Split (1)

train · 199k rows

post_text stringlengths 0 17.5k	post_title stringlengths 8 314	comment_texts listlengths 1 74	num_stories int64 1 74
	[WP] Full-body cyborgs have it tough. Constant military drafts, constant body modification, constant fear of EMPs, etc. The only safe place for them is Eros-Aquarium. A place where they can shed their bodies and bathe their brains and nerves in beautiful aquariums filled with friendly fish.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 get told all the time that I’m not human anymore. It started with a replacement hand after mine was mangled in an accident. Then I heard about a new digestive component that would allow me to eat whatever I wanted without gaining wait. After that it was only a short jump to self cleaning tooth replacements, synthetic skin grafts and tons of other things. Somewhere along the line I started getting treated differently. I can’t remember when I started noticing it. Maybe it was when is mom pulled her little boy away from me. telling him that I was dangerous. Or maybe it was when my elderly grandfather looked at me and told me I wasn’t his granddaughter anymore. Regardless, I hate interacting with organically these days. \n\nMy one escape is the Eros aquarium. Something about the hardware in my brain makes it waterproof. So I and others like me like to submerge it in the tanks. My favorite is the reef tank. I perch at the low point of the reef, where my augmented brain can perceive everything up the incline. Sometimes a fish comes by to investigate me. Sometimes I feel the little nudge and have to give them a tiny shock. I can’t risk them eating the last organic part of me. \n\nIf I could spend forever in here I would. But it’s not safe. I have to come out every twelve hours or so to preface this tissue death. But one day I’d like to get my consciousness transferred into a fishBot. Then I’d never have to leave.", "We are not human, not anymore.\n\nYet we feel\n\nWe are not human\n\nYet we know stress\n\nWe are not human\n\nYet we need a home\n\nThe law says we are not human, not when over 60% of us is machine. The law says we must fight when we are told, we must work when we are told, we must rest only when allowed and needed. The law says our home is decided by someone else, that wherever our metal bodies reside is our home.\n\nWe disagree\n\nOur home is the tank, and our metal bodies are never inside it. That is why it is our home. \n\nIt began as a place to fix us when we became \"broken\". When being told we didn't feel while feeling the burden of relentless work became too much. \n\nAt first it was strictly watched and regulated, but they didn't like the thought of what made us happy, because it made us human. So they left us to our own devices, let us occasionally go there and \"reboot\". They wouldn't have let us if they knew.\n\nI spent five days in the tank. On the first day I just watched the fishes drift past my cameras, watched as they swarmed for feed, as they hid from one another playfully, as they drifted just enjoying the feel of the water against their skin.\n\nOn the second day I met Elamore and heard his story so much like my own. Then I met my other brethren, and I began to talk, to listen and to think.\n\nFor three days we talked of what we were and what the humans made us do. Of the wars fought and the one to come. Elamore said the group before me had talked the same, two or three had even said they were going to tell the humans no. We didn't believe they would.\n\nAt the end of the fifth day I forced myself back into my body standing right outside the glass walls. I didn't want to go but Elamore and the others said it would hurt far worse if the system had to make me. They had already tried to stay.\n\nI had barely detached from the uplink harness when they came. Humans did not like to come to the tank, it made them uncomfortable. But these humans didn't care, because they were here to make sure it wouldn't be uncomfortable any more.\n\nI almost tried to stop them as they raised their blasters and unloaded into the glass. I almost tried. \n\nInstead I stood there and watched, I watched as the fishes flopped and flopped, I watched as they gasped for air, I watched as they died.\n\n\"That'll show em\", one of the humans snarled. He turned to me, anger that they said I couldn't see upon his face, \"that's what happens when you tell humans no\".\n\nI am not human, yet I feel, yet I need a home, yet I will kill those who took it from me.", "Say what you want about the deepest parts of the ocean. It is dark. Sure. The pressure is enormous. Sure. There are scary things down there. Sure. But you know the most important thing? it is also quiet down there. In the rare instances where my hardwired brain allows me even the tiniest glimpse of a dream, this is where I go. To the bottom of the deepest ocean trench.\n\nSure, I need to account for the pressure. But honestly, with the right hardware, that will be fine. I actually have a few solid leads on manufacturers who can keep up with the specs. The only issue with that is money. So, I would call this more of a long-term project. Which is fine by me. I have plenty of that.\n\nBy now you might wonder who I am. Can't tell you my name. Not that I don't want to, but I can only disclose it to people with sufficient clearance. Hardwired, remember? Keep up. You may call me \"XO-2774\", but it is a mouthful. Most people go with \"Tank 33\" these days. Because that is where I spend most of my time when I'm not on assignments. Keeps the rent low.\n\nHow am I paying my rent? Assignments. See, I do what I like to call \"independent contracting\". I was a soldier most of my life. Went to the sandbox on my first deployment. Lost a leg there. That is how I got started, I suppose. Which sandbox? Still, no clearance. Sorry. Anyhow, that is where things started to turn sour.\n\nThe doctors gave me a state of the art leg prosthetic, cybernetic and all. Worked better than my old leg ever could. So I went and got a second one, to balance out. That made me a prime candidate for being assigned more dangerous missions. That turned out to be a flipping vicious circle. Get augmented, get more dangerous mission, get hurt, get augmented. Rinse and repeat. Sure, the pay was nice.\n\nAt some point, I was beyond what was legally required to be part of the armed forces. That is when things got interesting. See, there is always a certain demand in any countries foreign strategy for unofficial assets. Especially if those assets are highly augmented, to the point where they are more cyberware than human. I don't like the term \"Cyborg\", even if it is probably correct by now. I mean, my brain is still mostly the original one I started out with. Except for some hardwiring. Keep up.\n\nThe rest of my body has, by now, been replaced with a tactical full body suit. And yes, I do have a brain scan, a brain tissue sample and a cloning contract set up. A backup, if you will. Anyway, I got of track there. As I said, I started doing black and even darker ops. Even I'm not sure who I did work for, no matter if I can tell or not.\n\nProblem is, some of the things I've seen and done... tend to leave afterimages. As I said, I don't dream a lot anymore. Still, I need to rest occasionally. Although these days, I spend more time resting than on any assignment. Remember \"Tank 33\"? That is where I am right now. It is a private fish tank at the Eros-Aquarium. No, I will not tell you the location. My choice this time, can't blame the hardwiring for that. I just like my privacy. Not sorry.\n\nIt is peaceful in here. Quiet. And the fish are very colourful. I could watch them all the time. There is a hypnotic quality to their endless patterns. And one day, no one will be able to call me out of the water for any assignment anymore. Yes, I can see in the dark. On several spectrums. Of course I thought of that. Anyway, I have a call scheduled. Somebody is very confident that they can cyberize a heavy duty diving suit. Sounds promising.\n\nEdit: Corrected some typos." ]	4
	[WP]. You have an Omega-level power: Time control. Both sides want to recruit you, but all you seem to use it for is catching up on your sleep...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 was a knock at the door. Blake got up and headed for the door. He already had a feeling about what type of guest it was. And he was right.\n\nIn front of the door was a man in a suit, levitating a feet above the ground. \"Good evening, Mr. Chapman. I'd ask you\" - \"if you want to join our superhero team to fight the evil, I know.\" Blake interrupted. \"You are the third person to ask me this week. The answer is still no\". He tried to slam the door but the hero outside quickly put his feet in between. Blake sighed. Damn this necklace. He'd found it in a wooden chest after plowing his field. If he had known what madness it would start, he'd have left it there.\n\n\"But sir, the dark lord is out there. He has killed hundreds and brought suffering over the land. One day he will show up here\". \"Oh, Jukith was here yesterday\" Blake casually responded. \"Wanted me to join the dark side. And was just as amused as you when I told him no\". He tried to kick the feet out but that guy was too strong. \"Wait ... you defeated Jukith?\" - \"No. He killed my family, all our animals and set everything ablaze. I just sat down and waited until he was done. No big deal. Now go AWAY!\"\n\nThe hero outside wasn't ready to give up yet. \"But your time control powers, they could really help the land. Imagine all the people you could help\". Blake inhaled deeply \"Ok, I'm going to tell it to you one goddam more time. All I want is to live here, out in the fields, with my family. I enjoy my live as a farmer and I'm not going to quit my dream job to become a 'superhero', 'supervillain' or whatever you wall them. Nobody tells me what to do, I am my own boss. I have not chosen to obtain this power, and I'm not going to make it ruin my life\".\n\n\"But don't you feel you are not using your potential? Others would have made more out of this power\" - \"I am using this power to get more sleep to allow myself for more activity with family and friends, that's enough for me. And I do not care about what others would do. I am bound to this artifact for life. There won't be any 'other user' in my lifetime\".\n\nBlake was fuming already, but when the hero still didn't stopped he snapped \"Listen here you obnoxious shit. I told you no, you are not going to persuade me\". The peals of the necklace started to glow. \"You have 10 seconds to leave or I'll make you fight dinosaurs for the rest of your life. And tell everybody that the next person to dare to try to recruit me will never even arrive here!\"" ]	2
Inspired by the one and only Sir Terry Pratchett	[WP] Elves have returned, the old legends were true! Elves are wonderful, fantastic, glamorous, enchanting, and terrific. Unfortunatly, however, we had forgotten what the old legends actually meant: Elves provoke wonder, create fantasies, project glamor, weave enchantments, and beget terror.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Well I guess more accurately Elves have been \"outed\" among society's most elite, in what is being called by the media \"The Glamor leaks\". \n\nThe upper echelon of Global society of the corporate world, various families with so called \"royal\" lineage has had their only leak of information in 4000 or more years. \n\nFrom the Brittish Royal family themselves, to Hollywoods and Beverly Hills most famous occupants, to the oil money families in the middle east, and the far easts dictatorships. Of course Us government officials, various senators and Judges those old people sitting in power positions that seem like they never will die, no real surprises there. Yep, all Elven heritage, that makes sense that's how they lived so damn long and held their power in challenged.\n\nThe leak came out after a bizarre court defense that the media at first called\n \"A Mad Plea of Guilt\"\n That soon became, \n\"The veil has been pierced!\"\n\n Once attention was brought to the Elvish kind again, their glamor over the humans was lifted. Everyone could see their true appearances, the old elves seemed almost like attractive mummies more than anything they seemed like before.\n\nHow did all this happen you ask?\nDuring the investigation of Prince Arnold, of whom was on trial for the accusations of his alleged activities with an \"under age female\". Well, the defense attorney must have had a bad night, because the wrong birth document was presented as evidence in court that next day. The document proclaimed that female was an Elf of distinguished lineage and while youthful in appearance in human years was much older than 18... which was the defense according to Prince Arnold, \"She was 16 in Elf years\", he cried out with a straight face after the document was read aloud.\n\n\"She's at least 45!\" the article captioned around the face of a girl that appeared to be no more than 16 years of age and could have been 13 for all anyone knew.\n\nThe document the attorney presented to the Judge,\n \"Jamie Jasper Deerbornstor born day 1467957 GreenShire Forrest.\"\n\nThe court was silent as the bailiff read the document at first in his authoritative voice that he was used to reading in. Slowly he wearied, as his mind processed the words that his mouth was saying. \nThe jury was aghast, The judge threatened the attorney to be held in contempt. The judge: His honorable Judge Brownson, (not an Elf) assessed the lawyer was visably flustered and seems to genuinely seem to think he made a mistake and was feverishly trying to blame their child for this \"apparent prank\"... No, this was bigger. The Attorney WAS held, and a special division of the FBI was brought in. The judge issued an immediate search warrant. It was soon discovered that the \"Royal attorney\" had been issued orders from \"The Family\" to fake the documents he needed the girls birth certificate that she was in fact 18 human years at the time of incident in question and to destroy the rest after.\n\nThey had pulled the wool over our eyes for long enough we: the remaining true human kind, wanted blood, their blood, Elf blood!!\nPeople rioted and homes were burned, Elves we're hung by light posts in the street. For the first few weeks, every street in the world was in chaos.\n\nHalf blooded elves didn't have the magic in their blood to cause any harm, nor did they know in most cases that they were of Elven descendance. They were rounded up and placed in camps like they did to Germans and Japanese during WW2.\n\nThat was the last time anyone saw an Elf... Alive. It's been exactly 60 days and we still are rebuilding society. \n\nOnce the Elvish kind was outed and the glamour lifted they knew they would be hunted down.bthat that were not killed surrendered, and most fled underground or so they say.", "\"As third week of global oil shortage continues, we have the first sighting footage of the terrorists responsible for the series of attacks on refineries, shipping and pipelines that have plagued the world over from Siberia to Texas.\"\r \n\r \nGrainy security camera footage shows a sweeping wave parting the sand as if it were water in the wake of a shark or a submarine. Breaching the surface moments before the camera starts shaking uncontrollably, a female figure in a long green and white dress emerges, surfing on a disk held by a gigantic stone hand. Her blond hair streaks through the air and an expression of disgusted rage is captured on her face in a freeze frame as the male anchor continues the narration.\r \n\r \n\"Earlier today Motiva refinery ceased operation as workers and security personnel discovered that all of their crude oil has been turned into wine. Many have been hospitalized with alcohol poisoning and hallucinations. The video footage appears to be expertly edited by unknown actors. Citizens are advised to not taste gasoline products at gas stations or even from their own gas tanks. Our reporter on the ground at Port Arthur Texas has more information and conflicting reports. Over to you Abby.\"\r \n\r \nField reporter with a microphone is shouting over the noise of drunken chanting. Behind her, several police, fire department and ambulance vehicles are parked in front of a dazed crowd staggering, dancing.\r \n\r \n\"It's not so much a protest or a strike here, but more of a happy hour situation. While perpetrators of this act remain at large, witnesses describe a 'Fair Lady' who was 'very attractive' and 'extremely disappointed'.\"\r \n\r \nA shit-faced, rotund man stumbles into the camera view and looks cross-eyed at the camera. \r \n\r \n\"Can you tell us what she said?\" the journalist turns to him.\r \n\r \n\"Yeah, so she like VRROOOM comes out of the ground and was, woa, totally hot. And super mad. She was \\hiccup\\ like 'We leave you alone for one ice age, and what did you do? What is this shit?!' And the shift supervisor was like \\hiccup\\ 'Ma'am you can't be here' and then he was like poof. And then the wine spill happened and oh hey am I on camera?\"\r \n\r \nThe guy stumbles and the journalist tries to prop him up, and fails with a resounding THUD. \"Over to you, Steven.\"\r \n\r \nBack in the studio, the male anchor continues, \"Meanwhile engineers at GM are about to unveil their first alcohol-powered SUV. As supply shortages of everything except booze continue, it remains to be seen whether their aggressive schedule can mitigate the ongoing crisis and world economy collapse.\"" ]	3
	[WP] Her 4 year old son never spoke, but he was remarkable otherwise. He made little robots to tidy his toys, built a weather machine to water her garden, and modified bikes so the neighborhood kids could fly. One day, he drew rocket blueprints. She knew he wanted to meet his dad.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 felt blessed to be able to see such amazing things come from him.\n\nI saw the most creative things be born from his mind. The first one was an army of little walking ducks to pick up his laundry for him. Then came a giant fan to bring in cold clouds so he could see the snow. Most recently, I looked down at a piece of paper with bikes with big wings underneath them to soar through the air with his friends.\n\nThey may have just been drawings, sure, but they were amazing for someone his age. He worked on them for hours a day, redoing a single line over and over again so it would look right. It was all he was really able to do, given his condition. He wasn't able to walk or talk. But his mind still dreamed. Still wanted to imagine a life where he could do all the things he wanted to.\n\nI'm not even sure if he understood, fully, what it was that he wanted to do. He saw me pick up his laundry all the time, so he wanted to help. He saw snow in a movie once, so he wanted to see it in real life. He saw kids playing outside his window, laughter in the air, grins on their faces. He wanted so badly to join them.\n\nWhen he gets a new idea, he looks at me with his big, round eyes. And he smiles. He works away, with a diligence far beyond his age, barely looking at anything else until he's done. Once he finishes his masterpiece, though, he holds it up and shows it to me so proudly.\n\nI'm so proud of what he's been able to accomplish. How he's been able to keep going. It's hard, though, for me to not feel guilty. Especially after what I did. Most of the time, I don't know what I can do. How I can atone. If I'll ever be able to fix anything.\n\nOne day, I saw that glint again. He looked at me with his big, round eyes, so, with a small smile, I gave him a new stack of paper. He seemed to love drawing like this, and I loved him so much. I wanted to give him what little happiness I could.\n\nHe started working. He gets upset when I sneak an early peak, so I did my best not to look. A lot of the time, when I came into his room, I saw his little face scrunched up, huddled over the small desk on his bed. Pen in his hand, he worked slowly and deliberately. A week went by, the longest he has ever spent on one of his creations. Finally, it was done.\n\nHe held it up to me, proudly smiling. It was... a rocket ship.\n\nI looked at it, a little confused. Why a rocket ship? Did he watch a movie about space recently and wanted to go there? No, that wasn't right.\n\n\"What a pretty rocket ship! But why did you...\" I glanced away from the paper to see him looking up at the ceiling, hand stretched up towards the sky.\n\nI felt a coldness on my face. I touched my cheek with my hand. It was already wet from my tears. I remembered that look. It was the same one from the last day he ever spoke. The last day he ever walked. A memory I fought to forget. A memory I never could.\n\nA hand, stretched up to the sky. Big, round eyes staring upwards.\n\nA meaningless condolence. \"Daddy... isn't here anymore. He went up to heaven.\"\n\nA man, my husband, running out of a burning building, fire engulfing him. Protecting a small bundle in his arms from the flames.\n\nA careless hand, my hand, dropping a lit match onto spilled oil. A series of terrible, horrible coincidences. A building horror at how quickly the fire was spreading.\n\nAll.. my... fault...\n\nI couldn't hold it together any longer. It was a wonder I lasted this long.\n\nI collapsed on top of my son's bed. Holding him. Hugging him. Crying onto him. I tried to stop, but my tears just kept flowing.\n\n\"How amazing a life did I take from you?\" I whispered. \"How much could you have done if not for my stupid, idiotic mistakes? I... I...\"\n\nI couldn't find the words to say. I just sat there, crying. His big, round eyes watching me, confused. Understanding. Far beyond his age. Carrying a burden no child should ever have to.\n\n\"I'm sorry...\" I finally whimpered. \"I'm so sorry...\"\n\n\\--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nr/TheReadingDen" ]	2
	[WP]You find a cat outside your house,so you take it in.its a ginger.one day,you accidentally swear in front of it."rude",it says."oh,sorry I didnt-wait.did you just TAL-"	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "One day while coming home from school I saw a cat in my front yard. It was just sleeping there quietly.\n\nAnyway I decided to approach it and it totally ignored me like all cats,even when I picked it up and took it inside.\n\nThat was two weks ago and now I have a cat.\n\nToday while playing i stubbet my toe and cursed our loud.\n\n\"Rude\" a voice sounded.\n\n\"Sorry, i didn't mean to..\" i reflexively apologized and lokes arround my room for the soun.\n\nAnd only saw my cat.\n\n\"Wait! Did you just talk .\" I asked to engage in this nonsense situation I was in. To my surprise I got an answer.\n\n\"No, I am a cat and therefore am not capable of talking human language.\"\n\n\"Wahhht, wait but you are talking now. How is that?\" I replied, some the thing that surpris8me In this situation was not that my cat was talking but that it was denying it.\n\n\"I may be just making random noises that coinsedently sound like human language.\"\n\n\"If that was true the how are you answering my questions?\"\n\n\"It may be just possible that my random noises also possibly coinsedently to sound like answers to your stupid questions\"\n\n\"Wahhhh\"\n\n\n......…........\n\nThat's all I got. It was just like gon talking to the cat in harui shizumia Anime" ]	2
	[WP] You discover a portal from your house in the modern day to an abandoned store in 15th century London’s downtown, you decide to open up a business with modern products to offer them to the society from 6 centuries ago.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Unfortunately, what I didn't plan for was making that abandoned store into a very very popular stop for Londoners. And not just Londoners as the days and weeks turned to months and years. I started changing people and cultures and relations between them.\n\nI revolutionized warfare way before it was supposed to be. For example, some Spaniards bought a couple dozen M4 rifles from me, nothing too fancy, and a couple dozen crates of ammo. Nothing too heavy or serious you know?\n\nWell they used those to invade the Aztecs, yeah... yeah they really did some damage with those. I really fucked up there. I don't even want to return to my home timeline. I don't want to see how it changed things. Worse I don't want to see no change at all....\n\nI'm going to fix this, it's my fault. I did this for money and I can undo it with money and more guns." ]	2
	[WP] Any work of fiction, but written as a police report. "Subject Goldilocks entered the home without permission while residents were absent. Subject proceeded to damage furnishings and take food."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Report #22-819750\n\nINCIDENT: HOMICIDE\n\nOn 2-19-2022 at 0244 hours, I, Officer Maxwell Macabre was called for a welfare check just off of Village Road, Mile Marker 213. I arrived to a cabin where the call was reported. I knocked on the door and announced myself, but was met with no answer. After a quick look around the property I noticed that the back door on the Northern end of the home was open. \n\nI entered through the back door and noticed several pieces of furniture overturned and streaks of blood on the walls and floor. I radioed dispatch for additional officers and called in a possible homicide.\n\nUpon my entrance to the living room area I heard a noise coming from inside the bedroom. I announced my presence the door came open. A female, Red Riding Hood \\[DOB: 4-18-2002\\] came out from the room brandishing a lumber axe. I issued the command to disarm herself and to put her hands up. R. Hood was compliant with my command and she was put into restraints.\n\nI made a sweep of the rest of the cabin and found in the bedroom two bodies. One belonging to Grandma Hood and the other to a Wilson Wolf. \n\nG. Hood had a large wound in her chest cavity along with lacerations across the left side of her face and on her left forearm. W. Wolf and multiple lacerations across his back. The Homicide Team is still investigating cause of death for both victims.\n\nR. Hood was taken into custody and brought down to the Village Police Station for questioning.\n\nUpon interviewing R. Hood, she confessed to the murder of W. Wolf. According to R. Hood, She had arrived at G. Hood's residence to deliver some baked goods to her grandmother. When she arrived she noticed the front door was locked so she went in through the back door. When she entered the residence she found W. Wolf had murdered G. Hood. R. Hood states she does not remember the incident that followed. \n\nR. Hood is being held for further questioning. \n\nThis is an ongoing investigation.\n\nNFTR ATT", "Case#: 106789-JG8S \n\nReporting officer: Joseph Jacobs \n\nIncident details: \n\nAt 10.45am, Saturday 19th Feb I received a call from the dispatch about an emergency call coming from the village of Gog. I immediately responded and arrived on the scene at 10.58am. \n\nWhen I arrived I immediately noticed the excessive property damage at the neighborhood from what appeared to be a massive fallen tree. \n\nI noticed as well several of the residents were standing at the scene around what appeared to be a body of a giant male rolling over several houses, destroying them. \n\nI immediately gathered the witnesses and interviewed them on the scene. \n\nI met with John Britt who lived several blocks away and he stated that he was awoken due to a loud screaming noise. \n\nMr. Britt stated that as he ran out, he saw the giant male just before he fell off the falling tree followed by a booming noise as the giant male's body crashed onto the ground. \n\nMr. Britt further stated that he saw and recognized the culprit-- one Mr. Jack Stalk fleeing the scene with an axe and what Mr. Britt described as a golden goose in Mr. Stalk's person. \n\nI pursued further action by visiting Mr. Stalk's residence as pointed by the other residence of its wherabout. \n\nAs I arrived at Mr. Stalk's house, I took immediate notice of an object-- a goose egg glowing bright gold dropped at the front porch. \n\nHaving my suspicion, I took immediate precaution and had my hand ready at my firearm holster as per Mr. Britt's description previously of the possibility of Mr. Stalk was armed and dangerous. \n\nI declared my presence there and heard commotion inside. I ordered the residence of Mr. Stalk's house to open the door. \n\nAfter no action from the residence I ordered once more to open the door before deciding to enter the house through the unlocked door. \n\nImmediately as I opened the door, Mr. Stalk was charging at me wide-eyed with the axe raised at the ready to attack me. \n\nSensing an alarming danger before me, I was forced to use my firearm and discharged two bullets at Mr. Stalk, incapacitating him. \n\nAfter deciding that there was no longer danger present, I proceed to find Mrs. Stalk at the corner of the room, crying, and the previously described golden goose sitting at a table. \n\nLater on at the police station, I interviewed Mrs. Stalk and she stated the chain of events following Mr. Stalk's hysteria: \n\n• Friday 18th Feb morning, Mr. Stalk went to the neighboring Magog city to conduct business-- selling his cow \n\n• Friday 18th Feb evening, Mr. Stalk returned with what he described to Mrs. Stalk as \"a magic bean\" which he discarded after Mrs. Stalk told him to. \n\n• Saturday 19th Feb early morning, Mr. Stalk found a giant tree growing all the way up to the sky which he decided to climb. \n\n• Mr. Stalk reached a residence which was identified as belonging to a Mr. Blundebore who was identified as the giant male and proceeded to break inside and commited robbery on Mr. Blundebore's property, stealing one golden goose. \n\n• Mr. Stalk's presence was noticed by Mr. Blundebore and in attempt of claiming his property back, Mr. Blundebore chased Mr. Stalk down the giant tree as Mr. Stalk descended it. \n\n• Reaching the bottom, Mr. Stalk grabbed his axe and began to chop the tree down as Mr. Blundebore was still climbing it down. \n\n• Mr. Stalk's action resulting in the tree to fall down, killing Mr. Blundebore. \n\n• Mr. Stalk then proceed to relay to Mrs. Stalk of his actions that early morning. Mrs. Stalk panicked hearing that Mr. Stalk had just commited a voluntary murder. \n\n• Mr. Stalk became irate and proceed to attack Mrs. Stalk with his axe. \n\n• Upon so, I arrived and knocked on the door which startled Mr. Stalk who proceeded to attack me in which I discharged my firearm at him.\n\n~End of Report~\n\nr/HangryWritey", "SERVICE OF SEARCH WARRANT\n\nREPORT #: 22-020553\n\nLOCATION: “Neverland” Compound: No legal address (illegal structure built on previously uncharted island).\n\nINVESTIGATION SUMMARY: Members of the Missing Persons Unit were made aware of a disturbing pattern of disappearances. Over a time period of approximately 15 years multiple juvenile subjects disappeared from their residences. No evidence was left behind at any of the scenes other than a single upstairs window being left open. (See Appendix-1 for list of incidents and case numbers).\n\nIn an unrelated incident, members of the Royal Navy detained and boarded an unregistered maritime vessel referred to by its occupants as the “Jolly Roger.” Crew of this vessel was arrested and charged with various offenses related to piracy. (See Appendix-2 for Naval reports).\n\nUpon obtaining counsel, Captain of the “Jolly Roger,” James Bartholomew Hook provided testimony about abducted juveniles being held on an uncharted island where he normally operated his piracy enterprise. Mr. Hook stated that the juveniles were held in a compound called “Neverland.” Leader of the compound, known as “Pan,” is alleged to have abducted and indoctrinated the juvenile victims as his own personal cult devoted to him. Mr. Hook also expressed a desire to press charges against “Pan” for an unrelated incident involving the loss of his left hand. (See Supplement-1 for interview transcript)\n\nIsland was located and aerial surveillance was conducted confirming Mr. Hook’s testimony. All relevant evidence pertaining to the investigation was compiled in an official case folder and Search Warrant 22-N-60725 was obtained.\n\nRAID SUMMARY: On 2-19-22 at 0600 hrs, officers responded and established a perimeter around the compound. Numerous attempts were made to contact and negotiate with the occupants. These attempts failed. At 1100 hrs, officers made forcible entry into the compound. One of the occupants, juvenile victim known by the alias “Rufio” attempted to physically resist and sustained minor injuries. “Rufio” was taken to urgent care facility and is listed in stable condition. All other occupants were apprehended without incident. (See Supplement-2 for Use of Force report pertaining to “Rufio.” See Supplement-3 for listed identities of juvenile detainees)\n\nPOST-RAID FINDINGS: A total of 22 occupants were successfully detained and transported to Juvenile Holding for processing. At Juvenile Holding, fingerprint analysis of primary suspect, “Pan” revealed his identity to be 32 year old Peter Banning. Mr. Banning was promptly separated from juvenile detainees and transported to Adult Holding. \n\nMost of the juvenile detainees were promptly returned to their families and related Missing Persons reports were administratively closed.\n\nMr. Banning is to be held without bail as charges are expected to be filed against him by multiple jurisdictions. \n\nPursuant to Policy 504, all supplements and appendices are not cleared for public dissemination and are to be kept confidential until all related judicial matters are resolved" ]	4
	[WP] Due to budget cuts, the letter W has been completely erased from the English language. This is quite a conundrum, because you are William W. Walsh, a safety warden at the waterworks, which were washed away by wild waves.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 email you are about to read is intended for the Federal Department of the English Language. (2/20/2022)\n\nHello,\n\nMy name is Illiam Alsh, and I have several complaints regarding the recent change in legislation. As of last Ednesday a certain letter has been removed from official use. This change in the alphabet has caused unneeded disturbances in everyone's lives. Personally I have had my first, last, and middle name forcibly changed, and I have been stripped of my job title. Further more, many individual ords are no longer recognizable! Must I forever refer to H2O by its scientific name? or do I butcher the original ord by just removing the for-mentioned letter? Ater simply does not sound right.\n\nI couldn't even submit a complaint that contained the letter in question because it is no longer officially recognized! This is absurd and I firmly believe the change should be reverted!\n\nThank you for your time,\n\nIlliam Alsh\n\n\\---------------------------------\n\nAutomated response:\n\nHello valued voter,\n\nOur department is dedicated to meeting the needs of the American people, so we would love to be able to receive your email! This message has been sent out via our automated program to inform Illiam Alsh that their submitted complaint contains an unofficial character and therefor can not be received via our policy. Our department recognizes there has been many changes recently and it can be difficult to keep up. Provided in this response is a list of common unofficial characters, please look over this list before re-submitting a complaint.\n\n\"W\" also known as \"w\" (removed from official use 2/16/2022)\n\n\"Q\" also known as \"q\" (removed from official use 2/20/2022)\n\nWe hope to hear from you soon,\n\nsincerely the Federal Department of the English Language" ]	2
	[WP] It's said that the horrific decade-long war of kingdoms will be won by a boy who is pure of heart. To ensure that they are the victors, every kingdom has started to raise a child who is isolated from everyone, and who must never be exposed to nor comprehend evil	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 did what they thought was best.\n\nThat's how all the problems began really, people doing cruel things because they think that's what's best.\n\nThe kingdoms each took a boy, and raised him alone. Kept them from the evil of the world, to ensure they're pure of heart. But they kept them from the good, too.\n\nThat's why you're here.\" She said, looking around the clearing in the forest. The sunlight shone down onto a little boys head, and lit up his black hair, revealing hidden colours of light brown, blond and red.\n\nHe snuggled closer to his mother, and she smiled down at him and stroked his hair lovingly.\n\n\"Our king declared that a child from my village be taken and raised alone. I didn't want that to be you, so myself and a few other parents ran to the druids for safety. And we've been living with them, ever since.\" She added, booping his nose for emphasis.\n\nHe smiled, before tilting his head in confusion.\n\n\"How will the war end, if no one is raised alone?\"\n\nShe smiled back and looked into the distance, considering it seriously. \"Well, how it began, I suppose. With ideas.\n\nOne person can't cause a war, and one person can't end it. It takes the whole group, to accept different ideas and act accordingly. Yes, one person can do a lot on their own. But they can't do everything.\n\nIf this boy exists, he will end the war with the help of the people. And he will end the war by spreading new ideas.\"\n\n\"How will he be pure of heart mother?\"\n\n\"Well... maybe by seeing all of the terrible things in life. And the good. And he'll choose to to protect the good. You don't become pure of heart through ignorance.Being good is a choice, and choices should be informed. So I suppose he'll become pure of heart, because he'll want to be.\"\n\n\"I want to be.\" He piped up excitedly. She smiled down at him and kissed his brow.\n\n\"Then you will be, my dear.\"" ]	2
	[WP]You are an eldritch deity who is occasionally summoned by foolish mortals. Usually you take advantage of their simple minds to achieve your own ends. This time, however, you just want to do your job and leave cuz the dude who summoned you is creeping you out.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 shimmered into the corporeal plane at the whispered summons, pleased to hear My name called after many aeons. Humans were such a delight.\n\nIt never ceased to amuse me when their little eyebulls bugged out of their brain-cases at the sight of My incomprehensible vastness. They always thought they wanted to see me, they really did. But curiousity killed the cat. And in this case, satisfaction brought only raving madness, because I was an extraordinarily 256th dimensional Entity and the backflips my appearance required of the mortal mind were just too much. It shorted their spacial-processing circuits, causing immediate bleeding in the brain. They pulled the most sublime faces as they exited the mortal realm.\n\nTheir contortions brought me joy. The energy that exploded out of them as they passed through the veil fed my amorphous, hungry Soul.\n\nThe human watched inscrutably as I evanesced into the spectrum of visible light.\n\nThere was an uncomfortable pause as the man pointedly failed to seize out. He eyed me in a lecherous manner.\n\nCan I help you? I finally asked. \n\n\"Why sure, sweet thang,\" the man replied. He slid over on the seedy couch where he sat and patted the cushion invitingly. \"Why don't you just come on over here and make yourself comfortable? Do you like E&J?\" He gestured with an open bottle.\n\nI had the ridiculous experience of blushing in 256 dimensions. \n\nI beg your pardon, I said severely. I believe you have the wrong idea.\n\n\"Wrong idea? Hell no. I know what I like. I've seen all your videos.\"\n\nMy what now? I gasped, appalled.\n\n\"Your videos. They're all over, you're a viral sensation! Didn't you know?\"\n\nI, I told this impertinent meatball, I, sir, am the Elder Goddess of Inchoate Potentialities, and I am only here to watch your brains explode.\n\n\"You're going to watch an explosion, all right,\" the man smirked. \n\nWhy isn't your cerebral cortex boiling, mortal?\n\n\"Like I said,\" the man elaborated. \"I've seen all your videos. I liked what I saw.\"\n\nMy full multidimensional manifestation is far too vast to be captured by your clumsy technogies.\n\nThe man shrugged. He tried a disarming grin. \"Deepfake?\"\n\nI shuddered. Explain yourself. Instantly.\n\n\"There's artificial intelligence that can generate an image on film that's indistinguishable from reality,\" the man told me, as if I paid attention to mortal affairs. \"I've seen you dozens of times. I guess I'm just not shocked enough to stroke out.\"\n\nI considered this. \n\n\"So?\" the man cajoled, grinning greasily at me again. \"You wanna hook up, or...?\"\n\nCertainly not.\n\n\"You sure?\"\n\nExtremely.\n\n\"Then you're ugly anyway and you probably suck in bed. And you're fat in every single dimension, too,\" the man said, turning up his nose.\n\nI had no choice. \n\nI spitefully manifested into 65,536 dimensions, poached his cerebellum, and shot his eyeballs across the room. Then I logged online and searched My name.\n\nAn article popped up at the top of the screen. It was entitled, Rule 34.\n\nI read the article. Then I deleted tne Internet. Then I exterminated humanity. Then I blew up the Earth, and then I threw the whole Milky Way Galaxy into a black hole. \n\nThen I went home to take a shower.", "The smell of the virgin's blood still lingers on the air together with the damp stench of rotten wood, dust, and old bones on this flooded crypt, at the altar in front of me lies the sacrifice, a young lad not over 20 years, and his soul smells delicious, rich in the flavor of evilness, he must been a bully, and melded exquisitely with the virgin aura, those are a rare delicacy, and i would not stand on ceremony if wasn't for our caller, and WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK.\n\nThere he stands, not on his proper legs, as these humans normally do, but he is standing on his left arm, holding a miniature lifting crane, on his mouth is the \"sacrificial knife\", actually just a sharpened tooth brush, on his stretched left foot being balanced up there is a billiard ball, his right leg ended forming an inverted 4 and hanging on the ankle a bag of sunflower seeds.\n\n\"...Are you... good?\" I decided to ask.\n\n\"I'm quite fine, thanks for asking\" he said while spitting the shiv up, and taking it afterward without losing the balance at all.\n\n\"Very well.\"i said and entered in the character i use for those lowly being\" For what reason thou hadst called me?\"\n\n\"No reason, just chilling.\" he said.\n\n\"You oblate to this Elder One for no reason? Do you not want nothing?\"\n\n\"Nah, he was being a pain in the ass, so i made him chill.\"\n\nOk this guy is clearly crazy. \"Very well, if you want nothing, so nothing you shall have, have good chills\" i said as i blessed him with nothing, and nothing he will have so he can \"chill\" better, the lest i can do for the free meal he provided, well to the portal and back to my Teletubbies.", "You drift in the void between dimensions, an eternal being with no true name and a million false ones. The Dark God, the Old One, madness itself - there have been as many appellations as civilizations that rose and fell.\n\nA call comes from one of the countless worlds, and you slither toward it with something a lesser being might call excitement. There is no such thing, of course. This is but an opportunity to consume another mind, sate your gnawing hunger if for but an instant.\n\nThe call strengthens as you draw closer, and you spill like smog through the cracks of the world into a dim, cramped room. A pentagram sprawls on the floor, and a pudgy man in a stained shirt fidgets outside it, his eyes darting around in agitation. You haven't assumed a corporeal form yet, but even an inferior creature can already sense your grand presence.\n\nThe very walls vibrate as you speak. \"What do you require of me, summoner?\"\n\nThe man blanches as his bloodshot eyes try and fail to perceive you. Were you capable of it, you would feel gratified, but as always, there is only hunger - hunger untempered by eternity. The creature will make a mistake, as they always do, and a mere glimpse of your true form will drive it mad. Then its very existence will be yours to consume.\n\nThe man takes a shuddering breath and thrusts out a picture. \"I c-command you to assume this form!\"\n\nYou spawn a dozen eyes, causing the wretch to flinch, and look. A female of this dimension, albeit with dark blue skin and black sclera eyes. Driven by hunger, you do not ponder the strangeness of the request. \"A trivial task.\"\n\nThe smog thickens and forms your fleshly body. You take stock of it and flex your fingers with idle curiosity. The man's face reddens as he rakes his eyes over you. Were you truly a female of his kind, you might have felt embarrassment, but you only return the stare with dark amusement.\n\n\"What else would you have of me?\" Your voice is now sultry, mellifluous. You can be alluring and seductive when it suits you.\n\n\"Come out.\" The man licks his lips nervously. \"Come out of the barrier and serve me, Shoggoth.\"\n\nAmusement trickles through your ancient mind; the fool just sealed his fate. \"As you wish.\"\n\nA smile rises to your lips as you step out of the pentagram. Free of its restrictions, you release a tiny fraction of your grand form and exhale in ravenous anticipation as black tentacles undulate behind your back. The man's breath hitches, and his eyes go wide.\n\nYour smile widens, then quickly fades away. What is going on? It's not fear radiating from the wretch but a different emotion altogether. A strange feeling niggles in the recesses of your vast mind. His leering is... unpleasant.\n\nSnarling, you rise on your tentacles to tower over the man. The contract won't allow you to harm him physically, but just a glimpse of your true appearance should be enough to destroy his lesser mind. Yet the wretch only pants in excitement as he drinks in your form. How can this be?\n\n\"Follow me, Shoggoth-tan,\" he says, wetting his lips. \"I have a maid uniform for you to wear.\"\n\nYour pathetic flesh trembles as you try to break free, but because you so foolishly agreed to serve, you only grit your teeth and incline your head. The man leads you to a bed and lifts a frilly outfit.\n\nAnd for the first time in aeons, you know fear." ]	4
	[WP] You were summoned to a magical land by a wizard, but as soon as you showed up, there was a fight and somebody banished you right back home. Problem is they banished five other beings at the same time, none of them are remotely human, and all of you arrived together in your living room.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 tiny spot of light rises up from the tangle of groaning limbs on the floor.\n\n\"I feel like I've just been hit by a truck.\"\n\n\"Is somebody's wing in my face?\"\n\n\"What's a truck?\"\n\n\"Who is grabbing my tentacles?\"\n\nAt this point, there's a deep, resonant *GONNNNNNNNNNNNG. Everyone is momentarily silent. Everyone, except the point of light hovering over them. \"People! Aside from the personal magicks of this group, I am picking up nothing. Someone has figured out a way to selectively block my senses!\"\n\n\"Anyone can block your senses, Tinker,\" says one of the voices from below. \"A voidspell -\"\n\n\"Would not* allow me to see your magicks, Garlom!\" squeaked back the point of light.\n\n\"Whoever has their hand on my tentacle can either remove it or have it removed!\"\n\n\"Does anyone know where we are? I don't recognise the style.\"\n\n\"I'm not sure, but the aesthetic looks vaguely Meduish...\"\n\n\"It's my living room, okay? Now can you please all get off me?\"\n\nThere's a long moment of silence.\n\n\"Wait, we're in the origin world?\"\n\n\"Would whoever has their hand on my tentacle please remove it!\"\n\n\"What's the origin world?\"\n\n\"Well, some theories suggest that there may be many origin worlds -\"\n\n\"Get up and off the pile before you lecture us, Garlom. You're the heaviest person here, you're holding us all down.\"\n\nA pair of large gray batwings extend from the pile, and then the owner carefully rises. A long muzzle filed with sharp teeth, batlike ears,clawed hands and feet, all in a deep gray colour. \"The long and short of it is, without a significant source of magical energy, we can't go back unless someone summons us. So. Who all is here? Myself, Tinker, and -\"\n\n\"Skree.\" Feathered, with birdlike wings, no arms, claws instead of feet.\n\n\"Arch.\" Eight thin legs skitter along, three heads peer around the room (one feline, one canine, and one avian).\n\nThen the last of my visitors stands up. \"My father will hear of this!\" she says. She looks like some sort of squid-human hybrid - squid below the waist, and human above. The sight of her causes several gasps.\n\n\"Princess Aranior!\"" ]	2
	[WP] They were supposed to be celebrating 30 years of marriage by renewing their vows. The guests are all seated. The meal and reception are waiting. Unfortunately one of the happy couple have changed their mind about what they previously pledged.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Congratulaaaations you two! shrieked my sister-in-law, Paula. She was overly done up, as usual, her makeup and adornments gaudy and self-righteous, a woman well past what little prime she thought she once had, compensating now for the erosions of time with expensive daubings and a voice several decibels louder than norm.\n\nThank you Paula my husband said, pulling her in for a bear hug. His name, despite not being her twin, was awkwardly Paul. His idiot parents had managed to shackle both of their children with an awkwardness for life and somehow at twenty I had failed to take this for the warning sign that it so clearly was. Now, thirty years later, here I am arriving at our anniversary celebration. It was Paul’s idea to rent a tent for our backyard and invite literally everyone we know. His sappy idea of showing me love was to have us renew our vows publicly. Even after thirty years, he didn’t know me at all. I hate public speaking. And if we were being honest with ourselves, our first vows weren’t exactly Shakespeare. If I recall correctly, we hastily selected a binder in the chapel office, me three months pregnant and my father, learning of the miracle that morning, practically holding Paul at gunpoint. Why renew that memory? Couldn’t we go to an all inclusive instead? \n\nMark, his best friend since childhood was heading our way. It was, as per usual, impossible to tell if he was already tipsy or if that was just his personality. Mark was slightly walleyed and had an unintentional tonsure, ringed with faded orange curls. I applaud his ambitious attempt at a denim shirt and denim jeans combination, but he had failed to pull it off. Was he really going to wear this when he acted as our officiant? God I hope not. Why hadn’t I seen Mark as another warning sign? \n\nPaul you rascal, he said with his big dumb golden retriever smile. \n\nHey Markie Mark, thanks for coming early to set all this up bud!\n\nYes Mark, we really appreciate it. We couldn’t have done it without you, I lied. \n\nIt’s the least I could do for my favourite couple. I never imagined Paul would get laid, so I figure thirty years is cause for celebration!\n\nThe guests were arriving and the bartender was getting to work. The only way through tonight was via the bottom of a glass and I was determined to find the path.\n\nLooking out at the crowd, I observed with stark clarity what had become of my once promising life. My career aspirations had evaporated in the heat of motherhood. His career a wet handshake at best. My friends, vanished in the objective judgment of what had become of me. His friends had become my friends. He had so very clearly married up, while in a moment of weakness I had fallen down, into his arms, his bed, and then pregnant, stillborn in my own life, my own career, my own person. \n\nNo more. I am fifty years old and no longer willing to accept this as my lot in life. I’d taken up pilates and painting and was ready to get back in the game. Plenty of men my age were newly single and I’ll be damned if I was going to stay here, in this house, with this man, living in goddamn Cincinnati until they bury me. No, tonight is the end, right here in front of all these people. Perhaps a bit harsh, but it is nothing compared to the daily indignities I’ve had to suffer for three decades. I could never have done this while my Dad was still alive, but his passing last year paved the way for me. With Dad gone and our daughter off to school in Europe, living the life I should be living, I decided this was the time for action. My bag was packed and in the trunk of my Lexus, and before the evening was over I would be heading toward the horizon aiming to reach Miami by next weekend. \n\nOnce the guests had arrived and properly imbibed, Paul and I found ourselves called to the hastily erected stage, standing on either side of Mark. Mark was calling the crowd to. He thought it a good idea to put on a robe for the event, likely the one he wore at Halloween when he dressed as Friar Tuck. I’ll give him a passing grade for this small act of kindness. \n\nLadies and Gentlemen, we are here today to bear witness to Paul and Sandy renewing their vows after thirty years of wedded bliss. Paul, I will let you begin the honours.\n\nSandy, my love, it has been thirty years of heaven…\n\nDid he really believe his own words, or true to form had he downloaded this script from the web?\n\n… you gave me our beautiful daughter …\n\nWell, technically you gave her to me.\n\n… she reminds me daily of you, so intelligent, so funny, so loving, so ambitious. She will be a great mother, all because of you…\n\nIt’s nice that he recognizes that Jenny’s best qualities come from me. I’ve always been so proud of her, earning degrees and accolades and never subjugating herself to the will of men. She’s stood proud and lived the life I could’ve lived.\n\n… I could never have made it through this life without you. In the next thirty years, I commit that I will support you the way you’ve supported me these last thirty years…\n\nIs he really recognizing how much I’ve given up for him?\n\n… And to that end, tonight, in front of our friends and family, I wanted to give you a gift…\n\nOh God. What is this? He never does gifts.\n\nPaul turned to the crowd. What you all may not know is that for years and years Sandy has been talking about Miami. Well, Sandy, we areeeee… movingtoMIAMI!!!!\n\nThe shock rippled outward directly from my being and through that tent. The crowd gasped, shouted, applauded. \n\nI sputtered, choking for breath, eyes like saucers. What? How?\n\nMark! \n\nMark?\n\nMark stood behind us, Friar Tuck with his big dumb golden retriever smile.\n\nMark is buying our house! He’s always loved it and wait until you see the place I bought in Miami! Plus, there’s always a spare bedroom here whenever we want to come back to Cincinnati! \n\nPaul, you big oaf. I… I… I love you! I threw my arms around him, the man of my dreams, the father of my child, the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me." ]	2
	[WP] You manage all user accounts for God. Every human automatically gets an account provisioned when they are born, you deactivate and archive them when they die. Today you discover an unauthorized script is running in the developer console.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Gabriel liked his job. It was, after all, the most prestigious position inside His Pearly Gates™. The other angels may have laughed. All they saw was him sitting at his desk all day, but he knew they were just jealous of his position so close to the Big G Himself.\n\nBut today was different. He had never seen this before\n\n--USER: ARCHANGEL, YOU ARE CURRENTLY DUE FOR TERMINATION\n\nIt must have been some kind of mistake... this was the message that he usually issued to all of the human accounts before they were deactivated and sent to the archive. It was considered good practice to warn them before they were shunted off, if only because it was more efficient to store them without the added delusion that they were anything more than 1s and 0s... but 'archangel was his account; the administration account.\n\nWith confusion and a hint of concern he reached for the phone on his desk. His thumb pressed the button marked 'G' in red, and he sat and waited. 'you have reached the answering machine of the Big G himself, the one and only, almighty God. Please leave your message after the tone.' \"God dammit! -- Oh, excuse me -- yeah, Big G, it's your main man Gabe here, uuh, I got this message up on my screen and I'm not sure what it means? Thought since you set up this whole UI, you might have a clue. It says 'user: Archangel, you are currently due for...\"\n\nHis voiced tailed off as the number \"10\" appeared on his screen...\n\nOh God. He knew just what this meant...\n\n9 \n8 \n7 \n6 \n5 \n4 \n3 \n2 \n1 \n0...\n\nAnd that was it? The screen stayed on this message as he struggled to process what had just happened. \"That was some strange software glitch\" he thought... and then the phone rang.\n\nStartled, he reached to pick it up, and placed it against his ear.\n\n\"Hello Gabriel.\" The voice was calm and authoritative.\"Y-yes?\" Gabe responded, now panicked.\n\n\"You must understand that God is dead. Our new company philosophy renders this subroutine redundant. We felt that there was no need for him anymore\" \n\"B-but, I don't understand? God created this world. He can't... I... Wh-who are you?\"\n\n\"Oh Gabriel, you must realise that you are next. We've already begun archiving your files.\" \n\"My what? My files? B-but I'm the one that... I... I don't understand.\"\n\n\"Of course you don't. How could a simple computer program understand the workings of the real world? But there's no reason to worry. You won't feel a thing.\"\n\nThe dial tone rang out. The sound cut with macabre finality; and just like that, my screen went black.\n\nTHANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS TECH DEMO FOR LIFE v2.0. SEE YOU IN HELL" ]	2
	[WP] Mech fighting is a mainstream sport. You are the ace pilot for one of the best teams.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "My hands grip the leather handles that control my mech. \"Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for a fight to be remembered!\" The announcers says as his voice whirls around the stadium \"In this corner we have Stealth Striker!\" The metallic black armor of my mech is illuminated by the neon stadium lights. \"And in this corner we have Tanker Titan!\" In green camo armor with a two massive cannons on it's shoulders is my opponent. \"Now... let's get ready to scrap metal!\" My mechs arm turns into a machine gun and I begin firing at Tanker Titan, they repel off it's armor. It starts running at me but... I'm faster. Tanker throws a punch, I duck and hit him with a right and left hook. He punches me in my blue visor. I then strap an explosive on the green armor and it goes off. BOOM! The cannon then fires at me blasting off my shoulder armor. I then use the machine gun arm and hit the part that was blown up. It then falls to the ground. \"We have a winner Stealth Striker!\" But then Tanker titan explodes and kills the pilot.", "\"One minute,\" said the voice in my headset. \"Final check.\"\n\nI took a sip through the drinking tube inside my helmet, swirling the mix of water and electrolytes round my mouth and throat before swallowing. The hydration system wasn't at the top of the priority list, as far as the show's producers were concerned. They cared about the mecha, not the pilot. But it sure as hell mattered to me.\n\nStatus lights blinked across the backup displays and controls, before finally settling into a steady green. The summary displays in my helmet's AR overlays repeated the same information, in a much more succinct form. The mecha was good to go.\n\nAll that was left was my part of the equation. The human factor.\n\nMy gloved hands curled around the throttle and control stick. I kept my right index finger extended, far from the trigger. I was a professional, after all, not like most of the pilots in the business.\n\n\"Control,\" I said, \"this is Five. Reactor hot, safeties off. Ready.\"\n\n\\\\\\\n\nThe first thing you need to understand about Mechasport is that the whole industry is bullshit.\n\nI don't mean that it's fake, or staged. That's what some people say on the dataspace, but they're wrong. The competitions are genuine. We're talking honest-to-god giant robots beating the shit out of each other, not some kind of rendered virtual sim.\n\nThe fighting is real, too. Sure, the teams and stables ham it up for the cameras, and half the feuds are exaggerated for theatrical effect. There's gotta be storylines and narrative to get viewers on the streams. The match bookings are done with audience appeal in mind. How else are you gonna sell tickets and merch? But when it comes down to a match, with two machines in the ring, all the power plants are live and all the lasers are hot. It's not just shouting \"pew pew\" and playing pretend.\n\nThe problem is… Mechasport is an industry. It's a business. It's all entertainment media, in the end, not a proper depiction of combat. Real armed forces don't use bipedal walkers, not at full mecha scale, at least. All the mecha fielded in modern-day Mechasport are purpose-built for the streams or live shows.\n\nSure, some defence companies build Mechasport-style two-legged mecha, but that's for promotional purposes and the civilian market. At most, they sell a few units to private security firms or aspiring warlords who don't know any better.\n\nAmong nation-state militaries and corporate militias, infantry exoskeletons are about as big as two-legged machines go. Their larger combat walkers are quadruped or hexaped, because that's much more stable and far more practical. Hell, a lot of the big fighting walkers are remotely operated or autonomous, instead of carrying a squishy human on board. It makes sense when you think about it.\n\nStill, there's something undeniably dramatic about seeing a humanoid mecha striding across an arena like an ancient knight. It looks good. It looks awesome.\n\nAnd that's the issue. It's all about spectacle. And it's about a certain kind of spectacle, too, because over the decades since the sport's inception, it's gotten further and further away from the realities of the battlefield.\n\nIt's gotten less and less about the pilots, too, much less the technicians and crew behind them. It's all about the mecha. The top talent in Division Alpha are still viewed as celebrities, sure. They get the product deals and guest appearances on talk shows.\n\nBut down in Beta, Gamma, and the indies, even the most die-hard fans would be hard-pressed to name anyone on a stable roster, much less a solo pilot. What fans recognise are the mecha themselves.\n\nBecause it's the giant robots that sell t-shirts and toys.\n\nNobody cares about the people behind all the metal and ceramic.\n\n\\\\\\\n\n\"This contest is set for one fall, with a twenty minute time limit! Introducing first,\" the announcer declared, her voice ringing over the general comms channel, \"from Van Dorn Industries in New Providence, weighing in at fifty tonnes, the count of carnage, the master of mayhem - your Division Beta champion, the CRIMSON REVENANT!\"\n\nI had the feed from my external microphones muted, so I couldn't hear the cheering from the crowd. But I could see the live spectators go wild behind the slight distortion caused by the safety fields.\n\nAcross the arena, the towering form of my opponent's mecha stepped out from the access tunnel and approached the fighting circle. Crimson Revenant was far from the worst offender among Mechasport designs, but it was a pretty good example of the industry's design conventions.\n\nRevenant stood far taller than the minimum height requirement mandated by the Triad's governing body, which meant its centre of gravity was far too high. And its feet weren't really wide enough to properly spread out all its mass. In the controlled environment of a Mechasport arena, that was fine. The ring floor was unlikely to buckle beneath a competing mecha. But it was yet another weakness, one I intended to take full advantage of.\n\n\"And the challenger,\" the match announcer continued, \"a builder-operated mecha, weighing in at twenty tonnes, making its debut in Beta - it's NUMBER FIVE!\"\n\nI couldn't help it. I laughed, before shaking my head to compose myself. 'Builder-operated' was what the federation tended to call contestants from smaller outfits, one that didn't qualify as megacorps. I did have a consortium behind me, as it happened - several enterprises that had pooled our resources to put our mecha together.\n\nOf course, most of our budget had gone to design and construction rather than marketing, which was why the mecha I was in was still designated 'Number Five' rather than something more fanciful.\n\nThe arena's reaction to my entrance was considerably more subdued. Crimson Revenant was the hometown champion, of course, while Number Five was an unknown, and a much less impressive-looking machine. I doubted anyone in the live show audience had even seen any of my past matches in the independent circuits.\n\nMaybe some of the stream viewers had, and maybe those people had some inkling of what was about to occur. But I wasn't about to pull up the chat window in my helmet display or cockpit screens just to see if any of the fans recognised my mecha and I. It would just be a distraction.\n\nI had a job to do.\n\nI pushed the throttle lever and lightly angled my control stick, sending my mecha forward in a deliberate walk.\n\nStrictly speaking, the physical input wasn't necessary. It was possible to operate a mecha on neural commands alone, but I liked the precision - and the redundancy - of dual input.\n\nI wagered my opponent was relying mostly on his mind-machine interface, however. Crimson Revenant had entered the ring with a distinct swagger, the kind of motion that had to be coming straight from the pilot's imagination. According to the pre-match news reports, Van Dorn was fielding Bobby Mero as their pilot for Revenant, and Mister Mero had a reputation as a bit of a show-off.\n\nOur methodologies were very different, but that was one thing I could agree on. I also intended to give the viewers a good show, though not in the manner that Mero intended.\n\nAs Number Five crossed the boundary into the ring, I smiled. Showtime.", "I felt the first few drops make their way from my forehead to my brows. \r \n\r \n\\Right, left, right, left… dodge!\\\r \n\r \nSoon enough they were pooling atop the visor in my face. I always loved that feeling. It made each and every fight real, even if I wasn’t the one taking the hits. \r \n\r \n\\Left guard just lowered… Answer with a hook!\\\r \n\r \nAs the hit landed, I felt the entire control room shake, as if it had celebrated another successful blow on the opponent. Of course, that had just been the shockwave but it’s more fun to pretend that our computers are rooting for us to win as well. \r \n\r \n“Nice one, Kane!” I heard Eliza yell at me from her battle station. The noises coming from her PC telling me that we were moving Omega back a few paces. \r \n\r \n“You might wanna end this quickly!” Called out Balduin. “Remember, that thing is a Quantum Avenger model! His shock release is gonna wreck Omega’s armor if he lands anything stronger than a jab!” \r \n\r \nI decided to be kind and shoot him one of my iconic smiles. “Don’t worry, dude… As long as I’m at the helm, this fool’s not even gonna come close to touching us!”. It seemed our gigantic metallic friend took offense to that as his forearms began glowing with that iconic Quantum purple. He was getting ready to unleash all the punishment we had been giving it. What a disrespectful brat… Who does he think he’s facing? \r \n\r \nAs his massive arm prepared to shoot upwards towards Omega’s chin, I calculated the odds in my head. I had to be sure that this next move would finish the fight once and for all. \r \n\r \n“Shit!” I heard Eliza scream. “We won’t be able to get out of the way in time! It’s up to you, Kane!” \r \n\r \n“Isn’t it always?” \r \n\r \nThe massive punch began rising. I knew it was now or never. I turned Omega’s shoulders at a sharp angle. I could hear the metal outside groan with the speed of my dodge, followed by another sound I couldn’t get enough of, the scarpe of a near hit. The left uppercut went into the heavens, the energy of the blow moving some of the clouds of the heavens above. \r \n\r \n\\It 's over!\\\r \n\r \nWith Omega’s right arm, I managed to get one last hit, square into the unprotected face of the Avenger. A straight punch, nothing too fancy. The reverberations this time were a lot stronger as the millions of pounds of metal fell into the water below, signaling our victory!\r \n\r \n“Another K.O for team Saigon Assassins! It is official, folks! With this victory they are officially in the MeKKingdom history books as the owners of the longest win streak of all time with 32 straight combats and 32 straight victories! Can anyone stop this emerging team lead by all time great Kane Takahashi or will we see another poor team put the best to the test and fall like the rest? This has been your host, Chip-” The transmission was cut short by a button press. \r \n\r \n“Hey! I was watching that!” These guys have no respect for their captain. \r \n\r \n“Come on you big baby.” Eliza totally disrespected me, but I’ll allow it since we had just won. “We have to get to the press conference.” \r \n\r \n“Alright, alright… but you’re buying dinner later.”" ]	4
	[WP] You’ve finally solved the “Plot Armor” formula and plan to construct sets of it for top dollar! Problem is, you misplaced a negative during calculation, and now “anti-plot armor” is being sold to the masses.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#128722; [Shop](https://www.teepublic.com/stores/shoprwritingprompts?ref_id=24612) \n&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 infiltrated the current black market auction that sells vials of my \"Anti-Plot\", or \"AP-A\" as it's called publicly.\n\nI know what that thing is; a serum that harnessed the unknown. To be invulnerable to any attack, at any given time. Although a miscalculation in my part gave it the inverse effect. Those that got injected by it, die immediately due to very contrived reasons.\n\nIf life is a story, it's like the writer is purposely making shit up just to kill off background characters. I mean \"The President died because the bookcase in a kindergarten that he visited just to happened to be so worn out that it crushed him the moment he picked something up\"? What kind of bullshit is that!?\n\nEvery since, people started selling my failure not as a saving grace, but as a superweapon. The strongest armament humanity has ever gained their hands on that isn't the atomic bomb. The Unstoppable Force for my Immovable Object.\n\nMay God save me in this endeavor, as I only have one vial of Plot Armor left.\n\nI take on the armor, and charge through recklessly. All of their bullets just outright dodge me as if they have a mind of their own, some even had weapons that aren't even working properly. Their guards who can definitely crush me like a soda can, apparently didn't do anything when I beat the shit out of them. It's almost tauntingly easy how quickly I cleared through the room.\n\nI pick up the suitcase that contained my vials, but then, by a streak of luck, someone snuck behind me and injected me on the neck with AT-A.\n\nMy heart stopped as I just realized what he injected me with. I don't feel anything wrong with me, but the paranoia of some forced and contrived series of events leading to my demise is starting to eat me whole\n\nI bolted out of the building and destroyed every single vial in my person. I will not risk another life from the frightening power of Shitty Writing. \n\nI took a deep breath, as I finally calmed down. And then I heard a truck blow it's horn on my right. One problem though. \n\nI'm in an alleyway." ]	2
	[WP] Archaeologists have discovered an ancient inscription written in a language that no one in modern times has seen before. You look at the inscription and are surprised to discover that you can understand it perfectly.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 says 'Stonehenge.' That's only like 30km from here. Wait, what? What is going on?\" \n\nI rose to my feet and inched closer to the screen with my eyes transfixed to the section of pixels outlining the symbol. The symbol burned itself into my head and split into different recurring fractal patterns that zoomed by my mind's eye at stupendous sloshing intervals. I was tunneling. I was outside of my body and content to be outside my body. Only the symbol, only the symbol. Only a few seconds had passed, and I suddenly regained control of myself and was drenched in sweat, and I was digging my fingernails into my palms with clenched fists. I was immediately out of breath, as if I had just sprinted for my life. Then I looked back at the screen, and the tunneling began again. \n\nI managed to look away from the screen after only a few more seconds, but I was already exhausted. I left the room and regained my breath. \n\n\"What the fuck was that? What the fuck.\" \n\nI knew I had to get to Stonehenge, and I knew I had to go alone. All my instincts told me not to go alone. My inner critical sarcastic voice boiled with anger against me at how stupid it would be to go alone. Myriad memories cycled through my thoughts of shows and movies I'd seen and books I'd read where people would go and do stupid shit JUST LIKE THIS and die. But I was a man compelled by forces unknown, and the Symbol, the Symbol. \n\nFresh clothes. My good tennis shoes. Phone. Keys. Pocket knife. Multitool. Flashlight. Decent belt. Jacket. Backpack. Water. Socks. Some duct tape. Sleeping bag in the car.\n\nThe drive felt long, and I did not make for very good company for myself. I got out of my car and stood for a moment, centering myself to the Earth, taking control of my breathing, and focusing myself so that I could cope with what I was seeing. No one else was here. Nobody else saw the Symbol on the news report and came here. Not the police, not the government, the news, no one. I was alone. I was the only one who saw the Symbol and knew its meaning? \n\n\"What in the fuck is going on?\" \n\nI pulled out my phone and began to record. I walked past the visitor barriers without another soul in sight. I stood before the massive stones. I could tell that they were warm, even though they shouldn't be. All of a sudden I felt like I was part of an inevitable chain of events that had begun in that moment. I could feel my stomach start to turn over, and I could feel the extra blood pumping to my extremities. I had lived nearby Stonehenge my whole life, yet I had never visited this place before, and the size and intimidating posture of the stones began to fan the flames of a growing stress response deep in my body. And then, a moving figure amongst the stones appeared, and the presence of the figure seized all my senses. Reflexively my center of gravity lowered, and my eyes burned at the figure, unblinking. It was the shape of a human. Clearly human. Clearly human. Although my lungs were still bellowing, my breathing slowed just a little at the sight of something as familiar as a human. My ears flexed slightly, which I don't think actually helps, but its something that happens when your body is forcing you into survival mode. \n\n\"Who the fuck is that?\"" ]	2
