#wss366 — Public Fediverse posts

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku (Airisu POV): Post 37
#Wss366 Yellow #TimeTravelAuthors Whatever

I hadn’t been able to get her to give up the plan of rescuing Okiku-san, but I convinced her to stay away from Lookback Ridge and the presence there. Instead, she drew a magic circle and the required runes in her garden.

On the chosen night, the full moon shone brightly over the neat rows of herbs in her yard. The plants gave off a faint purplish light that I associated with magical energy. The faintly scented of shiso, rosemary, and mugwort hung in the air.

As the hour of the ox arrived, Sumika cast yarrow stalks, said the time was favorable, and stepped out into the moonlight. She began chanting and slowly danced backward, wither-shins around the chalked lines. I perched on her shoulder, remaining quiet. Now wasn’t the time for me to be clever.

Gradually, a fog arose, first hiding the garden plants, then the stars, and lastly the house. Only the moon remained, casting a diffuse, silvery light. While all this was happening, the circle began to sparkle, giving off a violet radiance. The mist sang back to us in a woman’s voice. As the singing grew louder, a #yellow flickering glow, like a fire, appeared off to one side.

The voice abruptly ceased singing and spoke. “So he has sent someone after all. Welcome, sister. Join me by my fire where it is warm. We have much to discuss, and my time is short.”

#TootFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri #Folklore #NMFic #TimeTravel

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku (Airisu POV): Post 37
#Wss366 Yellow #TimeTravelAuthors Whatever

I hadn’t been able to get her to give up the plan of rescuing Okiku-san, but I convinced her to stay away from Lookback Ridge and the presence there. Instead, she drew a magic circle and the required runes in her garden.

On the chosen night, the full moon shone brightly over the neat rows of herbs in her yard. The plants gave off a faint purplish light that I associated with magical energy. The faintly scented of shiso, rosemary, and mugwort hung in the air.

As the hour of the ox arrived, Sumika cast yarrow stalks, said the time was favorable, and stepped out into the moonlight. She began chanting and slowly danced backward, wither-shins around the chalked lines. I perched on her shoulder, remaining quiet. Now wasn’t the time for me to be clever.

Gradually, a fog arose, first hiding the garden plants, then the stars, and lastly the house. Only the moon remained, casting a diffuse, silvery light. While all this was happening, the circle began to sparkle, giving off a violet radiance. The mist sang back to us in a woman’s voice. As the singing grew louder, a #yellow flickering glow, like a fire, appeared off to one side.

The voice abruptly ceased singing and spoke. “So he has sent someone after all. Welcome, sister. Join me by my fire where it is warm. We have much to discuss, and my time is short.”

#TootFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri #Folklore #NMFic #TimeTravel

At first Misleidy created #cocktails based on phrases that irritated her as lead-ins for social media posts, things like the Buckle Up, the Strap In, and the Gentle Reminder. Then she took to naming them after depressing news (drink your sorrows, right?) Those drinks included the Overton Window Shift, the AI Boom, and the K-Shaped Economy. But more recently she's been creating drinks based on logical fallacies. Would you care for a Sunk Costs? How about a No True Scotsman?

#wss366 #microfiction

#TimeTravelingGhost EP 10: Post 99: 1191, Nicosia, Cyprus

#Wss366 Cocktail #TimeTravelAuthors 05/13. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: peace)

While I waited for a servant to lead me inside, I consulted with Emily. The thought of an authentic local meal thrilled me, as did the idea that I could get someone to guide us to St. George’s Shrine later. That was if I could carry off this masquerade. The fact that my host and I didn’t speak the same language worked in my favor; while that I knew nothing about the Coptic faith ran against it. I could only hope that the scholar was as unfamiliar with their dogma as I was.

As if sensing my thoughts, Emily asked, “Do you think you can carry this off?”

“Yeah, I’m conversant with medieval Christian mysticism. I can always whip up a #cocktail of French and German metaphysical nonsense. That should work unless they’re familiar with Coptic beliefs. That’s what this robe is, Coptic. I’m more worried about what will happen when they find out I’m a woman. I have no idea how they’ll react to a holy matron instead of a holy man. It’s a rather chauvinistic era.”

“Aren’t they all?” The bitterness in her tone was clear.

I had to agree. Heaven knows there were still people who wanted to repeal a woman’s right to vote in my time. It never stopped. However, there were more pressing issues for me currently.

“I’ve got it, a mask and a holy vow,” I said.

I manifested a porcelain mask similar to the one Countess Bathory had used.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“Frightening. It’s too fancy. You want something more sacred and less sepulcher. Think humble poverty.”

“More of gravy and less of sepulcher,” I muttered. It was a joke that left Emily puzzling.

The Dickens reference may have gone over her head, but the image of the three Christmas ghosts spurred my imagination.

I reformed the mask into a crude wooden representation of Tiny Tim, a #peaceful but haunted smile on his face, combined with a crown of thorns.

Emily sighed and said, “It’ll do.”

#TootFic #NMFic #TimeTravel #HistoricalFantasy #UrbanFantasy #Mythpunk #Serial #Slowburn #Yuri

#TimeTravelingGhost EP 10: Post 99: 1191, Nicosia, Cyprus

#Wss366 Cocktail #TimeTravelAuthors 05/13. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: peace)

While I waited for a servant to lead me inside, I consulted with Emily. The thought of an authentic local meal thrilled me, as did the idea that I could get someone to guide us to St. George’s Shrine later. That was if I could carry off this masquerade. The fact that my host and I didn’t speak the same language worked in my favor; while that I knew nothing about the Coptic faith ran against it. I could only hope that the scholar was as unfamiliar with their dogma as I was.

