#tootfic — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #tootfic, aggregated by home.social.
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#PennedPossibilities 1120: Saturday Word Edition: Share something from your WIP pertaining to the word “entertainment.”
Bolt is acting as the photographer for her friend Shugh as he interviews a male diva actor for a magazine similar to The New Yorker. Hers is a woman-centric society. The scene in this #excerpt hints that Bolt can be sexist as the actor being interviewed needles her.
Upstairs, Shugh hit it off with Morning Glory. Both men sought careers not often occupied by men. The actor-playwright became more animated as the magazine interview progressed, allowing me with my camera to fade into the background of the plush upper lounge of the theatre. By the time the long-legged delicate man started pacing as he told his life story, I had gleaned that his tale was glorified and larger-than life, like the man, his persona, his masks. His elegant pacing allowed me to move with my Flicka4, steadying myself using the back of a gilt divan, a bamboo formed-steel torchere lamp (one of pair), and then a black marble tea table to as I composed pictures of a celebrity, but a man, lost in thoughts about inflating the image he presented the world, finally dropping his actor's mask. I caught the sparkle in his eye. I caught flamboyant hands thrown wide, later framing his face as he sang a note. I caught an absentminded sneer aimed at an unnamed actress who'd worked to derail his entertainment career.
"I'm changing the way women perceive men," he declared. He sat abruptly on a hanger chair, one of those short shallow chairs built with a bench seat of a single plank of wood, finely finished glowing golden oak but uncushioned; it barely supported his thighs in deference to his hips, forcing the man to crouch. Also called a man's chair because a man looked really adorable hanging there when unclothed in a certain way. (It totally did Morning Glory.) That it made men shorter than any women in a room seemed like a plus, but then I was female. These days, especially in the city, many men would leave a room if they saw one. Not Morning Glory! Probably furnished it here himself, stage managing, to spike the drama. Legs wide, crouching—his hands above his knees, framing his crotch—eyes narrowed and on me, his body language firmed up my perception of him.
Performatively male, sure of his good looks.
Aggressive.
Dominant.
He addressed Shugh still meeting my gaze. "Steamed Milk and Sugar—can I call you Milk? How does it feel working as her protégé? Do we live in progressive times?"
Hint, hint! I am a #gender #fiction #writer.
[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]
#author
#cozy #mystery #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSReluctanceStory
#microfiction #flashfiction #tootfic #smallstory -
62 Years ago, Mother of All, Horsebreeder Clan lands
Joy had fifteen summers to her name. The following year she would be expected to commit to a path of learning. One that would lead to the sort of life she wished to live. Most of her friends would continue in the Horsebreeder Clan.
Far above, she could feel Dives Swiftly. She had spotted a large waterbird. It would make a fine dinner for the family. And a good feed for Dives Swiftly as well. Joy sent approval, and the hunting bird, true to her name, dove on the unsuspecting bird, breaking its neck with the impact, and then steered the limp body to the ground near Joyful Finder.
"Good strike" Joy said, as Dives looked at her. She took out her knife, and neatly cut the belly of the bird open, and Dives started to feed.
"I am thinking of leaving."
Dives paused, and looked at her, whistling a query.
"Next year a Scout will visit. I think I will go with them."
Dives whistled again.
"There probably will be little chance to hunt."
Another whistle.
"I know better than to try and talk you out of it."
Dives went back to eating.
"Now I have to tell Dad and Father."After Dives finished her meal, Joy finished bleeding the bird, and then carried it home, sending an image of a roast ahead.
She felt Father's excitement at the idea.At dinner, late that evening, her parents paused in their eating, and looked at her. Dad spoke first "Joy, is there something on your mind? You feel, well, a bit off."
Joy sighed.
"It isn't that Copper Digger kid again is it?"
"No, Dad, it isn't that. I think she's learned her lesson."
"Then what?"
"I know what I need to do."
"Great!" her Dad exclaimed.
"What is it, Joy?" asked her Father.Joy poked her plate.
"Oh no! She wants to join the Sailmakers! Shipping will be doomed!" her Father cried out. Joy's lack of skill with a needle and thread was infamous, even now.
"No", Joy smiled sadly, "But you might wish it was."
Her Father grew serious "What then?"
Dad spoke up "You know that we will always support you. No matter what."
"I intend to go with the Scout that will visit next year."There was a stunned silence.
Her Dad reacted first "You mean to go to the stars?"
"Yes. I want to be what Lorn was. To learn the ways of the Stars, so we can be enough to end the Raiders for good."
"You will have to tell the Council."
Joy nodded "But they cannot deny me."
"No, they cannot. The treaty says as much."
"We will miss you, Joy" her Father said softly.
"And I'll miss everyone here. Except Dives."
Both her parents looked surprised at this, and she shrugged. "Dives inists that she'll come along."
Shaking his head, her Father gave a wry smile "I swear, she thinks you are chick that still needs to fledge."
"Maybe she's right, if this is what Joy means to do" Dad replied.The following day, her parents started to make arrangements to take a message to the Council. And showed Joy how to read Lorn's diaries.
#SF #SciFi #SFF #SpaceOpera #microfic #tootfic #MicroFiction #ShamanSpace #IAmWriting
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RE: https://eldritch.cafe/@sfwrtr/112497915608418589
#PennedPossibilities 1119: MC POV: How did you learn your most valuable skill? Who taught you, and why is it so important?
[I will keep Bolt SFW, promise! Tl;dr tootfic follows, nevertheless.—RS]
A surprising number of my skills are self-taught. I must be a genius, even if'n I've done a lot of stupid things. My most valuable skill is flying, naturally being as I'm a day angel, but flight kindergarten failed me epically. Everybody fledged but me by 3. Despite the incentive of being picked on by all the girls in school (boys knew better), it took being shoved off a cliff at 10 before I flew, and then but for Mom and Uncle teaching me to land, I taught myself everything else. Turned out live'n in the world 3D is—My Stars!— flapping awesome, not at all frightening as I'd wound up myself into thinking. Flew into my share of lamp posts, but still, flap'n it! Spending more time a-wing than walking, I became an athlete, captaining the flight and field team, learning stunt flying, flight dance, and tandem. None of it more valuable than walking and running for the flightless in the long run, except, I guess, tandem.
They teach you never to fly close to anybody. I remember distancing from flight kindergarten. It was reiterated by every PE teacher there after. Knock it into your head, they do. A "primary feather length at wing tip; your height above." Feather fields will tangle if'n you're too close. You'll lose lift, they say, maybe crash, but that never made sense to me having learnt to fly late.
I experimented with all sort of crazy, consider'n that I skated out of most of the knocking flight stuff into my head for the seven years everybody flew but me. I dove hard into precision flying, which meant warping my flight feathers hard, sometimes twisting the up and down fields to push away from or get sucked toward things like cliff walls or between tree trunks in a dense forest. Called decompensating. Dangerous? For you, unadventurous noob, maybe! I finally could get a finger length close to things—close enough to suck your hair and feathers against bark, rockface, and occasional stupid people who do their deer in the lantern light imitation seeing you, they think, flying into them—so why not boys? (Girls thought me a masculine muscle nerd! Their loss.)
While I found victims volunteers to fly near me in middle school, it was that first semester in high school that I perfected my awareness of my wings in space, and theirs, close up, and got boys to understand what I'd learnt. It helped that in high school, finally, the boys were less shy (especially the seniors) and dangling flying with us touching really helped incentivize them. Me, too, actually. I got better. They got better, caught the tandem fever, though we got chewed out by Coach when she saw, before she stopped noticing since we didn't kill ourselves. Our team morale soared. We started winning. I became captain of an otherwise male team. I got my string of ponies (stallions only).
Good times.
Valuable? Actually, valuable?
Well, a dozen years and lots of stupid decisions later, I have a friend, Blue, who is a praetorian training to protect Rainy Days. We encountered her in the sky, and I ended up flying stunts around the guy with her mirroring and challenging my agility, pushing me harder, apparently to test my limits, and to piss me off. I'm too competitive for my own good! She correctly figured out it was me who taught Blue flying tandem; it was the definitive skill that got him a job that was very unlikely for a guy to get.
Rainy Days praised me. She's far better at tandem techniques than me. Still. The Director of Home and the Nine Outer worlds praised me. My Stars!!!
Valuable? Flap yes!
Yet. Even considering when she left with Blue, the stress of me stupidly challenging the most important woman ever shot me out of the sky. I nearly crashed trying to land, then puked so hard, I thought some of my liver came up.
I still would challenge her again, given the chance. [Big words, Bolt! Read the quoted story for the second round. —RS]
[Author retains copyright (c)2026 R.S.]