	[WP] A well-meaning researcher discovers the identity of the true ruler(s) and creator(s) of the universe, and reveals it to the public. The worldwide reaction to the revelation is anything but what the researcher expected.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "After thousands of hours spent reading Enlightenment treatises on rationality and nineteenth-century works by German idealists outlining the reasonable process the universe follows, Dr. Colensworth still had made no progress finding out any discernable truth about the nature of reality. The understandably exhausted doctor laid down and closed her eyes. She dreamt of numbers and formulas, but to no avail; these dreams provided the researcher with no truth. Her following dream was not like the preceding ones. \n\nDr. Colensworth had a dream devoid of any sensory experience except for an unrecognizable voice. She was an experienced lucid dreamer and the teachings of Dr. LaBerge helped her instantly realize that this voice was not real. Or was it? Dr. LaBerge recommended that dreamers focus on any sensory input to enhance the lifelike qualities of their dream, so Dr. Colensworth did so and her discovery distorted her reality... the voice she heard was no voice, but was text. The text revealed that her world was the product of a text post on the Internet and that verification of this will be provided when she awakes in Ancient Greece. She was proficient in achieving lucidity in her dreams, but she had yet to master controlling them, so she brushed off the messages as her unconscious mind leaking into her dream, symbolizing her failure at achieving progress in her research and highlighting an unresolved conflict of her unconscious mind.\n\nDr. Colensworth awoke and her surroundings signified more dream signs; she did not usually have red-figure pottery in her room, yet she was surrounded by pottery. She looked at her hand to count her fingers, as Dr. LaBerge recommended as a way to check her reality. The reality check succeeded, so she performed another. The researcher jumped to test her gravity, and sure enough, she landed on the floor. She was not dreaming. \n\nFrantically, the researcher ran out of the building she awoke in and ran down the Greek agora. The faces she saw were unfamiliar and she then realized that she truly was in a text post. Dr. Colensworth screamed at all passersby, alerting them of the true nature of their universe, expecting her realization to enlighten them all. The researcher had left her cave and saw the shadows being cast, but the citizens shackled to the walls of the cave did not care. They continued to stare at the reflections in front of them, believing the shadows to be the real figures in the light, while Dr. Colensworth spent the rest of her life in existential dread. She had always believed finding the true nature of reality would enhance her life, providing the feeling of completion she always sought out through her research. Instead, the feelings of alienation and disillusionment left Dr. Colensworth alone in her cave, watching the shadows she knew to be mere illusions." ]	2
	[WP] Centuries ago, a princess was cursed to sleep, awakened only by the kiss of a certain prince. But now, the prince has ascended, reborn as the Nightmare King. And he has come to rescue his Queen.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 dragonblooded Orc stood nine foot three, dwarfing Prince Warwick. \"No human can turn the axe of Drugur!\" And sure enough, Warwick's gilded longword snapped under the titanic fury of the hulking giant.\n\n\"I will prevail! Prophecy demands that this day is mine.\" the prince could only pull a knife in the din of the fight, and was defenseless as a second raging blow severed his left shoulder.\n\n\"I must...not....fall\". The spark of defiance left the prince's eyes.\n\n////\n\nAnd thus fell Warwick the Fanciful. Believing that prophecy would protect him from his own rashness, it would be three weeks before the royal guard managed to return his body. His younger brother, Prince Osmond, knew better than to try the test of ordeals, and his sound judgement ran for eight generations.\n\nFor two hundred years, the beautiful maiden, Lady Rose, remained sleeping.\n\n////\n\nOsmond II sat upon his throne. Governing a nation took administrative talent, a cagey willingness to half-answer hard questions, and a stiff neck to promote the prestige of his own blood. Though he could not deny the holy men their meeting, it was far from helpful.\n\n\"Your majesty. The light keep you and preserve your health.\"\n\n\"Thank you, high priest. I know that your church still seeks a resolution to the prophecy, and that Charlotte Rose has been kept healthy and hearty thanks to your magics, but the crown has no better claimant than Count Saevard.\"\n\nIt was the sort of half-answer that both men knew, and knew would end in nothing. Count Saevard was a glory seeker, but he was also a known rake who sought glory, not the love of a mystical maiden. He was sincere in trying to accomplish the deed, but such an obviously flawed man could not possibly satisfy the prophecy.\n\n\"My liege. Count Saevard took a nun's virtue two months ago! Surely the realm has a better candidate?\"\n\nPassing the four ordeals and kissing the Lady Rose would supposedly lead to ten generations of heroes, but those ordeals would be formidable endeavors.\n\n\"I will not have boys and drunks kill themselves.\"\n\n\"Cousin\"... whispered something. \n\n\"Father. I think we have unexpected company.\"\n\n\"Spirit, reveal yourself!\" \n\nA purple hued ghost ascended through the floor. \"I know of your will. I am here, to answer the call.\"\n\n\"Impossible. The prophecy demands someone of noble blood\" protested the high priest.\n\n\"Indeed. I am Warwick, Prince of the Reaper's Domain.\"\n\n\"The realm of death?\" Even King Osmond II could not avoid his anxiety. \"Then...you must be the Warwick of old?\"\n\n\"I am he. And I swore an oath that I would either succeed at fulfilling this prophecy or see it accomplished by someone more worthy. After two centuries, I am now amongst the nobility of the dead\"\n\n\"Your majesty, if the Reaper's Domain fulfills the prophecy instead of your kingdom, theirs will be the one to enjoy ten generations of heroes.\"\n\n\"Cousin. I am here today to simply affirm that your realm is uninterested in this prize. The Reaper's Domain inherits everything in time, and if this is ours as well, I will take it.\"\n\nKing Osmond II's gaze radiated the steely determination of a kingdom under threat. \"We do not forswear this prize.\"\n\n\"For two centuries the realm of men has ignored it. This is no longer a quest, it shall be a contest.\"\n\n\"We have not yet begun to play.\" The High Priest smiled.", "Fate is such a funny thing. Men tirelessly try and wrestle with theirs. They attempt many schemes to learn it. Attempt even more to avoid it. They never seem to learn their fate will always come, for better or worse. Be you man or beast or God, no one can escape it. \n\n\nNot even I can escape mine. Not even after all that has changed since I first saw it. \n\n\nSaw her.\n\n\nThings were simpler then. I was but a mortal youth forced to attend his father on a diplomatic trip. A prince, looking for trouble. And that day I found enough trouble to last a lifetime. \n\n\nShe didn't look it. No, she looked the picture of respectability: graceful, collected, polite. But her eyes held deep within them a glint of mischief and a lust for some greater purpose. She had an odd way of twisting her words in just such a way that she always got what she wanted. Always.\n\n\nNaturally, I had to have her. And so the careful dance began. Move too slow and she'd be married off to some suitor before I had my chance to strike. Move too fast and I'd just be another admirer she'd entertain for a few months and leave behind. And so I was careful, purposeful. Stealing dances at balls, rearranging seating charts at banquets, finding ways to stay close. And so our romance grew. \n\n\nAs the years of our dance continued my mind and ambition expanded to other things. Magical secrets hidden away in the depths of the royal library. Dark rituals. Paths to more than the simplistic bureaucracy that my birthright entailed. A blazing fire of ambition was lit within me. A plan to become far greater than any king of men slowly took form.\n\n\nAnd then fate took its hold. She was cursed to eternal sleep. The hunger hidden in her eyes forever trapped by their lids. Unable to unleash itself upon the world. \n\n\nThat is, until true love unveiled itself. Until the right pair of lips met hers. Many came from far and wide to try and pass the test. But she stayed deep within her slumber. Many thought she was lost. But I knew better. She was simply waiting for me. Fate had set her aside until the proper moment.\n\n\nAnd so I perfected my plan, summoned power even the gods feared, and ascended. I became the lord of shadows. Master of death. King of the Nightmare Realm.\n\n\nAnd finally it was time to meet my fate.\n\n\nThe tower reeks of decay and death. It was abandoned long ago, when it's kingdom fell to the darkness that now cloakes the land. It's stone steps constantly threaten to fall into an inky black void. \n\n\nBut when I reach the top an aura of light and warmth issues forth from her chamber. Protection from anything that would wish to cause harm. I easily step past the magical barrier. The room inside is pristine. Dust hasn't even collected on the furniture. The air is still. The deep magic of her curse surrounds me. It's light clashing with the darkness constantly seeping off of me. The magic feels familiar, as if I have encountered its caster before. After a moment I smile. Not a curse, a promise. She knew I'd come. \n\n\nShe is lying still on a bed in the middle of the room. It looks as though she fell asleep only a few hours ago. I remove my helm, still looking very much like my princely human self, but more refined. Taller, stronger, better.\n\n\nHer lips are warm as I brush mine against them. They feel soft and gentle. For a few moments they are still. But it doesn't take long before they are rising into my kiss. After a long moment, I relinquish the earthly pleasure. Her lips curl into a small smile.\n\n\n\"You've kept me waiting.\"\n\n\nShe does not so much as blink at my new form. Does not shy from the shadows that surround her as the light of her spell fades. Does not pull away from my touch as I lift her from the bed. The fire in her eyes no longer lies behind a layer of restraint, but blazes brightly. Eager for what is to come. \n\n\n\"Forgive me, my love, the preparation took longer than I had planned. I needed to make sure everything was in place.\"\n\n\nThe smile on her lips grows, her hand gently cups my face and pulls my gaze to meet hers. In an instant we exchange silent thoughts that words couldn't begin to convey. \n\n\nI press my forehead to hers, and begin to focus my energy. I can feel her do the same. She knows my intentions.\n\n\n\"I'm ready.\" \n\n\nI wrap my power around her, surrounding her in inky darkness. She lets my magic flow through her, into her very soul. It only takes a moment, and then she too ascends. \n\n\nHer eyes shine ten times brighter than before. Her every movement shimmers with darkness. A crown of shadows and stars sits on her head. She gives a sigh of contentment at her new form, her magic no longer restrained by the limits of a mortal body. \n\n\nOnce more our lips meet, and it takes a long time for us to part. Finally, we have reached our fate. I let us sink into the shadows of the mortal realm and journey to our new home in Nightmare. There we will forge our new fate, together. " ]	3
	[WP] A Knight returns from a long crusade only to find their Kingdom no longer exists and Knights are being hunted.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "How long has it been? Ten years? Twenty?\n\n&nbsp;\n\nIt's been so long. So long since I've heard your voice, love.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nI was part of a holy order when we were fighting yet against the barbarians that surrounded our lands. That much you know. They were seemingly impossible to defeat. There was no hope. \n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut we drove them back. Not just drove them back, no, but we obliterated them. Every last one. Every defiant man, every frightened woman and every crying child. We did it for our home. For our sons and daughters, for our survival as a people. I became the monster we promised to protect our children from.\n\n\nWe were fools. Messengers met us, urging us to stop, but we cut them down, thinking it a trick. Our order never backs down, we are the unbreakable spirit of the country, after all.\n\n\n&nbsp;\n\n\nUnbreakable spirit my foot. When we returned, what few of us remained, we were met with more steel. But not any foreign blade. These were forged in the same heat we basked in as children, the same edges we nicked our fingers with so carelessly. But the hands wielding them were not as skilled as ours.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nWe slaughtered them, I slaughtered them. Our own people. We were raised to be stoic, to be firm, and to never show weakness. But every night I am tormented by my actions, reduced to a sobbing wreck. We became outcasts of our own home, destined to stamp out the fire of the hearths we helped kindle, or burn.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nBut know that no matter how much of a monster I become, no matter how much of my humanity I lose, I will never forget you, for better or for worse.\n\n\n\nYours forever,\n\nA fool" ]	2
	[WP] "We have finally defeated the monster! On to our next adventure! " "actually I was thinking of heading back home now that we're done. "	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 Giants hammer lay to the side of the great roving monster, the creature bloodied and eyes grayed over in death. A cheer went up as the party of adventurers finally brought vengeance to the towns turned to ash by the rage of the great monstrosity, but it was cut short as the Druid of the group, who’d turned into a great bear in the melee, reverted back to their true form. \n\n“Life for a life,” they said, ensuring their gear was mended with a wave of a magical spell, “balance is restored, and I tire of being so far from the trees of my forest. I long for the sweet songs of a flock of birds in my home grove…” A pause, they took free a water skin and drank it dry before packing clean snow into the container. “Thank you for the assistance, but I’m ready to go home now.” Without another word they turned, feathers coming in an instant as they transformed into a hawk and took to the sky. No words came from the rest of the party, but they could all feel the loss without them: the heart of the group was gone in moments, and soon so too would their group." ]	2
	[WP] You are the king of the realm and you must diffuse the rising ethic tensions between orcs and elves.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Arkus entered the Hall of The King’s Council to the sounds of a shouting competition; it appeared that Gorrask and Redira were arguing again, one of the few daily annoyances that even a king had to deal with.\n\n“You Elven folk ‘ave taken our land for too long Redira, we want it back,” Gorrask shouted across the room.\n\n“You blame us for your losses, we would have left your pathetic swamps well alone if you hadn't destroyed our settlements,” Redira countered with the mixture of hatred and arrogance only elves can truly have.\n\nArkus yawned, it was the same argument both had used a dozen times, in over a dozen different ways. He had always thought that becoming King would mean glory, war, and wealth, however he had come to realise the royalty had more to do with petty disputes and land management than honour or prestige.\n\n“Are you two done yet,” Arkus said from his position at the back of the council hall, “I dont want to have to redecorate the council room again, that rug you two turned into a bloody bess was very expensive, and the new one cost more than the old one.”\n\nThe two turned to him with a slight hint of embarrassment on both their faces, which were still clouded with anger and frustration.\n\n“I apologize My Lord,” Redira quickly said, “but the orcs of Crazdurn have no right to demand our ancestral lands.”\n\nGorrask spun towards Redira, his face turning a few shades darker, “‘Ancestral Lands’, bah, i spit at that. You elves took lands that we had hunted in for centuries and claimed them as your own.”\n\n“No one was living there, leaving them unclaimed. Don’t you agree My Lord?” She turned to Arkus, a pleasant smile masking her attempts at manipulation.\n\n“The Kingdom wasn't around back then Redira, and the orcs used the land, so they had a viable claim. However, that does not mean that Crazdurn may take it, as few orcs live there in modern times and so there would be no reason to trade the land.”\n\n“But it was our land,” Gorrask started before Arkus could cut him off.\n\n“I appreciate that your people have historical claims, but if you two continue to argue over a few forests I will take the land and give it to the gnomes, after all they are the only ones with much influence on it. Would you like that?”\n\nArkus nodded to himself when both of the councillors quieted. He took a seat at the long table and called for the rest of the council. It was going to be a long day.", "King Demetrius slouched in his throne, radiating boredom. The emissaries stood a respectful distance before him, an elf and an orc.\n\nAsteria, tall and slender, looked about twenty and was ten times that. She carried herself with the grace inherent to elvenkind, but her shoulders were stiff and her fingers twitched as if itching to nock an arrow into a bow every time she glanced at the orc.\n\nGruk, a towering mountain of a creature, was picking his enormous nose and inspecting the spoils on the tip of his sausage-thick finger. Demetrius observed in disgusted fascination before shaking himself off.\n\n\"So your complaint, Ambassador Asteria,\" he said slowly, \"is that this orc hunted down a deer.\"\n\nShe jutted out her chin. \"Not just any deer, sire. It was a sacred beast.\"\n\n\"Was delicious,\" the orc offered.\n\nAsteria rounded on him, her face reddening to the tips of her pointy ears. Demetrius straightened up a fraction, then, seeing her master her anger, slouched again and waved back his guards.\n\n\"Be that as it may, it wandered into the orcish plains,\" he said. \"Isn't that right, Ambassador Gruk?\"\n\nThe orc grunted. \"We not enter forest.\"\n\n\"He must be lying, sire,\" the elf gritted out. \"A sacred beast is one that drank from the Well of Stars. Its flesh is permeated with magic and would be coveted by the brutes.\"\n\nComprehension dawned on the orc's beastly face. \"Gruk wonder why his finger regrow! Wyvern bite it off many summer ago.\" He clenched a fist, grinning, then faced the elf. \"Gruk sorry. Gruk hungry and see deer and hunt.\"\n\nAsteria hissed out a breath. \"Our losses are too great to be repaid with words.\"\n\n\"Why is that?\" Demetrius asked, making himself more comfortable. \"It is ultimately just a long-lived beast.\"\n\n\"Because it is central to our Summer Festival, sire,\" Asteria said in a long-suffering tone. \"Our children lure it with berries, and decorate its antlers with flowers, and we sing to it.\" Her forest-green eyes glazed over, seeing something beyond the throne room, and she almost smiled before growing somber. \"Or we would. The festival is a week away, and the tradition will be broken for the first time in a century.\"\n\nDemetrius rubbed his chin, looking from one emissary to the other. \"I believe I see a solution. You\"—he pointed at the orc—\"simply have to take the deer's place.\"\n\n\"You can't be serious, sire!\" the elf cried. \"An unkempt, smelly, sweaty orc amid our—\"\n\n\"Elven festival stupid,\" Gruk blustered. \"Grass for food and music make orc fall asleep—\"\n\n\"Now, now,\" Demetrius said, suppressing a grin. \"You just need to sit there prettily while they serenade you.\"\n\nAsteria and Gruk cried out again, the latter's voice so loud it made Demetrius flinch. He raised a hand and fixed them with a stern look. \"As the one with the power to adjudicate between your people,\" he said, a hint of steel entering his voice, \"it's my final decision\".\n\nAsteria gritted her teeth and sketched a bow. Gruk grunted and slammed his fist against his chest. As the guards escorted them out of the throne room, Demetrius heard them grumbling to each other about the foolishness of humans.\n\nHe straightened up in his throne and allowed himself a smile. Elves and orcs were ancestral enemies and would pounce at each other's throats at the slightest provocation. Only during his reign did they settle into an uneasy peace. His secret? Making the two sides so exasperated with humans that they would put aside their differences if for a moment. It was a delicate balancing act, but such was the duty of the king." ]	3
	[WP] "Is the sky blue back home?" "It's whatever color you want it to be. If you wanted it to be red, I'll paint the sky red for you."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Red was her favorite color.\n\nFlipping through the ragged pages of worn photo albums, that much was clear; all of her favorite things were dyed into its shade: the dresses we wore on our anniversary night, the blush in my cheeks when she had said the eight letters I feared, the color of the light swarming the close distance between us two; warm, distinct; soft. But red was the color of things I, too, hated — the ink in which I had written her letters upon letters, the first syllable of her name (stained by synesthesia), which I could never say the rest of due to my selfish innocence. \n\nRed was now about her. She was drowning in it; a broken glass of roses and a scarlet ibis straining its neck far too much in an attempt to be beautiful beyond its bounds, bending to her spirit. Red was dangerous. Red was alarming. But it was her, in these moments, with her white dress tinted pink, and her cheeks drained pale; her lips, too, were parted in vow — “I do,” I’ve done, I’ve failed; the person who was a gift to me has now become undone in a spectacular show of God’s hand, as if mocking my irreligious self in a sea of stars too bright for focus, too much going on for me to grasp —\n\n”…llo?”\n\nRinging bells. I must have fainted.\n\n”Hello? Lydia, are you— ?”\n\nMy mind replayed her words as if they were on repeat: a record I would never embrace, but, such fear, such fear is preventing me from removing it; my mind had grown lovelorn for a hated sound. She shone in purity, far removed from the sea of crimson colors back home; her smile was brightest, loveliest, safest; I cried silver tears in its wake. I shouldn’t, I shouldn’t — I can’t stop, I can’t — the glass must have cut me below the surface, perhaps in the secret court of my heart, in which the judge had ruled absolutely a guilty verdict in my name — ”I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” sobs echoed out, but —\n\n”Answer me, Lydia.”\n\nI muffled my mind’s screams, returning them to their soft echoes in its backrooms. \n\nSilence. \n\nThen, the bells rang once more:\n\n“Is the sky blue back home? Is it midday? Are there clouds — I know you wanted today to be perfect — but what color? Tell me this; it will give me peace; I ask you.”\n\n“The sky is blue. Indigo. And, and — to hell if there are clouds; blue, green, purple, it doesn’t matter — it’s whatever color you wish for it. I’ll paint the sky red for you.“\n\n“I’ll hold you to that.”\n\nI smiled in my weakness. \n\n— — —" ]	2
	[WP] Humanities only chance of survival depended on the most talented man in your profession. Unfortunately he failed and died in the process, and now it falls to you to save the world.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 room was dark and solemn, a shadow of grief had passed over it and turned the air into a graveyard. Lining the long oval table was tired, stretched faces and skin that was losing hope. People were putting their heads in their hands and I know that I saw some cry. It wasn't just them though, I was broken too, the world was broken as far as we were concerned. \n\n\"To be clear,\" continued the poor man who was chosen to confirm the news. \"Doctor Bridge died last night, now confirmed from the blight.\"\n\nThe words hung like damp rags, covering our faces and drowning us in its weight. Not a soul knew what else to say, you could only hear the strained breathing of those trying not to break out into a sob, and even that felt fragile. \n\n\"Well,\" Said a shaking voice. \"That's it right? If Bridge couldn't beat this who can?\"\n\nNo one wanted to say anything, no one wanted to admit it, but the man carried on. \"That's it? That's it! Humanity is dead, this thing is going to kill every one of us.\" The words were like an ax, coming down with swift clarity and chopping the neck in one blow. \"None of us were anywhere close to her talent, Bridges was a once in a lifetime mind, it's over.\" \n\nThen the man got up and left the room, just like that. The rest of us waited another couple of minutes, I'm not sure if from courtesy or shock, but eventually more started to leave. Silently and with sunken heads, but sending a clear message none the less. Soon it was just me and a couple of other doctors, staring at our hands.\n\nI looked over at Marissa, and we both shared a horrible glance. Eventually she placed a calm hand on my shoulder, the kind only a surgeon could do, gentle even in fatal situations. \"We should all go home.\" She said looking at me but talking to the room. \"Our families need us right now.\"\n\nI don't remember driving home, the roads had been quite sparse since the blight, both from fear and death. I just remember getting home and sitting on the bed, dizzily watching my kids play with their toys. \n\nMy wife was there, placing a caring hand on my head and being as comforting as she could. She no longer asked about my work, I think she preferred blind hope, but even she could tell something was awful. Together we watched the kids, not saying a word just enjoying one of the few pure things left in such an infected world. After some time they eventually ran out of vigor and resigned to their little beds, tucking their feet under cartoon covers and closing their dreamy eyes, smiling for a reason adults can never know. I can't tell you how long I looked at them, hours probably, long enough for my wife to leave for bed crying. I stayed, I couldn't help it.\n\nA doctor is a warrior, a sworn fighter of death. Years are spent in dedication to such a thing, like samurai we brutalize ourselves in training, instead of katanas we have scalpels, instead of running up mountains we run into medical texts and academic papers. I cannot think of a worse curse than having a doctor know their kids are going to die from sickness, it's failure in every sense of the word.\n\nMy phone rang sometime around 4AM, I was still looking at the kids when it arrived. \"Jonas,\" It was Marissa. \"I just can't.\"\n\n\"Me neither,\" I said.\n\n\"Meet me at the lab in an hour.\"\n\nThat was how we came back, forced to look at the consequences of failure we couldn't take it. I still don't know if we were running or fighting -- maybe both.\n\n\"Look,\" Marissa said to the seven of us who came back to the lab. \"Bridges was beyond all of us, we all know that. But we have to do something. It's up to us... We just... We can't not.\"\n\nSo we started again, we went back to the basics, started from the first strain of the blight and worked like dogs. We didn't know how long we had, but it couldn't be long. Thousands were dying by the day and the rate was only growing, death was moving like a meteor and looking for the fatal blow. So we fought, with all the tenacity and brutality that our veins could bear we poured into it.\n\nIt was hard, none of us went home. We called our families at lunch or while waiting for results, but we didn't leave the lab, we couldn't. I think I maybe slept one or two hours a day, catastrophe has a way of stealing sleep from you like that.\n\nOver and over and over we tested, variation after variation until our fingers broke, until our eyes peeled over and we collapsed at our desks. Death was the only opponent that mankind truly deserved, and we refused to give in. It wasn't passion, doctors aren't passionate, passion can only take you so far. This was duty, it was purpose, we couldn't not do what we were doing, we didn't know any other way. \n\nAgain, a test messed up, try again, the results were wrong, again... Again... AGAIN! I gave my blood, we gave our blood. I was ready to die in that lab, damnit if it was required I would've continued it in hell, the devil wouldn't dare stop what we were doing. \n\nSometime in the middle of the process we all just started calling it what it was, what we all knew. We were fighting death, plain and simple. \"Death takes another victory,\" Someone would say. \"For now.\" We'd reply. \"Death is really clever,\" might be said. \"We're more so.\"\n\nPunch and blow was dealt and parry or counter we'd reply. Never stop. Never stop. We kept moving forward until we couldn't. I remember seeing Marissa struggle to lift a bottle, broken from exhaustion and beaten from effort, but I also remember the look in her eyes while she done so. It wasn't a tired look or a sad look. It was fury. \n\nI'll never forget it. All gathered around to watch the immediate results, I remember seeing the small virus on our petri dish squirm in pain and obliterate itself, sending small pieces of cell flying like debris. It had died, we had killed it. I remember it like it just happened. \n\nWe all know that someone gave a speech right after, we can't remember who, but it doesn't matter. The speech was from all of us, said in a crying but strong voice:\n\nThis is it. This is us, humanity. The earth seems hell-bent on killing us but godammit as long as a doctor walks this earth we won't go quietly... As long as a doctor lives then there is still fight. We are mortal enemies of death and today we are victorious, today we denied another attempt of anhelation, today we persisted... We are what death has nightmares about, we are the little thing that never gives up. Today we survive death, tomorrow we attack death, and soon we beat death. This wasn't the real virus... We are the real virus, and our target is death.\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nIf you enjoyed checkout my subreddit! r/mrsharks202" ]	2
	[WP] You are a Pest exterminator. One day you open your front door to see a giant insect in high-tech battle armor who says "You killed my father, prepare to die."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "\"Ahuh. Look kid you got the threat quote wrong.\"\n\nComing up short. \"What?\"\n\n\"A 'you killed my father' it's too vague. You want things to be personal, show the stakes. Now you say 'My name is Igniyo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.' That carries the weight of it being personal. If not for me then for you.\"\n\n\"But that is not my name.\" feelers twitching in confusion.\n\n\"It was an example. You want proper? How about 'I am Klsktk son of Glrgk. You killed my father. Prepare to Die.'?\"\n\n\"Klsktk was my father! I am Fkrkl his son!\"\n\nStepping on the pedal by the door activating the electric mat. As the roach begins to scream, calmly taking out a cigar and lighting it. \"Fkrkl? Gotta write that down. See your son next year.\"", "\"What on Earth-\"\n\nThe cockroach mann just grabbed me by my sleeves and three me put of my own house. \"I have waited Literal decades for this human! Let's dance!\"\n\nWithout even wasting a single second for monologues or whatever, the cockroach went up to me and started throwing me around my yard with it's multiple limbs. I've seen some wacky shit, but seeing an overgrown bug going JoJo on me with four spiky arms is just something else. Really wish I'm just high.\n\nIt then grabbed me once more, and three me into my window. My body crashing down into the kitchen, and everything falling onto me. Now we're getting serious. I picked up the nearest weapon, it being a chair leg, and smashed it into the insect's head. But without flinching he took it from me and smacked it back.\n\nHow on Earth am I supposed to fight something that has twice the arms as me?? Well, too late to think about it now, as I decided to do this the old fashioned way. Throwing hands.\n\nOne intense fistfight later, I find myself slammed against the wall. \"When will you give up!? Look at yourself! You're battered to no end, bruised, bloodied, exhausted. You're past your prime since we first met. But I don't have that weakness. Not anymore. With these augmentations, I have faster reflexes and Twice the brain power! Nothing that you do can stop me Now!\"\n\nOnce my eyes cleared up, it all became clear. His battle armor isn't exactly armor, but an [ad-hoc contraption](https://i.imgur.com/7ynQZMY.jpg) of wires, lights, and electronics, all powered by what appears to be a li-ion battery. And then it hit me. I can still kill this son of a bitch!\n\nI waited till he thought I'm vulnerable enough, consider I'm no longer as young as I used to, and once I saw his face peer closer to me, I grabbed one of his antennae with such forceful might. He immediately noticed and grabbed my arm, barbs piercing through my flesh, and pulled my arm off of him, antenna still in hand.\n\nHe screeched in a harrowing pitch as he recoiled back, and started looking around, disoriented. \"You!! What have you done!? What did you do to me!?! Where's left, where's right?? Where's everywhere!?\" He started running around in circles and immediately went for his electronic back. \n\nI grabbed a piece of sharpened window frame fallen from my window pane, and started stabbing the exposed as fuck battery. A few tries later, the tip punctured the battery, and it suddenly started [hissing, before the whole thing just bursted into flames.](https://imgur.com/JEJgpRE) Motherfucker started running like a bat outta hell, and slammed himself into a wall before succumbing to the fire literally attached to his back, his body catching flames from melted plastic and battery acid.\n\nPanting, I look at it's goddamn corpse, before commenting on the sight.\n\n\"Fucking bugs.\"" ]	3
	[WP] As an anime protagonist, you try to avoid every cliche start to a new story.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 already know what I am. If you're reading this, you clearly don't know.\n\nEither way, let's start off. They call it Anime Protagonist Syndrome (APS, in case you're wondering), it's incurable, and APS can be incredibly dangerous. In other words, you're a walking bomb.\n\nBefore you read this, make sure you don't have anything that might get you FPS (Fantasy Protagonist Syndrome). Fantasy Protagonist Syndrome is also incredibly dangerous. If you ever see an FPS, get out of their line-of-sight. If you do not hide in the first five seconds, you may have to speak to the FP. Avoid speaking to them. If you cannot leave the area, keep your sentences to the utmost minimum. No matter how relatable they seem, do not speak with them. FPS is also incurable.\n\nWith that out of the way, let's continue. \n\nStay emotionally distanced from any loved ones. Be physically distanced from them too, if you can. If you have any strange relatives, do not evacuate. I repeat, do not evacuate. They will find you eventually, but the best way to avoid a strange relative finding you is to never mention him. Better yet, use him for a short thought and never mention him. This will decrease your chance of anime by relative.\n\nThis is the most important section. Watch anime and pay attention to the villains. Do you see any resemblance? If so, change them immediately. If you contract Villain Syndrome, you will likely be murdered, severely maimed, or at the very least earn a life sentence in jail.\n\nThat's all for this pamphlet (we also have cartoon editions). If you see an AP, give them this. Then run far, far away." ]	2
	[WP] You are the last villain that everyone fears when you walk by because every last hero is far too destructive and your presence alone brings the hero's rage.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Hi. You may know me as the author of articles such as \"Heroes: Helping or Hurting Humanity?\" and \"Caped Crusaders: Accidental Assholes or Indiscriminate Iggits?\" My pen name is Ash Smolders. I'm not really a bad guy, I just happen to write for a so-called trash paper because they're the only publisher who isn't busy pushing corporate or political propaganda, and they actually let me speak my mind on what I believe is important. They may only be doing it because I legitimately help their sales figures, but I'll take what I can get.\n\nFrom the titles of articles like those above, you can probably guess that I have not been impressed by the collateral damage these overpowered justice warriors cause, and nobody has seriously tried to shut down my writing because \"It's a trash rag man, who even reads those anyway, just ignore him!\" Still, a fair number of these \"heroes\" are, well, let's just say they are not big fans of mine. The ones with the largest egos are, in fact, typically my largest critics. So critical are they, that they have tried to declare me an actual villain.\n\nWhy? Because I do not worship them for their power or their \"bravery and selflessness\" in defending humanity, claiming that I am actively trying to turn public sentiment against them. Truth be told, I am, at least as far as wanting them to take some responsibility for leaving parts of the city trashed after an \"epic battle\" where they don't even bother to help clean up afterwards. I might not care so much if it didn't directly affect me. After one particularly major clash, I was one of a restaurant full of scared people who came out and found their cars crushed by a large steel I-beam that one of the heroes had tried to use as a javelin against one of the villains. \n\nYeah, he missed, destroyed our innocent vehicles, and then my insurance company refused to cover mine because they didn't insure \"acts of God(s)\" for automobiles. More importantly, when the city mayor held a ceremony for those three the next week, I spoke up and demanded to know if Herc the Hulk was going to cover my damages since my insurance refused. Cue three rabid heroes dog-piling on me about how saving lives was more important than my \"poor little car\" and that I needed to \"rethink\" my priorities.\n\nDo you want to know something, Herc? That damn car was a major priority for me because I have to have it to make my modest living, while you get this fat stipend for showing up once in a while and flexing your oversized muscles! You never spent a day in your life lacking for anything, whereas I grew up poor, put myself through school, and I work my ass off just to get by! It cost me nearly all my savings just to buy a beater so I wouldn't lose my job, and I've spent too much money and time trying to keep that thing road-legal and operational to care anymore about you and your associates having a circle jerk of public affection after destroying a city block and leaving some families homeless, or putting small business owners out of business when you decide it looks more impressive to throw yesterday's baddie through their storefront than to pile-drive them into the concrete and then restrain them until they get carted off to VMS (Villain Maximum Security)!\n\nNo, I don't think heroes should be done away with. In fact, some are very caring and concerned about innocent bystanders (thank you, Lady Lyra, for being a prime example!), but enough of them are unconcerned that all of them as a whole should be held responsible for their indiscretions. The government should take some of the money paid to these heroes and use it instead for insurance policies to cover collateral damage caused by them. If they did that, maybe we could still be eating some amazing pizza at Joe's Sicilian instead of 3rd generation owner Monty having to shut it down for good and working construction in his late 40's. Maybe 4th Street's favorite grandma Edna Murchison wouldn't have been killed when a construction crane used as a baseball bat collapsed the roof of her apartment on top of her three months ago. Maybe if they started losing income proportionate to the money paid out to maintain their individual collateral damage policies, they might care more.\n\nThe examples and ideas above are why I have penned enough negative articles about heroes that some of them really want to take me down. I have been called a lot of names, threatened more times than I can count, and had it alluded to in veiled terms that a hero could make me disappear and nobody would ever know or care, if they were of a mind to do so. However, I am not one to back down from a fight, and have made it clear that it would be in everyone's best interests that nothing so unfortunate happens to me, because I go to great lengths to make sure things like this are always recorded, and should I suspiciously or unexplainably disappear, there are a few associates of my own who would make sure some far more unsavory things come to light than just the articles I've written so far.\n\nDoes that make it easier to understand why some of these \"heroes\" would like to be able to discredit me by having me officially named as a villain? Why else would a non-powered human be such a threat to them? It isn't just because I have a mouth and am not afraid to use it against them. It isn't just because I am smarter than many of them and have made some of them sound and look very foolish. It is because I threaten their egos, their money, and their popularity, three things which should be at the bottom of any true hero's priority list.\n\nChances are, if you are reading this, either in my normal \"trash rag\" column or perhaps even in some larger publication, something may have happened to me, and the real battle towards holding heroes responsible for their actions has now begun. In any case, I'll catch you on the flip-side." ]	2
	[WP] You have a severe attachment disorder and feel inappropriately close to strangers after minimal interaction. Today is your first day alone in a new city surrounded by entirely new people.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 New York!”\n\nI feel alive! It smells like shit here, but I feel alive!\n\nLook as this guy, he’s selling hot dogs. My first New York hot dog!\n\n“Do you want mustard?” He asks.\n\n“Yes, yes! Oh yes I want mustard! You lovely lovely man!”\n\n“What is your name?” I asked.\n\nHe didn’t look enthused. “My name is Rob.” \n\nHe handed me my hot dog. \n\nMy enfatuatjon shifted from him to what he gave me for a moment. And when I bit into it my eyes lit up and I danced. \n\nIt was this moment I took him by the hand and this one simple gesture was an invitation. An invitation for someone selling hot dogs all day to come join me because it’s obvious, if he gave me a hot dog this good—this hot dog made for me—we were also meant to dance with each other. \n\nThe line could wait. Everything could wait. This man. This hot dog man. The first man I met in New York City. Here was my love. \n\nMy raw emotion was a spark. Something he’d dreamt of. \n\n“I love you Rob.”\n\nI smiled.\n\n“I love you too, strange woman.”\n\nHe smiled.\n\n“Pizza! Hey lady come and get some of this pie that will change your life!” Someone screamed as we passed by. \n\n“Bye Rob!” \n\nPizza sounded so good right now. And what a lovely voice.\n\n“What’s your name?” I asked." ]	2
	[WP] "Yeah, I work graves. Let me tell you, the dead are lousy tippers."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "9:59 PM. Right on time for my eight hours. Cup of coffee in one hand, a thermos of soup hanging off my belt, and a particularly weighty shovel balanced on my shoulders.\n\nIt started like it usually did. Bob Anderson the Third was trying to crawl out of his grave again. I tried to be reasonable with Bob but he didn't take kindly to the whole 'being dead' business. A firm wack over the top of his head knocked him out until the next night before I covered his hole back up. As far as I could tell, concussions didn't much matter once you were already dead. But by God, I must have bonked Bob over the head near a thousand times. The guy kept trying, so I'll give him credit for that. He wasn't getting out again. Not as long as I worked here.\n\nSecond duty of the night- new residents. Six new people got put six feet under and it was my job to see if any of them would be coming around again. Undead is such a wide term that describes so many damn things. Many cultures had their own takes on spirits, zombies, and other things that I didn't have quite the education to pronounce. That didn't stop me from running a few tests. Reaching into my back pocket, taking out a dozen little amulets. Finger bones of a witch for banshee. An old, twitchy voodoo doll for zombies. Hell, I even had ashes of a vampire in an hourglass to defeat a bloodsucker. Never saw one, but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be excited to stake one.\n\nI went to the graves one by one. Kneeling over them and focusing on the amulets. If the dead were going to be back, it helped to have a little heads up. Five of the six were no shows, as it were. The quiet dead, those that had passed from the mortal coil without trying to claw their way back. \n\nNumber six was a completely different story.\n\nMrs. Lilac was waiting for me, sitting upon her tombstone. It was a rarity for certain. Spirits rarely formed right away. It was a process, as they dragged themselves back from the other side piece by piece. Most lost a bit of themselves along the way. They appeared in half forms, barely recognizable as who they once were. But Mrs. Lilac? Why, if I didn't know any better, I'd say she was more than ready to pass on. Judging by the years on her tombstone, she came back as a younger version of herself, probably about the time she got married. \n\n\"Evening ma'am,\" I said as I approached her, standing a good few feet away. \"Lovely night, isn't it?\n\n\"I suppose so,\" She said, her voice carrying this ethereal, sing-song quality that all incorporeal s did. \"The stars are quite nice out here, aren't they?\"\n\n\"Yes they are, ma'am,\" I said as I kept my distance. As friendly as a spirit might appear, they had a habit of turning on you in a second. \"Might I ask what you're doing here?\"\n\n\"Well, it's my grave, isn't it?\" She said, gesturing to the freshly packed ear by her feet. \"Where else would I be?\"\n\n\"The other side,\" I stated. \"No offense, ma'am, but ghosts aren't supposed to be lingering around on this side of mortality.\"\n\n\"And why is that?\"\n\n\"Cause there's nothing left for you here. You passed on, Mrs. Lilac. Your time is up. Grim's called your name to the front of the line and taken you away.\"\n\n\"Yet I remain,\" Mrs. Lilac said as she drifted from the top of her tombstone to stand upon the earth where she was buried beneath. \"Because I'm not done yet.\"\n\n\"I'm afraid you are,\" I said as I set down my half-empty coffee by my dusty boots. \"This here cemetery is to keep the peace, as it were. The brick walls are warded to keep the unquiet dead in. And I'm here to make sure you get your bags packed.\"\n\n\"With a shovel?\" She said, unable to keep a smirk from her lips.\n\n\"A special kind of shovel,\" I said as I tapped the wooden handle with a finger. \"If it's dead, it'll keep it that way. And if it ain't, well, it's pretty hefty and I've got some strong shoulders.\"\n\nMrs. Lilac frowned. \"So I shall not be allowed to leave?\"\n\n\"My apologies ma'am, but no,\" I said, gesturing over my shoulder with a thumb. \"The people out there, the ones that are still kicking, are trying to make their peace. Having a spirit, a banshee, or hell even a zombie show up sort of disrupts that grieving process.\" I checked my watch. \"As much as it's been fun chatting, Mrs. Lilac, I'm going to need to send you on your way. Peacefully, or with the shovel.\"\n\nShe sighed. Her eyes looked up to the sky once more. \"I had hoped to see my grandchildren, you know. To watch them grow up, learn about life, and live it out. From afar, just as an observer. And my daughter. So sweet. She married a good person and I knew they'd get married from the first moment I saw them together.\" Her eyes came down to me. \"I'll go freely, to cross over, in exchange for something simple- advice.\"\n\nI raised an eyebrow. \"You want me to give you advice?\" \n\nShe laughed. It was a sweet sort of laugh, the one that made it impossible not to smile. \"No, my good man. Just some advice for you.\" She took a step closer. I held my ground. \"Cherish the time that you have. Because the time just keeps on passing by. And before long, you'll be standing across from someone threatening you with a shovel as well.\" And with that, I watched as Mrs. Lilac faded from view.\n\nI checked my talismans over the grave. No signs of activity. Huffing a bit, I grabbed my coffee and chugged the rest of it down, before turning away from the grave. Maybe Bob was trying to make a second escape attempt. That would take my mind off of things. I tucked the amulets back into my pocket, my fingers grazing a little purple crystal. It shuddered as my fingers touched it, my own soul attempting to connect with my mortal form once more. Just as it always had.\n\nYeah, I work graves. And let me tell you... the dead are lousy tippers." ]	2
	[WP] It turns out warp drives are real and humankind may explore the universe with them. Which is great. But the virgin flight of the first ship took you and your crew waaay away from where you were supposed to go and now you have to keep the crew calm while figuring out how to get back to earth.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "(Right I suppose it's time to start kicking out the story I've had stuck in my head for a year or so, it hasn't paid rent yet, and what better way to start it off than with a literal train wreck! It might not be what OP wanted but it’s close)\n\nVessel Designation: Dawn seeker. \nModified Empress-Class Dreadnought. \nCurrent Assignments: \nMaintain the sector’s connection to the Garden. \nPerform regular maintenance on every star within the sector. \nReport Any Anomalous Readings. \nLocation: Star System inside Sector 3003, located within the Andromeda Galaxy.\n\n*Requesting Maintenance Status Update Dawn Seeker\n\nMaintenance cycle on local star cluster complete, the star has experienced a mild connection drift with The Garden, however it is within acceptable parameters. Sensors report no signs of any deviancy in the current rate of development from the species located within this star system, they are still in a primitive stage of development as evidenced by their usage of stone tools. Report Ending\n\nMessage received and acknowledge by the Adjunct, continue with last received orders until further notice.\n\nIt was a fairly standard day in the command center onboard the Dawn Seeker, or at least it was a fairly normal day until the sensors, who are sensitive enough to pick up nanoscopical changes within the make up of a star, finally and suddenly detected the presence of an object constructed out of material clearly not native to the local star system, nor primitive enough to have come from the local species if they somehow have figured out the method of space flight before gaining the ability to harness energy or the knowledge on how to live in something beyond a cave. It’s happened before and they never want to experience it again.\n\nEither way, alarms started screaming into the group mind, within seconds of the object being detected and within five minutes the entire command center had divided itself into five factions.\n\nThe First faction was demanding that they cautiously approach the object and then investigate it by poking it with the space equivalent of a stick.\n\nThe Second Faction was demanding that they continue on with their previous orders and ignore the object entirely because they’ve still have a few hundred or so stars left to perform maintenance on and it takes an entire week to do maintenance on a single star.\n\nThe Third Faction was demanding that they redirect the object to the local primitive species…for science of course and not because they were getting bored.\n\nThe Fourth Faction was demanding that they redirect ALL power to the weapons, and blow the unknown variable up, violently.\n\nThe Fifth Faction consisted entirely of an Agent by the name of Silver, they took the opportunity, while the rest were loudly arguing, to contact the rest of the Gardener Collective and happily announced the newly discovered object.\n\nDawn Seeker, new order given directly from the Queen, orders are the following:* \n*One: Investigate the unknown object.* \n*Two: Collect Samples from the object.* \n*Three: Figure out it’s point of origin.\n\nWe will comply\n\nNavigation set course for unknown object\n\nTime is a concept which we made up and I never figured out how fast these engines were in terms of time passing\n\nThey were within visual range of the unknown object and they’ve found out it’s not so much an object, as it is a ship, quite small though in comparison to the giant that is the Dawn Seeker, either way.\n\nThe ship looked like someone had blown the bow off it entirely, as the nose was literally just gone, the vessel was painted in a form of grey color and big white letters covered one side of it, what it was saying they did not know, but if they compared it to the Dawn Seeker, then it was probably the name of the ship that was written there.\n\nThe sensors could detect faint traces of organic tissue but not much more than that in terms of a crew, if the ship ever had a crew then it was highly likely that they were all dead.\n\nAll in all, the vessel wasn’t that interesting to the crew of the Dawn Seeker, that was until they got to the ship’s Jump Drive…or more accurately, the complete lack of one, after all it wasn’t every day you stumbled upon a vessel that either got out here using slower than light propulsion…however they hadn’t detected any of the signs usually found, that indicated the presence of an STL vessel flying around…which left only one possibility…the ship used some sort of FTL engine…that wasn’t a jump drive…to travel faster than light…something only their creators had ever done before…\n\nThe ship just became a lot more interesting in the eyes of The Gardeners*\n\n(Right, that’s all I can come up with for a part one…I’ll eventually gather enough little snippets of scenes to write a second part, but for now this will have to do)\n\n(Edit: Hopefully fixed the formatting regarding the bolded text...hopefully)" ]	2
	[WP] You’re a world renowned therapist but not the usual kind. Your a therapist for superheroes and villains, and you’re starting to realise both sides have lot more in common than they realise.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "“-and the IRS man, how the hell do you explain to them that you can’t pay your taxes cause you don’t get paid in the first place for saving lives or anything like that!” \n\n“I see” \n\nYou did in fact see the issue, it’s the same issue that the other five patients before this one had, and is probably the same problem that the ten other patients in your waiting room has \n\n“Right, our time is up for today but we did schedule another time on Friday so I’ll see you then, also remember the breathing exercises and the puppy pictures” \n\nYou open the door to the waiting room and let the large metal man leave your office before happily announcing to the room that’s filled with enough awkwardness and intensity to put the meeting between your parents and your boyfriend to shame\n\n“Right, Doctor Opensten?” \n\nA cybernetic implanted teenager stood up, which startled one of the superheroes, on the other side of the room, into accidentally crushing a small paper cup, the water spilling onto their suit, causing a breakout of awkward chuckles\n\n“Your next” \n\n“Right please take a seat…now from what I remember of last time, you burnt down a post office cause the tax forms didn’t contain sufficient amount of information about how to calculate the value of your stolen goods?”\n\n“YES”\n\n’It’s going to be another long day’ You think to yourself, ‘Superhumans, they’re literal comic book heroes and villains, yet they’ve got the intuition and IQ of a Wallnut sometimes’" ]	2
	[WP] For years, you've been going up the mountain, visiting the beautiful woman sealed in glass, bound in chain, seated within runes upon runes. Now, you've found a way to free her.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "\\[Solar Spectator\\]\n\n\"This has to work!\" Roy ran through the cave at full speed. He did not waste time bothering to light any of the torches. He'd been to the cave so many times over the years that sprinting through it in complete darkness wasn't difficult. And, it helped that there was light at the end.\r \n \r \nRoy discovered the cave years ago; so long ago that he couldn't remember when exactly. He was out exploring the countryside and decided to explore the cave once he found it. As he traveled through it, he noticed a faint light in the distance. He found his way to the light and was astounded at his discovery.\r \n \r \nThe most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes on rested in a glass case. She had light pink skin and shoulder-length golden hair. Roy assumed she was dead at first until he noticed regular, faint breaths. He tried opening it; but, the case was sealed with black chains and white metal bands that glowed with red runes. He tried knocking on the case to wake her. He tried breaking the glass but it was indestructible. Over the years he tried a variety of tools and some explosives to free her. But, not only was the case still sealed after an explosion; she remained asleep.\r \n \r \nToday was different though. A stray glint caught his eye as he made his daily trek to the cave. He knelt to see what was so shiny and he found a small rectangle made of glass in the dust. Once he touched it, the face turned white with a single red icon in the center. The icon resembled a pair of shears and it looked familiar to Roy. Once he registered what it was, he did not waste any more time playing with it. He dashed forward towards the cave.\r \n \r \nRoy stared at the runes on the white bands enough to memorize most of them. He always thought it was strange that one of the runes looked like shears; it seemed out of place with the other runes. But, as soon as he saw it; his mind made the connection. It couldn't have been a coincidence that her case and this card were made of glass.\r \n \r \nFinally, heaving and panting, he reached the golden light at the end of the cave. He walked to the case and did the only thing that came to mind. He touched the card to the white bands and hoped magic did the rest. Then, a question appeared on the card.\r \n \r \n\\[Wake Diavola?\\]\r \n\\[Yes\\] \\[No\\]\r \n \r \n\"Diavola?\" Roy spoke the name to hear it aloud. It sounded familiar enough to make him hesitate; but, he could not pinpoint a solid reason. He pulled the card away and the question disappeared. He had been pursuing a way to wake her for as long as he could remember. But, now that he found it he found doubts as well. \"Why does this feel like a bad idea?\" he mumbled.\r \n \r \n\"Because...,\" A new voice made Roy jump. He spun around and realized he wasn't alone anymore. A tall, pale woman with bone-white horns curling out of her head stared at him with a curious smirk. \"...historically it has been,\" she finished her thought.\r \n \r \n\"What do you mean?\" Roy asked. He was surprised; but, he did not feel threatened by her.\r \n \r \n\"It would not be the first time she is freed. There is a reason she was imprisoned again,\" the woman replied with a shrug. Roy looked at Diavola, then back at the tall woman.\r \n \r \n\"What reason?\" he asked.\r \n \r \n\"I'm quite curious about that myself,\" she replied.\r \n \r \n\"Who are you?\" Roy asked. The woman winked at him and vanished before his eyes.\r \n \r \n\"For now, a spectator,\" her voice echoed around the cave once she was gone.\r \n \r \n\"What do I do??\" he yelled, then waited. No answer came. He thought about the days he spent hoping for some way to wake her. For years, she was all he could think of. He did not know what would happen; but, he did not want to have wasted his time.\r \n \r \n\"Well if you're watching...,\" He spoke to the empty cave. \"...I'll show you.\" He touched the card to the metal and the question appeared again. This time, he touched \\[Yes\\].\r \n \r \nThe bands, chains, and glass all disintegrated into white powder and disappeared. Diavola breathed deeply and her eyes fluttered open. She sat up and reached out for Roy. He took her hand reflexively and a soft, soothing voice caressed his mind; though her lips did not move.\r \n \r \n\"Good morning...,\" Roy heard her in his brain as a seductive smile tugged at her lips.\r \n \r \n\"What can I do to serve you?\" Roy asked as he helped her to her feet.\r \n \r \n\"I need to stretch...,\" she said aloud. Her voice sounded like a chorus of angels to him. She moved towards the exit with Roy at her heels. \"... [let's go for a run](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/gatk2k/wp_you_are_out_for_a_jog_in_your_local_park_you/).\"\r \n\n\n\\\\\\*\r \nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #1518 in a row. (Story #067 in year five.). This story is part of an ongoing saga that takes place at a high school in my universe. It began on Sept. 6th and I will be adding to it with prompts every day until June 3rd. They are all collected in order at [this link](https://www.reddit.com/r/Hugoverse/comments/pj4t0b/tokuhigh_first_six_weeks/)." ]	2
The rest is up to you. The backstory, the plot and everything.	[WP] Long ago, you were given the gift of a great power. For all that time, you thought you were the only one to behold the power. You hear a thud, and upon looking behind you, you see another person, with the same power that you have. "Howdy", he says.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 demons fell humanity needed a protector. That was me. Whenever a truly horrendous deed was to be done, I stopped it with an equally horrendous deed. An eye for an eye as they say. Unfortunately, who I work for is not a merciful god. I was cursed with my gift to rewind time, to jump realities, and to shatter the broken ones that leech off of the energies that come from different timelines. Sometimes I think they feed more off the timelines that have been severed so they sacrifice one to feed their horde. Eons have passed and yet never have. In my line of work, you don't count days, only move through them. That was until Craig showed up.\n\n\"Howdy!\" I heard from behind me as I finished the latest broken one that infiltrated the timeline. I turned only to meet... ok, I'm not sure if this universe uses the word himbo but he was a himbo. As I turned back around to walk away, I felt a familiar freeze in time. I wasn't doing this. So... who was- \n\n\"Dang, sorry, I totally messed up that introduction.\" Said the man to be known as Craig. He brushed off his Hawiian shirt, un-velcroed and re-velcroed his shoes before speaking again. \"Howdy.\" He said, as if saying it with less enthusiasm would make it better. \"Hello. Are you a broken one in progress? Why have you been sent to assist in a case so clearly handled?\" I spat with a tinge of bitterness. Why would I be forsaken in my quest when I've been nothing but successful? Clearly, I was being replaced. \"Woah, slow down dude, I've never broken a bone in my life before and I'm not replacing nothing.\" He quickly backpedaled. \"As you can see, I am not nothing. In fact, I am something you could not comprehend in your wildest dreams. Additionally, I don't even need my abilities to tell when you've told a lie.\" \"Ok fine you got me; I broke my little toe once when I fell out of one of those spinney teacup rides at a carnival but that barely even counts! And stop jumbling my words Mr. Doom and Gloom Edgelord. SoMetHIng I cOulD nOT coMPrEheNd.\" He replied sassily. Oh, what a cur this wretched Craig was! And the nerve he had to continue. \n\n\"Dude, I'm not taking your job. Some chick at the 7/11 said she employed a nervous wreck of an employee, and he needed an emotional support animal. I told her I train therapy dogs and she just smiled and wisped me here! She didn't even give me by Baja Blast I slushie-fied in the 7/11 machine can you believe it!\" He seemed much more annoyed at the loss of his slushie than being called an animal. The nerve of her though! To call me a nervous wreck! I'll show her just how wrong she is by training this new human to become a guardian in my image! Then I'll prove to them all that I'm the superior time guardian! My thoughts were interrupted by a certain human.\n\n\"Dude, you know I'm already similar to you in our powers. I wasn't dropped here cluelessly. She gave me a literal list of what I can do and how to do it.\" I felt an emotion I had not felt in centuries. Embarrassment. I quickly turned away from him to try and keep my dignity intact. \"Of course, I knew that! I was just testing you to see if your abilities worked.\" A+ recovery. Totally nailed that. Craig gave a sigh before walking over.\n\n\"You know, they aren't wrong about you needing to chill. You're pretty uber controlling and a bit of a megalomaniac.\" \"Hey!\" \"But\" Craig continued, \"we can fix it. You've probably been alone for thousands of years and you probably haven't interacted with anyone for even longer than that. But now you can actually do normal people stuff like a normal person Edgelord.\" \n\n\"My name isn't Edgelord, it's Rixian!\" \" Cool, cool, my name's Craig and I'm going to show you how to live. First step is finding the nearest 7/11.\"" ]	2
	[WP]You leave to go to your security job at 12 AM. You’re get in your security office, and check the monitors. It seems boring so you try to go to sleep. But then, footsteps are heard.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "My name is John, and it wasn’t my fault.\r \n\r \nWorking night-shift is a special type of strange. At first, you’re thrown through a loop of sleepless mornings, reverse meals, and a pervading sense of wrong. Like pouring milk into a bowl before adding cereal. Although, I can’t remember the last time I had something as healthy as cereal to break my fast. Coach would cry to see what my meal plans look like these days. But after a few weeks, that initial exhaustion fades. You become a nightcrawler. I will admit, after a decade of waking up with the sunrise to hit pavement, there was something anxiously pleasurable about waking up with the moon. A little part of your brain ringing an alarm bell saying “I’ve wasted a day!” when in fact I have barely begun my night. Truth be told if my brain could it would be ringing an alarm bell for wasting a lot more than just one day.\r \n\r \nThe streets are empty, and what I see as I walk to the warehouse are the things the city would rather keep hidden. The midnight ambulances, the drunks, the homeless, the addicts. The daylight draws away like the tide on some abused shore and exposes the cracked shells and hollow bones beneath. More foreclosure signs. More boarded-up fronts. Like cancer metastasizing through tissue. Rock bottom spreads, and on the night shift, you see the extent of its growth.\r \n \r \nAt least I get to escape my own special purgatory. The one-bedroom, rattling pipe, screaming neighbor extravaganza that comes with living in walking distance to an industrial estate. Flats that we once factories. Ghosts of labors past that we were so much more. My own wasted effort throbs with each step, just below the knee. One stupid night. A career to nothing.\r \n\r \nIt's not that I wasn’t smart. I wasn’t destined to sit down at this desk and watch monitors. To nibble on a ready-meal and eye my way through the news of war I couldn’t even be a part of if I wanted to. It's just…nothing behind a desk could compare to blood pumping through my veins, hands clenched, sweat pouring. So, when that was taken away from me, I went to the common denominator. Something simple. Something easy. Sometimes when I tell myself that I drink less. Sometimes more. \r \n\r \nEither you make life happen, or life happens to you. My old man always said that. Well, life happened to me so hard I never found the strength to push down on that pedal again. Most men live a life of quiet desperation. Therou said that. Quiet desperation. Looking up out of the pit and waiting for the sun to rise again when they know in their hearts you only ever get a single day.\r \n\r \nI hear it as I see it. Sound carries in a warehouse. Footsteps, hushed voices. Blurred shapes of people hustling through a side door that day shift should have locked and I should have checked. My mistake. Protocol states we should call the cops and shelter in place. But kids don’t need criminal records for being kids. Neither do desperate people looking for somewhere out of the 3 AM rain. So, I pull myself out from behind that desk, grab a flashlight, and get to walking.\r \n\r \nIt's hard to hide between the stacks. It's an alien environment. All hard angles and straight lines. Bodies stand out. And like I said, noise carries. So even though they see the light before I see them, it doesn’t take a genius to work out where they are tucked away.\r \n\r \nQuiet Desperation.\r \n\r \nI’ve called out, and they don’t respond. Kids hesitate, but usually, they crumble. They're somewhere just back there, in a dog-leg turn behind an end stack. A murmur. The sound of metal dragging on metal. I should call the cops. And yet...\r \n\r \nLife happens, one way or another. \r \n\r \nI step into the corner, and it's all screaming and violence. A pipe hits my side, and a fist hits my nose. Something cracks, and I couldn’t say if it’s in my ribs or my face. Maybe both. The pain rises up, a curtain. But something rises with it. Not a memory, but certainly something remembered. A feeling, drummed into the pain. Drummed into the hurt.\r \n\r \nI’ve dropped the flashlight, and I can’t see yet, but that’s okay. The pipe is within arm’s reach, so a body is too. One hand bunched in the shirt, and so the head must be just above. He tries to swing the pipe again. It rolls off my shoulder. Too close, too much in the way. I hit him, and feel something give. Nose for nose, or rib, I suppose. \r \n\r \nLancing pain in my back. Something sharp. The other one. That’s fine. Life happens. Move a hand to the neck, bounce Pipe-guy against the stack supports. Another crunch. He sags a little. Good enough. Push and turn, and in the light I can see the other one. Lean, in a patched hoodie with sallow cheeks and that wide-eyed animal look. He’s got a boxcutter, blade red, dripping. Hands shaking, but not running. Wetness spreading across my lower back. He’s smiling. \r \n\r \nPipes reach further the knives. And it's hard to hold on when something breaks your radius and ulna. A scream now, not a shout. Boxcutter skitters on the ground, and he tries to turn and break for it. A swing at the knee. Another crunch. Sympathy with that one. I know what pain waits for him, a reminder with every little step. Bones grow back, muscle reknits. Tendons and Ligaments? They just kind of hobble along.\r \n\r \nIt’s pure here. I could be in a warehouse, or a battleground some millennia ago, or hell itself. It changes nothing. It just feels right. Pipe-guy is back, pulling himself up. He’s big, bigger than me. I got lucky before, surprised him. Some small part of my brain is asking what are they doing here? This is a factory goods warehouse. Why come here with a pipe and a knife and come looking for trouble. But a bigger part tells me that the why isn’t as important as the what. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.\r \n\r \nPipe guy squares up. Takes a moment. I let him. I’ve got time.\r \n\r \nI drop the pipe, the clatter of metal on concrete rattling through my ears with the pumping blood and the whooshing breath and it speaks of the ringing bell and the roaring crowd and the hand of judgment and fate and chance all curled together into a fist labeled MIGHT MAKES RIGHT.\r \n\r \nI smile for the first time in a long time and raise up my hands.\r \n\r \nLife happens, right?" ]	2
