#mastoprompt — Public Fediverse posts

Follow it backward past the scrubs, past the ward, past mercy:
it was warmth beading from skin hidden deep in the burrow.
It meant only this: keep the small mouth fastened to the world.
Much later, we gave the word a uniform.
And somewhere behind a utility door,
nurture learned its own hunger.

#MastoPrompt
#nurse
#writing
#creativewriting
#smallstories
#paleopoetics
#betrayal
@stevencudahy

Seen & Unseen

6-link #Rengay
(C) Paul David Mena @extraspecialbitter & Nara Moore @NaraMoore

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #thingstowriteabout #bread #MastoPrompt #vssdaily #Celebration #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真 #Wedding #Ancestors #Food

Seen & Unseen

6-link #Rengay
(C) Paul David Mena @extraspecialbitter & Nara Moore @NaraMoore

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #thingstowriteabout #bread #MastoPrompt #vssdaily #Celebration #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真 #Wedding #Ancestors #Food

Seen & Unseen

6-link #Rengay
(C) Paul David Mena @extraspecialbitter & Nara Moore @NaraMoore

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #thingstowriteabout #bread #MastoPrompt #vssdaily #Celebration #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真 #Wedding #Ancestors #Food

Seen & Unseen

6-link #Rengay
(C) Paul David Mena @extraspecialbitter & Nara Moore @NaraMoore

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #thingstowriteabout #bread #MastoPrompt #vssdaily #Celebration #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真 #Wedding #Ancestors #Food

Seen & Unseen

6-link #Rengay
(C) Paul David Mena @extraspecialbitter & Nara Moore @NaraMoore

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #thingstowriteabout #bread #MastoPrompt #vssdaily #Celebration #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真 #Wedding #Ancestors #Food

••⋅☾ #片歌 ☽⋅••

Nightingales
Sweet song upon the dusk☽⋅••
Suffer not they sigh

••⋅☾ #Katauta ☽⋅••

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoet #MastoPrompt #Nurse #Birds #Nightingale #DailyHaikuPrompt #Dusk

••⋅☾ #片歌 ☽⋅••

Nightingales
Sweet song upon the dusk☽⋅••
Suffer not they sigh

••⋅☾ #Katauta ☽⋅••

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoet #MastoPrompt #Nurse #Birds #Nightingale #DailyHaikuPrompt #Dusk

••⋅☾ #片歌 ☽⋅••

Nightingales
Sweet song upon the dusk☽⋅••
Suffer not they sigh

••⋅☾ #Katauta ☽⋅••

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoet #MastoPrompt #Nurse #Birds #Nightingale #DailyHaikuPrompt #Dusk

Sea-Green Boat

6-link #Rengay
(C) Paul David Mena @extraspecialbitter & Nara Moore @NaraMoore

Illustration: #TripToTheMoon1902 #OwlAndThePussyCat

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #MastoPrompt #frontier #Tanka #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真

Sea-Green Boat

6-link #Rengay
(C) Paul David Mena @extraspecialbitter & Nara Moore @NaraMoore

Illustration: #TripToTheMoon1902 #OwlAndThePussyCat

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #MastoPrompt #frontier #Tanka #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真

Sea-Green Boat

6-link #Rengay
(C) Paul David Mena @extraspecialbitter & Nara Moore @NaraMoore

Illustration: #TripToTheMoon1902 #OwlAndThePussyCat

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #MastoPrompt #frontier #Tanka #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真

Sea-Green Boat

6-link #Rengay
(C) Paul David Mena @extraspecialbitter & Nara Moore @NaraMoore

Illustration: #TripToTheMoon1902 #OwlAndThePussyCat

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #MastoPrompt #frontier #Tanka #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真

Sea-Green Boat

6-link #Rengay
(C) Paul David Mena @extraspecialbitter & Nara Moore @NaraMoore

Illustration: #TripToTheMoon1902 #OwlAndThePussyCat

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #MastoPrompt #frontier #Tanka #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真

Confessions of a Flowering Fern

6-link #Rengay
(C) Paul David Mena @extraspecialbitter & Nara Moore @NaraMoore

Image (C) Nara Moore 2026 - Edmonds Marsh, Washington

Some elements are from the original book illustrations.

#DailyHaikuPrompt 9/3 #Slendid 9/4 #Fern #Reckoning #InkMine #Marsh #MastoPrompt #Grumbles #WindInTheWillows #WashingtonState #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真 #UrbanPhotography #都市写真

Confessions of a Flowering Fern

6-link #Rengay
(C) Paul David Mena @extraspecialbitter & Nara Moore @NaraMoore

Image (C) Nara Moore 2026 - Edmonds Marsh, Washington

Some elements are from the original book illustrations.