As if sensing my thoughts, Emily asked, “Do you think you can carry this off?”

“Yeah, I’m conversant with medieval Christian mysticism. I can always whip up a #cocktail of French and German metaphysical nonsense. That should work unless they’re familiar with Coptic beliefs. That’s what this robe is, Coptic. I’m more worried about what will happen when they find out I’m a woman. I have no idea how they’ll react to a holy matron instead of a holy man. It’s a rather chauvinistic era.”

“Aren’t they all?” The bitterness in her tone was clear.

I had to agree. Heaven knows there were still people who wanted to repeal a woman’s right to vote in my time. It never stopped. However, there were more pressing issues for me currently.

“I’ve got it, a mask and a holy vow,” I said.

I manifested a porcelain mask similar to the one Countess Bathory had used.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“Frightening. It’s too fancy. You want something more sacred and less sepulcher. Think humble poverty.”

“More of gravy and less of sepulcher,” I muttered. It was a joke that left Emily puzzling.

The Dickens reference may have gone over her head, but the image of the three Christmas ghosts spurred my imagination.

I reformed the mask into a crude wooden representation of Tiny Tim, a #peaceful but haunted smile on his face, combined with a crown of thorns.

Emily sighed and said, “It’ll do.”

#TootFic #NMFic #TimeTravel #HistoricalFantasy #UrbanFantasy #Mythpunk #Serial #Slowburn #Yuri

#TimeTravelingGhost EP 10: Post 99: 1191, Nicosia, Cyprus

#Wss366 Cocktail #TimeTravelAuthors 05/13. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: peace)

While I waited for a servant to lead me inside, I consulted with Emily. The thought of an authentic local meal thrilled me, as did the idea that I could get someone to guide us to St. George’s Shrine later. That was if I could carry off this masquerade. The fact that my host and I didn’t speak the same language worked in my favor; while that I knew nothing about the Coptic faith ran against it. I could only hope that the scholar was as unfamiliar with their dogma as I was.

As if sensing my thoughts, Emily asked, “Do you think you can carry this off?”

“Yeah, I’m conversant with medieval Christian mysticism. I can always whip up a #cocktail of French and German metaphysical nonsense. That should work unless they’re familiar with Coptic beliefs. That’s what this robe is, Coptic. I’m more worried about what will happen when they find out I’m a woman. I have no idea how they’ll react to a holy matron instead of a holy man. It’s a rather chauvinistic era.”

“Aren’t they all?” The bitterness in her tone was clear.

I had to agree. Heaven knows there were still people who wanted to repeal a woman’s right to vote in my time. It never stopped. However, there were more pressing issues for me currently.

“I’ve got it, a mask and a holy vow,” I said.

I manifested a porcelain mask similar to the one Countess Bathory had used.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“Frightening. It’s too fancy. You want something more sacred and less sepulcher. Think humble poverty.”

“More of gravy and less of sepulcher,” I muttered. It was a joke that left Emily puzzling.

The Dickens reference may have gone over her head, but the image of the three Christmas ghosts spurred my imagination.

I reformed the mask into a crude wooden representation of Tiny Tim, a #peaceful but haunted smile on his face, combined with a crown of thorns.

Emily sighed and said, “It’ll do.”

#TootFic #NMFic #TimeTravel #HistoricalFantasy #UrbanFantasy #Mythpunk #Serial #Slowburn #Yuri

#TimeTravelingGhost EP 10: Post 99: 1191, Nicosia, Cyprus

#Wss366 Cocktail #TimeTravelAuthors 05/13. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: peace)

While I waited for a servant to lead me inside, I consulted with Emily. The thought of an authentic local meal thrilled me, as did the idea that I could get someone to guide us to St. George’s Shrine later. That was if I could carry off this masquerade. The fact that my host and I didn’t speak the same language worked in my favor; while that I knew nothing about the Coptic faith ran against it. I could only hope that the scholar was as unfamiliar with their dogma as I was.

As if sensing my thoughts, Emily asked, “Do you think you can carry this off?”

“Yeah, I’m conversant with medieval Christian mysticism. I can always whip up a #cocktail of French and German metaphysical nonsense. That should work unless they’re familiar with Coptic beliefs. That’s what this robe is, Coptic. I’m more worried about what will happen when they find out I’m a woman. I have no idea how they’ll react to a holy matron instead of a holy man. It’s a rather chauvinistic era.”

“Aren’t they all?” The bitterness in her tone was clear.

I had to agree. Heaven knows there were still people who wanted to repeal a woman’s right to vote in my time. It never stopped. However, there were more pressing issues for me currently.

“I’ve got it, a mask and a holy vow,” I said.

I manifested a porcelain mask similar to the one Countess Bathory had used.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“Frightening. It’s too fancy. You want something more sacred and less sepulcher. Think humble poverty.”

“More of gravy and less of sepulcher,” I muttered. It was a joke that left Emily puzzling.

The Dickens reference may have gone over her head, but the image of the three Christmas ghosts spurred my imagination.

I reformed the mask into a crude wooden representation of Tiny Tim, a #peaceful but haunted smile on his face, combined with a crown of thorns.

