. \n\nIt wasn't a bad existence. But it was a prison. *You've got to let me go*, I told her. And she'd break down crying out there. For a blessed few hours at a time she could forget that I was already dead. Right up until her magic ran out and her soul was torn back out of the crystal. She'd cast her soul into the crystal and then we'd start all over again. \n\n*You've got to let me go*, I told her. She screamed at me then, the kind of fury only a magic user could wield, the kind that shook your soul. \"When do I get to be happy?!\" she yelled. \"I did everything we talked about! Everything right! I helped the people around me with my magic. I cured the sick, I conjured food when the villages starved, I found those guilty of terrible crimes. I even warred for the Empire when they called! And I did all that instead of spending time with you, because it was the right thing to do. So why don't I get to be happy?! Didn't I earn it? No, I won't accept that after all this time in service of others, you, the one thing that mattered to me is taken away for no reason at all.\"\n\n*We had our time together*, I told her. And I showed her my memories of her. And they were wonderful, vivid, joyful things of endless love. She loved me back as much, I felt it beyond a knowing, beyond a belief, beyond anything, her love was my absolute. If the sun were not to rise tomorrow, I would not miss it as much as I'd miss her. \n\n*But this crystal is a prison*, I told her. \"How could that be?\" she protested. \"In the crystal you can do anything we can imagine, and anything twice over from my magic.\" And we walked through fire together. We became stone and stood untouched by time. We breathed in stars. We danced with the fairies, argued with the God, dined with the devils and more. She showed me all these things because they were possible in the crystal when we were together.\n\n*It is not a prison for me. It is a prison for you*, I told her. I showed her what I saw - not a memory, not an imagination, but a vision of the future. Where she came back to the crystal day in and day out until her life was spent along with her magic. She'd never find happiness again. Never raise a family, never run for mayor, never sing to the spirits of old. All those things she longed for, she would give up just to spend time with a crystal and me. Sometimes a good thing could end in tragedy, but that didn't mean that she'd never find a good thing again.\n\n*You do deserve to be happy, and I would have been there with you if I could. It wasn't right. It wasn't anybody's fault either. It just... didn't turn out that way.* \"It's not fair\", she cried as we hugged for the longest time. \"Will you dance with me, a last dance?\" she begged. But I shook my head. *If you're here for a dance you're here for an hour. And if you're here for an hour you're here forever.*\n\n*You are the love of my life, but if you're in here with me I will never be happy.* She waved her hand then, almost dismissively, and turned away to hide her tears as the magic released me. And I wondered what would happen to her, I worried about the future. But as the crystal begins to deteriorate into sparkling dust, she looked at me one last time. In her eyes I see the same strength that had always been there - not magic, not will, just endless love. And I know then, just as I knew the first time I met her, that everything would be alright."
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[WP] You ran out of milk today so decided to grab some more, meanwhile your roommate is staring in horror as you casually tear open a hole in spacetime to grab a bottle of fresh milk
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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.*",
"\"By the way, we're out of milk.\" She didn't look up from her book.\n\nCasually, \"OK.\" The portal didn't even look out of place in the kitchen, stretched across the refrigerator like a fuzzy sheen, as he reached in with one hand to withdraw a bottle of milk.\n\nShe was aghast \"That's... that's totally impossible- how the hell did you do that?!?\" She rushed over to inspect the fridge for trans-dimensional devices. Of course there were none.\n\n\"I reached into yesterday and fetched the milk. Here.\" He handed the milk to her.\n\n\"*Yesterday?*\"\n\n\"Yes, we had milk yesterday and now it's here.\"\n\nA thin plume of smoke would have been coming out of her ears as she furiously contemplated the paradox of what had just occurred.\n\n\"What's really going to cook your noodle later, is would we be out of milk if I hadn't taken it from yesterday?\"",
" \\[Stellar Roommate\\]\n\n\"What the hell is that!?\" Murphy shouted the moment he stepped into the living room.\n\n\"What the hell is what?\" Phoebe asked. The young woman pulled her hand out of a plate-sized black hole; she held an ice-cold bottle of milk.\n\n\"Did you just pull that milk out of a black hole?\" Murphy asked. Phoebe shrugged.\n\n\"It's not an actual black hole; it's just a hole that's black. It's more of a portal really,\" she said while she poured milk into her cereal bowl that was already reloaded with colorful sugar. When the pink and red shapes reached to brim she stopped pouring. She returned the milk bottle to the black hole then withdrew her empty hand. The hole closed and she mixed her cereal in the bowl.\n\n\"Are these portals a regular thing? How safe are they? They're portals, what if something comes out?\" Murphy asked. He took a step back into the kitchen; closer to the knife block. Phoebe sighed. She took a moment to finish chewing her bite, then looked at Murphy.\n\n\"My ad said 'AlterNet friendly',\" she said. Gold stars filled her eyes as she glowered at Murphy.\n\n\"What are you doing?!\" Murphy reached for the biggest knife he could find to defend himself. Phoebe shook her head and the golden glow faded from her eyes.\n\n\"You don't know what that means, do you?\" she asked him. Murphy shrugged. He relaxed somewhat when he noticed she was still relaxed. She remained seated and eating her cereal.\n\n\"I've heard a few guys talk about it. It sounds like a video game or something. I figured, sure. I'm friendly to people that play video games,\" Murphy explained.\n\n\"It's more than that,\" Phoebe said. \"The AlterNet isn't just a game; it's knowledge of what's out there.\"\n\n\"What do you mean?\" Murphy asked. \"Out there where? Space?\" He used the tip of the knife to point upward. Phoebe shook her head. She wiggled her fingers at the air and opened a small black portal, then pointed at it.\n\n\"Out there on the other side of this. There are countless universes in existence.\"\n\n\"And you can make portals to go between them that easily?\" Murphy asked; he wiggled his fingers in her direction to mimic her gesture.\n\n\"Believe it or not...,\" Phoebe giggled and wiggled her fingers in an exaggerated motion. \"...*this* is actually a lot of effort. There are others that can open portals without any fancy finger flutters.