#DailyHaikuPrompt 9/3 #Slendid 9/4 #Fern #Reckoning #InkMine #Marsh #MastoPrompt #Grumbles #WindInTheWillows #WashingtonState #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真 #UrbanPhotography #都市写真

Confessions of a Flowering Fern

6-link #Rengay
(C) Paul David Mena @extraspecialbitter & Nara Moore @NaraMoore

Image (C) Nara Moore 2026 - Edmonds Marsh, Washington

Some elements are from the original book illustrations.

#DailyHaikuPrompt 9/3 #Slendid 9/4 #Fern #Reckoning #InkMine #Marsh #MastoPrompt #Grumbles #WindInTheWillows #WashingtonState #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真 #UrbanPhotography #都市写真

Wind's Choice

••⋅☾ #俳句 ☽⋅••

Nimble wind selecting
Grumbles at the choice ☽⋅••
Hummingbirds treble note

••⋅☾ #Haiku ☽⋅••

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #Wss366 #treble #MastoPrompt 9/3 #nimble 9/4 #Grumble #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真 #UrbanPhotography #都市写真 #Flowers #FlowerScrolling

Wind's Choice

••⋅☾ #俳句 ☽⋅••

Nimble wind selecting
Grumbles at the choice ☽⋅••
Hummingbirds treble note

••⋅☾ #Haiku ☽⋅••

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #Wss366 #treble #MastoPrompt 9/3 #nimble 9/4 #Grumble #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真 #UrbanPhotography #都市写真 #Flowers #FlowerScrolling

Wind's Choice

••⋅☾ #俳句 ☽⋅••

Nimble wind selecting
Grumbles at the choice ☽⋅••
Hummingbirds treble note

••⋅☾ #Haiku ☽⋅••

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #Wss366 #treble #MastoPrompt 9/3 #nimble 9/4 #Grumble #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真 #UrbanPhotography #都市写真 #Flowers #FlowerScrolling

Wind's Choice

••⋅☾ #俳句 ☽⋅••

Nimble wind selecting
Grumbles at the choice ☽⋅••
Hummingbirds treble note

••⋅☾ #Haiku ☽⋅••

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #Wss366 #treble #MastoPrompt 9/3 #nimble 9/4 #Grumble #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真 #UrbanPhotography #都市写真 #Flowers #FlowerScrolling

Wind's Choice

••⋅☾ #俳句 ☽⋅••

Nimble wind selecting
Grumbles at the choice ☽⋅••
Hummingbirds treble note

••⋅☾ #Haiku ☽⋅••

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #Wss366 #treble #MastoPrompt 9/3 #nimble 9/4 #Grumble #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真 #UrbanPhotography #都市写真 #Flowers #FlowerScrolling

Before throat learned the air, I grunted water.
Muscle worried bladder; bone complained to bone.
The sea took my small displeasure
and carried it beyond flesh.
Four hundred million years later,
it lives in your low wordless complaint.

#MastoPrompt
#grumble
#writing
#smallstories
#paleopoetics
@stevencudahy

••⋅☾ #俳句 ☽⋅••

Crosswalk watch
The cars burr by
killers on wheels

••⋅☾ #Haiku ☽⋅••

••⋅☾ #俳文 ☽⋅••
An observation, as a line of #cars whizzes by a major crosswalk.
••⋅☾ #Haibun ☽⋅••

••⋅☾ #ものく ☽⋅••

Arrogant youth steps into the street

••⋅☾ #Monoku / #Monostich ☽⋅••

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #PoetryOnTheFly #MastoPrompt #burr #Safty

1/X thread 🧵

- Do not respond to this thread. -
Please mention me for further additions/corrections

List of clickable writing, reading & creative related prompts via their hashtags.

In English

#EroticMusings

#MastoPrompt

#PennedPossibilities

#ScribesAndMakers

#TimeTravelAuthors

#WordWeavers

#WritersCoffeeClub

In German

#BücherSonntag

#PhantastikPrompts

Unregular ones (in German)

#Femmeschwelle

#MärchenMärz

Discontinued ones (in English)

#WritingWonders

___

#writing

"You're right, this is amazing stuff!" The werewolf said, an intoxicated look on their face. They sat halfway - human shape with claws and fangs out - a red drop trickling down the corner of their mouth.

"I'm glad you finally understand," the vampire giggled and picked up the bottle. "Here, have some more."

The door smashed open and several humans entered, armed with silver daggers and wooden stakes.

Their leader shouted "What is the meaning of this? Are you teaching the werewolf to drink blood?!"

The vampire calmly refilled the two glasses. "Actually, it's cherry brandy."