#gender #fiction #writer #author
#cozy #mystery #sf #sff #sciencefiction
#writing #writingcommunity #writersOfMastodon #writers
#RSdiscussion
#RSstory #RSReluctanceStory
#microfiction #flashfiction #tootfic #smallstory -
“First time on a planet?”
“Is it obvious?”
“Who told you to wear the metal foil on your head?”
“Tour guide said there was the chance of an electron storm”
“They were having a lend of you, luv.”
“Oh. They told me to ask for a respirator because the atmosphere is being shut off for repair tonight, was that a joke, too?”
“Yes, darl. It’s true about the sunscreen, though.”
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Mother of All, Divesen Station, ten minutes after Athena's docking.
Alaine was shutting down the systems, when an STC broadcast came in. He monitored it, and then called out "Captain? You'll want to hear this!"
Engel twitched a little, and then gestured to Alaine, who rewound the message and played it back over a speaker.
"Bright Sky, Bright Sky, we have new approach data for you. Proceed to planetary coordinates attached, and make planetfall. Flight patch attached, you are cleared to enter restricted airspace."
Then came the reply "Divesen Control, please confirm planetfall."
"Bright Sky, confirmed. Rerouting ordered by Scout Commander Finder."
At that, Seeker, who had also been listening, gasped.
Engel turned "Seeker?"
"Uh, Captain, that is my grandmother. Only she retired from the Scouts over forty years ago. And she was just an ordinary Scout."
"Do you know why Bright Sky is being ordered planetside?"
"No, no idea at all."
"Sir?" Alaine cut in.
"Alaine?"
"Sir, I've heard of this before, surely you have too?"
"What do you -" he paused "Reactivation? Of course, but Scout Commander? They only -"
Alaine finished his sentence "are found at Scout bases. So they have a base here now."
Seeker took over "But that means the treaty has been rewritten. Scouts were forbidden to be on planet unless they were part of a clan. What..." and she broke off.
"Seeker?" Alaine looked worried.
"Uh, I have been summoned to the Council Chambers. We all have. Now." Seeker reached for the intercom.
"Hold!" Engel commanded.
Seeker stopped and looked at him.
"I am, apparently, the Captain."
"Sorry Captain. Permission to summon the crew?"
Engel shook his head and stepped over, taking the intercom "All hands, secure your stations, and proceed to the bridge immediately."
Seeker nodded.
A few minutes later everyone aboard was in the bridge.
"Right, we are being summoned to the Council. Best behaviour. Meantime the Captain is heading planetside," Engel announced, "Dyani, lock safe?"
"Inner and outer green, sir!" she replied.
"Very good, break seals."The crew moved out into the station. There was no-one waiting.
Seeker took the lead "Follow me.""
#SF #SciFi #SFF #SpaceOpera #microfic #tootfic #MicroFiction #ShamanSpace #IAmWriting
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Mother of All, Divesen Station, ten minutes after Athena's docking.
Alaine was shutting down the systems, when an STC broadcast came in. He monitored it, and then called out "Captain? You'll want to hear this!"
Engel twitched a little, and then gestured to Alaine, who rewound the message and played it back over a speaker.
"Bright Sky, Bright Sky, we have new approach data for you. Proceed to planetary coordinates attached, and make planetfall. Flight patch attached, you are cleared to enter restricted airspace."
Then came the reply "Divesen Control, please confirm planetfall."
"Bright Sky, confirmed. Rerouting ordered by Scout Commander Finder."
At that, Seeker, who had also been listening, gasped.
Engel turned "Seeker?"
"Uh, Captain, that is my grandmother. Only she retired from the Scouts over forty years ago. And she was just an ordinary Scout."
"Do you know why Bright Sky is being ordered planetside?"
"No, no idea at all."
"Sir?" Alaine cut in.
"Alaine?"
"Sir, I've heard of this before, surely you have too?"
"What do you -" he paused "Reactivation? Of course, but Scout Commander? They only -"
Alaine finished his sentence "are found at Scout bases. So they have a base here now."
Seeker took over "But that means the treaty has been rewritten. Scouts were forbidden to be on planet unless they were part of a clan. What..." and she broke off.
"Seeker?" Alaine looked worried.
"Uh, I have been summoned to the Council Chambers. We all have. Now." Seeker reached for the intercom.
"Hold!" Engel commanded.
Seeker stopped and looked at him.
"I am, apparently, the Captain."
"Sorry Captain. Permission to summon the crew?"
Engel shook his head and stepped over, taking the intercom "All hands, secure your stations, and proceed to the bridge immediately."
Seeker nodded.
A few minutes later everyone aboard was in the bridge.
"Right, we are being summoned to the Council. Best behaviour. Meantime the Captain is heading planetside," Engel announced, "Dyani, lock safe?"
"Inner and outer green, sir!" she replied.
"Very good, break seals."The crew moved out into the station. There was no-one waiting.
Seeker took the lead "Follow me.""
#SF #SciFi #SFF #SpaceOpera #microfic #tootfic #MicroFiction #ShamanSpace #IAmWriting
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Mother of All, Divesen Station, ten minutes after Athena's docking.
Alaine was shutting down the systems, when an STC broadcast came in. He monitored it, and then called out "Captain? You'll want to hear this!"
Engel twitched a little, and then gestured to Alaine, who rewound the message and played it back over a speaker.
"Bright Sky, Bright Sky, we have new approach data for you. Proceed to planetary coordinates attached, and make planetfall. Flight patch attached, you are cleared to enter restricted airspace."
Then came the reply "Divesen Control, please confirm planetfall."
"Bright Sky, confirmed. Rerouting ordered by Scout Commander Finder."
At that, Seeker, who had also been listening, gasped.
Engel turned "Seeker?"
"Uh, Captain, that is my grandmother. Only she retired from the Scouts over forty years ago. And she was just an ordinary Scout."
"Do you know why Bright Sky is being ordered planetside?"
"No, no idea at all."
"Sir?" Alaine cut in.
"Alaine?"
"Sir, I've heard of this before, surely you have too?"
"What do you -" he paused "Reactivation? Of course, but Scout Commander? They only -"
Alaine finished his sentence "are found at Scout bases. So they have a base here now."
Seeker took over "But that means the treaty has been rewritten. Scouts were forbidden to be on planet unless they were part of a clan. What..." and she broke off.
"Seeker?" Alaine looked worried.
"Uh, I have been summoned to the Council Chambers. We all have. Now." Seeker reached for the intercom.
"Hold!" Engel commanded.
Seeker stopped and looked at him.
"I am, apparently, the Captain."
"Sorry Captain. Permission to summon the crew?"
Engel shook his head and stepped over, taking the intercom "All hands, secure your stations, and proceed to the bridge immediately."
Seeker nodded.
A few minutes later everyone aboard was in the bridge.
"Right, we are being summoned to the Council. Best behaviour. Meantime the Captain is heading planetside," Engel announced, "Dyani, lock safe?"
"Inner and outer green, sir!" she replied.
"Very good, break seals."The crew moved out into the station. There was no-one waiting.
Seeker took the lead "Follow me.""
#SF #SciFi #SFF #SpaceOpera #microfic #tootfic #MicroFiction #ShamanSpace #IAmWriting
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Mother of All, Divesen Station, ten minutes after Athena's docking.
Alaine was shutting down the systems, when an STC broadcast came in. He monitored it, and then called out "Captain? You'll want to hear this!"
Engel twitched a little, and then gestured to Alaine, who rewound the message and played it back over a speaker.
"Bright Sky, Bright Sky, we have new approach data for you. Proceed to planetary coordinates attached, and make planetfall. Flight patch attached, you are cleared to enter restricted airspace."
Then came the reply "Divesen Control, please confirm planetfall."
"Bright Sky, confirmed. Rerouting ordered by Scout Commander Finder."
At that, Seeker, who had also been listening, gasped.
Engel turned "Seeker?"
"Uh, Captain, that is my grandmother. Only she retired from the Scouts over forty years ago. And she was just an ordinary Scout."
"Do you know why Bright Sky is being ordered planetside?"
"No, no idea at all."
"Sir?" Alaine cut in.
"Alaine?"
"Sir, I've heard of this before, surely you have too?"
"What do you -" he paused "Reactivation? Of course, but Scout Commander? They only -"
Alaine finished his sentence "are found at Scout bases. So they have a base here now."
Seeker took over "But that means the treaty has been rewritten. Scouts were forbidden to be on planet unless they were part of a clan. What..." and she broke off.
"Seeker?" Alaine looked worried.
"Uh, I have been summoned to the Council Chambers. We all have. Now." Seeker reached for the intercom.
"Hold!" Engel commanded.
Seeker stopped and looked at him.