\n\n\"Wow,\" Murphy set the knife down, then wandered into the living room. He sat opposite her on a leather recliner. \"Alternate universes, huh?\" It didn't sound like it was meant to be a question. Phoebe assumed it was a side-effect of him processing what he just learned. She remained quiet while considering her options. The worst case scenario was that he wasn't comfortable there and she' have to find a new roommate. He'd only officially been there two days but he proved himself to be a tidy and considerate roommate. She hoped he wasn't too bothered by knowledge of the multi-verse, but some people just couldn't handle the truth. It was why she added 'AlterNet friendly' to her ads now. Though, apparently, even that wasn't fool-proof.\n\n\"So...,\" Murphy spoke up. \"...does this mean we can watch movies from other universes that didn't get made here?\" he asked. Phoebe giggled and breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad she didn't have to search for another roommate.\n\n \n\n\\*\\*\\*\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #1005 in a row. (Story #275 in year three.) You can find all my stories collected on my subreddit ([r/hugoverse](https://www.reddit.com/r/hugoverse/)) or my blog.",
"\"What... Where? Hwhh... um.\" he stumbled for words. It was my mistake, I forgot he was in the room. I'd been watching Netflix with headphones on and got really lazy over the last few months.\n\nIt had been early on in my life I had found the gift and not long after that I learned I was the only one.... Not long after that I learned to keep it hidden.\n\n\"oh. Um. What? I didn't do anything. Have you been staying up late again?\" I tried the quick basics, deny it, pretend, follow the old Shaggy line, it wasn't me! I knew he was smarter than that but honestly, this could go so wrong so fast. There had only been a handful of people that knew my secret and three of them were dead now.\n\n\"You... Just... You, what was that? a wormhole? you tore open space!\" ahh crap. He saw it all. I guess sharing a room with a physicist was never going to end well, in retrospect. I should have kept my guard up better but he had been so quiet! Looking back the annoying roommates probably helped me hide my ability.\n\n\"Ok. Don't freak out. This must be from when you hit your head earlier.\" I lied again.\n\n\"I didn't hit my head!\" and here came the tricky part. \n\n\"Yes you did, you leant over as I opened the door and it smacked you right on the top, you were out for like a second, don't you remember?\" please work, please work, please work...\n\n\"Don't try gaslighting me! I know that didn't happen. I have no gaps in my memory. I have been studying hard all day! I saw you tear reality. what. the. hell. dude.\" ok, this was going to be one of the harder ones.\n\n\"It's... Just something I can do I guess, can't everybody?\" I lied again. I knew full well this was not normal. If he knew I was hiding it from him he might flip out, people did.\n\n\"NO! Where did you even get it from??\" and suddenly, I was the one confused. I had never thought about that part before. The few times I had been discovered people were so worked up over the fact I could do it they never asked the detailed questions. They just freaked out.\n\n\"From.... well, from there! I just open the hole and take what I need right? does it need to be somewhere specific?\" Of course it did. I wasn't creating these objects. It wasn't coming from my imagination. I was taking them from somewhere and yet I had never stopped to wonder where. I even gave up wondering how.\n\nHe started examining the bottle. I had put it down while we argued.\n\n\"This looks old, but not old? Nobody does glass bottles like this for milk anymore. And the foil top? This could almost be pre-war but it's fresh! Did you pull this out of time as well as space?\" I had never thought about that. \"What else have you taken? Can you take things from the future?\" This was taking an unexpected turn now.\n\n\"NO! How would I even do that???\" but of course, as far as he was concerned, how would I even do this? \n\n\"What else did you take? and when?\" I told him about my habit of just grabbing socks when I needed them. It was why I always had odd socks on. I wasn't good at doing laundry so I just grabbed clean ones from 'there'. Pens too. I was always breaking and losing them so I would just grab another.\n\nHe was staring at me. He had this look in his eyes. Not the usual terror, or fright. It was realisation. He actually started pulling his hair out. Literrally. I could see strands of hair between his fingers as he tore at his head with his eyes bulging out of his face.\n\n\"IT WAS YOU.\" he said it clearly, loudly, in an accusing way. I was confused,\n\n\"What was?\" I didn't understand.\n\n\"ALL OF IT! This missing socks! The Milk vanishing off your doorstep and it being blamed on kids stealing it. The pen you put down and then when you turn its gone. It was all you! It always was!\" I mean, I had been relying on the power a lot. I didn't buy a lot of things because I could just grab them. As long as people were not looking.\n\n\"You put things back too don't you. I know you do. Old shoes? Dirty laundry?\" He looked at me suspiciously. It was true of course.\n\n\"It really was always you. When you wash two socks and then when you empty the dryer one is missing? That was you! That random pair of dirty underwear by the side of the road and everybody wonders how it got there? That was you!\" He was, well not excited, but on the verge of exploding. \"It's all true. They really do vanish. Of course nobody loses a shoe on the side of a highway, it's your old ones! Your trash!\" I felt a bit guilty. It had been a convenient way to dispose of everything I didnt need.\n\n\"Every time I ever lost a TV remote. I bet that was you too!\" Um, I never kept those. I always put them back, or I would have a pile of them. How would he know that? \" I Knew it. The look in your eyes! I can see the guilt. You take it when you want, leaving the rest of us hunting for hours then just put it back, all casual like and we turn around to find it on the table, or in the fridge. It was all you!\"\n\nHe really started loosing it at this point. Babbling about missing LEGO bricks in his set, or jigsaw puzzle pieces. I don't remember ever taking a whole car but he was rambling on about the times he couldn't find his car and was sure he parked it somewhere.\n\nStill. At least I didn't have to worry anymore. The doctor said they would take good care of him as they carried him away. I didn't know they were allowed to restrain people like that these days. He kept shouting about how I stole all the socks from everybodies washing machines even as they sedated him.\n\nForevermore he will be known as the sock conspiracist. I mean, they will take good care of him, and what was he going to do with a physics degree anyway? I've seen his books, it's all wrong. Right back to E=MC2, all wrong. I wonder why they continue to let places teach such outdated subjects with incorrect textbooks."