Emily sighed and said, “It’ll do.”

#TootFic #NMFic #TimeTravel #HistoricalFantasy #UrbanFantasy #Mythpunk #Serial #Slowburn #Yuri

#TimeTravelingGhost EP 10: Post 99: 1191, Nicosia, Cyprus

#Wss366 Cocktail #TimeTravelAuthors 05/13. Wednesday POST-SIZED snippet (optional word: peace)

While I waited for a servant to lead me inside, I consulted with Emily. The thought of an authentic local meal thrilled me, as did the idea that I could get someone to guide us to St. George’s Shrine later. That was if I could carry off this masquerade. The fact that my host and I didn’t speak the same language worked in my favor; while that I knew nothing about the Coptic faith ran against it. I could only hope that the scholar was as unfamiliar with their dogma as I was.

As if sensing my thoughts, Emily asked, “Do you think you can carry this off?”

“Yeah, I’m conversant with medieval Christian mysticism. I can always whip up a #cocktail of French and German metaphysical nonsense. That should work unless they’re familiar with Coptic beliefs. That’s what this robe is, Coptic. I’m more worried about what will happen when they find out I’m a woman. I have no idea how they’ll react to a holy matron instead of a holy man. It’s a rather chauvinistic era.”

“Aren’t they all?” The bitterness in her tone was clear.

I had to agree. Heaven knows there were still people who wanted to repeal a woman’s right to vote in my time. It never stopped. However, there were more pressing issues for me currently.

“I’ve got it, a mask and a holy vow,” I said.

I manifested a porcelain mask similar to the one Countess Bathory had used.

“What do you think?” I asked.

“Frightening. It’s too fancy. You want something more sacred and less sepulcher. Think humble poverty.”

“More of gravy and less of sepulcher,” I muttered. It was a joke that left Emily puzzling.

The Dickens reference may have gone over her head, but the image of the three Christmas ghosts spurred my imagination.

I reformed the mask into a crude wooden representation of Tiny Tim, a #peaceful but haunted smile on his face, combined with a crown of thorns.

Emily sighed and said, “It’ll do.”

#TootFic #NMFic #TimeTravel #HistoricalFantasy #UrbanFantasy #Mythpunk #Serial #Slowburn #Yuri

Six-year-old Marissa arrived at the family reunion in a #purple dress with gauze sleeves and a skirt of tulle, embroidered with violets.

"Oh my," said an aunt with a smile. "What a little lady!"

Just then Marissa went tearing after her older brother yelling, "HEY! PASS TO ME, PASS TO ME!" practically knocking him down when he didn't instantly pass her the soccer ball.

"Well," said her mom. "She likes dressing up, but I'd say she's as rough and tumble as her brothers."

#wss366 #microfiction

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku (Airisu POV): Post 36
#Wss366 purple #TimeTravelAuthors Whatever

I never did figure out a way to tell her this was a bad idea. The allure of a romantic adventure was too strong to overcome with mere words.

Besides, there were some good reasons to cast the spell. It would be interesting. Mistress would be happy. Watching a real-life yuri romance bloom would be entertaining. Disaster lesbian romances were such a fun trope, and Sumika was the epitome of a disaster lesbian. More practically, I supposed all witches had their allies, and Dōken-shin wasn’t the worst. He certainly wasn’t Mephistopheles or a soul-eating shinigami. At least I hoped not.

Preparation took time. She purchased an Edo-style #purple silk kimono, antibiotics (my suggestion), and a map of Himeji Castle. Money was harder to come by. We bought strings of worn Ming cash coins, but a dealer sorting through them dismissed many as modern copies or inappropriate for the era. We made up the difference with small pieces of cut silver. My estimation of Sumika increased. She was still a bubblehead, but she thought through the process, listened to my advice, and spared no effort in preparing.

Then, after she obtained a week off work, we were ready to go.

Edo Japan, here we come!

#TootFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri #Folklore #NMFic #TimeTravel

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku (Airisu POV): Post 36
#Wss366 purple #TimeTravelAuthors Whatever

I never did figure out a way to tell her this was a bad idea. The allure of a romantic adventure was too strong to overcome with mere words.

Besides, there were some good reasons to cast the spell. It would be interesting. Mistress would be happy. Watching a real-life yuri romance bloom would be entertaining. Disaster lesbian romances were such a fun trope, and Sumika was the epitome of a disaster lesbian. More practically, I supposed all witches had their allies, and Dōken-shin wasn’t the worst. He certainly wasn’t Mephistopheles or a soul-eating shinigami. At least I hoped not.

Preparation took time. She purchased an Edo-style #purple silk kimono, antibiotics (my suggestion), and a map of Himeji Castle. Money was harder to come by. We bought strings of worn Ming cash coins, but a dealer sorting through them dismissed many as modern copies or inappropriate for the era. We made up the difference with small pieces of cut silver. My estimation of Sumika increased. She was still a bubblehead, but she thought through the process, listened to my advice, and spared no effort in preparing.

Then, after she obtained a week off work, we were ready to go.

Edo Japan, here we come!

#TootFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri #Folklore #NMFic #TimeTravel

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku (Airisu POV): Post 36
#Wss366 purple #TimeTravelAuthors Whatever

I never did figure out a way to tell her this was a bad idea. The allure of a romantic adventure was too strong to overcome with mere words.