"I am, apparently, the Captain."
"Sorry Captain. Permission to summon the crew?"
Engel shook his head and stepped over, taking the intercom "All hands, secure your stations, and proceed to the bridge immediately."
Seeker nodded.
A few minutes later everyone aboard was in the bridge.
"Right, we are being summoned to the Council. Best behaviour. Meantime the Captain is heading planetside," Engel announced, "Dyani, lock safe?"
"Inner and outer green, sir!" she replied.
"Very good, break seals."The crew moved out into the station. There was no-one waiting.
Seeker took the lead "Follow me.""
#SF #SciFi #SFF #SpaceOpera #microfic #tootfic #MicroFiction #ShamanSpace #IAmWriting
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Mother of All, Divesen Station, ten minutes after Athena's docking.
Alaine was shutting down the systems, when an STC broadcast came in. He monitored it, and then called out "Captain? You'll want to hear this!"
Engel twitched a little, and then gestured to Alaine, who rewound the message and played it back over a speaker.
"Bright Sky, Bright Sky, we have new approach data for you. Proceed to planetary coordinates attached, and make planetfall. Flight patch attached, you are cleared to enter restricted airspace."
Then came the reply "Divesen Control, please confirm planetfall."
"Bright Sky, confirmed. Rerouting ordered by Scout Commander Finder."
At that, Seeker, who had also been listening, gasped.
Engel turned "Seeker?"
"Uh, Captain, that is my grandmother. Only she retired from the Scouts over forty years ago. And she was just an ordinary Scout."
"Do you know why Bright Sky is being ordered planetside?"
"No, no idea at all."
"Sir?" Alaine cut in.
"Alaine?"
"Sir, I've heard of this before, surely you have too?"
"What do you -" he paused "Reactivation? Of course, but Scout Commander? They only -"
Alaine finished his sentence "are found at Scout bases. So they have a base here now."
Seeker took over "But that means the treaty has been rewritten. Scouts were forbidden to be on planet unless they were part of a clan. What..." and she broke off.
"Seeker?" Alaine looked worried.
"Uh, I have been summoned to the Council Chambers. We all have. Now." Seeker reached for the intercom.
"Hold!" Engel commanded.
Seeker stopped and looked at him.
"I am, apparently, the Captain."
"Sorry Captain. Permission to summon the crew?"
Engel shook his head and stepped over, taking the intercom "All hands, secure your stations, and proceed to the bridge immediately."
Seeker nodded.
A few minutes later everyone aboard was in the bridge.
"Right, we are being summoned to the Council. Best behaviour. Meantime the Captain is heading planetside," Engel announced, "Dyani, lock safe?"
"Inner and outer green, sir!" she replied.
"Very good, break seals."The crew moved out into the station. There was no-one waiting.
Seeker took the lead "Follow me.""
#SF #SciFi #SFF #SpaceOpera #microfic #tootfic #MicroFiction #ShamanSpace #IAmWriting
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#TimeTravelingGhost EP 12: Post 130, 1,802,701 CE, Middlesex, UK
#Wss366 Tall #TimeTravelAuthors 09/5. Plant Grow
The fairy dance ended as suddenly as it had started. One flute cut off mid-verse, and the other trailed off right afterwards. No one seemed alarmed or surprised. Most stopped in their tracks, while a few continued prancing for a few moments more before joining the rest and slipped away.
Weena tugged on my arm and gestured at the building behind the trees. “Coome. Hoomee. Eeat.”
I nodded, and we started toward the woods.
The whole way, my new friend held my hand and babbled to me in a mixture of melodic syllables and fractured English. After asking a few questions, I realized I wouldn’t learn anything useful. She either didn’t know the answers, couldn’t communicate them, or I failed to make myself understood. As such, I retreated into my thoughts.
I considered what I’d learned. I knew a fair amount about this world, or at least H.G. Wells’s theories. Meeting the fairies, for that is what I still thought of them as, had been fortunate. If I had followed the path, I might have run into the Morlocks. But about myself, I remained ignorant except for what short flashbacks had shown me.
It was beyond frustrating that I remembered a “fictional” book more clearly than my own history.
The woods soon ended, and we emerged into a wide glen with an enormous ruined mansion in the center. Lichen grew thick on its walls, and time had shattered its #tall stained-glass windows. The remaining geometric panes had slumped like wax candles left in the sun. I doubted the fairies had built it. Instead, some forgotten civilization must have done so.
That thought offered a glimmer of hope. Remnants of that race could still exist. If I found them, I might learn more.
Returning to my survey, I noted #plants heavy with berries, small fruits, and pea-like pods growing throughout the glen. There was no sense of their being planted by the fairy folk. The herbage sprouted in random swatches or alone, just as the wind had scattered their seeds. Amidst this lush abundance, a wide variety of melon vines snaked along the ground. Here too was an untended bounty of yellow, green, and dappled gourds. At the forest's edge grew trees laden with red, purple, and topaz globes. It was no surprise that the protagonist of H.G. Wells’s story had mistaken this for a utopia at first.
#TootFic #NMFic #TimeTravel #HistoricalFantasy #UrbanFantasy #Mythpunk #Serial #Sapphic #Slowburn
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It was too late when we realised what the AI grift's endgame entailed.
After everyone settled that using copyrighted material as training input without compensation was a crime, the IP cartels came for the bedtime stories and the illegal learning centres. I was a kindergarten teacher before the jihad. Still am, just more heavily armed now.. Keep your head down! You wanna end up in readers prison?
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"Thank you, but no"
"Ksjrhgh fnrgle"
"Sir you are very drunk, you smell unpleasant, and I am not interested"
"Ghvn drmk wm"
"I do not want your drink. I have a botfriend"
"BLRGL WRGNX"
"Ah, KX16, I was just about to page you. Please see this gentleman out, force level six. Use your judgement but perhaps break some fingers on his left hand, the one he groped me with."
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#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch
Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 63
#Wss366 Treble #TimeTravelAuthors 9/4 WhateverInside the passage hung a feline odor, strong enough to wilt feathers, and paw prints littered the dusty floor. We turned left in the direction most of them led.
“It’s walking on its hind feet,” Sumika said after a few meters and pointed to where the marks of the forepaws ceased, leaving only the rear ones.
“Indeed, that’s because it’s a nekomata. Be glad this passage is wood, not stone,” I replied.
“Why?”
“Because your ‘cute’ kitty can spit fireballs. I doubt it wants to burn its mistress’s home down.”
“Oh!”
“It could be worse. We might have run into a gotokuneko. They’re about #treble the strength.”
“Treble? What kind of word is that? Just say three times.”
“It’s a perfectly good word.”
“Whatever. And what about ‘gotokuneko?’ You’re not making that stuff up, are you?” Mistress asked.
“Moi? Me? Make stuff up? I’m wounded. No, I studied this kind of thing when I was a woman.”
“You know you’re a lot more human-like than when we first met. You almost talk normally, barring words like ‘treble.’”
“Awk, chicka, cawa! Pay attention, there are lights ahead,” I cawed, irratated.
“How could Glinda-chan say such a thing? Hmph! Just when I was thinking she had more than one brain cell, she says utter rubbish. But no, she’s nothing more than a three-toed sloth.”
#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore
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#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch
Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 63
#Wss366 Treble #TimeTravelAuthors 9/4 WhateverInside the passage hung a feline odor, strong enough to wilt feathers, and paw prints littered the dusty floor. We turned left in the direction most of them led.
“It’s walking on its hind feet,” Sumika said after a few meters and pointed to where the marks of the forepaws ceased, leaving only the rear ones.
“Indeed, that’s because it’s a nekomata. Be glad this passage is wood, not stone,” I replied.
“Why?”
“Because your ‘cute’ kitty can spit fireballs. I doubt it wants to burn its mistress’s home down.”
“Oh!”
“It could be worse. We might have run into a gotokuneko. They’re about #treble the strength.”
“Treble? What kind of word is that? Just say three times.”
“It’s a perfectly good word.”
“Whatever. And what about ‘gotokuneko?’ You’re not making that stuff up, are you?” Mistress asked.
“Moi? Me? Make stuff up? I’m wounded. No, I studied this kind of thing when I was a woman.”
“You know you’re a lot more human-like than when we first met. You almost talk normally, barring words like ‘treble.’”
“Awk, chicka, cawa! Pay attention, there are lights ahead,” I cawed, irratated.
“How could Glinda-chan say such a thing? Hmph! Just when I was thinking she had more than one brain cell, she says utter rubbish. But no, she’s nothing more than a three-toed sloth.”