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kinda been thinking about the Sentinelese today
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[WP] The metal birds and strange boats stopped visiting long ago. Most of your people are content to be left to their devices once more, though you and a few others wonder what lies beyond the island your kin have called home for many generations.
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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 Passing of the Gods**\n\nBy: SheepingtonTheSheep\n\nDangegi sat on his usual perch atop the slanted coconut tree, eyes scanning the tranquil ocean—as he’d always done. While most of his tribe was content not knowing what lay beyond the turquoise waters, Dangegi’s curiosity could never be sated. And so, he sat, watching the unusually cloudy skies for signs of *them*. Today, he wasn’t alone, however. Below him sat cross-legged Elder Kuadage, tracing spells on the wet sand while gentle sunlight warmed his darkened, frail body. \n\n“The Gods aren’t coming, are they?” Dangegi asked the wise old man.\n\n“They’re not Gods, Dangegi,” Elder Kuadage said, the lone feather on his headband swaying as he rebuked at the young lad. “They’re *inen.* Outsiders from beyond the ocean.”\n\n“But the chief says they’re from the heavens.”\n\n“What does he know?” Elder Kuadage waved dismissively. “I was there, five ten monsoons ago. A dozen and a half *inen*. They came on metal boats, smaller than the ruined, sunken one in our northern shore.”\n\n“I know…” Dangegi said, sliding down the coconut tree and sitting beside the elder. “I believe you, even if the others don’t.”\n\n“They’re young,” Elder Kuadage said. “Foolish, unbelieving. Understandable. All the others with me on that day are gone now. Except for the chief, but he was a baby then.”\n\nDangegi noticed the elder’s eyes tearing up. He wasn’t sure if he was holding back tears, or if it was a product of his old age. His grandmother was the same way, before she returned to the ancestors five monsoons ago.\n\nElder Kuadage picked up a coconut husk nearby and showed it to Dangegi. “The *inen* gave us these, did you know?” He smiled fondly. “I convinced the chief then to not be afraid of the *inen*. And mother convinced the chief’s brother to not kill them. We would never have coconuts if we had fought the *inen*.”\n\nDangegi nodded. He’d heard the story before, but he always loved listening to the elder retell them. Unlike the others who listened solely out of indulging the old man’s desire to reminisce. “I saw a metal bird last monsoon season,” he said. “It flew from the east, heading west.”\n\n“Lucky you,” the elder said. “To be able to sit here and watch the skies and seas as much as you want. My bones don’t allow me that luxury anymore.”\n\nDangegi fell silent.\n\n“According to the stars,” Elder Kuadage added, “Today would be exactly five ten monsoons since the *inen* arrived.”\n\n“Five ten monsoons,” Dangegi muttered. “Why would they return?”\n\n“Five ten is an auspicious number. As auspicious as four tens or six tens, granted, but I do not have much time left before the ancestors call me back. This will be the last chance for me to see the *inen* again, if they decide to return.”\n\nDangegi sighed softly. He had little faith that the outsiders would return today, especially with the sun setting soon. It would break the elder’s heart to realize that, but he knew Elder Kuadage would be better off knowing the truth.\n\n“We haven’t seen metal birds since last monsoon,” said Dangegi, resting his chin on his knee. “Before, they used to fly over us every day.”\n\n“I know that.”\n\nDangegi added, “And, the strange boats stopped passing by around the same time. I know, I looked. Every day, I would circle the island. I found not a single boat on the horizon.” \n\n“Perhaps they have things to do,” Elder Kuadage said, his voice a mere whisper in the wind. “Why should they visit us when other chiefs in the past had killed or driven the *inen* away?”\n\nDangegi stared into the distance, contemplating the elder’s words. Something small trailed down from above, a tiny white speck. He looked up, and so did the elder, finding hundreds of small specks drifting from the sky. Hundreds turned to thousands.\n\n“It must be snow,” said Elder Kuadage. “The elders from when I was a young boy told of snow in their song-fables. They fall from the sky when the weather becomes cold and—”\n\nDangegi interrupted the elder as he rubbed a small speck between his fingers. “It’s not snow… it’s ash.”"