Besides, there were some good reasons to cast the spell. It would be interesting. Mistress would be happy. Watching a real-life yuri romance bloom would be entertaining. Disaster lesbian romances were such a fun trope, and Sumika was the epitome of a disaster lesbian. More practically, I supposed all witches had their allies, and Dōken-shin wasn’t the worst. He certainly wasn’t Mephistopheles or a soul-eating shinigami. At least I hoped not.

Preparation took time. She purchased an Edo-style #purple silk kimono, antibiotics (my suggestion), and a map of Himeji Castle. Money was harder to come by. We bought strings of worn Ming cash coins, but a dealer sorting through them dismissed many as modern copies or inappropriate for the era. We made up the difference with small pieces of cut silver. My estimation of Sumika increased. She was still a bubblehead, but she thought through the process, listened to my advice, and spared no effort in preparing.

Then, after she obtained a week off work, we were ready to go.

Edo Japan, here we come!

#TootFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri #Folklore #NMFic #TimeTravel

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku (Airisu POV): Post 36
#Wss366 purple #TimeTravelAuthors Whatever

I never did figure out a way to tell her this was a bad idea. The allure of a romantic adventure was too strong to overcome with mere words.

Besides, there were some good reasons to cast the spell. It would be interesting. Mistress would be happy. Watching a real-life yuri romance bloom would be entertaining. Disaster lesbian romances were such a fun trope, and Sumika was the epitome of a disaster lesbian. More practically, I supposed all witches had their allies, and Dōken-shin wasn’t the worst. He certainly wasn’t Mephistopheles or a soul-eating shinigami. At least I hoped not.

Preparation took time. She purchased an Edo-style #purple silk kimono, antibiotics (my suggestion), and a map of Himeji Castle. Money was harder to come by. We bought strings of worn Ming cash coins, but a dealer sorting through them dismissed many as modern copies or inappropriate for the era. We made up the difference with small pieces of cut silver. My estimation of Sumika increased. She was still a bubblehead, but she thought through the process, listened to my advice, and spared no effort in preparing.

Then, after she obtained a week off work, we were ready to go.

Edo Japan, here we come!

#TootFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri #Folklore #NMFic #TimeTravel

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku (Airisu POV): Post 36
#Wss366 purple #TimeTravelAuthors Whatever

I never did figure out a way to tell her this was a bad idea. The allure of a romantic adventure was too strong to overcome with mere words.

Besides, there were some good reasons to cast the spell. It would be interesting. Mistress would be happy. Watching a real-life yuri romance bloom would be entertaining. Disaster lesbian romances were such a fun trope, and Sumika was the epitome of a disaster lesbian. More practically, I supposed all witches had their allies, and Dōken-shin wasn’t the worst. He certainly wasn’t Mephistopheles or a soul-eating shinigami. At least I hoped not.

Preparation took time. She purchased an Edo-style #purple silk kimono, antibiotics (my suggestion), and a map of Himeji Castle. Money was harder to come by. We bought strings of worn Ming cash coins, but a dealer sorting through them dismissed many as modern copies or inappropriate for the era. We made up the difference with small pieces of cut silver. My estimation of Sumika increased. She was still a bubblehead, but she thought through the process, listened to my advice, and spared no effort in preparing.

Then, after she obtained a week off work, we were ready to go.

Edo Japan, here we come!

#TootFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri #Folklore #NMFic #TimeTravel

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku (Airisu POV): Post 35
#Wss366 Film #TimeTravelAuthors 05/11. Do your characters ever undo anything?

“I'm not in love with her,” Mistress finally said. “I don’t know her. She has been dead for how many years?”

“My pardon, you are not in love, and you are not blushing.”

I hurried to answer her question from memory rather than give her time to continue protesting. "Banchō Sarayashiki is an Edo-era story, so it's been about two or three hundred years."

“And how is that supposed to work? I’m not getting involved in necromancy. I’ve watched enough horror #films to know these things never work out in the mortals’ favor.”

She fingered the wound where I had stabbed her, probably remembering how the kami had almost trapped her before. “Besides, I doubt it’s smart to accept favors from Dōken-shin.”

“Getting cold feet, little lady?” It was my contrariness coming through. She was actually wise not to involve herself with Arakawa Dōken.

While I tried to figure out how to steady my perch, i.e., take back the comment, she studied the spell.

“Oh, I get it now!” she said. “This will allow us to go back in time, and we can save her.”

“Time travel,” I thought. “That would be exciting. Still, what about time paradoxes?”

“Like a romance novel!” she said, clapping her hands.

That last statement worried me.

#TootFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri #Folklore #NMFic #TimeTravel

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku (Airisu POV): Post 35
#Wss366 Film #TimeTravelAuthors 05/11. Do your characters ever undo anything?

“I'm not in love with her,” Mistress finally said. “I don’t know her. She has been dead for how many years?”

“My pardon, you are not in love, and you are not blushing.”

I hurried to answer her question from memory rather than give her time to continue protesting. "Banchō Sarayashiki is an Edo-era story, so it's been about two or three hundred years."

“And how is that supposed to work? I’m not getting involved in necromancy. I’ve watched enough horror #films to know these things never work out in the mortals’ favor.”

She fingered the wound where I had stabbed her, probably remembering how the kami had almost trapped her before. “Besides, I doubt it’s smart to accept favors from Dōken-shin.”