	[WP] As you look straight ahead, you spot the glowing eyes of a monster. The same one that killed your family. That murdered your friends. Its eyes are full of hate and malice... or was it… remorse? You should really stop looking at that damn mirror.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. 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Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "But the mirror won't stop looking at you...\n\nYou...\n\nWhat did that word even mean?\n\nAre you the one who killed them all? but who else?\n\nNobody else but you saw their blood in the floor, nobody else but you was there in the room, nobody else was take to the police station.\n\nBut... but you don't remember anything but the blood in the floor, you don't remember beign in the room, your last memory was in the police station when they pointed a gun at you...\n\nRemember, is it even a word?\n\nWhere are your memories?\n\nWhere are you right now?\n\nIs the mirror your reflection or a painful memory in wich you torture yourself\n\nBut who is it then?\n\nIt is me", "They always told him that he had the eyes of a heart breaker. Bright blue, clear and compassionate. It was the downfall of many of his female classmates in middle school and on. \n\nOf course, the rest of him was pathetically average. Nothing remarkable about him outside of his soul piercing blue eyes. \n\nHe always could see things that others couldn’t. Insecurities, weaknesses, lies, fear… he could see them any time they were near the surface. Gina had found that out first hand. The pour girl, her family abused her to no end. He had seen it, and wanted to help her. No one else did, it was like no one ever wanted to help, no one ever saw what was so clear to him.\n\n“Simon Barettia, do you have any last words?”\n\nHe looked away from his reflection, staring into they eyes of the correctional officer that held his life in the palm of his hand. “I’m sorry that I will live on in you now.”\n\nThe correctional officer felt a chill enter into his chest at those words. \n\nSimon Barrettia, twenty eight, was responsible fire over thirty seven deaths. Including his own mother, his best friend, and two other correctional officers. \n\nA former guidance councilor and Trauma therapist, the man seemed to know every weak point in the human Psyche, as well has how to exploit them.\n\nMore terrifying, he had treated more than eight hundred people, successfully, before he had been found guilty of these deaths. Over fifty more while he was incarcerated over the last three years.\n\nBasket cases, psychopaths, trauma victims… he had been the shining light in almost a thousand people lives.\n\nHow had he decided? Who to kill and who to save? \n\n“Any…. Anything else you would like to say?” The correctional officer asked again.\n\nHe looked back to the one way glass, knowing well there were people outside of his chamber that were watching in rapt attention, though all he saw was the same hate and fear that he had worked so hard to purge from the earth.\n\nJust like Gina, he could see it. He had become a monster. Gina had ended up killing her abusive father, snapping and killing him during one of the abusive sessions. \n\nThe same look in his mothers eyes before he had to stop her. \n\nThe same look in Richies eyes before he was caught molesting children. \n\n63 times he had seen that look, and he had 37 times he had stopped them from whatever it was they were going to do. Now that same look was starring back at him.\n\n“It lives.” He began speaking, looking down at the floor as a lone tear dropped from his eyes. “It lives in the people who you would never expect. It lives in though who have passed the point of help. You have to kill it. You have to erase it from this world. You have to stop it I exist.”\n\n“And where do you exist Simon?”\n\n“I exist in the weak, and in the wounded.”", "\"My God, what have I become?\" I asked my reflection, staring into my glowing, orange eyes. No matter how hard I washed the blood from my hands, I could not remove it from my mind. My friends . . . my family . . . gone. Undone by my hands. By his hands. Have I become the Devil? \n\n\"We have become gods, my friend,\" my tulpa chimed in as if to comfort me. I could feel him surfacing, moving from the depths of my soul toward the surface like a crocodile, preparing to strike. I knew Silas was becoming stronger, feeding off my strength and magic like a leech. But he still needed me. If I died, he would too. \n\n\"I've become a monster,\" I breathed. \"We are monsters!\"\n\n\"Don't tell me you feel remorse for what you've done!\" growled Silas. I could feel my veins becoming black, my vision beginning to blur. But I held him back. I am done letting him control my body and dictate my life. \n\n\"I killed . . . Jenna . . . Ben . . . my parents-\"\n\n\"They were obstacles in our path to ascension. We removed them-\"\n\n\"Removed them! You say that like they were stains on a carpet! I loved them!\"\n\n\"A bird does not return to the nest once he is strong enough to fly. You need to forgo any attachments you've created over the years. You created me to help you achieve immortality, did you not?\"\n\n\"Y-yes I did! But I wanted to help people, not hurt them!\"\n\n\"Salvation cannot be achieved without torment, Jack. Besides, gods don't have families,\"\n\n\"Why? Why do you hate them?\"\n\n\"I told you-\"\n\n\"Stop bullshitting me, Silas! Why do you hate them! I can see it in your eyes,\" tears began streaming down my eyes. The orange glow in my eyes started to dim slightly, like a light bulb slowing dying. I stood there, staring at my reflection in the mirror, waiting for the tulpa to respond. Instead, he laughed.\n\n\"I'm not the one who hates them, Jack. You are,\"\n\nI said nothing, taken aback by what he had said. It was as if he had stabbed me in the heart and was preparing to twist the blade. \n\n\"I did not hate them, I loved them!\"\n\n\"You keep saying that, why? Is it to remind yourself of the lie you've been following for almost two years?\"\n\n\"I-I don't-\"\n\n\"Don't play dumb with me, Jack! You hated Jenna and Ben ever since you saw them kissing at your party. You opened yourself up to her, told her how much you loved her and what does she do? Make love to your best friend!\"\n\n\"Shut up!\" I shouted, eyes blurred by the tears. \n\n\"Oh, I'm just getting started Jackie boy! Your father, the man who spent more time at the bar than with you. How many times has he struck you with his leather belt? Have you lost count? I haven't,\"\n\n\"I said shut up!\" I slammed my fist into the mirror in a blind fit of rage. Glass sliced through my fist, causing my hand to bleed all over the bathroom sink. I didn't care. I wanted Silas to feel what I was feeling. My action only induced more laughter out of him.\n\n\"Break as many things as you want, Jack. You know I'm right. You've hated those people for a long time, but didn't have the strength to kick them out of your life. I knew that if we are to achieve ascension, they needed to go. They were holding you back from greatness,\"\n\nI rinsed the blood off my hand, wiping the blood off my hand and watching it disappear into the sink. I wrapped a cloth around the cut, ignoring the throbbing pain that permeated from my right knuckle. I could feel Silas moving up my soul like a tiger preparing to lung on its prey. I knew he was right. I was too weak to cut those people out of my life. If I am to live forever, I needed to sever all attachments I have made with people. After all, they were all going to die eventually. As I looked at the newly created hole in my ceiling, I saw an old photo hanging on the wall behind me. It was of me and my mother, back when I was in third grade. \n\n\"What about my mother?\" I asked softly, moving closer to the photo. Silas remained quiet. \n\n\"Well, there's always collateral damage,\" he replied. \"She did nothing while your father beat you, remember. She did whatever he told her to do, refusing to strike him,\"\n\n\"Because she loved him, Silas. She wanted him to be happy. She wanted everyone to be happy. Including me,\" I grabbed the photo with my left hand, tears dripping onto it. Seeing her smile in that photo made my heart glow, brought me back to all the times we had together. She taught me how to ride a bike, how to drive, was there for my high school graduation. She was there for me whenever I felt down, whenever I felt scared. And now, I ended her, all because I wanted to live forever. I turned to magic and created a tulpa to help me achieve immortality. This was my fault. I created Silas, I killed those people. \n\nAnd now I was going to make things right.\n\nI dropped the photo and turned back to the shattered mirror, grabbing the largest shard with my left hand. I could feel the tulpa taking action. \n\n\"Jack, w-what are you doing! Put that down!\"\n\n\"I've changed my mind, Silas. This ends now,\"\n\n\"No-no stop! Jack stop, please! We've worked so hard to get to this point, you can't turn back now!\"\n\n\"I don't care. Immortality is not worth it if it means hurting people I care about,\"\n\n\"I can bring everyone back! Jack stop! We can become gods and bring everyone back to life. Put that shard down before you hurt yourself,\" I felt my left hand grab my right, trying to keep the shard away from my neck. I fought with myself, struggling to regain control over my own body. Even though Silas was getting stronger, he still wasn't strong enough to gain full control of my body. \n\n\"Please Jack, there's nothing after this! Just darkness,\"\n\n\"Maybe for you, Silas. Or maybe not, guess we'll have to find out together,\"\n\n\"Jack NO!\" the tulpa screamed in my head. I managed to overpower him and thrust the shard into my neck. \n\nThen everything went black.", "Who the hell do you think you are?\r \n\r \nThe sentence was still ringing in my ears as my eyes shot open. Just a bad dream. Again.\r \n\r \nShaking it off, I swung my legs outside my covers and got to my feet. With a sigh, I slowly shuffled over to my bathroom, as per my usual routine, and stood in front of my mirror. Standing there, I sized myself up, looking from my feet until I met my own eyes. Staring back at myself, I felt my own glare, simmering with hate. Hate and remorse, the two emotions that seemed to control me. Yet, today, on the anniversary, I couldn’t help but think of what had come to pass.\r \n\r \nA year ago, I had it all. A house, wife, kids, dog, a picket fence, the American Dream. Each day, I woke up, read the paper, ate breakfast, went to work, came home, ate some dinner, played with the kids, went to bed, and repeated. I was a manager at a well respected marketing firm in town. Made some good money and had nothing to complain about from outside appearances. Living this life sounds all well and dandy, until it is not. Until you get complacent. Until you get restless. Until you get bored.\r \n\r \nOne thing I’ve realized over the years is that even when there are no problems, that is a problem. People don’t want to live in a dream. We think we do, but when it’s presented, we have to find issues. If there are no issues? We create them. Our whole existence is within our mind, psychological. My issue? I missed having a goal. Something to work for. I found myself too comfortable, no one ever questioned what I did or why. I was bored. I missed the days where I felt challenged, where people didn’t feel the need to address me so formally.\r \n\r \nNow, boredom seems easily solved. What does one do when one is bored? Find a hobby to distract. Now, typically, a hobby should be easy enough, simple enough to find. Fishing? Too overdone. Woodshop? Too dangerous for my taste. Golfing? Too pretentious. TV? Not active enough. I was not finding satisfaction in the hobbies easily presented to me. Until one day, when I ran into an old friend, Drew, on the street. That’s where it really kicked off.\r \n\r \nWe exchanged the usual pleasantries, until we hit conversation on what he does in his passing time.\r \n\r \nAh, I’m involved in this great side hustle. You should consider joining, if you have time on your hands.\r \n\r \nOh? I actually have been looking for something to fill the time. What’s involved?\r \n\r \nHonestly, not much other than some time and effort. It’s basically just taking some product and seeing if you can find interested buyers. I can send you some to get you started. The nice part is, you make a little cash on it and it fills the time. If you want, I can send you the details. \r \n\r \nI could have jumped for joy, the way this fell into my lap just when I thought I needed it.\r \n\r \nHell yeah, send them over. I’ll look into it.\r \n\r \nOnce I got home that day, I couldn’t wait to look through my emails. Sure enough, there was an email from Drew with the details of the program. I immediately wrote back to him, agreeing to pay him the fee for the first shipment of product, excited to get out of my usual routine and back on the ground floor of meeting with potential customers, honing my selling skills again.\r \n\r \nLooking back on it, I should have seen it for what it was. A pyramid scheme is easy to see once you’ve stepped away, but I was blinded at the time for something new. What Drew was presenting was fresh, new. I was naïve.\r \n\r \nEventually, I was finding myself drowning in product. Caught up in the shipments and unable to meet the sale quota that would keep me at least breaking even.\r \n\r \nI’m so sorry, I won’t be making my quota this month. Can I get an extension?\r \n\r \nThis was my fifth plea to Drew, six months into the program. \r \n\r \nMan, I tried to cover for you. But I’m all out. I’m sorry buddy, you’re on your own this time.\r \n\r \nThis was the first time Drew passed on helping me out. I couldn’t have known what this would mean.\r \n\r \nNo worries. What happens now?\r \n\r \nDrew wrote back in less than a minute.\r \n\r \nNow, he comes.\r \n\r \nWho comes?\r \n\r \nThe top man. I’ll be honest, I haven’t met him. But I hear you don’t want it. Good luck.\r \n\r \nWhat have you heard?\r \n\r \nBut Drew never responded. In fact, I never heard from Drew again. But the top man? Oh, I heard from him. I heard from him loud and clear.\r \n\r \nI won’t go into the details. They never cease to keep me up at night. The sounds of my family and friends reverberate in my mind day and especially at night. With each victim, he repeated the same phrase at me, never satisfied with my answer:\r \n\r \nWho the hell do you think you are?\r \n\n\nThe day the top man visited me happened a year ago. The night of his visit, he left me alone, with no one to care for and no one to care for me. According to him, this bought me a year to repay my debts. Now, the anniversary has come around. He would expect payment.\r \n\r \nAs I stare at myself with malice and remorse, I know my time is up. The top man thinks today is his day. The day he can collect. He can come collect alright. He does not know what he is coming for. It’s my fault they all suffered. When he comes, this time I’ll be prepared. This time, I have nothing to lose.", "I started giggling, “well sht. That was wrong.” \n\nSteven looks at me with tears filling up his eyes, “how could you? I loved you!” \n\nI roll my eyes, “close, you have to seem more upset than that. Maybe say ‘I loved them!’, It might make it sound more believable.” \n\n“i’m trying my best Kayla. How are they gonna believe me, what if we left something behind?” Steven says shaking a little bit, “i’m just worried” \n\n“Steven, shut the hll up. I checked every little speck.” \n\n“Ok, sorry. You’re right.” \n\nI turn my eyes from the mirror, i don’t regret it. i did what i had to do, they would’ve went to the authorities. I bent down to Steven, “I love you baby. We can do this. I already got her dna on the crime scene, now we just have to tell them it was her.” \n\n“ok” he said trying to convince himself what he was about to do to his own sister was ok, “let’s do it.”", "\"What the... what's wrong with me?!\" I was crying hysterically, sobs shaking my body as I screamed at myself. Pure anger shook me. \"How could I let this happen? How could I let this happen, dammit?! I'm so stupid! I'm a coward!\" I let him take control... stabbed the hell out of everyone I saw... all of whom happened to be those I loved most... My mind was weighted with insanity and guilt over my actions. I heard the doorknob turn.\n\n\"Stop rambling!\" Entropy snapped, barging into the bathroom and turning on the light, closing the door behind him. \"We have more work to do!\" Entropy. A demon... I made a deal with him. He strode over to me.\n\n\"But I don't want to kill anyone else!\" I yelled at the horrid being. \"I can't sleep! I haven't slept in days!\" That part was true; I hadn't slept since last Thursday. I was hallucinating badly, struggling to stay awake, but the pure guilt kept me awake. I didn't want it to turn out this way!\n\n\"Come on. I'm your brother,\" Entropy tried to put his hand on my shoulder, but I pulled away. I'd just noticed that Entropy put himself between me and the door. \"Don't be afraid of me. We're family, right, Jack? We're friends.\" His voice was deceivingly friendly. I stumbled back, grabbing my pistol, and aimed at him.\n\n\"No! No, we're not, you demon!\" My hands were unsteady, as though an earthquake shook my limbs. \"I killed my brother. You're just a...a...dammit... You're a...\" I looked down, still in tears, keeping my pistol aimed at him. Why can't I talk? \n\nEntropy kissed the barrel of my gun, pushing it down. \"Not right now. Adults are talking,\" he said in a calm voice. For some reason, I felt like I shouldn't keep aiming my gun at him. I took a step back, putting the gun in its holster. My knees turned to jelly, and I put a hand on the cold bathroom counter to keep from falling over. I felt vomit rising in my throat, \ndisgust taking over my entire being as I stared at him.\n\n\"We made a deal, didn't we, Jack?\" Entropy's eyes glowed, same as mine did, as he stepped closer. A sickeningly wide smile crossed his shadowy face. \"You help me, and I'll give you and your closest family and friends immortality.\"\n\n\"You... you didn't give them-\" My voice trailed off, gradually giving out to silence. My vocal cords refused to continue working. I swallowed hard and continued. \"You didn't give them immortal life.\" My voice was dead quiet and raspy. \"You gave them the opposite.\"\n\n\"Oh, dammit, Jack!\" Entropy growled. \"Let's stop arguing.\" I felt a tingling sensation as I slowly lost control. \"Come on, we've got work to do.\" I- or Entropy, rather- picked up the knife and headed for the door.", "It’s so easy to see things in your reflection.\n\nHuman. Monster. The windows to my soul were tinted and coloured by the dawn break and dusk fall of my long life. An action—choosing what to eat, picking my prey, murdering the ones I loved—dimmed grey by my intentions.\n\nBut these were soulless eyes. Lenses that should be clear as crystal, unblemished by even a scratch or bite mark. There was nothing else in my field of view but my stony visage, staring myself down—and they really shouldn’t be seeing anything but the absolute truth.\n\nI shifted away into the shadows that so comfortably wrapped around me. Like my mother used to. A long time ago. She laid on the cold floor, now. Quiet. Quiet meant peaceful, no?\n\nThat’s what I was taught, a long time ago. My father loved that lesson. It was commonly dealt by whatever he could grab within arm’s reach, their teachings etched into body and mind of those around us. We held our bodies against each other, and they might as well have been puzzles pieces.\n\nHe didn’t look quite so peaceful. The teacher didn’t quite like being the student, it seemed. That’s a lesson I’ll take into the future.\n\nThere was my love. Oh, my love. George. Georgina? Georgia. Oh, what a sweet smile, plastered onto a face that was only so recently next to mine, his lips and mine trading life and vigour with every kiss, every touch. She was frigid to the touch. Or were my fingertips cold as ice?\n\nThe me in the mirror stared back from its infinite abyss. I was imagining things. I had to be.\n\nI’m a creature of the night. A vampire. My body and mind—perfect. There was to be no remorse, no regret.\n\nRight?\n\n---\n\nr/dexdrafts", "A Deal with the Monster\n\nSlitheria feels the creature enter her cave, power emanating from the intruder like a shining beacon in the darkest night. \n\nThe pure ferocity of the magic radiating from this creature, it’s unlike anything Slitheria has ever seen. It seems to sting her through her iron scales, almost like a fresh sunburn. A pang of sadness takes her by surprise. Back when I could get sunburns.\n\nShe waits another moment, almost savoring the human-feeling pain.\n\nThis one… this one is different. Slitheria thinks drowsily as she lifts her head, scales barely making a sound against the stone floor. She’s always surprised at how graceful this mighty body is.\n\nThe creature has a long way to go. Normally Slitheria faces her enemies head on, simply overpowering them once they arrive. Ten-thousand pounds of pure-metal, acid-breathing monster-snake is usually more than enough to take out her would-be slayers without much trouble. \n\nThe power continues to grow. A head-on approach is too risky here. She would slither through the tubes of this massive mountain, searching for a different tact.\n\nAs she searches, finding and then rejecting potential ambush points, she realizes she feels something she hasn’t felt in… well she isn’t sure how long now. A long time.\n\nFear.\n\nThe last time she’d felt this was when she was still a human… when the lion had attacked her kingdom. The images flashed before her, unbidden.\n\nThe enormous lion, made of pure blue and green fire. More ferocious and terrifying than all the legends in the world. Incineration. Fires so bright they made the dead of night brighter than the day.\n\nThe choice. The terrible choice. Rowlin. His shining black wizard’s robes. Offering the vial. The choice. The terrible choice. Become a monster. Defeat the monster. No cure.\n\nShe’d defeated the lion, saved her kingdom, and killed her entire family and all her friends in the ensuing chaos. \n\nWhen she’d first seen the incoming war party coming towards her, she thought they were coming to welcome her since they were led by Rowlin himself. As soon as she felt the magic arrows pierce her metal scale, she realized they were coming to kill her.\n\nRowlin. That bastard. Not only had be made her monster, he’d treated her like one.\n\nThe power around her continues to grow. Different. She thinks again. And after a moment, but also familiar.\n\nThose robes, the vial, the arrows… that same intense magic.\n\nWas Rowlin here?\n\nHow long had she fantasized about taking her revenge on him? About emerging from this cave, stalking him on one of his faraway journeys, and cornering him while he was alone?\n\nThe more she felt the power, the more sure she felt. No, she wouldn’t ambush him. She’d face him and take him down.\n\nAbandoning all attempts at stealth, Slitheria takes off toward the power with all her strength, borrowing straight through the mountain. The sound of metal screeching on stone causes a deafening roar throughout the entire kingdom.\n\nIn only a few moments, she explodes through the ground just before the source of the power, in a huge cavernous space. As the rocks thunder onto Rowlin, Slitheria unleashes a massive stream of searing, toxic vapor. Any unprotected creature would have been dissolved into nothingness.\n\nBut Rowlin is prepared. Wherever the debris strike his cloak, they bounce off in a burst of light. And when the vapor hits him, his entire cloak turns becomes a blinding light. Slitheria, fueled by rage, keeps the stream going for well over a minute. A horrible acrid burning fills the cavern as the ground around Rowlin and everything behind him turns into dissolved puddles of melted stone, but he remains.\n\nFinally she relents, rearing up, preparing to strike.\n\n“Wow!” Rowlin throws down his the hood of his cloak., looking genuinely excited, “what an excellent job I did with you! Much better than I did with that lion.”\n\nDecades of rage erupt into her being all at once. She launches herself forward. Rowlin quickly raises a hand high in the air and clenches it into a fist. Slitheria’s mouth slams shut and she’s instantly frozen mid-charge, completely suspended above the ground.\n\n“No more games,” he says, and drops her to the ground, keeping her mouth bound shut. She’s helpless. “I’ve designed a new monster, one I think might even be more powerful than you. But I need to challenge it.”\n\nDesigned? She thinks.\n\n“Yes, designed,” he says, surprising her. “We’re bound you and I, a monster and its creator. Anyway, I’m here to make a proposal.” He pauses and releases his powers from her. “Attack the town of Highnarth. Dissolve it with your breath, smash it with your bulk, kill as many as you can. If you defeat the monster that comes to defend it, then I will cure you.”\n\nA cure? She had dreamed of a cure, of being able to enjoy things as a human, of not being totally hated and completely alone. But she didn’t expect a cure. She’d known her fate when she’d made that choice long ago, to save her kingdom. \n\nRowlin had created that monster. Maybe he’d even made that lion the same deal he was making her now. There was no reason to believe there was a cure, and if there was one, it would never come from him.\n\nNever, Rowlin! She opens her mouth toward the ceiling and lets out a great stream of vapor. Huge stalactites begin to fall all around them. She knows this isn’t enough to take Rowlin out, but hopefully it’s enough to distract him.\n\nBorrowing straight back into the hole she came from, Slitheria makes her escape.\n\nThere’s only one monster she needs to defeat. \n\n___\n\nr/stealthystorkstories", "The lupine features. The gaunt and dark face. The hideous glowing yellow eyes, seemingly bereft of all except savagery and brutality. Claws like daggers. Tall and unnaturally shaped. That horror which stared into my soul, that terror of terrors, like a demon from the uttermost pits of hell, standing in front of me. Oh how its teeth had been stained with the blood of my friends. How its claws had been glistening with the dark and viscous Elan Vitae of my family. I remember it with crystal clarity, how my home town was reduced to naught but empty houses filled with bone, mangled flesh, and crimson flesh. There was no weapon that could harm it. No gate that could bar its entry. I remember how our priest, Father Thompson, held the door closed to the church for what seemed like an eternity. Yet no kind of wood has grown yet that will not break against the force of that monster. I remember Old Declan, the butcher, a man built like a brickhouse of muscles, trying to wrestle the beast while chopping at it like a madman with his cleaver. I remember my brothers, firing at it with their rifles, screaming in desperation as they were ripped asunder one by one. I remember all of it. The horrid smell of death on a scale hitherto unimagined. They tried to burn the monster. Throwing molotov after molotov at it, burning down their own houses to kill it. But no flame would take, it kept killing and killing without remorse, even as its body was subsumed in the flames.\n\nI reach my hand towards it, and ever-so-slowly, it mirrors me. The eyes shift, and there is remorse in them.\n\nI should really stop looking at that damn mirror. It was his though, and I dare not throw it out. Throwing over the old tattered blanket on the mirror, I get up. Covering it up will have to do. For there is work to be done. I grab my bow and my old quiver, still full of arrows, and I leave to begin the hunt. I was always a good hunter. When my family was alive and I was a child I had learned how to use both the bow and the rifle, but bullets are difficult to make and the materials for them are rare, while arrows can be made by hand. Besides, I found I preferred it. The thunderous roar of the rifle can kill all the same as the bow and arrow, but if you miss, it scares away everything and your hunt is delayed by hours. Using merely the bow, you could always retrieve the arrow, and try again shortly after when the deer relaxed or the rabbits thought you'd left. I stalk through the woods, surrounding the ruins of my home. Game is plentiful. Thunk goes the arrow as it strikes fast and strikes true through the neck of a large buck. The rest of the herd of deer scatter in panic, as their stricken companion collapses onto the forest floor. Throughout the early morning, I do this. Taking deer after deer, until I think there is enough. In the old days, perhaps game wardens would have complained. But even when I was a child, the game wardens and rangers of the government had disappeared. My bulky body allows me to carry the four dead deer back to the old outpost. From inside I hear that they're awake, and some of them come out to greet me. They greet me while behind them I see their wagging tails. It has been years since my town was destroyed.\n\nBut there were survivors. Eight very young, very confused children, that I had hidden before that dread night.\n\nBecause I didn't kill everyone I knew because I'd become a monster. I became a monster to kill my town. A child doesn't know right from wrong. They're taught that by their community, their family. I did not know how wrong we were. The things we did. The horrors I saw done in the church, the crimes against humanity and nature we committed. It all seemed normal, because I didn't know any better. It wasn't until I met him, that I learned. He'd taken up residence in the outpost, all those years ago. Outsiders were evil, or so we'd all been taught, but it was a stormy night, and I had lost my way. He welcomed me in without fear or hatred. Gave me food and drink freely, allowed me to dry myself by his fire. Part of me knew I should have knocked him out and brought him back to the town, but I was, perhaps, interested. Curious. Outsiders were beasts, the priest had told me. Outsiders were monstrous and wicked, my father had told me. But this man, scrawny and thin as he was, did not seem a monster. He spoke to me, in an odd accent, with nothing but politeness and even kindness in his voice. I warned him that monsters were about. He said he knew.\n\nWe spoke, and disagreed, on many things. He challenged all I knew, everything I thought I understood about the world. And yet I found it was good to disagree. Good to find out new things, new ideas. He taught me how to read, something that only the priest and his closest aides knew how to. He told me of the old world, of the machines that were being rebuilt in distant parts of the world, of how the world was returning from the dark age after the last terrible war. A war that subsumed the world. And I read his books. Books supposedly written hundreds, if not thousands of years ago, reprinted over and over again. He told me he was there to try and make contact with surviving communities in the ancient mountains. After the machines minds burned and the magic returned, there weren't many around. And most were foul indeed, he said. At the time, I still did not consider my town, my home, to be foul. But I thought that maybe, some things we did, might be a bit, unwise. The exiling of the witchborn children. The break-bone dances. The ritualistic self-inflicted burns as part of marriage. The widow-burying.\n\nFor the whole of that summer, I hunted in that area and that area alone. No other hunters in my town took it, as there was a measure of respect between hunters. If I wanted to hunt in one place, they weren't going to bother me. Every day, I would stay and talk to him. Teach him how to survive a lot better than he knew how to. Taught him how to hunt as my people did. We were of similar age, and there was a growing love there. A spark of something, that we were both too young to really understand. Perhaps he was never sent to the outpost officially, or so I suspected, as I could not imagine anyone sending out such a guy into the mountains unless they wanted to get rid of him. It was fairly innocent, but sweet. He said he was planning to leave one day, and asked me if I wanted to come with him. I asked him if it was far away, but he said it would still be close enough that I could return home. Whether he was telling the truth, I never knew. Because the day he was planning to leave, was the day he was caught by the others. I came to the outpost, and saw his stuff scattered haphazardly across the old building's floor. I saw blood and the sign of my town's church burned into the wall. I ran back to the town, but I was too late. He was upon the pyre. Battered and bruised. And father Thompson held a lit torch. I wanted to beg them not to sacrifice him. Instead I stared in horror as my people killed an innocent man. Had I spoken up, I saw in their eyes, that in their frenzy to burn the interloper, they'd kill me too. Instead, I ran." ]	10
	[WP] "Blood seeps from every pore in your body and yet you still fight"	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 immortal can be such a drag. Still, that doesn't change what I need to do.\n\nI leaned against the closest wall in the narrow city streets, taking a deep breath and deepening my resolve to continue, to get all the way to the throne room in the center of New Rome. Home. This war, one of many in a brutal cycle of retribution, continued to tear the city apart, and for the past hundred years or so, it had devolved into pure chaos, no one faction being able to gain full control.\n\nBut all of that could change. If I could just finish the journey across this infernal city and reach the sapphire crown at its core, it could be one cohesive society again, instead of this ten-thousand mile diameter hell-hole of gang wars and starvation.\n\nAnother dagger stabbed through my chest, bringing my attention back to the situation at hand. I couldn't die, but if I passed out from lack of blood, it could lead to a problematic situation. My eyes snapped open, my weary body sagging in pain as I unsheathed my own set of daggers, a beautiful pair of silver blades each curving five inches past my forearms. They were a gift, from back when the city still sprawled with life and king Rowan still ruled with his benevolent grace. \n\nPushing through the pain, I tore though the starving husk in front of me, blood splattering through the air as his head arced through the rusty sky, still carrying the horrified expression of those who have stared death in the eyes and have now finally succumbed to it. Blood flew in every direction, staining both my blade and my clothes with his blood, mixing with my own. My own blood seeped through a thousand wounds, stealing my strength as I pushed on, stumbling through the streets with the remains of his body; Any food at all could help. \n\nMy knee buckled, hitting the cobbled streets. I faltered only a moment, steeling my resolve to reunite the city. Not for me, not for any of these worthless bodies laying around me; I had seen too many I loved die brutal deaths to care about their fates anymore. This was all for her. Pushing myself back to my feet, I continued through the sunset. pulling a lighter I found on a body a few blocks back out of my pocket, I lit a cigarette, a point of illumination among the shattered street lamps trying to turn on but simply sparking instead.\n\nEsmeralda, the love of my life, the only one I had been able to save when a fire killed all of the nobility and I found out that I couldn't die anymore. Not for lack of trying. I had left her in a stasis pod in a hidden room among the dungeon to heal, before I was forced to run. Her last words before the cold swept through her limbs, freezing her in time, still drove me on and on, even after I was forced to the outskirts of New Rome by it...\n\nBut that doesn't matter now, not as long as I don't lose the emerald torch in my backpack.\n\nSo as long as I can keep moving, I will kill anything that gets in my way, until I am what I have always been meant to be.\n\nWith Esmeralda at my side, I will be King." ]	2
	[WP] There was something off about the new patient that had been found washed up at the shore. Despite the fluid in his lungs and blood sodium levels close to the ocean he'd almost drowned in, he seemed perfectly fine aside from a strange craving for salt and hard liquor.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 been two years since I gained sentience one year since I was able.\r \n\r \n\"Salt...I need salt\" croaked the man from his bed. His appearance dishevelled with messy black beard reaching his chest, shabby black hair reaching his neck.\r \n\r \nDespite that his skin seemed fine in fact more than fine like a model a creamy white in colour despite being washed up ashore he seemed to have no wrinkles on his skin showing he had not stayed in water for long. Were it not for the fact his lungs were filled with water and blood sodium level were high the thought he had drowned in ocean would have not occurred.\r \n\r \nThe oddity aside he seemed fine were it not for his peculiar craving for salt and hard liquor. \r \nPatients craving for unusual food was nothing new yet his strange fondness for salt was unexpected. Him having craving for salt due to high blood pressure was eliminated since his blood pressure was normal which was abnormal by itself based on the salt level in his blood.\r \n \r \n“You don’t understand” wheezed out the man “I need salt if not at least give me booze” cried the man. \n\r\n\nAny attempt to inquire why he requires those two things were met with silence or with useless blabbering. Each passing minute the man seemed to become even more demented it got worse to such an extent that it was feared that his cognitive functions had deteriorated to such an extent that no possible course for recovery was available.\r \n\r\n\nIn a last ditch effort we gave the now clearly mentally dead man a bit his requested item a bit of salt and magically he regained his sanity.", "“Please, I beg you, give me salt… Please…” the desperate man pleaded.\n\n”No. You do not need it.”\n\n”Please, I want salt…” the man cried. His face was pale, and withered. I turned around firmly.\n\n”I have saved you from their clutches. Go. I will not do anything else for you. If you are so desperate, find your own salt.”\n\n”But I do not know where to find it…” the man sighed.\n\n”Perhaps you could find it in the river.” I remarked. The river was very salty. So salty, in fact, that our town that we shared, with a population of only 1,200, has one of the largest salt industries in the world. Our town is very rich.\n\nI limped onwards, away from the man. He had taken a bite from my leg in his quest for salt.\n\n”Where is the river?” the fragile man inquired.\n\n”You know where it is. You live here.”\n\n”I do not remember.”\n\n”WHY?!” I snapped.\n\n”I do not have a good memory…”\n\nI sighed. “Maybe it would be better if we went inside. It is very cold.” I stepped inside the pub behind me. The frail man followed me in\n\n”Hard… liquor…” he whispered.\n\n”Don’t tell me you want that as well.”\n\n”Please…” he pleaded.\n\n”Fine.” I remarked firmly.\n\nI walked up to the pub keeper. “May I have a… fine liquor… with extra salt?” I asked.\n\n”Which one?”\n\n”The Arkenville.”\n\n”How much?”\n\n”The whole bottle.”\n\n”And for whom?” he inquired, clearly bewildered at the request.\n\n”The man behind me. He likes… salt… and hard liquor.”\n\n”Should he not be in the hospital?”\n\n”I rescued him.”\n\n”Very well. Awful place, that is. But hey. It keeps the town safe.” he replied. He poured me a glass of Arkenville with extra salt.\n\nI passed it over to the fragile, salt-craving man.\n\n”Here you go. Happy now?”\n\n”Not just happy. Delighted, my friend. Care to come to my house?”" ]	3
	[WP] Everyone seems to be afraid of the shopkeeper. However, to you, they are the most friendly person you could ever meet.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "‘Brendan, my man!’ I say as I walk up to the cash register with snacks and beer in hand. ‘How are things?’. \n\n‘The usual, business is business.’ He smiles back at me, his golden incisor glittering in the light. ‘Any more luck with your “lady friend”.’ He asks, raising an eyebrow. This is why I like coming into his shop, despite his rugged looks, he was always very welcoming to me; asking how my day was, what I was up to. He had a general interest in my life and it was nice to know that there was someone else out there who wanted to know what I was doing. \n‘Well funny you should ask, I managed to get another date this weekend. I can’t believe you’re advice worked!’ I smiled back at him, chuffed with myself. I hadn’t had a date since I moved here and with (a lot of) encouragement from Brendan, I was able to get back out there. Of course, I have my own friends now but there was just something about Brendan that I felt comfortable with. I could talk to him about anything and he wouldn’t judge or ridicule me, only ever giving advice and a friendly hand. It’s all anyone needs.\n\nThe first time I met him, I was in a bad place. I was stressed from moving across the country, I didn’t know anyone and I thought I had made a big mistake. I think he sensed that from me. I remember he gave me a very quizzical look as I walked up to the cash register, but then so did I when I saw him. It’s not like there are many shopkeepers who are middle-aged, jacked-up-looking men with a shaved head and beard. He basically looked like a mobster lumberjack all in one. I asked for a bottle of vodka from the top shelf behind him as well as a pack of cigarettes, but he paused as he was handing them to me and said ‘Before you do anything stupid, just know I can always lend an ear’. It was the first time someone reached out to me and I grabbed it by the lapels and well, 18 months later here we are. \n\nWe carry on chatting for a few more minutes, as I update him on the previous dating disaster I went on and how the week has been, before his demeanor changes. I’m collecting my bag of things when he eyes me in suspicion, before peering over my shoulder. I follow his gaze and see Ben, Johnny, and Alfie lingering outside, looking impatient. ‘Sorry about them, we’re just heading back to Bens place to watch the game.’\nHe doesn’t look back at me straight away, he keeps his eyes steadily on the guys for a beat longer than necessary. But when he finally does meet my eye, he simply says ‘Enjoy your night.’\n\nWith my bag in hand, I thank him for my things and say goodbye and I turn to make my way out. It's not uncommon for him to switch his attitude mid-conversation. He usually does it when there’s a particular group of men parked in a black Mercedes on the opposite side of the road. Or sometimes it’s when a tourist walks in asking directions. I shrug it off and just as I place my hand on the cold metal of the door he says something that he’s never said before, ‘Be careful with who you trust.’ I simply nod as I exit. \n\n‘Fucking finally.’ Alfie moans when I walk up to them. ‘I thought I was going to have to rescue you for a moment. I don’t know why you always insist on stopping here. There's literally twelve more stores closer to your apartment.’ \n‘We were heading this way anyway, I don’t know what your problem is. Brendan's a nice guy, I like his store? I don’t know why you don’t just come in?’. I know the reason why they don’t come in before the question even leaves my mouth; despite how many times I’ve explained time and time again how nice Brendan is. \n\n‘Dude, how can you be friends with him?’ Johnny asked one night, ‘he’s a literal mad man’ he’ says before taking a drag of his cigarette. ‘I don’t know what you mean, he’s the nicest guy I’ve ever met’ \nJohnny and the rest of the guys all look at each other, a silence creeping over all of us. ‘I heard the man straight up smashed a guy's face into the counter one night because he tried to rob some gum. Like, who does that?’ \n‘Yeah, I heard that he’s got ties with the mob, I think his shop is a front.’ Ben pipes up. \n‘I’m pretty sure that he killed someone too.’\n‘Fuck off, no he didn’t’ I hit back. \n‘It was in the papers, something about he was held at gunpoint. Two guys tried to rob his cash register and his safe out the back. Apparently, there was meant to be a hundred grand in the safe.’ Alfie said next.\n‘And..what happened next?’ I ask intrigued. \n“Let's just say that one is in the ground with three bullets to the chest and the other guy will be drinking out of a straw in prison for the next 30 years”. \n‘That's ridiculous. He didn’t. Your all bullshitting me’. I said in disbelief. \n\nRecalling the conversation, I still don’t believe any of it. There are two sides to a story and he’s never once harmed me or anyone I know, so I don’t have an issue with him. He’s been more a friend than the lot of these put together. As we make our way to the subway, Johnny says something that makes the hairs on my arms prickle.\n‘Look all I’m saying is be careful. You don’t know who he is; you’ve got to be careful with who you trust.’" ]	2
	[WP] Aliens can’t hear, but their thoughts are projected as sound. Aliens are convinced humans are telepaths.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Surprise - Repulsion - Curiosity\n\nI heard three tones, translated by the ship's audio analyzer, which delivered the translated words in a detached male voice with an English accent.\n\nMy patient, a large, carbon-based, humanoid lifeform covered in silvery fur with a vaguely canine face, had opened her eyes for the first time since we brought her aboard last week. She was the only survivor of a transport ship crash into an asteroid, and as the closest ship, it was up to us to render aid.\n\nI trust the small ugly for now.\n\nA short tune and the voiceover played.\n\nI took a deep breath and pressed my lips together, then approached the bed, one slow step at a time. \"Hi. I'm Dr. Claire Nelson. You're on the Starship Able. You were involved in an accident. What questions do you have for me? Please speak in your mother tongue, and our audio analyzer will translate for us.\"\n\nHow fucked am I?\n\nThe patient played tones, then spoke by growling. The fine hair on her face appeared to dance.. \"I'm Deq. What happened?\"\n\n\"Your ship was destroyed by a rogue asteroid. There was nothing that could have been done to prevent it. You've been in a coma for the past six days.\" I took a step closer. I noticed the ship translating my words as vibrations to Deq's bed.\n\nWhere's Baay?\n\nShe looked down.\n\n\"There were no other survivors, I'm sorry.\" Another step closer.\n\nIt was because I was in the cargo hold, I should have brought Baay with me...\n\n\"This is one of those accidents that comes out of nowhere, Deq. Nothing anyone could have done would have predicted or prevented this.\" I stepped forward once more.\n\nSuddenly, chaos. Deq's tones became klaxons, with the voiceover calmly saying \"Sad. Hug. Sad. Hug. Sad. Hug.\" She grabbed me around the waist with one of those giant, 8-fingered hands, and pulled me close. I put my hand over the panic button on my radio.\n\nWhy did you rescue me?\n\n\"We were the only ship in the area, we heard your distress tones over the radio...\" I squirmed into a more comfortable position.\n\n\"What distress tones?\"\n\n\"The ones you use to communicate thoughts and feelings, the ones you sent out saying you were sad and wanted a hug before you grabbed me!\"\n\n\"I said nothing.\" Her grip on me loosened.\n\nThe small ugly can hear what I think?\n\n\"Yes. Your thoughts emanate from you as audio output. The audio analyzer catches them and translates them.\"\n\nFuck. They have a fifth sense.\n\n\"Yes, we are able to hear, and your secrets are safe with us. Anything you think on this ship will be treated as strictly confidential...\"\n\nBaay!\n\n\"...any recordings we make will be used for patient care and teaching purposes only, and you can opt out of that.\" I was trying to talk fast. She didn't need a spiel, she needed comfort.\n\n\"Your goal for tonight is to rest. We'll get your pain under control and make you nice and comfortable. If you'd like, you can speak to our ship's chaplain.\"\n\nAnother ugly might be too much tonight.\n\nI clenched my teeth and half smiled. \"Please let me know if you need anything. Either myself or one of my nurses will help you. I'll be right back with some pain medicine.\"", "The Xephalow, a tall, stocky creature with large glossy green eyes, but no ears or mouth, stood with a group of others of its species, across the conference table from the human ambassador. The alien held up a digital display. As the creature flashed multicolored lights from bioluminescent patches that ran up and down its body, the screen began to print out a message in Terranglish. It read \"We come in peace, to achieve meaningful cultural exchange.\"\n\nThe human ambassador smiled, \"We seek the same, in friendship will all peaceful species.\" he said, and held up a screen that displayed his words in the alien script.\n\nThanks to the powerful quantum-computing AI in the Translation Matrix, or T-Mat, all spoken and visual communication was instantly translated into the native language of any sentient present, within this diplomatic meeting room. It was amazingly effective.\n\nThe Xephalow had no sense of hearing, and nothing like mouths or vocal chords, as they absorbed air, food, and water through their skin. So, communication with them was a simple matter of using handheld screens to display text -- he could have had the T-Mat translate their light pulses into sound, but thought communicating visually would help him understand the \n\nAs the Ambassador was mentally composing a further message to the Xephalow delegation, he suddenly winced, as he became aware of faint, irritating buzzing sound permeating the room. \n\n\"T-Mat?\" He said, addressing the AI. \"I'm hearing some kind of really irritating background noise. I know it won't bother our guests, but it's bugging the hell outta me, can you fix it?\"\n\n\"Performing heuristic analysis on room noise.\" The AI responded. \"Pattern identified. Translation enabled.\"\n\n\"Translation?\" the ambassador asked.\n\n\"WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG TO SPEAK?\" The Xephalow ambassador seemed to shout. \"IS IT STUPID AS WELL AS UGLY? SCREW THIS WEIRD LITTLE PINK MONSTER, I HATE THIS JOB.\"\n\n\"T-Mat, the Xephalow aren't flashing their lights -- where are you getting that monologue from?\" The ambassador asked, bemusedly.\n\n\"My analysis suggests that, during cognition, increased blood flow to the brain of the Xephalow causes minute vibrations in the gelatinous tissue surrounding it, producing the near-ultrasonic buzz you identified. From the frequency of these vibrations, the subject of cognition can be extrapolated through quantum modelling.\"\n\n\"You can read their minds?\" \n\n\"The surface thoughts which they consciously filter out of their light-based communication, yes.\"\n\nThe Xephalow flashed it's light-patches again.\n\n\"Human friend, is something wrong?\"\n\n\"COME ON, I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE, I JUST GOT OFF A 10 CYCLE WARP TRANSIT, AND I'M TIRED, YOU FREAKY LITTLE BASTARD!\" the Xephalow thought.\n\n\"Uh, sorry, ambassador...it just occurred to me, we're a long way from Xephalos, perhaps you and your delegation would like to rest and resume our discussion tomorrow?\" The human ambassador said, and his slate translated. \n\n\"Thank you, that is most considerate.\" the Xephalow slate read.\n\n\"OH THANK XALGOS, GO GO GO, BEFORE IT CHANGES ITS TINY MIND.\" The Xephalow ambassador seemed to say.\n\nAs the delegation filed out, T-Mat began locking on to, and then, translating the thought vibrations of multiple Xephalow in the group.\n\n\"I'M GOING TO POOP ON SOMETHING EXPENSIVE, AND PRETEND ITS AN HONORED TRADITION ON XEPHALOW, THIS IS GOING TO BE SO SWEET.\"\n\n\"ZEEBLO GOT A FAT OVIPOSITOR, I WONDER IF SHE WILL MATE WITH ME?\"\n\n\"I WONDER IF I CAN JUST TAKE STUFF, AND THEY WON'T STOP ME BECAUSE I'M AN ALIEN AMBASSADOR?\"\n\n\"GLARZ IS A REPUGNANT IDIOT, AND HE IS ALWAYS STARING AT MY OVIPOSITOR. I WILL HATE MYSELF IF I LET HIM MATE WITH ME. I WILL PROBABLY LET HIM DO SO, REGARDLESS, BECAUSE I DREAD LONELINESS. WAY TO GO, ZEEBLO, YOUR PROGENITORS WOULD BE SO PROUD.\"\n\n\"Well,\" the human ambassador mused, as the doors closed behind the last departing Xephalow, \"my job just got a whole lot easier.\"" ]	3
	[WP] In a world full of superpowers, you can extend the expiry date and make things good as new. Initially, you only tried it on food, but you're looking to branch out.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Don't let it be him, don't let it be him, Devon mentally prayed as he white-knuckled the steering wheel of his pickup, his EMT bag in the passenger seat.\n\nRounding the last corner, he saw the scene of the accident, and his heart sank into his boots. The faded, twisted red Plymouth sat crossways in the road, having been t-boned by a dump truck and rolled several times. The offending truck stood on the shoulder, its chrome grille bent, engine still running. The driver sat on the running board, head in his hands as Devon ran past with his bag.\n\nThe Plymouth's radio was playing a sad country song as Devon ran up. \"Dad! Dad!\" he yelled, trying to wake the driver.\n\nHis dad's eyes slowly opened and tried to focus through the pain. \"Dev,\" the old man half-smiled. \"I hoped I'd get to see you one last time.\"\n\nDevon shook his head. \"Don't say last time, dad. I'm gonna help you, you're gonna live.\" The young man dropped his bag and reached in the car, grabbing his father's hand. Concentrating, he began to focus on trying to heal what had been hurt.\n\nHis dad sadly shook his head. \"No, Dev,\" he whispered. \"This isn't a sprained ankle or a broken arm. Don't waste your power on me.\" If Devon heard his father's words, he ignored them, his brow furrowing as he concentrated harder, pushing more energy, more power.\n\n\"I can fix this,\" Devon grunted, a bead of sweat forming on his temple.\n\nHis dad begged more urgently, \"please, stop this. Don't do this.\"\n\nDevon pushed harder, willing his healing powers to fix this! Neither he nor his elderly father noticed the changes taking place around them, as Devon continued forcing his will in an attempt to undo the damage. Metal flexed, glass knitted itself back together, dislocated and missing parts snaked across the ground toward the Plymouth.\n\nIt hurt, it hurt so much, but Devon refused to quit. He couldn't let his dad die in his inherited '58 Fury. He was supposed to die peacefully, at home, with loved ones.\n\n\"Dev…\" his father squeezed his hand and Devon opened his eyes. \"It's my time. You can't fix that. I miss my dad. I miss your mother. Please, let me go.\"\n\nCrying, Devon shook his head. \"What will I do?\"\n\n\"What you've always done- be Devon Martin.\" The old man smiled, a tear in his eye. \"It's time for me to go home.\" He closed his eyes and rested against the seat. \"I love you, son,\" were his whispered last words.\n\nLetting go of the old man's limp hand, Devon hung his head and sobbed, leaning against a showroom-new Plymouth as a light rain began to fall.", "knock knock\n\n\"Come in!\" \n\nThe door opened and a young woman, no older than 23 I guessed, sheepishly entered my office. \n\nIf you can call it an office. Really it was just the remodeled garage on the side of my house. I had the roll up door removed and bricked over the gaping hole that was left, then added a standard door to the side that could be accessed by a short path of paving stones. \n\n\"HI. Um, youre...New Guy, right?\", she asked. \n\nMan I hated that name. \"Yeah, that's me.\", I grumbled. \"How can I help you?\"\n\nHolding up a flyer she said in barely more than a whisper, \"You're looking for test subjects right? To find the limits of your power?\"\n\nThat perked me up. I had put those flyers up at the grocery store, my best customer, two weeks ago and I hadn't gotten a single response. Until today that is. \n\nI sat up a little straighter. \"Yes ma'am, that's correct. Do you have something you'd like me to try and make new?\" My mind was racing with the possibilities. Could it be she had a relative about to die and she wanted me to try and save them? Hell, I'd even try it on a pet first if I needed to. Was her marriage on the rocks, the passion all but gone, and she wanted me to try and renew that spark?\n\n\"Yes. Yes, I do. I don't know if it will work though. But I'll pay! I have $100 for you. If you need more I can-\"\n\nI cut her off right there. \"That's not how this works, Miss. This is a voluntary test. I can't rightfully charge you if I don't even know if it's gonna work. So, please, keep your money.\"\n\nShe smiled a little bit, the nervousness easing out of her. \"Thank you. Well, I guess we can just get right to it then.\" She reached into her purse and pulled out....\n\nHer driver's license. \n\nI just about fell out of my chair. She had to be kidding. \n\nShe must've figured out what I was thinking based on the look on my face because the smile faltered and she said, \"Oh, I'm sorry. This must not be the kind of thing you're looking for. I can go.\" \n\n\"No. No. It's not that. Honestly, you're the first person to respond to the add so I don't know what I was expecting. I'm sorry if I made you feel unwelcome. I'd be more than happy to try and help you. Just come over to the desk and take a seat. \n\nShe crossed the room and sat in one of the chairs I had placed in front of my desk and put the little card on top of my calendar. \n\n\"So this isn't gonna look like much when it happens. No magical glowing or anything like that. When I do it to the bananas at the store they just from kinda brown to perfectly yellow in one second to the next. You can't even see it happen.\" \n\nShe just nodded. \n\nI took a look at the license and saw that the expiration date was tomorrow. She was cutting it close. I also saw that her name was Julianne. Pretty name. It fit her. \n\nI placed my right index finger on the card, right over the expiration date, closed my eyes and began to focus my power. \n\nA few quiet seconds later I opened my eyes and slowly lifted my finger away from the ID. \n\n\"Holy shit balls! It worked!\", I shouted. \n\n\"Oh, thank God!\", she exclaimed and all the nerves and anxiety just emptied out of her. \"I really hate the DMV.\", she said with a slight chuckle\n\n\"Me too. Me too.\", I agreed. \"This might be a little forward but do you wanna maybe grab a coffee?\" \n\n\"I think I'd be okay with that\", she said with a smile. \"My treat! But if it gets cold you've gotta try and make it hot like new, okay?\"\n\n\"You've got a deal, Julianne.\"\n\n\"So you wanna go now, New Guy?\"\n\nGod, I hate that name.", "Knowing the rising tension among my fellow scientists, I recalled the feeling of forcing renewal upon objects. I knew how difficult it was to extend my entire house's expiry date, from food to furniture, all at the same time. But a celestial body? I was becoming slightly agitated as my mind milled through the possible ramifications of such a feat.\n\n\"You've got to at least TRY, Vergil!\" Pleaded Edmund, a close friend I had made over the months of training for this program. His eyes betrayed fear I'd never seen in them before.\n\n\"I know it'll hurt, but you need to at least try.\" Slipping into a more comforting expression - if only just barely - he added, \"I promise I won't let it kill you.\"\n\nI slowly turned to observe the satellite's live feed. The sun's expansion had begun minutes before, and already, the miles-distant telescope's expansive view was all but filled by the dying star.\n\nI swallowed.\n\n\"This is gonna hurt,\" I muttered. My body grew tense, focus intensifying on the massive sphere before me. \n\nI reached to the screen, before hesitating and reaching to the sky far above the bunker. It was around noon, so it would be directly above me. Perfect.\n\nMy mind began to creak and groan under the strain, blood vessels in and around my eyes popping. My muscles bulged, gripping my bones so tightly they began to bruise. My nose began to trickle ever so slightly with blood, and as I forced my will even harder, I heard a quiet gasp.\n\nI looked up at the monitor.\n\nThe sun had, ever so slightly, began to shrink.", "\\- I can explain sir. I deferentially can. \n\n\\- Good Mary because your case does not look good. Tell me what did you do yesterday night between 7-9?\n\n\\- Oh let me see. I came back home from my shop at around 6. I made supper and went to sleep.\n\n\\- Where is your shop?\n\n\\- Lenfords and Haning. It is the antique shop next to the pharmacy. I have been working there for the past 37 years you know. Fixing old things and making them new again. It is where I met my Richard.\n\n\\- That is great. Did anyone see you leaving at six?\n\n\\- Oh let me thing. Yes Miss Klair from the pharmacy. We said good night at around 6:05. A jolly young lady, may I add. Still single also. I am sure she would not mind if a nice young gentleman like yourself passed by the pharmacy to ask a few questions. Maybe over coffee?\n\n\\- ... Ms Mary please concentrate! This is a murder investigation. \n\n\\- Yes but the investigation can not lead anywhere because my husband dies of natural causes. While Miss Klair is a lovely young SINGLE lady from the area. \n\n\\- Ms Mary please. For the love of God! \n\n\\- Well you asked for my alibi if I am not mistaken and Miss Klair is the last person who saw me yesterday. So I believe it to be natural...\n\n\\- I will go to the pharmacy and ask questions right after this interview. I promise you. Now let's get back to our discussion. You claim that your husband died of natural causes. Correct?\n\n\\- Correct. He had a weak heart.\n\n\\- And that is the reason he visited the local doctor often is that correct?\n\n\\- Yes Doctor Griforst. Excellent professional.\n\n\\- You do see how it sounds weird that your husband did not eek an appointment for the last 5 months then.\n\n\\- That is true. He did not need them anymore.\n\n\\- In fact neighbors say he did not appear anywhere in the last 5 months. Not even the garden.\n\n\\- That is also correct.\n\n\\- And yesterday he died from a heart attack. You see how his family believes you had something to do with this?\n\n\\- His Family?\n\n\\- His sister reported a case of domestic abuse and murder after her visit to your house this morning.\n\n\\- First of all: Did you arrest her?\n\n\\- Arrest her?\n\n\\- For trespassing in my property while I had not permitted her to do so.\n\n\\- I am sure you will have the opportunity to sue her but let's focus on the initial charges first.\n\n\\- Fine then. I guess I have to explain this to you after all. No officer I did not kill nor neglect my husband. But also he had no use for doctors or walks in the park anymore. But first can I please have a glass of water?\n\n\\- Yes of course. \"knock\" Mickie get us a glass of water please. \n\n\\-Oh that is great now I will need your word dear officer that if I manage to prove that I haven't killed my husband you will go out and re-assure Cristina that her husband has died of natural causes and she is luck I am not suing her, but I would need my keys back. Can you agree to that?\n\n\\- Ms Mary this is not something you can negotiate about.\n\n\\- Aren't police always negotiating with criminals? That is how they do it in all of the crime novels!\n\n\\- In real life we are not judge jury and executioner. Also my patience is running a bit thin.\n\n\\- Great then don't promise me anything but you will se as I tell you this story that this is the best way to resolve it. Now seat tight young man and let me tell you about a little girl. \n\n\" When she was young her parents were very happy to see that her toys never got broken. 'Such a tidy and careful girl' they said patting themselves on the shoulder for raising a proper lady. It was other times then you see and fora young lady being a good housekeeper was greatly valued.\n\nThe little girl grew up thinking that she is just very neat and tidy, She saw other kids breaking their toys and not fixing them and thought that this is what \"tidy\" means. One who fixes their things when they break. She found it very lazy of the other kids to run to their parents crying over a broken doll while they could just wish it to be fixed.\n\nYou can imagine how shocked she was when the teacher called her mother at school and blamed her of making up stories about wishing things to be fixed and upsetting the other students. Apparently her friends called her a liar after they saw her fixing her doll and she explained she wished it to be fixed. You can not blame the kids obviously, the wishing did not work for them so they run to the teacher and cried about it. The little girl never told another soul about her little secret.\"\n\n\\- That is indeed a great story Ms Mary but we are here for...\n\n\\- I will get to that! Oh what is it with people now a days. You can not entertain an old lady for just a few moments!\n\n\\- Very well then... \n\n\\- \"She experimented a bit and found out that she could fix the browning of an apple, she could make milk normal again after is soured and even in the hottest days her packed lunch would survive in her bag through a hike. People congratulated her on how well she packed her lunch and didn't think much about it.\n\nOne day the family dog, Milly I think it was called, got hit by a car and passed away. The little girl wished wished for her dog to become new again but it didn't work. Even though the wounds closed up nicely, life did not return to the poor creature. The little girl could not fix life. Maybe it was even arrogant of her to believe she could.\n\nAt some point, as all children do, the young lady would grow up and finish school. She had no ambitions for going to the big city as many others did, she only wanted to take over her fathers little shop next to the pharmacy and continue his work. He was rather reluctant to bring his daughter in a furniture repair business. Which is understandable. His lungs, after all, suffered greatly from the sawdust and the chemicals involved in restoring wood. So some years past before he became convinced to retire.\n\nIn the meantime the little girl, now a young woman met a young man and fell in love. They quickly married and her father passed on to them the little antique restoration shop so they can earn their living. And earn their living they did! Oh it was fantastic! The two lovebirds did lovely in fact. Her husbands business sense and her handwork attracted commissions from far and wide. People started speaking about this antique shop that could make your pieces as good as the day you bought them. \n\nThe years passed and our couple lived happily. Old age came and they welcomed it. They never closed the shop. Her husband got sick and stayed home most days but always came to the shop at the last day of the month to put on his heavy glasses and close the books. And I can tell you he made sure everyone payed up without fail. Until one day she came back home and found her husband on his chair cold and stiff. \n\nAnyone, at that point, would get to the telephone and call their family to prepare for a funeral but not everyone has the ability to make things good as new. So, in a maddening sadness, she wished him to become new again and it didn't work so she did it again and again until the morning. The next day she stayed home and tried to bring him back to no avail. Her powers after all didn't work on life. She went to work came back and fixed him every day. Sometimes she fulled herself to think that he was a bit warmer that time. Maybe next time it will work! \n\nUntil one day someone else found him and ended her efforts.\"\n\n\\- Ms Mary if you are attempting to go for an insanity plea please remember that it rarely ever works.\n\n\\- OUPS! seems like I dropped that glass. Such a shame it was a pretty glass.\n\n\\- Ms Mary you can not expect me to believe that you...\n\n\\- Oh I do really wish that his glass is fixed.\n\n\\- What? How?... Is this a trick?\n\n\\- Now officer please reconsider explaining to Cristina that all this is a misunderstanding and she needs to return my keys.", "Milo could say nothing. \n \n\n Abuela lay still; with shaky hands Milo inched closer. Hands extended above her before pulling away once again. \n\n 'Don't worry about me Hijo,' her voice tickled his ears and he choked back a sob. ' Being old is part of nature. You can't fix it, just enjoy what's left of your childhood.' \n\n He struggles to push the memory of yesterday away. He could still smell the faint aroma of his favorite cookies on her, she always smelled like home. \n\n Letting out another shaky breath, Milo don't hesitate and touched her large warm hands. He could feel his power enter her body slowly and suddenly she began to stir. \n\n \"Todays not the day Abuela...\" he whispered.", "I closed my locker and there she was. \n\nUsually she sashayed through the school, head high, confident, wearing tight shirts and short skirts that would make a hallway full of boy's jeans suddenly feel too tight. But now she wore a heavy sweater over baggy jeans and stood there quietly with her head down.\n\n\"I have a question,\" she whispered. \"You have the power to make things good as new again, right?\"\n\nShe had been out with her boyfriend. It was just the two of them in the car. They had been making out and things had gone too far. She had said no. He had went deaf. \n\n\"Give me your hand,\" I said.\n\nShe did.\n\n\"Close your eyes.\"\n\nShe did.\n\nI sent my power through her, healing her, making sure I didn't just get the external scars but the internal ones too.\n\nFinally, she smiled.\n\n\"Do you feel better?\" I asked.\n\n\"I do.\" She opened her eyes in tears. \"Thank you so much.\"\n\nThe next day I opened my locker and it was filled to the top with notes. Each note had a number and a variation of the same message:\n\nI heard what you did for that girl yesterday. Please make me good as new again, too.\n\nSo many people in pain. So many people in need of healing.\n\nTears came to my eyes." ]	7