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[WP] You are the last person on Earth after a 20 year nuclear war. Several aliens keep trying to convince you to let them abduct 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 aliens are trying to abduct me so I pulled the all powerful move and pull out my handy dandy vacuum and point it at them and say DIE MOTHERFUCKERS and blast them until they are dead I am the one and only leader of Earth and nobody stands in my way the other aliens from their planet did not like that and decided to blow up earth but I had already took the aliens spaceship and was heading to theirs to become the leader. I got their planet and decided to take over the galaxy. Unlock the rest of the story with a 4.99 purchase through EA",
"I sat looking at my options. Literally hundreds of them. Representatives from dozens of planets all vying for the chance to abduct me. I get to listen to each delegation present their pitch and narrow it down, until finally I decide. I don’t have any way to tell who is lying and who is telling the truth, nor do I have the option to tell them all to buzz off. It’s all very civilized. \n\nThese are the groups that made it past the first couple of rounds. The ones that tried to convince me to give my body and life up for science were the first to go. Those that remained all either promised they had other humans, were physiologically similar enough to humans I could theoretically live among them or had some other offer that seemed enticing. \n\nI was important enough to choose my fate. As possibly the last known survivor of the human race that still resided on Earth, and as someone that had survived, somehow a twenty year nuclear war, I could wind up either a slave, or a billionaire, and I had very little in the way of help choosing.\n\nI looked at the group of techno-wizard bipedal lizard-like aliens to my left that had offered to move my brain into a grown body of their species. Surprisingly, their sexual biology worked similar to humans, but they were not a DNA based society. Besides, the idea of being part of another net-driven society after watching one literally bomb itself to oblivion didn’t interest me.\n\n“I’m sorry, but while your offer was tempting, and your people, especially your females, lovely, I just don’t think it would work,” I told their leader, a friendly soft spoken female whom I actually liked.. “under other circumstances, I would not be averse to possibly working with you later, and I would be interested in a friendship with you personally, even if I can’t pronounce your name.”\n\nShe smiled and withdrew. “I understand. I will leave you some devices capable of communicating with us, as well as my personal net-address,” She smiled sadly. “I wish you luck. I wish I could offer you some advice, but I cannot. I hope to hear from you, even if I suspect I will not.”\n\nI thanked her and turned to the greys. “I’m sorry, but you have quite the reputation and history on my planet. I simply do not feel I can trust you.” The leader of the greys blinked, then made a motion and his/her people departed. One after another, I dismissed them until there were three groups remaining.\n\nThe first was a race that of shape shifters whose natural forms resembled the traditional “Slime monster” of rpgs who promised me an island of my own on their world with as much flora and fauna that could survive under a double dome, medical care, a crewed space vessel, and help finding other humans in the galaxy in return for frequent blood samples. \n\nThe second race resembled humans very closely except for the light scales down their body. They promised me nothing more than a cure and a home on their world. They were dna based, and I knew from experience their food would not kill me. \n\nThe third claimed they had a few humans on one of their worlds. They closely resembled vampiric, bipedal cats and they claimed they found human blood a delicacy but that humans were treated like royalty on their world. \n\nThey actually offered me two options. The first me my selection from a handful of human women or their own species, a palace complete with anything I could want including servants, and a cure, in exchange for a pint of blood every two weeks. Their other option was a night with a specially trained female called a Peace Bringer, where I could do whatever I wanted with her and in the end of the night she would kill me in a way that was both painless and comforting, in exchange complete ownership of my body.\n\nI debated about ten more minutes. I then went to the leader of the slimes and waited as she took the form of a lovely dark haired human. “I thank you for your offer, but it is not right for me.”\n\nShe stepped forward and hugged me human style. “Farewell,” she whispered.\n\nI turned to the second race, but I did not have to say anything. “I can read your eyes, human,” the leader said, his English accented but the sorrow coming through. “I hope your choice brings you comfort.” He nodded and then crossed his arms in the salute of his people.\n\nI turned to the vampiric cats. “Please bring me to your Peace Bringer.”"
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[WP] You are religious follower of a God of trickery. One day you hear a voice in your head. "Help me steal back one of my relics, this is your God." Later learning the relic is now being held by a second religious group.
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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.*",
"To: High Priest Leander\n\nFrom: Call me Ismail.\n\nJust kidding! The name's Lok. Not one I would have picked, and yet now I pick them multiple times a week. Funny world, right? Anyway, we haven't been formally introduced, but I'm a Shadow Tracker here in the temple. Actually the head of the Shadow Trackers, but we don't go trumpeting that. I usually just work in the library as a monk and let others do Kalep's holy work--what's the point of having subordinates otherwise? But I do get personally involved when we get major missions from higher up.\n\nOn that note, I need to tell you about the Pradeshika Temple mission. No, you don't know about it, though you might guess where I'm going with this. In fact, I'm writing this from just outside the Pradeshika Temple, or, well, far enough away to have gotten away from the hornet's nest I kicked up going in there. I wasn't really supposed to be there, seeing as it's, you know, the holy seat of Veris, God of Truth and Sanctimonious Know-it-Alls, and not exactly Kalep's best celestial friend.\n\nYou know what else wasn't supposed to be there? The Crepuscular Crown.\n\nDon't worry, it's not there. Not now. But it was when I got there. I fixed that.\n\nWhen I mentioned the major missions from higher up that I get personally involved in? Well, I'm sure you're aware that this didn't come from you. I think you'd remember something like that, though I admit that what I've learned in the last week has made me gravely question the operation of your brain. Oh, it didn't come from any of the other Ordinaries, either. No, this came from Kalep Himself, and the holy hellion decided to send it to me by laying a telepathic trigger on my favorite book. You can imagine my surprised when I just wanted to curl up with a flagon for the night and instead the actual source of our powers, to which I am rather attached, remembering quite well what life on the streets was like without them, tells me that the Crepuscular Crown has been stolen on my watch, and that I'd better find it and get it back if I wanted to continue to enjoy the benefits of the Shadow Lord's favor. You may have trouble believing that, since *I* had trouble believing that. I think if I weren't a shadow paladin, I'd be an atheist, but then again, I think if Kalep weren't a god, He'd be an atheist, too, so he's OK with that. What he's not OK with is people stealing from Him. In his celestial suzerainty, He has declared that the natural order is that theft should go in the other direction.\n\nI considered that it might be a prank, but then I ran some more advanced detection charms on the Cloak in the reliquary (I had to break in in order to do that, which means that the vault was actually penetrated twice in the space of a week, which doesn't say good things about our security protocols, but since I'm the author of those protocols, I'll leave accountability on that issue for another day). It was an enchanted cloak, but with ordinary human channeling magic, nothing inherently deifacted.\n\nThen I found the diamond stash in Coromand. Well, I'm getting ahead of myself. Then I found the guy who *delivered* the diamond stash to the salon in Coromand, and then I found the stash itself. The delivery guy was pretty chill, actually, just thought he was delivering coal for fireplaces. Disguising diamonds as coal was a good trick--lots of charms testing for false materials would miss that. Mine didn't, but I am rather good at what I do. After that, it was quite the hunt to find both the owner of that salon and the people who sent those diamonds, or I'd have been writing to you earlier.\n\nSo anyway, to make a long story short, it looks like you broke into our own reliquary, sold one of Kalep's holiest relics to the Verites, and replaced the real one with an imitation. Kalep Himself asked me to note to you that he was impressed with the attempt, but not with your execution. The execution of your caper, I mean. He might be impressed with your execution, too, we'll see about that momentarily. I might have written this just outside the Pradeshika temple, but I didn't send it until I was much, much closer than that.\n\nThis parchment will now self-destruct."
