CW: mention of cancer & mastectomy; one character is an amputee, and they’re struggling with an infection at the site. Harv paused from his work, patching and repatching old, torn clothing into ‘new’ clothing, and wiped the sweat from his bald head and neck. The ship was doing its best but he feared that it …
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Prompt Short Story: Flicker
CW: implied violence, reference to violent murder Lissa bobbed her head slightly, in time with the music coming from her earbuds, as she made the trek from the construction site to the tube. She flashed her card at the reader, slid through the opening in the barriers, and paused. This wasn’t exactly a high-traffic station, …
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Prompt Short Story: Found
It was past what really should be bedtime. Shelley had to be up and out of the door in 5 hours, give or take. She hated overnight shifts. No amount of coffee could make them palatable, and 8am never came soon enough. But the pay was good. It paid the mortgage, kept her and Wuffle …
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Prompt Short Story: Undercover
CW: police violence, body borrowing Xe couldn’t put it off anymore… Xe drew on xyr magically armoured hunting gear, attached and plucked xyr bowstring; checked the quiver for the silver-tipped arrows; and hung xyr silver-inlaid rapier. Xe stopped to look in the mirror. Not to admire xir form—it wasn’t actually xyr form to admire after …
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Prompt Short Story: The Weave
CW: fighting, animal death I stamp my feet, feeling the gritty dust of the ground warm the bits of my bare feet that remained uncalloused. My armour is freshly cleaned and oiled, the smell of leather and linseed filling my nose as everything but my bare head began to sweat under the heat. I don’t …
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Prompt Short Story: Allies
Elysa was collected from Yan’s shop by a fresh-faced and eager messenger, who chattered the whole way, pointing out buildings and sights that she was far too exhausted and tense to take in. Yan provided a constant translation, which likewise meant nothing to her. But the talking was somehow comforting, so she tuned out the …
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Prompt Short Story: An Unexpected Landing
Elysa grunted as the larger ship pulled its bulk closer into hers, setting off warnings. Built for speed, she didn’t have so much in the way of weapons, relying on the ability to get the fuck out of there before taking too much damage. Or, preferably, before any other ship even realised she was there. …
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Prompt Short Story: It’s All Fun And Games…
“So let me just run over some of your statements, OK?” the burly Timekeeper said, looking at the three youngsters in front of him. Paurid hadn’t seen these three before, which was something of a surprise given the situation. Atkin–human. Cain–part-human. Robold–full Krolacite. And their missing friend, Jero–full Anthry. “You won’t tell me how you …
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Prompt Short Story: Epilogue
CW: talk of a pandemic and resulting deaths The world is dying. “Up to 22% might survive!” they used to say, bright and peppy from their happy pills and good healthcare. But they were right about this one thing. Most people are dying. I wonder how they felt when it came for them. I wonder …
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Prompt Short Story: Cursed
Content Warnings: violent death (mentions), curse, magic, behavioural training (mentions) Fucking unbelievable. Here she is, in the middle of the goddamned night, calling to say she’s done it again. And of course what that means is “You have to help me!”. Fuck. And she knows, of course, that I’ll never say no. I can, but …
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