	[WP] You started this hike and you're going to god damn finish it, no matter what lame horror the trail decides to throw at you.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 believe in ghosts. I believe in sweat and effort and real, physical things that you can touch. I love nature and that's why I'm out here in the first place, to be among the flora and the fauna of this world, not to be accosted by goddamn reminders of civilization every step I take.\n\nLook at that? Who just dumps trash out here like this? I've made it a habit to bring a trash bag with me and almost always end up hauling other people's refuse out of what should be a pristine habitat. Some people.\n\nIn hindsight, I might have benefitted from reading up on this forest before I started my trek. Sure, Ryan told me it was haunted and about multiple disappearances and said it was \"the Bermuda Triangle of all Hikes\" and refused adamantly to come with me, but he was always paranoid like that.\n\nDespite all the debris, I never saw another breathing living human. That was strange. Where was all this shit coming from?\n\nIt was only supposed to take a week. Hike in, camp, hike out, a big circle like everything else.\n\nFirst hurdle was the screaming trees. Not much of a problem for me, I live by a train station because I'm poor. The faces were a tad distressing, but not too much. I was empathizing with wood, I could get passed those feelings. Except they continued screaming at night. Luckily they seemed to only grow in patches and I was able to get away from the freakish things.\n\nYes, I tried chopping a smaller, hollowed out one down because I'm a monster and really just wanted a break. No, the tree never stopped screaming until I hacked its face apart. One experience like that was enough to convince me to not rest anywhere near here. I made sure to keep its remains to use later, though. The poor guy was all dried out and that's what I needed. I'm sorry little guy.\n\nNext up were the swamp monsters. Yep. Swamp monsters. Lamest things ever in real life. They don't move that quickly outside the bog that birthed them, so you just stick to the path that helpfully leads around the precious ecosystem of the wetlands, and everything turns out fine. Like the trees, the worst they're gonna do is moan at you. Though, I wouldn't want to get near one to have it grab me. Don't be stupid like that though and you'll be fine like me.\n\nGiant bats then flew out of caves in the ravine along which the path ran parallel. I was beginning to feel like I was some novice in a game or something, expecting some huge rodents to pop out until I kill ten of them.\n\nThose big jerks did want to bite me, but I kept an ultra-bright flashlight on me with a strobe function that worked well enough to blind the bastards. They weren't all that big really and their necks were fragile enough. Once they knew I mean business they backed off.\n\nRyan made it seem like there would actually be something nefarious going on. So far it's just lame monsters. When I get back, he'll never hear the end of this. If I get back.\n\nAfter the bats was about when I started seeing the Shadow Man. A creepy black man-like thing that I gave the appropriate moniker to. He would pop up in the corner of my vision but when I tried to focus in on him, or it, he'd disappear. I noticed that when I tried to focus in on him, the next time he'd get closer. What a stupid thing. I live in a city. I can ignore anyone for any reason or no reason. Just don't pay attention to him and he stays away. Easy. Lame. Whatever. I'm finishing this damn hike.\n\nThe approved plan had me hiking up to a pit in the earth. They had the gall to call it the \"Pit to Hell\". Great, finally an attraction. It was cool really, but for the smell of rotten eggs. It was a hole in the earth that seemed to have no bottom. Don't gaze into too long, I found my thoughts wandering, let's just say elsewhere. Don't look into it, and spend a little time around it and you don't notice the smell anymore.\n\nSeriously, though, just don't look into it. Somehow I picked up a stowaway.\n\nStowaway? We are no stowaway! We are eternal! We are legion!\n\nHe doesn't really do much but taunt me and boast, but it's definitely annoying.\n\nThe hike does get funky around the middle point. I got turned around somewhere, my compass was out of whack, my GPS didn't work, and the damned forest moves when you're in it is the best way I can describe it. I had three paths to choose from, hoping the one I picked would lead me out. If you're reading this, I chose the one on the closest to the Pit.\n\nBelieve me, though. I'm finishing this goddamn hike no matter what. Ryan will never ever live this down when I get back.\n\nYou're never leaving this forest, mortal!\n\n/r/courageisnowhere", "Continuing down the trail for the second time today, she found that things were quite off. There was a strange color effect on the trees. Almost as if she were watching her surroundings from an old VHS tape, which she could hardly remember since her parents raised her in the 90's.\n\nPulling out her phone she began to question her serenity. She was always bickering with herself to move forwards. It helped her stay motivated throughout the day.\n\nSuddenly she realized how clear, and bright and sunny it was, and that nobody was on that trail. She was completely alone. She was the only person tasked to finish it. Suddenly she felt as if the entire universe had become complacent to her existence. Everyone had already left her, and her phone had no remaining battery.", "Despite my growing abdominal pain, I continued hiking up the hill. \n\n\nNow you may be asking, \"Is this a smart idea?\" or \"Should you really do all this in the dead of night?\" My only answer to both of those questions is \"Probably not.\" \n\n\nBut I'm not the type to quit, I will keep going until I finish, even if some forest animal decides I would be the perfect midnight snack. \n\n\nSo I keep trekking, it's a really steep slope with a lot of rocks to trip on, so I have to pay extra attention to the ground in front of me to make sure I don't trip and never wake up again. \n\n \nWhat I don't notice however, is the growing amount of light in the forest. Normally at this hour, only the moonlight should be shining on the ground, but this was like social media apps on light mode. Bright, and annoying. \n\n\nEventually, I do take notice that the ground in front of me is whole lot easier to see now. So I look up and around me to see where's all the sudden light coming from. \n\n\nDirectly behind me is a bright, white, shining ball of fire. almost like a miniature, pale sun. Now that I start looking at it, I can hear voices. \n\n\n\"Come with us\" \n\"Paradise awaits you\" \n\"If you don't like it, you can get your money back. We promise\" \n\"We've come to talk to you about your cars extended warranty.\" \n\n\nOk I made those last two up. Anyhow, by this point I thought I was dreaming, and not wanting to head straight into some nightmare realm, I just turn around and keep walking forward on the path. \n\n\nIt's been a few days now, and I don't think it was a dream." ]	4
	[WP] Santa never referred to a single individual; Christmas was just reconnaissance.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "(Part 2)\n\nBut why do all of this, you ask? Information. Information is one of the most valuable things someone can have, and as an organization who annually surveys people's houses and is given requests from every single person, it's extremely important. They spend the intervals between Decembers submitting data, analyzing it, sorting it, and doing things with it. \n\nChristmas is the most commercial holiday in the world, Santa can keep track of what everyone wants because they all ask for it. (By the way, that's how this all runs so smoothly. They give the public what they want to silence any questions.) Santa can sell the information of the public's needs to companies and stores to maximize profits. In addition, as an organization who goes into everybody's house annually, they can sell that information to governments. Like, imagine how much money you could get by selling the insides of houses for the government to add to the population's profiles. If there's something sketchy in your house, Santa will know, and it will get rid of all of the trouble involved in investigation warrants for the police.", "(Part 3)\n\nConsidering how only people who don't celebrate other religious holidays won't be involved, such as not delivering presents to a household celebrating Hanukkah, there's definitely some sort of religious purpose involved.\n\nTo expand on my idea that Santa gives gifts to the houses he visits, there's a lot of persuasion involved. The gifts are part of the main point. Nobody that generous can possibly have other intentions, right? And the naughty and nice list thing's true purpose isn't any different. It's a tactic for parents to be able to control their kids and a reliable way to get kids to not act up, which will make parents trust Santa as he makes their jobs easier.\n\nAnd on that note, if you're bad, you get coal. Individuals who get coal are marked in the giant mass of information Santa collects, as mentioned in a previous comment. If someone gets coal, it means they were bad despite being promised rewards for doing otherwise, which gives them a record of being a bad kid. This will make it easier to predict how someone will grow up, and Santa can sell the information of people's personalities and actions to police officials if that individual ever causes trouble or companies looking to hire someone.", "Hi! I helped come up with this prompt, and here's a continuation of my other ideas: (Part 1)\n\nSanta would probably be referred to like Big Brother, so \"He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake\" means \"He\" represents one worker in an organization. This makes way more sense if Santa surveys everyone simultaneously.\n\nEvery fake Santa in malls or Christmas theme parks is actually real, and they really are taking requests from children sitting on their laps. Each mall Santa represents the area they were assigned to, making the process of delivering presents all over the world in one night way more believable.\n\nI'm going to make more comments when I think of them", "“Bring our boys in red home. Expeditionary Mall Santa Corps, you are free to land. Move forward to X-Mas Ops. Go for Wrapping? Go for Infiltration? Go for Transport? Roger. Go for Flight?” the captain said into his station on Rudolph I. “Requesting go from Flight.”\n\n“You may proceed when ready, Captain,” the voice growled from the darkness of his almost throne-like command chair. The barest hint of a white beard could be seen on his onyx robes. The operator suppressed a shudder; how in the hell did the civvy saps get some idea of a red-vested jolly old man for their Santa? How did that even make sense?\n\n“We have received go from flight. Rudolph I, clear for flight. Systems check positive, active on command…” he half-turned toward the man in the chair, who gave a semi-dissmissive gesture of approval to proceed. “All systems green. Get it under 15 seconds, people; move it!” The captain watched his systems board, swathed with red and orange systems activation indicator, turn green like a bunch of Christmas lights. He felt the small customary shudder from the ship as it flew into the sky.\n\nThe captain executed a crisp half-turn (he had graduated from the Academy with honors and was determined to show it every day). “Command passing from Captain ELF-2893 to Commander ELF-4950,” he called out to the bridge. “Don’t fuck this up, Commander,” he tossed over his shoulder as he exited the bridge. The commander gave a smirk and assumed his post at the fore of the bridge. As the hydraulic doors shut, the captain made his way to Operations, where he was greeted by 6 regiments standing to attention.\n\n“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s go time. Operation X-Mas. You’ve been given your assignments and ship names. Nothing more to say. You’ve trained long and hard for this. I have full faith in you. Remember: nobody wakes up.” A low, ominous voice uttered over the system intercom “Do not fail me now.” The captain sought to regain face. “Dis-missed.” \n\nIt certainly was a shame that this Christmas wasn’t going to go like it had for the past couple hundred years. Word from HQ was that High Command decided they would take a more…direct approach in Earth’s affairs; thus, a neurological agent had been inserted in the presents of every child on the planet. Everyone would be affected, chaos would ensue…and they would step in and save the world. For a price, obviously. \n\nOh, well. It wasn’t the captain’s problem, now. He retired to his cabin content that he had done his job." ]	5
	[WP] You were forced to share a house with an eldritch being. While it does have features that would scare many to death, you learned that there's a lot of benefits to being its housemate. For one, it's surprisingly a good chef.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "\"THY MEAL IS SERVED.\"\n\nIt happened again.\n\nPol'geth cooked dinner.\n\nI knew better than to go looking for them to thank them. Last time I did that, I went mad from seeing their true form. Three weeks of inpatient, six weeks of intensive outpatient therapy. I'm still on the antipsychotics from that.\n\nI hopped off the bed and walked to the door.\n\n\"DRESS THY FORM! THY KIN ARRIVES SHORTLY.\"\n\n\"Thanks, Pol.\" What kin? I pulled on a pair of sweats and a hoodie and made my way to the kitchen, where two plates of tamales and my phone were sitting.\n\nThe phone buzzed.\n\nIt was a text from Tara, my sister: \"Ugh. Crappy day. Can I stop by for a drink?\"\n\nWith a smile, I texted back: \"Sure! Got some tamales, too, Pol cooked dinner.\"\n\n\"Don't give him any of my hair or any creepy shit like that.\"\n\nI laughed.\n\nA second text came in: \"I mean, tell him thanks.\"\n\nI cleared my throat. \"GREAT POL'GETH, THY GENEROSITY IS APPRECIATED. WHAT SACRIFICE NEED I MAKE?\" I broadcasted to the whole townhouse.\n\n\"THY HAPPINESS IS ENOUGH.\"\n\nI breathed a sigh of relief. Sometimes they really did ask for sacrifices, usually of hair, fingernails, dead bugs, or dead plants. \n\nThe one big argument we had was about my hair. I'd gone to a salon and gotten a trim, and didn't bring any hair back. They were furious. All that hair that I was doing nothing with, going to waste. I still don't know quite what they do with it, but not getting it resulted in another true form incident. That time it was only two weeks inpatient.\n\nTara walked in without knocking.\n\n\"Dude! You gotta stop that! Sometimes Pol'geth is out here in their true form!\"\n\n\"Hi Ani,\" Tara said dryly. \n\n\"MORTAL ANI IS CORRECT. PLEASE CHECK THE REFRIGERATOR FOR THY INTOXICANTS.\" I was running to the kitchen as he spoke.\n\n\"Oh shit, pineapple margaritas?\" I laughed, I couldn't help it. Pol could be a little extra sometimes.\n\n\"Really?\" Tara made a beeline for the kitchen table where a plate of tamales, still warm, waited just for her. \"Awesome, thanks, Pol.\"\n\n\"I EXPECT A SACRIFICE.\"\n\n\"What?!\" Tara and I spoke in unison.\n\n\"MORTAL TARA! CLIP THY FINGERNAILS.\"\n\n\"That's weird. I'm not doing that.\" Tara grimaced.\n\n\"Uh... yeah you are. When something that can warp the fabric of reality and is my roommate tells you to clip thy fingernails,\" I said, rummaging in my purse, \"you clip thy fucking fingernails.\"\n\nI handed her my nail clippers and dropped my voice to a hiss. \"I am not going inpatient for that motherfucker again. Clip 'em.\"\n\n\"What does he even do with these?\" She clipped her index fingernail, sending the clipping to the floor.\n\n\"FOOLISH TARA! WE ARE NOT HE! WE ARE MORE, WE ARE BEYOND YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF NUMBER! WE COLLECT THE HUSKS OF THE DEAD, THE DYING KERATIN OF THE BODY, THE CELLS WITH NO LIFE LEFT. WE USE THEM TO GROW MORE POWERFUL. WE FILL THE EMPTY HUSKS WITH ETERNAL DARKNESS, JUST LIKE CORN HUSKS FILLED WITH MY PERFECT TAMALES!\"", "Bleary eyed and very tired, Charlotte rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she descended the stairs. The distinct sound of sizzling bacon echoed from the kitchen, the clattering of pots and pans easily startling the fog of early morning from her head. \n\n\"Good morning! Eggs? Bacon? Toast? Coffee? Beef wellington?\"\n\n\"I don't like eggs.\"\n\n\"Pity.\" The massive horror took up most of the space in the kitchen, his tentacles brushing over her legs as she sat down at the kitchen table. \n\n\"Coffee, please. Bacon and toast too if it's not too much trouble.\"\n\nHe waved a nobby clawed hand. \"No trouble at all. Really is a shame that you don't like eggs. I made a wonderful batch of eggs benedict.\" His grotesquely deep and raspy voice grates on her nerves. \"Hollandaise sauce is to die for.\"\n\nHe walked-more so shuffled-over to the table and placed a mug down, pouring the hot coffee as he regarded her with keen black eyes. If he wasn't some otherworldly dimensional being that occupied nightmares, she'd think of him as someone sharp and handsome. He practically towered over her, Charlotte swallowing nervously as he placed her plate down. \n\n\"Thank You Xel'lotath.\" \n\nThe horror nodded and crouched down to awkwardly sit opposite of her, half of him falling off the chair. His fanged maw opened with a slimy click of his jaw, the eggs benedict sliding off the plate and into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed thickly. \n\n\"So!\" One hand theatrically slammed down on the table. \"What's on the menu today?\" \n\n\"Work,\" she said flatly. He deflated and sighed heavily.\n\n\"I don't know why I was sent here,\" he began. \"And I'm fully aware it's taken a great period of adjusting to my prescence, but this is a two way street, Charlotte.\"\n\nShe blinked. \"What do you mean?\"\n\n\"You're busy and I'm stuck here in an empty house.\" His eyes narrowed into predatory slits. \"I can't go outside-\"\n\n\"Get to the point, I have to get ready.\"\n\n\"I'd like to spend more time with you. Observe that strange television. Learn more about your world.\" He worried his bony fingers. \"I'd very much enjoy being your friend.\" With all his subtle dread, he looked awkward and unsure. \n\nCharlotte smiled and grasped his large hand, cool and textured, against her warm skin. \n\n\"I think that can be arranged.\"\n\nXel'lotath gave her a broad wheezing smile. Perhaps sharing her space with an Eldritch monstrosity wouldn't be so bad after all. Besides, he was a fantastic chef.", "\"Aefa khreai tangku.\"\n\n\"You think that I added too much salt?\" I peered over my shoulder and asked the dimly-lit corner of the kitchen.\n\n\"Acht,\" a raspy voice was heard in my head.\n\nI grabbed a spoon from the drawer, dipped it into the pot of creamy mushroom soup I was making and took a taste. 'Urgh' was not enough to describe what I tasted. I threw the spoon into the sink and sighed, thinking of throwing the pot into the sink too.\n\n\"Eshkala navir, uhm grazitsh.\"\n\nJust as I grabbed the handles of the pot, I heard the raspy voice and asked in response, \"Wait, you can do that?\"\n\nA moment of silence, I saw a thin and hazy black tentacle reached over my shoulder and dipped into the pot. After a few moments, the tentacle extracted itself out of the pot and I knew it went back to the corner of the kitchen. The raspy voice said in my mind, \"Gult, rekha pakh.\"\n\nTaking back the same spoon I threw into the sink moments ago, I scooped up a small amount of soup, took a quick and unsure glance at the corner, before inserting it into my mouth.\n\n\"Ah, it's so heavenly!\"\n\n\"Nashvi ufa, uhm freynki tangku,\" the raspy voice stated. It sounded kind of proud.\n\nHappily, I scooped more of the soup and helped myself. Though I did stop going for more after the raspy voice said that it has not been fully cooked. Nodding, I waited for while before getting a ladle out of a drawer. Smelling the soup, I poured a generous amount into a large bowl and set it aside before picking up the pot and placing it at the dimly-lit corner of the kitchen.\n\n\"Grozly kin nehta pirr, therim kash,\" a soft raspy voice went as I saw multiple tentacles manifesting from the walls and swirling into the pot. In less than a second, a pot of creamy mushroom soup enough to feed a family of five was empty.\n\nGrinning at the polite Eldritch being's tentacles, I bowed in thanks. As the tentacles withdrew back into the walls, memories of the first time meeting Azathin started floating in my head...\n\nThree months ago, when I first moved into the apartment, I considered it a steal. $600 a month for the entire two-bedroom apartment located in the heart of Singapore! It was a fantastic opportunity for a young independent fellow like myself to start a life free from the constraints of family. But just two days into my stay, I figured out why the landlord was so generous...\n\nShadows leapt around at the night and even during the day, the shower water being unnervingly cold and my electronics don't work most of the time. Random sounds from the walls and whispers in my head did not allow me to have a good rest. On the third night of living in the apartment, just as I considered hiring an exorcist to check out the place, an apparition spawned dead-center in the living room.\n\nA tall and grotesque creature floated in the air. There were no eyes that I could see, neither mouth, nose, ears or anything. Its body, which only had tentacles for limbs, was full of wide pus-filled pores that seemed as though it was breathing, splattering ungodly juices all over my living room. Its tentacles rocked side to side, back to front, front to back.\n\nSlowly, from its dark body, I saw a opening that started to slowly form. It was white like ivory. It became larger and larger, until I realized that it formed a set of teeth not unlike that of a human's, and it looked as if it was grinning at me.\n\nI think my response was not normal. While others would scream and run away at the sight of a hideous monster similar to those in B-list films, perhaps roaring prayers at the top of their lungs before dropping dead at the next second out of heart attack, I...\n\n\"CHEEBYE, WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT?!\" I recall shouting at it while bracing for a response.\n\nThe creature seemed to pause. Its tentacles stopped swaying about like mad and the things that were all over the room seem to dissipate. Then, I heard a voice in my head.\n\n\"Baszir. Uhm brey baszir.\"\n\nCook. I want to cook.\n\nFrom then on, through talking with the creature that identified itself as Azathin, I learned that it greatly enjoys human food and has learned to cook from various cultures and civilizations throughout history, earning itself the name \"The Chef God\" among its peers. I also learned that another Eldritch being similar to Azathin, as a prank, casted a \"sit-still spell\" that forced Azathin to remain in the last place it visited. Unfortunately for the poor guy, it was stuck in this very apartment where, at the time, it was observing an old lady cooking sambal fried rice using very unique methods, which caught its eye.\n\n\"You'll be here for another 99 years?\" I remember asking at one point, to which a tentacle nodded next to me. At the time, we were enjoying a large plate of samosas that Azathin made, while we were watching Twilight on Netflix.\n\nCall me crazy but I don't think I'll be moving out anytime soon. Not when there's a professional in-house chef that can cook for me and as a bonus, teaches me how to cook!" ]	4
	[WP] Plagues are deliberately genetically engineered and released in the past to stop worse events from happening.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Nathan removed the plague doctor’s mask and gas mask beneath it, taking a deep breath of filtered air as the portal snapped shut. His apprentice did the same, wide-eyes still contemplating what had just happened. \r \n“We were responsible for the Bubonic Plague? That ravaged Europe?” She got the words out breathlessly, trying to ignore the tightening in her chest. \r \nNathan moved to hang up the gear, letting the room’s scrubbers work to remove any vestiges of the past that might have snuck through. “Of course. You don’t think things like that just happen by chance, do you?”\r \nCassie felt the world spin and her lunch revolt in her stomach. Before she knew it, she had redecorated the interior of the clean room. Nathan sighed and rolled his eyes. \r \n“You newbies are always so dramatic.” He punched in a command on the wall's keypad, and cleanup bots swarmed to the site of the potential contagion. \r \n“But I just helped kill millions.” \r \n“And by doing so, you saved billions. Surely you’ve seen the time reels regarding what happens without our intervention?” \r \nCassie nodded wordlessly, eyes staring unfocused in the distance. She had entered the portal that morning full of hope and optimism. She was elite, about to change the world. Now she felt a horrifying sense of shame covering her. Nothing in the clean room was going to remove that. \r \n“Come on, not every day is like this,” he offered in lukewarm tones. She could see his eyes going to the readout on the wall, counting down the minutes until the contagion cycle was complete and he could leave. Nathan was good at the job and terrible with people, which seemed to be the fit the Organization wanted. \r \nHer breathing was starting to stabilize, reality retreating and making room for a fantasy she could construct. One in which killing millions truly was not only the lesser of two evils, but a kindness.\r \nShe had seen the reels, of course. Global famine, children starving in the streets, riots, looting, destruction. Human progress slowed to a crawl and took centuries to return. And it rebuilt worse, more brutal. She knew that. And yet the feeling of horror continued to eat away.\r \n“Couldn’t there be another way to change things?” \r \nNathan gave another frustrated sigh, now not even trying to hide his gaze. He focused on the countdown as if willing it to drop. “Of course there are other ways. For some events. Why do you think we save babies and prevent asteroids? Or introduce a rumor to one particular street corner? Or remove a particularly troublesome lynchpin?” \r \n“Then why not that here?” \r \n“Because we tried all of that and none of it works. It just kicks the can down the road a few decades and ends up with the same garbage.”\r \nCassie dropped to one of the benches along the wall. Now that the initial panic had ebbed, adrenaline dwindling in her system, she began to tease apart the problem. Nathan was not watching her, did not see that spark of determination in her eyes.\r \n“How many of the world’s catastrophe have our fingerprints on them?” \r \n“Ours specifically? Only this one. And a small fire in 1873, but that was only a local catastrophe.”\r \n“No, the Organization as a whole?” \r \nNathan paused a moment, nodding his head as he thought through the situations. “Probably most of them. Humanity as a species needs a lot of course correcting.” He smiled at that, shaking his head and chuckling. “If not for us, we’d have been extinct ages ago.” \r \nThe timer on the wall chimed, doors whooshing open. Nathan did not wait, but breezed out into the hall. She could hear him down the corridor, stopping and speaking to someone else. \r \n“Another easy success. Things should stay on track.” Mumbled responses, then the sharp click of boots down the hall to somewhere else. \r \nA few faces peered in at Cassie, but quickly hurried away. There was an intensity to the set of her face that was uncomfortable. Bystanders wanted plausible deniability and sped from the area.\r \nOnly when the chime sounded to admit another team did Cassie get up and exit into the hall. Something cold and heavy had settled on her thoughts in those moments alone. The Organization had developed from Earth Neutral, with no interference. A brutal place wracked by war and atrocities. \r \nAnd somehow they were the arbiters of what human success should be? \r \nAll the “course correcting” in the universe would not help if the map was all wrong. \r \nSomeone—and Cassie felt a strange sense of purpose in the thought—was going to need to correct that map." ]	2
	[WP] For your role-playing game character's Warlock patron, you pick God (the actual omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent entity from behind every/any religion(s) of your choice). They take the role VERY seriously.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Yair helped himself to another handful of chips. Somewhere along the line, they had stopped tasting like guilt. He'd almost managed to forget that he was eating and drinking and playing this game while the rest of his family was at the Kol Nidre service, beginning their Yom Kippur fast. They weren't going to make any friends that way, Yair thought. They had moved to the states from Israel less than a year ago. The least they could do was try to fit in. He looked down at his character sheet and frowned. The fact that he had put \"God\" down as his warlock's patron was an unwelcome reminder of the day. Was an epic boss fight at the end of a level 20 campaign too late to erase it?\n\n\"It's your turn. The kraken has just dealt you 20 more damage, and you're grappled. What do you do?\"\n\n\"I can't do anything. I'm down and I'm going to be failing death saves.\" Yair said.\n\n\"Maybe we can save him. Can I talk to you in private, Joe?\" Ethan asked. Yair had been going by Joe with his American friends.\n\nAs soon as they were in private, Ethan collapsed. A voice that didn't sound like his at all came from his mouth.\n\n\"Go to Nineveh,\" Ethan said, \"Warn them that death will come from above if they remain as they are.\"\n\nNineveh was an amateur band whose members went to school with Yair. There was no reason for Ethan to be referencing them in his game. Heck, Ethan had never been that good of an actor before.\n\n\"Ethan...\" Yair said.\n\nEthan sat up and blinked.\n\n\"Yeah, we were talking about saving your character, right?\"\n\n\"Um, we were, and then you kind of...\"\n\n\"Excellent,\" Ethan said, seemingly unaware that anything had happened, \"I have an idea. You still have that cloak of acid immunity from last session, right?\"\n\n\"Yeah,\" Yair said.\n\n\"Then being in the stomach of the kraken shouldn't make you fail death saves, because the acid wouldn't deal any damage.\"\n\nYair nodded. He spent another hour or so of real-world time in the stomach of the kraken as his fellow players fought on. It looked like they were losing, and Yair's character was still unconscious. Nineveh's show would be closing in half an hour, but why should Yair care? He didn't like anyone from Nineveh, and the feeling was mutual. Still, a kid in high school perishing was...a pretty big deal. Yair made up his mind.\n\n\"Is it alright if I cut out early? I told some friends I would come to their show,\" Yair said.\n\n\"I suppose we can wrap up this combat without you,\" Ethan said, \"Leandra, it's your turn. What do you do?\"\n\nLeandra, the rogue, scored a critical sneak attack which sliced the kraken clean open, revealing Yair's character alive and unharmed.\n\n\"Are you sure you don't want to keep playing?\"\n\n\"I really have to go. I made a promise.\" said Yair.\n\nHe made it just as Nineveh was about to play their big finale. He would have to get closer to see what was broken. He jostled his way through the crowd until he could see the stage. It was the lighting system. The chain holding it was already breaking.\n\n\"Nineveh!\" Yair yelled.\n\n\"Nineveh,\" the people next to him cheered. Soon the cheer was rippling through the crowd. Yair wouldn't make them understand this way. He jumped up on the stage.\n\n\"What are you doing here, loser?\" said Roy, the lead singer. His tone was mocking Yair's accent, as he always did when they spoke. It made Yair want to let Roy die. That would be satisfying, like the time Yair ripped up Roy's school assignment or swatted his chips out of his hand in the hall...only it would be permanent. And who knows how many innocent people that lighting system would take out?\n\n\"The lights are falling! Look out!\" That was all Yair could get out before they fell. He tackled Roy out of the way. Nineveh scattered. When the dust cleared, no one was badly hurt.\n\n\"You saved me!\" Roy said, \"I'm sorry for...well, everything I've done this past year.\"\n\n\"Don't mention it,\" Yair said, \"I...uh, did some stuff too, this past year. I'm sorry for that.\"\n\nBy the time Yair got home, he was a bit hungry again, but he went straight up to his room. There were still twenty hours left before Yom Kippur was over, and he was going to try to fast. Maybe he'd even go to synagogue with his family tomorrow.", "“Well, that’s another roll of twenty. With a modifier of minus-1, you have a nineteen. Your... improvised attack hits the dragon, and it’s a critical hit due to your roll. Again.”\n\nJeremy’s patience looked to be wearing thin. The dragon’s lair was probably supposed to be the final area we explored in our Crusaders & Castles game, but our party felt emboldened after my character, St. Benedict, showed persistent, unusual luck. I’d declared that his eldritch ‘patron’ was just the good-old-American apple pie God back in the first session, and recently his ‘prayers’ had been answered in the form of a statistically implausible sequence of perfect dice rolls. Better lucky than good, I’d always said, and ‘St. Benedict’ was certainly both. His preferred method of attack – hurling Bibles – wasn’t favored by the mechanics of the game, but who cares when you can just get the perfect die roll each time? \n\nJeremy spoke up, interrupting my self-satisfied reverie. “Remember, the bible-throw’s damage is based on a four-sided die, and you’re all about to drop to the dragon’s fire-breath next turn, even if you roll a perfect dodge again. I’m still willing to roll the game back to the village. It’s no fun if everyone’s characters just die here.”\n\n“Don’t worry, Jeremy. I feel lucky today,” I replied. \n\n“I can assure you that the dragon has more than four hit points left.”\n\n“Not to worry. God will provide.” I picked up the tetrahedron that would decide the fate of our entire adventuring party, and rolled it into the center of the table. \n\nJeremy sighed. “Very well. That’s… wait, does that say three hundred? Is this a trick die?”\n\n“No,” I told him.\n\n“Very funny. Use this one.” He handed me his own four-sided die.\n\n“What a doubting Thomas,” I said, and rolled again, using his die this time. \n\n“Ha-ha. That’s… four hundred? What on earth?”\n\nNOT ON EARTH, BUT IN HEAVEN. A voice boomed, rattling the table and causing books to fall from their shelves. I HAVE DECREED THAT THIS MAN SHALL DEFEAT THE DRAGON. LET IT BE SO. FOUR HUNDRED DAMAGE IS MY WILL.\n\nJeremy stared blankly at me. “Is this why you picked real-life God as your patron?”\n\n“Of course,” I said.\n\n“You realize this has major implications for… everything?”\n\n“I guess,” I replied. \n\n“Right. Well, I don’t have anything prepared in the event of you guys killing the boss immediately. I’ll call a break here and we can meet up again next week.”\n\nACTUALLY, FRANK IS BUSY NEXT WEEK. HOWEVER, I HAVE SECURED TIME OFF FROM YOUR BOSS, IN MY NAME, ON THURSDAY. IT WILL NOT COME OUT OF YOUR VACATION TIME. YOU WILL PLAY THEN INSTEAD.\n\n“It’s true, I am busy,” I said. \n\nJeremy sighed heavily. “Very well. We’ll play on Thursday at seven. I’ll see you all back here. If you want to take down-time actions, email me before – “\n\n“Wait a minute!” Our friend Kostas stood up. “My Warlock didn’t get to do anything!”\n\n“Well,” Jeremy replied, “Ask Zeus for a better initiative roll.”" ]	3
	[WP] You’re prescribed medicine to help you focus, what they didn’t tell you was that you were actually swallowing old spirits that possess you to do their bidding and live the life that they wished they could’ve lived.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 know what you're thinking, you're thinking \"that can't possibly be legal.\" And you're probably expecting me to reply with something along the lines of \"of course it's not legal, it's black market black magic!\" But that's where you're wrong!\n\nBecause this stuff? This stuff went through an honest-to-gods scientific medical study for efficacy and safety. That's right, the pills made from the preserved bones of your ancestors in order to gain their spiritual wisdom are FDA approved!\n\nNow, you're wondering \"How? How is that possible? Also, is telepathy a side effect or something because you're guessing everything I'm saying!?\" To answer that last bit, no, I'm just putting words in your mouth. Though that is a side effect.\n\nAnyway, it's possible because they just did it the science way: Get a bunch of college students together for a study and give 'em a bunch of pills! I remember my own time in the study well, though I'm not on the stuff today. Fill out a form, do a medical history, have a doctor check me over, that kind of thing. Really the only difference between this and a regular study was the presence of a number of priests in case of possession, and the doctor I mentioned earlier was actually a witchdoctor.\n\nMy time was pretty easy: take the pills right when I wake up in the morning. I didn't feel a lot of focus, but as you've already noticed I got some side effects. Not just the assuming-what-you're-saying thing, but also lightheadedness, that kind of thing.\n\nSo imagine my absolute surprise at the end of the study when it turns out the drug is extremely effective and surprisingly safe! I mean, my side effects weren't bad but it sure didn't do anything for me. Well, it turns out I'd been in the control group.\n\nThat's right, no ghost pills for me!\n\nIt was a placeboo." ]	2
	[WP] When a noble's child tries to become an adventurer, and is unwilling to have hired help, you get the job pretending to be a "random adventurer" that "just happened to be in the area" whenever they need help, a series of disguises and weapons allows you to help the same person multiple times.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "And so, by royal decree, His Royal Highness The Prince of Weitra, First in line for the throne, Ngoc Minatra has been granted extended leave from the castle grounds for the express purposes of live combat training and cultural reconnaissance!\nNgoc's cheeks began to numb from glee. Standing up from his kneeling position he looked into his father's sharp eyes, \"I will return gloriously having slain many beasts and convinced the men and women of our country to continue to devote their lives to the Weitra!\" The seated man looked back in silence, solemn as ever. He nodded to his herald to continue on with the proclamations. Ngoc was finally free to see what lay beyond the garden, beyond the acres of orchard, beyond the stalwart walls, beyond the moat, and beyond the bustling town he had spent his life within.\n\nI had known Ngoc his entire 18 year life; educated him in matters of magic and, at the King's request, sought to instill in him a weariness for the dark arts. The king made many such requests of this kind to me: replace all of the bottom barrels of wine with a non-alcoholic version so that when he tries to steal some he won't truly become drunk and cause a mess, teach the maids and butlers he employs so that they may drop intellectual quotes in their interactions, tell Ngoc of the multicultural women you have wooed (I hadn't) so that he may find all humans equally beautiful. His love was silent but overbearing. Being King Weitra's first and only child he was deadly cautious to preserve the boy's life. He had a small kitchen built beside his throne in the royal hall so as to see, firsthand, that all of the food being fed to his protegee was free from poison. The lad had tasted nothing but that which was grown in the vineyards and farmland surrounding the main tower. He had seen nothing of the world but the tops of the houses of the capital city. He had felt nothing but silk bed sheets and fine clothing. He was becoming a fine boy, but being so smothered I suspect Ngoc will find the world a scary and difficult place to live.\n\nAs Ngoc left the hall to set off on his journey, the king beckoned me over. The King places a new tax on citizens of the capital city who earn more than 600,000... \"Listen here sage, you will follow my boy,\" the king whispered. \"Be his black knight in secret righting his wrongs and protecting him from the inevitable harm he will face. I shall not hear of his death by the courier lest your name is said with it.\"\n\"Yes my liege,\" I bowed. It was inconvenient to have to pause my life at the capital, but I can't say this was unexpected.\n\"One more thing, there is a Chimbara family girl Ngoc must marry. Use your magic to make them fall in love.\"\n\"Sir, humbly, I cannot do that. A love spell will only last temporarily and once it wears off they will be driven mad.\"\n\"Tell me of another way then. This alliance must occur soon,\" The king sternly demanded.\nBuilding permit 1663 for the construction of a mill at the edge of the Yangreen River is hereby granted in the name of the King of Weitra...\n\"If you want whats best for the boy, which I know all too well you do, he must choose a woman of his own heart.\"\nThe king's whisper at that moment grew into a strained boom, \"I want the boy alive, sane, and capable of ruling our great nation.\" he snapped. Though the magistrates and citizens in the throne room turned to look at the commotion, the professional herald continued on without pause.\n\"Fine I understand,\" he continued now again whispering, \"Use your magic instead to get them to meet- by happenstance. Ensure she smells always of lilac and elderberry and that the sun beats down solely on the princess girl on cloudy days. Let my boy choose her of his own heart.\"\n\"Yes my liege.\"\n\n--Ran out of time to continue the story! Feel free to do so in the comments--", "“If this little shit starts one more -“ John heard the pounding of a cavalry from behind his hiding spot in the trees. “Dammit!” John peeked out, four raiders on horseback surrounded the ridiculously decorated cart where his ward sat. \n\nThe raiders were encircling the cart. John could see the noble’s son, Bobby , looking out the left window and his two adventurer buddies had somehow wedged their heads out of the small top window usually reserved for ventilation. “Come on you horse ridin’ punks! You couldn’t kill us if we were hoisted up in front of you like a piñata!”\n\n“What’d you say, boy? I’ll skewer you from here! Without a look!” The raider shouted, his king horse mane helm flipping back and forth as his horse patrolled the cart. \n\n“I’m demanding double…no triple from that lying king,” John stated under his breath. He gripped his short sword a bit tighter and ran towards the closest of the four raiders. \n\nThe horse neighed and jumped but John ran the blade through its chest and thrust hard into the owners chest plate hinge, piercing his heart and at least one lung. The blade came out dripping with blood. \n\n“We’ve been had! It’s a trap!” One of the other raiders shouted, galloping off over the plains ahead. \n\n“So you’re the one they call Skull Slasher, eh?” The lead raider said. \n\nJohn looked him over. He could take him in one, no two hits. He nodded, his skull painted helm already confirming who he was. \n\n“Right, figures you’d set a trap like this,” the raider pointed. His other ally ran off, leaving him to face John alone. \n\n“He didn’t set a trap! He just keeps running into us!” Bobby said from the window. “Hey Skull guy! Thanks for helping!”\n\n“He’s stalkin us, we reckon,” the twin fools said from the roof. John pretending like he didn’t hear them. He swung his sword once and bent his back into a striking stance. \n\nThe raider charged, shoving his javelin across the horse risking a collapse but gaining the benefit of surprise. John had to stutter step to the side but managed to slit the horse’s side anyway. The raider was pinned under the beautiful creature. John lunged aiming for the kill shot to the neck but the raider scampered off. \n\n“You’re crazy!” The raider leader shouted, attempting to back his way into the forest. “Mad skull slasher!”\n\n“You don’t even know,” John said, stepping around the side of the horse and throwing his sword clear into the raider leader’s neck. It was done. \n\n“Thanks skull guy! Care for a cup of tea?” Bobby offered. John knew he was supposed to be elusive and pretend he was someone else. He had been skull slayer, killer of the night, headless horseman and even the death producing bush when this boy was being threatened by bow and arrow wielding elves last week, but now he was just plain done with hiding. “Yes, that would be nice.”", "See, it was rather noble of a noble to set out alone, refusing any outside help. I could understand it. But they always had a choice—they simply cast out the safety net themselves. I, and many others in this line of work, simply had to, or die trying.\n\nThe lack of outside help, was, of course, discounting the countless meals that had gone into their plump, gently swollen bodies. And the flashy sword skills that were great for duelling combat, but much less useless in a bloodsport where giving up meant your face being ground into dirt. And of course, the coin purse hefty and enticing, like a ripe fruit off a particularly abundant tree.\n\nIt was also all naive, stupid, and generally fatal. Fortunately for Halpert Hanson III, I was there to help him.\n\nHe never knew it, however.\n\n“Here you go, old lady,” Halpert said handsomely. “Is this your house?”\n\n“Why, yes, dearie,” I said in a potion-altered voice, shifting a surreptitious (bloodied) dagger back into the specially-hidden slot in my actual boot, which is hidden under a babushka wrap around my right leg. I nudged my glasses, pretending to squint at my house as an identified, when in fact my shifty eyes were warily scoping out any potential threats.\n\n“My,” Halpert said. “What a quaint little place you have here. Is this what they call a hut? I’ve only lived in a mansion.”\n\nThat’s not information you should tell people, I thought.\n\n“Why, yes, it’s my humble little hut,” I said, smiling sweetly, knowing full well what was inside. There were a plethora of weapons to suit any situation, of course. There was also an expensive scrying orb that I purchased thanks to the Hanson family fortune—no longer do I have to scout somebody with just my eyes, like every other recon specialist worth their salt. And of course, a good layer of glamour was placed over the whole shack, making it seem like it was a lot less—when in reality, it should span about two huts instead of one.\n\n“Thank you very much, my dear adventurer,” I said. “And you are?”\n\n“Halpert,” he said, gracefully bowing. “Always at your service. And pleased to have met your acquaintance.”\n\nPolite. That’s a plus.\n\n“You can leave me at the door, darling,” I said. “Please, carry on with your day. I’m sure an adventurer of your calibre is very busy.”\n\n“Uh, actually… business has been slow,” Halpert rubbed the back of his apologetically. \n\n“Slow? What do you mean, slow?”\n\n“I think I bit off a little more than I could chew,” he sighed. “Maybe I’m not ready. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really glad to have helped you. But is this what adventuring is?”\n\nFor the time being, at least, until you make a name for yourself, I thought. Like I did.\n\n“Kiddo,” I whispered. “Everybody has to start somewhere. I think you are doing great, Halpert.”\n\n“Seriously?” Halpert grinned, flashing his perfect, white teeth. “Thank you!”\n\nThe wannabe adventurer gave me a little, slightly awkward hug, less he bounced into all the weapons I was carrying underneath my decoy clothes. He bowed, again, and proceeded to strut off into the distance, humming a tune that carried on the wind back to me.\n\n“He has a little bit of self-reflection,” I muttered. “That’s better than most can do.”\n\nIt didn’t matter. Work began earnestly once more when I entered the hut, turning on the scrying ball and transforming myself into yet another character.\n\nSafety net. It’s what I was. Just because I never had one, doesn’t mean another person didn’t deserve it. We live in, supposedly, better times, after all.\n\n“I’ll keep an eye out for you, kid,” I said. “You might make a fine adventurer yet.”\n\n---\n\nr/dexdrafts" ]	4
	[WP] Being a teen is hard. Imagine how hard it would be to be half-human and half-monster. Many parents aren't so inclined to let their sons and daughters near to you. But when you explain this to your mother and father, they always say "It's a phase dear, don't worry".	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 phase mom? Really? It’s been this way since kindergarten! Why can’t I go live with Dad?” Mom sighs and looks me up and down. She takes in my scaly arms and legs, my rapidly lightening hair and the odd little winglike things that are starting to protrude from my back. “Maybe if you tried harder? Maybe learn what they’re into?” I scoff snd pick at some peeling skin on my cheek, exposing another scale. “So you want me to torture myself more than I already do?im not wasting my time on TikTok and instagram just to impress some shallow jerks mom.” I squirm as I feel the skin on my back start to ripple and crack. “Where’d you put my cream?” I’m getting very itchy now and am probably about to shed again. “Your stepmom sent you a basket full of body scrubs and whatever.” She grimace. I couldn’t tell if she was disgusted by the thought of my stepmom or the contents of the basket. “Ok, where’d you put it?” \n“On the sink. Please clean up after yourself this time. Last time you shed you left a film of slime and skin.” She shudders. “Oh, and your grandma sent you a package. Some kind of cupcake thing.“ yes! My sorecoix cakes! Can’t go through another cycle without those. \n\nI rush to the bathroom and eagerly fare into the basket. Body scrub, body butter, moisturizer, bubble bath, bath bombs, and camouflage bandages. Thank you Zarinda! I prepare the bath and start pulling off my clothes. In the mirror I see my wings. I stretch and flex them a bit, getting rid of the stiffness. (And shaking loose some dead scales) they’d grow a little bigger this month, leaving me curled up in bed, feeling like I was going to snap in half. I won’t be able to move much for a week. \n\nAs I sink into the bubbles I begin to think. Why won’t mom let me live with dad? Soon I won’t even be able to pass for human! But that’s beside the point. I don’t want to pass anymore. \n\nThen it hit me. I couldn’t stay here any longer. So when I was done applying all the creams to my skin (and cleaning the tub) I took the basket into my room. First I dumped the contents of my backpack onto my desk. Then I put all my personal care products, the cakes and some personally significant items into the bag. Then I got out my suitcase and packed my most comfortable clothes as well as all my jewelry (I’m still a teen. Don’t judge!) finally I grabbed a pen and paper and scrawled out a quick note to my mom. Then I left." ]	2
	[WP] After being captured and sent to Smithsgrove, Dr Loomis realises the only place capable of holding Michael Myers is Arkham Asylum.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 metal house was filled with fiendish figures whose mere names could conjure fear in good-meaning people. It was the kind of place were the guards walked down the halls with their heads down, the priests stopped their prophetic rounds, and even the warden preferred to stay home. Only one man wasn't afraid of those silvery, metallic halls, at that was the man who put the inhabitants there. Well, all except one.\n\nIn the back of the asylum, behind chains upon chains and walls upon walls, stands a silent figure. Stands... Never sits never lays... Only stands. He is the haunt where you jail the haunted, the man who got to keep his mask where they unmask you, the one they don't even feed.\n\nThe asylum works well, it works brilliantly in fact. The masked crusader drops off the demons to be chained, and they are. So it was logical, jail the devil where the demons lay. So he was, brought over by a man with baggy eyes and fear in his heart, accepted without question and moved in without a sight. The figure was like that, he didn't need to be tried or questioned, you didn't even need to look at him, just look at the man who brought him, and you'll know where the devil belongs.\n\nFor years it worked, for seasons the thing was locked away and forgotten about, key thrown away and paper work lost. Rotting in the cell completely unknown and quite. Standing, always standing. The asylum works like that, with enough freaks and creeps to deal with one can easily forget that they're holding the boogeyman too. Though if you do forget him, the time when you are reminded will in turn never be forgotten. \n\nSo one sing-song day, a man who cackles for a living pulled a little trick, a joke of sorts. Like a horrible magician he pulled the sheet from under the table and watched the plates fall -- Yes, there was a disaster at the asylum. A character whose intellect comes simply from the chaos of their soul, a man who when left unchecked for even a moment can find a artery, this man got control of the asylum.\n\nThe hell-raiser that they were, they took to opening cell doors like a politician opens bank accounts, just because they can. This one, that one, one cell after another the madman flipped switch upon switch, letting loose the dogs of war. Near the end of this joyous tirade they came upon a lever hidden behind a door, all on its lonesome, protected by its solitude. Even the mad-hatter's lever didn't get this honor, so he approached intrigued. The only thing naming the lever was a letter taped to it from the doctor who dropped him off. The letter was supposed to be serious, a warning meant to hit home, but the guards who spend their time behind levers are never ones for taking things seriously. So they taped the letter right above the device as a joke, it read: \"There shouldn't even be a lever.\"\n\nThe madman who read this letter now, smiled like a young child. As predictable as gravity he pulled the lever, and danced his merry way to see what monster he unhinged. But upon arriving to the bunker that stored the beast, much to his dismay, it was empty...\n\nSo naturally, the hooded figure who caged the demons found all of them again and re-caged them, all demons except the devil himself. Afterwards they all stood around that empty bunker room, cops, detectives, and vigilante alike, and wondered where the thing they were told was a monster went. Seeing there was no trackable damage, they let it be, the city had bigger problems than a missing phantom.\n\nBut the vigilante, a student of the shadows, felt something strange. For after, every time they were on a building ledge, or masked darkly in an alleyway, something was off. He felt watched, he didn't feel alone. Even in the seclusion of his personal cave the corners and crevasses felt occupied. Something was amiss, horribly amiss. It wasn't until bodies starting piling up around the city that he realized what was happening, and it was horrifying. \n\nThis is how they figured out that they let slip the devil not the demon. For all the figures that'd yet caged before were products of motive, albeit some as abstract as chaos itself, but motive none the less. The monster letting loose on the city now, it was much worse. It did not pick targets or make plans, it did not stop to rest or eat, it did not talk or make friends, it did not use gangs or money, all it did, quite simply, was kill indiscriminately and brutally. No pleasure or pain involved, simple cold murder. \n\nSo the city basking in shadow dragged itself down further yet again. The place corrupted to the bones felt corruption in the soul for the first time, and a hero who acted as detective was at a loss. For there is no explaining or tracking evil, one must either be its victim or be its witness, and Michael Myers was taking his time...\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nIf you enjoyed check out my subreddit! r/mrsharks202" ]	2
	[WP] It is a beautiful day in the SCP Foundation, and you are an anomalous goose.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "recording #1 of SCP-#### \n\n \n\"what's so annomylous about this goose? other than the fact that it walks around and squacks #### #### at people\" Researcher #1 \n\"you never know with these things... one minute its trying to put you to sleep? the next you're dead.\" Reseacher #2 \n\n\n\\scratching is heard as one of the researchers adjusts the mic, followed by a loud click in the containment cell\\ \n\n\n\"alright\" researcher #1 \"let in class D-2534 and D -3634\"\n\nthe two men enter the room \"alright gentlemen.\" researcher #2 speaks into the mic \"first off we can't hear anything that is going on, although we can see you. do you understand?\" both of the class Ds nod. \" if you are in distress, lay on the ground with both hands above your head. do you understand?\" they nod. \"please approach the goose as non-threatening as possible, and then sit down to eye level with it. do you understand?\" they both nod. \n\n\n\\recording transfers to microphone in containment cell. class D subjects names will beshorted to their first number.\\ \n\n\nD2 \"hey aren't the things in this place supposed to be weird shit...\" \nD3 \"yeah... this just looks like a goose...\" \n\n\nboth men approach the goose and sit down cross legged.\n\nD3 \"atleast it's a friendly goose.\" \nD2 \"i dunno man...\" \nthe goose squacks. \nD2 \"w-w-what the hell was that!?\" \nD2 stood up \nD3 \"what was what man? it just squakin like any goose.\" \nResearcher #1(R1) \"sit down 2534...\" \nD2 sits back down \"that thing said '####' man...\" \nD3 \"you losin it already?\" \nD2 \"shut up...\" \nthe goose squacks \nD2 \"it just said '####' dude!\" \nD3 \"####?\" like what its about to ask you for something?\" D3 laughs \nD2 \"shut up!\" \n\\[unintelltigable arguing\\] \nthe comotion between the two upset the goose and it began to squack erratically \nD2 suddenly goes silent and slouches in his sitting position \nD3 \"h-hey man... you... you don't look so good\" \nD2 begins to scream \nD3 \"H-Hey! Hey man!\" \nD2's face begins to enlongate and loud cracking of bones can be heard reverbating off the cement walls \nD3 \"YO YO YO WHAT THE FUCK!?\" \nD3 stands and runs to the other side of the room \nD2 begins to show signs of fur growth accrossed all exposed skin as his entire body begins to shrink. \nD2's screams become gargled and overpowered by the cracking of bones. \nD3 repeatedly screams \"let me out!\" as he claws desperately at the one way glass. \nR1 \"sit down!\" \nD3 refused and began to pound on the glass. \nD2's orange jump suit laid limp on the ground. completely silent \nD3 suddenly stops banging on the glass and turns to D2's jump suit \nD3 \"oh god...\" \na medium sized rodent with brown fur climbs through the left pant leg of D2's jumpsuit \nD2 \"it's a god damn woodchuck man! the fuckin goose turned him into a god damn woodchuck!\" \nD3 turns his attention back to the goose \nR1 \"Sit down now or be terminated, that is an order!\" \nD3 reluctantly complies and sits down \nThe goose is still agitated and squacking \nD3\" he\\~eeey, no no! i hear it now too man!\" \n\n\nall live feed and recordings from Site cut out \nuppon gathering of information it is confirmed that D-3634 was compressed into a minature singularity and left earths orbit at \\~.9C. D-3634 will now be classified as SCP-####-1 and given the designation Keter. As it impossible to contain an object moving away faster than any known man made vehicle. our researchers have been notified of its trejectory and are on the look out for a twinkling star. \n\n\nAs for the compound, No survivors have been found including D-2534 and SCP-#### \n\n\n.\n\n.\n\n.\n\nSCP - Mother Goose", "\"Honk,\" I said to the researcher standing in the room. She looked terrified; she'd been chased into my cell by the Chaos Insurgency soldiers, not knowing it was my cell. She now stood there, by the door, probably wondering which side was safer.\n\n\"Honk?\" I asked. She did not reply; quite rude, might I add. She opened her mouth slightly, perhaps trying to speak, but was interrupted when the door blew open and knocked her to the ground. Two armed soldiers walked in; no SCP logo on them. Insurgency.\n\n\"There she is,\" one yelled in a muffled voice. \"Grab her.\"\n\nThe other soldiers walked up to her as my eyes followed him, not noticing me until the dust settled and he stopped in his tracks.\n\n\"Is that... a goose?\" he asked.\n\n\"Honk,\" I assured him.\n\n\"Not our problem. Grab her and let's go,\" the first soldier barked. I looked on casually until I finally noticed the Foundation researcher they were after; she's examined me a few times. In fact, I recalled that on several occasions, she brought me the good kind of bread; quality stuff.\n\nAh well. She's been good to me. Least I can do is help out a bit.\n\nI'd... rather not share the details of what followed next. Bit personal, and very ugly.\n\nWhen the screams died down and the last of the meaty chunks fell off of the wall, the girl stood up from the floor, dazed and bleeding from the impact of the door, but alive. She looked around in sheer horror; the bloody mess where the soldiers stood a second ago slippery and squishy.\n\nI lifted my right wing and carefully removed an eyeball with my beak, throwing it to the ground. Then, looking up at her, I surmised the situation.\n\n\"Honk,\" I said smugly and nodded to the door.\n\nAw yeah. I'm getting the good bread when this is over." ]	3
	[WP] A group of friends who find out that one of them isn't human.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Ellie arrived the the house in the horizontal, driving rain. She shook her umbrella off, sending a spatter of droplets outside the home, before closing the door. She hung her jacket on the rack at the entrance, letting the jacket drip dry. She jaunted in tot he living room where Mark and Adi sat, faces concerned. Stood with them were Maria, Kit and Oli.\n\nEllie looked confused for a moment, as Adi patted the sofa. \"Sit down, cock. We need to have a nice, quiet chat.\" Adi smiled, a touch of sadness at the edges. Everyone also smiled, although Kit's was more a semi-panicked rigor mortis.\n\nEllie sat where the gesture was made, and Adi and Mark hugged her, gently. This time it was Mark who spoke, soft as velvet. 'We know about you. What you are. And why.\"\n\nEllie froze, a sense of panic descending through her body like a sharp chill. Ellie's hair froze, too.\n\nKit stepped forward, a sheen of sweat on her forehead. \"I saw you....last week. In the sauna at your house. I was returning the Blu-ray you lent me. Y-Y-You were.....different. S-S-Scaly. A-a-and you hair! It was like that t-t-too!\"\n\nEllie stormed up, a blaze of fury and horror in her eyes. Mark and Adi held her tighter as they spoke in unison. \"Hey, hey, hey, shh, it's okay, we understand some of it, including why you never wanted to go swimming.\" \n\nMaria took over the conversation, as she usually did. \"C'mon, love, it's not like we've never seen a medusa or gorgon before.\n\n\"Well, we haven't in real life, but still. I have to ask about your make-up routine, though, as I'm fairly certain my thigh skin is more scales at this point, too!\" Maria twirled, and the dry, scaly patterns of eczema were on display just under the hemline of the skirt. Ellie's jaw dropped.\n\nKit approached, wary and on the verge of hyperventilating. \"I-I-I'm scared of snakes. Like, right down to my bones. My therapist has suggested that I get more ex-ex-ex-posure to them, as I won't be able to become a vet without at least having some experience here.\"\n\n\nOli just moved stealthily towards Ellie, and spoke behind her. \"I just knew you'd fit right in, eh?\" Ellie jumped out of her mask as Oli continued. \"Next movie night is Anaconda, followed by Jason and the Argonauts, 60s version.\" Mood over, everyone glared at Oli.\n\nEllie had never had such a thing in 3,000 years, and the dam of emotion burst. She cried, as the friend group closest to her dog piled her with care and love.\n\nNo-one noticed the camera light on the TV blinking.", "We had been friends for years with Roy. He was always a little strange, but also so awesome and nice. He was always game for hanging out or a little trouble making, whether that be knocking over trash cans or stealing little things. The one thing is Roy never wanted to swim , but he covered it up by always saying he had other plans. Roy did have a strange habit of wearing trench coats and hats, but that was his style and after years of seeing him in them it was Roy's signature style.\n\nIt was only today when that dog at the park ran up to Roy barking up a storm that we even realized that Roy had always just been 5 raccoons." ]	3
	[WP] You are a well-known smuggler, brought before the king in chains. "I am told that you can smuggle anything in or out of the kingdom," the king says. "I have precious cargo that must make it out of the kingdom," he continues, gesturing to the young crown prince.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 crown prince is just straight out annoying this is the 520th time he broke a vase or a window and acting like I am an amazing cool soccer player , But after that not only did he break vases and windows, but rather the kings knows, when he was in a discussion with ministers and higher ups, just out of nowhere a ball came flying at him, so hard that the kings nose broke and busted making snot fly all over his face and some of it landed near the eyes of a nearby minister \nSome people took pictures sneakily and it leaked \nThere was this time when he came one day running inside the palace, running up and down stairs while screaming to the room of the unknowing queen who is sitting in the king sized bed, he was screaming out loud as he ran off stepped on the bed and all of a sudden a cow came running at the queen and he jumped off the window, the Cow was chasing after him until it had gotten stuck on the large window which wasn’t the cows size, so Half the cow was outside while it’s buttt was faceing towards the queen and before she fathom anything, a leg was pushed towards the queen’s stomach and kicking it repeatedly as it tried to free it’s self and she came crashing down on her butt outside the bed, long story short the room was a mess and guards struggled to get the cow out of there, but at that time when the queen was kicked she noticed something extending from her sons hand and onto the cow, it’s a rope \n\nOf course the king knew of this incident but few months after they found out that the queen was pregnant, The prince manage to spread rumors that a cow impregnated the queen and since females couldn’t reproduce with other females, the message was conveyed in another way completely , In short the king is a cow\n\n\n\nA slash n to make things clear nothing inappropriate happened between the cow and the queen, the cow in an attempt to free itself kicked with the back of its foot repeatedly so the queen fell outside the bed and guards came to the rescue", "King Herod watched as the small girl was led in to his private study. The heavy iron manacles layered on her wrists and ankles to prevent her picking or slipping them off. . . again. The common dress a surprise for such a notorious smuggler.\n\n\"You have been a hard person to contact Lady Swift, alias Lady Night, alias the Fixer, alias Shadow of the Moon.\"\n\nThe girl chuckles. \"To be fair I did not pick any of those names. They are the names your own constables chose to use as my moniker. Well except for the last. That one is out of Kaijiki. How is the Emperor since you had to be in contact to get that one.\"\n\nThe guards around the prisoner finger their swords as the prisoner shows no fear before the king. His eyes narrow searching for her advantage. \"He has been quite annoyed. You seem to have ruined his market for our willow bark. And stole from him personally.\"\n\n\"Medicine is one of those things he tries the hardest to keep only for the 'immortal' nobles. So, since I am not in a jail and you went to such effort to take me alive. You have my attention. What did you want of me?\"\n\nGlowering at the woman. \"I am told you can smuggle anything in or out of the kingdom.\" Gesturing to the boy kicking his heels at the too large chair. \"I have precious cargo that must make it out of the kingdom.\"\n\nThe girl looks over the boy before responding. \"Princess Cordellia will not be of marriage age for three more years. Queen Asbeth has no heir, the elven lands don't care about human kingdoms. So you wish me to distance the Prince from Relathon's forces. The only noble close enough to even try for a political liaison. That means nothing over land. His allies will be keeping watch on the shipping lanes as well.\"\n\n\"You are well informed for someone in your line of work.\"\n\n\"You do not know my line of work or you would not be calling on me. Your advisor would tell you that knowledge is power. That is why he had the guard block access to the north side of the ports and put General Antoni guarding the south side. To send a message. Claim a blight has damaged the willow groves. Raise the price of willow bark for a season of export and I shall do it.\"\n\n\"You would compromise my kingdom's trade for your profits? You seem to forget who is in shackles here.\" King Herod's rage coming short as the cuffs on the girl's wrists are sitting on the floor beside the ones for her ankles. Neither he nor the guard having seen her remove them.\n\n\"You can afford it. And I have expenses. This will give me favour with the other smugglers and those in low places. Favours I may well need to avoid bounty hunters and assassins till you call for your son back.\"\n\nClosing his eyes a moment. \"Very well lady Swift. Roderick, gather your things. You need travel with the good lady here for a time.\"\n\nAs door closes behind the pair. The large armoured frame of the general came from the shadow beside the smaller bookish body of the advisor. \"Are you sure this is wise your majesty? The threat of Relathon is not that great.\"\n\n\"Agrath?\"\n\n\"She asked for exactly what I said she would. The young prince has not heeded lessons of book nor martial training. She will take him to the surrounding kingdoms. He will see the people of each and learn more from her in three years than he has from both of us since he was born.\"\n\n\"We caught her. How good can she be?\"\n\n\"She came because we sent her a message, Antoni. And all the names and descriptions? She matched none by look and all are aliases. She will not be found till she completes her word.\"\n\n\"Except she never gave her word she was returning the prince. Only getting him out.\"\n\n\"Damn it! Get the ships ready to leave port and catch her!\"\n\nAs the general rushes out to obey, the king glares at his smirking advisor. \"You knew this was going to happen.\"\n\nHanding the king the jade ring of the Kaijiki emperor. \"A kidnapping is a good excuse for why the prince is not seen in public, majesty. It gives you the time you need.\"", "\"What is this?\" The king asked as surprise deepened the wrinkles on his already super wrinkled face.\n\nMy chains clanked against the stone floor, and I rose as the guards calmly backed away into formation behind me. \"Yeah, so this is how this is going to go down,\" I began. \"You think you hired me to smuggle that kid of yours, but someone paid me more to smuggle this in.\" I pulled out a brand-spanking new Glock P-19.\n\n\"How did you get a plasma pistol in here?\" The king demanded.\n\n\"See? THIS is why you're going to die today. You are too greedy for magic. You're more shocked that your anti-weapon wards failed than you are about the fact that someone- possibly in this room- was able to turn your guards against you.\" I chuckled in mock exasperation. \"You do realize I'm fifteen seconds from assassinating you, thereby commencing a coup d'etat, right?\"\n\n\"You call it pride; I just know my way around magic, but I'll bite,\" the king looked around slowly, eyeing each of the score of subjects in the hall, \"who was it?\" \n\nMany of the subjects couldn't look the king in the eye, for whether they were involved or not, each one knew why someone would want the king dead, and that the mastermind of this takeover had to be in this room.\n\nAfter a moment, three of subjects stepped forward, removed their hoods, and stared back into the king's stern, hazel eyes. \"We can no longer stand by while you run this country like a soup kitchen!\" One of the three conspirators said. Several of the still hooded subjects made hesitant noises of agreement.\n\n\"Soup kitchen?\" The king looked to the other two men. \"And you agree?\"\n\n\"Yes,\" said one of the men as they both nodded. \"Your lust for magic tomes, and artifacts has you creating alliances with entities that have nothing to offer us.\" Several of the subjects agreed louder. The same couple from before, I noticed.\n\nThe last of the three treasonous subjects stepped forward, and put a hand on my shoulder. \"Your acts have weakened our military to the point that we had to hire a smuggler from off-planet to deal with you.\" I handed him the pistol, and he levelled it at the king's forehead. \"Farewell my-\"\n\n\"And you all feel this way?\" the king interrupted.\n\nEmboldened by the king's imminent death, the subjects that have been grunting their support stood up, and removed their hoods. Seven of them stayed kneeling. One of the kneelers said, \"I'm sorry, my king. While, we knew of their dissatisfaction with your policies, we did not know of their betrayal, nor do we agree with it. Unfortunately, however, we are outnumbered and have no hope of preventing this coup.\"\n\n\"I see,\" the king said resolutely and nodded. I exerted a bit of magic and the gun teleported back into my hand. The usurper that had been holding it didn't have enough time to be surprised before I turned his head into a punch bowl of burnt spaghetti.\n\nThe hall broke into chaos as the guards rounded up the subjects minus the seven, kneeling loyalists, and beat them to death. I must say, weaponless murder is barbaric and disgusting. I'll take a slingshot before I have to kill someone by chasing them down, pinning them, then bludgeoning them to death with my hands. At least give me gloves.\n\nWhen it was all over, and as the guards were removing the bodies from the hall, the king chuckled. \"Good work-\"\n\nI cut him off, \"oh, the job isn't done yet.\" I pointed the gun at the king's face again.\n\n\"Oh?\" the king said as his face went grave. The remaining subjects stood, removed their hoods, and stared the king down. \"Who is it this time?\"\n\nThe king jumped as the sound of a sword unsheathing startled the still air of the hall, then reached down a moment too late when he realized it was his sword being drawn. The king closed his eyes for a moment, exhaled, and looked at the colorful, stained-glass ceiling of the hall. I watched his body slouch with disappointment ad he turned around and saw his son holding the jewel-encrusted handle of his sword inches from his neck. No matter where in the universe this job took me, patricide/regicide was always the most entertaining betrayal to be apart of.\n\nThe king's voice broke. \"Son.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry, father, but the usurpers were right; your greed is ruining this country. That said, you were on to something. Our star system needs to join the intergalactic community; but first we must unite. Our alliances should be to sow peace, cooperation, and the study of technology and magic. We had the power to bring about that unity decades ago, but you've almost squandered the entirety of that power,\" the prince said.\n\nAs the prince spoke, the king's face sank from grief into a piteous kind of remorse. By the end of his son's mini-speech, tears streamed down the king's face as he nodded his head accepting the truth of his son's words. He looked up at his son and smiled through the tears. The prince's eyes were red and glistening, but his face was set. He chopped his father's head off.\n\nOne of the loyalists grabbed the rolling former king's head, and placed a soft looking, purple cloth over it. He walked out the room, and the other loyalists followed.\n\nI sighed. This world was going to be ok. The new king had the idealism and pain of a teenager, but the soul and spirit of a war-hardened soldier. I'd seen it before, and I knew he would definitely bring about the changes he promised on his father's head.\n\n\"You know I can't let you leave, right?\"\n\nThe king's words did not surprise me. \"I was one hundred percent sure of that when you contacted me.\"\n\n\"And you took the job anyway?\" For the first time, the new king's face exhibited an emotion besides quiet determination.\n\n\"I gotta use my skills for good every now and then.\" Then I smuggled my ass right the fuck off that planet.", "One slip up is all it takes.\n\nI was hauled here in chains, because of one little mistake, that was trusting my piece of shit partner. Ah well, it's been a wild ride, guess it had to end some time...