#Mastoprompt #cherry

#wss366 #brandy

#microfiction

Season

••⋅☾ #俳句 ☽⋅••

Yellow orange
Local Rainier cherries
Season ending

••⋅☾ #Haiku ☽⋅••

••⋅☾ #俳文 ☽⋅••
Taken at the local fruit and vegetable stand. (Top Banana [ #Seattle #Ballard ])
••⋅☾ #Haibun ☽⋅••

#Poetry #詩 #NMPoetry #MastoPrompt #Cherry #DailyHaikuPrompt #Orange #Summer #Haiga #俳画 #Photography #マストドン写真部 #写真

#TootFic #NMFic #Serial #Yuri #GL #Bookworm #HanneloresFifthYear

Star-Cross Cookies Part 4

#FanFic #AscendanceOfABookworm #HanneloresFifthYear
#Wss366 Rod #Tanabata #StarFestival

Anime Spoilers

Armed with a name, Rozemyne headed to the library, much to the dismay of her head maid. Rihyarda could have handled it, but Lieseleta lacked the experience and gravitas to control her mistress when she was fired up.

"Lady Carnelia!" Rozemyne shouted, bursting into the reading room the girl was using.

Lieseleta said, just loud enough for the Aub to hear, “At least give her a proper greeting.”

“Of course,” Rozemyne replied.

“May I pray for a blessing in appreciation of this serendipitous meeting, ordained by the harsh judgment of Ewigeliebe, Lady Carnelia?” Rozemyne rushed through her greeting.

“You may.” The lady in question spoke barely loud enough to be heard, trembling like a winter leaf, which wasn’t surprising, given that the Aub had addressed her so suddenly.

“I need something red, romantic, and heart-shaped,” Rozemyne said.

“You might want to explain a bit,” Lieseleta said. She was overstepping herself, but the poor woman Rozemyne was addressing looked on the verge of fainting in fright.

“Sorry, I want something to use with cookies for Star-Cross Day. Something other than those dreadful bugs! I don’t see how anyone could think coach beetles were romantic.”

Lady Carnelia stared, and then, as the word "romantic" sank in, she began thinking. Her brows furrowed, and then a smile touched her lips. “There's the 'desert heart.' They have red, heart-shaped leaves and a mild, pleasant flavor. Perhaps you’ve had tea made from them.”

Rozemyne’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, that lovely mint tea. I think we export it. That would be wonderful.”

Lieseleta was used to her mistress’s use of strange words, but Lady Carnelia looked puzzled at the word “mint.”

Blissfully unaware, the Aub said, “Mild, red, mint cookies with a heart-shaped leaf in their center. Perfect!”

Carried away, she rushed off to see the chef, leaving poor Lady Carnelia to recover in the now silent library.

[FINIS]

#TootFic #NMFic #Serial #Yuri #GL #Bookworm #HanneloresFifthYear #MastoPrompt prior day

Star-Cross Cookies Part 2

#FanFic #AscendanceOfABookworm #HanneloresFifthYear
#Wss366 Crossed #Tanabata #StarFestival #MastoPrompt Clicked

Anime Spoilers

“Milburn, what are those?” she asked the chef.

“Those would be pickles, Your Grace. They’re for Star-Cross Day.”

He took down a jar without further instruction, something he would never have done for another noble, let alone the Aub. But Rozemyne was different. She was relaxed about etiquette and had an insatiable curiosity.

He opened the vessel, releasing the smell of vinegar, wine, and spices. Then he reached in extracting a large, flat, brown bug. “This is a coach beetle,” he said, showing it to her.

“Ughhh.” Her response was involuntary as revulsion swept over her. To her, it looked like a giant cockroach. It was definitely something that did not belong in the kitchen.

"Why would you eat that?" she asked, scrunching up her face.

“I suppose you wouldn’t know, Your Grace. Next week is a local holiday celebrating the twin stars #crossing the River of Light and uniting. You must know the legend of Vegalinde and Altairhart. It’s considered an auspicious day for proposals. It is said that if your partner eats one of these, they’ll never stop loving you. Young men make quite a show of swallowing them.”

Rozemyne’s first thought was,"Yuck! Why cockroaches?” Then, "Wait, Tanabata! A weaver and a herdsman separated by a celestial river? Has someone else from Japan visited Alexandria before me?”

The chef continued, “When these little devils mate, the male rides around on the female’s back for weeks. That’s how they got the name coach beetle. Some people believe that men who eat them will be as faithful as the beetles themselves.”

Rozemyne thanked him and departed. “I know one thing: I’m not giving Ferdinand one of those. Revolting!” she said to herself.

The thought of her subjects eating cockroaches wouldn't leave the Aub’s mind. "What a dreadful tradition! Star-Cross Day deserves better. It’s like a Tanabata and Valentine's hybrid. Giving chocolates or making wishes would make more sense than eating bugs!”