#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore
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#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch
Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 63
#Wss366 Treble #TimeTravelAuthors 9/4 WhateverInside the passage hung a feline odor, strong enough to wilt feathers, and paw prints littered the dusty floor. We turned left in the direction most of them led.
“It’s walking on its hind feet,” Sumika said after a few meters and pointed to where the marks of the forepaws ceased, leaving only the rear ones.
“Indeed, that’s because it’s a nekomata. Be glad this passage is wood, not stone,” I replied.
“Why?”
“Because your ‘cute’ kitty can spit fireballs. I doubt it wants to burn its mistress’s home down.”
“Oh!”
“It could be worse. We might have run into a gotokuneko. They’re about #treble the strength.”
“Treble? What kind of word is that? Just say three times.”
“It’s a perfectly good word.”
“Whatever. And what about ‘gotokuneko?’ You’re not making that stuff up, are you?” Mistress asked.
“Moi? Me? Make stuff up? I’m wounded. No, I studied this kind of thing when I was a woman.”
“You know you’re a lot more human-like than when we first met. You almost talk normally, barring words like ‘treble.’”
“Awk, chicka, cawa! Pay attention, there are lights ahead,” I cawed, irratated.
“How could Glinda-chan say such a thing? Hmph! Just when I was thinking she had more than one brain cell, she says utter rubbish. But no, she’s nothing more than a three-toed sloth.”
#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore
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#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch
Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 63
#Wss366 Treble #TimeTravelAuthors 9/4 WhateverInside the passage hung a feline odor, strong enough to wilt feathers, and paw prints littered the dusty floor. We turned left in the direction most of them led.
“It’s walking on its hind feet,” Sumika said after a few meters and pointed to where the marks of the forepaws ceased, leaving only the rear ones.
“Indeed, that’s because it’s a nekomata. Be glad this passage is wood, not stone,” I replied.
“Why?”
“Because your ‘cute’ kitty can spit fireballs. I doubt it wants to burn its mistress’s home down.”
“Oh!”
“It could be worse. We might have run into a gotokuneko. They’re about #treble the strength.”
“Treble? What kind of word is that? Just say three times.”
“It’s a perfectly good word.”
“Whatever. And what about ‘gotokuneko?’ You’re not making that stuff up, are you?” Mistress asked.
“Moi? Me? Make stuff up? I’m wounded. No, I studied this kind of thing when I was a woman.”
“You know you’re a lot more human-like than when we first met. You almost talk normally, barring words like ‘treble.’”
“Awk, chicka, cawa! Pay attention, there are lights ahead,” I cawed, irratated.
“How could Glinda-chan say such a thing? Hmph! Just when I was thinking she had more than one brain cell, she says utter rubbish. But no, she’s nothing more than a three-toed sloth.”
#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore
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#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch
Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 63
#Wss366 Treble #TimeTravelAuthors 9/4 WhateverInside the passage hung a feline odor, strong enough to wilt feathers, and paw prints littered the dusty floor. We turned left in the direction most of them led.
“It’s walking on its hind feet,” Sumika said after a few meters and pointed to where the marks of the forepaws ceased, leaving only the rear ones.
“Indeed, that’s because it’s a nekomata. Be glad this passage is wood, not stone,” I replied.
“Why?”
“Because your ‘cute’ kitty can spit fireballs. I doubt it wants to burn its mistress’s home down.”
“Oh!”
“It could be worse. We might have run into a gotokuneko. They’re about #treble the strength.”
“Treble? What kind of word is that? Just say three times.”
“It’s a perfectly good word.”
“Whatever. And what about ‘gotokuneko?’ You’re not making that stuff up, are you?” Mistress asked.
“Moi? Me? Make stuff up? I’m wounded. No, I studied this kind of thing when I was a woman.”
“You know you’re a lot more human-like than when we first met. You almost talk normally, barring words like ‘treble.’”
“Awk, chicka, cawa! Pay attention, there are lights ahead,” I cawed, irratated.
“How could Glinda-chan say such a thing? Hmph! Just when I was thinking she had more than one brain cell, she says utter rubbish. But no, she’s nothing more than a three-toed sloth.”
#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore
-
Imperative
'Rest assured, sir, that my carriage will bring your daughter back here before midnight.'
'Midnight matters not,' replied count Emil Scarlat, sipping on his glass. 'It *is* imperative that she be home before dawn, but she knows that.'
#writever #MastoArt #FlashFiction #SmallStory #TootFic #MicroFiction
-
Imperative
'Rest assured, sir, that my carriage will bring your daughter back here before midnight.'
'Midnight matters not,' replied count Emil Scarlat, sipping on his glass. 'It *is* imperative that she be home before dawn, but she knows that.'
#writever #MastoArt #FlashFiction #SmallStory #TootFic #MicroFiction
-
Imperative
'Rest assured, sir, that my carriage will bring your daughter back here before midnight.'
'Midnight matters not,' replied count Emil Scarlat, sipping on his glass. 'It *is* imperative that she be home before dawn, but she knows that.'
#writever #MastoArt #FlashFiction #SmallStory #TootFic #MicroFiction
-
Imperative
'Rest assured, sir, that my carriage will bring your daughter back here before midnight.'
'Midnight matters not,' replied count Emil Scarlat, sipping on his glass. 'It *is* imperative that she be home before dawn, but she knows that.'
#writever #MastoArt #FlashFiction #SmallStory #TootFic #MicroFiction
-
3 Months ago, Council Offices, Divesen Station.
Joy looked across her desk at the Scout. They were not human, but one of the many species that had been derived from Earth-species stock in the distant, distant past. Probably by the same unknown race that delivered Joy's ancestors to Mother of All.
"Well Scout Instructor you certainly are an unexpected reply to my request."
The vocoder on the Scout's chest translated the burst of colours that surged across their skin. "Arriving with the answer seemed an efficient solution to the restrictions limitations of travel times."
"You did cause something of a stir when you emerged. The biggest thing we've seen here before was a depot ship, and that was back in Lorn's day."
"Are apologies compensations regrets required?"
Joy smiled, and made a complex sign with her fingers, indicating a matter of little import "No, just a surprise."
"We sign now?"
"Yes, I have been authorised by the Council of Elders to sign this modification of the treaty."The Scout Instructor picked up the papers with one tentacle and looked through them. "All is in order correct." And it took a small box out of a harness, pressed the tip of a free tentacle into it, and then at the bottom of each page.
Joy took them back, and pressed her inked thumb against each page, and then signed her name.
A sign indicating an important query, "Are the lands territories properties clear for us to land arrive?"
"Yes, and airspace restrictions have been agreed to."
"Good pleasing efficient."
"It is for our benefit that we asked you to establish a Scout school here. Will the Maui be here long?"
"Apologies error, we understood thought you had knowledge. The Maui is permanently assigned to this station. In case of dramatic major intervention."Joy sat back in surprise. "They've assigned us a Frontier Class cruiser? In case we need to do a full interdiction?"
"Correct."
"I see. Well, thank-you instructor, I'll let you return to your ship and your duties."
"Very good yes Scout Commander."
"What?"A burst of bright colours washed across the sophonts skin and it handed an envelope to Joy "Your orders Scout Commander. You have been reactivated."
Before she could answer, it flowed out of her office.After a few minutes, Joy opened the envelope. Inside was a new Scout ID card, and her orders to establish a new Scout Base on Mother of All. Starting with a locally-based school.
So much for retiring.
#ShamanSpace #SF #SFF #SciFi #SpaceOpera #Microfiction #Microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting
-
3 Months ago, Council Offices, Divesen Station.
Joy looked across her desk at the Scout. They were not human, but one of the many species that had been derived from Earth-species stock in the distant, distant past. Probably by the same unknown race that delivered Joy's ancestors to Mother of All.
"Well Scout Instructor you certainly are an unexpected reply to my request."
The vocoder on the Scout's chest translated the burst of colours that surged across their skin. "Arriving with the answer seemed an efficient solution to the restrictions limitations of travel times."
"You did cause something of a stir when you emerged. The biggest thing we've seen here before was a depot ship, and that was back in Lorn's day."
"Are apologies compensations regrets required?"
Joy smiled, and made a complex sign with her fingers, indicating a matter of little import "No, just a surprise."
"We sign now?"
"Yes, I have been authorised by the Council of Elders to sign this modification of the treaty."The Scout Instructor picked up the papers with one tentacle and looked through them. "All is in order correct." And it took a small box out of a harness, pressed the tip of a free tentacle into it, and then at the bottom of each page.
Joy took them back, and pressed her inked thumb against each page, and then signed her name.
A sign indicating an important query, "Are the lands territories properties clear for us to land arrive?"
"Yes, and airspace restrictions have been agreed to."
"Good pleasing efficient."