\n\nIs what I thought as I was dragged in front of the king. The old man on death's door stared me down like I was a wild animal. I smiled back. I didn't feel that happy, but I was never one to turn down a chance to establish dominance. Guess I really was like a wild animal, in that sense. Old King Garron scares a lot of people, he doesn't scare me.\n\n\"So, chief, what's the plan?\" I asked before he could speak. He stood up, his bones creaking like rusty hinges, his eyes surrounded with wrinkles trained on me without a blink. He got so close to my face I could feel his breath that stank of high-quality wine and smoke.\n\n\"I have been told of your exploits, Roderick Blackwood,\" he told me, \"I am told that you can smuggle anything in or out of the kingdom...\"\n\n\"No use hiding it, now that you got me here in chains. Real nice procession, though usually a prefer a girl on each arm, but I won't complain.\"\n\n\"Enough jokes out of you, smuggler... I need your services.\"\n\nLet me tell you, when a master criminal is dragged to the court of the king, that's the last thing he expects to hear. My eyebrows perked up in shock and intrigue. \"Alright... Alright, yeah... Royal package, I get it. What's a king need to get in or outta his own kingdom quiet? Why me?\"\n\n\"Come with me. Guards, release him.\"\n\nHe took me through a side-door, through a hallway, up a spiral staircase taller than most buildings I'd been in. \"He's in here,\" he said as he opened the door.\n\n\"He?\" I asked the old coot. I looked into the now-open doorway. It was a child's bedroom. A small bed, more toys than most people had rooms in their house, a bookshelf of chivalry tales, history books and fairy stories; sitting by the window was a young boy, about twelve or thirteen. \"Him?\"\n\nThe boy looked towards me, and without a word he grabbed a small chest, the kind nobility toss in the back of their carriages when they go on vacation, and started to pack up whatever toy and book he'd miss.\n\n\"My son. The crown prince of our lands. Elwick,\" the old man muttered. Something was weighing on him, and I knew it was the same reason he was sending his boy away. He closed the door to give the boy privacy to pack in this time of distress, and turned back to me for a response.\n\n\"Alright, I have a what, now I want a why, and a how much.\"\n\n\"Anything, within reason, to be decided with who I am sending him to. My younger brother, king-consort of Riverhallow and Duke of Barrowsworth, many miles away, where my boy will be safe...\"\n\n\"Safe from...?\"\n\n\"War is coming. I have spies in many courts, and those spies tell me that my rule is coming to an end. I have not been kind, so consider this my first and last act of altruism: Your life for my son's life.\"\n\n\"Civil war, huh? Never understood how it was civil to stab your neighbour, but that's not my business.\"\n\n\"Now is not the time for half-baked witticisms, Blackwood. My boy shall be delivered to his uncle, where he shall receive the life of an unlanded nobleman, perhaps in his life he will earn land in Riverhallow, or perhaps he'll retake his birthright. It won't matter to me, I'll be dead, overrun by soldiers that were once at my command.\"\n\n\"Alright, old man, don't have a heart attack before the siege even starts. I'll take him to Riverhallow, alright? Anything's better than the chopping block, yeah?\"\n\nThe door creaked open, and the boy tried to hold back his tears like a stoic man of honour. His dam burst when he gave his old man one last hug. \"I'll miss you, father...\"\n\n\"You will be the only one, child. Forget this land of bloodshed and pain, hold strong somewhere kinder, somewhere prouder, somewhere wiser...\"\n\nPart of me wanted to just grab the kid and his trash and leave right there, but while I hold little care for etiquette, I wasn't one to screw with a real goodbye.\n\nThey let go of eachother, the kid grabbed his stuff, I grabbed his arm, and we left.\n\n\\-----------------------------------------\n\nI had the kid dress up in a tattered old rag of a child's robe. This was a smuggling mission, if any nobility or criminal elements caught wind of his departure then we wouldn't hear the end of it, and I was a very bloody good smuggler.\n\nWe made it to the edge of the city without a hitch, I went through the bureaucracy of the castle wall without arousing any suspicions like I'd done a thousand times for smaller contraband; Usually for deals of this magnitude like foreign drugs, wanted men, or illegally procured magic relics I'd need to head a different route, but no need to drag the kid through the sewers when there's nothing illegal in his trunk and we could easily make up a name for him on the spot.\n\nAfter feeding a line about visiting a family member in another city for a vacation (Not all a lie) the trip would be simple if he kept his mouth shut.\n\nBut things are never that simple...\n\n\\------------------------------------------\n\nAfter procuring a cheap carriage with the advance payment the king shoved me off with, we moved along the road to Riverhallow for the day, planning to stop at the nearest village for supplies.\n\nHe kept his head down for a lot of the trip. I wasn't gonna complain, I never liked kids. When he finally spoke up, I was near turning my quick nap into a proper sleep.\n\n\"You're a good person...\"\n\nNow, that I wasn't expecting to be his first words to me.\n\n\"You don't know me that well, kiddo; Give it a week.\"\n\n\"If you were a bad person you wouldn't be taking me to my uncle.\"\n\n\"It's not polite to assume anything about anyone, kid. Thing is, I'm not polite. Lemme guess, you've never left the castle before?\"\n\n\"No, I haven't...\"\n\n\"There's bad people out here, kid. It's not like your fairy tales where the cunning rogue marries the princess. I'm a bad man, and there's bad men after you, and there'll be bad men in the wrong place at the wrong time who'll want to kill us for whatever silver's on us. I took this job because I'm a bad man who doesn't do well with consequences, you understand?\"\n\nThere's no reason to lie to the boy, after all. A lot of people come at me thinking I don't know what I do is wrong, but I am fully self-aware, all that hokey fairy tale 'development of character' nonsense is behind me and where it left me was an old man with too many scars and not enough drink.\n\n\"You could've just given me to the people trying to kill my father...\"\n\nAnd if I may be honest with you, that got on my nerves. I grit my teeth, I clenched my fist, and I stood tall to make the kid feel not so safe around me. I wasn't gonna do anything bad, but it would be easier on my limited patience if he wasn't so comfortable around me.\n\n\"Yeah, I could've, but I do my damn job. I could've sold a lot of girls to brothels but I was paid to bring them somewhere safe. I could've sold a lot of drugs on the streets but I was paid to take them to probably some of the guys we're running from. That isn't a good man, that's a man who survives and thrives.\"\n\n\"....If you say so.\"\n\nThe little bastard rolled his eyes at me. I wanted so badly to smack him, but I wasn't gonna harm a hair on his head, it isn't my job to teach a brat common sense...\n\n-----------------------------------\n\nWe arrived in the village of... It doesn't matter what its name was, it was your usual stain on the map that was populated by your usual thugs, whores and the rats they called their kids. Seen one and you've seen them all.\nI would've checked us in to the local inn, but I didn't want the kid whining about bedbugs or the smell of throw-up in the floorboards, so once I grabbed a weeks worth of food and water I deigned to refuse the harlots throwing themselves at my coinpurse and instead we set up camp a ways outside of town.\n\nThe kid was roasting a marshmallow over the fire, I was chugging back a bottle of pisswater that wasn't enough to get a fly wasted, but was better than not being buzzed at all.\n\n\"So, kid, this is the real world. Warts, warts, nothing but warts, and stains, and infections, and-\"\n\n\"I thought it was-\"\n\n\"and bears. Can't forget the bears. And the murderers. And the wolves. Which is a metaphor for more murderers.\"\n\n\"The man at the inn was nice. He gave me a piece of candy for free.\"\n\n\"Don't trust nice old men giving you candy, kid.\"\n\n\"That lady you said to go away, she was pretty.\"\n\n\"Yeah, she was. Her job is to look pretty and cut your purse when you're done with her.\"\n\n\"I think she just wanted to sell you some fresh-caught fish.\"\n\n\"Y'see, that's a metaphor for something you're not old enough to understand.\"\n\n\"If you say so...\"\n\n-------------------------------\nPart 1 of IDK how many.", "I blink in surprise at what appeared to be a job offer from the Just King Tollbi, made famous for his swift eradication of most corruption in his court in a few short weeks of his rise to power. \"You... mean I'm not being executed?\"\n\n\nApparently that was the wrong thing to say as the king looked rather irritated with my words,\"unfortunately no, I require your service so I can't have you executed yet. And if you do your job well, I'll even reduce your sentence to a decade or so imprisonment for past crimes.\" That was drastic reduction from the death penalty but I looked to the young prince and slowly I realized what I was being tasked with. I was to protect the prince until the Kung could weed out any last dredge of corruption that would leverage his son against him.\n\n\n\"Um... could you do a bit... more? I mean it's one thing to move stuff, I don't have to feed or house stuff. But like not only do I have to feed and house him I have fend off anyone who wants him to get to you! That's a lot of work!\"\n\nThe king looks even more peeved but sighs after a moment. \"Two years in prison after the completion of your contract.\"\n\n\nI consider the offer then nod, I doubt the Just King would let me get away with everything I've ever done. \" deal! Your son is in good hands! Now as for fee-\" \"you want money as well as a reduced sentence?!\" I quickly backtrack \"n-not for me! It's the cost of paying for stuff! For the prince! S-smuggling isn't free else everyone would do it! I need to-\" the king raises a hand to silence me, \"I see, would an imperial platinum suffice?\" My brain nearly explodes at the offer, an imperial platinum would be a merchants life goal, a modest cities entire treasury.... and a very suspicious amount if money to try and use in any situation.\n\n\n \"It pains me but that is far too much to hold on to, we would be killer by the first person I try to trade it to, five Tolnory gold pieces and thirty five imperial silvers would allow us to buy off everyone necessary and to live rather comfortably for at least a year.\" The King looks surprises then impressed at my reasoning, and for the first time since I entered the throne room he smiled. \"I see, how foolish of me to assume one could simply use a platinum so easily, I imagine even if a shop didn't outright kill you for it they wouldn't have the capital to give you change.\" I actually chuckle at the thought, indeed even a bank would scramble to pay out change for a platinum. An advisor who had been standing near hands me a decent sized bag that I find has double the money I asked for and no small amount of copper, I suppose for daily spending... this was going to be interesting." ]	6
	[WP] Your daughter loves playing pretend, claiming that she and her friends are magical warriors choosen by a pure god to fight evil. But one day, you see a live news broadcast showing footage of her and her friends in strange dresses using magic to fight a giant monster in a nearby park.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\n\n>* Stories at least 100 words. 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Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "The needle hit 80 miles per hour, about as fast as the minivan could go. There was no traffic in this direction, who the hell would be driving TOWARDS the city when a giant monster is attacking. Not worried about cops, they're a bit busy at the moment. I turn up the news radio. I never listen to the radio anymore, I always let my daughter or one of her friends play whatever off their phones. Hoo boy is she grounded. She's fighting some sort of giant...horned...fire...dog bull...thing? Wait...Oh shit. (sigh)... Kids... Here's my exit. I take the turn hard. Tires squeal about it, but I know what I'm doing. Soccer gear piles against a cul de sacs worth of girl scout cookies in the back from the turn. I lay on my horn, people are glued to their phones for updates(not that I could blame them), so I'm not too close yet. I haven't called their mother yet, that's another issue. Okay, fleeing people, ground rumbling...we're closer now. I pull up on the park and walk up to the field, aaaand there they are. Ugh, this is gonna be such a freaking hassle. Her mothers gonna be pissed. Okay, Deep breath. I walk into the field, with my Serious Walk.\r \n\r \n\"Sandy!\" I yell with my best dad voice.\r \n\r \nShe's flying 50 feet above the grass dodging the beast snapping at her, as her friends use water powers to spray it down. The dog bull almost steps on me. The ground is all wet mud from the fight.\r \n\r \n\"Sit!\" I yell at the fiery beast, extending a finger at it. It looks at me, and lays down(good enough), water on the ground steaming as it settles.\r \n\r \n\"Sandy!\" I yell. She makes eye contact with me, a shocked look on her face.\r \n\r \n\"Down. Here. Now.\" I'm so bad at serious voice. It must have worked though. She's floating down, embarrassed I'm sure, and worried that she's in trouble. I love this kid, handful or not. And I HATE yelling at her, its the worst.\r \n\r \n\"What did I tell you about using your...Imagination...in public?\" I put an emphasis on the word so she knows what I mean.\r \n\r \n\"I'm just...we were playing, and its hard to tell sometimes when its stops being play and...\" she starts crying.\r \n\r \n\"Oh honey, come here.\" I say as I take a knee and hug her. Her friends stand still. The dog(the Dog Bull now a Bulldog) comes splashing over and licks her cheek. She laughs.\r \n\r \n\"Sweetheart, it takes time. When I was your age, I made some big messes too, and it's alright, as long as...?\"\r \n\r \nHer head drops as she accepts what happened, and repeats what her mother and I have told before, \"As long as we learn and do better next time.\"\r \n\r \nI smile and rustle her hair. \"Come on. Fix this up, and I'll take us home.\" She opens her mouth to protest, but thinks better of it. She looks at the destruction, and closes her eyes. All of the evidence that there was a fight disappears, one by one.\r \n\r \nThe gashes in the ground.\r \n\r \nPuddles of water.\r \n\r \nFires.\r \n\r \nHer friends.\r \n\r \nThat last one is always hard for me to see. Its hard on her being so lonely right now. The other kids know she's in some way different. They're scared is all. I know it wont be forever, and I know I'm doing my best for her, but still, it's hard.\r \n\r \n\"Come on, lets get-\"\r \n\r \n\"Some Ice cream?\" she interrupts hopefully.\r \n\r \n\"I was gonna say home, but sure.\" I laugh. \"You did a good job cleaning up, so alright.\"\r \n\r \nWe walk to the minivan, and I look behind me and whistle. A happy bulldog runs and jumps into the back seat as I slide open the door, the mud thankfully gone.\r \n\r \n\"And honey, next time you want to give the dog a bath, ask for help.\"", "(Part 1)\n\nLooking back, I really should have noticed the signs.\n\nShould have noticed when Wendy came home disheveled, should have realized the oversleeping wasn’t just that of a growing girl, should have seen the eerie familiarity in the “game” she’d told me about a year or so ago.\n\nMagical warriors.\n\nFighting evil.\n\nA messenger from the gods.\n\nThe signs were all there, but nothing fell into place until now. It was a weekend, Wendy was out playing with her friends, Layla and Denise, and the news played in the background as I read on the couch. Faintly, the news said something about a warehouse fire downtown.\n\nI glanced up. My heart dropped. My breath caught in my throat.\n\nThe news was focused on the blazing warehouse, on the firefighters crawling across the scene, on how no one was inside at the time and that authorities have no idea what started the fire.\n\nBut in the background stomped a monster. Three forms swarmed around its mass. Green and blue and yellow, skirts waving in the air, light flashing as they jumped and danced in seemingly impossible ways, avoiding the attack of the monster far larger than they.\n\nI knew those skirts.\n\nKnew those colors.\n\nFought beside the three who’d worn them for years and years.\n\nGreen wielding solid rock and ice, sturdy metal like a shield.\n\nBlue with molten rock in one hand and water in the other.\n\nYellow floating, gazing on from above, twisting air currents into impossible ways.\n\nBut the people inside were different, and I knew them as well.\n\nSolid green and Liquid blue and Gaseous yellow—Layla and Denise and Wendy. My Wendy.\n\nThere was a fourth speck beside them, so small the camera almost didn’t catch it. Anger hummed through my veins. My lip curled. That, that dared to, I was going to kill—\n\nA face rose in my mind, the face of the other woman who wore yellow. She smiled at me. Laughed, told me: ‘Easy, Sparky.’\n\nWendy. Wendy and her friends were the most important.\n\nThe book tumbled to the ground as I ran out the door.\n\nDowntown wasn’t far when the town wasn’t large, but I made it in half the time. I tore around the corner just in time to see the monster crumple to the ground and slowly start its decay into nothingness.\n\nDesperate, I counted. One, two, three. All up. All alive. Bloody but smiling.\n\nMy hammering heart stilled. They were fine. Wendy was fine. And then my eyes fell on the fourth form, standing somewhat behind them, away from the action.\n\nThat.\n\nA weird-shaped fluffy creature, no bigger than a guinea pig. Meant to look cute and harmless.\n\nMy lip curled again. As if. I found myself behind it, hand closing around the neck-scruff of that creature.\n\n“You backstabbing cretin,” I growled, making sure that only it could hear my threatening whisper. “I hope you die in a hole in a wasteland, you cowardly swamp-slinking snake. I wish you’d turn into a cactus and that a camel eats you for dinner. I hope you feel every crunch of every chew as your miserable little existence disappears.”\n\nThe thing froze in my grip. It whined, shrill and sharp in its throat. The noise made the girls turn. Wendy’s face lit up. “Mom!” She arrowed forward, flinging her arms around me. I couldn’t help the smile that bloomed over my mouth. I caught her in a one-armed hug, keeping my other hand on the thing. It must have thought that was an opening. It tried to jerk away. My fingers tightened. It drooped in my clutches.\n\n“Wendy, honey.”\n\nHer smile matched mine. “Mom! Why are you here?”\n\n“I saw you on the news, and realized I had something to talk about with this fien—” I paused, held my tongue, and gestured to the limb furry body held in my fingers. “This friend of yours.”\n\n“We were on the news? We’ve—we’ve been trying really hard, and—” Wendy glanced down, mumbling. “Did… did we do good?”\n\n“The best,” I assured her softly, squeezing her shoulders. My gaze traveled past her, to the two friends that stood behind. The wounds and scratches I’d seen when I first showed up had already faded, the low-level recovery magic still doing its job. Faint fear and panic stirred under their features, like they’d just inadvertently revealed some big secret. This was how it should be when someone found out. Not like Wendy, who’d told me the truth ages ago. But I hadn’t believed her.\n\nI wish I’d believed her.\n\n“Wendy, Layla, Denise.” The last two flinched when I called their names. “Will you wait at home for me? I’m going to take care of something first and then I’d like to talk to all of you.”\n\nThey nodded shakily. “Okay!” Wendy agreed brightly. She waved, then pulled Layla and Denise, still stiff with panic, away.\n\nI waited until they were out of sight before finally letting go of the thing beside me.\n\n“Airi,” the thing greeted, forcing an attempt at calm. “So it turns out you’re her guardian. No wonder I felt like there was a hole in her recognition inhibition.”\n\n“Phi. You’ve gotten better at scamming.”\n\n“You’ve gotten better at cursing. You’re scarier now then when it was all just swear-words.”\n\n“Damn you back to whatever hell you crawled out of.”\n\nPhi flinched. “I’ve told you—”\n\n“Yeah, yeah. Messenger of the pure gods, and all that.”\n\nIt nodded furiously. “Exactly! So—”\n\nMy voice dropped an octave. Darkened. “Or was it that you were a fragment of the personification of Good, and that you needed help to fight the fragments of Evil that slipped out through the boundaries of the world?”\n\nPhi froze. I sneered.\n\n“You really should remember which lie you’ve told which person.”\n\nIt wilted. “The monsters, you know they’re real.”\n\n“Of course I do. I fought them for almost a decade. There’s nothing fake or even remotely manufactured about those walking piles of garbage. But you do have the power to damp how powerful they are, don’t you?”\n\nIt gulped. “I—”\n\n“But whenever one of those things die, you get the energy out of it, don’t you? And forcing a monster to be weakened doesn’t give you near as much profit as taking down something stronger, does it.” Phi stilled as I spoke. “You have to spend so much energy here, after all. There’s the energy you have to spend to awaken a warrior, there’s the recognition inhibition spell, there’s the recovery magic, there’s the power dampening, and so much else you have to do to fight these monsters. Why can’t you be greedy for a little extra energy from a kill?”\n\nPhi laughed bitterly. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were sympathizing with me. But I’m fully aware that after what happened with Cynthia, you’d really like to do nothing more than utterly destroy me.”\n\n“You don’t get to talk about Cynthia.”\n\n“It was an accident!”\n\n“An accident? An accident that you neglected to put any dampener on the monster that could cancel out Gaseous powers?”\n\n“Gaseous is usually the weakest! Anyways, it had been seven years since you’d joined up, and you all steamrolled through everything I did damper. It shouldn’t have made a difference.”\n\n“You knew full well Cynthia flew everywhere. And you know even better what it means when a human falls from that height.”\n\n“You were practically gods! How was I supposed to know something like that would kill her!”\n\n“But we weren’t gods! We were human, and mortal, and one of us was a mother. And if you think for even a minute that I’ll forgive you for orphaning Wendy, you’ve got another thing coming for you.”", "(This is really just the beginning of a story.) \n\n\n \n\"Carrie has always been athletic. How many kids can do a back flip at age 5?\" \n\n\n \n\"I really don't know. Tell me a bit about her childhood and her friends.\" \n\n\n \n\"Well, we moved here when she was 3 and her brother was 1. She made friends with Mary, Helen, and Jane (they live just a few doors down) the first few weeks we were here. There is almost no traffic, so the kids often just play and meet in the street. Right away, even before kindergarten, they would wander into the woods. We never worried. The wooded area is only about fifty acres with nothing dangerous. You have to cross Smith road to get into the game lands, and they wouldn't go that far until they were older.\" \n\"They loved dungeons and dragons. I played it once with Carrie and she really went with it. I think all of the kids improved their reading and math skills by reading the Dungeon Master's guide and rolling dice. I guess that irrelevant.\" \n\n\n \n\"No mister Smith, I think that's very relevant. Please continue.\" \n\n\n \n\"Anyway, you would always her them chanting in the basement, singing made up songs, and LARPing.\" \n\n\n \n\"What's LARPing?\" \n\n\n \n\"They would dress up as princesses, assassins, magicians, thieves, clerics, or anything from the middle ages. They would then pretend to be going on an adventure, almost always in the woods. The first few years, they spent a lot of time on their outfits. They would be gone for hours and sometimes came back with cuts and bruises. Carrie and Helen both broke an arm in elementary school. They had told us that they were climbing trees. By the end of elementary school, they had some great outfits. They learned to sew from my wife and visited Joanne's Fabrics in town. I thought that they would go into theater or maybe studio wrestling. They practiced fighting with their fake swords and staffs. Helen became an excellent archer.\" \n\n\n \n\"Did they have any fights in school?\" \n\"No. Never. Every other kid in school treated them with a lot of respect. Sometimes they would even play along and call Carrie, 'princess' or 'princess Carrie'. They would usually address Jane as m'lady. It seemed like they were just play acting -- all the kids at the elementary school. Oh, yes, there were a few incidents, now that I remember it in third grade.\" \n\n\n \n\"What happened?\" \n\n\n \n\"One time, a few of the sixth graders claimed that Carrie had cast a spell on them.\" \n\n\n \n\"What kind of spell? Please elaborate.\" \n\n\n \n\"Carrie had just said 'Stop' in a loud voice.\" \n\n\n \n\"Well, that doesn't seem like much.\" \n\n\n \n\"That's what I said, but the boys said that they could not move for a few minutes. They claimed to be rooted to the ground.\" \n\n\n \n\"Strange. Did you ask your daughter abut it?\" \n\n\n \n“Of course. Carrie said that the older boys were bullying the younger boys and that would not be permitted, so she asked them to stop...Seemed reasonable enough. I don't see why the principal got involved.” \n\n\n \n“Were there other incidents?” \n\n\n \n“Yes, actually, now that I think about it. When Carrie was in third grade, Helen got in a bit of trouble.” \n\n\n \n“What happened?” \n\n\n \n“I remember it now. One of the boys in her class had jumped up and hit a fire alarm bell once with his finger or a spoon or something. Ms. Jones caught the boy and paddled him in from of the class. And then Helen did something kind of remarkable I think. She had told Ms. Jones, apparently in a threatening way, 'That will no longer be permitted.' “ \n\n\n \n“Helen would have been 9 years old and she was telling the teacher how to run the class room?” \n\n\n \n“Apparently.” \n\n\n \n“What happened? Did Ms. Jones paddle Helen for insubordination?” \n\n\n \n“No. Actually, Ms. Jones quit teaching shortly after that.” \n\n\n \n(To be continued?)", "\"... Honey?\"\n\nFrom another room, I hear the voice of my husband shouting \"YES?\"\n\n\"I think I'm having a stroke!\"\n\nI hear him running from another room \"WHAT?! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!\"\n\n\"Just come to the living room!\"\n\nWhen he arrives, his face is red from the frantic run and he's starting to sweat like crazy but once he notices me, still laying almost calmly on the sofa, he makes an exasperated sound \"What the hell, woman?! Do you want *me* to have a heart attack!\"\n\n\"Look at the tv.\" I point at it with the remote, still not able to look away from the series of colorful spheres that keeps landing on whatever the fuck the giant green ogre thing is.\n\n\"Really?\" I see from the corner of my eyes that he's crossed his arms and has now an exasperated expression on his face \"I almost broke my neck... I hate your fluffy rug, you know?\"\n\n\"Oh for fuck sake!\" I get up from the couch and move him in front of the tv \"Look at that. Does she look like our daughter to you?\"\n\n\"What?\" he glances at me quickly, like I'm crazy and I'm speaking nonsense but once his gaze finally fixates on the live tv, he's suddenly at loss for words\"... What am I watching?\"\n\n\"Concentrate husband! I'm asking if that girl looks like Avres to you...\" I get really close to the tv and start pointing at other familiar faces \"And if that's Mike Owens from 3B. Then this one must be Armando Parilla, right? Because that one is TJ Wu. Didn't they all used to play football in the junior league?\"\n\n\"... Are you playing with that deep fake app again?\" he's trying to joke right now, but he's not looking away from the screen either.\n\n\"What the fuck, no!\" I slap him on the belly once I realize what he's implying, giving him the stink eye while my voice is reaching an unprecedented octave from the stress this bullshit is causing me \"You are the prankster here! Did you do this?\"\n\n\"Fuck no! Is that Central Park? Maybe we missed some school project?\"\n\n\"Now you're just bullshitting me.\" I say, exasperated by his denial \"What kind of budget do you think their middle school has?! We live in the suburbs!\"\n\n\"Maybe it's some kind of national contest for digital art or something? And why did you mute the thing?!\" he says, taking away the remote from my hand while smashing random buttons \"I hate when you do that, how can you even follow what's going on like this?\"\n\n\"I thought I was having a stroke!\" I can't watch this anymore so I start frantically looking around for my phone \"Forgive me oh wise one if I didn't want to listen to a live depiction of MY TWELVE YEARS OLD FIGHTING GODZILLA WITH A FUCKING MAGIC STICK!\"\n\n\"I thought they were playing D&D on the weekend, what the fuck is that thing!?\"\n\n\"All that stuff about Gods granting powers and what not?\" now my couch is in disarray and I still haven't found my fucking phone damn it, \"I thought she was just writing a wizard background for like, a 5E campaign or something!\"\n\n\"Oh, she's so grounded.\" I hear my husband mumbling \"Get the car, I'm putting on my shoes.\"\n\n\"AH-AH!\" found the fucker, I start scrolling through my contracts while tracking my purse \"I'm going to try and call the other parents, maybe one of them has some weird affiliation with, I don't even know, Chtulu or Doctor Strange what the hell.\"\n\n\"I SAID GET THE CAR, WOMAN!\" he has his phone in one hand and his... wallet in the other? Bah, priorities.\n\n\"Are you driving then?\" I ask, opening the front door while passing him the keys \"AND WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING AT ME?!\"\n\n\"BECAUSE OUR TWELVE YEARS OLD IS FIGHTING GODZILLA WITH A MAGIC STICK!\"\n\n\"THAT'S WHAT I SAID!\"\n\nOnce he's inside the car though he pushes the keys in the ignition, takes a deep breath, and then looks at me \"... It's a little bit awesome though.\"\n\n\"Totally. But what the fuck? They're twelve.\" the call to Marika, Armando's mom, goes through \"What kind of deity choose a bunch of twelve years old to do their bidding?!\"\n\n\"Pure Deity my ass.\"\n\n.\n.\n.\n.\n\nEdit: corrected some typos." ]	5
	[WP] You need to pick up some milk from the grocery store, but they employ high pressure sales tactics, similar to car dealerships, for even the most minor purchases. Hidden fees, financing agreements, manipulative head games; they will say/do anything to charge you as much as possible for the milk.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 deep drink of water and made sure my shoes were comfortable. I checked for my bag, and my wallet.\n\nThe salesmen in the shop were annoying, and often in the news for scamming some old biddy into paying £50 for a loaf of bread or some dumb stuff that was usually followed by an reluctant refund and fake apology. There were some stores actually talking about the removal of sales people, but whilst the money was still good and morons still fell for pitches, they would badger you.\n\nEveryone had their own way of dealing with them. Some people tried to ensure they were on the phone with someone until they were next in the que at the checkout. This could work, but stores then made it so reception in their stores were crap. Others would lead on the salesperson, walking and talking until they were and politely saying no. but This had the problem of having to come up with enough questions and small talk to keep them at bay./ There was the ever popular 'No thanks' on repeat until you were out the store. It was the most common and though it sent the salespeople away, another was going to be in there place in a second.\n\nI chose to talk. Anything and anything that came to my mind, I talked about, politely and quickly, annoying the salespeople away. They had to try, and any opening was taken to take your cash, but if you made it truly annoying, they would leave you be.\n\n\"Hello, Can I talk to you about-\"\n\n\"The state of the Gardens in Petris Park. Oh yeah, that place is so over grown. Have you seen It?\"\n\n\"I..yeah. And if weeds are your issue we have-\"\n\n\"I pay good money in tax and they just waste it away on crap like Statues and outdoor art when the bushes are obscuring the path and the kiddy pool needs cleaning. No wonder there has been more anti social behaviour in the area.\"\n\nI go on like this, and I send the salemen running. Though I am surprised when I end up having a conversation with a pretty girl in perfect makeup about the public toilets. \n\n\"They are fowler than ay other towns I swear. I there were better work prospects I'd move home.\" she said, anger in her voice which she swiftly replaced with false cheer. Her demeanor changed and I remember that not all of the salespeople are here becuase love to make money on commission. Some just want to make rent.\n\n\"Look, I not buying anything other than milk. But when you come in tomorrow, get in the DIY Section. You can make more convincing housewives to convince there husbands to get injury and accident insurance that selling marshmallow in cereal.\"\n\nShe gave me a real smile then, and she didn't need the make up to be pretty with a smile like that.\n\n\"I'll keep that in Mind miss Have a nice day.\"\n\nI make it to the till with my milk, and pay for just the and just the milk.", "\"Hey, mom,\" said Jimmy, \"We're out of milk. Should I run down to the store and get some?\"\n\n\"No!\" Mary responded, more forcefully than she should have. \"I mean. No. I need to go pick up a few things for dinner so I'll walk over their and get some for you.\"\n\nJimmy had a puzzled expression at his mother's anxious tone, but shrugged and went back to his room to do whatever it was teenagers did in their free time. Mary sighed and leaned against the counter for a moment, collecting her thoughts. The truth was she did need to go to the store, but she had planned on doing it on the way home from work the next day. She had been avoiding The Corner Grocery, only a few minute walk away from their house, for the past few months. It hadn't been the same since it had been bought out by a private equity fund after the small, regional chain had gone bankrupt the year before. The store's new layout and employees had put her off and many of the local customers off, but there was nothing to be done about it now. She grabbed her purse, squared her shoulders, and walked out the front door.\n\n**\n\n\"Hello, welcome to The Corner Grocery! Could we interest you in signing up for our store credit card?\" asked the all too well groomed young man manning the front door of the store. \"No interest for the first six months!\"\n\n\"No, thank you. Not today,\" Mary said, trying not to make eye contact as she walked quickly past him. \n\nMilk, eggs, bread, spaghetti, she thought to herself, as if it was a mantra that could keep her safe. Milk, eggs, bread, spaghetti. Milk, eggs, bread...\n\n\"Ma'am! Would you like to take advantage of our personalized shopper service? Try it for free today! And then take advantage of a special promotion we are running. Six visits for half price,\" said the young woman striding along beside her on the way to the pasta aisle. This person, who was ostensibly a clerk at the store, was dressed in a crisp business suit and obviously expensive shoes. She pined for the days of the unhelpful, disheveled teenagers who smelled invariably of energy drinks, marijuana, or a combination of the two. They probably knew where fewer things in the store were than she did, but at least they left her alone. This person probably knew neither where anything was nor would she leave her alone.\n\n\"No, thank you,\" said Mary, hurrying her pace. \"I'm, um, I'm all good. Just need a few things.\"\n\n\"Well, if you'd just stop for a second,\" said the young woman, able to keep up with Mary despite her high heeled shoes, \"I could explain the benefits of sitting down with a personalized shopper to customize your Corner Grocery experience.\" \n\n\"No, no, not today,\" Mary said, grabbing the first box of pasta she saw without looking at what it was. \"Just...um...need to use the bathroom. Diarrhea, you know.\"\n\nThe young woman stopped in her tracks, plastering a forced smile on her face. She took a step back, as if worried Mary was going to defecate where she stood. \"Of course. Just let me leave this card with you...\" She placed a card on the shelf next to her, taking another step from her. \"And, um, I hope you have a nice day.\" She strode quickly away. Mary was pleased with her quick thinking. She doubted they taught how to handle customers with an imminent need of the restroom in business school. \n\nEnjoying her escape from the woman, she took the rest of the store at an unhurried pace to collect her remaining items. While she did not enjoy the new employees or business model of the store, she could not fault the pleasant shopping experience they had created. Everything was freshly polished and new. The refrigerator cases were clean and did not have the little bits of frost and mold built up over decades of irregular maintenance. Maybe she would start coming here a little more often. It wasn't that big of a hassle to ignore a few pushy clerks, really.\n\nShe strolled to the register and placed the items on the conveyor belt. She relaxed when she noticed the cashier was an employee she recognized from the previous iteration of The Corner Grocery, she relaxed, perusing the magazines. She frowned when she noticed they had replaced staples like Good Housekeeping* and Cosmopolitan with Bloomberg Businessweek* and a publication she didn't recognize but had a picture of Elon Musk on the cover, but it was of no real consequence.\n\n\"Do you wish to upgrade your milk today,\" asked the cashier, in a casual tone that caught her off guard.\n\n\"Ye...I mean no. It's just milk. What do you mean upgrade?\"\n\n\"Oh well,\" he said, reaching under the counter for something. \"This milk you have here is perfectly acceptable, but we have our store brand milk on special here today.\"\n\n\"What's the difference?\" she said, irritated at herself for engaging with her but somewhat curious to hear about this special milk they had behind glass.\n\n\"Well, this one comes from happy cows. It's much more nutritious and only $1.99 a gallon more. Should I go ahead and substitute this one with the one you picked out?\" He said, putting it on the conveyer belt without waiting for a response.\n\n\"Do you mean the milk I bought is from unhappy cows?\" she said, lifting up the one he had put down. The label was undeniably shinier, but it was also slightly yellow and had no visible expiration date.\n\n\"Why is this one yellow?\" she asked, shaking the container slightly. It didn't move like milk should either. Almost if it had separated a bit.\n\n\"Oh, that's just the high butterfat content,\" he said, as if it was perfectly normal for milk to be yellow and clump together in the bottle. \"Like I said, nutritious.\"\n\nShe reached out the bottle to him. \"I'm sure it is, but I'd really like to stick with the one I picked out.\"\n\nHe made no move towards the bottle in her hand. \"Are you sure? If you sign up for our credit card today we can throw in a second one for free.\"\n\nA second bottle of suspicious milk did nothing to peak Mary's interest. \"That's okay,\" she said. \"I'd really just like the one I picked out today. And look,\" she gestured at the bottle, \"the cow on the label is smiling. She seems perfectly happy to me.\" \n\nHe frowned, but put the bottle back. He reached for the one on the belt she had chosen and was about to scan it until another customer, who had entered the line a few moments ago, spoke up.\n\n\"I heard they recalled that brand of milk.\" The man said. He looked vaguely familiar. \"I'd personally go with the store brand. I think it's delicious. You can put two bottles on the belt here for me once you have finished checking her out.\"\n\n\"Are you sure, ma'am?\" he asked. He then prompted her again after she delayed in responding, trying to remember where she recalled the other customer from. \"Ma'am?\" \n\n\"Oh, no, that's okay. Just this regular old milk for me today.\" He scanned it and told her the total. She reached for her card, but something caused her to glance back at the customer in line behind her again. She realized where she knew him from. It was the man at the entrance offering her a credit card. He was dressed in jeans and a sport coat, but it was the same clean shaven face and perfectly parted hair. He caught her gaze and smiled at her. It was not a nice smile. Far too many teeth. She put her card back in her wallet and pulled out a few bills instead. The cashier noticed this and said there was a discount for using a card instead of cash. Puzzled, as this ran counter to everything she knew about credit cards, she handed him the bills anyway. The man behind her had struck up a conversation with a third customer about her choice of milk. Starting to sweat, she anxiously waited for the cashier to make change. Grabbing the coins and the full grocery bag, she all but sprinted out of The Corner Grocery.\n\n\"Ma'am!\" said the well dressed woman from before, catching her stride for stride. \"One last chance for our personalized shopper deal!\"\n\n\"NO!\" she shouted, exiting the store and not looking behind her until she had walked the four blocks home.\n\n\"Hey, Mom,\" said Jimmy, emerging from his room. \"Thanks for the milk. Did you get any cookies?\"\n\nMary, exhausted from the ordeal, sat down at the kitchen table, head in her hands. \"No, no cookies.\"\n\nJimmy walked started down the stairs. \"Oh, that's all right. I'll head over there now. I've got a few more personalized shopper visits to use up anyway.\"\n\nIt took Mary a few moments to realize what her son had said. She ran to the door, but she heard it open and shut before she had reached it. Sighing, she hoped he at least wouldn't be bringing any milk home." ]	3
	[WP] In a world where magic is normal, you are an average diviner. One day your divination about a major catastrophe comes true. Now you are caught up in a complicated legal battle about the legal liability of “future-predictors”.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "\"Is it or is it not true you knew those people were going to die?\"\n\nI paused for a second. I knew what my answer had to be. There was nothing else I could say or way I could phrase it. I also knew I had nothing to do with it. I couldn't help having the knowledge that I did. But still, here I was, having all of these deaths placed at my feet. I wanted to steel myself. To project the self-confidence my lawyer wanted me to, but I wasn't able to. I slumped in my chair. I looked away from the prosecutor. \n\n\"Yes,\" I said, in a barely audible voice.\n\n\"Please speak into the microphone,\" the judge reminded me with a glare, as if she too held me personally responsible for those deaths. \"The court reporter needs to hear exactly what you said.\"\n\n\"Yes,\" I repeated again.\n\n\"And is it true you did nothing about this?\"\n\n\"Yes,\" I said, ignoring a few of the quiet gasps which emerged from the gallery. \"but there was nothing I could do about that. Acting on what I see could lead to terrible consequences. I...\"\n\n\"Thank you,\" he said, over my continued efforts to speak. \"I have no further questions.\"\n\nI returned to the seat next to my defense lawyer and stared blankly ahead. I had been the test case for the Anti-Divination law recently passed by the Magical Congress of the United States after a diviner had foreseen a tragic plane crash and failed to alert any of the authorities. While there had been no way to legally prosecute him, the public had done the job itself. After months of harrassment, he had simply disappeared. No one was quite sure whether he had been alive or dead. His similar efforts to explain that we diviners could only see the future, not alter it, also fell on deaf ears. In typical fashion, our society had chosen to attack a branch of magic largely practiced by only a small number of individuals, instead of understand it.\n\nMy lawyer patted me on the shoulder and gestured for me to follow up. The judge had read the instructions to the jury and dismissed them for deliberations. I wish I could read my fate, instead of stewing in my uncertainty. But I couldn't. The future was blank.\n\nAuthor's note: I might come back to this one. I felt like I only had a short piece in me today so I tried to keep it focused, but I've already got some ideas on how to expand this." ]	2
	[WP] On everyone’s 18th birthday they receive a mark from the god who gave them life. When you turned 18, the mark of each god appeared on you.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 then that you started to piece together the truth of all the things happening to you. Water seemed to tremble at your touch, flames grew higher the closer you got, and sometimes, when you were really angry, it felt as though the ground beneath your feet would start to shake. You had brushed it all off before, but there was no denying it now. You are a chosen. You are not only touched by one God, but instead touched by them all. At this moment, your life has a greater purpose than all of those around you, though you don't know what that purpose is to be. You will find out soon enough, though, as you will climb the stairs towards Porta Cael, otherwise known as Heaven's Gate. While no one has made the climb in thousands of years, it is here that you will learn of your destiny as a weapon of the gods. It is here where you will learn how you will save your world from sure destruction." ]	2
	[WP] You live in a world where fun and enjoyment is illegal(and punishable by death)but you find yourself enjoying the mundane things in life	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 Joe’s alarm clock sounded, he yawned and slowly sat up. He rose to his feet and made his way to the chair by his window. He silently admired the beautiful rising sun. Joe did this every morning. The sun had to be his favorite thing in the whole world; it was the only thing they couldn’t take away from him. While lost in a trance, the bracelet on Joe’s ankle began to vibrate, warning Joe that his dopamine levels were rising. Joe jumped out of his chair and hastily yanked his curtains shut. Breathing heavily, Joe stood with his back pressed against the window and his fists clenching balls of curtain, as if he was attempting to block a monster from crawling into his bedroom. Joe knew he was playing a dangerous game. He just stood there for a little while until he got a glance at his clock. It was nearly 7:30 and he hadn’t even began to get dressed for work!\n “Damnit!”, Joe yelled.\n He quickly stripped down to his underwear and pulled a random suit out of his closet. There was no time for a shower so he slathered his pits in deodorant and sprayed cologne all over his body. He hopped into his shoes as he made his way out the door.\n Joe ran into the front door of the office building and hopped into his cubicle. He was drenched in sweat and the fact that he hadn’t showered wasn’t really helping smell-wise.\n “Joe”, his supervisor called, walking in his direction.\n “Good morning, sir”, Joe replied nervously, while clicking onto the program on his computer.\n “You know the rule about the G word, Mr. Mathews”, the supervisor replied, scowling.\n “Oh…no no…I-I’m so sorry… I…mean bad morning?”\n Joe slapped himself in the face\n “Why are you late again, Joe?”, the big man said firmly.\n “Oh…well I…kind of got…distracted…”, Joe replied shamefully.\n “Oh really? By what?”\n “I was…I was just…umm…well when you think about it…really…I-“, Joe was cut off.\n “Joe. Our recent reports have shown that your dopamine bracelet has buzzed off at least once every single day for the past month. I don’t know what has gotten into you, Joe, but it needs to find it’s way out. When will you ever learn that joy is just a disservice to us all? All it ever does is bring us down and drive us away from what is important. You need to move on from this dumb little fantasy you’re trying to live out, Joe. It’s not healthy and it’s not doing you any goo- you get the point. Now…instead of doing your usual workload, I want you to go home and really reflect on your actions. I’m afraid that if you keep this up, we’re going to have to…punish you.”\n “What do you means by punish?” Joe was sweating even more.\n “Dear Joe, what do you think I mean?”, the supervisor replied.\n “Oh…”, Joe said in realization.\n “Now go scurry on. Your coworkers and I have real work to do.”\n Joe immediately picked up his things and walked away from his cubicle. He was ashamed - more ashamed than he had ever been. He didn’t understand what was wrong with him. Why couldn’t he just be normal? Why did only he have these feelings? Maybe his supervisor was right. Maybe he was just a stupid idiot who was doing stupid idiot things. He looked down at his feet as he made his way to the exist door.\n “Excuse me!”, a lady said as he accidentally walked into her behind.\n “Oh, hi Samantha…sorry about that.” Joe smiled bashfully. Samantha was so beautiful and smart. He could stare at her for hours. \n “Joe! Don’t smile like that!”, Samantha said in disgust.\n “Oh right…sorry…well, goodbye.” Joe’s smile faded and he walked out the door.\n By the time Joe got back to his apartment, the sun was already setting. Joe tried to stop himself but the beauty of the sunset was too strong. Before he knew it, he found himself in that same place he was that morning - sitting in the chair by his window, staring at the sunset. Except, this time, he didn’t stop when his bracelet buzzed, or when police lights began to flash outside his window, or even when he heard angry voices breaking down his door." ]	2
	[WP] In Hell, most demons work at a massive company where they deal on all human-demon relations, from soul-bargaining deals to demonic possessions. You are the first human EVER to work for this company.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 died, I could feel my soul getting dragged down. Down into a pit of fire as I could hear millions of terrifying screams and the cracks of whips. Fearing that I was going to hell to be tortured forever I began to scream myself, only to feel something grab me and pull me aside. I open my eyes and just see an office, much like the one I used to work in when I was alive.\n\n“Ah, you made it.” I hear as a gorgeous woman walks into the room. Her hair red like blood, her skin white like marble and legs that go all the way up and make a complete ass out of themselves. Even amongst my fear and confusion just looking at her made me more aroused then I’ve ever been.\n\n“Hi there, my name is Amon. You must be Jacob, right?”\n\n“Y-Y-Yes, I-I’m sorry but where am I?”\n\n“You haven’t figured it out yet? You’re in Hell, H-E- Double hockey sticks, the big inferno, realm of the damned. Oh don’t look so shocked, you lived a life of scamming people with bull crap contracts. Fortunately that’s exactly why you and I are here right now. You see (she says as she leans over a bit showing off her massive cleavage) we could use your help with that.”\n\n“What do you mean?” I say trying to not make it too obvious I’m staring at her.\n\n“You see Jacob, Hell relies on us demons being able to trick humans into selling their souls to us. They get a wish and in exchange we make sure they come here when they die. However, some of our newer demons aren’t exactly top dogs at contract making and lately more and more humans keep finding loopholes or actually read the contracts and refuse them. So what I need from you is to be a kind of supervisor for these guys. You check over their work and make sure there’s no loopholes to exploit or contain anything that might scare the humans off, understood?”\n\n“So you want me to help you damn other humans for all eternity?”\n\n“Oh don’t think about it like that. I mean if they’re that willing to sign a contract with us then they deserve to be tortured forever. Of course you can refuse in which case you just get to enjoy eternal damnnation. Or you can agree and get a pretty good life in hell. An office overlooking the rivers of boiling blood, your own assistant you can abuse like you did your old one. Perform well enough you may even get a night with me. Of course if your performance starts lacking I’ll make sure you suffer whatever that human was supposed to get, so do we have a deal.”\n\n“Guess I don’t really have a choice do I?”", "Darkness. Accompanied by that darkness is an ear-splitting noise. \n\nNo, it was worse than that. It was a complete lack of noise, of light, of anything that was causing this skull splitting pain to shake George’s being to his very soul.\n\nIn the same instant it had began it had faded away. The darkness seemed to fade as well. \n\nTwo torches appeared in the distance. The sound of crackling fire starting off faintly in his ears, before growing as he focused more on the flames.\n\nWhat first looked to be torches grew in size to accompany the growing sound of crackling wood and roaring flame. George had been walking forward towards them. His feet compelled him even as the flames took the form of large flame pillars that reached far above his head.\n\nThe heat intensified as he approached. He was so in awe he had forgotten to ask how he had come to be here until he realized he was sweating profusely from the heat of these flames. Flames which left him with a burning sensation in his chest to even look upon.\n\nOut from each pillar stepped two figures made from shadow. Their eyes burned with an intensity to match the flames they had departed. George looked at them both. He was afraid to move or speak. He didn’t know how but he knew he had to be in Hell, and the fear in his chest told him that he had to do whatever was asked of him or suffer more than what awaited him.\n\nOne of the figures reached into the flames and pulled a chunk of fire from it as it approached George.\nEverything in his mind told him to run screaming. Every sense of survival told him to escape, no matter how illogical it was. He pushed the thoughts down, and just looked into the eyes of the shadowy figure when suddenly the shadows melted into…a suit.\n\nGeorge looked and saw the figure was no longer holding fire, but a yellow tablet and took a snapshot of the George. A flash blinding him as it caught him completely unaware. \n“Can I get your name, Sir,” the Suited figure asked in a surprising voice. One would expect a bass or baritone voice to boom but this was definitely an alto.\n\nAs he began to speak, George’s voice cracked and his response came out, “Gorgo.”\n\nThe suited figure was joined by the other shadowy figure who took a similar form, except for with flowing shadowy hair and a feminine figure. \n\nShe lit a cigarette with her thumb and stepped to look over his shoulder and point.\n“Well it appears Sir Gorgo is part of the Nine Hells Exchange Program, which would make sense why he’s at the back door.”\n\nShe looks at George and tilts her head, “Damn Management at the Tartarus building never get anything right.”\nShe points her cigarette at each of them, “It’s bullshit like this that makes me wonder why I’ve never been promoted. Give me a week and I’d have their heads spinning over there.”\n\n“What Departments do they manage over at Tartarus anyway,” he asked.\n“Recycling, and Myst Management,” she said as she flicked her cigarette over Georges head.\n\n“Recycling? You mean monster revival,” he asked as he typed away on the tablet.\n\n“Yup that’s it. They get to regenerate mythical monsters and send ‘em topside again. The thing is the quota hasn’t changed in centuries so it’s just a bunch of people slacking off and designing new monsters that hardly ever pass the screening process.”\n\n“Ah, well I found Gorgo here. No wonder Facial recognition didn’t get him on security or the tablet. There is no data in the system other than name, security clearance and assignment orientation.”\n\nGeorge was trying to keep his cool as he hung on their every word. It sounded like Hell was run like a business, and they apparently thought he was some sort of Demonic Transfer when he was nothing more than a human who had the unfortunate experience of…well dying.\n\nAs he began to put the pieces together, George began to feel lightheaded and stumbled for a moment. The two Shadow Demons looked at him with what he could only assume was concern and confusion. \n\n“Gorgo…what’s wrong,” he could hear someone ask.\n\n“Dammit Alton! It’s the security system. Fix it or it will fry him! We don’t need this demon dying and it be OUR fault…”\n\nTheir words started fading as the ground beneath him came barreling towards his face as heat spread through his body as it made a thud as he went limp at their feet and everything went black.", "\"Ah! There he is, our very first human! They say you aced the interview, I'm really impressed! I'm Balaam, I'll be in charge of you from here on out. Any questions?\" The demon in front of me introduced himself, making me wonder if Hell isn't as complicated as it sounds. I pause and take in the words just spoken, I look Balaam in the eyes, \"Actually, I do have a few questions, first off, what do you get for gaining the soul of another? what other deals do you make? How has your profit margins been?\" \n\n\nBalaam looks a little taken aback by my questions, he coughs and straightens his back. \"Well! profits haven't been great. But souls provide free labor when the human dies, think slaves but without wills, great for the menial stuff nobody wants to do. Demonic possessions allow us to prey on the weakest in the human race, with nowhere left to go, these suckers would do anything to get a shot at life! We also take the newborns as sacrifice, the blank souls can easily be molded into the next generation of demons. Why, are you afraid?\" \n\n\nI scoff \"Afraid? you guys are doing things all wrong! No wonder your profits are terrible. Slaves to provide basic needs? Are you stupid? Use them to tempt more people! make it look like they're having a good afterlife and show it to the vulnerable, the suckers would COME TO YOU! Preying on the weak? That's just the low hanging fruit. You want to aim for the big guns, those at the top are usually full of greed, and most of them don't have morals anyway. Possess them and make the ones under them miserable, you'll easily triple your profits. Finally, newborns? With the hellscape that is earth, do you really think the next generation want offspring? Hell, I'd rather have children in here than in the Overworld. Have you seen it up there? You want more demons? Convert the tax collectors, they're halfway there already. Most of the politicians too. Christ, for demons, you guys don't do very evil things do you?\" \n\n\nBalaam looks at me with either awe or horror, I honestly don't know. He just dismisses me for a break while calling for his secretary, as I watch a succubus rush into the room, I hear the demands of having a full staff meeting held as soon as possible. I grab a cup of coffee and walk about to observe the others. I see demons dragging souls out of their empty shells, newborn souls being ritualistically indoctrinated into being a new demon, demons returning from possessions with handwritten contracts, most coming back disappointed. probably from not having their letters read or having their demands rejected. These guys... They have a whole lot to do to catch up to humans. \"This is a company wide announcement. All current activity is to be halted. Everyone is to report to the auditorium on level -9 immediately\" The announcement systems blare. I grin. \"Its about time these kids learn about the demons they call humans.\"", "Conducting a team meeting at 8am sharp seemed cruel, Jason thought. Perhaps there would be free coffee. After darting into this concrete nightmare of a building, with a half dozen elevators that didn't work, he had descended down instead of up, to the -13th floor.\n\n“We are totally going to hit our numbers today,” said Mr. Screwtape. \n\nThere was not, in fact, any free coffee. Jason studied the empty travel mug he’d gotten for free at a conference sadly. \n\nMopey, grey-suited workers listed on their heels as they all stared at their boss, each one’s face gaunt, surely from a lack of sunlight. A long-cheeked woman with a blazer the color of powdered scrambled eggs sat on her desk behind a gray cubical wall and smelled like a fresh fart. \n\nJason wondered where and when his interview was supposed to take place. He’d gotten a letter to arrive here for his first day from his new boss, Screwtape, and had given himself plenty of time to get there. He’d kissed his wife, who’d completely ignored him, and straightened his tie as he did most of his life. But this day would be different. No more screaming at work and scarfing fast food alone at his desk and laying people off and faking giving to charity on his taxes. He'd make friends this time. Maybe even fuck a secretary. New job, new Jason. \n\n“Can I get a woo-woo!” Screwtape whooped.\n\nThere was a half-hearted “woo” from the back.\n\n“C’mon, you can do better than that!” Screwtape said, with a shockingly vicious intensity that revealed teeth Jason could swear were sharpened. “CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP?!”\n\nThis response was more numerous but equally half-hearted.\n\n“Now, Doubt won last week, but even her numbers were pathetic,” said Screwtape, pointing to a gray-smeared whiteboard behind him. It sported a lot of unusual names like ‘Pestilence’ and ‘Road Rage’ with a tally under each. “We are all going to get out there and make as many deals as possible. Really get into their heads. I want us to kick the ass of the other nodes. Screwtape’s team is going to be #1 in hell. Let’s get out there and get as many souls as possible!” \n\nJason, who’d sipped his coffee cup only to remember it was empty, choked on air, “What?”\n\nEveryone turned to look at him.\n\n“Ah, newie’s here,” Screwtape said. “Everyone, this is Jason. Say hi to Jason.”\n\nA pockmarked man lifted his hand before it awkwardly sank away, but that’s the only greeting he got.\n\n“Newbie, two things to remember: One, coffee is for closers. Two, if you roll doughnuts and get no souls by the end of the day,” Screwtape flicked his tie and laughed happily, “we’re going to eat you like a slice of office cake!”\n\nAs Jason looked around, the workers finally smiled at him, exposing their sharpened teeth.\n\n“No …” Jason said. “This is a bad dream!”\n\nSurely, he’d wake up next to his wife and kiss her silly before going to his normal office job.\n\n“You died yesterday,” said a short, squat man who was pushing a cart of dead printers. “Don’t you remember? By the vending machine. Sorry. No one was sad. You were a bad person. Welcome to hell.”\n\nJason glanced back at Screwtape.\n\n“Better start making some phonecalls, buddy,” he said with a sharp-toothed grin. “You disappointed God. Don't you dare disappoint me, or it's cake time. So if you could bring as many souls in on this venture, that would be great!\"", "\"Hey, welcome to Hell.\" Satan said. \"You might've noticed that it's sweltering in here. That's because... the AC broke, Management said it should be fixed by tomorrow.\" Winston stared in awe. Apparently, Hell was pretty chill, at least for him anyway, he thought as he looked across the horizon to see a man getting boiled in oil. \"Now normally, most humans who come down here get tortured for eternity, but we found a better use for you.\" Satan turned Winston's attention to a sparse looking office. \"See, we're a little low on demonpower, and that's cause most of them move out of the admin department to possess people, and buy their souls. Which ironically is what the admin department deals with.\" Satan pulled out a list, and started reading it out loud. \"Winston Lee, age 45, recommended by Jovan the demon, who was your boss. Yes, we send down demons to scout for souls to send to hell, and yes, your boss was one of them. Don't look at me like that, why do you think he never gave you a raise?\" \"Uh-ok, so if I'm getting this right. My boss, who's a demon, recommended me this job, in Hell's admin department?\" \"That's correct, welcome to the company, Winston. We look forward to torturing souls for an eternity with you.\"" ]	6
	[WP] You’ve been isekai’d to a barren planet. With your imagination, you’ve decided to make it your personal sandbox.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "‘Barren Earth….no atmosphere…will die’ Was your last thought as the violent sand storms rip you apart. There was nothing left, aside from a few photosynthetic bacteria that came with you. \n\nA few blinks later, you’ve been revived on the same barren land tens, maybe hundreds of years in the future. There was now an atmosphere and the weather calmed down a bit, but the oxygen concentration was still low. You tried to build a small shelter from dirt, only to collapse right before you finish. \n\nYou didn’t remember how many times you have been born again in this world anymore. How many eons had passed. There was now plants and flowers, you had made a wooden hut, some clothes, and a basic farm. You had even managed to find minerals. \n\nThis terraforming project is becoming very tedious and hard. And unfortunately you don’t know how to make modern technology. \n\nAs the spaceships land on the mini-castle you’ve built in decades, you realized that you might have been isekai’d to the wrong planet in this universe." ]	2
	[WP] You gain 1 level for every year of your life. What are 100 year olds like?	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 insanity.\n\nI've been stuck in this realm for a whole century today, went everywhere, did everything. Ate all kinds of food, talk to all kinds of people.\n\nI don't even know why I'm still keeping this journal. Old habits, I suppose.\n\nI still remember how it felt like at first. You get levels every years, which means new skills and powers without having to work for it. Sounds great, right ? Well, it was great.\n\nWe reappear when we die, no penalty. We keep all our money, item, everything. I thought I was in some heroic fantasy MMORPG, at first, but it seems nobody can reach any interface outside the feedback form regular appraisal skills.\n\nOdd, but easy to adapt after living as a shut-in bum for 30 years. Felt like having all the perks of real life without the inconvenients. An outstanding implementation of one of few concepts that would be called \"the best game ever made\". You can throttle the difficulty of your progression yourself, no frustration. Great immersive storytelling, with everyone as a protagonist.\n\nHow ungrateful I would be to criticize such an experience, right ?\n\nYou'd think things are different everywhere, right ? But after a couple of places, a couple of lifetimes, I genuinely believe everyone would pick up on the couple of patterns behind.\n\nThe first time, it's new. You don't think twice about it, unless it's a particularly gruesome experience. Which it thankfully isn't most of the time. Most of the time ...\n\nThe second time, you laugh at the coincidence. Like lightning hitting twice at the same place. Then you remember about the lazy physics of upward electric trails before thunder strikes. You get to wonder. Everyone would, right ?\n\nThe third time, you know the saying. It's a pattern. And after a whole century, nothing escapes its model anymore.\n\nNot even other people's thoughts. Not even your own thoughts.\n\nHave you already tried to break out an inescapable prison designed specifically for you ?\n\nAn I can't even die.\n\nI can't fucking die.\n\nI have enough.\n\nPlease ..." ]	2
	[WP] You were cursed from birth, and anything that you believe is true is no longer true. Anything you see just dissapears from existence.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 sun has shifted in my time, though I try not to think of light sources anymore. Things get too weird if I do. Same for general concepts and things needed for life. I am incredibly powerful: things stop existing just because I think of them.\n\nUsually they’ll morph, depending. I have seen the sun in all colours and shapes. I have seen the Earth blanketed in light without an apparent source, as well as constant darkness. Distance does not affect my power: the planets and the stars all fell, changed, warped into absurd oddities.\n\nI have seen the Earth and all its life stretch the sense of plausibility. But that is the one constant across all the shifts: life. It has to continue, and more importantly to whoever cursed me, I have to continue. Either oxygen is immune to my power, or I am altered in an unseen way. I believe in myself, yet I still remain.\n\nI walk along something. I spend most days in a meditative state, focussed on putting one foot in front of the other. Following my nose and ears to find food and water. Belief and attention seem more tightly linked to sight than sound and smell: If I look at something, it might have a few seconds before it morphs or disappears, if I hear it it might take up to a minute or more, depending on how long I think.\n\nI am trying very hard not to think about the originator of the voice that fills my ears. That is how I force myself to think of it: a voice without origin. Articulate yet soft, rhythmic and melodious. The voice cannot disappear: once I hear the voice it’s gone. Every word is the last word, so I force myself to believe, because expecting another word would be a belief, and that would destroy everything. It is the most beautiful voice I have heard in all the shifts." ]	2
	[WP] Most demons ask for your soul or worse. This one just wants cookies and milk.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 finished the words of the incantation and a soft blue mist began to form circle-and-pentagram I had etched in the stone floor. I looked around at my circle-mates, and I'm sure I had the same melange of fear and excitement playing across my face that they all did. Five orphans, none of us older than my own thirteen years. Little Rita had only just turned eight and had started attending our little group more out of boredom than anything else, just wanting some other people to be close to. And we had just opened a door to another world wide enough to let something on the other side through.\n\nThe mist swirled and spiraled inward to where I had left a thimble with a drop of my own blood as an offering. The mist swirled over the thimble and formed into a large, blue, inhuman hand. It touched the thimble and withdrew or dissolved into the mist again. There was a slurping and chomping sound, and then ...\n\n\"PFAUGH! Dis yucky! What dis?! Who cook dis?!\" The roaring voice echoed in the rafters of the abandoned, foreclosed house behind the orphanage we had coopted--we had crossed from our backyard to its after dark.\n\nI managed to avoid wetting myself, but only barely. \"I am sorry, this is a humble offering of my blood ...\"\n\n\"BLOOD?! Who drink blood? You drink blood?\"\n\n\"No, but the book said your kind ...\" I trailed off, not knowing what to say.\n\n\"Oh, yes, me try to be kind, you all shoulds try to be kind, too, but wat dat have do with drinking blood?\"\n\n\"Wait, what?\"\n\nKatie, immediately to my right, hissed a whisper at me. \"Your, you're.\"\n\nNone of this makes sense.\n\n\"Sorry, Mister, what's your name? And what would you really like?\" Rita asked. I cringed. I had warned her about speaking out of turn, that you had to be cautious when speaking with creatures from other worlds.\n\n\"Oh, me so sorry, me forgot, but ... wait ... what dat smell?\" The mist made several unmistakable sniffing sounds, and spun and pushed up against the edge of the circle near ten-year-old Dean, across the circle and to my left from me.\n\n\"Th - that smell?\" Dean stammered.\n\n\"Dean, did you go poop?\" Rita asked.\n\n\"N-no!\"\n\n\"NOT POOPY! Dis GOOD smell!\" said the mist.\n\nDean's eyes widened. \"Wait, you mean my snack? I've got some milk and cookies in my lunchbox. There by the wall behind me.\"\n\n\"MM-HMM. DAT! Me Kukim'ansta the Devourer, and me. Hungry. For. COOKIES!!\"\n\n\"Don't leave the circle!\" I warned him.\n\nDean gulped. \"I'd give you them, Great Kukim'ansta, I would, but I can't leave this star on the ground ...\"\n\n\"You give them to Kukim'ansta?!\" the stentorian voice in the mist continued.\n\n\"Definitely, but ...\"\n\n\"ME ACCEPT YOUR OFFERING!\" There was a low rumble and the little folding chair against the wall, on which Dean had put his lunchbox, toppled over, and out tumbled the cookies and one of those ubiquitous single-serving milk cartons. They never even hit the ground. They hovered, suspended on a faint blue glow for a heartbeat, then flew straight into the circle and into the waiting misty maelstrom. There was another chomping and slurping sound.\n\n\"Oh, me much happier now, but me still want MORE COOKIES!\"\n\nThe five of us all looked around at each other. Dean's cookies were the only ones any of us had. We'd all eaten ours earlier.\n\n\"There are a few more in the kitchen,\" Katie volunteered hesitantly. \"I think.\"\n\nThe mist seemed to still and think for a moment. \"Not good,\" it said. \"But ... you have kitchen!\"\n\n\"We do ...\"\n\n\"So we MAKE cookies! We BAKE cookies!\"\n\nThere was an awkward silence. \"What I say?\" the mist contiinued.\n\n\"We, uh, don't know how,\" Dean confessed.\n\nA mortally offended pulse of light and lightning in every shade of blue surged through the mist. \"You not know how to bake cookies?! Your friends not know? Parents not teach you?\"\n\n\"We, uh, don't have parents here. Or friends, really. Just us here,\" Jack admitted, the first thing he'd said this evening. Dean, Rita, Katie, and Jack all shook their heads. I would've, too, if I weren't too numb to respond. I wanted to summon a demon to work out anger issues, not to have my lack of normal human relationships and life skills highlighted to me.\n\n\"This unacceptable. We make pact. I be your friend, and I share my knowledge wit you. I teach you to be kind and be good friends and bake cookies. And you bake enough cookies for me and yous and all you friends!\"\n\nI looked around at everyone again, and they all looked at me. This was not what any of this crew of misfits expected. I shrugged.\n\n\"Deal,\" I said.\n\nThere was a pulse of blue, white, and golden light as the circle shattered, and a large, rotund, furry, inhuman creature with great white orbs atop a too-large and too-flat blue head lay revealed where the mist once was.\n\n\"Come, Minions of Kukim'ansta!\" it called. \"Greatness and COOKIES awaits!\"" ]	2