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[WP] You were mistakenly summoned alongside the hero of this world and cast out along with many others. You and your fellow outcasts swear to tear down the kingdom that tore you all away from your lives and families; so that no one else has to suffer this fate.
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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're just gonna toss me out on my own?\" I questioned. \"But... My family... I don't... Why can't you send me back?\"\n\nThe mage sighed. \"Don't you know that summoning spells are one-way trips? You have my apologies, but we can't afford to keep so many here, and if we made any exceptions, all the others would demand to join.\"\n\n\"WELL, WHY'D YOU SUMMON SO DAMN MANY?\" I cried, rage streaking my face as the faces of my friends and family flashed through my mind.\n\n\"W-Well...\" the mage shifted uncomfortably. \"We only knew the hero's general magical signature, and we didn't expect that calling it through would bring others...\"\n\n\"Bullcrap,\" I challenged. \"I managed to get a look into the library, and this is, what, the tenth time you've called a hero from another world? You can't honestly tell me this hasn't *ever* happened before, especially with the references to a group called the Forsaken.\"\n\nThe mage frowned. \"I think it's time you leave the premises of this castle with the others. Guards! Escort this young woman to the gates with the other Forsaken.\"\n\nI shoved the guards away and stomped down the hall to the crowd of Forsaken waiting at the gate. A middle-aged man noticed me and nodded.\n\n\"You the last one?\" he asked. I nodded in response, anger turning to numbness. The man offered a sympathetic smile. \"Name's Jason Nirro. You?\"\n\n\"Maria Jameson,\" I mumbled. \"Nice to meet you, I guess.\"\n\n\"Wish it were under better circumstances,\" Jason sighed. \"Somehow, we've all managed to agree to find a place where we can make a new life in this world.\"\n\n\"I'll come,\" I nodded. \"Nowhere else to go, really.\"\n\n\"Alright, everyone! Let's head out!\" Jason called out. \"Got a lot of ground to cover before nightfall!\"\n\nThe few dozen members of the crowd hit the road, backs turned to the castle that housed those who had torn us from our homes. A silent promise was made in my heart as I trudged on: I would come back. And I would find my way home. No matter what.\n\n**Part 2 coming eventually**"
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[WP] One day, you see something in the distance. Something that defies all logic, something that shouldn’t exist. But it’s there. Another human being. As it turns out, you are not alone on Earth.
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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 world ended, a boy was dancing in his room.*\n\n*He moved as if he were a part of the universe, his arms raised to the sky, his eyes closed. He spun around, getting lost in the music; hearing nothing more than his own heartbeat.* \n\n*(“All the fear and the fire”)*\n\n*He lept, as his head arched up and his chest puffed out. His arms came down hard, as if he were commanding the earth to him, as if he were calling it home. His head swayed with the soothing beat.*\n\n*(“Of the end of the world’)*\n\n*He didn’t hear his family, downstairs, who were calling out to him. He didn’t hear them scream so loud that it shook the entire house. He didn’t hear the world rattle, rumbling and igniting its core. He didn’t hear the cackling of fire, erupting and burning. He didn’t hear the crying that came from the streets, people hiding, people trying to save one another. And he didn’t hear the sound of a whisper, saying his name over and over again.*\n\n*(“Happens each time a boy”)*\n\n*He continued to spin, eyes closed, as the world erupted into stars and sun and moon and all the layers in between.*\n\n*(”Falls in love with a girl”)*\n\n--\n\nHe wanders. \n\nHe wanders so far that he loses track of his footsteps, one foot in front of the other. They become meshed, as rain and dirt and pain, wash them away. \n\nHe can’t see past the red dust that clouds his vision and leaves bitterness against his tongue. He thinks it’s all the ashes. All the ashes that float in the wind, wandering, just like him. He thinks he should be nothing more than ashes blowing in the breeze. \n\nHe thinks there are a lot of things he should be doing rather than wandering a wasteland. \n\n*(“All the things yet to come, are the things that have passed”)*\n\nThe world is a desolate place now. \n\nHe knows this in the same way he knows that he’s truly, inexplicably alone. Nothing will ever be the same. He supposes this is punishment for all the times he left the world behind. *Well, world,* he says, but only in his mind. There is nothing left for him to say. *I can’t exactly leave you behind now, can I?*\n\n*(Like the holding of hands, like the breaking of glass”)*\n\nHe’s stranded here. In the dust and wind and absence of people. Sometimes - when everything has gone dark and ~~quiet~~ - he stares up at the sky and dreams. He dreams of his family, who’s only become a distant memory, smiling and laughing and then screaming, trying to get out, *help please, won’t you just help* - \n\nHe dreams of green and gold, of the trees and sun, dancing to the sounds of cars and people, he dreams of going to sleep without feeling cold, with a bed and a blanket and wooly socks and hot chocolate, and he dreams of a whisper, saying his name over and over again. \n\n*(Like the bonfire that burns, that all work in the fight fell to”)*\n\nHe dreams as much as he wanders. \n\nAnd maybe that’s the worst part of being alone. \n\n--\n\nTime passes differently now. \n\nHe doesn’t count in hours. He counts in seconds. In the time that the sun rises, dull and aching and so cold, to the time the sun sets, no longer glowing, no longer sparkling with life. \n\nHe watches and watches. And sometimes - when the dust settles for a moment and he can breathe and see clearer - he stops watching. He just exists. His arms move up, involuntarily, like it’s second nature to him, and he spins, round and round, until the world becomes blurred and meshed together. As if it existed in a spectrum of colours. As if he were a part of it. \n\n*(“The death of the sun, to the cloud and the cold”)*\n\nBut there are times - there are so many moments - that he counts the universe in lifetimes. When he sees a beaten doll on a lonely street, when he sees a broken down car near an exit sign, when he sees a diamond ring on a lone finger, when he sees closed eyes and dried tears and arms reached. \n\n*(“And you’ll gaze unafraid.”)