“Getting cold feet, little lady?” It was my contrariness coming through. She was actually wise not to involve herself with Arakawa Dōken.

While I tried to figure out how to steady my perch, i.e., take back the comment, she studied the spell.

“Oh, I get it now!” she said. “This will allow us to go back in time, and we can save her.”

“Time travel,” I thought. “That would be exciting. Still, what about time paradoxes?”

“Like a romance novel!” she said, clapping her hands.

That last statement worried me.

#TootFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri #Folklore #NMFic #TimeTravel

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku (Airisu POV): Post 35
#Wss366 Film #TimeTravelAuthors 05/11. Do your characters ever undo anything?

“I'm not in love with her,” Mistress finally said. “I don’t know her. She has been dead for how many years?”

“My pardon, you are not in love, and you are not blushing.”

I hurried to answer her question from memory rather than give her time to continue protesting. "Banchō Sarayashiki is an Edo-era story, so it's been about two or three hundred years."

“And how is that supposed to work? I’m not getting involved in necromancy. I’ve watched enough horror #films to know these things never work out in the mortals’ favor.”

She fingered the wound where I had stabbed her, probably remembering how the kami had almost trapped her before. “Besides, I doubt it’s smart to accept favors from Dōken-shin.”

“Getting cold feet, little lady?” It was my contrariness coming through. She was actually wise not to involve herself with Arakawa Dōken.

While I tried to figure out how to steady my perch, i.e., take back the comment, she studied the spell.

“Oh, I get it now!” she said. “This will allow us to go back in time, and we can save her.”

“Time travel,” I thought. “That would be exciting. Still, what about time paradoxes?”

“Like a romance novel!” she said, clapping her hands.

That last statement worried me.

#TootFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri #Folklore #NMFic #TimeTravel

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku (Airisu POV): Post 35
#Wss366 Film #TimeTravelAuthors 05/11. Do your characters ever undo anything?

“I'm not in love with her,” Mistress finally said. “I don’t know her. She has been dead for how many years?”

“My pardon, you are not in love, and you are not blushing.”

I hurried to answer her question from memory rather than give her time to continue protesting. "Banchō Sarayashiki is an Edo-era story, so it's been about two or three hundred years."

“And how is that supposed to work? I’m not getting involved in necromancy. I’ve watched enough horror #films to know these things never work out in the mortals’ favor.”

She fingered the wound where I had stabbed her, probably remembering how the kami had almost trapped her before. “Besides, I doubt it’s smart to accept favors from Dōken-shin.”

“Getting cold feet, little lady?” It was my contrariness coming through. She was actually wise not to involve herself with Arakawa Dōken.

While I tried to figure out how to steady my perch, i.e., take back the comment, she studied the spell.

“Oh, I get it now!” she said. “This will allow us to go back in time, and we can save her.”

“Time travel,” I thought. “That would be exciting. Still, what about time paradoxes?”

“Like a romance novel!” she said, clapping her hands.

That last statement worried me.

#TootFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri #Folklore #NMFic #TimeTravel

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku (Airisu POV): Post 35
#Wss366 Film #TimeTravelAuthors 05/11. Do your characters ever undo anything?

“I'm not in love with her,” Mistress finally said. “I don’t know her. She has been dead for how many years?”

“My pardon, you are not in love, and you are not blushing.”

I hurried to answer her question from memory rather than give her time to continue protesting. "Banchō Sarayashiki is an Edo-era story, so it's been about two or three hundred years."

“And how is that supposed to work? I’m not getting involved in necromancy. I’ve watched enough horror #films to know these things never work out in the mortals’ favor.”

She fingered the wound where I had stabbed her, probably remembering how the kami had almost trapped her before. “Besides, I doubt it’s smart to accept favors from Dōken-shin.”

“Getting cold feet, little lady?” It was my contrariness coming through. She was actually wise not to involve herself with Arakawa Dōken.

While I tried to figure out how to steady my perch, i.e., take back the comment, she studied the spell.

“Oh, I get it now!” she said. “This will allow us to go back in time, and we can save her.”

“Time travel,” I thought. “That would be exciting. Still, what about time paradoxes?”

“Like a romance novel!” she said, clapping her hands.

That last statement worried me.

#TootFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri #Folklore #NMFic #TimeTravel

Jimmy looked over at Coral who was brushing her hands. He put his handgun back in his waistband.
"What was that?" he asked.
"My #mother always said a girl should be able to defend herself," she said.
"No, I mean what style is that?"
"She said it was something like krav maga." (4/4) #wss366

Requiem

#Wss366 #Mother / #MothersDay

••⋅☾ #和歌 / #短歌 ☽⋅••

Carnation
Memory lingering
On her grave

Karmic wheel stilled
No blessed land seen

••⋅☾ #WakaPoetry / #Tanka ☽

#Poetry #Tanka #WakaPoetry #NMPoetry #Memorial #Buddhist

#TimeTravelingGhost EP 10: Post 98: 1191, Nicosia, Cyprus

#Wss366 gloss #TimeTravelAuthors 05/9. Saturday excerpt (optional word: hide/hidden)

Emily soon joined me in the courtyard. After the turbulent street filled with crowds, vendors, and beggars, the citrus-scented space was peaceful or should have been, if it hadn’t been for the cry of a young female voice, saying, “Oh… makaristos Agios Ilarionas… éna tháuma…”

I followed the sound and saw a girl of about ten wearing a white dress that matched the flowers dangling near her face. Her bright eyes and #glossy black hair were barely visible through the second-floor’s vines, where she #hid.