Her thoughts continued as she mulled over the problem, "Unfortunately, there isn’t anything similar to chocolate in this universe, but giving sweets to your love sounds just as nice. What could I create for women to give to their favorite person?”

"Mochi.”She’d just introduced that, but it was difficult to make, and the grain was expensive. Ferdinand said they should reserve it for nobles for the time being. Next, she thought of heart-shaped sugar candies. Clear, sparkly red hearts would be cute, but perfecting them would take time.

Then it #clicked

[Continued Wednesday]

#TootFic #NMFic #Serial #Yuri #GL #Bookworm #HanneloresFifthYear

Star-Cross Cookies Part 1

#FanFic #AscendanceOfABookworm #HanneloresFifthYearAtTheRoyalAcademy
#Wss366 Crossed #Tanabata #StarFestival #MastoPrompt Clicked

Anime Spoilers

Note: This has appeared before but has been edited, revised, and expanded.

Rozemyne looked over the city and the sun setting in the desert beyond. The book she had been reading lay in front of her, along with the tea she had been enjoying. She sighed and looked at the letter from Hannelore she had received.

She sighed again. Even though it mentioned the Shumil reader she had given her, the tone was flat and contained metaphors she didn’t understand. There was no way she could get Ferdinand’s help interpreting it. He had been furious that she had given the magic item to her book-buddy. It would have been helpful if he had explained why, but he had told her to speak with her chief maid.

Sorona’s letter had been equally puzzling. Why would Hannelore be avoiding Sorrona? High Tea at The Royal Academy:

She put the letters away, using them as a bookmark in the book she was reading. Since she had used up the library time Ferdinand had allotted her, she would do the next best thing to take her mind off this mystery: Sample treats in the kitchen and share a new recipe with the chef!

When she had first started coming to the royal kitchens, the workers had nearly died of fright, and her husband had lectured her. But since she was now Aub, she could push social limits further, and it wasn’t long before people were used to her visits. She was even almost friends with the chef, Milburn.

Now that the staff knew she might visit any time, the kitchen was always spotless. Scullery maids scrubbed the marble-topped tables and blue and white tile floors until they shone. You could see yourself in the bottoms of copper-bottom pots that hung in rows. Using the cleansers Rozemyne had invented, the servants had scoured all traces of smoke from the row of ovens. It was a far cry from how she had found it right after the war.

Next to the library or her family’s home, the kitchen was one of her favorite places. It was a place of inspiration, where the sight of new things was sure to spark an idea. This time, it was a row of brown ceramic pots, each with two blue stars, that caught her attention.

#TootFic #NMFic #Serial #Yuri #GL #Bookworm #HanneloresFifthYear

#MastoPrompt #dream #Dreams

There is a myth that you don't feel pain in dreams.

Serpent fangs
And sneaker foot
Sudden sting

#senryu #Poetry #NMPoetry #PoetryOnTheFly #haibun

he calls it love
but nothing adheres

I keep placing my hand there
as if warmth could take

as if the word might remember
what it was meant to hold

but it does not resist me
does not receive me

just an absence
shaped like a promise

and I—hesitant—
begin to learn its edges

#MastoPrompt
#lacuna
#absence
#writing
#poem
@stevencudahy

I said, "You don't look much like your profile pic."

"Who does? Anyway, the info's accurate."

"You love swimming, sushi and sailors, at least drowning them?" I eyed her #gills and pointed teeth. "I'm absolutely sure that's true."

#MastoPrompt

It’s Pelican, Captain

#Fanfiction #KaigaiIdol #PonRanger
#MastoPrompt #Pelican

“Reporting for duty, Captain.” The creature snapped a salute as crisp as its white, green, and orange uniform.

“Very good, Lieutenant Yeast,” Captain Pon said. Their eyes stayed glued to the console displaying a terrible, multi-segmented thing crawling in the starless black sky. Its tentacles sprawled, blocky abominations.

“Is that a life form that defies the laws of physics?” Yeast asked.

“No, it's today’s New Pork’s Slimes crossworld puzzle. What seven-letter word means ‘soup bowl face?’”

#TootFic #MicroFiction #NMFic #PlayOnWords #Puns

Crow With No Name: Part 2

#Wss366 Redundant #MastoPrompt Lung #ScribesAndMakers Hogwash

I was definitely tripping. Wings? Feathers? I’d been dosed!

The world was full of psychedelic colors, some of which I couldn't identify. The sidewalk wasn't flat anymore. It was layered and cross-hatched with patterns and shadows that I had walked over a thousand times without ever truly seeing. The witch’s vial rolled lazily, a drop of liquid still in it—its taste bitter on my tongue.

Meaning flooded me. The shiny wrapper fluttering in the wind: sweetness clinging to foil. The neighbor—I already knew her: yelling, sudden hands, jerky steps that cut the air wrong. Her form shrieked like a warning siren.