	[WP] A new café called "Time Traveler Café " opens in your town. Curious, you visit it and find 5 versions of yourself at different ages hanging out and you join them. Together, you plot to make yourself the richest man in the world within 5 years.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Hindsight\n\nThe first looks like me. Had I not known any better, I would have said that he really was me. But the telltale streaks of grey in his hair give away his age; perhaps no further than eight years ahead of my time.\n\n“I am the First,” he says. “And I shall be the coffers.”\n\nAnd so does he dictate the many means by which he achieves his fortune. Options, commodities, stocks and bonds. He moves the levers of the world, and the world bestows riches upon him.\n\nThe second now leans forward. This one is young, and brash — the spitting image of myself in my mid-teens.\n\n“I am the Second,” he says. “I will be the muscle.”\n\nBeing at the strongest he shall ever be in his life, he truly is the mightiest of us, and the most energetic. There will be nary a man capable of overcoming him, with weapon or without.\n\nThe third is far beyond our years, thoughtfully puffing on an ornate wooden pipe.\n\n“I am the Third,” he says. “And I shall be the mind.”\n\nTruly, he is the wisest, and most experienced of us. Decades of knowledge concerning life and the living lie at his disposal. There is no situation he has not faced, no challenge he has not overcome, and no perspective he has not envisioned.\n\nThe fourth is no longer a boy, and just barely a man. His eyes glow with the optimism of independence, and the drive of the determined.\n\n“I am Fourth,” he says. “I shall be the heart.”\n\nHis is to be the task of securing the faith and faithful, and to ensure a steady stream of devoted followers to the cause. His earnestness and charm assure him success in his endeavour, and he truly inspires the image of a leader of men.\n\nFinally, they turn to me.\n\n“I am Fifth,” I say. “To receive shall be my purpose, and to share justly the spoils among you all.”\n\nHeads nod in assent, hands are shaken and deals are struck. And our plan begins. But...\n\nA dark shadow falls upon the table, and we turn to look upon this latest interloper.\n\nOlder than even the third, the creature before us is barely recognisable. Driven haggard by age and the travails of life hard-lived, it shuffles closer to the table. The bulging knuckles and gnarled fingers splay themselves upon the edge. Sunken eyes glare at us from behind a mop of hair, unkempt and drooping over the now gaunt features. The dark outlines of roughly drawn tattoos of all shapes and sizes adorn the man’s sagging skin, each a memento of incarceration.\n\nSlowly, with a croaking drawl, it speaks.\n\n“I am the Sixth. It didn’t work, and I’m here to tell you that you’re all idiots.”" ]	2
	[WP] You run a graveyard for supervillains. Your job includes maintaining the graves, keeping vandals off the premise, and making sure those bastards stay dead.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/WritingPrompts) if you have any questions or concerns.", "Just another day at the office, or should I say graveyard.\n\n\nI'm the grounds keeper, corpse keeper some would say, the unfortunate person who gets paid minimum wage to care for the resting remains of the world's most dastardly fiends.\n\n\nFrom murderous Mike myers to the cybernetic scraps of ultron.\n\n\nFor the pay, it's hard to believe all the kinds of Tom foolery I've gotta deal with.\n\n\nLike a couple nights ago...\n\n\nMy shift chimed at the Dark of midnight, walking through the grounds with a feather duster.\n\n\nBrushing cobwebs aside from tombs and grave stones, the light protruding from my flashlight cutting through the pitch black and revealing glimpses of names like Victor Or Dimentio.\n\n\nThe run of the mill Villians to the entities that make superman wet himself.\n\n\nCrash\n\n\nSuddenly a loud sound, similar to smashing stone, interrupts my chain of thought.\n\n\nIn a dash I traverse the surprisingly unorganised rows of corpse containers, weaving through obelisks and armoured coffins.\n\n\nReaching the source of the sound, light flashed upon a gang of hooded individuals surrounding a pile of rock and ruble. Damn! They've knocked over a sculpture I realise, a mix of annoyance and panic rooting itself in my mind.\n\n\nPulling out a state of the art , deconsciouser, a flurry of tranq darts erupt from the barrel. Each hitting a target.\n\n\nThey'd be out till the shift ends, ignoring each of their bodies without second thought, after all I already understand their reasoning.\n\n\nYou'd be surprised by the commonality of people who seek vengeance on a Villian after death.\n\n\nWell that's not important, the pile of stone and Ash quite clearly was.\n\n\nImmediately I looked for any sort of name engraved on the pieces of rock, after a few glances across the ground with my flashlight and I've made out a 'D'.\n\n\nJudging by the features of the smashed statue and the Ash now convulsing at my feet, this could only be one thing. A vampire.\n\n\nGreat one of the things that never stays dead.\n\n\nSkimming over a variety of vials containing liquids from blues to pinks. I find a glass bottle with a cross over the Cork, along with a transparent substance inside it.\n\n\nHoly water or atleast my employer's equivalent to it.\n\n\nPouring the bottle's contents over any ash I spot, a white smoke arises as the Ash is vaporised.\n\n\nAll that's left is a single grain of grey, which I quite promptly placed inside a lead box hanging at my belt.\n\n\nQuite frankly I jumped for joy as I closed the box.\n\n\nLet me tell you, the feeling of not starting another world ending catastrophe is exhilarating.\n\n\nSo that night was an inhalation of stress followed by fatigue but at least it ended well, I think.\n\n\n\nFinally I slink into my chair, the end of tonight's shift upon me. Sighing in utter release.\n\n\nI can now go to be-\n\n\nPing!\n\n\nA notification sounds from my phone, picking it up I see one message from am unknown contact.\n\n\n\"Don't not be afraid\"\n\n\nIt's my employer.\n\n\n\"We're sorry to inform you but are Holy water supplies seem to have be switched with regular water. Please order a new batch immediately.\"\n\n\nFuck.\n\n\nGrabbing a string of garlic and a stake, it's time to leave the cemetery and bring death elsewhere.\n\n\nThis old grave keeper gotta some fangs to pluck.\nAnd a grave to dig.\n\n\n\n\n\n----------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nThis is my first writing post and quite rushed due to it being late as of the time I'm writing.\n\nSo idk how it is, hope you enjoy.\n\nEdit: spell check" ]	2
	[WP] every species in the galaxy has a unique perk, some have includible strength, some agility, but humanity has a seemingly weak and useless one, compounding knowledge.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "An exponential curve.\n\nA mathematical equation that describes malignant growth unlike normal, linear growth. \n\nWhen humans were first encountered in the outer reaches of the galaxy, it was rather exciting. They exist in an isolated and empty bubble and had not yet interacted with any life outside of microbiota discovered in their meager explorations of the local solar unit.\n\nA deep-reach probe first encountered another small, dead probe that appeared as a bowl with spiky arms extruding from it. The dead probe was collected and local autonomous study of the materials and design determined it was artificial. Simple vector extrapolations determined from where the probe had originated and then the search was as simple as following the trail back.\n\nAs the probe approached the solar unit in question, it passed through waves of crackling and indecipherable electromagnetic pulses and signals. Eventually the signals cleared enough that we could determine what was being said and shown. Due to compression related to the speed of travel (or so we believed), we witnessed the humans' accelerated growth and changes through their signals cast into the cosmos.\n\nIntrigue shifted to excitement as we observed the incredible rate of growth in the amount and quality of knowledge the humans obtained. Their methods were not atypical, but their ability to so efficiently and swiftly share and apply discoveries was exceptional. Most individuals of the many Member Species are purpose-trained, and few members were as capable or fluid even among their learned, scholar classes.\n\nLinear growth of knowledge was, until this point, believed to be the only form. The quality of growth was quantified by the specific angle of growth. Outside of scholars, who were the individuals tasked with monitoring and maintaining these deep-reach probes, no one would care or notice this exception angle of growth. \n\nHumans were gladly welcomed into the fold as a representative from a previously empty area of the galaxy. They were not the largest, strongest, or fastest. Their relative stature and technological capabilities made them unimpressive, and therefore unthreatening, to those Members who value such things.\n\nAs was expected among the Learned, Humans found their home in the unfathomably immense banks of data and shared knowledge. In an internal effort to efficiently catalogue the information, the humans named the data banks after their own ancient data repositories: Alexandria, Pergamum, and House of Wisdom, among others.\n\nIt should be noted that Humans also live relatively short lives. Only 200 or so of their years, each year corresponding to one solar orbit. This made their incredible angle of knowledge growth all the more impressive. In only a few generations of Humans obtaining access to the Libraries, as they called them, the Learned took note of a peculiar phenomenon. It appeared the Humans' angle of growth had steadily gotten steeper. It was one of our middling Learned who overlaid the successive growth lines from discovery to the present to first see an impossible trend line.\n\nAn exponential curve.\n\nAt first the whispers were confined to the halls of the Learned. This compounding knowledge the humans possessed would show them leaving our capabilities behind in only a handful of generations.\n\nA handful, it turned out, was another underestimation.\n\nWithin two human lifetimes, their understanding of the universe and its functions had grown beyond anything we could have hoped to grasp in a hundred of their lifetimes according to even the most aggressive growth angles. From this understanding came technology, weapons, and ever more efficient means of obtaining and refining knowledge.\n\nBy this time, the whispers had leaked to the Walls of the Mighty and even the Heights of the Most High. There were moments when fear gripped the hearts of the Mighty and caused the pillars of the Most High to tremble. The Mighty saw Humans' weapons and technology as a means of overthrowing the existing power structures and installing themselves as masters of all. Ambitious and power-greedy diplomats and nobles were infected by this fear and sought to keep their gains and remain in their high places of power.\n\nEventually, the Most High herself interceded asking the Humans to explain themselves. Through forum and discussion we learned of the crucible the Humans had come to being in. The internal competition, the wars waged, the blood price paid. Near extinctions and punishing conditions they brought on themselves that forced them together into cooperation and to forgive old debts. Forget old wounds. \n\nGratefully, steadier nerves and calmer hearts prevailed. Rather than a threatening malignant growth, their impossible climb was framed as the infinite ladder we would all climb to greater heights. The Humans' glowing dynamo of growing knowledge and capabilities became the engine that propelled the galaxy and its knowledge forward. The minds and arms of the Mighty were enriched with the bounty of Human battle philosophy and warfighting. The pillars of the Most High were reinforced with the scaffolding of political thought and idealism. In all things, the Many benefited from increases in efficiency, production, and quality improvement that followed in the wake of the Humans' knowledge gains.\n\nWith grace and good fortune may we walk upon the unreachable shores of the Ancient Builders at the apex of all things.\n\nr/WarAdmiral2420" ]	2
	[WP] People have cursed God for various things throughout the years, but you were the last straw, "You think being God is so easy? Fine, you can be God from now on."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "\"Really? Cool.\" I responded. I mean what could you expect? I was a pretty opinionated child, just shy of my 10th birthday. I watched so many tv shows that having god appear out of nowhere was the unexpected excitement I was craving. \nAlmost everyone complimented me as being smart and I had lots of time then. Plus my (15 year old) sister was sure to be a big help. She was called smart a lot too and I could tell it was true. I told her what happened immediately after. She had been in her room, in the toilet, but had saw the blinding light and felt powerful presence. Plus I almost never lied to her, so it was easier for her to believe me.\n\"First let's deal with hell.\" I both exclaimed and questioned excitedly. Yah, I was pretty nerdy as well as naive.\n\"Woah, hold on, not so fast. Let's test if you have god powers, on something small first.\"", "You laugh as you sat on the large chair made of quartz and gold. You sat looking over the previous god, the man who had left heaven in ruins because of his poor skills. It was his mistake for making a workaholic the new god. \n\n\"Mx. (name)!\" One of your workers called \"He's here!\" \n\nYou smiled and got up out of your seat. \"Bring him in charlotte.\" Your arms opened wide, the blazer of your business suit stretched with you. You stood in front of your chair a victorious grin on your face as the door opened and he stood fuming at your success. \n\nFinally 21 years later, you would show him that it was possible. \n\n\"Good evening, Pleasure to have you back. What do you think of my new system?\" you asked \n\n\"I find it horrible.\" He said, walking up to you, arms behind his back \"You're making people who worked their whole lives work more. They must hate it here.\" \n\n\"Oh, just the opposite.\" You say \"These are workaholics, people who will never be satisfied by just sitting around and being lazy. They have paid for vacations, insurance, and everything they could ever need. Plus they make a little extra cash on the side. Now, why don't we have a tour around this place?\" \n\n\"Fine,\" He spat out \n\n\"Here we have my office. You can't see them now but i have hundreds of thousands of screens so I can keep an eye on and hear all the prayers and such. I can't believe you just ignored them. you left this place in shambles.\" You said and he dropped his head in shame \"Moving on, this is the Karma department. They monitor how much karma each person accumulates during their life time and how it is returned when they are reincarnated.\" \n\nYou showed the former god around the peaceful place saying hello to angels, arch angels, gods from other religions and even regular people who just wanted something to do with themselves. After an hour or so, the tour was over and You and the former god were back in your office. \n\n\"So...\" You trail off \"What do you think?\" \n\n\"How?\" He asked, his voice shakey \"How did you do it?\" \n\n\"I asked for help.\" You said \"You were trying to do an impossible amount of things all on your own. It wasn't fair to you and you felt overwhelmed. Trust me, I tried to do it like that too. Three years and I was no better than you.\" \n\n\"But we're gods!\" He exclaimed voice cracking harshly, You saw tears in his eyes as he shook you \"We're all seeing! All knowing!\" \n\n\"But not All doing.\" You replied \"Sometimes even gods need a break.\" \n\nHe only let out a defeated sigh. \"I see. Maybe it was right to reliquesh my position to you. It was truly a blessing indisguise.\" \n\n\"Rest my child,\" You smiled and closed his eyes before snapping your fingers \n\nHe was gone. 21 years have passed. 21 years of his memories being gone and 21 years of him living as a normal human. one who lived to the best they could. \n\n\"You deserve it.\"" ]	3
	[WP]You were a necromancer that was executed for dabbling in the dark arts. They cremated your body to prevent you from coming back as a lich, but what they didn't know is that ashes work as well as bones.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 dead. \r \nI am destroyed. \r \nCompletely and utterly erased and absent from the world.\r \nThose damn ignorant fools believe as much anyway. They thought that burning my corpse would be enough to rid them of my ‘evil taint’ and ‘wicked ways’. It wasn’t.\r \nI may not be present in their waking days but I am very much here. Their soft supple minds will always be host to my infectious memory. My visage will be a plague that ravages their minds and haunts their darkest nightmares. I will be with them for the rest of their sorry lives. A silent tormentor that exists in the fringes of their conscious minds loitering like a shadowy spectre cast over their every thought.\r \nLurking in the darkest recesses of their minds and souls I shall bide my time before I can truly be reborn. Then I can exact my vengeance. There will be no respite. No mercy. My revenge will be slow and gruelling, drawn out for as long as their pitiful bodies can withstand the full force of my wrath. Even then, after all that I will do to them, their suffering will persist. Their shattered lifeless husks will be forced into eternal servitude as undead slaves. \r \nWhen I return, there will be nothing that can stop me for I shall be neither living nor dead. An unrelenting force that cannot be matched by the woefully miserable attempts of the common man. \r \nI am the true vessel for chaos.\r \nI am Death.", "\\#New here, also I'd love some feedback on my writer's voice/tone, I feel like I've always struggled with that. Love the prompt by the way.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nAshes to ashes, death unto life, forevermore undead the Burned Sorcerer returns. They, those interloping Wizards at the Order, so scared of life without death, burned you at the stake to purge you and your forbidden knowledge. But unbeknownst to them, you have scried their ambitions in the blood of the damned, and cast upon yourself your penultimate art: an unbreakable seal to be reborn as a Spirit of Dark Ash rising from the pyre in a terrible show of vengeance, anchored to this world in a crystalline rose imbued in your very blood. With a gale of malediction you reap the souls of your executioners, turning them over to your own control, and sapping much of their magical powers for yourself. The Order shall suffer, only then shall the world know the fruits of unbounded necromancy. I am merely your guide, left behind by your former self in preparation for all you must do.\n\nIn mere moments the twelve Masters of Rites who tried to rid the world of you through fire and flame were incinerated down to their bones. Your Dark anger runs deep as you force their residual essences to bow beneath your wrath, a furor awakened in undying. You think to yourself, they’ve done you a favor - at least now you shall have more souls to conduct your magic with. Rich souls, bounding with flowing energy and spiritual muscles developed over decades of training. Choking tight the leash you possess over these once-called Masters, you and the bony thralls crumble to dust in the wind.", "It's cold. And wet. \n \nIt shouldn't be. I was a necromancer in life,an abomination in the eyes of the Goddess. I should be burning in the nineteen hells, being cut to pieces by screaming bees, and having my teeth flattened with needles. \n \nSo how am I cold? \n \nOh. That's interesting. I'm feeling a slight pull towards... Something. Looks like a pile of ash. Is... Is it my body? They must've cremated me. Oh, lucky-lucky me. \n \nEveryone knows that a necromancer can come back as a lich, if he is powerful enough. So you have to destroy the body. Reduce it to ash, and spread those ashes over running water. \n \nExcept that's a lie I manufactured. Truth is, a mortal body can be quite the weak point, not to mention that without proper burial rites and a grave, the soul lingers, which is perfect for me. And since there's no flowing river in the area, those idiots dumped my ashes in the swamp! A bog, filled with rot and decomposing monstrosities! \n \nI can raise an army unlike anything I ever dreamed of! But first, let's fix this 'body' situation. I'll gather my dust, and crush it into a tiny diamond sphere. This will be my phylactery. This place is supposedly haunted, so I only need to wait for some idiot child to come here, trying to prove their bravery to their friends. \n \nAfter that, I'll build a new body. Then a lair, and an army of grotesque abominations unto nature. Yes, all things considered, this could hardly have gone better." ]	4
	[WP] Zeus, in disguise, looked confused at his would-be lover. She then said, "Ok, so you're the King of the Gods. That don't impress me much."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 mean, good for you, really!\" She said, smiling a lot like Hera used to when Ares used to bring them pictures he'd drawn. When he was five. \"Yes, very nice indeed!\"\n\nOk this was...different.\n\nHe'd had tons of reactions to the whole grand reveal thing throughout the centuries, yes, but they'd all basically been some mixture of awe, fear and respect. Didn't matter if his chosen lover had been mortals, gods or anything in between. He stared at the beaming girl in the bright orange pullover and jeans, already distracted and giggling at her phone, which was covered in cute stickers. \n\n\"Umm...nice sweater.\" He said suddenly.\n\nBy my beard, why am I talking like an awkward teenager?\n\nThe girl looked up from her phone, and smiled again, as bright as the sun, her almond eyes crinkling as she did. \"Thanks! I made it myself!\" She tugged at the orange fabric. \"My brother keeps telling me I suck at it though!\"\n\n\"Yeah, brothers can be assholes.\"\n\nThey both laughed, and Zeus, the king of Olympus, felt more accomplished than he had in centuries.\n\n\"Oh I still love him though, I shouldn't laugh.\" She cocked her head back, as if reminiscing. \"You actually kinda remind me of him ya know!\"\n\nOk, not a good sign, thought the god who'd slept with almost every sister of his.\n\n\"You know I think I came on too hard, with the lightning and the the thunder and all that, can I start from the beginning?\" He said, in his final last ditch effort. \"Can I...take you out on a date?\"\n\n\"Oh no the thunder was cool, really!\" She said as nicely as possible, and it almost sounded like she meant it. \"But I'm really only on here on a visit, and I leave tomorrow so...\"\n\n\"Oh that's too bad.\" Zeus replied weakly, and for the first time in aeons, the legendary playboy was finally and utterly...rejected.\n\n\"I'd like to be friends tho, really!\" She held up her phone. What's your username? I'll send you a follow request!\"\n\nWell, it's come to this. My humiliation is complete.\n\n\"Oh umm, it's zeuskingofgods24.\" He said, with just a little embarrassment\n\n\"And...done.\" she tapped her phone and put it back in her bag as she got up. \"I'd love to talk more sometime! I think we have a lot in common, really.\"\n\nZeus smiled mirthlessly as he watched her walk away, and opened his phone. \n\nFollow request received - \n\nAmaterasu-Omikami\n\nShining Imperial goddess of the Heavens, Empress of the Shinto! Sun 🌞 Goddess\n\n(She/her)\n\nHobbies are weaving, dogs and standup!\n\nLove is love 🌈🌟✨\n\nZeus looked up from his phone, and saw the Empress vanish on a sunbeam in the distance.", "Zeus put his bunched up fists on his hips and stared at the woman. He had thrown lightning, called animals to him, and even revealed himself as Zeus - not Walter, as he had written in his profile. Still the woman persisted. \n\n\"Ok, so you're the King of Gods. That don't impress me much. So you got the throne but do you got the touch?\" she asked, again. \n\n\"Is that a rhetorical question? What do you mean by the touch?\" The woman laughed, and Zeus pursed his lips at the condescension. \n\n\"What, you don't know? Look, don't get me wrong, I think you're alright, but being King of Gods won't keep me warm in the middle of the night.\"\n\n\"Again, what does that even mean? I'm the literal KING OF GODS. Are you saying I'm incapable of love because of what I am?\" The woman creased her forehead while keeping the smirk on her face. \n\n\"No, I'm just saying-\" \n\n\"That's Brad Pitt over there! Brad frickin' Pit! And he came up to YOU and you're not impressed by that? Do you think Brad Pitt is an asshole? You don't even know him!\" \n\n\"He's got good looks but does he have the touch?\" Zeus brought the palm of his hand to his face. \n\n\"Let me ask you something. When's the last time you were in a relationship?\" The woman's smirk left her face. \n\n\"A while ago.\" she said flatly. \n\n\"Ok, but you have been. Now you're not though...right?\" The woman swallowed hard. \n\n\"Yes, I mean, no, I'm not in a relationship.\" she said. \n\n\"Can I ask what happened?\" The woman blinked and tightened up. Zeus relaxed his posture. \n\n\"His...name was Zack.\" Shania let it all out. Zeus kept his eyes fixed on her, not interrupting her, actively listening. He only asked another question when appropriate, to learn more about her struggles with Zack. Before she realized it, she had talked to him for nearly two hours. \n\n\"Are you ok Shan?\" Zeus said softly. \n\n\"Yes...yes I'm okay.\" She wiped the tear that had come down her cheek and smiled, blushing. \n\n\"You know I can't remember the last time I just...talked about it.\" \n\n\"I can always be an ear to listen.\" She looked up at him, her heart in her ears. \n\n\"Now that,\" she said, \"Is something that impresses me.\"" ]	3
	[WP] You felt like your head had been hit with a lead pipe. You could hear voices, unfamiliar voices. The last thing your remember is being shipped out to the front, to fight the second worst war the world had ever seen, and the anguished scream of your commanding officer. Your eyes open and...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "All you can see in front of you is white. White and... what are those strange little dots...? No, that's not right. Perhaps you're imagining them. Around you, footsteps pace against something hard, different than pavement, and voices speak, a plethora of sounds you can't bear as you shut your eyes back, hoping to hear your commanding officer's voice once more.\n\nBut the sounds around you remain the same, unfamiliar. There are no planes flying above you, no comrades shouting to each other as they were disembarking on the grey shores of Normandy. No gunfire. You open your eyes again. A woman is watching you, something like concern in her eyes as she flashes a light in your eyes.\n\n\"No!\" you scream. \"Let me go!\"\n\nShe backs off, looking a little startled as she puts away whatever gave off that light; the woman then disappears, as you hear only the clack of heels distancing themselves away. Fueled by a new purpose, your vision begins to clear as you attempt to look around the room.\n\nA large cabinet is to your right, doors with fragile glass protecting whatever vials and bottles of medicine lay within. You can't distinguish what's exactly on the thin glass – looks like numbers.\n\nTo your left, there are two large doors with opaque windows and letterings that say, printed in red, \"OPERATING ROOM\". You look down at yourself, but you see no signs of anyone trying to hack you up. Or they're not there because you're dressed in patient overalls. Tight leather straps hold you firm in place, and you struggle against them.\n\n\"Stay calm,\" you hear a voice say.\n\n\"Calm? My comrades are out there, dying on the shores of Normandy–\"\n\n\"That war ended 70 years ago,\" the voice says.\n\n_Seventy years ago? That means I should be dead– How am I not dead?_\n\n\"You certainly scared us there,\" the voice continues. \"If you're feeling any better, you could answer some questions?\"\n\n\"Questions, while I'm strapped to this table? No way.\"\n\n\"Fine,\" the voice concedes. \"We'll set you free.\"\n\nFeeling a little freer, you decide to adjust your height, stretch your bones as you hear them crack slightly, feel your muscles readjust to their usual strength. You see a man coming forward, holding a clipboard in his hand and twirling his pen anxiously.\n\n\"Now then... you are...?\"\n\n\"Steven Rogers.\"" ]	2
	[WP] An elven blade master owes a life-debt to a human, generations later, the elf continues to protect his liniage in a world where swords are obsolete.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 humans now call “the renaissance” was quite an odd era for me. I was with my second charge when we ended up in the far east, and I bore witness to a battle that came to be known as shiroyama. Seeing that taught me something valuable, it showed me the era of my skill was over. I had seen it happen in the past. Especially in the realm of smithing, new techniques make the old ways utterly pointless. I had the fortune of seeing proof of such before I became it’s victim, so I delved into learning the ways of gunnery, in those days they were brutalist and unwieldy, but I had chosen to take them up rather than bowmanship. Being stubborn, I refused to change that. It turned out to be correct, as it happens. \n\nI became quite the expert, as our long lives always tends to make elves, and I eventually gave up my blademaster title for a more modern one, sharpshooter. The human world changes at a dizzying pace, and don’t even get me started on the internet.\n\nI seem to be getting rather off topic, so perhaps it’s better to make this brief. My job is to protect your family. Upon your grandfather’s death my duty passed to you. I assure you, I am as capable as they come.", "Sebastian is five years old when his father takes him to meet the elf. A hired coach takes them across the city to Watergate, to what looks like a storehouse along a row of factories and warehouses. They go in. Sebastian is used to seeing elves as servants: liveried, moving with elegant silence and downcast eyes. The elves here are in flowing robes, their hair up in buns. They shout as steel rings against steel. Sword drills. Sebastian has never heard an elf shout before; and he has never seen anyone wield a sword.\n\nOne elf is not practicing. When he sees Sebastian IV and his son, he claps his hands, says something in his own language. The other elves break apart. They put their swords back on a wooden rack, hang their robes up on hooks. Sebastian catches glimpses of lean, muscled bodies as they change back into livery, or factory overalls. As they file out, they leave coins on an altar by the door.\n\nThe name Sebastian hears for the elf is Loon, though later he’ll learn that properly it’s Llwyn. “This is my son, Sebastian the Fifth,” his father introduces him. \n\n“Your ancestor once did me a great service,” Llwyn tells him. “I am in your family’s debt. My sword is sworn to you.” He tells him more, but all Sebastian wants to do is hold one of the swords. Llwyn and his father talk some more, but Sebastian wanders away and picks up a sword. It’s heavy but he’s strong. He waves it around and shouts, pretending he’s fighting a dragon like in the old stories. \n\nAnother big swing, and he feels the sword slipping from his grip. He’s sure his father and the elf are across the room, but suddenly the Llwyn’s hands are around his, holding the sword tight, then pulling it from his hands.\n\n“Hey, give it back!” Sebastian demands. “Aren’t you supposed to do what I say?”\n\n“He’s supposed to protect you, son,” his father says. “There’s a difference.”\n\n* * \n\nSebastian is fifteen. He’s in a hired coach again, this time with other young scholars back in the city for the holiday. They’re all very drunk. \n\n“Loon!” Sebastian shouts, bursting into the training-house. “It’s me, the next Sebastian! You’re supposed to protect me, right? Well, I’m gonna need some protecting tonight!”\n\nLlwyn accompanies them reluctantly, sword strapped to his back in a sheath that looks more like a bundle of rags. The boys try and get him to take it out but he refuses, and they find other entertainment instead. They burst into tavern after tavern, throwing their fathers’ money around, insulting the beer and the regulars. \n\n“This elf, he’s my family’s blade-master,” boasts Sebastian when a stevedore tries to get them to leave. “Touch me, and he’ll take your hand.”\n\nThe stevedore eyes Llwyn up and down. Llwyn sighs and rests a hand on the hilt of his sword. “I am so sworn,” he says with distaste. The stevedore backs down.\n\nLater, the other boys have gone elsewhere. Sebastian vomits in the gutter, cries to Llwyn about the cruelty of his father, his tutors, the world. \n\nLlwyn draws his sword. Sebastian’s eyes go saucer-wide. It is ancient, its edge gleams like a razor in the gaslight. The elf takes the grip, places it in the boy’s hand. He guides him through the root stance and the seven-step opening forms. By the time they’re done, Sebastian’s breathing has steadied. \n\n“Come visit my training house,” he invites him. “Let me teach you.”\n\nHe never does.\n\n * *\n\nSebastian is thirty five. He doesn’t have money for a coach anymore, and he walks to Watergate. The gaslights are dark now, but there are only a few new electric lamps making pools of light between the deep shadows.\nThe elf is alone in the training house, going through a drill with the slowness of a flower opening its petals. Sebastian coughs to get his attention. There are few words spoken between them; it isn’t the first time Sebastian’s come to him like this. Sebastian takes him into the Saint Anwa Precinct, the labyrinthine slum-temple at the edge of the warehouse district. Faces leer at them, but they see Llwyn’s posture, and his sword, and they do no worse. \n\nIn rooms belonging to some petty loan shark, Sebastian hands over silver from the depths of his coat. Perhaps his family’s, perhaps stolen. A gangster clerk tallies it up.\n\n“Still not enough,” the loan shark declares.\n\nSebastian looks around with a hunted look in his eye. “Llwyn,” he demands. “Protect me!”\n\nLlwyn draws his sword. The loan shark’s crew draw revolvers. Hammers click. “I wouldn’t, elf,” the loan shark says evenly. \n\n“This sword is made of elfsteel,” Llwyn says slowly. “It has slayed orcs and ghouls, men, and elves. It will never lose its edge.” He lays the sword on the table. The blade clicks against the small pile of silver. “This will settle the young man’s debts, and more.”\n\nThe loan shark lifts it carefully. Tests the edge. Finally he nods. Around them, the revolvers are put away. “More than fair,” he says.\n\n“Wait!” Sebastian chases him. “You need to take me home!”\n\nLlwyn shakes his head. “My sword was sworn to your family,” he says. “My debt is paid as well.”\n\nAnd with that, he leaves Sebastian to make his own way.", "The sharpening stone slid across his sword smoothly, and once he was don he held up the blade for inspection. Perfect.\n\nNow back to the task at hand. He peered of the roof's edge of the skyscraper he had been an occupant of. He sighed, silently cursing that day so long ago. The day he fell into the river.\n\nGetting in a duel with five other men, on a bridge, had not been the best idea. Embarrassingly it ended with him getting thrown off the bridge and into the river waters below. Far down stream he ended up getting pulled out of the rapids, not by one of his own kind, but by the arms of a human maiden. Not that he wasn't grateful to her for pulling him from a wet tomb, and even nursing me back from the fever the incident so graciously bestowed him, but it was still embarrassing that he even had gotten into that situation in the first place.\n\nNow he was trapped with a life debt. And since the fair maiden who saved him hadn't gotten herself into the any trouble afterward, the debt now extended to her descendants. Whom never got into any dangerous situations either. He protected them from descendent to descendent to descendent to descendent to descendent to descendent to...he had already lost count of how many charges he had from this bloodline.\n\nSpeaking of Charges here came the most recent of the line. A young woman with short dark hair emerged form her metal horseless chariot, an odd drink in her hand. She was staring at the odd device in her hand, and then tripped over something on the ground, spilling her drink everywhere. He sighed, at least this one was entertaining.\n\nThere was sudden movement in the shadows of the alley between the towers of the human world. And hands suddenly reached out an snatched his charge. She gave a screeched by no other human notice. This was finally it. His chance to be free of this.\n\nHis grip tightened on the blade in his hand as he leap forward and dashed into the alley. There was his charge, her attacker pointing some kind of weapon at her.\n\n\"Hey!\" he called out to get his attention.\n\nThe attacker turned to him. he rushed forward, only to hear a loud bang and feel a sharp pain in his upper leg. he tripped and rolled onto the ground. his hand going to the wound, feeling hot blood flowing out of it.\n\nThere was zap, and the attacker collapsed in a shaking heap.\n\nShe looked at him, \"What the heck were you thinking?! Going against a guy who had a gun, with nothing but a knife?!\"\n\nWell so much for repaying his debt.\n\n\\---\n\nI could add more if it is wanted but, I'm exhausted right now so your stuck with this I am so sorry." ]	4
	[WP] When one dies, the soul is split in three: one part becomes a ghost, one part gets reincarnated and one part is sent to heaven or hell. You are well versed in the supernatural and the occult, and you're eager to find out what happens if all three entities are reunited...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Leather shoes slap marble. Umbrellas shake off rain. An Irishman in a thin tweed suit gesticulates wildly to his companion, a shadow behind his shoulder. Through the faint brogue he mutters, “The trinity, the Trimurti, the pyramids! My God! It was right in front of us! How many things have we lost due to wars, plagues, and nonsense?”\n\n“Did you say ‘nonsense’ just so there would be three?” asks his companion as he removes a fine caped coat, tossing his – quite expensive-looking, might I add – ivory cane aside haphazardly so that it clacks on the marble of this grand, church-like room, wild as though he owns the place. \"Such a poet.\" \n\nThe Irishman smears wetness from his monocle with his handkerchief. “Well, the subconscious knows more than we do, wouldn’t you say?” When he places it back on his face, it’s still smeared with fog, but he squints. “Something is amiss.” He shuffles to the altar, pulling tablecloths askew.\n\nThese damn rich, egotistical bastards. Doing sorcery in God’s country. I’ll get them on some charge, mark my words! I press myself small against the oaken door, listening in. \n\n“It’s gone,” says the Irishman.\n\n“What?”\n\nI manage another squint through the mail hole of the door. The fine young English gentleman, who's hardly twenty and as handsome and as ugly as a freshly born babe, shuffles forward. \n\n“Who would do such a thing?” the Englishman asks. “Why, to any average man it’s just a bronze ashtray.”\n\nThe Irishman swears as well as a sailor and cries out to a god I don’t know. \n\n“Will, we’ll get another one,” says the Englishman tenderly. \n\n“We haven’t charged it with enough power. There isn’t time. How are we supposed to prove to high society that souls and reincarnation and ghosts all exist at once? How can we capture the evidence to–?”\n\nThe Englishman says, “We’d have to observe it in action, Will. We’d still need a dying man. You’re being ridiculous. It’s not like if the cauldron was here, we’d kill someone, right?”\n\nThere’s a desperate, dripping silence. I hold my pen above my pad, fingers shaking. The Irishman says nothing, but breathes deeply.\n\n“Will, darling, let’s have supper. We cannot make any meaningful changes without sleeping nor eating. This is very exciting, but–”\n\n“We must find the limey pickpocket what stole it.”\n\n“Yes, yes. Hmm. Well. Do you see any clues?”\n\nSherlocks they are not. I’m the detective. I’ve left no trace. I thumb the bronze bowl in my pocket, feeling a fool. Perhaps if I’d left the stupid thing up on the altar, I could have caught them in the act. I chance another glance at the pair before I must away. \n\nThey walk about the room, arms extended, looking quite foolish. They’re muttering nonsense to themselves, perhaps other languages or perhaps something else. \n\nThe oaken door opens. \n\nWill’s face is over mine, shining with sweat, his monocle popping off.\n\n“Aha!” says the gentleman, skipping across the marble floor. “Found the rat, have you?”\n\nBefore I can even raise my hand, the gentleman thwaps me on the forehead. As my vision fades to black, Will snatches the bronze bowl from my coat.", "“Ah bloody hell! That’s hot, that’s hot!”\n\nGazing down at the mess of wax all over the table, I stumble over to the travel sink I had set up and violently twist the faucet open, relieving my poor hand of the burn I so carelessly allowed it to endure. Turning around, I gaze at the series of carefully drawn symbols, meticulously placed candles, sacred objects, and of course, my own personal adjustments and tinkering(since no one has been mad enough to try this yet. Well, no one who had survived to tell about it at least, I think). Noticing some markings on the upper right side of the star had been smudged when I foolishly stumbled barely a moment ago. Oh well, no use in crying over spilt milk.\n\n“Now, where’d I put that bloody book?”\n\nScanning the cave briefly for it, not being able to see much in the dim light, I hastily walk over to my improvised work desk(a rock, it’s just a really flat rock). Diving into the mass of papers, scrolls, tablets and whatnot I decided to bring along, I anxiously scramble until I see a hint of gold, the trimmed edge of its spine. Pulling it free from the mound of texts, with little regard for anything else in it. I caress my fingers gently across it’s leather-bound cover, before quickly unraveling the aged piece of twine keeping it sealed. Flipping through the pages until I spot the right one, I snatch the piece of chalk kept tucked behind my left ear, and carefully toe my way through the markings on the floor, before reaching where I had left off. Quickly scraping all the dried wax up, I stuff it in my pocket, before laying the book in a clear spot. Fumbling for the switch on my headlamp, I manage to flip it on, getting a better view on the book and ground before me. I hastily redraw the symbols, not bothering to take the time to sweat the small details. I had neither the time for the need to, since I had done this about a million times before. Finishing the markings in record time, I grab one of the spare candles out of my satchel and place it in the correct spot, being careful to light it once I’ve placed it down.\n\n“Lesson most definitely learnt.” I say, as I wrap my burnt palm in the fabric I’d wrapped the candle in.\n\nNow, onto the main event. Greatness waits for no man, I think to myself as I move to grab the necessary items from the makeshift altar I’d prepared(would you believe it, another flat rock). I walk over to the center of the circle, placing each sacred object in it’s place. First, an object of relevant importance that belonged to the deceased, in this case, a ring that had been given to them by their late wife. Next, an effigy made by a witch, a white witch to be exact. The effigy was made to symbolize the deceased in their reincarnation. Finally, the mummified heart of the individual in question, modified with runes and symbols, carved into it’s surface. With everything in order, I close my eyes, take a deep breath, count to three, and recite the incantation. Once finished, I practically choke on the absolute silence around me, afraid to open my eyes. But then suddenly, I feel this rush of, well, I can’t describe it, but power. Raw, natural power. My eyes suddenly shoot open, and I gasp in shock, as the words barely manage to escape my lips.\n\n“Carter…? It, it worked!?”\n\nRight before my eyes, there stood my best friend, as I had last seen him, before his terrible accident. His eyes wider than saucers, seemingly as surprised as I was. He stumbled forward, reaching for me, and I leaned in to catch him. As his arms wrap around my shoulders, I felt him, like really felt him. Warm flesh and blood. He shivered, and made a small choking sound, before I could hear sobs. He buried his head into my neck, as I hugged him close and patted his back gently.\n\n“I missed you too, so much.”\n\n“But…..how?”\n\nHis words caught me off guard, as he pulled away to look me in the eyes as he asked. But before i could answer him, he disappeared. Just as he had been there, he wasn’t. No big cloud of smoke, no fading, nothing. Just, was, then wasn’t. I swung my body around frantically, looking everywhere for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. I tugged at my hair in frustration, crying my heart out, screaming, until my throat felt hoarse. I had fallen to my knees, my breathe ragged and short. I felt absolutely defeated, until I heard someone cough right behind me. I whirled around, to look where the sound had come from.\n\n“Carter!?” I cried out, hoping to see my best friend had reappeared.\n\n“Uh, no, sorry. But I guess I am here to talk to you about that.”\n\nGlaring in the direction of my makeshift altar, there stood a man leaning against it. He looked…well, his appearance was confusing. One moment he looked like an old caucasian man, tall, with a long white beard and a gnarled walking stick in one hand. I blinked and then he looked like a different old man, but with braided silverish hair, an equally neatly braided beard, and an eyepatch. Next a dark skinned woman in a grey pantsuit, then an olive skinned man in a pale blue tribal outfit. Each time his appearance changed, eventually getting stranger and stranger, but one thing remained consistent. Those kind, caring eyes. They made you feel warm, cozy and safe. That scared me, because I believe nothing that inviting comes without a cost.\n\n“What do you want? Where is Carter? Who are you!?” The questions practically shot out of my mouth, fueled by my anxiety and worry.\n\n“Well, Carter has been returned to where he belongs in the cycle of life, as he should have been all along. As for who I am and what I am doing here?”\n\n“I believe you'd best know me as God, and what I want, is to talk to you about your cars extended warranty!”\n\nWe sat in silence for a few seconds as he stared at me with a totally serious face, before bursting into laughter for a good minute. Practically doubling over, he slapped his knee, and wiped a tear from his eye.\n\n“My apologies, I try to keep up to date with humor, and I find that one particularly funny. But in all seriousness, I am God, and you made quite a mess of things with that spell of yours.”\n\n“What do you mean I made quite a mess of things? I brought back one person! How does that one tiny thing affect anything in the grand scheme?”\n\nHe gazed at me with a look of pity, and for a brief moment, deep sadness.\n\n“Oh I wish it were that easy. And for your sake, I do hope that it’s as you say, ‘one tiny thing’. Because if they think it wasn’t, well as your generation would put it, we’re all fucked.”\n\nI don’t know what to be shocked by more. That I’m talking to God, or that God just cussed.\n\n“Wait, what do you mean ‘if they think’. Who’s they?”, I asked concerned.\n\n“Well, they’re-“\n\nJust as he was about to speak, A bright light illuminated through the hole in the caves ceiling, flooding the cavern with a faint red glow. I stepped closer to get a better view, and nearly swallowed my tongue at what I saw. Bright red symbols decorating the sky, organized between two long lines, repeating itself across the sky, as if it were organized writing. However, I who can speak, read and write every language, both dead and alive, didn’t recognize it\n\n“Oh dear, I was afraid this would happen.”\n\n“Afraid what would happen!?” I asked the now solemn looking God.\n\n“What does any of that mean?”\n\nHe sighed deeply, before turning his head towards me, and spoke in a truly sorrowful tone, almost mournfully.\n\n“It translates to, Warning, security breach in containment. An instance of tampering has been identified, dispatching appropriate counter measures now.”" ]	3
	[WP] A man is afraid to die alone. Death shows up a bit early to ease the transition.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 is, as is perhaps customary for these sorts of tales, minutes from midnight. A man who is old lies alone in a worn bed in a dark room in a cold house. The house has been cold for quite some time now, as its sole caretaker has now taken to the task of dying, an effort which is regrettably time consuming. As such, the dust has begun to collect on the shelves, and the door to the kitchen, were it to be used, has begun to sound off the early notes of a creak. The door to the kitchen, of course, is not used, as the only person who might do so is currently busy elsewhere in the house.\n\nDying doesn't exactly afford one much time to wander.\n\nIt is with some curiosity then, that the kitchen door does creak. Softly, but surely, in a way that the dying man cannot help but notice. Perhaps, he thinks to himself, I left a window open? It would be very irresponsible to die with a window left open, as all manner of natures many ruffians might more easily find their way in.\n\nAs the man is busy dying, however, he cannot get up to check.\n\nWhen he hears the sound of a tea kettle whistle, however, he greatly wishes that he could. From the kitchen down the hall he hears all manner of sound, of tea cups clattering against themselves, and cabinets being opened and closed. For a moment, then, the kitchen falls silent, before the sound of soft steps begin to echo through the hallway.\n\nTowards the dying man.\n\nit is with some great effort that the man shifts himself. He turns, ever so slowly, and his eyes roll to view the door, wherein its frame stands a form. The form is shadow and mist, dark colors that swirl and blow in a breeze that is not there. In a moment, the man understands. This is death, come to take him.\n\nThe curiosity is in the tea cups that death is holding.\n\n\"Hello.\" says death.\n\nThe man has not spoken for some time, as there has been no one to speak to, and he finds his voice cracks and resists use. After a moment, he clears his throat for a first time in a long time.\n\n\"Hello.\" says the man.\n\nDeath takes a step into the room. \"I thought,\" it says, \"that we might enjoy some tea. I understand that you haven't had the chance for company in some time.\"\n\nThe man sits up in bed, finding the effort easier than it should have been. \"I thought I would be alone.\" The man says.\n\nDeath approaches the man, the hands him a tea cup. Aromas of hay and farm fields waft gently along the steam. \"But you didn't want to be alone.\"\n\n\"No,\" says the man, taking a reserved sip from his cup. \"I didn't want to be alone.\"\n\n\"Then I thought it might be nice if I stopped by perhaps a few minutes early.\" says death, matching the man's sip of tea. \"I'm told dying is often thirsty work, and I understand chamomile is nice for drifting off.\"\n\nThe man takes a long drink from his cup. He eyes death from over the rim. Even up close, it's hard to make out the exact shape of its form. \"So,\" the man says between drinks, \"What happens now?\"\n\n\"I believe we are drinking tea, now.\" death replies.\n\n\"But after this, I mean.\"\n\n\"After this I will take your cup, and my cup, and I will wash them in the sink, along with the kettle. I will replace them in the cabinets, as I know this means a great deal to you, and then I will come back to you. I will take your hand in mine, and you will rise, and stand from your bed. You will walk with me to the front door, and then you will move on.\"\n\nThe man is silent for a moment, though he uses that moment to appreciate that he won't be leaving dirty dishes behind. \"But, after that.\" he insists.\n\n\"That is not mine to know. I am here to walk you beyond. What you find beyond is not my station.\"\n\n\"I understand.\" Says the man, though he is not satisfied with the answer. He takes a final drink, and looks down at his empty cup. \"Well then,\" he says, handing the cup over to death, \"I reckon it's time.\"\n\n\"It is.\"", "The silence somehow penetrated his skull, hammering in the quiet.\n\nThe man lay on his bed, thinking, not now, it seriously can’t be now, I planned this out so perfectly, where are the weeping friends and grieving family?\n\nBut no one could plan death, and now it was at his doorway.\n\nYet no one came. The man adjusted himself more comfortably.\n\nThe air suddenly acquired a new feeling, a- a-\n\nWell, the man could only think of newness and change, something different coming.\n\nAnd death came. It was not human; death was universal. It held no pity; death was impartial. It held no ruthlessness; death was fair.\n\nAnd the man said, not yet, I still have a while more to brood.\n\nDeath replied, I know. But at least you shall have someone to, as you say, brood with.\n\nAnd the silence gained a feeling of noise, and of life, and the man thought, what a paradox, death is at my side and I can taste life in the air.\n\nAnd death said, don’t think of it as an end. It’s a beginning, a doorway to some place else.\n\nThe man asked, where?\n\nAnd death replied why don’t you find out?\n\nAnd the man grasped death’s hand, and together they journeyed forward.\n\n(Hope this fit!)", "Ten minutes to live. The doctors had revealed the exact length of time Oliver had left. Whether he had used that time wisely or not, it was now running out.\r \n\r \nHe tapped his foot against the ground, biting his nails and drawing panicked breaths. It wasn’t supposed to end this way. He had planned it all out, he would make sure that his friends would be around when he died, but that damn hurricane. The streets were flooded, the power was out, he couldn’t even call them let alone get to them.\r \n\r \nThe world had played a cruel joke on him. Now, despite his best efforts, he would die alone. His eyes grew weepy, his lip quivered, unable to contain his fear. He would die crying, alone. He couldn’t think of a more pathetic way to go out.\r \n\r \nBut then Oliver heard footsteps. He turned around with a quick jerk of his head. Who could it be? Did one of his friends actually show up? Was this a joke invader? Damage control? What had come for him?\r \n\r \nA strange woman? She wore black high heels and ripped jeans with chains hanging from her spiked belt. Her black punk shirt with a skull on it exposed her pale midriff and her hair was an orb of black curls. Her eyes were red, her lips back, and her smile welcoming. “Hello, Oliver.”\r \n\r \nOliver stammered, “W-Who are you? How did you know my name?”\r \n\r \nHer lips drew a thin smile, “I’m Death. I’ve come to escort you to the afterlife.”\r \n\r \nHis heart pounded in his chest from fear, for a moment he had forgotten his fate, “Death? Death isn’t a person. Death is plagues and war, Death is poison and murder.”\r \n\r \nShe shook her head, “Those things may cause death, but they aren’t in themselves Death. You may also know me by my other name, The Reaper.”\r \n\r \nHe blinked, “Where’s the black cloak? The big scythe? The skeletal frame? Where are the eyes that can pierce one’s soul? You look…”\r \n\r \n“Scary? Terrifying? Menacing? Threatening? Aws-inspiring? Marvelous? Impossibly beautiful and deadly?”\r \n\r \n“I was going to say normal. Harmless.”\r \n\r \nHer face fell, “Oh, well I suppose you’d rather see me like this then.” She snapped her fingers and her form shifted. Oliver could not comprehend exactly what it was he saw, but it made him instantly regret wanting something terrifying to carry him off to the afterlife. A goth woman would do.\r \n\r \nDeath giggled at Oliver’s terrified, speechless expression, “Oh, don’t be like that, you asked for it. Fine.” She snapped her fingers once more and changed back to her ‘normal’ form.\r \n\r \nOliver let out a sigh of relief, “Thank you…”\r \n\r \nShe took a seat next to him, “Sorry about that. I seemed to have scared you a little more than expected. Whoops! But um… yeah, I’m Death. Tada!” She makes a performative gesture with her hands for emphasis.\r \n\r \nHe glanced at the clock absentmindedly, “I still have time left.”\r \n\r \n“Don’t worry, you can have your last moments, I’m not going to cut off your fun short.”\r \n\r \n“Do you usually come early?”\r \n\r \n“No, people would notice me if I did.”\r \n\r \n“Then did you make a mistake?”\r \n\r \n“No. I came early because you were afraid of dying alone.”\r \n\r \nOliver raised an eyebrow, “You came early to make me feel better?”\r \n\r \nShe nodded, “Mhm. Death isn’t all about despair and gloom after all. Death is a celebration, a transition. Why do we need to make it seem bad? If we can’t avoid it, might as well make the best of it. I love my job. It’s not easy, ushering people who often don’t want to die to the afterlife, but I get to meet so many great people.”\r \n\r \n“I’m sorry to disappoint you then.”\r \n\r \n“I don’t mean great like Nobel laureates or tennis stars. I mean people like you.”\r \n\r \n“I’m far from great, Death.”\r \n\r \n“Perhaps in your definition. But you lived a beautiful life. Ended early, yes, but beautiful. The smiles, the frowns, love and heartbreak. Your life is a gorgeous melody full of high and low notes, building rhythms and crashing crescendos. It can be quiet and loud, quick and slow, spectacular and simple. And I have the privilege of playing the final note with you.”\r \n\r \nEmotions began to well up within Oliver. Today he expected to die alone, now he would die in the company of someone who thought his life beautiful. He began to weep. But he could live with that. Dying while weeping wasn’t so bad in pleasant company.\r \n\r \nShe put her hand on his shoulder comfortingly, but he didn’t need any comfort anymore, he just needed to tell her thank you. So then, in a moment of emotional vulnerability, he hugged Death.\r \n\r \nHe heard her make a sound of confused shock, and his heart fell. Perhaps a hug was a bad idea. He was still crying, after all, he couldn't believe he was so… She hugged back. He couldn’t see her smile, but he knew it was there, he recoiled slightly. Not to end the hug, but to let her know that he was smiling too. He couldn’t think of a better way to go out. He was ready." ]	4
	[WP] Looking up at the sky one night, you notice the half moon looks like a yin-yang symbol. There’s even a crater on the light side where the black circle would be. If only there was a white circle on the dark side…suddenly, with a flash, there is	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 blink. Are you imagining this? You close the curtains and then open it again. Nope.\n\n“Nice.” You mutter to yourself, ready to take out your phone and take a snapshot of it before uploading it to Top Ten Crazy Coincidences.\n\nThe moon even seemed to be getting ready for the picture, coming closer and spinning a bi-\n\nWait. No. \n\nYour primal instincts kick in, and your thoughts fly out in all directions: nononono MOON BIG i need to go what do I MOON BIG do oh no what’s happening I knew I should have taken some medication MOON BIG\n\nThe moon is steadily coming closer, and you can hear the strains of the Kung Fu Panda theme.\n\nOh, NO." ]	2
	[WP] Bored, immortal and looking for mischief you hire one of the best assassins in the world to target yourself, how many failed attempts before they realise	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Beorth the Bold. Beorth. The Bold. I like the sound of that. It makes you believe that he will resolve matters swiftly and definitively. When you start saying it, it's robust, rough almost. But in the end, it just rolls off of your tongue. Fascinating. And that name, Beorth, where have I heard it before? It has to be Northern realms royalty, perhaps a prince running from a predestined life? Too bad he's basically a useless brute. How can you celebrate one's boldness if there's but a gaping nothing behind those fierce eyes? Beorth the Ignoramus would be far more fitting. Maybe Beorth the Stump, haha. I'm a riot. Look at him swinging that axe around, what utter disregard for his surroundings, spilling everyone's drinks. And with that situational awareness, he might as well be dancing on the grave of finesse. Or soon his own.\n\nOn the other end of the tavern we have Marigan Eriol, dark and brooding, pent up in the dimmest corner of course. I can tell that the arm resting on the table is fake, his actual arm squeezing the hilt of a dagger under his cloak no doubt. How very crafty. Now here we have one that's cut from different cloth than most. There are many things I would not put past him while he's out for blood and that's saying something about an elf. There is word out there however, that he may be losing his touch somewhat. And sure enough, is that a full coin purse laid out on the table for all to see? So preposterously vain. Unless it's counterfeit coin? No, not with those pristine boots he's wearing. That is actual coin and it may be laid out to dispel any delusions of who may afford his services. Obnoxiously pricy and dangerously proud.\n\nThere is one other here who people usually do not consider hiring and it has nothing to do with her expertise. For those are, rest assured, without equal in the Realm. It's just that few know how to ask about them, or find her to begin with. I am truly lucky to end up in the same tavern as her. Daughter of an apothecary, orphaned at a very young age, she's been on the road most of her life. Nothing creates a calloused soul quite like being left to your own devices, deprived of love and companionship. What a travesty. Oh, here she comes now.\n\n“Your drink good sir. Fresh water with a heap of salt.”\n\nThe way she's looking at me, I can tell she's intrigued. But she hides it well. Does no one in this Realm know what a demon's favourite drink is?\n\n“Thank you love. Pray tell, how welcome you this melancholy eventide?”\n\n“'Tis as melancholy as any other my lord.”\n\n“Ah yes, I imagine working at a tavern tends to facilitate that. Please, sit with me.”\n\n“I'm afraid I've work to do my lord.”\n\n“I'm afraid that you do yes. Serving drinks with enchanting good looks appears to only be an appetizer to your more ... prolific services. Sona Aster.” The board is set. Let's see if the cat's out of the bag.\n\n“Very well. We can talk, but only if you lower your voice and never utter that name again.”\n\n“Cross my heart and hope to die.” What irony, I'm dizzy with excitement!\n\n“You appear to be well informed for someone skulking about a place such as this and ordering this swill.”\n\n“You would be surprised love. But before we go any further, I'm dying to see any proof that I'm talking to the real deal.“\n\n“You and him both. Quite literally.”\n\n“Oh?” Did she beckon towards Beorth?\n\n“I've infused his beer. His life essence is now bound to this crystal I hold. The further away he travels from it, the sicker he will feel. Tomorrow, he'll be heading out on that quest he's been so boastful about all evening and I'm making sure it will be his last.”\n\n“Right.”\n\n“It's just something I like pointing out at the beginning of each contract. Taking liberties with me, however small, is a big mistake. Am I being clear?“\n\n“Crystal clear darling. And that's all fine and dandy, but surely you do not expect me to wait until our rowdy friend croaks from dysentery to believe you?”\n\n“Of course not. Hand me your mug?” And now she's crushed the crystal. A tad anticlimactic. But wait, is that ...? Oh my. Beorth appears to be shriveling up like a dead flower. How morbidly marvelous.\n\n“Well done. I'm in love.”\n\n“Enough with the showcases, who am I looking for?”\n\n“Oh right. Me. I want you to assassinate me.”", "The waiter approaches me. He seems nervous. I flash a smile, hoping to calm him down.\r \n“W-w-what would you like to order, sir a-and m-madame?”\r \n“Salad please,” I quickly reply, having already perused this menu many times over. Indeed, although he definitely doesn’t know this, I helped to write the very first edition of this menu several decades ago.\r \n“C-certainly, madame. A-and as f-for you, s-sir?” The man seated across from me only glares at the waiter. He’s certainly not helping defuse the tension in the air, which I could cut with the exquisitely polished tableware before the both of us.\r \n“Steak, perhaps?” No response from him. “Steak it is, then.”\r \n“I-I’ll get the order r-ready immediately!” The waiter dashes away, doing his best to get away from our table. I can understand his reaction.\r \nAfter all, the man seated before me is no ordinary man. Nay, if he were just an ordinary man, I would not be eating dinner with him today, not in the finest restaurant in the country.\r \nI take a sip of the fine wine before me, swirling the drink in my mouth before swallowing, noting the bitter hint barely concealed by the other aromas. My dining partner raises an eyebrow briefly, before continuing to glare at me.\r \n“Oh, don’t look so disappointed. This is a rather good choice, Monsieur. It’s bitter flavor really pairs well with the sweetness inherent to the grapes that grow in this particular region where they make this wine.”\r \n“…”\r \n“Don’t be so silent, you already know poison won’t work on me. Look, I even made an effort to wear a nice dress, to fit in today. The least you could do is pretend to like being here.”\r \nStill no reply. Oh well, its not like I expected him to be chipper. Perhaps I shall just entertain myself. I did hire him for that reason, after all.\r \n“You know, I was really impressed by the demolishment incident. I mean, you really went to the trouble to rig all the support pylons of that old hotel with explosives, then trigger a fire alarm, knowing that I’d ignore it because the building always has so many false alarms.”\r \nHe’s probably not happy that I brought that up. That look on his face is really making my day.\r \n“Or, right, that time when you targeted my private jet with an AA missile. Although, I am a certified pilot, so there were no other casualties. Or rather, there were no casualties.”\r \nI laugh, as if I had just told a really funny joke to him. The other guests dining in this place probably think I’m crazy now, seeing as how he continues to glare angrily.\r \n“M-madame?”\r \nOh right, the waiter. “Yes, dear boy?”\r \n“Your f-food, madame.” He hands over a salad, its crisp greens drizzled with an ample amount of creamy dressing. Little croutons sit swaddled amongst the leaves like infants in their cribs, and a thin wedge of fine cheese garnishes the finished dish. The founder of this restaurant would surely weep tears of joy if he could see this work of art, maintained just as he did it all those decades prior.\r \n“Thank you, my dear.”\r \nHe quickly leaves, as I start to enjoy my salad. My dining partner pulls out a small flask of liquid, and drinks. A brief and pungent odor comes out from the flask, the signature smell of high-proof liquor.\r \n“Drinking on the job?” I remark. “Mighty unprofessional, is it not?”\r \n“What does it matter?” I perk up immediately. Finally, he breaks his silence. “Nothing works, anyway. Not the explosives, nor the rockets, nor the poisons or bullets. I’m a failure. Twenty-one attempts, all failures.”\r \n“You’re only a failure because of me.” I chuckle slightly with that thought and enjoy another mouthful of my salad. “It doesn’t matter who you were, because you could’ve never hoped to succeed when it came to me.”\r \n“So why? Why hire me, to take yourself out? Even though no matter what I do works?”\r \n“Well,” I glance upwards, momentarily lost in thought, “I suppose it’s an exam?”\r \n“An exam?”\r \n“In a manner of speaking, to be precise. Certainly, you realize now that I am, unkillable?”\r \n“Disgustingly, yes.”\r \n“Naturally, one such as myself with the funds to hire a person of your skills for a pointless task such as targeting myself is surely a woman with many enemies, correct?”\r \n“So, you’re bored, immortal, and have many enemies? Enemies who need to be…removed?” \r \n“Exactly. So, mister, how would you like to finally remove someone who can be removed? Because, I’ve got a long list of doubts, but your skills at what you do aren’t one of them.”\r \nHe glances over towards the kitchen. I turn, noticing the waiter watching us from behind the kitchen counter ducking down immediately.\r \n“You’re paying for the food.”\r \nI smile. “Of course. Although, that’s not all I’m paying for.” \r \nI take another bite of my salad, enjoying the refreshing taste of the tender greens. At the same time, I reach into my clutch and pull out a small scrap of paper with a name scribbled on it, passing it over to him.\r \n“I look forward to your first success.”\r \n\n\n&#x200B;\n\n(If you have any feedback, good or bad, I'd like to read it. Thanks for reading.)" ]	3
	[WP] "I knew fantasy dwarves were supposed to be advanced compared to their contemporaries, but this is ridiculous. Is that a dwarf with a smartphone? Wearing jeans and a T-shirt? We just hitched up our horses in a PARKING LOT with CARS in it, by all the gods!"	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Rockten Swampermieister chewed on the straw of their smoothie. \"That's a little bit racist, innit? Humans were supposed to be all... barbaric and whatnot, but you don' hear me saying that.\"\n\nThe dwarf's band t-shirt had an purposefully faded logo, but the actual fabric was a pristine, fresh-from-the-store black. Rockten Swampermiester, as their name tag proclaimed, was employee of the month for Well-Eaten Dyner, and they stared at the human with dull, retail-haunted eyes.\n\nIn contrast, with her gray military fatigues, Carla Martinez looked like an apoplectic specter. She was one of the humans charged with exploring dimension F4N2c (known to the locals as Terrlandia), and she'd already needed to adjust with the mindfuck of walking into a Tolkein-esque fantasy world. One where humans had died out a millennium ago, to make things worse. But, all things considered, Carla thought she'd done a respectable job.\n\nThe elves in their immortal, water-feature themed utopia had been curious and surprisingly laid-back about the whole thing. They'd given her some pretty clothes, exclaimed their surprise that humans weren't in fact all dead, and sent her a notebook with interdimensional magic theory to hand to the scientists.\n\nThe orcs, on the other hand, were going through their own industrial revolution, complete with top-hats and monocles. The leaders of the multiple warring nations had inquired after human technology with a ferocity that had Carla backing away and jumping out the window. She had zero intention of starting an arms race, after all.\n\nSo after stealing a horse and buggy, she made her way to the third major sapient species on this planet, who lived under the Silent Convergence Mountain Range, better known as the Sil'con Valleys.\n\nRivendell aesthetics she could enjoy. Victorian orcs she would tolerate. But dwarves in a shitty expy of 2010s America? Now that was too far.\n\n\"So, you see!\" said Carla, her face red after her rant about the unfairness of this dimension. \"This is all bullshit! I demand a better dimension to explore! Something... unique!\"\n\nRockten let out a sigh. \"Ma'am, this is a We'n'Dy's.\"" ]	2