She continued, “Pappoú. “Pappoú. éna tháuma.”

“We’re in the soup now,” Emily said.

As we watched, a gray-haired man armed with a stout cudgel joined her. The girl spoke rapidly to him, gesticulating wildly.

After shooing her out of sight, he called down to us, “Pois eisai?”

I held my hands in the air and said in French, “We’re friends. We mean you no harm.”

The man’s face screwed up, puzzled, and then he shouted into the house. Another man appeared. I guessed he was a scholar from his somber black robes and lean countenance.

The two men spoke while Emily and I conferred. “What should we do?” I asked. “Time-trip to our meeting with the monk?” By “monk,” I meant our former guide.

“Wait,” she replied. “There’s a pattern of things going sideways when we do that.”

It was true. Twice now, tripping had put us in life-threatening positions. First, there’d been the meteor impact, and then there was the less-than-friendly reception we’d just experienced. It didn’t always happen, but it occurred enough to make one wary.

“Who are you?” the scholar called down in accented French.

“I am Bijou, a traveling pilgrim,” I said, bowing. “I mean you no harm. My only wish is to bless your house.”

Out of sight, I heard the girl say, “Pappoú. éna tháuma.”

“She says you performed a miracle, passing through a solid wall.” The man said, making a sign against the evil eye.

“It was God’s blessing upon a humble mendicant. I was seeking St. George’s shrine when outlaws tried to stop me. God is great, and many are his miracles.”

The two men conferred again, and while they did so, Emily addressed me. “Lying it on rather thick there aren’t you?”

“Better than being mistaken for a sorcerer,” I said, crossing myself as if uttering a prayer. “Besides, this is an age of wonders.”

Their conference over, the scholar called to me, “Holy one, would you bless our house by partaking a humble meal with us?”

“It would be my honor,” I said. Luck had finally smiled on me.

#TootFic #MicroFiction #NMFic #TimeTravel #HistoricalFantasy #UrbanFantasy #Mythpunk #Serial #Slowburn #Yuri

#wss366 #horn (2/4)

He pulled out his horn, a four valve bass trumpet with a nine inch "bell" in B♭. He put up his little "Donations are Fly" sign, and turned the open case away from him.

He stood up tall, took a deep breath and rolled up and down through a two octave scale, and then waited. As he hoped, a bump-out bay window on the third floor of the building behind him opened up, and a man yelled down groggily, "Please, Not today."

#WSS366 May 8th #horn

Does it need the resounding slap of a cold, wet haddock to the face for the average person to realise their place in society isn't simply to be a complacent, stay-at-home, yes-person?

It's time to take the bull by the horns and wrestle it into submission.

Use your voice, via a bullhorn if necessary, to vilify all those "great white hunters" who would decimate our chances of survival, by enslaving us and working us to extinction.

See if they get the point!

#wss366 #kid (2/3)

Cathy said to Minervie, "The treant is surprisingly sensitive to the kid."

Chip spoke up, "I'm not a kangaroo."

Minervie reassured, "No, you are not. She is talking about you, but not just about you, it is adult speak. Keep your questions for later, and I will explain."

Chip mumbled, "But I can never remember."

Cathy noticed a horned rabbit watching the group go by, "Minervie, do you see that?"

#wss366 #kid (2/3)

Cathy said to Minervie, "The treant is surprisingly sensitive to the kid."

Chip spoke up, "I'm not a kangaroo."

Minervie reassured, "No, you are not. She is talking about you, but not just about you, it is adult speak. Keep your questions for later, and I will explain."

Chip mumbled, "But I can never remember."

Cathy noticed a horned rabbit watching the group go by, "Minervie, do you see that?"

#wss366 #kid (2/3)

Cathy said to Minervie, "The treant is surprisingly sensitive to the kid."

Chip spoke up, "I'm not a kangaroo."

Minervie reassured, "No, you are not. She is talking about you, but not just about you, it is adult speak. Keep your questions for later, and I will explain."

Chip mumbled, "But I can never remember."

Cathy noticed a horned rabbit watching the group go by, "Minervie, do you see that?"

#wss366 #kid (2/3)

Cathy said to Minervie, "The treant is surprisingly sensitive to the kid."

Chip spoke up, "I'm not a kangaroo."

Minervie reassured, "No, you are not. She is talking about you, but not just about you, it is adult speak. Keep your questions for later, and I will explain."

Chip mumbled, "But I can never remember."

Cathy noticed a horned rabbit watching the group go by, "Minervie, do you see that?"

#wss366 #kid (2/3)

Cathy said to Minervie, "The treant is surprisingly sensitive to the kid."

Chip spoke up, "I'm not a kangaroo."

Minervie reassured, "No, you are not. She is talking about you, but not just about you, it is adult speak. Keep your questions for later, and I will explain."

Chip mumbled, "But I can never remember."

Cathy noticed a horned rabbit watching the group go by, "Minervie, do you see that?"