She seemed to offer me a bag of treats: nasty-yellow; awful-gritty-browns; tasty-soggy-golden-flakes; yummy-meat-hollow bones.

It was #hogwash! Best to stay away. I didn’t decide that. I just knew.

None of it was #redundant: motion-sight, all saturated with meaning.

I was in the air before I knew it: Threat-Motion-Arm! I filled my lungs and let out a warning screech so that everyone would know. “Warning, Bad lady!”

I was free of the earth. “Caw, caw,” I cried. “I’m here!”

#TootFic #MicroFiction #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy

#TimeTravelingGhost EP 5 Part 60: Jurassic Era

1/15/26 #TimeTravelAuthors The cost of time travel #Wss366 pyramid #MastoPrompt aromatic

I kicked the detritus near the edge of the cave, then sat down with my legs dangling over the edge. An #aromatic breeze, reminiscent of ferns and conifers, rose from below, masking the odor of guano.

"If we want to learn what the rabbits are up to, we're going to have to go out there," I said, pointing to the surreal #pyramids.

“Can you fly that far? You'd be easy pickings out there on the water.”

“Yeah, I can’t see myself building a raft and paddling across open water. I don’t suppose we could just time-travel over there? We don’t seem limited spacially when doing it. And it doesn’t seem as taxing as dematerialisation.”

“All we can do is try.”

#TootFic #MicroFiction #NMFic #NMTTA

Saint Lilly Lillum of Charity

2. By the Grace of the Goddess (1/2)

#リリィ＝リリウム誕生祭2024 #LillyLillumsBirthday2025

#FanFiction #IAmInLoveWithTheVillainess (#WataYuri) #PIXIVCharitySanta
#wss366 #MastoPrompt 12/23 (24 in Japan)

Alone again, she faced the dark, cold road ahead. The wind picked up, so she hurried along as fast as the rutted road would allow. Trees pressed in on either side, blocking the dim moonlight. It was the kind of night when ghosts and phantoms emerged.

At first, she didn’t notice the sound carried on the wind: bamboo pipes, bells, and stringed instruments. It was a sweet, spectral sound, as haunting as it was alluring.

As she rounded a bend in the road, the darkness receded. Ahead, the path was illuminated by trees adorned with gold and silver tinsel, red berry garlands, and candles. There were so many tapers that they lit the road with a glorious brilliance. The music surged giving #office to the Goddess, reaching a climax. Then it subsided to a soft, melodic refrain.

In the middle of the clearing stood a table laden with fine fare: roasted pheasant, greens sautéed with chestnuts and almonds, holly-garlanded pudding, and a steaming bowl of wassail. Pickled wild vegetables, teapots, and all manner of side dishes were arranged around these.

[Continued in the next post]

#Tootfic #MicroFiction #Serial #NMFic

High Tea at The Royal Academy

•─⋅☾Author Notes☽⋅─•

#FanFiction #AscendanceOfABookworm #HanneloresFifthYear
#wss366 #Mastoprompt #PIXIVCharitySanta

I wrote this just as the translation of “Hannelore’s Fifth Year” volume two started appearing in J-Novel Club pre-pubs. To the best of my ability, this story doesn’t break the canon of “Ascension of a Bookworm” and volume one of “Hannelore’s Fifth Year.” Volume two will most likely render this AU, though. However, I like the idea of Rozemyne and Hannelore eventually living together. They both need a good friend.

Tags: #SliceOfLife #AoaB #MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMV366 #NMFic #Bookworm

High Tea at The Royal Academy

•─⋅☾6. Tea Cake Crumbs☽⋅─•

#FanFiction #AscendanceOfABookworm #HanneloresFifthYear
#wss366 #Mastoprompt #PIXIVCharitySanta

•─⋅☾Meanwhile in Dunkelfelger☽⋅─•

“Oh, my,” said Sieglinde, Hannelore’s mother. It would have taken a more observant man than Aub Werdekraf to notice the slight pallor that crept into his wife’s cheeks. But it was there, a sure sign that something highly unusual and alarming had happened. Fortunately, no servants were in the private dining room where the two were having dinner to observe her alarm.

“Is that Hannelore’s letter?” he asked as she handed it to him. He blinked as he read it, glanced up at his wife, and then continued reading.

Putting it down, he said, “How could Ferdinand have let this happen? A magical shumil?”

“Not just any shumil, it's a minor artifact. Only Ferdinand and Rozemyne could have made this one.”

“But what could it mean?” Wedekraf’s voice was muffled by the hands he had placed over his face.

His wife gave it some thought. She was the steadying hand that kept the Dunkelfelger ruling family in line. “Ah, I think I see.—Have you noticed that Rozemyne is inordinately fond of Hannelore?”