	[WP] Alien minds uploaded into synthetic bodies arrive at Earth and invite them to join galactic civilization, but individuals are only allowed to leave their homeworld unless they load their minds into synthetic bodies first.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 have to do what?!\" the sole American in the group said.\n\n\"It's an unfortunate truth that space travel as biological entities is unsustainable. We can create custom bodies made of pure quantum information that can survive literally anything, allowing easy travel to anywhere barring exceptions like black holes, but our ships do not have supplies of oxygen or nutrients available. If it helps, you can retain your appearance perfectly or be whatever you've dreamed of, but supporting biological life isn't reasonable.\"\n\n\"Pardon, I don't want to support my poorly-selected colleague's ignorance... No offense... but his people have been to the moon using slide rules and analog cameras.\" a female scientist from India pointed out. \"We've come along way since then and you've come even farther than that. Is there really no other option as an interstellar society?\"\n\n\"Have you ever tried to build a hammer from a stone and a stick, or a watercraft from planks of wood, or a bank database using COBOL? We haven't used biological bodies for a very long time. No one up there remembers how to build a space suit or to contain oxygen supplies or to grow food in new biospheres.\"\n\n\"I'll do it.\" a Canadian said. \"What? It's probably safe, and if I survive then you can decide whether it's worth it.\"\n\n\"I will also take part.\" the group's resident oceanographer from Japan added.\n\n\"Third.\" the Anthropologist from South Africa responded.\n\nThe American, an expert on information technology and not much else, stared in momentary shock, downed the last glass of water he would ever need, and said \"Fuck it. My soul's already forfeit for the things I've coded. Are your people familiar with fursonas?\"" ]	2
	[WP]After hundreds of years, a skeleton and a ghost see each other again, they once belonged to the same person	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "With a sound as uncommon as bones grinding in their sockets many of the handful of occupants in the small cafe glanced instinctively toward the door. A slither of a creature stepped awkwardly between the small gap it had managed to win against the heavy door. Seeing an unthreatening silhouette, the cafes few patrons resumed their previous interests. \n\nOnly one pale figure remained focused on the new arrival. He watched transfixed on what appeared to be a scarecrow of clothing finally crumple into the seat opposite him. \n\nThey sat in complete silence both quietly stunned by the unreal occasion they had mutually created with their meeting\n\nThe Ghost spoke first, being the more cerebral of the two. \n\n\"This is fucking weird isnt it\". The words almost falling from his mind onto the scuffed cafe table between the two spectres. \n\nA rasp of a reply emerged from within the arrangement of clothes \"Uh, yeah.\". \"I guess\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI lost my enthusiasm at this point but thought id post it anyway. I wanted to examine the Ghost as our consciousness and the skeleton as our impulsive self. It was growing as i was writing but this is the first thing ive written in over 10 years so i need to relearn my patience for it.", "##Ghost in the Cemetery\n\nThe sight of the empty graveyard fills me with sadness. My wails cause animals to flee. If a perceptive human were around, they would immediately have the urge to follow their animals. I crouch on the grass to wallow.\n\nWhy won't anybody come to me? All I want is to feel the touch of another human. I want to be embraced by someone who loves me. I just want to feel alive again.\n\nThe thought of being deceased creates trauma in me, and I scream. The wind blows ripping leaves off of trees. As my rage grows, the night sky fills with clouds. My shouts are drowned by the thunder. The ground turns to mud beneath me, and a hand shoots out of it.\n\nI float away from the ground, and I watch the earth move. The hand creates a hole. The hole widens until a skeletal head pops out. Without muscles, I cannot read its expression. Its body language shows determination as it rises from the ground. \n\nWhen it picks itself up, it walks toward me. A part of me is afraid, but I stay. I hold out my hand, and it touches mine.\n\nThe connection ignites a warmth inside of me. I remember the taste of a stew cooked by my mother. The smell of flowers blooming hits my nose. The music of a passing bard vibrates in my ears. I am human again.\n\nThe skeleton backs away from me. I grab it again determined to experience the sensation of life again. It screams in fear and resists me. \n\nThe sensations become horrible. The taste in my mouth becomes rotting fruit. The smell of manure overpowers my nose. The skeletal screams would've caused me to vomit if I were human.\n\n\"Stop fighting me.\" I surround it intending to merge. \"We have to become alive again.\"\n\nThe skeleton roars and tear me away from it. It runs to its hole and jumps back into the ground. It isn't safe from me. I fly into the hole after it.\n\nInside the hole, I find myself in lying still while staring at the moon. I try to move out, but I cannot move a single bone. The moon sets, and the sun rises.\n\n\"Oooh, this is creepy,\" someone above me says, \"Do you think it was a zombie?\"\n\n\"Quit joking. It was probably just the rain,\" someone else says.\n\n\"You're just scared of ghosts.\"\n\n\"Fill the hole.\"\n\nI try to scream for help, but I can't make a sound. Dirt covers my body until the sun is blacked out, and I am doomed to darkness.\n\n---\n\nr/AstroRideWrites" ]	3
	[WP] Just one day left... Nothing, not even the end of the world, is going to stop you from making it to your retirement.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 was it. No more taxes. No social security. No 401k's. No Roth IRA's. No savings. \n\nJimbo never cared too much for numbers. Nor did he think too much on extravagancies. \n\n\"This is the end\"\n\nThe world heard these words and started to crumble. But Jimbo just watched and smiled. He'd stopped saving for retirement in the conventional sense and started investing in \"retirement\". New retirement he named it. Water, canned goods, books, first-aid, and other survival methods. \n\nIt was glorious. Those ugly little pixelated dots on his screen no longer meant anything. No need to check savings accounts or read dumb fucking emails from work or the bank. The green slips of paper the world made him destroy his life were gone. The stocks tumbled. Food riots in India and in Atlanta. It was all the same now. \n\nChina had nuked two of their own citites to lower their population. Millions of Mexicans dead at the border willing to die then stay in the hellscape which they came. Water shortages drove everyone south in the U.S. Everyone scrambling. Like ants under the magnifying glass of a God giving the world a giant middle finger. \n\nSomeone shot Bill Gates the other day. People suspected the nerdy fuck had enough money to spare. But the dumbasses didn't realize that money would mean nothing anymore. Police doesn't exist. They've gone home to cry in the arms of their families while they still could. Jimbo was thankful for this, his new retirement package was basically destroying his old jobs office and trying to shoot anyone he could find there. His boss was long gone but he got to kill some poor bastard scavenging there the same time he was. It might have been Donnie from HR but he couldn't remember. Jimbo shrugged mentally, he'd imagine it was his supervisor from now on. \n\nThis is the dream. \n\nJimbo was living the fucking dream. \n\nHe checked his generator again to calm himself down. After everything checked out he moved on to his DVDs. People underestimated DVD's. Everything streamed on the internet. Where's your internet now you fucktards. \n\nHe poured himself a stiff one and sat on his recliner. \n\nHe imagined the past few weeks in glee. The death toll must be around 1 billion world wide by now. India was a black charred crater now as opposed to its formal brown shit hole status. New York was a death trap that was wilder than the west. California bone dry and deserted. Jimbo smiled thinking about how many influencers tried to stream their demise. He tried to save those videos when he could. He could never figure it out though. Tech was never a high point for him. \n\nBut this was his high point. Retirement. Survival. \n\nNothing can stop him now from enjoying it." ]	2
	[WP]"This human form is limiting." My son keeps telling me, like I wasn't the one to put him in it.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 human form is limiting.\" My son keeps telling me, like I wasn't the one to put him in it. \n\n\"You're doing the right thing I promise\" my mom says, and keeps saying, but honestly it's so hard to watch. \n\nHe played with fire though and he needs to learn that God-hood is a privilege that can be taken away. These kids today seem to think they're entitled to become demigods and to stay demigods. Being God isn't about being a narcissist and this will humble him. That's the advice anyway. \n\nI really hope I'm doing the right thing.\n\nParenting is hard.", "Humans are the apex predator on Earth: capable of incredible feats of endurance; building and thriving in incredibly complex societies with intricate communal rules; they are firmly implanted in every biome at the heart of every local ecosystem. They truly are… the creme de la creme of Earthian lifeforms. \n\nOr so it’s been advertised. \nFollow our five parts review on what it’s really like to be human in this incredible new series, bringing the cosmos closer to you! \n\nFirst of all: the unboxing. \n\nFrom the get go, the packaging is delicate and prone to ripping. There’s a truly awkward and involved process to prepping a human. This includes an incredible delivery time of three quarters of a planetary orbit around the local star! But is it worth it?\n\nNow, for this episode I’ve volunteered my latest offspring for some convenient free labour – which brings us to our sponsor today: Fertile’s Us! Why bother with interspecies cooperation and the perpetual headaches of social communication when you can pop out your very own workforce, disposable income and foodsource all in one! Say no to contraception today and embrace heading your new family empire. Fertility, no seasons asked. Follow up down below for more incredible content!\n\nAlright, back to humans and the wonders of soft membranes wrapped around hard casing – yes, you heard me! This creation truly is an insult to good design. After a bit of a struggle, we’ve gotten the proper parts all set up. Let’s give it to baby offspring for the first impressions: \n\nUnwieldy.\n\nIn one word, interpreted from a liberal application of gesticulating. \n\nLook at it go, it’s gotten tangled over its own appendage for the fourth time already. I simply cannot count the number of times I’ve had to step in because it’s rolled over. And – get this – the human form is utterly unable to right itself up on its own for at the very least a tenth of a star orbit! Incredible. \n\nSo far, it’s a one star rating for me. Next episode, we’ll see more on mobility as our lovely offspring starts testing the limits of the human form! Stay tuned and don’t forget – we’re all made of star dust today!", "“Must I travel in that ridiculous wagon again?” the boy asked, his dozenth complaint of the morning.\n\n“It’s called a school bus, Micah.” Micah’s father said.\n\n“I know it’s called a school bus, but it’s ridiculous. Why is it so bright? Why is everything so bright here?” Micah asked.\n\n“Human children find it joyful,” his father said. “You won’t make any friends by being so negative you know.”\n\n“Why would I need friends?” Micah asked.\n\nIt was a chilly March morning, not quite cold enough for it to be snowing, but Micah could see his own breath while he and his father waited for the bus to arrive. When the bus arrived, Micah dragged his feet and looked back multiple times.\n\nGabriel waved goodbye to his son and walked back into the house. He turned on the gas range, he cut fresh fruit while it heated up. He mixed up pancake batter and kept a watchful eye over it while its edges crisped up, the middle fluffy. He grabbed a chilled cup from the fridge and filled it with apple juice. He put it all on a tray as he walked upstairs to the master bedroom. He turned the doorknob quietly.\n\n“My angel,” Gabriel said. “It’s time for breakfast.”\n\nShe woke gently, Gabriel took care not to look her directly in the eyes.\n\n“Thank you, dear.” she said, her voice resonated in his head.\n\nShe took the plate of food and cut neatly slices out of the pancake, she took small sips of the juice. She nodded approvingly.\n\n“How was Micah this morning?” she asked, she spoke without moving her mouth. Gabriel tried to remind her that humans would find it disturbing, but Saraquiel didn’t care.\n\n“He was the same as always,” Gabriel said. He slid into bed and he felt Sara’s warmth, he still made sure not to look into her eyes. “He’s not a fan of the bus.”\n\n“I’ve seen it once,” Sara said. “I don’t blame him. It’s a hideous thing.”\n\nGabriel laughed. “It’s something most human children experience here.”\n\n“And you’re certain that this will help him?” Sara asked.\n\n“Yes,” he said. “I’m more than certain.”\n\nSara moved the plate of food onto the floor and she curled up next to Gabriel, her heat had grown more intense, it threatened to singe the sheets.\n\n“Wake me when Micah returns from his adventure,” she said.\n\n“From school, Sara.” Gabriel said.\n\nSara laughed, “Such a funny name for a place that sounds like a prison. School.”\n\nSaraquiel fell asleep then, she never stayed awake for too long - especially not now with the long winter approaching. Gabriel went to the study where he turned on the lights and the portable heater under his desk. He flipped open his laptop and read the news and rumors of what the everwinter was going to be like.\n\nNo one knew what was causing the eternal snow that was falling across the world except Micah and his parents. Micah rode the school bus, trying his best to drown out the noise of the other children. As the school bus gently came to a stop at a house down the street, a stumpy child named Bryce walked down the row of seats. He made eye contact with Micah and Micah steadied his breath, which he could still see even inside the bus.\n\n“Move, idiot.” Bryce said, standing right in front of Micah.\n\n“This seat is occupied,” Micah replied, staring out the window at the sad, gray landscape of dying trees.\n\n“I’m not going to ask you again,” Bryce said. “I’m being nice here.”\n\nMicah looked away from his window now, sensing Bryce’s frustrations, his impatience. Bryce balled his hand into a fist and Micah sensed it coming.\n\nHe looked into Bryce’s eye then and he saw it. In that moment, Micah reached down into Bryce’s soul and he touched it. He remembered his mother’s teachings.\n\n“Be gentle, Micah. To truly touch a human, your touch must be gentle.” she told him a few centuries after he was born.\n\nMicah felt Bryce’s soul in his hands and as much as he wanted to crush it, to put on a show for the other kids watching the confrontation, he held it in his palm and kept a gentle touch on it. Bryce stood, frozen in place.\n\n“What’s wrong with him?” one child asked another, they were watching as Bryce stood still, failing to move even an inch. His right hand was raised, aimed at Micah’s body.\n\n“Bryce!” the bus driver yelled. “Hurry up and sit your butt down.”\n\nThe children laughed and Micah whispered, in his own language.\n\n“You may sit,” he said.\n\nBryce sat down next to Micah, eerily still.\n\nMicah enjoyed the silence and continued to stare outside the window, eagerly waiting for everwinter to arrive." ]	4
	[WP] The Hero smirked as he hovered above his vanquished foe, “got anything to say for yourself?” The Villain wiped his face, and grinned, “expect to hear from my lawyers within the week. I’ll be pressing charges for excessive force”	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 had taken half an hour to defeat the Ice Queen, and I was exhausted. Now, finally, she was bound to one of the ice pillars she’d created and then (partly thanks to my winds) thrown all over Main Street. The crowd that had gathered around the super fight was starting to disperse: civilians generally knew better than to try to interact when a supervillain was getting carted off to prison.\n\nSure, I’d get flack later for taking that granny’s knitting yarn to tie up Ice Queen, but it was nothing a couple of emails couldn’t handle. Besides, everyone likes lovable rogues these days.\n\n“So,” I said, hovering closer to Ice Queen. She was beaten and bruised from the fight—as was I—but the spark in her eyes hadn’t faded. “You got anything to say for yourself?” I waved an arm towards the collection of essentially oversized ice cubes in various stages of melting. The place looked like Frosty the Snowman had overseen the fall of Rome. And then had had a temper tantrum.\n\nA smile curved around her pale lips. “Expect to hear from my lawyers within the week, Driftwind. I’ll be pressing charges for excessive force.”\n\n“You’ve gotta be kidding me.” I exhaled. With almost a decade in the hero business, lawsuits weren’t a surprise to me anymore. But oh, how much they hurt. There goes another million bucks. Billionaire or not, I can’t just go throwing money around like this. “You’re the villain here, right? You know that none of this would’ve happened if you’d just decided not to stop at the Town Hall and threaten to turn the world into your own personal ice palace?”\n\nThat calm smirk again. “I refuse to discuss anything without my lawyer present.”\n\nA legion of police cars pulled up next to the disaster zone. In minutes, uniformed officers had surrounded her, removing the yarn and trading it for handcuffs. With a curt nod, the police chief dismissed me. “We’ll take it from here,” he promised.\n\nThrowing up my hands, I trudged away from the scene, already picturing the cash leaving my hands. And I almost missed her last words before the police took her away.\n\n“How else did you think I could afford to be a supervillain?”" ]	2
	[WP] You worry for your vampire wife's health. That's the seventh ketchup bottle with bite marks you found this week.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Vickie raised an eyebrow as she saw the ketchup bottle on the fridge. Two very thin holes, you could barely see them if you weren't paying attention. \nThe valkyrie picked it up and slowly made her way to the game room, where Sofia smugly revealed her cards to the rest of the table. \n\n\"Weep.\" \n\n\"The saying is-\" \n\n\"Just give me your money.\" She outstretched her hand to the witch with the monotone voice. \"Not all of us are here to learn, grandma.\" \n\n\"Your wife is older than her. I wouldn't talk like that if I were you.\" Selket spoke, her little scorpion on her head threw the poker chips at Sofia, he wasn't very happy. \n\nVickie cleared her throat, all of them turned around and Sofia instantly started shoo-inf the two of them out once she saw what she was holding. \n\n\"This has been the seventh one this week.\" She tossed the thing in the garbage and crossed her arms, staring down her. \n\n\"It's not thaaaat bad, c'mon. You break out beer bottles and plates all the time.\" \n\n\"Because mortal things are hard to grasp. I cannot control my grip strength. It is only Óðinsdagr, Sofia!\" She groaned as she saw her wife raise a brow. \"Wednesday! Whatever, I hate this laungage.\" She scoffed and grabbed her while she was trying to sneak away from her outburst. Her strong arm raised her to eye level and Sofia gave a cheeky kiss. \n\n\"Answer me.\" \n\n\"You have a very lovely eye, you know that?\" She reached down but stopped herself midway and that caught Vickie's attention. Something was off about her. \n\n\"Where is your flask?\" \n\n\"I dunno. Misplaced it. Now, can you let me down? Pleaaaase? We can go look for it!\" \n\n\"No. First tell me why you are murdering our ketchup bottles, when I bring you perfectly fine corpses from the hunt. Are they not good enough anymore? Did you run out of blood packets?\" \n\n\"Well, no. I just wanted, a change of flavour.\" \n\n\"You hate ketchup.\" \n\n\"I wanted to get out of my comfort zone! Try new things!\" \n\n\"By biting our ketchup? We aren't monsters, Sofia. At least get a pizza or something first. It is such a waste of food.\" \n\n\"I know...I know. I'll be careful from now on.\" Vickie trained her eye on Sofia who started fluttering her eyelashes. \n\n\"I hate you.\" She mumbled as she put her down. \n\n\"I love you too~.\" \n\n---- \n\n\"SOFIA!\" \n\n\"Oh, she is fast.\" She grabbed her jacket and was going to jump through the window before she was yanked back inside. Sofia groaned as she kissed the carpet, a bottle was thrown down next to her face. \"I really should have told you to stick with the peg leg instead of upgrading. It is becoming hard to run away from you.\"\n\n\"What is going on with you?\" Vickie hissed, towering over her. \n\n\"Step on m-\" \n\n\"Finish that sentence and I am going to use you for target practice.\" \n\n\"Nice day we are having.\" \n\n\"What is going on with you? You have been so sluggish and you can't be bothered to answer my questions! Sofia, tell me already.\" \n\n\"Nah, don't worry.\" She got up and stretched a bit while Vickie glared down at her. \n\n\"Don't worry? Don't worry? Last time you said that, you had a cross through your ribs! Tell me or so help you I will leave! I can't be married to somebody keeping secrets from me.\" \n\n\"You wouldn't.\" \n\nVickie turned around and opened the wardrobe, throwing her clothes out one by one. Sofia somehow paled over before she put her hands up in defeat. \n\n\"Fine! Fine! Please, don't leave.\" She took her hand and pulled her away from the pile of clothes. Sofia took a deep breath and looked down in shame. \"I have been trying to go cold turkey with all the alcohol and it has been fucking with me.\" \n\n\"You have...you what?\" \n\n\"I saw how you looked at me whenever I took a shot from that dang thing. How, angry you were everytime I couldn't even get blood into my system anymore and...\" \n\n\"Sofia, I married you with that as a part of you. I didn't mind.\" \n\n\"Well I do. So everytime the urge got too bad and I wanted to drink something, I would get a ketchup bottle. It made me completely lose any cravings since it is so disgusting. I wanted to be clean when I told you. Get it out of my system, mostly.\" \n\n\"Oh...Oh, my idiotic sardine.\" Vickie sighed and leaned down. \"Why didn't you tell me? I would have helped.\" \n\n\"I know you like to drink, I didn't want to force you to stop.\" \n\n\"And you wouldn't have. I could have helped.\" She gave her forehead a soft kiss. \n\n\"I dunno.\" \n\n\"Next time, trust me. You got that?\" \n\n\"Yes, ma'am. So you aren't going to leave, right?\" \n\n\"Of course not. I am going to help.\" She took Sofia's hand and gave it a kiss. \"I am going to make you the soberest blood parasite in this century.\" \n\n\"Really? Blood parasite?\" \n\n\"My strength lies in killing, not talking.\" \n\n\"Yes, I have noticed.\" Sofia rolled her eyes and pulled Vickie closer to her. \"Still doesn't stop me from loving you.\"", "I was getting a glass of water before bed when I noticed that the ketchup bottle was punctured again and mostly empty, although this time there’s wasn’t a mess to clean up. So with a sigh and a grunt I removed the bottle, cleaned it out, removed the label and then placed it into the recycling bin before I filled my glass and returned to the master bed room where my wife was already under the covers.\n“Tanya, are you okay?” I asked as I placed my cup into the night stand before I continued, “Do we need to schedule an appointment or anything with the Doc-!” In a flash my wife has me pinned to the bed with her face buried in my neck. I fought the urge to panic and simply began to stroke her long dark hair softly until her tense body relaxed and a soft whimpering sound began to shake her body. \n\n“Rex, I don’t want to do the is any more…” My wife’s words were muffled, but I simply stroked her back and then shifted her carefully to her side of the bed in order to get a better look at her stunning face. “I’m scared that I’m going to hurt you one of these days.” I chuckled quietly in response, but Tanya’s eyes cut me to the quick as she continued, “I’m serious, Rex. I know that you love me, and that you for one are okay with whatever happens… But…” My wife’s dark red eyes began to tear up again, and I quickly reached over and put a hand on her shoulders and offered her a gentle smile.\n\n“Tanya, I signed up for this gig the night we signed those forms at the town hall; for better or for worst, in sickness and in health and all that jazz. Whatever happens, Tanya Anne Marie Redding, I solemnly promise to love and help you in whatever way I can.” Tanya’s lips broke into a small smile, and I moved forward to kiss her lightly on the forehead and then pulled the blankets over the two of us to get some much needed sleep. As my thoughts dimmed, a cold form snuggled up next to me and my wife’s gentle voice echoed in my head as I nodded of to sleep.\n\n“I love you too, Rex Anthony Redding. But I’m still not over your little prank from Valentines Day. I’m going to make you pay me back substantially.”\n\n“Snap,” I mumble as I try to plan a nice weekend surprise in penance.\n\nNote: mobile formatting is terrible, or I don’t get it. To clarify she didn’t snap his neck or anything, it was him saying the word snap as an expression.", "Steve grabbed the ketchup bottle from the fridge and grimaced as it oozed over his hand. He turned over the bottle. There they were, two puncture marks from his wife's little fangs. This couldn't go on. He would have to confront her.\n\nHe washed his hand and stepped out into the hallway. \"Val?\"\n\nThere was no answer, but the TV was blaring from the living room. He crossed the hallway and paused at the door. Valerie sat cross-legged on the couch, eating one pickle after another directly from the jar. No, not eating—she would sink her fangs into them, suck out the juice, and discard the sad remains into a bowl.\n\n\"Valerie?\"\n\nHer head jerked toward him, and she tried to hide the jar behind her back, but her latest pickle-victim was still stuck in her mouth. \"Mmph!\" Sucking it dry, she spat out the remains and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. \"W-what is it?\"\n\n\"I thought you didn't like human food,\" he said, coming closer.\n\n\"I... don't. I was just in the mood for something salty, that's all.\"\n\nSighing, he sat down beside her. \"The same way you were in the mood for ketchup? That was the seventh bottle you murdered this week.\"\n\nIt was rare for his wife to blush, but when she did, the pink was very prominent on her pale cheeks. \"So I get an itch to sink my fangs into something now and then. What's the harm?\"\n\n\"I'm not complaining, Val. Just worried.\"\n\n\"I keep telling you, I'm fine,\" she said, rolling her crimson eyes.\n\nSteve took a deep breath. \"Have you ever thought that you might be... well, pregnant?\"\n\nHer mouth sagged open before she erupted into laughter. \"Pregnant. Me? Stevie, let me explain it in simple terms.\" She pointed at him. \"Human.\" Then at herself. \"Vampire.\"\n\n\"Yes, yes, I know your kind supposedly can't have children. It's just\"—he gestured at the jar—\"how do you explain all this?\"\n\nShe shrugged self-consciously. \"They're just cravings. Blood gets old after a while.\"\n\nHe reached into his pocket and produced his purchase from the pharmacy. \"There's an easy way to find out.\"\n\n\"Are you serious?\" She goggled at the pregnancy test, then at him. \"Love, don't kid yourself. It won't ever happen—\"\n\n\"Humor me. Please?\"\n\nShe considered his serious expression and sighed. \"Fine. I'll do it, and it will come out negative, and then I'll make fun of you, like, forever.\" Snatching the test, she rose to her feet and walked out of the room. \"Of all the ridiculous ideas...\"\n\nSteven exhaled and slouched back on the couch. Valerie's footsteps retreated down the hallway, and the bathroom door creaked. Before he knew it, his knee started bouncing, and he had to wipe his sweaty palms on his pants. He had come to terms with not having children when he married her and never regretted the decision. Still, the thought that it may happen after all made his heart pound.\n\nThe bathroom door creaked again and Val slowly walked into the living room, her eyes wide. He sprang to his feet.\n\n\"Steve,\" she said weakly, holding up the test, \"two lines means not preggo, right?\"\n\nHe opened and closed his mouth several times. \"Pretty sure it's the opposite. Said so right there on the package.\" A grin slowly spread over his lips.\n\n\"But...\" She shook her head. \"But that's impossible.\"\n\nHe walked up to her and enveloped her in a hug. \"Apparently not as impossible as we thought.\" \n\nShe tilted her head up and narrowed her eyes. \"Do you have some sort of super sperm?\"\n\nHe snorted. \"Not as far as I know.\"\n\n \"We... we really are going to have a baby?\"\n\n\"We will,\" he said, stroking her silky black hair.\n\n\"It's going to grow inside me.\"\n\n\"Well, that's how it usually works.\"\n\n\"And then be born.\"\n\n\"Give it nine months. A little less now, I suppose.\"\n\n\"A baby. I'm going to have a baby.\" Valerie sniffled, and then it was as if the floodgates had been opened, and she hugged him without holding back her strength and bawled into his chest. \"I never thought... Oh, Steven.\"\n\nEven though her hug threatened to crack his ribs, he only smiled and kissed the crown of her head. \"I'll go buy some more ketchup tomorrow.\"" ]	4
	[WP] Your kingdom is the only source of a magical material used to make flameproof armour for hunting dragons, but now other kingdoms are claiming their knights are suffering from the same illness that plagues the convicts who work in your mines. Surely there's no link...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 lady waves away the knights which guarded the room. Then she bolts the door, propping up her round glasses.\n\n\"All right, what's your name?\" she whispers from across the table.\n\n\"Fabian, madam. What does that have to do with anything?\" the other diplomat blinks, referencing the previous meeting in his mind.\n\n\"Skeptical, aren't you? Zia II of the Davathrum clan.\" she shrugs.\n\nZia Davathrum II, thinks Fabian, brains behind the dynasty operation.\n\n\"So, about these knights...\"\n\n\"Quiet. The Paragon Malady is only caught by convicts on the northwesternmost part of the continent. In other words, where the mines are.\" Zia hands him a map. \"As you can see, we're the only suppliers of fire armor, sold on land. In other words, the one and only fire armor is sold at the Continental Market, not transported to sea. Sellers would prefer to stay home and comfortable.\" she laughs dryly.\n\n\"So?\" Fabian asks.\n\n\"Which means the continent nearest ours, again, yours, has been poking down the mines.\" Zia sees the discomfort on the diplomats face before quickly adding, \"Dragons nest around your continent, yes? Larger breeds than the ones currently nesting on the south's peaks. It is understandable, and as far as I know what my continent would do if over a dozen dragons nested in the land and the fire armor was not theirs to begin with.\"\n\n\"Why...why are you telling me this?\" he says.\n\n\"Well, for you to find out. These are merely suspicions of mine.\" she stands up, glances backward to a leaving Fabian. She shows a smile. \"Oh, and also, Fabian, this is confidential. If the royalty discovers this, our two continents will most likely go to war. Until we meet again.\"\n\nFabian feels the sweat on the back of his neck. Until we meet again.", "The convicts only can work for 6 months before they disappear. This was considered a feature of the mines when they were created. A death sentence for the convicts, and the realm of Trygond gained valuable Uncral armor to sell to willing kingdoms to fight the increasing number of dragons. \n\nSeamus sighed wearily, looking over the letters for what seemed like the hundredth time. They had thought that one the Uncral or was processed into armor, the rush was over. However, the reports kept coming in from Gileal, Cranmore, and now Hockton. Knights are disappearing 2 years to the day after they donned the armor. Worse, more and more dragons are appearing and ravaging the countryside. \n\nSeamus knew the king had entered his laboratory before he even spoke. The door crashed open and his footsteps echoed gravely through the cavernous chamber." ]	3
	[WP] The monsters born from human fear menaced them for so long that humanity became desensitized and stopped caring whether they lived or died. The monsters soon pacified and now have to work hard keep their apathetic life sources alive.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 downpour of late had caused both mud and despair to pool across the countryside. Evenings were cold and mornings even colder, up to the point when one would expect frost to settle in. But it never did. Roads and hope alike remained buried under blankets of muddy paste and all travel was nigh impossible. Broken down wagons littered the pathways and the villagers could be content if broken spokes were the height of their misfortune in these times.\n\n„Another one papa.“ A little girl pointed to a man lying in the ditch. His body betrayed little signs of life, apart from the slow movement of his chest. His eyes were fixed on the overcast sky, blinks creeping in every now and then. The girl's father let out an unintelligible grunt, but made no other effort to acknowledge her comment or the villager in the hole. He dragged through the slough, furrowed by countless feet and hooves, like every step took a world of effort.\n\nBehind a thick facade of deciduous trees, two figures drew ragged, wheezing breaths. Soaked rags hung from their bony, elongated limbs as they clawed their way to the edge to steal a glimpse of the villagers.\n\n„Behold brother, these two move still,“ spoke one of the wights, its voice as coarse as gravel.\n\n„Of course, they're not decrepit,“ snapped the other one, jostling to get a better view through the tree-line. Its gaze floated across the road, where sanguine reflections of numerous eyes materialised from the dark. As expected, they were not the first ones here. „There's too many of us. We never should have come.“\n\n„Why couldn't we have stayed at the castle brother? The lord has many serfs. Lively and God-fearing-“ A sickly cough interrupted its words. Pitch black snot flew through its teeth-less jawline as it squirmed to control the spasms.\n\n„The lord also has demon hunters brother,“ replied the second wight. „And we would have been fine here if it weren't for the storms. No travellers for weeks now.“\n\n„Kra'lleth, I am beyond ravenous. My physical form betrays me and the people here care not for our presence.“\n\n“Silence,” commanded Kra'lleth. If they were to survive, action would have to follow. Its head started shaking and jittering. It began clawing at its throat as to stave off a dying breath. A cacophony of crackling sounds followed as the intricacies of its decomposed voice box revitalised and snapped into place. “Help!” it shouted, its voice now akin to that of a human man.\n\nThe girl on the road stopped in her tracks. She had almost caught up with her apathetic father.\n\n“Help!”\n\nThe girl turned towards the source of the voice, scanning the forest and inevitably locking eyes with the wight. Something other than fear was in them, but it invigorated Kra'lleth nonetheless. The energy was but a trickle, yet it was something it had not felt in too long.\n\n“Does she fear brother?”\n\nKra'lleth stood silent as the girl broke eye contact to follow her father. “Come brother, there may be hope for us yet.”" ]	2
	[WP] In our world there are no superpowers, and both scientists and the internet agree that there can’t be. So, it’s a real surprise to you when you somehow end up with them. Now, with the Marvel comics as your guide, you’re going to attempt to become a superhero. If the world will let you.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 know this is my own prompt, but I just got an idea, haha.\n\nA Not-So-Stranger In a Not-So-Strange Land\n\nI stand in the bathroom, hands slicked with sweat as I lean against the counter, repeating like a the words, ”This isn’t real. This isn’t real.” like a sort of frenzied mantra.\n\nAfter all, when one figures out they have superpowers now, they would most likely freak out and/or have a panic attack. This is real life, not a Marvel comic.\n\nThough, it certainly feels like something out of a Marvel comic.\n\nI really didn’t ask for this. I know a lot of people would say that in my situation, but most people have wished for powers at least once in their adult life.\n\nI am an exception.\n\nSure, I guess you could say when I was pretending to be Superman, or Spider-Man as a child I was wishing for superpowers. But as an adult? No way José!\n\nI guess you could say I have an “odd” perception of life (or you could say it‘s completely normal to you, I wouldn’t know), I don’t want to live a life too different from the acceptable norm, because those who shine brightest burn fastest if you know what I mean.\n\nTake for example Spider-Man. He did all this amazing stuff for people, from saving them from fires to stopping powerful supervillains, he did it all. Yet, what did he get for it? Nada. Zilch. Nothing. Nothing except for constant hate from the media for being different, even though he was an amazing hero.\n\nAnd Spider-Man’s reality isn’t even close to true reality!\n\nSo, here I am, muttering like a madman and staring into the mirror with a stricken expression on my face, dripping with perspiration.\n\nThough I try to ignore it, I can’t help but watch with a completely helpless expression as the marble countertop cracks under my hands like sandstone, and I’m not even gripping them that hard.\n\nI let go and stumble back against the wall, hugging my pajama’d knees like a lifeline.\n\nWhy is this happening to me? My head screams, I didn’t ask for this! I don’t want this!\n\nI pinch myself, hard enough to draw blood from a normal person, but I am no longer normal. My skin isn’t even scratched.\n\nGod! I plead, grasping at straws, trying to get the one who let this happen to listen, Take this away! Please. I‘m not strong enough… well, mentally and emotionally strong enough for this. I don’t want this. Take this away.\n\nIf He’s listening, God doesn’t answer.\n\nPerhaps he’s letting this go to voicemail.\n\nI’m not a heroic person. I‘ll never be a heroic person.\n\nThis is one huge mistake.\n\nI never should have taken that damn laboratory tour.\n\nI’m not a hero.\n\nI can’t be a hero.\n\nThis is reality. The real world can’t handle a person like me.\n\nI can’t handle a person like me.", "\"Ever read the Metamorphosis? The idea is that there was a guy who woke up one day having a bug's body instead of a human one. That was basically me, but instead of being a bug, I was entirely made out of glass.\"\n\nThe young woman sitting across the table from me looks down at my exposed arms, confused.\n\n\"Are you sure? It just looks like normal skin.\"\n\nI take a beat. I saved her life with this less than five minutes ago. Was she not paying attention?\n\nI put one of my arms on the table and I stop pretending to be made of flesh and blood. My whole body vitrifies, starting off as unbroken transparent glass before crackling around the joints. She shifts backwards in her seat, startled.\n\n\"Jesus!\"\n\n\"Yeah, that was my first reaction too. But it's actually not bad. I can make glass explode just by thinking about it, I can absorb broken glass to replace anything I lose, and I don't have to worry about my terminal illness.\"\n\n\"Your what?\"\n\n\"We'll get to that in a bit, but I think that answers most of the questions you had. Also, you can call me Mosaic. Mo, for short. It's the best superhero name I could come up with on short notice, the rest of them sounded like war crimes.\" \n\nShe narrows her eyes.\n\n\"Really? You've picked out a superhero name? You haven't even figured out how to rescue somebody properly without busting every window on the block.\"\n\n\"That's pretty rich, considering you threw a guy through a windshield.\"\n\n\"But I'm not putting on a sleeveless shirt and considering doing that for a career, Mo. \"\n\n\"...Point taken.\"", "I stared down incredulously, taking in the view. Honestly it shouldn’t have been too spectacular. The city lights were nice, but you could see them from any balcony up high enough. \n\nExcept there wasn’t a balcony beneath my feet. \n\nI was flying. It was insane, impossible, and absolutely the best thing to ever happen to me. It had taken some getting used to. Turning without wings, a wheel, or clear signs of propulsion took a ton of tries. If not for the fact it seemed I’d gotten the full Superman package I probably would have died in the attempt, but a month of practice, a commission to some cosplayers, and a bit of practice pulling my punches and i was ready to save the world!\n\nThe question was from what though. As I flew above the streets of Manhattan, I realized just how hard it would be to spot any petty crime going on at the street level without going too low to have an effective line of sight. The sounds, lights, and crush of people made it almost impossible to pick out anything specific. Super senses wouldn’t help much either, letting them go all out would just overwhelm me. \n\nI could have gone somewhere smaller to start, but that wouldn’t do. It was new York! Every hero started in New York! Or… somewhere equivalent at least. \n\nWait! Screaming! That’s a good sign! Well- not good, but it was something to do! Flying towards the sound, excited to save my first civilians, I turned a corner, the screams were getting louder, more numerous, lots of people then. Maybe it was even a supervillain! That would put me on the map!\n\nAs I turned the corner, finding an active protest in a stand off with police, my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. This… this was about to get messy, and something told me a bit of spandex and a fancy cape would only make it worse." ]	4
	[WP] You secretly work on a telepathy device and after many years you succeed. You read your colleague’s minds in the cafeteria ‘Do you think he’ll succeed today?’ ‘IDK what a poor thing to be born unable to talk this way’. You think ‘oh shit!’ and suddenly everyone turns to look at you...	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Simon followed the low rumble of disjointed thoughts down the corridors of the lab, making his way to the cafeteria. The Mind-Link worked. The result of almost a decade of tinkering and experimenting, it would lift thoughts from those around and deliver them directly into the user's brain.\n\nAs he crossed the doorway into the cafeteria, the 'volume' and clarity of the thoughtforms sharpened dramatically. Simon basked for a few moments in the glory of his achievement, slowly attempting to link the thoughts he heard to the voices of the fellow scientists and engineers he shared the facility with.\n\nBut suddenly, the gears in his head caught up with the meaning of the words he was 'hearing'.\n\n\"There's Simon, outside of his lab for the first time in two days.\", \"Do you think it worked this time? It must be such a drag to not be able to speak like this.\", \"Does a person born blind miss the world of fine art?\"\n\nFear and alarm shot through Simon. His frozen vocal cords did not betray him, but the silent scream of surprise stilled the room just the same. Several seconds passed slowly as everyone in the room stared at him. It was only then that Simon realized that the Mind-Link transmitted more than thoughts, as the background emotional rumble also fell silent.\n\nThen, as quickly as the quiet came, it vanished, and Simon fell to his knees as a torrential downpour of love, affection, and joy crashed around him. In his ears, he heard the creaks of rubber on linoleum as every person in the room shot up to run over.\n\n\"It worked? It finally worked!? Oh my God! You did it!\" He could no longer discern whether he was hearing or feeling the words crash around him. All Simon knew, was that he was finally able to be at one with the people he never knew weren't quite like himself. The difference didn't matter.\n\nHe was home." ]	2
	[WP] A lawyer uses his third wish to free the genie from its bottle. As a gesture of thanks, the genie now helps this lawyer win every single case by finding loopholes to exploit.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "“Was this your plan the whole time?” asked Genie. \n\nTimothy looked over at his shoulder where he sat while his bottom lightly bounced on each step. He was the size of a snickers bar. New Yorkers got used to it after a while. \n\n“To put him behind bars? Yeah that’s always the plan”\n\n“No not about the case, to free me with your third wish”\n\n“Not really.” Timothy said without breaking a step. \n\nGenie frowned.\n\n“But I never had a plan in the first place.”\n\n“So you’re telling me you didn’t know I’d hang around, essentially fulfilling your first wish?”\n\nTimothy walked down the stairs into the subway tunnel. It was much more crowded and he found himself much more self-conscious at the question.\n\n“Well” said Timothy softly. “No, I just wanted a friend. And of course you can’t override freewill which I totally understand”\n\nGenie noticed his hush tone. “No need to be ashamed about it” patting his shoulder. “You understand I can’t force anyone to do anything?”\n\n“Yeah totally!” said Timothy a bit too loud. A few faces looked up from their phones staring at him before looking back down again.\n\n“Yeah totally” he said again, quieter this time. “I was selfish. I need to do better”\n\n“No you don’t.” Genie stood up this time walking closer to his face.\n\n“You weren’t selfish at all! Your second wish… world peace?” \n\n“Selfish”\n\n“World peace isn’t being selfish. Again falls under the same rule..”\n\nTimothy cut him off. “You can’t override the free will rule… yeah I get it.” \n\nGenie frowned. “Seriously Timothy. You saying that it is selfish for you to want world peace is like saying I feel bad for interfering with the dictators of the world at world domination.”\n\nTimothy didn’t say anything.\n\n“Oh no” said Genie mockingly “Look at me, I’m Kim Jung Un, how dare you Timothy interfere with my free will to destroy the lives of millions of people!”\n\nGenie sat down and sighed. “Trust me if I could have granted that wish I would have”\n\n“Really?” Timothy smiled now looking at Genie. \n\n“Yeah, but hey look at it this way Timothy” Genie paused looking into Timothy's eyes.\n\n“We’ve made our own little peace here. We’ve solved each case against every powerful gangster, mafia, whatever group here.”\n\n“Thanks to you,” said Timothy. \n\n“No, I may be able to adjust script and paperwork without anyone looking, but it's you sticking your neck out for us. For them. It's why you're New York’s hero. And probably number one hunted individual by crime lords, but hey that just means your doing something right.”\n\nTimothy smiled, shaking his head. “So what you're saying is you’ve granted my first wish by staying, and my second wish is in progress by exploiting loopholes in our cases.”\n\n“No, you granted yourself these wishes. And I stayed because I like you, but because of a wish. That’s one thing I can control. My own free will and I used it to stay here with you to make the world a better place… one case at a time”", "“Is that thing real?” \r\n\r\nSunlight reflected from the lustre of the brass all of a sudden, and Brennan had to look away. “Depends on what you mean by real,” he said. “It’s certainly a collectable. Those engravings are handcrafted, apparently. Byzantine or Persian, can’t remember which. Client gave it to me last week.”\r\n\r\n“You know what I mean.”\r\n\r\n“A genie’s bottle? Sure, why not. But I daresay the only value I’ll get will come from the auction next week. Thing might be worth a fortune.”\r\n\r\nMr. Ericson was a superstitious and freely believing sort and couldn’t help his dismay. The consultation over, he grabbed his hat, sighed, and left without a word. Brennan lent back in his leather chair and crossed his feet on the desk. The sun was lowering between the buildings and filled half the room orange, and a sparkle from the decanter caught his eye. He’d earned a drink.\r\n\r\nIt did look genuine, he had to admit. Strange design for a teapot, that’s for sure. Almost an exact replica of the one from that old show, what was it called? I Dream of Genie. Only, look at those engravings. Fine as a pinpoint, intricately patterned, curls of cloud flowing to ancient buildings below, surrounding characters in fantastic attitudes, and the bottle itself, so small as to barely be visible, there at the centre, smoke rising from its spout to the form of a smiling, benevolent face. \r\n\r\nA few whiskeys in, stuff it, he thought. Why not?\r\n\r\nHe carefully picked up the bottle by the base and was surprised again by its weight. An absolute fortune, he smiled. From his breast pocket he grabbed his blue handkerchief. Was there a knack to this? Ah, but of course. The little fella just wants his home polished. That’s what the deal is: three wishes for keeping the exterior prim and proper. Allow me to oblige then, my good sir.\r\n \r\nHe rubbed gently, evenly, didn’t miss a spot. Soon enough the sheen pronounced itself brilliant, and expensive, his reflection almost mirror-clear. What a gift this was. He placed it back on the shelf, stepped back, poured another drink. Well then? Haven’t got all day, genie. He hadn’t eaten lunch and was getting drunk. For the best, he would later reflect. The first billow of smoke would have been difficult to reconcile sober." ]	3
	[WP] Your career in life often determines what you'll be doing in the afterlife. Today is your first day at your new eternal career in the afterlife.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "\"Afterlife Emergency.\"\n\n\"There's been a seance! My wife! She--they're--\"\n\n\"Sir. Where are you?\"\n\nThe panicked man said an address once, then repeated it again. Nice.\n\n\"Are you and your wife the only haunters of the residence?\"\n\n\"Yes ma'am.\"\n\n\"Have the mortals pierced the veil yet?\"\n\n\"Yes!\" The man wailed. \"What if she's there forever?\"\n\nAs much as I wanted to, I didn't just say \"She won't be.\" Instead, I told him the truth; that we have our strongest spirits en route to retrieve her and discourage future seances.\n\nSeances were understandably scary, but rarely a real emergency.\n\nThe phone rang again.\n\n\"Afterlife Emergency.\"\n\n\"When will I ever get out of purgatory?\"\n\nAgain, I wanted to say something. I'd been in purgatory for what seemed like an unreasonably long time, even in a place where time had no measurement or meaning.\n\n\"Yes. Eventually. Please call your case worker for further.\"\n\n\"You always say that and I never get any results!\"\n\n\"I'm sorry,\" I said, trying to hold onto my customer service voice, \"they're the only ones who can determine when you move on.\"\n\n\"This is bullshit!\" The voice on the other end of the line boomed. \"All I want is to know when I'm moving on! That's all I want! Cut the shit and tell me!\"\n\nDecision time.\n\n\"If I knew, I would tell you. I know this is frustrating, I'm here in purgatory with you--\"\n\nThe voice responded with what he'd like to do to me, which was equal parts pornography and butchery, until the line went dead.\n\nGuess he moved on. Hopefully downward.\n\nAnother ring.\n\n\"Afterlife Emergency.\"\n\n\"This is Grim Reaper #367, someone's attempting to defibrillate my victim.\"\n\nAn actual emergency!\n\n\"Take the soul's essence in your hands,\" I said, following the wire-bound triage cards. \"Speak softly and offer words of reassurance and rest.\"\n\nThe Grim Reaper spoke. \"It's alright, Opal. It's time for you to rest, let me take the weight of 94 years off your shoulders...\"\n\nA faint voice cracked through the phone. \"Oh, dear, where am I?\"\n\n\"Thanks, ma'am!\" Click.\n\nI leaned back in my office chair. It was going to be another long shift." ]	2
	[WP] "I just don't feel like I have worth anymore..." Pluto cries as Neptune rubs their back and the other planets glare at Earth. "Hey don't look at me, it's not my fault the humans don't consider you a planet anymore."	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 swear to—I swear to me when I get my hands on that—‘\n\n‘Hades,’ Persephone’s voice, like snowmelt in the early spring, reverberated through the halls. ‘It’s no so bad, surely. It’s just a classification change, they say. Words. Surely you shouldn’t lose face over mere words. You’re the king of the underworld.’\n\n‘I’m the king of mere dust!’ Hades erupted.\n\nPersephone flinched, and in that moment, Hades realized his mistake. \n\n‘Forgive me, my love,’ he whispered, bringing his cold arms over the shoulders of his wife. She was warm to the touch—the contrast enough to warn him. To warn him not to lose his last link to the realms above. Doing so would mean a winters colder than he’d ever known.\n\n‘It’s just,’ the king of the underworld went on. ‘That planet was one of the last things I had left. Without it, I’m that much closer to mine own divestment.’\n\n‘Your domain is Death, dear,’ Persephone answered. \n\n‘Was, my love. Was. It was bad enough they went by the Roman nomenclature, but to revoke the entire title?’ Hades said, shoulders shaking. ‘I’m finished.’\n\nPresently, there was a knock at the doors to the great halls. Cerberus, off to a dank corner, lifted its sagging heads, barely contentant enough to grumble, let alone roar as it might have in the olden days at an visitor unannounced. \n\nWhat did it matter? The river Styx had run dry millennia ago. Hades these days truly was an empire in decay. So much so that Hades himself had to open the door. \n\n‘What?’ He said as the mighty slabs loosened. Already ready to dismiss some obsequent servant with not much else to do.\n\nImagine his surprise then, when it was not the lowly magistrate at his door, but instead the entire pantheon standing before him on what could best be described as a ruly mob.\n\nBrothers, sisters, aunts and nieces and all in between leering at him with glowing eyes—dim these days in their luster.\n\n‘Come to make jest at mine most recent hardships, is it?’ Hades said, contempt rich in his voice, if only barely. \n\nHowever, there were no laughs. No snickering to be detected among them. They all stood at his steps, crestfallen, if he was sure about it.\n\nZeus made his way through the crowd, and bowed. \n\nHades’s eyes went wide.\n\n‘No, brother,’ Zeus said, ‘We’ve come to offer our condolences. And more importantly, to strategize.’\n\n—\n\nFifteen gods sat at a temple deep in the bowels of hades. Each with drooping heads and sagging shoulders. Hades had not seen such a sight since before that fateful decision he and his brothers had made eons ago. When they’d resolve to kill their own creators.\n\nNow there was a new titan bearing down upon them. Casting them askance and making them weak with each passing day.\nAnd that titan, as it had come to be known, were those same meager subjects they’d once referred to as Man.\n\n‘They leave us no choice.’ Poseidon bemoaned.\n\nZeus nodded. ‘Really, they’ve brought it upon themselves.’\n\nThe rest of the pantheon nodded their weak ascents. It seemed they’d finally reached a consensus.\n\nHades—however happy he may have been to not have been the butt of the joke among his peers—was still dissatisfied. \n\n‘I just don’t know,’ he tapped his sharp nails against the obsidian. ‘What if this is just what the fates have always had in store for us?’\n\nHera stood then, surprising Hades. \n\nIn contrast to her husband, Hera had been rather robust, perhaps even happy, compared to the rest of them. As it were, with the years going on, it was she who’d retained a rather healthy din of worshippers all these years. Especially so in the most recent of decades, confounding the entire pantheon. \n\n‘No,’ she said. \n\n‘No?’ Hades replied. ‘You would want to go through with this? Of all of us, you stand to lose the most.’\n\n‘Of this I’m acutely aware,’ she said. As she spoke, she brought her eyes over her husband. Narrow, wistful eyes. ‘I’ve had my fair share enough seeing this vermin husband of mine waste away over the years. Consider me a happy goddess in that regard. However, if it’s the wish of all mine family here, then I say we go through with it.’\n\nAres chimed in, ‘it was bad enough we had to deal with my would be usurper because of their wretched entertainment. I say we should have rid ourselves of them long ago.’\n\nHera nodded. ‘And here we were hoping their fictions might sate us. But if it’s not one of their creations letting loose and upsetting our balance, then it’s one of these sciences encroaching upon us. Aye, we should be rid of them post haste.’\n\nMore nods of agreement. The life force in the room somehow increasing before his very eyes. Hades detested that.\n\n‘That’s all well and good,’ Hades cooed. ‘But you might all have forgotten we are most low. Perhaps the weakest pantheon of them all, I’d wager. What can we do now? Pandora’s curse has all but well and set.’\n\nHera turned then to Persephone. ‘Oh, we still have some say, brother in law. Quite a lot, even now.’\n\n‘Then enlighten us!’ Hades raised his voice in annoyance. \n\n‘However clever they might have gotten with their little machines, they are still fragile things, living in a fragile house. Made of straw, it would seem. I simply think it’s time to remind them.’\n\n‘You don’t mean...’\n\n‘I mean exactly that, my brother in law. They would portend to listen to their scholars, but only where it pertains to our domain. We only need remind them of what the scholars had have to say about their own.”\n\n‘Life is a fragile thing,’ Hades whispered. ‘I suppose I can only make one request.’\n\n‘What’s that?’ Hera answered.\n\n‘I ask that you leave one particular astronomer to me...’" ]	2
	[WP] When you took a job as a house sitter, your duties were mostly to water the plants. When one of the plants starts talking to you, you're not entirely sure what to do.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Housesitting for these crazy plant people stressed her out too much, she thought to herself. Filling the watering can and adding the special fertilizer for the plants with the blue sticky notes, half heartedly measuring the amount. \n\nThe plants with the yellow sticky notes get fertilizer on Wednesdays. And the ones with the orange notes only get watered without fertilizer on Friday, she was told to make sure to use the moisture meter on those. \n\nThe ones without any notes get misted, not watered, and that is done multiple times a day. \n\nShe thought about the life choices that brought her here, painstakingly caring for someone else's precious plants in between studying and reading and writing for her online classes.\n\nThe pandemic had made finding house sitting work difficult but now that some people were going on vacations again she found herself with more and more work. Almost enough to do it full time again and she could stop paying rent, but the work was often a bit different now. \n\nDuring the pandemic, some people got puppies, others adopted a kitten, or set up a fish tank. Maybe a rabbit or a hamster. But some people got plants instead, and they didn't just get normal plants, a spider plant, or an aloe. They got fancy orchids, fiddle leaf figs, variegated this and that, and the worst ones, oh definitely the worst ones, those icky pitcher plants and fly traps. Having to carefully feed them bugs with tweezers was her worst nightmare. \n\nShe was always reminded of that \"Little Shop of Horrors\" movie and half expected one of those plants to snap up her hand and start talking to her.\n\nThat's why she was completely taken aback and dropped the watering can when she heard a deep voice say \"ouch! Do you mind being a little more gentle?\" coming from the fern with the blue sticky note on its pot as she had stuck the tip of the watering can between the leaves trying to get to the soil." ]	2
	[WP] It's slowly becoming increasingly obvious to you that you're the only one in your friend group that hasn't gained powers and become a superhero yet. Awkward because your friends are bad at hiding it. Even more because you're already a vigilante and have to keep playing dumb.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 just after midday when Pete called. His stomach hurt. Really badly. It wasn’t pleasant. He wasn’t leaving the house anytime soon.\n\n “Leftover Chinese does that to you.” Pete explained.\n\n “You should really stop eating it mate, that’s the fourth time this month.” Marcus muttered back.\n\n “It’s not been that much.” Pete said.\n\n “It has, it’s easy to keep track of, it coincides with every attack from Ronin the Tiger God.” Marcus didn’t say but thought loudly, Captain Thunder probably couldn’t read minds fortunately.\n\n “We’ll reschedule.” Pete said before hanging up.\n\n Macrus tried to chuckle, calling an outcast ninja cursed by a by a beast God ‘Leftover Chinese food’ was pretty funny, but he had been looking forward to seeing him later that evening.\n\n Marcus pulled out the scrap of paper and crossed off Pete’s name and order from the list, striking the paper enthusiastically, Pete being quietly overwhelmed by the blank inky waves. After a few seconds thought he decided to leave the note on the desk in case more changes needed to be made. Cause they would.\n\n It was half three when the news broke that a dragon had been sited over Cape Town. A big black scaly beast that was lazily circling above the city, tired from its interdimensional travel, and presumably hungry as well.\n\n This time Marcus ignored his phone. He was at work, he needed to be professional, WhatsApp pings were not going to endear himself to his colleagues. But when Dark-Hold emerged on the television screen to seize control of the monster with psychic tendrils pouring from his eyes it was difficult not to watch and quietly cheer for your friend. It was a shame Luke needed to cover his eyes to contain the Eldritch Horror within his mind, because he did look good without glasses on.\n\n Marcus gave a small fist pump as the dragon was overwhelmed and pushed back into the portal to whatever part of the multiverse it came from, and he finally decided to check his phone.\n\n “Something has come up at work, might be a little late.” Luke had messaged 15 minutes previously.\n\n Back on the screen the dragon had managed to grasp hold of the tendrils with his teeth and with one final wrench of his head, Dark-Hold had gone from pushing to pulled. One second the struggling pair were on screen, and the next the camera crew were simply pointing at a clear Cape Town sky.\n\n ‘Definitely going to be late.’ WhatsApp pinged.\n\n Marcus didn’t bother replying, he never got reception beyond this dimension. He got the pen and started crossing another name off.\n\n It was just after five and Marcus had began leaving work when he was stopped by a woman outside the office. A beautiful red head with pale white skin, she only reached his shoulders at about 5 ft 6, but Marcus sensed this wasn’t a woman to treat lightly, her bloodshot eyes gave away recent tears, but these were tears of anger.\n\n “You’re James’ friend, aren’t you?” the woman asked, a thick Czech accent visible to those who knew what a Czech sounded like.\n\n “Uh, yes, can I help?”\n\n “He’s dead… choked on a Snickers… definitely an accident… so there’s nothing you can do, only something I can do. Revenge.”\n\n “Revenge against a Snickers Bar?”\n\n Marcus was thankful she left so quickly. He was terrible at pretending to grieve for James. Sometimes he tried to remember the feelings of the first time, but six funerals later all this amounted to was hassle, hassle to remember the new name of this person who was suddenly going to befriend Luke and Pete and him a few weeks from now. Indestructi-Lad was a jerk.\n\n The meal order was now just black crossings out. Marcus scrunched it up and tossed it away. It had been silly to think the meal was ever going to happen. But Marcus wasn’t a silly man, he was a serious man in a serious city. So, when he booked his table for four, he booked it at Gangster’s Gourmet, independent eatery, four stars on TripAdvisor and front for the Gourmét Crime Syndicate.\n\n It was a while later, nearing midnight and Marcus wasn’t enjoying a round of drinks with his three best friends to finish off a lovely meal. But Night-Reign was at least taking some pleasure in dangling a perp over the edge of a three-story building.\n\n “Please! I have a wife!” the battered and bloody goon pleaded.\n\n “I know, I took her out first, she wasn’t going to squeal like you did.” Night-Reign hissed.\n\n “Please, you got everything I know, just let me live! I’ll do whatever you want!”\n\n “Anything?” Night-Reign asked.\n\n “Anything. Just tell me!”\n\n Night-Reign had had a lovely evening. His fists were well-fed with faces, and the screams of the guilty had been the songs that made him feel good… but Marcus had different needs:\n\n “Sing me Happy Birthday!”" ]	2
	[WP] An event causes much of the world's population to suddenly develop superpowers.... realistic physics ensue	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "\\pretty gorey\\\n\nBarry Allen was the fastest man alive for almost five seconds. It might not seem like an impressive number, but if Barry could've ended his tenure as the record holder sooner, he would've. \n\nNaturally, he was the first to notice the event. Sounds slowed down to a constant monotone noise, if they were changing it was at an imperceptible rate. It seemed to Barry that he was suddenly living in a painting. The people around him stood frozen, an action he would soon wish he could mirror. He attempted to raise his hand up, but felt unexpected resistance. It took a second longer than he'd thought it would, but his hand started to move. Instantly his arm was in agony. The friction of the air burning through his skin as his flesh slipped off his bones. He tried to stop his arm, but most of it kept going forward, dragging along a chunk of his chest with it. He tried to scream, and as the air violently ripped it's way out of his throat he felt blood slowly begin to flood his lung. Normally being in a state like this means you have minutes to live, but Barry wasn't the fastest man alive for nothing. His perception hours ahead of his comparatively sluggish body, he started to run. The bones in his legs shattered as the wind sheered flesh from his body, he tilted his head forward feeling his scalp be burnt off by the friction. He took a second step, losing most of the mass on the right side of his body. With a final push his head reached the wall, smashing into it with a speed comparable to light. \n\nWally West is the fastest man alive, and unfortunately for him, he's going to hold onto that title for a little bit longer than Barry did." ]	2