"It is for our benefit that we asked you to establish a Scout school here. Will the Maui be here long?"
"Apologies error, we understood thought you had knowledge. The Maui is permanently assigned to this station. In case of dramatic major intervention."Joy sat back in surprise. "They've assigned us a Frontier Class cruiser? In case we need to do a full interdiction?"
"Correct."
"I see. Well, thank-you instructor, I'll let you return to your ship and your duties."
"Very good yes Scout Commander."
"What?"A burst of bright colours washed across the sophonts skin and it handed an envelope to Joy "Your orders Scout Commander. You have been reactivated."
Before she could answer, it flowed out of her office.After a few minutes, Joy opened the envelope. Inside was a new Scout ID card, and her orders to establish a new Scout Base on Mother of All. Starting with a locally-based school.
So much for retiring.
#ShamanSpace #SF #SFF #SciFi #SpaceOpera #Microfiction #Microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting
-
3 Months ago, Council Offices, Divesen Station.
Joy looked across her desk at the Scout. They were not human, but one of the many species that had been derived from Earth-species stock in the distant, distant past. Probably by the same unknown race that delivered Joy's ancestors to Mother of All.
"Well Scout Instructor you certainly are an unexpected reply to my request."
The vocoder on the Scout's chest translated the burst of colours that surged across their skin. "Arriving with the answer seemed an efficient solution to the restrictions limitations of travel times."
"You did cause something of a stir when you emerged. The biggest thing we've seen here before was a depot ship, and that was back in Lorn's day."
"Are apologies compensations regrets required?"
Joy smiled, and made a complex sign with her fingers, indicating a matter of little import "No, just a surprise."
"We sign now?"
"Yes, I have been authorised by the Council of Elders to sign this modification of the treaty."The Scout Instructor picked up the papers with one tentacle and looked through them. "All is in order correct." And it took a small box out of a harness, pressed the tip of a free tentacle into it, and then at the bottom of each page.
Joy took them back, and pressed her inked thumb against each page, and then signed her name.
A sign indicating an important query, "Are the lands territories properties clear for us to land arrive?"
"Yes, and airspace restrictions have been agreed to."
"Good pleasing efficient."
"It is for our benefit that we asked you to establish a Scout school here. Will the Maui be here long?"
"Apologies error, we understood thought you had knowledge. The Maui is permanently assigned to this station. In case of dramatic major intervention."Joy sat back in surprise. "They've assigned us a Frontier Class cruiser? In case we need to do a full interdiction?"
"Correct."
"I see. Well, thank-you instructor, I'll let you return to your ship and your duties."
"Very good yes Scout Commander."
"What?"A burst of bright colours washed across the sophonts skin and it handed an envelope to Joy "Your orders Scout Commander. You have been reactivated."
Before she could answer, it flowed out of her office.After a few minutes, Joy opened the envelope. Inside was a new Scout ID card, and her orders to establish a new Scout Base on Mother of All. Starting with a locally-based school.
So much for retiring.
#ShamanSpace #SF #SFF #SciFi #SpaceOpera #Microfiction #Microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting
-
3 Months ago, Council Offices, Divesen Station.
Joy looked across her desk at the Scout. They were not human, but one of the many species that had been derived from Earth-species stock in the distant, distant past. Probably by the same unknown race that delivered Joy's ancestors to Mother of All.
"Well Scout Instructor you certainly are an unexpected reply to my request."
The vocoder on the Scout's chest translated the burst of colours that surged across their skin. "Arriving with the answer seemed an efficient solution to the restrictions limitations of travel times."
"You did cause something of a stir when you emerged. The biggest thing we've seen here before was a depot ship, and that was back in Lorn's day."
"Are apologies compensations regrets required?"
Joy smiled, and made a complex sign with her fingers, indicating a matter of little import "No, just a surprise."
"We sign now?"
"Yes, I have been authorised by the Council of Elders to sign this modification of the treaty."The Scout Instructor picked up the papers with one tentacle and looked through them. "All is in order correct." And it took a small box out of a harness, pressed the tip of a free tentacle into it, and then at the bottom of each page.
Joy took them back, and pressed her inked thumb against each page, and then signed her name.
A sign indicating an important query, "Are the lands territories properties clear for us to land arrive?"
"Yes, and airspace restrictions have been agreed to."
"Good pleasing efficient."
"It is for our benefit that we asked you to establish a Scout school here. Will the Maui be here long?"
"Apologies error, we understood thought you had knowledge. The Maui is permanently assigned to this station. In case of dramatic major intervention."Joy sat back in surprise. "They've assigned us a Frontier Class cruiser? In case we need to do a full interdiction?"
"Correct."
"I see. Well, thank-you instructor, I'll let you return to your ship and your duties."
"Very good yes Scout Commander."
"What?"A burst of bright colours washed across the sophonts skin and it handed an envelope to Joy "Your orders Scout Commander. You have been reactivated."
Before she could answer, it flowed out of her office.After a few minutes, Joy opened the envelope. Inside was a new Scout ID card, and her orders to establish a new Scout Base on Mother of All. Starting with a locally-based school.
So much for retiring.
#ShamanSpace #SF #SFF #SciFi #SpaceOpera #Microfiction #Microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting
-
3 Months ago, Council Offices, Divesen Station.
Joy looked across her desk at the Scout. They were not human, but one of the many species that had been derived from Earth-species stock in the distant, distant past. Probably by the same unknown race that delivered Joy's ancestors to Mother of All.
"Well Scout Instructor you certainly are an unexpected reply to my request."
The vocoder on the Scout's chest translated the burst of colours that surged across their skin. "Arriving with the answer seemed an efficient solution to the restrictions limitations of travel times."
"You did cause something of a stir when you emerged. The biggest thing we've seen here before was a depot ship, and that was back in Lorn's day."
"Are apologies compensations regrets required?"
Joy smiled, and made a complex sign with her fingers, indicating a matter of little import "No, just a surprise."
"We sign now?"
"Yes, I have been authorised by the Council of Elders to sign this modification of the treaty."The Scout Instructor picked up the papers with one tentacle and looked through them. "All is in order correct." And it took a small box out of a harness, pressed the tip of a free tentacle into it, and then at the bottom of each page.
Joy took them back, and pressed her inked thumb against each page, and then signed her name.
A sign indicating an important query, "Are the lands territories properties clear for us to land arrive?"
"Yes, and airspace restrictions have been agreed to."
"Good pleasing efficient."
"It is for our benefit that we asked you to establish a Scout school here. Will the Maui be here long?"
"Apologies error, we understood thought you had knowledge. The Maui is permanently assigned to this station. In case of dramatic major intervention."Joy sat back in surprise. "They've assigned us a Frontier Class cruiser? In case we need to do a full interdiction?"
"Correct."
"I see. Well, thank-you instructor, I'll let you return to your ship and your duties."
"Very good yes Scout Commander."
"What?"A burst of bright colours washed across the sophonts skin and it handed an envelope to Joy "Your orders Scout Commander. You have been reactivated."
Before she could answer, it flowed out of her office.After a few minutes, Joy opened the envelope. Inside was a new Scout ID card, and her orders to establish a new Scout Base on Mother of All. Starting with a locally-based school.
So much for retiring.
#ShamanSpace #SF #SFF #SciFi #SpaceOpera #Microfiction #Microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting
-
"Do you have any questions for me about the vessel or the role?"
"I think we've covered everything. Uh, except—"
"Go ahead, there are no stupid questions on my ship"
"I have a pet rat. Does the _Velma_ allow pets?"
"You'll have to bribe the ships cats, but CONN CAPTAIN WE'VE GOT ANOTHER RATTER!"
"CAPTAIN CONN AWESOME JERRY WILL BE STOKED TO HAVE A NEW PLAYMATE"
"That should be fine; welcome aboard, probie"
-
"Do you have any questions for me about the vessel or the role?"
"I think we've covered everything. Uh, except—"
"Go ahead, there are no stupid questions on my ship"
"I have a pet rat. Does the _Velma_ allow pets?"
"You'll have to bribe the ships cats, but CONN CAPTAIN WE'VE GOT ANOTHER RATTER!"
"CAPTAIN CONN AWESOME JERRY WILL BE STOKED TO HAVE A NEW PLAYMATE"
"That should be fine; welcome aboard, probie"
-
"Do you have any questions for me about the vessel or the role?"
"I think we've covered everything. Uh, except—"
"Go ahead, there are no stupid questions on my ship"
"I have a pet rat. Does the _Velma_ allow pets?"
"You'll have to bribe the ships cats, but CONN CAPTAIN WE'VE GOT ANOTHER RATTER!"