“One could hardly miss it. Do you think that’s all it is—an extravagant gift?”

“Do be sensible. Given Ferdinand’s involvement, it must mean something—something that can’t be spoken of directly.”

“But what?”

“What if Rozemyne is in love with Hannalore? If Ferdinand were to take Hana as a second wife, she would have an unassailable place where she could be with Rozemyne.”

The Aub took his hands away from his face, revealing brows scrunched in concentration. “That does sound like the kind of devious plan Ferdinand would come up with, but Rozemyne? I thought she had eyes #solely for Ferdinand.”

His wife was smiling now as she tapped her finger on the table. “It’s the #perfect solution to our Hannelore problem. She gets a good marriage with people who will ensure her comfort, and we strengthen our relationship with Alexandria and Rozemyne.”

•─⋅☾And in Alexandria☽⋅─•

Ferdinand emerged from the laboratory and approached his reading wife. “Do you know where the Shumil tool went? I had some ideas about how to cut down on the mana cost.”

The book slowly lowered, and Rozemyne looked up at him. “I sent it with Lady Sorrona to give to Hannelore.”

Ferdinand’s eyebrows twitched. “You did what!?”

Rozemyne set aside her book. “Oh dear, am I going to get another lecture?” Her tone was resigned.

[FINIS]

Tags: #SliceOfLife #AoaB #MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMV366 #NMFic #Bookworm

High Tea at The Royal Academy ロイヤル・アカデミーでのハイティー

•─⋅☾5. Shumils 2/2 ☽⋅─•

#FanFiction #AscendanceOfABookworm #HanneloresFifthYear
#wss366 #Mastoprompt #PIXIVCharitySanta

[2/2 Continued from the previous post]

Taking a breath, Sorrona began. “Ferdinand told me to be brief, since you must be busy, so I’ll be direct. Rozemyne requests that you accept me onto the Library Committee. I have already received Mestionora’s blessing, and I fervently hope to serve her and become a librarian someday.”

Hannelore hadn’t planned on reviving the Library Committee. The library had plenty of staff, and she had no interest in the work. As the highest-ranking Dunkelfelger at the school, she had enough to do.

Looking into her junior’s pleading eyes made saying no hard. She sighed to herself. It wouldn’t do to decide until she had consulted with Cordula, her head maid, and her mother. “I’ll need to check.”

The girl nodded, seeming satisfied. She beckoned to her maid, who stepped forward with a chest richly decorated with carved shumil. Cordula stepped forward, opened the chest, nodded, and handed it to Hannelore. Inside was a fluffy shumil plushie dressed in blue librarian robes. Its forepaws were outstretched.

Sorrona explained, “If you feed it mana while petting it, you can give it a book to read to you. Ferdinand and Rozemyne worked very hard on it.”

Hannelore’s eyes grew wide. Her mind screamed, “Too much! Why!”

She caught Cordula’s eye, who nodded imperceptibly and made a sign indicating their time was up.

Hannelore grabbed the lifeline. “I see it’s time for me to leave. I have another pressing appointment. May Dregarnuhr bind our threads again soon. Until then, may Schutzaria keep you company.”

As soon as Sorrona said goodbye, Hannelore fled.

“And may Verdraeos be with me, for I surely need his help.” Her whimper went unheard by anyone except the god himself.

Tags: #SliceOfLife #AoaB #MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #Bookworm

High Tea at The Royal Academy ロイヤル・アカデミーでのハイティー

•─⋅☾5. Shumils 1/2☽⋅─•

#FanFiction #AscendanceOfABookworm #HanneloresFifthYear
#wss366 #Mastoprompt #PIXIVCharitySanta

As the tea ended, each girl rose and curtsied first to Hannelore, the representative of the highest-ranking duchy, and then to Sorrona, their host. The girl from Blumenfeld was first. The lovely dove-gray silk of her dress matched her eyes, which smiled insincerely at Hannelore. However, there was nothing lovely about how they bore into Sorrona. Then, with a silken rustle, she was gone.

Hannelore wondered if Sorrona was aware of the tension her favoritism had produced. She would need to report to her mother about the rising tensions between Blumenfeld and Alexandria. It would be unpleasant if they got caught in the middle. Many of Dunkelfelger’s lords were still loyal to the former king, who now ruled Blumenfeld, especially the older lords whose #lands were in the countryside.

As the last girl left, Sorrona sighed and began to slouch until she noticed her lady's maid’s #grim look.

“I hope it wasn’t too much trouble asking you to stay, Lady Hannelore. Aub Rozemyne speaks fondly of you, and she sends Mestionora’s blessings and hopes that Dregarnuhr will soon bind your threads with hers.”