"What are you…" she started to ask.
"Have a seat, #kid," he said, cutting her off.
She sat down. In moments, he had served her a cup of coffee and slid a plate with a fresh omelet in front of her. It looked delicious.
"Do you want cream? Or sugar?" he asked.
"Cream only," she replied. (2/5) #wss366

"What are you…" she started to ask.
"Have a seat, #kid," he said, cutting her off.
She sat down. In moments, he had served her a cup of coffee and slid a plate with a fresh omelet in front of her. It looked delicious.
"Do you want cream? Or sugar?" he asked.
"Cream only," she replied. (2/5) #wss366

"What are you…" she started to ask.
"Have a seat, #kid," he said, cutting her off.
She sat down. In moments, he had served her a cup of coffee and slid a plate with a fresh omelet in front of her. It looked delicious.
"Do you want cream? Or sugar?" he asked.
"Cream only," she replied. (2/5) #wss366

"What are you…" she started to ask.
"Have a seat, #kid," he said, cutting her off.
She sat down. In moments, he had served her a cup of coffee and slid a plate with a fresh omelet in front of her. It looked delicious.
"Do you want cream? Or sugar?" he asked.
"Cream only," she replied. (2/5) #wss366

"What are you…" she started to ask.
"Have a seat, #kid," he said, cutting her off.
She sat down. In moments, he had served her a cup of coffee and slid a plate with a fresh omelet in front of her. It looked delicious.
"Do you want cream? Or sugar?" he asked.
"Cream only," she replied. (2/5) #wss366

Prince Charming Part 2
#FanFic WanderingWitch #SnowWhite
#Wss366 Hedge / #GreeneryDay Japan

Ahead, light streamed through a honeysuckle-draped arch. The air was sweet with their scent, buzzing with the song of bees.

“Hum,” I thought and then laughed at my pun. It looked as though there was a grassy clearing ahead. The sun would feel nice there. I could lie in the grass and eat the bread I’d bought at the last town. But wait, there was someone already there: a tall, handsome man standing next to a proud horse. The man’s elegant hunter’s outfit made it clear he was some kind of noble—“too bad.”

He looked up, smiling. “Have you come to see her too?”

“See who?” I asked and approached cautiously, peering through the grass to see what he was looking at.

There, in the middle of the clearing, was a crystal coffin. Inside was a woman wearing a brown peasant dress. Among the wilted remains of wildflowers that someone had placed on the lid was a bouquet of fresh roses.

“Isn’t she beautiful?” the man said. “I could stroke her hair all day.”

“Yes, it’s lovely,” I said. It was too: an amber-brown, lightened in streaks by the sun.

“And you are?” I asked.

“I wouldn’t want the Queen to hear I came here, so you can just call me Prince Charming. Many people do.”

“So you visit often, Prince Charming?” My sarcasm went unnoticed. I had met nobles like him before. Their charm chiefly resided in the threat of violence. That and the power to wave away such aggression as the victim’s fault.

I hadn’t failed to notice the short silver hunting sword at his side.

“Yes, she is so lovely. How can I resist? I’ve named her Snow White. Doesn’t she deserve it?”

“She is quite lovely, Your Highness. But I hear that if you kiss a sleep enchanted woman, she will wake. Have you tried that?”

“I’ve heard the same, but youth’s beauty fades with time. The lovely bride of today is a wrinkled hag tomorrow. I will let her sleep so she never fades. A gem forever brilliant for me to view.”

The poppies and bluebells nodded in agreement; whether to my ironic thoughts or his statement, I didn’t know.

The honeysuckle odor had suddenly cloyed, and clouds cast shadows on the grass.

I smiled and departed. I could eat my lunch elsewhere.

#TootFic #MicroFiction #FairyTale #Mythpunk #NMFic

Prince Charming Part 1

#FanFic WanderingWitch #SnowWhite
#Wss366 Hedge / #GreeneryDay Japan

The day had started well. A gentle wind scented with verdant greenery stirred my hair. Bright violets bloomed along my path, mingling with yellow buttercups and brilliant orange poppies. Thrushes and titmice flitted in the #hedges. It was truly the kind of day where wandering the byways was a goddess-given blessing.

So wondrous was the day that I didn’t even mind the occasional burr that attached itself to my mage’s robes or the dense foliage that forced me to walk. The moss-covered path was easy on my feet. The occasional brook sang to me. Butterflies as bright as the star brooch of my profession delighted my eyes.

Who was this young woman so enamored with life?

It was me, Elaine the Wandering Witch.

#TootFic #MicroFiction #FairyTale #Mythpunk #NMFic

#wss366 #odd (3/5)

Graendle continued, "All of the other people ran off, one of them who wasn't yelling, but was too close, I set into a tree on the edge of the clearing, as I did that the yelling man kept yelling. That is when the unicorn ran through, and then magic storm dissapated."

Cindy nodded thoughtfully, "Did you cause the magic storm?"

Graendle responded, "It feels odd to talk and not be yelled at. But, no, I did not cause it. I don't even have that much magic."

She unbuckled her seat belt and slid down out of the big truck. It felt #odd to return home to the empty house, knowing her mother was missing.
Jimmy got out of the truck too.
"I'd better stay here tonight," he said. "This is where they'll call when they're ready to meet." (2/4) #wss366

"Name an animal you like," the nursery school teacher said.

"Dog!" said Max. "Cat!" said Emilia. "Bunny!" said Desiree. "Eagle!" said Colt. "Pill bug!" said Nina.

"O-okay, and now how about a food you like?"

"Chicken nuggets!" said Max. "Popcorn!" said Emilia. "Ice cream!" said Desiree. "Cheeseburger!" said Colt. "Parsnips!" said Nina.