"CAPTAIN CONN AWESOME JERRY WILL BE STOKED TO HAVE A NEW PLAYMATE"
"That should be fine; welcome aboard, probie"
-
"Do you have any questions for me about the vessel or the role?"
"I think we've covered everything. Uh, except—"
"Go ahead, there are no stupid questions on my ship"
"I have a pet rat. Does the _Velma_ allow pets?"
"You'll have to bribe the ships cats, but CONN CAPTAIN WE'VE GOT ANOTHER RATTER!"
"CAPTAIN CONN AWESOME JERRY WILL BE STOKED TO HAVE A NEW PLAYMATE"
"That should be fine; welcome aboard, probie"
-
"Do you have any questions for me about the vessel or the role?"
"I think we've covered everything. Uh, except—"
"Go ahead, there are no stupid questions on my ship"
"I have a pet rat. Does the _Velma_ allow pets?"
"You'll have to bribe the ships cats, but CONN CAPTAIN WE'VE GOT ANOTHER RATTER!"
"CAPTAIN CONN AWESOME JERRY WILL BE STOKED TO HAVE A NEW PLAYMATE"
"That should be fine; welcome aboard, probie"
-
The old man eyed me across the grog-soaked table, “I chased him across the Atlantic, through storms round The Cape, in the frozen wastes, and across the South Sea maelstroms!”
He balled his fist and leant a snaggley smirk. “But I got him! It took everything I had: my family, my money… but I got that bastard whale!”
The inn door latch rattled, but no-one looked up.
“I caught him up in Bali, rowed out, and then... ”
Suddenly, a flipper touched his shoulder: “Tag! You're It again!”
-
Titanic Steward: Fragment I
#FanFic #Titanic Voyage @juliebihn
#Wss366 Gin #TimeTravelAuthors 09/3. Bonus Fragment“Hey, Hart. What are you thinking? Are you stupid?” One of the other Titanic stewards asked.
“What do you mean?” Milo Hart took the comment calmly, though he probably would have decked the man back in port. Here, on board the ship, an altercation would get you reprimanded or fired. It was a good job that paid well. It was a darn sight better than being a dirt farmer back home. If he didn’t lose this job, he could marry Sally when the trip was done.
“I saw you out on the first-class promenade. You don’t belong there. And with a guest.”
“She asked me to escort her. She was feeling ill and needed air.” Hart made up an excuse on the fly. He had always been good at that. It might not have been true, but no one would ever know.
“She talks to herself,” and the other steward touched his head. “Be careful, you’ll get into trouble!”
“You trying to #gin up problems? Going to report me if I do a guest a favor?”
“No, I just worry about you. You’ve been odd recently.”
“Don’t fret. I have a sinking feeling it won’t matter for long. I’m usually right when I have these feelings too.”
-
Titanic Steward: Fragment I
#FanFic #Titanic Voyage @juliebihn
#Wss366 Gin #TimeTravelAuthors 09/3. Bonus Fragment“Hey, Hart. What are you thinking? Are you stupid?” One of the other Titanic stewards asked.
“What do you mean?” Milo Hart took the comment calmly, though he probably would have decked the man back in port. Here, on board the ship, an altercation would get you reprimanded or fired. It was a good job that paid well. It was a darn sight better than being a dirt farmer back home. If he didn’t lose this job, he could marry Sally when the trip was done.
“I saw you out on the first-class promenade. You don’t belong there. And with a guest.”
“She asked me to escort her. She was feeling ill and needed air.” Hart made up an excuse on the fly. He had always been good at that. It might not have been true, but no one would ever know.
“She talks to herself,” and the other steward touched his head. “Be careful, you’ll get into trouble!”
“You trying to #gin up problems? Going to report me if I do a guest a favor?”
“No, I just worry about you. You’ve been odd recently.”
“Don’t fret. I have a sinking feeling it won’t matter for long. I’m usually right when I have these feelings too.”
-
Titanic Steward: Fragment I
#FanFic #Titanic Voyage @juliebihn
#Wss366 Gin #TimeTravelAuthors 09/3. Bonus Fragment“Hey, Hart. What are you thinking? Are you stupid?” One of the other Titanic stewards asked.
“What do you mean?” Milo Hart took the comment calmly, though he probably would have decked the man back in port. Here, on board the ship, an altercation would get you reprimanded or fired. It was a good job that paid well. It was a darn sight better than being a dirt farmer back home. If he didn’t lose this job, he could marry Sally when the trip was done.
“I saw you out on the first-class promenade. You don’t belong there. And with a guest.”
“She asked me to escort her. She was feeling ill and needed air.” Hart made up an excuse on the fly. He had always been good at that. It might not have been true, but no one would ever know.
“She talks to herself,” and the other steward touched his head. “Be careful, you’ll get into trouble!”
“You trying to #gin up problems? Going to report me if I do a guest a favor?”
“No, I just worry about you. You’ve been odd recently.”
“Don’t fret. I have a sinking feeling it won’t matter for long. I’m usually right when I have these feelings too.”
-
Titanic Steward: Fragment I
#FanFic #Titanic Voyage @juliebihn
#Wss366 Gin #TimeTravelAuthors 09/3. Bonus Fragment“Hey, Hart. What are you thinking? Are you stupid?” One of the other Titanic stewards asked.
“What do you mean?” Milo Hart took the comment calmly, though he probably would have decked the man back in port. Here, on board the ship, an altercation would get you reprimanded or fired. It was a good job that paid well. It was a darn sight better than being a dirt farmer back home. If he didn’t lose this job, he could marry Sally when the trip was done.
“I saw you out on the first-class promenade. You don’t belong there. And with a guest.”
“She asked me to escort her. She was feeling ill and needed air.” Hart made up an excuse on the fly. He had always been good at that. It might not have been true, but no one would ever know.
“She talks to herself,” and the other steward touched his head. “Be careful, you’ll get into trouble!”
“You trying to #gin up problems? Going to report me if I do a guest a favor?”
“No, I just worry about you. You’ve been odd recently.”
“Don’t fret. I have a sinking feeling it won’t matter for long. I’m usually right when I have these feelings too.”
-
Titanic Steward: Fragment I
#FanFic #Titanic Voyage @juliebihn
#Wss366 Gin #TimeTravelAuthors 09/3. Bonus Fragment“Hey, Hart. What are you thinking? Are you stupid?” One of the other Titanic stewards asked.
“What do you mean?” Milo Hart took the comment calmly, though he probably would have decked the man back in port. Here, on board the ship, an altercation would get you reprimanded or fired. It was a good job that paid well. It was a darn sight better than being a dirt farmer back home. If he didn’t lose this job, he could marry Sally when the trip was done.
“I saw you out on the first-class promenade. You don’t belong there. And with a guest.”
“She asked me to escort her. She was feeling ill and needed air.” Hart made up an excuse on the fly. He had always been good at that. It might not have been true, but no one would ever know.
“She talks to herself,” and the other steward touched his head. “Be careful, you’ll get into trouble!”
“You trying to #gin up problems? Going to report me if I do a guest a favor?”
“No, I just worry about you. You’ve been odd recently.”
“Don’t fret. I have a sinking feeling it won’t matter for long. I’m usually right when I have these feelings too.”
-
“What’s operation IMPRESSIVE CODENAME?”
“I can’t tell you that!”
“Of course you can, I have TOP SECRET clearance”
“Oh my sweet summer child, TOP SECRET is nowhere near the top secret clearance. There are all kinds of special code word clearances above that”
“Like what?”
“Well you’d need EUPHEMISTIC WARCRIME clearance before I could even show you the list of clearances”
“Well how do I get that?”
“I can’t tell you, the process is classified OBSCURE IN-JOKE”
“This is absurd, who makes up those rules?”
“It’s complicated. The NATIONAL OBFUSCATORY AGENCY is involved.”
“You made that up!”
“I assuredly did not. The PERIPHERALLY RELEVANT COUNTERINTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE did that to conceal their own existence"
“The who?”
“Oh fuck, forget I said that, you aren’t cleared to know they exist without being read into the CONFLICTING BAILIWICK project”
“Screw this, let’s get lunch. I need a drink!”
“I’m not cleared for the food court.”
-
“What’s operation IMPRESSIVE CODENAME?”
“I can’t tell you that!”
“Of course you can, I have TOP SECRET clearance”
“Oh my sweet summer child, TOP SECRET is nowhere near the top secret clearance. There are all kinds of special code word clearances above that”
“Like what?”
“Well you’d need EUPHEMISTIC WARCRIME clearance before I could even show you the list of clearances”
“Well how do I get that?”
“I can’t tell you, the process is classified OBSCURE IN-JOKE”
“This is absurd, who makes up those rules?”