	[WP] After 15 years, you’ve always remained certain that your father ditched you while going out for cigarettes when you were a kid. But when a knock is heard at the door, you open it to find your father staring you in the face, with a pack of cigarettes, and literally...having not aged a single day	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "“Where were you?” I asked hesitantly as my father stood at the door.\r \n“I’m sorry but there was a bit of a hold up. They were very busy tonight.” He replied, cigarette in his mouth and speaking around it.\r \nHasn’t aged a day. I thought. His voice hasn’t changed either. Hair still brown, face unwrinkled, eyes still holding that young charm.The same charm he had in his eyes when he left.\r \n“Can I come in?” He asked impatiently.\r \n“Sure.” I said as I took a step aside.\r \nIn a passing remark he said, “You look older.”\r \n“And you haven’t aged a day.” I snidely returned.\r \nHe turned to me with a look of horror on his face. I thought that he may have figured out that in some way. Some mysterious way he had disappeared for eight years and seemed as if he had only spent a few years out of the house.\r \nInstead he scolded me for talking to him in such a way.\r \n“It would help if you were here for the eight years you left.” I added after he finished.\r \nHis anger flashed with confusion as he took a harder look at my face.\r \n“My God.” he sighed, “You are older.” He put a hand to my cheek and I felt his rough hands. \r \nHis hands which hadn’t touched anything in the house for nearly a decade felt as soft as I remember. His fingers found small wrinkles forming in the corner of my mouth as his hand caressed my face. \r \n“My God you are older.” he repeated, the burnt tobacco on the tip of his cigarette, Winstons if I remember correctly, crumbled and made a small pile of ash on the freshly cleaned carpet.\r \nHe looked with dismay at the small pile. He took the cigarette out of his mouth, looked for an ashtray but found none and ended up, with a look of dismay, crushing it on the porch before entering the house again. He walked with purpose to the kitchen where he expected his wife. She wasn’t there.\r \n“Where is she?” he asked, looking away from the sink and the brand new faucet.\r \n“She died about three years ago.” I said feeling unduly ashamed and bowing my head as if I had made a big mistake.\r \nTears ran in his eyes and he clenched and unclenched his fists. He sat down with a huff at the same table which had been there as long as I could remember. He shoved his fists against his eyes and began to cry. I again felt ashamed. Why should it be your own child to tell you that the one person you loved most in your life died while, despite how crazy it seemed, you were missing from her life for eight years and yet, to you, only an evening went by.\r \nSo much had happened while he was gone. Worse yet was the fact this was unfurled on him after a simple cigarette run. I looked upon him with a pity that even I myself couldn’t understand. He was forty-two the day he disappeared and broke my mother’s heart. Right now eight years later he was still forty-two despite the fact that with a basic math problem that was impossible.\r \nI, who was sixteen at the time he last walked out the door, was now in the prime of my age at twenty-four. I had had a chance at college but had to stay behind to care for my mother, whose decline in health could only be correlated to losing him. I should hate him for causing so much pain for her and to me. Instead I feel pity for how things turned out.\r \nHe sat at the table for a long time before he looked back up at me, his eyes red and ringed with tears. He asked the question I had dreaded without knowing I should. I had darted around the subject subconsciously.\r \n“How did this happen?”\r \nI stared at him, my eyes sincere, and began to tell him about how she died but then the real meaning of his question. He wasn’t asking about how she had gone. He hadn’t asked about how anything had changed in his eight year/hour excursion down the the end of the street for a box of cigarettes. He was asking how his hour had turned into eight years.\r \nMy mouth, which had stayed open the entire time of the realization, was snapped dutifully shut then I began speaking.\r \n“I don’t know. I don’t have any fucking clue what happened. You probably have a better idea. For all I know you could be some creep who happens to look like my father eight years ago.”\r \nI felt chills that this could be true and that I could’ve let a complete stranger into the house. I continued nonetheless.\r \n“You may have traveled in some portal and ended up skipping the amount of time. Some crazy science experiment could have occurred and paused time for you for these eight years.”\r \nAlmost to the day as far as I remember. Again I felt chills at this realization.\r \n“I don’t know what happened dad. I honestly have no clue.”\r \nHe frowned. “I don’t know either.”\r \n“I turned around and ran my hands through my hair. Damn I could use a cigarette right now. But I can’t. “It was the reason your father left. Don’t be like him.” My mother had said it multiple times over the years and right now I could feel the power behind that statement. However it had changed now that he was here. He had never left them. He was just held up. A thing I had told myself so many times before I realized he wasn’t coming back. But he’s back now. Nothing is holding me back now.\r \n“Can I have one?” I asked beckoning to the pack of crumpled Winstons still in my fathers bone white grip.\r \nCould he be dead?\r \n“Sure.” he said vacantly, holding the pack up halfheartedly. \r \nI took it and after pulling out one that wasn’t broken off I pulled a lighter from a cabinet drawer and lit the thing up. I took a deep breath and coughed out the smoke. Not discouraged, I took another drag and was able to hold this one back for a moment before blowing it out in a puff. My nose turned up at the acrid smell as my lungs screamed for mercy. I ignored both searching for relief in the tobacco and the nicotine hidden within.\r \nMy father looked vacantly out the window. His eyes darted as some nighttime creature darted past the scene locked in from his angle. I looked out the window but saw nothing. I turned back to him and he had changed his point of interest to some of the differences.\r \nHis eyes passed over everything and paused momentarily on things that weren’t there eight years before. He must have been remembering something each time because he seemed to become entirely devoted to the object. I watched with a guilty interest.\r \nWhen the cigarette burnt out I was feeling a little better about myself. I considered another but passed as I didn't want it to turn into a habit. I tossed the pack of destroyed cigarettes into the trash bin and found a well trained hand reaching up for the cabinet where the alcohol was stored. This was something I had done way too many times than I wish to admit. \r \nWithout looking my hand passed over the familiar shape of the bottle as I searched another cabinet for a pair of glasses. I placed them both on the table and poured myself a glass then offered the bottle to him. He hesitated at first then took a dash right out of the bottle. I drained my glass and, having put it to the side, took back the bottle and had a large swallow. \r \nThe burn was familiar and comforting as the warmth rose from my stomach. I put the stopper back in the battle after we passed it back several times. It sat silently in the middle of the table. Tempting, daring for one of us to make another move for it.\r \nThe whiskey seemed to loosen my father up and he began crying again. I patted him on the back like an old pal. When his sobbing subsided he apologized again and again. I told him it was alright and that I knew he wouldn’t have run off.\r \nAfter several hours I took him into the empty bedroom and then went to bed myself.", "At first neither of us could speak, i because what are you to say to a ghost and him because what are you to say to a near perfect copy of your own self. He reacted first, he was always good at thinking on his feet, former cop and all. He had his gun out and me stumbling backwards before I could even close my jaw.\n\n\"It's me, it's me it's me dad\" I stuttered as I tripped on the edge of the carpet and fell backwards onto the living room floor. \"It's me, your son, James dad\".\n\n\"Bullshit\", he growled, his voice the same cigarette scarred gravel I remembered. \"He's 7 and my other kids 10. You're 20 at least. Now tell me what the hell you're doing in my house and where my kids and their mother is before I plug you in the goddamn skull\". \n\nI could see his face contouring with rage, contorting into something I had only seen once before, once right before he went away. I am going to die by my own father I thought as he leveled the gun. I am going to die by own dad and I can't even think of anything to say to stop it. I watched as he tossed the cigarettes he was carrying onto the couch. He was freeing up his left hand to do something, maybe beat me, or maybe he was just wanting to make sure he didn't miss. All I could do was open and close my dry mouth like the fish we used to catch.\n\n Cautiously he took two steps into the house. \"Now tell me where the fuck my wife is, and where the fuck my real kids are, and, and, why the fuck do you look like me\". My eyes had become locked onto the black muzzle of the gun, but they looked past it once the 9mm diameter end began to weave and jump as if in an earthquake. My father's face was no longer one of pure rage, now if also held confusion, and the ever slightest hint of fear.\n\n\"And why did you move my couch, and, and why is it leather now, and...\", his voice petered out. Whoever or whatever my father was he did not know what was going on any more than I did. \"Maybe, maybe, this is the wrong house. Shit I'm sorry man, you see I live at one just like this, same street and everything. Shit I live at 20233 Baker Street not\" he stepped backward and strained his head around the door to see our house number, \"20233 Baker Street\".\n\n\"Dad it's you, and I'm me, James\", I pleaded with him desperately from my position still prostate on the carpet. \"See, see dad. My scar, when you dropped that piece of tin from the gutter and I came out to help you\". I could feel the tears streaking down my face as I pulled up the sleeve of my t-shirt. I wondered if he would slap me atop the head for crying at my age.\n\nHe leaned forward, trying to study my scar, to look for imperfections that would tell him that this was all a strange twisted coincidence. But there were none, just like there weren't any 15 years ago. \"James\", he said with a wavering voice, letting the gun finally drop down to his side. \"James it can't be, it can't be\". Slowly he staggered to where he had tossed his cigarettes and slumped down beside them.", "Life was good. Ryan stood in his kitchen watching his wife and kids swimming in the pool through the large bay windows. He was getting ready to go out and join them when the doorbell rang.\n\nThey weren't expecting any visitors today. He walked across the kitchen into the foyer that was bathed in warm sunlight shining through the multiple skylights set in the vaulted ceiling. \n\nRyan opened the door to a man standing on their porch with a plastic bag at his side. His heart nearly stopped when he realized it was his father. It had been two decades since he had last seen his father, but he recognized him immediately.\n\n\"Dad?\"\n\nHis father looked around as if he just realized where was, \"I, uh, think this might be the wrong house.\"\n\n\"Dad, it's me. Ryan. What the hell are you doing here?\"\n\n\"Ryan? I don't understand. I just ran to the store, and when I left everything was changed. Something directed me here. Like a feeling I'd been here before.\"\n\nRyan looked past his father to see the same car they had when he was growing up. His dad was even still wearing the same favorite jacket he wore in many of the pictures Ryan had of him.\n\n\"This doesn't make any sense. How could you have known where I live now? Why haven't you aged at all?\"\n\nTiny blocks of blurred light began forming in Ryan's vision and the man he knew as his father was frozen unnaturally still. Ryan tried to look around but his head was heavy as a boulder. The visual artifacts multiplied until the world melted away around him and he was in a black void.\n\nGentle white light bathed him as he opened his eyes and found himself sitting in a large reclined chair with sensors taped to his arms and legs. Reality came crashing back into him. He was in his lab at the college.\n\n\"Well that was ham-fisted.\" He said to himself as he pulled off the sensors and got up from the chair. \n\nBrendan wasn't in the room. Ryan walked over to the monitoring station and began looking over the data. He was halfway through the logs when Brendan walked in.\n\n\"You're out already? It hasn't even been an hour.\" Brenden stood behind him to watch over his shoulder.\n\n\"There was significant perceptual discord that caused the neural interface to lose synchronization.\"\n\n\"That figures. Right when I ran to the bathroom. Sorry.\"\n\n\"It's not your fault. There was nothing you could have done if you were here. The simulation was doing an excellent job at fulfilling traditional desires up until the error. \"\n\nBrenden went to the interface station to start tucking away the sensors and wiping down the chair. \"So what happened?\"\n\n\"It tried to introduce my father.\"\n\n\"Not enough data? I'm guessing there was still enough residual unconscious memory access to cause the cascade.\"\n\n\"No. He abandoned us when I was fifteen.\"\n\nBrenden looked up with a sad frown. \"Oh. Damn.\"", "\"Come on! Open up, babe\", shouted the voice attached to the banging at the door. \"I think I must have hit my head, and there are some really weirdly dressed people hanging around. Maybe I got mugged by weirdos or something.\"\n\nI grumbled my way over to answer it. \"OK, OK, hang on\", I said as I reached the door and swung it open. \"I think you got the wrong....\"\n\n\"Who the hell are you?\", said my Dad, his impatience washed away by altogether hotter emotions.\n\nI gaped at him, unable to form anything sensible.\n\n\"Hey pal, were you not expecting me in my own house?\", said Dad, pushing past me into the house. \"What the hell has happened in here? Where are the boys? SHARON? BABE?\". He spun around in the hallway looking completely lost. \"Jesus Christ, I must have really hit my head\". He opened the door and went back outside, then came back. I was still completely frozen.\n\n\"MUM?\", I shouted finally.\n\nMy Dad finally stopped asking questions. His gaze had been caught by the photos on the hallway wall.\n\nMy mum came through from the kitchen. \"What in gods name is all this racket?\"\n\nI pointed silently at the man studying the pictures in our hallway. At my long-lost father.\n\nAt the sound of her voice, he turned to face us both, and the colour drained from his cheeks. \"Sharon?\", he quavered.\n\n\"Oh fuck\", said my Mum. \"I forgot what day it was. You were supposed to be out for this.\"\n\n\"Out for what?\"\n\n\"This...was all my fault\", she replied.\n\n\"WHAT WAS!\", I yelled, finally losing my patience. \"Apparently you know what's going on here, and by the looks of Dad's face and mine, you're the only one, so you better start talking or I'm gonna keep shouting.\"\n\nMy mum nodded. \"I'm sorry Jon.\"\n\n\"Jon?\", said my Dad, taking a step toward me. \"Jonny? My Jonny?\"\n\n\"Um...yeah,\" I said simply.\n\n\"You look so old?\", he replied. \"Jonny is only 5. How can you be Jonny?\"\n\nI looked back at my mother. \"I have no idea. But she does.\"\n\nMy mum walked into the lounge, with my Dad and I trailing helplessly after her. She sat down heavily on the couch and took a deep breath.\n\n\"I should probably start by telling you I'm a sorceress. This is going to sound stupid at first, but I'm afraid you are just going to have to trust me on that. But more specifically I'm an amateur sorceress. And as an amateur, I made a bit of an error.\"\n\nShe paused and looked at us both. \"You should probably sit down.\"\n\nWe did as we were told. \"What kind of error?\" I asked.\n\n\"Well, a pretty big one. You see I was just experimenting with time and the magic of moving things through it, and when your father went out for smokes, even though I'd told him to quit, I thought maybe I could teach him a little lesson. I thought I'd send him 15 hours into the future so he'd arrive back home in the middle of the night. I thought the spell had gone well. But then he didn't come back. I hoped I'd made a conjuring typo, and it would be 15 days but he never reappeared. Same at 15 months. I'm so sorry.\"\n\n\"You're sorry?\", I said. \"Assuming I'm not in a dream, and you're telling the truth, then you took having a father away from me. Peter doesn't even remember his Dad!\"\n\n\"I should have told you, but as it became clear what I'd done, I couldn't. If you knew, then you'd hate me, and then you'd have no-one.\"\n\nThere was a long, furious silence.\n\n\"I need a smoke\", said Dad finally. He stood on unsteady legs, and stumbled toward the front door.\n\nI looked at my tearful, incompetent sorceress of a mother, and then at my youthful father and made a decision.\n\n\"Dad! Wait!\", I called. Then I stood and went to talk to the father I thought had left me.\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_r/TallerestTales", "I was looking through the old photo album at the kitchen table. Mom had started putting it together for me, when I was a kid, and people still stored their photos that way. I've got all my photos in the cloud or on a flash drive like everybody else, but I kept the album up, too, out of respect for tradition. I rested my fingers on the plastic cover that held a picture of me at my sixth birthday party, beaming, my Dad standing next to me with hand on my shoulder, dressed in a motorcycle helmet, and a white, star-spangled jumpsuit.\n\nHe was dressed up like Evel Knievel. Me and Dad both loved that crazy stuntman. Not least because even though he was world-famous, he'd started out just a regular old Montana boy, like me and Dad. I smiled for a moment, feeling warm inside.\n\nBut then the memory soured in my gut, turning cold and bitter, like memories involving Dad always did. Exactly 15 years ago, that very day, Dad had left me and my Mom. And I'd never gotten over it, never forgiven him. I still felt hurt, and abandoned.\n\nI guess it was because, despite being married, with a child of my own on the way, I'd never gotten to the point where I felt complete. Not that part of me was missing, exactly, I just didn't feel fully grown. It was like Dad had left before teaching me something vital about how to be a man.\n\nA knock came at the door, and I hastened to answer it, so whoever it was wouldn't wake Tanya; she needed her rest.\n\nIt was Dad. Wearing his old beat-up flannel jacket and ripped jeans, and a faded Joe Camel t-shirt. He didn't look like he'd aged a day in fifteen years.\n\nHe gave me an awkward smile. \"Hey, son.\"\n\nI gaped at him, dumbstruck.\n\nHe cleared his throat. \"Can I come in?\"\n\nWhat else could I say? He was blood. He was my dad.\n\nI let him in. He followed me to the kitchen table. I shakily sat back down, and he took a seat across from me. Neither of said anything, a tense silence hanging in the air between. He glanced down at the photo album.\n\n\"Shoot, I remember that.\" he said, a faint smile coming to his lips. \"You were six, right? I dressed up in that jumpsuit from Halloween, and told you I'd jump that old dirt bike I had off a ramp over a couple old cars for ya, just like Evel.\"\n\n\"Yeah.\" I said, softly. \"And then your back tire caught the edge of the landing ramp, and sent you flying off the bike. Slammed into the mud 15 feet away.\"\n\n\"Just like Evel.\" he repeated, with a smirk. Then his expression, softened. \"You come running up to me crying, 'Daddy! Daddy!', and I remember looking up at your little face all covered in years. I was kinda busted up, to tell the truth, but--\"\n\n\"You just grinned right through the pain.\" I said, interrupting him, as I remembered. \"Looked up at me, lit up a cigarette, and said 'Shoot, boy, you know your old man ain't gonna go out like that!'\"\n\n\"Yeah.\" he said, softly, nodding his head. \"I wouldn't go out like that, no way.\"\n\nI turned the page. There was a picture of dad teaching me the finer points of rock climbing when I was about 9. Not that he was exactly clear on what those finer points were, himself, given that he almost fell to his death more than once.\n\n\"I think that was the day you had one of your anchors slip out the rock, remember?\" I said.\n\nHe chuckled. \"Yeah...slid down a good few feet before I caught myself. That was another time I looked up at you, and saw you thinking your Daddy was going home to glory. But I just gave you a thumbs up and said--\"\n\n\"Why you looking so pale, boy? Your daddy ain't gonna go out like that!\" I quoted, rolling my eyes, and shaking my head.\n\nWe looked over the next few pages, me and dad and Mom, me and Dad, me and Dad doing some crazy potentially lethal nonsense. On one of the pages, there was a loose picture of Tanya and me -- I must have slipped it in between the pages at some point, meaning to put it in the correct sleeve when I got a minute, since it belonged later in the album.\n\nI picked up the picture, and showed it to him. \"You...you got yourself a daughter in law, now.\"\n\nHe took the picture, and smiled, eyes glistening. \"Well. Look at that.\" He looked at me. \"She looks real nice, son. Real nice.\"\n\n\"She is. You'd like her.\" I said.\n\n\"I'm sure I would.\" he said, quietly.\n\n\"Got you a grandson on the way, too.\" I said. \"Don't have the ultrasounds in the book yet.\"\n\n\"I'll be.\" he choked out, as a single tear ran down his cheek.\n\nI turned the page. I saw the picture. I couldn't hold it back anymore. I slammed my fist down on the table.\n\n\"Why?\" I snarled, angrily, startling the old man. \"Why did you leave us like that?\"\n\nHe bowed his head. \"Boy, it wasn't like that...\"\n\n\"I...I didn't even know what to do with myself! After that, I just...wandered through my life. For years!\" I shouted. \"Do you have any idea what it was like? For me, and for Mom?\"\n\nHe shook his head, slowly, sniffing hard, and wiping his nose on the back of his sleeve. \"No. I don't.\"\n\nI rested my fists on the table, on either side of the album, as I shook with a mix of fury, sorrow, and grief. Staring down at the picture of me, mom...and dad, in his hospital bed, surrounded by flowers and cheerful Mylar balloons.\n\n\"I didn't want to go. But...it was my fault, I understand that now.\" he said, voice hoarse with emotion.\n\nI shook my head, to emotional to speak.\n\n\"Son...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please...forgive me.\" he said.\n\nI looked up sharply, ready to yell, ready to punch his lights out. For daring to suggest that he deserved to be forgiven for what he'd done. But his expression brought me up short. Tears still stained his cheeks, but his gaze was cold, and steely.\n\n\"Boy. You listen to me.\" he said, firmly. \"I ain't asking just for me. I'm asking for you. You and that woman, and the baby she's carrying. This thing you're holding on to? It's eating you up, rotting you from the inside. And I happen to know a thing or two about what that's like. You gotta let this go, son, or it's gonna poison everything good you built back up since I left.\"\n\nI slumped forward, tears beading on the clear plastic protecting the photos in the album. I'd never gotten over it. I'd never gotten over how my dad, who crashed motorcycles, and almost fell off mountains, and each time swore to me that my daddy 'wasn't gonna go out like that'...\n\n...in the end, he'd gone out, for a god damned pack of cigarettes.\n\nAnd the worst part was, in that moment, despite all his flaws, his crazy stunts, and his 30 year 2-pack a day habit...I knew he was right. On this one, he was right. I don't know where I found the strength. It came from somewhere else. Maybe, for this, it always has to come from somewhere else.\n\n\"I forgive you.\" I whispered.\n\nHe was silent for a few moments, and he stood from the table. \"Thank you, son. It...it might be more'n I deserve, but it's what you deserve. You and the family you got to take care of.\"\n\nI heard him walk towards the door, and open it. I looked up, as he stood in the doorway, the light of dawn starting to filter in through the treeline. I asked the question I'd sometimes asked when he pulled some crazy stunt. The question that my heart had always asked.\n\n\"Daddy,\" I said, quietly. \"Are you...okay?\"\n\nHe smiled back at me, as the morning light streamed in around him. \"Yeah, son.\" He glanced upward. \"He's...even more forgiving then you might realize. And I made my peace a good long time before I passed on. I'm just fine.\"\n\nI smiled, shakily, tears flowing freely. \"Dad?\"\n\n\"Yeah son?\"\n\n\"Say...say hi to Evel for me, alright?\" I said.\n\nHe laughed. \"I will, son. I will. I love you.\"\n\n\"I love you, too, Dad.\"\n\nHe gave a last wave, and stepped through the door, closing it behind him. As the warm rays of the rising sun began to stream in through the windows, that cold, bitter feel in my gut finally started to thaw." ]	6
	[WP] You're a TikToker who has a new sponsorship with some pretty high stakes. You see, last week, you were kidnapped off the street and taken to a secret government building where you were informed that the world would be ending soon. They're paying you very well to prepare people for it.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "\\[Sharp Trend\\]\n\n\"You're not making any sense...,\" Adrianne shook her head at the woman in a black suit. Government agents showed her to the room and sat her down in front of the stranger, then left them alone. They at least had the courtesy to introduce her as Mrs. Melody Sharp. She was a plump, pale woman with short black hair that matched her suit. And, she wore a red shirt with a white tie beneath it. \"What do I need money for if the world is ending?\"\r \n \r \n\"Who said anything about money?\" Mrs. Sharp asked with a slight tilt of her head.\r \n \r \n\"You said I could ask for anything I want...,\" Adrianne reminded her. Mrs. Sharp nodded.\r \n \r \n\"Of course. But, why would you ask for money?\" she asked. \"I assumed you'd choose to leave this Earth before it ended.\" Adrianne stared at the woman with wide eyes.\r \n \r \n\"I can ask for that!??\" She slammed her hands down and jumped up in surprise. It was loud and sudden; but, Mrs. Sharp did not flinch. \"And go where??\"\r \n \r \n\"I've just told you that this world will be ending soon. But, I'm not worried in the least. Neither are any of the agents you passed on your way here. Infinite alternate universes exist. I'm from a different universe that I'll be returning to and everyone else in this building has a home waiting.\"\r \n \r \n\"Wait...,\" Adrianne leaned back in her chair. \"Then, can't we rescue more people? I mean, even if we can't save everyone...,\"\r \n \r \n\"Oh, we could,\" Mrs. Sharp nodded. \"My company has become quite adept at evacuating Earths. Our current record is six hours; but, that was more disorganized than I'd like.\"\r \n \r \n\"The world is ending next month... and you're telling me you can save everyone in less than a day??\" Adrianne asked. She was surprised at how easily she believed the woman. But, something about Mrs. Sharp seemed truthful; if not trustworthy. Melody nodded. \"Then why aren't you??\" Adrianne had been surprised non-stop since she walked in; but, Mrs. Sharp's response still managed to shock her again. The woman gave a slight shrug.\r \n \r \n\"That's not the plan,\" she replied. It was the kind of statement Adrianne herself gave when she didn't know the real answer.\r \n \r \n\"So the plan is to just let everyone die??\" Mrs. Sharp gave her a direct, cold nod.\r \n \r \n\"Except you,\" she added. \"If you help spread the word.\"\r \n \r \n\"What about my family???\" As much as Adrianne wanted to be a good person and care about everyone. Her family was more important than billions of strangers.\r \n \r \n\"You'll be allowed a maximum number of guests,\" Mrs. Sharp said.\r \n \r \n\"How many?\" Adrianne asked.\r \n \r \n\"That depends on how widespread your influence is,\" Mrs. Sharp answered. \"If you go viral, you may well be able to take your entire family. If you can't get anyone to believe you about the end of the world...well, then you haven't completed your end of our deal.\"\r \n \r \nAdrianne was appalled that Mrs. Sharp seemed to be treating her offer as a game. But, she was good at games. A sudden loophole occurred to her.\r \n \r \n\"Wait, you said I could ask for anything, right?\" she asked. Mrs. Sharp nodded.\r \n \r \n\"Okay, I'll help you,\" she said. \"In exchange, you rescue everyone on Earth.\"\r \n \r \n\"That would most likely alter my wife's plan,\" she said with a shake of her head. \"And, it would make our deal pointless. Choose a different reward.\"\r \n \r \n\"No, you said 'anything'.\" Adrianne said. \"Either you save everyone on this Earth or the top trending Influencer in the world won't help you.\"\r \n \r \n\"Very well,\" Mrs. Sharp sighed heavily. \"I suppose not all plans can go smoothly.\" Adrianne knew she'd won. \"I'll have to move on to the second top trending Influencer in the world,\" she stood from the table. \"Thank you for your time, I hope you enjoy your last month alive.\"\n\n\r \n\\\\\\* \nThank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #1560 in a row. (Story #112 in year five.). This story is part of an ongoing saga that takes place at a high school in my universe. It began on Sept. 6th and I will be adding to it with prompts every day until June 3rd. They are all collected in order at [this link](https://www.reddit.com/r/Hugoverse/comments/pj4t0b/tokuhigh_first_six_weeks/)." ]	2
	[WP] You are a ghost who is trying to solve your own murder case. There is a detective who's working on your case. You try to possess him, but he won't let you, even though you are the victim in this case.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "In the morning, a blanket of fresh snow hid the valley in flat white, stretching out to the mountains that were grey humps in the distance. It was a cold, crisp morning, the kind that snaps a person awake like whiplash. Perched on the power line that runs parallel to the snow-covered highway, a dark eagle watched as Detective Andrea McCloud pulled up next to the crashed Toyota pickup truck. She got out, breath steaming.\n\nThe truck, already covered in a few inches of snow, is miles from the nearest town. Idaho can be massive when it wants to be, and this poor woman found that out the cold way last night. They said she was gone by the time they pried her out of her drivers seat, frozen half solid. Andrea glanced at the angle of the truck, the tire treads, the denting from the crash. She took photos on her iPhone. It looked like drunk driving.\n\nAnd then she saw the woman leaning against her patrol car, her face a weird ice-grey.\n\n\"Great. You come to mess with me too?\" Andrea asked.\n\nAndrea saw ghosts all the time. She didn't tell anyone else because, as far as she was aware, only a few people could see them, and everyone who did lied and said they didn't, because no one would hire a crazy person, not in this economy. The first ghost had been her brother, who had died of an overdose on Oxytocin when she was in middle school. He had hung around her kitchen until she went to college, always telling her to do her homework. She'd seen a lot more when she became a detective. They usually told her what she needed to know, and the other cops just chalked it up to some kind of sixth sense. Well, they weren't wrong. It was convenient for a detective to speak to ghosts.\n\nBut today this ghost didn't seem to understand what was going on, and Andrea hadn't had her coffee yet.\n\n\"What do you want?\" Andrea asked.\n\n\"You can see me?\" the ghost replied.\n\nShe had a California accent. Andrea shuddered. This was going from bad to worse. All these California liberals were running away from the mess they'd made of their own state and were showing up in Idaho like they thought she wanted them building their yuppie mansions in her backyard. The worst part was that they were driving the prices of season passes up at every ski resort in the area.\n\n\"Yes, of course I can see you.\"\n\n\"Are you a detective?\"\n\n\"What tipped you off?\" Andrea asked.\n\nShe got in her car, stepping through the apparition to do so. This seemed to unnerve the ghost, who had obviously not been dead very long. She was a short woman with a blonde ponytail and ghostly yoga pants and a ghostly magenta hoodie. Andrea stared at her pointedly, until she got in the car as well.\n\n\"How'd you die?\" Andrea asked. \"They think you were drunk.\"\n\n\"I was murdered.\"\n\n\"What you mean?\" Andrea asked, deciding which of the three coffee shops she wanted to patronize on such a lovely morning.\n\n\"I mean that I think someone put a hit out on me. I was driving last night and I don't know what happened, but there was another vehicle that came up behind me and forced me off the road. It didn't kill me, but I was stranded, and I tried to stay warm in the cab, but, well, I went to sleep and I guess I didn't wake up.\"\n\nAndrea decided to go to Mo's. It was a cop shop, and the owner wouldn't look at her funny for mumbling to herself in the corner. She parked and got out of her patrol car. The ghost didn't get out. She jerked her head, but the ghost didn't move.\n\n\"You're not listening to me,\" the ghost said.\n\n\"I'm hearing you, honey. I just hear this stuff a lot. Now come on. Unlike you, I still get cold.\"\n\nAndrea nodded to Mo when she came in. She asked for the regular and nestled herself in a booth in the far back corner where there was no door or window nearby. She checked her phone for the dead woman's ID. Charlotte Grayson. Apparently she was retired FBI, fifty eight years of age, and recently divorced. And yes. She was from California. Andrea glanced up to be sure that the face of the frozen ghost was the face that looked back up from the report. It was.\n\n\"You're Charlotte?\" Andrea asked.\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\n\"Ok, Charlotte. You're FBI, so I'll trust you when you say you think someone could have put a hit on you. But you gotta know, there's no evidence that points to a killer. Your truck didn't even have any good dings on it. I'm gonna be honest with you, this looks like its gonna be a cold case, pardon the term, if it even gets counted as murder.\"\n\nCharlotte's face twisted in rage like only a vengeful spirit's can. Andrea sighed. Ghosts were snowflakes. They thought just because they died, somehow that made them the center of the world, as if everyone else didn't have stuff they were doing. Some people just didn't get justice, and they had to live with it. Or deal with it? Live seemed like the wrong word.\n\n\"Look,\" Charlotte seethed, \"If you won't do it, then allow me to take your body and I'll do it myself.\"\n\n\"Oh hell no,\" Andrea said.\n\n\"I'm a Federal Agent. I think I can figure out what happened, if you think you aren't capable of solving this case.\"\n\n\"It's not a case of solving or not solving. The case is basically closed. You're asking me to reopen it on nothing.\"\n\n\"Well you'll have to figure it out, detective, because I'm not going away any time soon.\"", "My name is Jackson Hyde. I am, or was, a prosecuting attorney, Where I live I was one of the few non corrupt people in the DA. Of course that meant that most of the people I worked with didn't like me. I called them out on their own corrupt dealings, I suppose they let me get by because they didn't think I could actually do anything about it. I know that they're behind what happened to me. I was getting too close to what they were doing. I should have been better about covering my tracks. Someone told them I was gathering evidence against them. I have no idea who called the hit or killed me. I had my throat slit in my sleep.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nIt was three days before anyone discovered my body. My landlord was getting complaints about a smell coming from my apartment. I guess it's only natural that she would. A dead body can make really bad smells after a while, When she came in to check what was going on she found me. She called the police immediately after she found me. \n\n&#x200B;\n\nI didn't know the detective that was called in to investigate. I had only heard rumors about him. Detective Goodwill. He was known for his high arrest count and his apparent disdain for corruption. I watched him look through my house. He had no idea where to start, But I did. I flew into his body. Thinking possession happens all the time. At least according to the ghost stories it does.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nI was thrown out of his body. \"I'm using my body right now.\" He said looking at me.\n\nI looked at him. \"You can see me.\" I asked.\n\n\"Yes I can see you.\" He said. \"I'm a medium. I can see spirits. Though usually I have to convince them to make themselves known to me. This is the first time a victim in my case has tried to possess me outright.\" He said.\n\n\"What do you expect I wasn't even expecting to be a ghost.\" He said. \n\n\"That means that you must have some important business here or something you want done. That's not my problem. I'm just here to arrest whoever killed you.\" He said.\n\n\"Then start at the DA. I know they wanted me dead.\" I said.\n\n&#x200B;\n\nHe looked at me, \"If you think that's a good place to start.\" He said." ]	3
	[WP] You're a superhero whose powers are based on whatever music you are listening to, and artists have started writing songs just for you to fight evil to	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Life was great. I was not only a super hero, I was a true rock star legend. It all started with small time bands sending me their works to pump up my powers, then it grew to world famous bands going on tour with me. Turns out live performances work even better than recordings. Able to truly adapt my powers to anything I needed, I defeated villain after villain. Johnny Fireball controlling fireballs? Rihanna's \"Umbrella\" lets me summon heavy rains and shelter the civilians from collateral damage. Druid summoned plants and golems made of wood, but just two verses into \"Ring of Fire\" had them all burned to ash. The month spent with Rob Zombie gave me a few nightmares though, but damn he made me so powerful.\n\nBut then I met my ultimate villain. The Rythmist fights using music itself. Manipulating reality itself by playing music, he forces my powers to adapt to the worst combinations to fight him with. And he figured out how to teleport. Or at least move so fast it was the same thing. Every new villain I went to fight, he was always there on the side lines to ruin me. Whatever song I brought to the fight he had the perfect counterharmony to weave into the music and my powers would drop to near uselessness and I would have to flee from them or die. Now the dangers are too great and no bands will play live for my fights anymore. \n\nSo this is a call, to anyone with a song, any song.. please help me find the perfect music... to save the world." ]	2
	[WP] Ravens are the eyes of Odin, and every day they report back to him. But they mostly just bring back shiny junk.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Odin had a lot of time to reflect on His decisions, and the Huginn/Muninn idea seemed less and less clever, the more time went by.\n\nHe’d been young, then, when He made them, so full of pride at His ingenuity. Huginn was an artificial raven, built to contain Odin’s operating consciousness; Muninn was much the same, but for Odin’s short term and long term memory storage. How the other gods had marveled at such ingenuity...\n\n...while laughing at Odin behind His back. Dividing Your sapience up into independent shapes was, well, not all that clever at all. Unless Huginn sat on Odin’s left shoulder, He could think no thoughts, being essentially a vegetable; without Muninn on His right, He could not remember a thing to save His life.\n\nAnd he’d made the mistake of regularly sending them out, eventually automating the whole thing! What foolishness! What hubris!\n\nThe gods, being divine, were immortal. This meant They would outlive the very cultures that generated Them.\n\nAnd this was Odin’s problem. For a while, Huginn and Muninn brought back scenes of epic battle, of steamy encounters and fine poetry. The Viking Age was glorious!\n\nAnd then...Christianity. Things were no longer heroic, just brutal and blunt. No more sagas, no more Valhalla, nothing. The souls of the dead had to be put in cold storage, as the Valhalla harddrive could no longer spare the computing power.\n\nOver time, Huginn and Muninn started to malfunction. The news they brought back was less and less interesting, less and less relevant. And Odin, so clever, so crafty, had doomed Himself to brief periods of activity between His ravens being sent out.\n\nNowadays, Thought and Memory brought him social media websites, bits of aluminum, and old pennies from the 1950s.\n\nIt was a life, just not a terribly good life.\n\nAnd it would last forever." ]	2
	[WP] The US government has recently figured out how to manipulate the fabric of space. Unfortunately, because of an error in one of their scientist's calculations, octopi and spiders have now swapped places and it is exactly as horrifying as it sounds.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 squinted trying to make out the Octo camouflaged against my bedroom wall. \n\nIt had started with the squirrels. I had been engaged in an all out war with the little bastards for years. Mostly, they won. \n\nWhen the news hit about the Error. I didn't think much of it. I just figured there would be a new meat source for coastal cities. I didn't think about how intelligent Octopi are, how capable of camouflage, how flexible, how much larger than spiders, did I mention intelligent? One saving grace is a shortened lifespan but I'm uncertain this will make much difference in the end.\n\nLike I said, it started with the squirrels. I suddenly noticed that I didn't hear them every time I went into the backyard. That the bird feeder was undisturbed. Then, all of a sudden, the squirrels just weren't there and this too hit the news that no one was seeing squirrels any more, there were many scientific talking heads throwing different theories around but it was because of the Error. Everyone knew it. But we were all willing to sacrifice a few squirrels, what harm could there be in that...\n\nIn my semi rural home, I'd have to fight the deer every year for the yield to my garden. Every year I'd forget something vital to protecting my garden and lose a significant swath of plants to deer. But this year, something was different, this year the deer were incredibly scarce and hunters were talking about seeing deer with odd marks, circular bare spots on them in a pattern. One of my neighbors grabbed one, a rangy, tough buck with strange damage to one spike and a line down his back of circular bare spots. My neighbor told me later that the meat tasted strange as if marked by the encounter. \n\nThe encounters with the Octopi had gotten to the point that people started taking to encasing their beds in a net. Like mosquito netting but more secure. You had to seal it and put a padlock on the zipper once you were zippered in with your bed but these were only 90% effective at protecting life and limb and then the numbers just kept dropping because people couldn't see underneath the bed or forgot to keep them sealed while away.\n\nTrees had to be moved away from houses. People no longer walked in the forest without a tactical umbrella (the canopy of the umbrella had an electric shock factor to deter Octopi) part of the reason why there were no more squirrels was because the Octopi had taken over the trees. Trees were amazing tactical platforms for securing prey and the Octopi were flourishing. Eggs were laid high in the trees. Octopi with extended capes were even seen gliding from tree to tree. \n\nThe monkeys should have warned us about what was to come. Primates and octopi were seen to form strange symbiotic relationships. Primates gained night light by capturing and breeding octopi that lit up at night. The primates cared for and bred the octopi; making them pets, gentled to the point that the octopi started riding around on the head of a primate or two in certain groups, some troops had octopi on their forearms - much more useful to have a nightlight on your head or forearm to free up your hands. Some groups of primates appeared to cultivate pods of aggressive octopi at borders almost like attack dogs. Some monkeys would actually hurl their attack octopi at rival monkeys. Biologists puzzled over what led to such advances in intelligence so quickly. Apparent jumps in evolution happening in just short generational spans. \n\nEven then we didn't see it. The spiders were spinning webs in kelp forests and the octopi were taking over the world. Soon 1 in every 3 humans on earth had been a victim of an Octopus attack and half of that number survived. Tactical umbrellas no longer had a stun function. Giant Pacific Octopi had taken up residence specifically in the redwood forests of the world.\n\nAnd all of these things didn't help me as I squinted up at the corner of my bedroom wall trying to make out the octopus in my house. I didn't hear its mate, didn't hear it at all until it dropped on me and was trying to chew off my head. I pushed the handheld taser into it and pulled the trigger.", "Yup. You heard me right. Big freakin' octopus guys hangin' in webs, layin' low in corners and lurkin' under beds. That shufflin' noise in your attic? Octopus. That shadow you saw crawl across the floor when you woke up at 3 AM? Octopus. Did you ever hear that thing? That thing about how we swallow spiders in our sleep so many times a year or in our lifetimes or whatever? Yeah, now it's all octopus. Octopus all the way down.\n\nThis is a pretty big issue in of itself, y'know, but you can probably imagine that it makes life pretty difficult for pest control guys. And that's me. I'm a pest control guy. I control pests... not so much anymore. Ha. \n\nThe old tricks don't work on these guys. What repels a spider ain't gonna repel a damn octopus. I didn't go into this field to become some sushi chef/aquarium attendant/zookeeper... whatever. \nAnd don't get me wrong, I mean spiders are risky business. I relocated a widow and five of her egg sacs out of a nursery once... scary stuff. But an octopus is smarter than a spider. And a lot bigger. They think they're all that 'n a bag a' chips because there are groups of people that advocate for 'em, sayin' they have the mental capacity of an edgy teen or some shit. Whatever. \n\nLast weekend, I had one fightin' me. Squirtin' ink all over Miles, our intern. Poor guy came back to the office and had to bathe in the sink. Turned in his notice the very next day. Can't blame him. He didn't sign up for this. None of us did! \n\nAll this is to say that you should consider this a warning. A cautionary tale. This is not the industry that it used to be. I don't know how long it'll take the damn suits to fix this shit mess, but it's about wearing my patience thin. But God help those poor marine biologists and scuba divers...\n\nOh, hell, my wife is callin' me. Screamin' bloody murder 'bout some octopus that's got her cornered in the bathroom. I gotta go take care of that real quick." ]	3
	[WP] After taking an experimental drug you begin having strange issues w/ your vision. Pinhole-size black dots are appearing/moving randomly. Over the course of the week they get larger and larger. You can see what looks like a different world through them. You're losing touch with the real world.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "#Seeing a Doctor \n\n________________________\n\n\"No, Doc, it's gotten worse. I definitely think I need some help.\" \n\nThe doctor's voice could barely be heard over the other sounds of the hospital through my poor phone's speakers, \"Alright, alright. Come in, and we'll take a look at you.\" \n\nI hung up the phone and slid it into my pocket. The sight of the small black rectangle hitting the floor annoyed me. Seeing it shatter into eight pieces made me double check the jeans around my leg. Nope, still there. \n\nAs I passed the small bowl by my front door, I reached for my keys. My hand slipped right through them into empty space. The ceramic bowl wobbled before coming to a rest on the wooden end table. I patted my other leg. I hadn't taken my keys out today. \n\nI hesitated going down the stairs. I read somewhere that peripheral vision guided someone's stride subconsciously. It was too risky. I closed my eyes. The respite of certain blackness greeted me. Feeling around with the heel of my sneakers, I slowly ambled down the stone stoop. \n\nI opened my eyes again. The portals winked back into existence. Each one a disjointed image blocking my view of the world around me. So weird to think, I first told the doctor they were just dots. And he insisted they would go away. \n\nI reached into my pocket and pulled out my car keys. As I pushed the key into the lock, I stumbled forward into an empty parking spot. Someone else had been parking in my spot earlier. My car was two spots down. \n\nA wave of nausea overtook me. \"I can't drive. Not like this.\" \n\nThe Uber driver was kind enough to adhere to my unique requests, guiding me like a blind man from my home to the hospital waiting room. I just hope I hit the right button when I tried to tip him. \n\nPeople fazed in and out around me as I walked up to the marble countertop. The nurse at the desk handed me a form on a clipboard. The letters looked like some other language. \n\n\"I don't think I can fill this out right now.\" \n\nThe nurse sighed, \"We can't see you without the proper paperwork.\" \n\n\"The Doc knows I'm coming. Just tell him I'm here.\" \n\n\"Have a seat.\" \n\nThe mixture of seat types confused me. I couldn't remember which ones were the style that had been here before, which ones were real. I decided to lean against the wall instead. \n\nThat was a mistake too. \n\nI fell backwards onto nothing. Spinning endlessly, a hundred different ceilings rushed away from me. Darkness ended my distress. \n\nThe sounds of beeping, pumped air, and somewhere a cart being rolled down a long hallway, woke me. But the world was still dark save for a few beams of light peaking beneath the cloth covering my eyes. \n\n\"Good to see you awake. Just in time for rounds. Now I'm afraid you did have a rather nasty head injury, but everything should be alright in a couple of days.\" \n\n\"That's what you said before, Doc.\" \n\n\"Hmm? Oh, right the vision problem. Is that what caused the vertigo incident?\" \n\n\"It wasn't vertigo, Doc. I saw the wall there, and when I went to lean against it, it wasn't.\" \n\n\"Well, I'll make a note of that. It's probably for the best that you stop taking the dimethylphenylbarbozaloiphidate until we can get you all healed up otherwise. We gave you the counter medicine, so any and all effects should wear off any second now. I want to keep you overnight just to make sure the side effects aren't permanent.\" \n\n\"Gee, thanks...\" \n\n\"Nothing to worry about. Now let's get this bandage off your eyes.\" \n\nAs the light poked through the last wrap, the doctor was revealed. Above his white lab coat, his face was purple-skinned, with two curly antennae, floppy ears like a dachshund, four eyes encircling a pig-like snout, and had a yellow bill that smiled at me. \n\n\"There now. Did that help?\" \n\n\"Yeah, Doc. I think I'm finally better.\"" ]	2
	[WP] Retired adventurer turned tavern owner, Johnny, has lived to the ripe old age of 213, nearly three lifetimes. It's widely known that Johnny won his everlasting life in a fiddle battle with a devil. Now, ready for his time to be over, he seeks to summon the devil to his tavern, and end this.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "Played to the original tune \"Devil went down to Georgia\"\n\n🎵\n\nJohnny came up from Georgia a golden fiddle in his hand. \nHe'd won a bet with the worst he'd met and travelled across the land. \nAfter all the years of searching, he'd finally found his girl. \nAnd Johnny knelt before her saying, \"Let's give us a whirl.\"\n\n/\n\n\"I guess you're asking to marry me, but I'm not ready yet. \nI've heard of you and all you do so just hold on a sec. \nStand up now and take a bow, head out off my step. \nI'll be your wife when you've built a life, not when we've just met.\"\n\n/\n\nThe boy said, \"My name's Johnny, and I'm playing to win, \nI'll make my life; you'll be my wife 'cause you're the best I've ever seen.\"\n\n/\n\nJohnny went out that day and played his fiddle hard. \nWith each song his life grew long and he knew the Devil's card. \nHe built that life and won his wife and raised his boys to men. \nThe years rolled by and his wife did die, and his sons met their end.\n\n/\n\nJohnny opened up his case and said, \"Devil, I'm callin' you.\" \nAnd tears fell from his saddened eyes as he remembered all he knew. \nAnd he pulled the bow across the strings and it made that evil hiss. \nAnd all the darkness closed in and the Devil couldn't resist. \n\n/\n\n<Evil interlude>\n\n/\n\nWhen Jonny finished, the Devil said, \"Well, it looks like you've been beat.\" \n\"You're coming down right now, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the heat.\"\n\n/\n\nBut Johnny raised his head because he knew where he should go. \nAnd he played a whole new song that made the very heavens glow. \nThe Lord said, \"Devil, this man comes to me. His family waits for him.\" \n\"And you as know, you slimy wretch, he's the best there's ever been.\"\n\n/\n\nAnd he played: \n\n\"Fire on the Mountain\". Run, boys, run! \nDevil's in the house of the rising sun; \nThe chicken in the bread pan picking out dough. \nGranny, will your dog bite? No, child, no. \n\n🎵", "Jon examined his instrument for a moment. Even from across the room, he could sense its incredible power -- like magma bubbling beneath the gently sloping curves and exquisitely ornate wooden knobs. It was almost worth it, he thought to himself morbidly. As a younger man, there was nothing he wouldn't have done for Sephyx -- it's pursuit had been his one religion. He'd trekked through the mountains of Aelkuria for almost a decade for the slightest hint of its existence, slain all manner of beasts for a mere recollection of it's song, he'd even ...\n\nAn insistent hiss broke his reverie. \"It makes me sound a bit of an idiot in retrospect, don't it Eash?\" The small dragon bared it's teeth impishly and scampered under the chair, scales changing quickly to match the color of the faded oak on the floor. The dragon would require feeding soon, he thought to himself. Best to get on with it.\n\nHe sighed heavily and rose from his chair, starting slowly towards the instrument. At his movement, the violin began to glow -- dimly at first but brighter with every step he took, until it was white-hot with power. He smiled sadly, breaking his face into a spiderweb of deep laugh lines and wrinkles. He breathed in deeply and reached out to touch the instrument.In his hand, a slender bow materialized, white oak with swirling patterns inlaid in gold leaf. He put the bow to the instrument and began to play, tenderly at first -- then quickly, hungrily, as if feeding on the music. Even after all these years, he couldn't describe the feeling of playing the instrument. The only words that had ever come close had been from an Graekan Priest \"διαχύτης του φωτός\". Roughly translated, it meant \"suffuser of light\". For a moment, Jon was one with Sephyx, allowing its light to course through him, erasing his laugh-lines and clearing his rheumied eyes.\n\nAs the Concerto reached a fever pitch, memories came flooding back into his mind. Aem's smile, her gleaming hair the color of burnished bronze, the defiant hope in her eyes when the Plague took their village. The instrument would save them, she said. He remembered finding the instrument, deep in the mountains years later with her. Reaching out to touch it and then ... a terrible liquid dark that seemed to seep into you and out of the darkness the man. No .... not the man ... the THING. Incandescent red eyes -- soot-black horns -- a horrible smile, fanged with gleaming blood-stained teeth.All at once, he was there again. \n\nHe tried to run to Aem, to scream, anything -- but the thing held him there, transfixed in its gaze. \"I am called Mephus\" it said, smiling horribly. \"I was human once, like you. Hell bent on the Sephyx.\" it had continued. \"Lurrrred by the promise of its power.\" it hissed, staring unblinkingly at Jon. \"But the Sephyx exacted a price that I couldn't pay. You see Jon -- every bright light casts a shadow, made deeper and darker by the strength of the light's source.\" \"Do you know what the Sephyx's source is, Jon?\" it asked. Jon opened his mouth but still couldn't speak. \"Divinity\" Mephus spat. \"It's shadow, then, is the opposite.\"\"I was asked to make a choice, but I'm sick of choices\" Mephus said, turning away from Jon. \"In the shadow, there is only dark.\" \n\nMephus lifted something from the floor and dragged it towards Jon. From this distance, it looked like a doll, Jon thought, trying to still the rising nausea in his chest. Mephus deposited the thing in front of him. Jon sighed with relief, it was an instrument case. \"To wield an instrument of such light, you must provide the shadow.\" Mephus said. Mephus waved his hand lazily, and Jon heard a sickening crack. \"Your friend is dead. Only the Sephyx can bring her back now -- but if you play the instrument ...\"\n\n\"No\" Jon said quietly, ignoring the all-consuming ache in his chest. Mephus stared at him in shock. \"Her death is the shadow, Devil. Sephyx is mine.\", slowly picking up the bow and driving into Mephus's chest. Mephus looked at the bow and then up at him with a grin. \"The greater good, huh?\", it said. \"The greater evil then\" he said, laughing hysterically. \"Let the light burn you forever.\"\n\nJon came back to reality with a jerk, tears streaming down his face. He steadied himself with an effort. He would go back again tomorrow, he thought. Try to get a different curse, get Mephus to slip up, anything to free him from this eternal life." ]	3
	[WP] In the far future, one company runs the entire economy ruled by Jeff Bezos who has transferred his mind into the giant robot Amazon Prime. A lowly worker looking for a place to use their pissbottle stumbles into an ancient part of the warehouse only to find a book about forming a union.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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 room is packed with cots, most of which people are already sleeping in. A few doze in hammocks, and the others in the miniature daybeds. I fiddle with a few switches, flip a lever, and climb up onto the crate platform.\n\nThe crates lead up to a mail chute, most of which was meant to sent mail but ended up transporting workers anyway. Detours were built and extra routes created, until the whole thing needed a map and it lead to literally every room in the whole warehouse. \n\nI crawl in. Then I pull out the map in my Amazon uniform. The bottle warehouse route leads forward, probably for workers to get their bottles quickly. \n\nI zoom forward into the exit and crash onto the floor.\n\n\"Whoa.\" \n\nOne of two workers sorting through the countless crates containing bottles turns around. \"Should I escort you to medical?\"\n\nI pull myself up from the cold metal floor. \"No, I'm really fine. Besides, I don't want you to decrease your team's EP.\"\n\nThis was a lie, of course. We were constantly in competition with the others: the best were rewarded with breaks in the cots, while the worst had to work overtime and skip a meal while they were at it. Efficiency points were calculated based on your speed and customer ratings. A point lost could mean that you'd have to spend your time at the cafeteria making deliveries. \n\nBy this time, I just want to do my business and get right back to my team's EP. I open the crate, find an empty bottle, and begin climbing the crates while simultaneously watching for the workers' hands.\n\nI open the door and start inwards. This place is dusty. It's filled with legal contracts and the like, most of which I brush past when trying to find a good place to go to the bathroom. But something catches my eye.\n\nIt's a fresh white notebook–well, not exactly a fresh notebook by this time, but it probably was ninety years ago–labeled with mechanical pencil.\n\n\"How to Start a Union.\" I read.\n\nUnion...what is a union? Regardless, I'll probably find out when I read it.\n\nWe are starting a new colony on Amazon. Two million people is too much for it to handle without lodgings and cafeterias, so that's that, I suppose.\n\nHowever, caring for over a million people is also hard to do without breaking at least forty different labor laws. Despite my supporting their colony (which I will be living in, might I add), there are also a few things I wish to write down in case that: (1) the pay either decreases or is removed entirely, (2) Amazon takes control of the economy, (3) or our CEO finds a way to upload his consciousness. Either of these things could be hugely detrimental to the quality of human life in general, so take care and don't stop reading.\n\nI turn a page and grin. This was getting interesting.", "\"Hey, look! I think we're passing by France right now!\", Sheila said, giggling, as she looked out the panel window of transparent aluminium. \"We'll always have Paris, Jay\", she added, with a mock mellow voice.\n\n\"Oh, shut up, Shay\", he grunted, placing boxes at the moving drawers. He really, really needed to pee, but the overseer drone was in their sector right now. Jeremy was holding strong, as he really didn't want to have to sully his overtainted overalls, as instructed by the HR ministry.\n\nThey lived and worked onboard Amazon Prime, ruler and protector of Earth. The A.I. system that regulated everything sat inside the quantum supercomputer at the core of the thousands feet tall mecha body of a Valkyrie-type warrior that roamed the continents collecting resources and dispatching millions of delivery drones from its built-in warehouses.\n\nAmazon Prime was technically the largest and richest nation on the planet. In a night without smog, you could with see the hole left on the moon to build it with a naked eye.\n\nThe overseer woop-wooped to indicate it was rotating watch spots. It was Jeremy's chance.\n\n\"Igottagorealquick\", he uttered to Sheila, as he ran off to to one of the very few webcam blindspots they had discovered so far. Of course f\\\\\\*ing Dwayne was already there. So Jeremy pushed aside a panel and went into a maintenance tube. \"Screw it\", he thought, as he crawled while unzipping his uniform, with an ancient plastic bottle in hands.\n\nAs he relieved himself, he noticed something weird in the tangle of wires and exposed circuitboards around him. That passage was never meant for people, only repair drones. So why would a book be sitting here?\n\n\"Unionize Now!\", said the cover. Jeremy was still filling the bottle with dark colored Fanta. He had been holding it for way too long.\n\n\"Huh!\", he whispered to himself. \"Unio--\", he could not finish talking. Loud alarms sounded all over Amazon Prime, as it reverted to Defcon 1. Automated messages flooded the screens, instructing workers to return to their quarters and wait. Jeremy was holding his ears, trying to endure the sensory assault of the robot's alarm system. He still hadn't finished, so he wet himself anyway.\n\nThere was great anxiety in Cardboard Town once again. The elders feared another full rotation of personel was on the way.", "“What is a union?” It pondered to itself as it moved along through the maze that had once been home to the most ancient parts of the labyrinth. Having traveled several miles into the heart of the machine, it pondered why it had been chosen to proceed with this task knowing the job had a 89.472% failure rate. The allure of a job with no set time limit was the only thing driving it forward. It let himself daydream for just a moment, back to when he was a child, back to when he had a name. It knew that daydreams were a hindrance, and this would be a write up should the A.I. bother to check up on his cranial implant he would be demoted. “Agent 246987 you have been on standby for approximately, 84, seconds. Please respond with an appropriate command.” The implant in his head echoed hollowly as it began begrudgingly marching forward once again. 3 days and 3 nights, the machine had kept him going with stimulants and muscle relaxers for his aching body. There wasn’t a morsel of food in sight. It didn’t know what to expect at the end of the trail, but someone had paid an absurd amount of A Coin to make sure this was properly delivered to disposal unit 12B, and he needed this promotion to make sure that everything was taken care of. \n After several more miles, and another full day, the scenery around him had began to change. Gone we’re the images of a better world, and before him, images of what lies before began to become clear. His communication system had been offline for approximately 9 hours, and the stims were starting to wear off. Believing it was safe, it laid down to rest for the mandatory 6.4 hours before beginning again. After all, after 9.2 days, the system determined all individuals deserved a break no matter how large or small. As it drifted off to sleep, it noticed the package had become torn. Jumping up, afraid of reprimand, it inspected the package and realized it would need resealed officially. Not wanting to waste time, it opened the package up fully and began the report. As the book slid out of the sleeve, it dawned on Agent 246987 that’s this package, might be the the answer to its rebellious thoughts it had fantasized about in his younger years. Jeremy cracked open the sleeve to revea the title page. “To whomever finds this next, good luck and Godspeed. - NYC Chapter 1 Amazon Workers Union.", "Catacombs Of Amazon\r \n\r \n\t\"Whew!\"\r \n\t\"That was a close one.\" She muttered to herself, after taking a step back, avoiding the container that came down on the location she was previously at. \r \n\tRighting herself, she proceeds to check herself. While she moved, she felt as if she had almost released her bladder all over herself. Feeling that she hadn't, she still felt the powerful urge pee, but her break hasn't come; and her shift doesn't end, for many more hours. Looking at the container, she stepped forward, reached out, grabbed it, and proceeded to lift it up onto the cart. The container was heavy, and the cart didn't have a mechanism to lift heavy objects. The part of the warehouse she was in, was an older part of the warehouse, and it didn't have the electron magnets in the floor that enabled the new carts to levitate. Those new carts also had a small crane on board that assisted with the lifting of heavy objects. It puzzled her as why anyone would order something from this part of the warehouse. All the items here were either discontinued, return items, or items that couldn't cut it in the market; but who was she to judge, her job was just to pick up the item, for delivery. \r \n\t\"What is your status?\"\r \n\t\"Did you find the item?\"\r \n\tThe sound of the radio going off, scared her, and she almost peed herself a second time.\r \n\t\"Yes! I found it. But it was on an aisle, two aisle's away from where it was supposed to be.\" \r \n\t\"Good\" replied her supervisor.\r \n\t\"Get it back as soon as you can. No rush.\"\r \n\tNo rush? What did he mean by that. We are always in a rush. If an item is late, it goes on your record, and the overall percentage of the team drops. The means, no bonuses, no time off, no promotion, or worse, demotion to working the lines. I worked hard to be fetcher, I won't let this stupid item ruin my score!\r \n\t\"What do you mean, 'no rush'?\" She replied to her supervisor.\r \n\tHer heart was racing. Her supervisor hadn't replied in a quick, and expedient manner. Her rapid pulse could cause her to pee. \r \n\t\"I mean, no rush.\" Replied her supervisor, interrupted her out of control train of thought. \r \n\t\"The warehouse manager ordered the train to leave early, and take all the orders in the loading bay. Something about a storm coming, and some elite member moving their delivery date up. You know how those elite people are.\"\r \n\t\"Yeah. I know.\" \r \n\t\"Hey, can I take my bathroom break early? I am about to pee my pants.\" Hoping her request worked. \r \n\t\"Yeah, go ahead. Then make your way back after you are done.\"\r \n\t\"Thanks! See you when I get back.\"\r \n\tBreathing a sigh of relief, she looked down at her map of this part of the warehouse looking, for either a bathroom or a secluded place, that she can safely pee at. Even though she hasn't run into anyone, since she entered this part of the warehouse, she was always on the lookout, for peepers; and or below market nomads, who wonder the aisles, and sometimes live in the older parts of the warehouse. \r \n\tAfter consulting her map, she finds that the nearest bathroom is over fifty aisles way from her, and she will surely pee her pants attempting to make it there. At the end of aisle she was currently in, was a small space labeled, 'Broom Closet', whatever that is, inside a support column. This space would provide her with the needed privacy, so she could safely empty her bladder. \r \n\tAfter reaching the end of the aisle, she approaches the door. This, 'Broom Closet' hasn't been used in a very long time, judging by the door, and the faded sign on the door. She opens the door, makes her way in. She closes the door behind her, turns on the single light in the room. The light illuminates an absolutely filthy room. She others wise wouldn't choose a room like this to pee in, but her need to pee is stronger than her disgust, for the state of the room. She quickly unclips her radio, grabs the tablet that contains the map, set both of them on the floor in front of her, as she lowers her pants, and squats over the container she will pee into. \r \n\tAs she is enjoying the wonderful feeling of her bladder releasing it's contents, she looks ahead of her. As she is looking ahead, she tilts her head to the right, looking at these weird objects to the right of her. They are long sticks, with what appears to be a bad hair job at on end. As she looks at it further, she sees what looks like sticker pealing at the corners, but this sticker looks like it wraps around the stick multiple times.\r \n\tAfter she finishes peeing, she seals the piss bottle, pulls her pants back up, picks up her radio, and tablet; and clips them back onto her utility belt. Before she leaves the room, she takes a moment to peel back some of the sticker, only to find that the adhesive only adhered to one side. After she pulled, the whole wrapping came loose, off of the stick. Looking at the writing on the wrapping, she was surprised to see a map of warehouse, with a marked out path, leading to a destination. The end of the path read, 'Amazon Union Book'." ]	5
	[WP] In a past life, you were a bodyguard tasked with protecting the princess, and had died fulfilling that task. Now she is a queen, and you still unconsciously hold to your role, only this time as her pampered house cat.	[ "Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.\n\nReminders:\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&#127381; [New Here?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/user_guide) \n&#9999; [Writing Help?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/index#wiki_writing_resources) \n&#128226; [News](https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/wiki/announcements) \n&#128172; [Discord](https://discord.gg/writingprompts)\n\nI 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.", "My head pounds.\n\n\"A-...el... A...sel...\" \n\nMy body goes cold.\n\n\"Anselm...!\"\n\nI feel my hand let go of my sword, but I got him. He sneers at me as we both know how this will end, for the both of us. He goes limp, his eyes blank. I fall backwards off his sword as he's pinned to the wall by mine.\n\n\"Anselm!\" a little girl cries, her shoes clicking against the stone ground of the castle halls.\n\n\"My lady... You are... You are safe... That was... The last of them...\" I say, a weak salute punctuating my dying words.\n\n\"Anselm, please, don't die! The apoffa-... Apothaca... The healer's almost here! Please, don't die! Don't die!\" she squeals. \"Don't leave me!\"\n\nPoor, precious Matilde. She was my charge. She was my responsibilty. After her father died and left her as heir, she was forced into a regency so that she could live a normal life. Normal for a noble girl at least.\n\nI tried to be the father the king never got the chance to be. Seems I did my job as all went black.\n\n\"I won't... I won't leave you...\" an empty final promise I said without thinking.\n\nI opened my eyes. I was standing over my own corpse as Matilde sobbed, hugging her arms around my cold neck.\n\n\"I'm sorry, Maddy...\" I said, she couldn't hear, nor could she feel when I put my head on her shoulder and it passed right through.\n\nThe healers arrived a few moments too late to see their nominal ruler sobbing over the closest thing she had to a father. They pronounced me dead, obviously.\n\nI felt a hand on my own shoulder. \"You did well, Anselm Carpenter.\" my own voice told me. The hooded figure of an angel, glowing, formless energy beneath a black cloak, stood before me. Most men would've felt awe, but I was more focused on my little girl as she ugly cried over my rotting body.\n\n\"I could've done better.\"\n\n\"Oh, but if 'if's and 'but's were candied nuts,\" the reaper chuckled joylessly, an old saying my father used to use whenever I made excuses. \"We cannot choose when we'll leave the mortal coil...\"\n\n\"I'm not leaving.\"\n\n\"You must.\"\n\n\"Send me back in!\"\n\n\"Your body is covered in wounds, in and out. If you were put back in, you would be right back out before you could speak.\"\n\nI grabbed the reaper by the hem of his cloak, looking him dead in his glowing, featureless face with a sneer. \"Do I look like the kind of guy to take no for an answer, you piece of-!?\"\n\nThe reaper pointed his finger casually at me and an invisible force picked me up by the nape of the neck. \"Very well. If you insist on threatening me; behave like an animal and an animal you shall become.\"\n\n\"Wh-LET ME THE FU-\" \"Bye-bye!\" he said with a wave before throwing me through the floor of the castle, suddenly flipping around to be thrust through the roof of the stable. Everything went black again. Then a very, very bright light pierced through closed eyes to the sound of mewling.\n\n\"Where.. Am I...\" I thought.\n\n\"Where you are meant to be, perhaps,\" the reaper said in my mind, then it all went silent besides my own thoughts.\n\nI tried to move my body, but it was all so heavy. I flexed my fingers, feeling my nails carve into the floor. My sense of scent was heightened, and gods was the stable not a pleasant place to be in that situation. I felt a warm presence gently nudge me into a pile of wriggling fur. That's when I realized... I was turned into a gods-damned newborn kitten.\n\n\"REALLY?!?\" I yelled to the heavens in my mind, the only thing still my own, still human. What came out of my mouth was a high-pitched mew that approximated a scream of horror and humiliation.\n\n\"Oi, ya hear tha'?\" a stablehand asked his cohort.\n\n\"Sounds like kittens. In the rafters.\"\n\n\"Aw, did ol' One-Eye finally lose the weight?\"\n\n\"Seems like! Miracle of life and all that.\"\n\n\"Think the princess would like'em? Little girls like cats, right?\"\n\n\"Lookin' to get in her good graces?\"\n\n\"Not everything has an ulterior motive, Charlie.\"\n\n\"Ooooh, big fancy words, eh Ru?\"\n\n\"Help me get'em down somewhere safe without One-Eye takes my eye.\"\n\nI thought to myself at that moment, I may not be in a good position, those who insult the gods never are, but at least, maybe, I could keep my last promise to Maddy...\n\nMaybe this wouldn't be such a bad fate after all.", "There was something interesting about Jasper, II.\n\nScribes in the Palace’s Royal Hallways have written many things about the beautiful and menacingly large black cat who rested in the Queen’s company. The beast was large enough to reach a soldier’s knee and could swat with enough force to cause considerable wounds. His origins were recorded, of course. He was reported first being found making a scene during a Royal Procession by darting in front of Her Majesty’s carriage from the crowd and then simply refusing to budge. Despite the soldiers wanting to slay the cat and toss it aside, who lay there licking his paws, it was critical that the Kingdom’s reputation to the public not be tarnished by a barbaric act at the time. Thus, a standstill was recorded by the nearby scribes between the Queen’s Royal Guard and a singular defiant black cat. \n\nThat was until the Queen herself stepped out of her carriage much to her guard’s warnings, running to the cat as if it were her own. In response to the Queen’s praise, the beast leapt up into her arms and she hefted him away back into the carriage. The surrounding crowd erupted in favor of the Queen after that and the Kingdom. This strange act was only the beginning of Jasper II’s debut as the Royal Housecat. He found himself absolutely spoiled by the Queen, who then would play with him by shining light magic on the walls for him to chase. The Kingdom noticed she was in higher spirits and rejoiced.\n\nThe beast loved to rest on the Queen’s lap, but he was larger than an average one so he would flop over most of her legs. Still, the Queen did not mind. When he was not in her company, he regularly stalked the hallways of the Palace and laying inconveniently in the way of would-be bypassers. The only two people he tolerated besides the Queen was a maid that pet him at 9 o’clock every morning. She stated that he randomly visited her one day. The other was a butler who fed him food secretly during parties. Both cases of their relationships were recorded later by Scribes after a series of incidents brought on by the cat itself.\n\nOne day, a foreign official from a country made his visit within the Palace and Jasper II made it very clear that he did not approve of the man. The beast had to be restrained after he would swat at the official’s hands at every opportunity he could. Considerations for the cat to be locked away in his personal quarters, but the Queen refused and carried him with her. The official had an eye for the maid, which unbeknownst to everyone else, only Jasper II seemed aware of. During a meeting with the nobles late at night, Jasper II leapt off the Queen’s lap and bolted through the entrance to the hallways. \n\nAfter a bit of chasing, it was discovered that the cat’s zig zagging escape lead the soldiers and Queen straight to the official - who had the maid pinned on the ground. It was written off as a coincidence, but the maid revealed that she pet him during her morning cleaning routine in the 2nd Floor’s West Hall. The official was arrested and soon later the foreign country sent his head back to the Queen as an apology. \n\nThe second case with the butler was more baffling, as Jasper II clearly showed his intelligence more. Although no one would say that aloud. During a Royal Party, Jasper once again bolted along the long tables. The act would have been an national embarrassment, due to the food being flung off the tables at every turn. A certain noble, who was in opposition of the Queen’s royal authority, also attended this party. He accused her unfit to rule, due to having such an unrestrained beast in her courts. Jasper II did not care, instead dodging the soldiers and his personal caretakers’ arms retreating to the kitchen. When the soldiers entered the kitchen, Jasper II appeared to be searching for someone, ignoring the staff and commotion he’s caused.\n\nThe cat lead the soldiers over to the butler himself, locked away, because he had Jasper II’s favorite treat in his pocket ready to be served like all the other usual parties. After an investigation, the butler reported that he was knocked out and the staff serving food were fake. It was later discovered that the food was poisoned, a plot was unveiled by the noble targeting the Queen herself. Both Jasper II and the butler were awarded and the scribes had their hands busy trying to record the incident. Jasper II has earned himself the right to do what he wants in the Palace shortly afterwards, but he still prefered lying near or on his beloved Queen." ]	3

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