*\n\nWhen he looks into a puddle and sees what he could have been. \n\n--\n\nThere are some things that he doesn’t remember. \n\nHe doesn’t remember his mother’s smile, he doesn’t remember the first time he rode his bike, he doesn’t remember the first time he kissed a girl, he doesn’t remember the smell of his grandmother’s biscuits. He doesn’t remember the night the earth left him alone. \n\n*(“And the stretch of the sea, and the absence of green”)*\n\nHe doesn’t remember who the whispers belong to. \n\n*(“And the death of all things”)*\n\nHe’s starting to think that maybe he doesn't want to. \n\n-- \n\nIt’s raining.\n\nAll around him is dark and cold. It’s as if the world were mourning. *What, he doesn’t know.*\n\nIt’s on days like this, nights like this, hours like this, seconds like this, that he sticks out his tongue and basks in the air; to feel fresh water leaving trails against his skin, to taste the river again, flowing and dripping and real, to dream of the rainbow that always follows. \n\n*(“That are seen and unseen”)*\n\nHe thinks that maybe the world is crying for him. Or maybe it’s crying with him. He doesn’t really know anymore. \n\nSo, he’s standing here, beneath a canopy, where he’s soaking and dripping and feeling the most alive he’s ever felt in a long time, when he sees it. It’s distant, past the red dust and rain and fog. But it’s there, and it’s *moving*. The distance closes and the fog begins to clear, and suddenly, he can’t breathe. Because it’s a person. Another human being. And they’re walking right towards him. \n\n*(“Are an end, but the start of all things”)*\n\nAs the figure becomes more clear, the world starts to feel more real. \n\n*(“That are left to do”)*\n\nThere’s a girl standing in front of him. She’s looking at him as if she’s found the entire universe in all of its entirety, in all the stars and all the suns and all the moons and all the people. \n\n*(“Wasteland, Baby!”)*\n\nShe takes a deep breath, as if proving she were real, and then she speaks. “Axton,” she whispers, saying his name over and over again. \n\n*(“I’m in love, I’m in love with you”)*\n\nHe feels his world start to begin. \n\n\n—\n\nDisclaimer: I do not own the song. It belongs to Hozier. The title is *”Wasteland, Baby!”* You should seriously go listen to it if you enjoy post-apocalypse feels (not that you would but still). Give it a try, it’s a great song!!\n\n(Edit 1: grammar)\n(Edit 2: format was being wonky)"
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[WP] You are a superhero who is in love with the villain. You're willing to do whatever it takes to be together; even if it means switching sides
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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.*",
"\\[Emma's Bad Week\\] \n\n\"You know you don't have to do this, right?\" Grover asked.\n\nEmma relaxed her silly pose, dropped her hands from her hips and looked at Grover through a black eye mask.\n\n\"'Great' or 'not bad' are more traditional answers to, 'How do I look?',\" Emma said with a smile. She looked down at her black and purple costume. \"Your answer just has me worried; it doesn't look that bad, does it?\" she asked as she reached down and ran the satin black cape through her hand.\n\n\"No,\" Grover stepped forward and hugged his costumed wife. \"It looks amazing; *YOU* are amazing. How'd I get so lucky?\" he asked.\n\n\"[Nosy friends](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/imbt84/wp_you_and_your_supervillain_nemesis_both_know/),\" Emma replied with a giggle. \"But seriously,\" Emma pushed herself out of the hug and twirled just fast enough to raise the cape slightly. \"Can I pass for you or not?\" Grover nodded.\n\n\"I never looked that good, but yeah. No one will ever know I was gone.\"\n\n\"Great!\" Emma clapped to herself. \"And I've worked out a deal with the substitute hero coming to replace me, while I replace you,\" Emma said. \"Not only is your rank safe while you're gone, you'll probably have gone up a couple of points too,\" she said. \n\n\"You're the absolute best,\" he said.\n\n\"But don't think I'm switching over full time, this is just so you don't lose your standing in the Villain League while you're gone. One week only,\" she said firmly.\n\n\"One week only,\" Grover agreed.\n\n \\*\\*\\*\n\nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #1007 in a row. (Story #278 in year three.) 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] A thousand year old vampire comes to you and explains that your great great grandfather once helped him out when he wasn't doing so well. Today he has come to repay that debt by helping 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.*",
" 8,312 dollars... that’s what was typed there in big bold ink, on the contract. That’s how much a kidney was worth. 20K with no anesthesia . Well, dad didn’t raise no bitch that’s for sure. \n Outside of the old carpet factory in the alley, a shadowy figure emerged from a neighboring hotel. He was a shadow amongst the shadows.. you wouldn’t be able to see the details , a silhouette with nose up swept the alley. He sniffed the air as if he was lead by something like a memory. A pine like scent , familiar and resilient. This was the blood he’d been seeking the last century. \n The man who was now in slightly less debt found himself in an alley smoking a cigarette. The pain in his back was near unbearable , though the Percocet certainly seemed to at least take off the sting. He looked up into the rain, listening to the sound of hitting the roof tops above him. \n “You look like you’ve seen better days”. Came a voice stepping out of the shadows.\n The man who thought he was alone in the alley looked the shadowy figure up and down . He was hard to see, or perhaps it was the pain blocking his other senses. But what he saw, was a silhouette almost one with the shadows. \n “And you look like you’re 1000 years old, and maybe a vampire..”. Quipped back the man with one kidney ... \n End part 1.",