“It’s complicated. The NATIONAL OBFUSCATORY AGENCY is involved.”
“You made that up!”
“I assuredly did not. The PERIPHERALLY RELEVANT COUNTERINTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE did that to conceal their own existence"
“The who?”
“Oh fuck, forget I said that, you aren’t cleared to know they exist without being read into the CONFLICTING BAILIWICK project”
“Screw this, let’s get lunch. I need a drink!”
“I’m not cleared for the food court.”
-
“What’s operation IMPRESSIVE CODENAME?”
“I can’t tell you that!”
“Of course you can, I have TOP SECRET clearance”
“Oh my sweet summer child, TOP SECRET is nowhere near the top secret clearance. There are all kinds of special code word clearances above that”
“Like what?”
“Well you’d need EUPHEMISTIC WARCRIME clearance before I could even show you the list of clearances”
“Well how do I get that?”
“I can’t tell you, the process is classified OBSCURE IN-JOKE”
“This is absurd, who makes up those rules?”
“It’s complicated. The NATIONAL OBFUSCATORY AGENCY is involved.”
“You made that up!”
“I assuredly did not. The PERIPHERALLY RELEVANT COUNTERINTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE did that to conceal their own existence"
“The who?”
“Oh fuck, forget I said that, you aren’t cleared to know they exist without being read into the CONFLICTING BAILIWICK project”
“Screw this, let’s get lunch. I need a drink!”
“I’m not cleared for the food court.”
-
“What’s operation IMPRESSIVE CODENAME?”
“I can’t tell you that!”
“Of course you can, I have TOP SECRET clearance”
“Oh my sweet summer child, TOP SECRET is nowhere near the top secret clearance. There are all kinds of special code word clearances above that”
“Like what?”
“Well you’d need EUPHEMISTIC WARCRIME clearance before I could even show you the list of clearances”
“Well how do I get that?”
“I can’t tell you, the process is classified OBSCURE IN-JOKE”
“This is absurd, who makes up those rules?”
“It’s complicated. The NATIONAL OBFUSCATORY AGENCY is involved.”
“You made that up!”
“I assuredly did not. The PERIPHERALLY RELEVANT COUNTERINTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE did that to conceal their own existence"
“The who?”
“Oh fuck, forget I said that, you aren’t cleared to know they exist without being read into the CONFLICTING BAILIWICK project”
“Screw this, let’s get lunch. I need a drink!”
“I’m not cleared for the food court.”
-
“What’s operation IMPRESSIVE CODENAME?”
“I can’t tell you that!”
“Of course you can, I have TOP SECRET clearance”
“Oh my sweet summer child, TOP SECRET is nowhere near the top secret clearance. There are all kinds of special code word clearances above that”
“Like what?”
“Well you’d need EUPHEMISTIC WARCRIME clearance before I could even show you the list of clearances”
“Well how do I get that?”
“I can’t tell you, the process is classified OBSCURE IN-JOKE”
“This is absurd, who makes up those rules?”
“It’s complicated. The NATIONAL OBFUSCATORY AGENCY is involved.”
“You made that up!”
“I assuredly did not. The PERIPHERALLY RELEVANT COUNTERINTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE did that to conceal their own existence"
“The who?”
“Oh fuck, forget I said that, you aren’t cleared to know they exist without being read into the CONFLICTING BAILIWICK project”
“Screw this, let’s get lunch. I need a drink!”
“I’m not cleared for the food court.”
-
Jacob announced to his team he was going to delete the fifth wall app, a program that would allow them to communicate with their past selves. Their past PUBLISHED selves, specifically - they were, after all, sentient, fictional characters.
Reggie says, "In all seriousness, I'm proud of you, Jacob. I was going to say that-"
Jacob opened the lid to his computer to delete the program.
"-we need to nip this thing in the bud-"
The laptop started generating what sounded like feedback. Everyone clapped their hands over their ears.
"-What is-?" Reggie started. "The fifth wall is open again! Shut it dow-"
Jacob slammed the lid shut again. "How am I supposed to delete the app when I can't even open my laptop?!"
Enzo crossed his arms. "Is everything about the app on your laptop?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, pull the battery out-"
Jacob's eyes widened. "That'll allow me to restart it..."
"-then smash the laptop to pieces."
Jacob paused. "That WON'T allow me to restart it."
#MicroFiction #FlashFiction #TootFic #ShortStory #SciFi #ScienceFiction
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Jacob announced to his team he was going to delete the fifth wall app, a program that would allow them to communicate with their past selves. Their past PUBLISHED selves, specifically - they were, after all, sentient, fictional characters.
Reggie says, "In all seriousness, I'm proud of you, Jacob. I was going to say that-"
Jacob opened the lid to his computer to delete the program.
"-we need to nip this thing in the bud-"
The laptop started generating what sounded like feedback. Everyone clapped their hands over their ears.
"-What is-?" Reggie started. "The fifth wall is open again! Shut it dow-"
Jacob slammed the lid shut again. "How am I supposed to delete the app when I can't even open my laptop?!"
Enzo crossed his arms. "Is everything about the app on your laptop?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, pull the battery out-"
Jacob's eyes widened. "That'll allow me to restart it..."
"-then smash the laptop to pieces."
Jacob paused. "That WON'T allow me to restart it."
#MicroFiction #FlashFiction #TootFic #ShortStory #SciFi #ScienceFiction
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#TimeTravelingGhost EP 12: Post 129, 1,802,701 CE, Middlesex, UK
#Wss366 Cant #TimeTravelAuthors 09/1. Introduce your story (use the word "fall")
The fairy, Weena, turned and spoke to the others, who were now traversing the circle, dancing a graceful yet chaotic dance while singing in the flowing language of her people. One word was clear: “Hurburth.” Upon speaking, she pointed at me. Was that my name or the type of creature I was? I don’t suppose it mattered; there were no other humans they could confuse me with.
I pointed to her and asked, “Who are you?”
“Who?” she asked, cocking her head in puzzlement. Then, touched her chest and said, “Weena—Freenn.” As she said the second word, she took my hand and smiled.
“Friend?” I asked.
She nodded and repeated, “Weena, freennd.”
I looked at her hand, then at her, and then back at her hand. It felt awkward. She seemed to know me and to be attached to me, even intimately. I, however, had no recollection of her. There wasn’t even a hint of familiarity. She was a total stranger.
When I tried tugging my hand free, she pouted, so I stopped. Her childish looks and behavior made me afraid of offending her. I needed an ally, and she was offering.
Meanwhile, the dancers spun around the circle faster and faster: twirling, #canting first to one side and then the other, weaving in and out, but never colliding. The pipes grew shrill, and their voices filled the air like a flock of chickadees. Periodically someone would #fall to the ground panting. Once rested, they either rejoined the dance or came to stare at me. Some stroked my cheeks or hair, while others decked me with flowers or offered me berries and nuts.
“The Time Machine,” I thought. Yeah, I had finally figured out where I was: The sphinx, the garden-like setting amid rhododendrons, effete people, and Weena—it all fit together. So now I knew my name and location, but not my history or why I was there.
I sighed. This adventure seemed all too familiar, yet puzzlingly different from the vague impression I had of my past. I was in a book—weird!
#TootFic #NMFic #TimeTravel #HistoricalFantasy #UrbanFantasy #Mythpunk #Serial #Sapphic #Slowburn
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#TimeTravelingGhost EP 12: Post 128, 1,802,701 CE, Middlesex, UK
#Wss366 Violet #TimeTravelAuthors 08/31 Author's choice/promo
While I watched, a crowd of fairy-like creatures emerged from the woods. They were slender, feminine figures with shapely limbs. Each wore a colorful tunic belted at the waist.
A man and a woman led the group, though it was difficult to discern their gender, so similar appeared their features. Small apple-like breasts were the sole difference. The man was garbed in a dusty rose tunic, while the woman wore a #violet one. Crowns of matching flowers encircled their heads. They each played a bamboo flute, and the creatures following them danced to the music, laughing and singing.
I could have run, and perhaps I should have, but they seemed harmless, and if I fled, my chances of learning anything useful would be minimal. Worse came to worst, I could break through their ranks, so frail did they seem.
As they drew nearer, I saw they stood a little over a meter tall. I could make out their Dresden features: smooth faces; small, thin, bright-red lips; large, mild eyes; pointed chins; and delicate noses. Curly hair fell to their necks, hiding their ears, but I imagined elvish ones. Except for the absence of wings, they might have been fairies straight out of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” I would have been a proper ass not to appreciate their fragile beauty.