“It was no trouble. I, too, hope that Dregarnuhr’s loom will soon bring us together,” Hannelore replied, wondering why Sorrona had wanted a private interview with her. Her worries grew when Sorrona took an anti-eavesdropping tool from her maid and said, “Shall we?”

“Most certainly,” Hannelore replied. She took out a similar tool.

[1/2 Continued in the next post]

Tags: #SliceOfLife #AoaB #MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic #Bookworm

High Tea at The Royal Academy

•─⋅☾4. Book Buddies Forever☽⋅─•

#FanFiction #AscendanceOfABookworm #HanneloresFifthYear
#wss366 #Mastoprompt #PIXIVCharitySanta

As was customary, Sorrona took the first swallow of matcha. Then, she passed the cups around.

Everyone took a sip of the emerald-green #liquid. The lady from Klassenberg made a slightly wry face but quickly hid it. What was her name? Hannelore wondered. "Valeriane Tochter Klassenberg. That was it."

"This is lovely china, so unique," Valeriane said. Hanna thought it was perhaps an attempt to cover up her faux pas. "May I buy a set for my tea parties?" Valeriane went on.

“No, I’m sorry,” Sorrona answered. "They won't be available until after the Archduke Conference, but you can have the setting in front of you as a gift. You'll find Aub Rozemyne’s personal seal on the bottom.”

"Now, on to the treats," she said, sampling a sandwich and each confection to demonstrate that they weren't poisoned. "This is matcha milli feuille," she said, cutting into the lavish cake. She stumbled slightly over the name and giggled nervously.

"Everyone calls these tanieh jellies," she said, picking up the deep tan confections. "And these are mochi," she said, eating one of the round confections. "Rozemyne is very proud of the mochi. She said that they were incredibly difficult to develop.”

Finished, she turned to Hannelore. "You might be wondering why Her Grace entrusted me with debuting her creations. I was surprised, too, but when she asked who wanted to join the library committee, I was the only one to volunteer. She said you were my senpai, and that I should listen to you."

Sorrona giggled after making this serious announcement.

Hannelore stared as a feeling of déjà vu washed over her.

When Sorrona held up her little finger, it seemed to Hannelore that the girl wanted to shake pinkies. Flustered and unsure what to do, Hannelore complied, wrapping her pinky around Sorrona’s.

Sorrona giggled again and said, "Book buddies forever."

Such obvious favoritism clearly showed that Alexandria had singled out Dunkelfelger for special favor. Either that or they were signaling a marriage offer was in the making. Perhapes, Ferdinand was looking for a second wife. One wrong move and they would feel snubbed, and she would make an enemy of them.

Hannelore could feel the other women’s eyes burning through her. They would immediately share this intelligence with their duchies. Until she heard back from Dunkelfelger's Aub, her every move would be watched and interpreted. It was a nightmare.

She carefully #folded hands, making sure her smile didn’t waver. It was a far cry from her thoughts."What has my bad timing gotten me into this time?"

Tags: #SliceOfLife #AoaB #MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMV366 #NMFic #Bookworm

High Tea at The Royal Academy

•─⋅☾3. Matcha & Celadon☽⋅─•

#FanFiction #AscendanceOfABookworm #HanneloresFifthYear
#wss366 #Mastoprompt #PIXIVCharitySanta

Hannalore was shown to a seat next to Sorrona. Each place setting was stunning. Handleless cups and plates with a jade-green glaze gleamed, which pooled in darker lines made by pattern of swimming #fish. What caught her eye most, though, was the fine web of cracks running through the glaze. They were lovely and unlike anything she had seen before.

In the table’s center was a silver three-tiered stand. The bottom contained a cake made of many thin, crepe layers with whipped cream sandwiched between each, and all dusted with green powder. It gave off a faint odor of tea. On the next tier were dainty crustless sandwiches, and on the top tier were tanieh jellies and soft, round confections covered with roasted samaneh seeds.

The mingled sweet scents made her mouth water. To think she would be among the first to taste Rozemyne’s newest creations. It felt like a miraculous honor. For once, just once, her timing had been perfect.

“I thought I would start our tea with a ritual that Rozemyne introduced to our court,” Sorrona said as the last guest was seated. “If you pass me your cups, I’ll make a special tea for you. You may decline, in which case you’ll be served a nice black blend. Either is exquisite, but the former is an adventure.”

As everyone passed their cups to Sorrona, Hannalore overheard the girl from Drewanchel say in a stage whisper, "Well, at least we don't have to worry about her fainting and leaving us hostless." Hannalore felt sorry for Sorrona again.

The target of the girl’s retort gave no sign of having heard and continued. "This is the finest tea, which is then ground into a fine powder. Rozemyne calls it matcha. You warm the cup with a bit of hot water, add this much matcha, add hot water, and whisk it. The temperature of the water is very important. If it is too hot, the tea will be bitter."