"I sighed deeply and then drank even more deeply from the bottle of rum I'd found. I wasn't even a drinker, just had it because it was a gift and the bottle looked cool, but this situation called for desperate measures.\n\nI eyed my guest where he stood, having nervously refused to sit. He was watching me in a degree of apparent emotional torment, but I barely noticed in light of his captivating appearance. Pale as death and yet oddly beautiful, I swear I was almost attracted to him. I'm straight and it's not even like he was a feminine guy, but I guess some people are just that damn beautiful. Then I noticed that he didn't seem to have a shadow and decided I needed a little more rum.\n\nWhen I'd finished I finally spoke. \"I have no idea why I let a stranger into my house at 3 A.M. or why I'm entertaining this story about you being a vampire.\"\n\n\"My apologies sir, but I deemed that use of a little vampiric charm would make this easier for both of us.\" He spoke with polished tones and an accent that I supposed must be Romanian or something. Like it was just a little like a movie Dracula accent but obviously not so over the top. That was fiction, and no matter how many times I pinched myself my senses stubbornly insisted that this was real life. Yet despite the refinement, his voice betrayed as much anxiety as his face did.\n\n\"I suppose that would make sense.\" I said. I hated that it did.\n\nHe took advantage of my silent musing and continued his story before I could decide that I'd had enough of this. \"So as I was saying, I owed your great great grandfather my life, and more than that. I would have done anything for the man, so when he was murdered and I was not there, my grief and shame drove me to seclusion for decades. When I emerged it was with the resolution to repay him through his descendants.\" Then he wrung his hands as his voice rose to a wail \"but it is useless! The world has grown too tame. Though I have watched your family in secret for generations, I have seen no opportunity to repay my debt. Humans have grown more peaceful and your family seems strangely blessed in that regard so that war has never touched you, so your lives have never been in danger until they were taken by disease or age, which I have no power to mend. There are no more dragons for me to slay, and so my debt only eats at me more each day. So it is desperation that has finally driven me to approach you, to ask you, nay, to beg you to to tell me how I might balance the scales. Tell me what I may do for you and I will give my life for the cause.\"\n\nAs his eyes looked at me, pleading, it was then that I knew for sure it was all real. More than his appearance or the lack of a shadow, what sold it was the pain in those eyes. Just looking you could tell it was more than could be accumulated in one lifetime. \n\nI considered. Really, I didn't want his help. I knew I needed it but I didn't care at this point, so it was more for him than for me that I decided upon a course of action. \"It's not true you know,\" I said in a somber tone, \"About the dragons I mean. They're still around, they just look a little different these days.\"\n\nWhen he looked at me in confusion I motioned for him to follow and soon we were in my living room. \"You any good at Smash Brothers?\" I asked as I crashed on the sofa.\n\n\"Ah, is that something from your internet?\" he asked. \"I apologize but I've been rather lazy about learning how that works. I keep promising myself I'll get into it next decade.\n\n\"Jeez, this is gonna take some work. It's a video game. Take a seat will ya?\" \n\n\"Sir, I feel that perhaps I have not made myself clear? I want to do something more than just entertain you. I need a great quest of some kind to-\"\n\n\"Look bud, we're here to slay a dragon. It's probably going to be the hardest thing I've ever done and if you don't help me I can almost certainly say it will kill me. Now SIT and I will explain how dragon slaying works in 2020.\"\n\nHe sat and I handed him a game controller. He looked at the device in bafflement. \"Important dragon slaying tool.\" I explained after which he treated it with more reverence.\n\nWe spent the next few minutes going over the basics of Smash. I made a few references to how good at it my wife was, but he wasn't listening much as his frustration grew. \n\nWhen he saw Bowser on the screen he threw down the controller and stood in anger. \"Is this some kind of joke?\" He shouted. \"Do you mock me, mock your ancestor, by having me slay this imaginary turtle-dragon in some childish game?? I owe your family much but I will not be made a fool. If this is all you had in mind then I will take my leave.\"\n\nI didn't even look at him. \"You can go if you want. I have one final request though. In the bathroom, there's something on the counter. The dragon put it there and it's too powerful for me. Destroy it for me before you go.\"\n\n\"Sir, I will not be toyed with!\"\n\n\"Last thing, I promise. It really will kill me if you don't. Do this and I'll consider the debt settled.\"\n\nHe was still angry, and as I heard him enter the bathroom he sounded even angrier at first, until he went silent. After a minute I heard a flushing and I knew he'd disposed of the piles of pills that I'd been staring at just before he'd knocked on my door. Dragon thwarted, at least for today. It would come back. PTSD, clinical depression, OCD, dragons sure did have funny names these days.\n\nWhen he returned he was quieter. He sat next to me and picked up the controller. We played for a bit more before he figured it out from my references.\n\n\"Your wife is...\" he said\n\n\"It's been single player for a while now.\" I told him. I gave my best smile, trying to look inspiring, but I knew it didn't hide my pain. \"We won't beat this dragon in a day. That's probably the worst thing about modern dragons, you have to fight them for years, decades, with them breathing hell on you the whole time and never a moment's rest. If we fight together though, then there just might be a chance.\"\n\n\"I...am honored to accept this quest.\" He said.\n\nI nodded in gratitude. \"Ok but you'd better have some kind of supernatural learning curve cuz because I'm gonna get tired of knocking you around the arena real quick.\"",