"Parsnips, huh?" said the teacher, brow wrinkled. Nina's head bobbed up and down vigorously, unaware that she was the #odd one out.

#wss366 #microfiction

Tracy approached her #mug shot the way other people approach a photo booth session with a best girlfriend, posing with duck lips and V-sign fingers, and then, when told to cut the crap, still gave the camera her best insouciant smile.

Tamara, on the other hand, approached a photo booth session as if it was a mug shot, glowering darkly every time the flash fired. On the third try, Jennie resorted to filters to create the souvenir images she craved.

#wss366 #microfiction

#wss366 #mug (2/3)

Eventually Jaz spoke up, "Lead, I know what you think you are doing, we all know what you think you are doing, an I don't like it. If your cajoling succeeds, what then? Who gets hurt because of it?"

She turned on him, and saw the whole group were staring back with concern. The fear of mutiny was on her for the first time.

Seing her flush, Jaz flashed a smug mug and continued, "The way I hear it, Marc didn't listen to the team's concerns."

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku (Airisu POV): Post 33 Part 1
#Wss366 Mug

“Ack!” I screamed.

With aggressive footsteps, Mistress rushed into the room, arms swinging, and head thrust forward. It screamed danger.

“Fly away!!!”

She wore a nightgown and a wrap around her shoulders. Her eyes were as fierce as Dōken-shin’s had been when I bravely stood up to him.

I quailed, taking off for the top of a bookshelf. From there, I shouted down, “Crack. The book! The book!”

She moved, and I crouched, ready to take off if she threw something at me.

Instead, she stood in the middle of the floor, arms on her hips, glaring up at me. “This is the middle of the night. It had better be worth it, 'Crow!'”

Discretion being the better part of valor, I decided not to correct her this time. “It’s the book. You have to see it,” I cawed.

“What book? What are you talking about?”

She moved again, and I hopped back.

“Can I come down? You won’t hurt me?” I asked.

She nodded, and I flew down to a desk near the window. Through the glass, the moon shone aqua-blue, illuminating a messy pile of papers and books. A cold #mug of cocoa lay amid remnants of last evening’s meal. In the center of the mess rested an open volume, which I pecked at. “See? It’s here.”

Sumika approached, asking, “What’s here?” She stopped short and stared. “That’s not where I left the grimoire. How did it get here?”

Indeed, the Madousho Mōrō, aka Grimoire Obscuriea, lay with its pages gleaming in the soft moonlight.

#TootFic #MicroFiction #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #Serial #SlowBurn #Yuri

Jimmy waited as the waitress returned with the cup of hot water.
"Thanks, honey," the man said.
The waitress glared at him, then walked away.
"Professionals," Jimmy continued. "Well-trained and well-supported."
Coral noticed flickers of light #shining or glinting from a rooftop across the plaza. (3/4) #wss366

Jimmy waited as the waitress returned with the cup of hot water.
"Thanks, honey," the man said.
The waitress glared at him, then walked away.
"Professionals," Jimmy continued. "Well-trained and well-supported."
Coral noticed flickers of light #shining or glinting from a rooftop across the plaza. (3/4) #wss366

Jimmy waited as the waitress returned with the cup of hot water.
"Thanks, honey," the man said.
The waitress glared at him, then walked away.
"Professionals," Jimmy continued. "Well-trained and well-supported."
Coral noticed flickers of light #shining or glinting from a rooftop across the plaza. (3/4) #wss366

Jimmy waited as the waitress returned with the cup of hot water.
"Thanks, honey," the man said.
The waitress glared at him, then walked away.
"Professionals," Jimmy continued. "Well-trained and well-supported."
Coral noticed flickers of light #shining or glinting from a rooftop across the plaza. (3/4) #wss366

Jimmy waited as the waitress returned with the cup of hot water.
"Thanks, honey," the man said.
The waitress glared at him, then walked away.
"Professionals," Jimmy continued. "Well-trained and well-supported."
Coral noticed flickers of light #shining or glinting from a rooftop across the plaza. (3/4) #wss366

Celestino had had a pretty average month, but there was one #shining moment: teaching his girlfriend's daughter to ride a bike. He took her to the high school playing fields.

"It's harder to pedal here, but it won't hurt if you fall off. But you won't fall off, cuz I'll keep my hand on the back. You go as fast as you can, I'll be holding you steady. I can run real fast, I did track.

He held on for a minute or two, then the kid was off & pedaling under her own steam.

#wss366 #microfiction

Celestino had had a pretty average month, but there was one #shining moment: teaching his girlfriend's daughter to ride a bike. He took her to the high school playing fields.

"It's harder to pedal here, but it won't hurt if you fall off. But you won't fall off, cuz I'll keep my hand on the back. You go as fast as you can, I'll be holding you steady. I can run real fast, I did track.

He held on for a minute or two, then the kid was off & pedaling under her own steam.

#wss366 #microfiction

Celestino had had a pretty average month, but there was one #shining moment: teaching his girlfriend's daughter to ride a bike. He took her to the high school playing fields.

"It's harder to pedal here, but it won't hurt if you fall off. But you won't fall off, cuz I'll keep my hand on the back. You go as fast as you can, I'll be holding you steady. I can run real fast, I did track.

He held on for a minute or two, then the kid was off & pedaling under her own steam.

#wss366 #microfiction