Sorrona picked up a small whisk and rolled it between her palms, turning the tea into a thick, emerald froth.

"Rozemyne says that any lady or gentleman should be able to do this for their guests. It is the highest honor. Having servants do it implies that you feel your guests are unworthy of your attention."

Some of the ladies looked shocked, but Hannalore thought, "I bet Ferdinand was the #architect of that custom to accommodate his eccentric wife." But it also seemed like a charming custom.

Tags: #SliceOfLife #AoaB #MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMV366 #NMFic #Bookworm

#百物語: #HyakuMonogatari 12: Foreign Devil

#Wss366 #MastoPrompt

The devil calmly examined the four students standing outside the pentagram. The #triangular lenses of his glasses reflected their astonished faces.

"I told you this was better than 'Hide and Go Seek by Yourself,'" the leader said.

The boy next to him shyly looked at the girl to his left. "I still would have preferred going to that ghost spot."

The fourth boy finally spoke up. "Who would have believed this would work in Japan? It's so much cooler than Kokkuri-san and easier than Hyaku Monogatari.”

"So, how can I help you?" the devil said in perfect Japanese. He didn’t seem very interested and was looking at his solid gold pocket watch, not the students. “It’s been a while since I could visit your fair land. There are some people I would like to visit while I’m here, so do hurry.”

"Oh, nothing," the leader said. "We're just doing a test of courage. We don't really want to sell our souls."

The devil smiled #amiably. "So funny. I don’t buy souls. Summoning me is enough. Did you really think the foreign Kami would forgive this act of blasphemy?"

He laughed as the shadows crept in.

#NMV366 #Horror #Halloween #Halloween2025

beautiful Spoonbills
feeding under a new moon
thick skinned and silent

#mastoprompt - skinned
#dailyhaikuprompt - new moon/bird song

ART
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/soft-pink-spoonbill-bird-art-sharon-cummings.html

#art #artwork #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #florida #floridalife #wildlife #nature #pinkspoonbill #spoonbillbirds #birdartist #birdart #pink #animals #SharonCummingsArt #haiku #poetry #newmoon #poet #poem #poets #poems #smallpoem #smallpoems #shortpoem #shortpoems #buyintoart #naturelover #naturelovers #wetland #wetlands

The Spatulater

#wss366 #mastoprompt #microPrompt 08/14

Carrie received a #Jolt (TM) visiting her new girlfriend friends house carring several tubs of CoalWhip (TM). She was late as usual, any #later she would have missed seeing the hunky Amazonian (TM) driver deliver a case of Peckerish Farm (TM) fudge sauce.

She found Kim in the kitchen wearing nothing but an apron and a #spatula. Turns out Kim was a #spatulater.

Note: "later" is a suffice indicating a worshipper.

#ecchi #Nonsene #BooHiss

#NMPrompts #NMMP #NMv366 #MicroFiction #TootFic

a glimpse of heaven
in the valley of lilies
when good shepherds pray

#DailyHaikuPrompt - Lily
#MastoPrompt - #shepherd

ART
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-lords-prayer-christian-art-sharon-cummings.html

#prayer #prayers #lordsprayer #christian #christ #christianart #christians #christianity #jesus #jesuschrist #christ #bible #bibleverse #biblical #scripture #scriptures #art #faith #faithful #catholic #pope #catholicart #catholicism #catholics #newpope #SharonCummingsArt #thelordsprayer

things to throw away
last year's disappointments and
new resolutions

#dailyhaikuprompt #NewYear
#MastoPrompt #disappointment

ART
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/on-the-rocks-teddy-bear-art-by-william-patrick-and-sharon-cummings-sharon-cummings.html

#photography #photo #photographer #photographie #teddybear #teddybears #toys #beach #beachlife #beachvibes #beachy #cute #fun #poetry #poet #poem #smallpoems #shortpoem #haiku #ocean #sea #happynewyear #newyear #newyear2025 #newyearresolutions #resolutions #inspiration #inspirational #toy #bear #bears #buyintoart #SharonCummingsArt #happy

Your fiery words

A blast furnace
of angry rhetoric

At the end of the day
when all the banners
have been put away
is nothing more
than hot air

That rebellious stare

Your best defiant glare
ain't going nowhere
unless you are #prepared
to go all in

Exert maximum pressure
and fight your enemy
with the same ferocity
they will surely
reign down on you

#mastoprompt #amwriting #poetry #poem

The rookie eyed his boss with amusement. "You're looking a bit green, sir. Was it a #turbulent flight?"

"No, all very smooth. But... the in-flight movie was a cheesy Christmas romance."

"Oh." They both shuddered.

#MastoPrompt #MicroFiction