"The window shot open as I shot up from sleep. The cold October breeze blowing into my room. \n\"Be not alarmed!\" The tall and slender figure spoke in a calm but stern manner. I wasn't moving anywhere frozen from the shock and only being a a few moments from the sleep I was just enjoying. \"Please forgive my coming so late. I'm a bit of a night owl.\" \n\nI said nothing. Still frozen I shock. \n\n\"Umm. Well I guess I should just get on with it then. A long time ago your great great grandfather gave me a small loan. I won't say how much or for what but I can now say that that investment has finally blossomed in a manner of speaking. You'll find if you check your bank account you are now about 570 billion dollars richer give or take. My only regret is that I could not pay him back sooner but things took a bit longer than expected. \" They paused and waited for me to say something. \n\nI said nothing. Even more in shock now. \n\nAfter a few moments of awkward silence they continue. \"ahh, well.. umm. I guess I'll leave you to it. Maybe I expected a little gratitude but who am I to judge.\" He somehow flies away and the window shuts behind him. \n\nI say nothing and for a few moments just blinking my eyes and trying to absorb everything that just happened. \n\nI quickly reach for my phone and pull up my banking app. My jaw drops to the floor. \n\n\"It's all true.\" I whisper as I realize that both vampires are real and I also now have the means to hunt them all down...",
"I was just having a hard day. Work was pretty rough and I had to pull a double in the ER. Between Covid and the Riots, we've been flooded with people constantly. Luckily the majority of the younger patients get sent home fairly quickly. They think they're having covid related issues but it's normally just their nicotine vape causing them anxiety on top of already being anxious. Panic attacks are a bitch.\n\nThe tear gas victims take more time than anyone. How that shit is allowed to be used on the public, I'll never know. I'm just happy to be home after today. I'm sore, tired, hungry and just wanna watch TV until I pass out. \n\nAs I sat down I realize I left the remote sitting by the TV. Shit.\n\n\"Whoa!\" I screamed, noticing a tall pale man sitting and staring at me from my recliner.\n\n\"Don't be alarmed child. My name is Jörg.\"\n\n\"Ok what the fuck are you doing in my house!\" I searched for my baseball bat. The intruder didn't move.\n\n\"You are Cleveland, yes?\"\n\n\"Ye.. yeah that's me. How do you know who I am?\"\n\nHe stood up and looked as if he towered over me even from across the room. \"Sit, I explain to you.\"\n\nI sat back down on my sofa.\n\n\"Long ago,\" he began, \"you're great great grandfather came to my rescue. You see, I am vampire.\"\n\n\"You're shitting me, Jensen!\"\n\n\"It's Jörg and I do not *shit* you. You see, you're great great grandfather Arnold knew who I was. Knew what I was. I am not blood thirsty monster. That's made up story time you humans tell each other.\" He continued about my great great grandfather \"Arnold and I were both staying in New Mexico at the time. I was being hunted. Me and my brother would feed on cows and other farm animals. But my brother\" his look grew distant \"he became greedy... Nasty.\"\n\n\"He would eat too much, killing the animals. People thought we were these 'alien greys' and they began to hunt us. One night, they set a trap for us. Separated my brother and myself.\"\n\n\"So where's your brother now?\"\n\n\"He didn't make it off of the farm land that night. I only did because your great great grandfather cornered me. He seen that I was the same as you... Mostly.\"\n\n\"He let you go then?\"\n\n\"Yes. We even passed each other in the street a few times after that. He knew it was me, and never looked at me as if I were a monster.\"\n\n\"Well Johnson, rumor had it my grandfather was also a vampire so maybe that's why he didn't kill you.\"\n\n\"It's Jörg. Really?\"\n\n\"No! I don't know why he didn't kill you. Thanks for story time but I just wanna watch TV and go to bed. I had a long day.\"\n\nThis damn vampire wasn't leaving me alone! \"I am only here to repay the debt of your great great grandfather. Please, let me assist you in anyway that I can!\"\n\nI can tell he wasn't going anywhere. I kicked off my shoes and got comfortable on the couch. \"Ok, you wanna help me? Hand me the remote by the TV will ya Jacob?\"\n\n\"IT'S JÖRG!\""
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[WP] They said they’ll give you anything you want. All you have to do is take one step to the left.
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"\"...All you have to do is take one step to the left. One little step to the left, out of our way, and I hand you the biggest blank check in existence.\"\n\n\"Anything I want? Just to get out of your way?\"\n\n\"It's kind of important. Now, you know us. You know we have the resources to do it. Smart kid like you probably knows what'll happen if you refuse, too.\"\n\n\"Well, where I'm standing is kind of important, too. Might even be worth whatever you're threatening me with.\"\n\n\"Heh. You've got spunk, kid. I'll grant you that.\"\n\n\"Thanks.\"\n\n\"Polite, too. Not enough people are, these days. Trust me, though. You've got everything to gain, or everything to loose. Choice is yours.\"\n\n\"It's a lot to think about, is all. I don't even know what I'd ask for. I don't want to waste me chance to get anything I could want on something stupid. Or watch it turn out like a genie wish.\"\n\n\"That's not how we play the game, kid. You know that. Make the smart choice.\"\n\n\"Is it, though? I've heard stories.\"\n\n\"Vicious rumors and lies, I'm sure.\"\n\n\"Hmm. I guess I'm just a little bit worried by the fact that you've taken such an interest in the matter.\"\n\n\"Well. We all have our hobbies.\"\n\n\"I can't help thinking there's more to it than that.\"\n\n\"Think what you like, kid. Personally, I can't help thinking that you're trying to stall. I should warn you, I'm on something of a schedule. When it comes right down to it, I don't really care if I go around you or through you, but I suspect you might.\"\n\n\"Staying here would be pretty futile, then.\"\n\n\"Extremely. Almost certainly very messy, as well.\"\n\n\"And you've made a very generous offer.\"\n\n\"I've merely made a reasonable proposal. If you find it generous, your day job isn't paying you nearly enough.\"\n\n\"All the same, I think I'll have to refuse.\"\n\n\"You sure about that, kid?\"\n\n\"It's the principle of the thing.\"\n\n\"Ah... so young and idealistic. I remember having that kind of faith. I can respect it, even if it's ultimately quite pointless.\"\n\n\"There's also a slim chance that you're bluffing.\"\n\n\"Very slim, I'd say, given who I represent.\"\n\n\"Even so. It's more chance than if I just stepped aside.\""
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