The majority swirled around me, while a few stopped to poke at me, speaking in strange, sweet, liquid tones. Except for one woman, it was all delightful, but totally incomprehensible. She spoke broken English with an odd lisp. The oddness didn’t stop there; one side of her face had been burned.
“Hurburth?” she asked, embracing me. “Weena miss you.”
#TootFic #NMFic #TimeTravel #HistoricalFantasy #UrbanFantasy #Mythpunk #Serial #Sapphic #Slowburn
-
Thanks for coming in to discuss this contract.
Like many industries, the demolition industry is pretty tight-knit. Our teams all know each other, and we keep in touch. Sure we compete for contracts, but the work is stupid dangerous, so there is no room for cutting people out - they might know something you don't, and save you and your crews lives.
So when I got your call to bring down a hotel from the 1910s, I had a look around, noted the incomplete demo work, and told you I'd get back to you. That is this meeting.
I asked around.
Turns out almost everyone has had go at that place. And I mean almost everyone. In fact the only local company that hasn't is mine.
So I had to ask "Why is the place still standing?" The answers were weird, to say the least.
I know you know the stories, but let's go over them.
Two teams tried to implode the place. Whenever they got ready to blow the place, they'd find det lines disconnected, fuzes pulled out of charges, even the charges themselves not where they were meant to be. And not once or twice. This went on for months.
Some other crews were going to go the traditional wrecking ball and bulldozer path. Except that every time they went to start, equipment failed. Wrecking balls came off cables, dozers lost tracks or hydraulics, engines would be be missing critical parts.
And then there were the other things. Lights in the windows. Security guards hearing noises, but finding nothing. Security guards who would, one morning, just resign, and never explain why.
Everyone agreed that it was the same problem. The locals. Only not the neighbours, or do-gooders, or NIMBYs.
The locals in the hotel.
The dead ones.
Ghosts.
All the teams were convinced that the place was haunted.
Big Mike, who isn't scared of anything, hired an exorcist. They lasted half a night, and now live on the other side of pond.
Which is why I am declining this contract. If you want my advice, not that you'll take it, stop trying to knock it down.
Either sell it as is, or fix it up, and turn the liability into an asset. You have what looks like a genuinely haunted hotel. Clean it up, renovate, and charge a premium.
Just make it clear to both the ghosts and and the contractors what is going on. You'll want them on your side, after all.
#SF #SFF #SciFi #Horror #Aughost #microfiction #microfic #tootfic #IAmWriting
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Mother of All.
On approach to Divesen Station, two hours out."Captain to the bridge" Engel opened his eyes, confused for a couple of seconds. Even after nine days, he was not used to being called 'Captain'. After a few moments, he got up and went forward. They were still at least two hours out, what was going on? Opening the bridge door, the rest of the skeleton crew were clustered around the sensor station. "Captain, over here!" called Alaine.
He came over and looked at the radar display. There, in orbit above Mother of All, was a massive ship, easily over a hundred times the size of their tradeship. And the profile the radar returned said 'warship'. Not a piddly little raider, not even one that could overpower Athena twice. This was huge and deadly.
"Do we have a beacon ping from it?" he asked.
"Yessir" Alaine replied "She's a Scout Service cruiser. The Maui. We'd fit inside her main gun like a pea in a straw."
"Any word from the station?"
"Yes, we have an approach, but they are directing us to the low port. And there is a Notice to Spacers with a traffic exclusion between the cruiser and the planetary surface."
Engel turned "Seeker? What do you make of this?"
She frowned "I don't know. They must be here at the Council's request, unless they had some sort of catastrophic failure."He shook his head. This was like finding a friendly 400kg ridgehorn in your garden.
"OK, follow the approach they've given us. They know about Bright Sky?"
"Yes, we've flagged it as a prize vessel captured from raiders" Dyani supplied.
"Good. Give me a call when we are fifteen out from the atmosphere."
"Yessir."Back in his cabin, he called the engine room.
"Sparks. Go" was the prompt reply.
"Sparks? Just a heads up, there's a scout cruiser in orbit."
"Which one?"
"The Maui. Does it matter?"
"Just asking. Did Seeker offer anything up?"
"No, she's as clueless as the rest of us."
Sparks hummed. "I guess we find out when we make planetfall."
"I guess so. Out."Engel lay back down, and failed to get back to sleep. He lay there wondering what was going on for the next hour and a half.
"Captain, Bridge. We are fifteen minutes out."
"Thank-you." He scrubbed his face, and went forward again. Maybe they would have answers soon.#SF #SFF #SciFi #SpaceOpera #Microfiction #Microfic #tootfic #ShamanSpace #IAmWriting
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#TimeTravelingGhost EP 12: Post 127, 1,802,701 CE, Middlesex, UK
#Wss366 Take #TimeTravelAuthors 08/29. craft
I mulled over my options. Should I follow the flutes? But they gave me the willies. Or should I shout out? That seemed risky. Okay, how about I #take the path? No, if I followed the trail, I would miss my opportunity to investigate the trampled grass.
Fairy circle it was then.
The slope leading down through the meadow was gentle. The grass was lush and weed-free. It brushed pleasantly against my legs, making a soft swishing noise. Clover, buttercups, and daisies made the lawn merry. Soon, I found one of many paths leading toward the fairy ring. Occasionally, I saw a fruit rind, a wilted flower chain, or small shoe prints.
The circle’s bed measured about two meters wide and swung in a lazy curve that would have taken me about five minutes to walk around. The crushed grass gave off a fresh, green scent. It hadn’t been trampled for long.
As I examined the area, the flute music grew louder. Far from sinister, the tune was familiar, and I found myself humming along: “Greensleeves was all my joy, Greensleeves was my delight, Greensleeves was my heart of gold, and who but my lady Greensleeves.”
When I looked toward the sound, I saw a ruined building #crafted of gray, weathered stone rising above the trees and rhododendron thickets. The music seemed to originate from this edifice.
#TootFic #NMFic #TimeTravel #HistoricalFantasy #UrbanFantasy #Mythpunk #Serial #Sapphic #Slowburn
-
She had been running, she was not sure for how long. She had not really been paying attention to her surroundings, just making sure she did not touch anyone. She was scared of what might happen if she did.
Prithi looked up from the engine of the old Escort she was working on to see a barefoot, white-haired young woman in sports gear stagger toward her unit. Then she fell over and did not move.
Prithi did not hesitate, she grabbed the emergency kit off the wall, and ran over. There were no cars around, so she knelt down and asked if the woman was OK. Nothing. She gave her a shake. Nothing. She started CPR, and then got the defib out. No sooner had she attached the pads than the unit shut down, batteries exhausted. What the heck? She'd checked them yesterday!
Then the woman gave a gasp and sat up.
Prithi moved to support her, but she fended her off "No! Don't touch me! I might be dangerous!" she yelled, her voice sounded hoarse, like it had been screaming for hours.
"Easy! I've already given you CPR, I think if you were going to hurt me by touching, you already would have. I'm Prithi, are you OK?"
"Um, I guess I'm still Mara. And no? Maybe?" She moved to get up, and then fell back again. "I think I need more charging. You wouldn't have a power point handy, would you?"
"Power point? And 'still'?"
"It's a long story. Can you help me over to some electricity?"Prithi got her arm around Mara and stood up. She had been an auto mechanic for some years, and had a pretty solid build. Even so, Mara was a lot heavier than she looked. Slightly staggered by the unexpected weight, she helped Mara into her workshop, and sat her down next to a power socket.
Mara turned on the switch, and held her hand against the socket. A few seconds later the main breaker tripped. "Shit. Can you, please?"
Prithi went over to the switch box and flipped the breaker back on. Eyes closed, Mara's brow furrowed in concentration. "There, that's it. Gently, gently..."As Prithi watched, Mara sat up straighter and finally opened her eyes. "Hi. I'm what's left of Mara de Rue. A mad scientist filled me full of tiny robots, and they are all there is of me now. I was scared they would start to take you over if you touched me, but it seems like they know their place. What day is it?"
Prithi sat back on her heels. "Um, Thursday. The twenty-first. You've been in the news, but you looked different."
"Three weeks, huh? And different?"
Prithi hunted around and pulled out an inspection mirror. She held it up.
"I'm blonde?"
"Yep. And paler than a ghost."
"I guess I don't have any blood now. I wonder if I still have finger prints?" She held a hand in front of her face. "Yep. I hope they're mine."
"Mara? Can I call you that?" Mara nodded "Um, what happened to the scientist?"
Mara cupped her free hand, and a ball of fire formed "This." It disappeared before Prithi could reach towards it. "Can you call my family? Please?"
"Of course."A sequel to https://aus.social/@rdm/110755143970645568
#SF #SFF #SciFi #IAmWriting #microfic #tootfic #Microfiction