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The air in the coffee shop was heavy with the scent of caramel tinged beverages, and warm pastries. Perhaps the only thing heavier and sweeter was the tension, that had been slowly developing at a corner table.
The occupants of that table exchanged glances and the occasional giggle as they sipped on their steaming sources of caffeine. Eventually, he decided it was the right time. He had been holding onto his emotions for far too long, he needed to say it. Even if it was the most terrifying thing could think of doing, he knew the whole trajectory of his life could likely hinge on the next few words out of his mouth. His heart rate began to climb.
The occupants of that table exchanged glances and the occasional giggle as they sipped on their steaming sources of caffeine. Eventually, he decided it was the right time. He had been holding onto his emotions for far too long, he needed to say it. Even if it was the most terrifying thing could think of doing, he knew the whole trajectory of his life could likely hinge on the next few words out of his mouth. His heart rate began to climb.
They both sat facing the wall. As they had done for hours, alternating between holding their respective heads in their hands and looking at the floor for variety.
The stalemate, between problem and solution, it seemed, was never to be broken.
Just then, she gasped. He heard her shift in breathing pattern and tilted his head to look at her, like a golden retriever does when you address it.
She stood up, and gestured with one finger on her left hand, as if to represent completing the final calculation and formulation of the idea.
“Yes…that’s it, I’ve got it!” She exclaimed.
He looked at her intently, as if he was waiting for the energy of the idea to emerge to be able to power his own voice.
“Suppose we simply turn off the computer,” she said, proudly.
The stalemate, between problem and solution, it seemed, was never to be broken.
Just then, she gasped. He heard her shift in breathing pattern and tilted his head to look at her, like a golden retriever does when you address it.
She stood up, and gestured with one finger on her left hand, as if to represent completing the final calculation and formulation of the idea.
“Yes…that’s it, I’ve got it!” She exclaimed.
He looked at her intently, as if he was waiting for the energy of the idea to emerge to be able to power his own voice.
“Suppose we simply turn off the computer,” she said, proudly.
I died choking on a carrot - final proof healthy living is a scam. I wake up in a glowing lobby that smells like eucalyptus and unresolved emotions.
In walks God, looking more like a tired barista than a thunder-wielding deity: hoodie, sandals, coffee mug that says "#1 Creator." They give me a kind smile. "Hey" they say, "Ready to reincarnate?"
In walks God, looking more like a tired barista than a thunder-wielding deity: hoodie, sandals, coffee mug that says "#1 Creator." They give me a kind smile. "Hey" they say, "Ready to reincarnate?"
A super short disguised as a poem.
"Are you sure I can't tempt you?" Drew asked, drizzling generous amounts of maple syrup on a stack of pancakes.
"It smells good, but I don't think I can eat yet. I'm still recovering from seeing you change."
"Suit yourself. It's hungry work."
"It smells good, but I don't think I can eat yet. I'm still recovering from seeing you change."
"Suit yourself. It's hungry work."
Has anyone else noticed that when time travelers grab you by your shoulders and ask what year it is, and you tell them, they don't reply, "Then I'm not too late," anymore?
That's rather concerning.
That's rather concerning.
*whispered though a cafe kitchen window*
"You in ok? Great, here, take the bag of teapots. Now, hand me the ones off the shelves.
"You in ok? Great, here, take the bag of teapots. Now, hand me the ones off the shelves.
The cheque said “AMOUNT: two dollars and forty cents BEING FOR: classified ad”, rounded block letters in green ink amid the printed prompts. My mother never wrote cursive. “Thanks Mum“ I said, “I’ll pay you back from my paper round money on Saturday”
“No need” she said, “I’m going out; if you have the ad ready I’ll post it for you.”
I folded the cheque and the form I’d clipped from the newspaper. It had been tricky writing on the newsprint with a pen “HOME COMPUTER Amstrad CPC6128 with monitor, printer and external 5.25 inch drive. Original software plus over 30 games. $425. Ph 551806”.
“No need” she said, “I’m going out; if you have the ad ready I’ll post it for you.”
I folded the cheque and the form I’d clipped from the newspaper. It had been tricky writing on the newsprint with a pen “HOME COMPUTER Amstrad CPC6128 with monitor, printer and external 5.25 inch drive. Original software plus over 30 games. $425. Ph 551806”.
You might think working a phone repair kiosk is a waste of my skills. Yeah nah.
Today, this kid came in with an iPhone that was more than cracked, it was banana-fied.
“What happened?” I asked, turning the wreckage over in my hands. I don’t think there was a single salvageable part. “And have you considered just upgrading?”
“My novel’s on there”, the kid said, wringing his hands anxiously. “It got ran over by a hauler bot.”
“Got a backup?”. The tears in the kid’s eyes were all the answer he needed to give. “Okay, event rebasing is the only way to fix this”, I gestured at the price board, “can you afford that?”
He gulped. “Uh, just.”
Today, this kid came in with an iPhone that was more than cracked, it was banana-fied.
“What happened?” I asked, turning the wreckage over in my hands. I don’t think there was a single salvageable part. “And have you considered just upgrading?”
“My novel’s on there”, the kid said, wringing his hands anxiously. “It got ran over by a hauler bot.”
“Got a backup?”. The tears in the kid’s eyes were all the answer he needed to give. “Okay, event rebasing is the only way to fix this”, I gestured at the price board, “can you afford that?”
He gulped. “Uh, just.”
When the signal came, there was nothing subtle about it: every radio telescope on the planet redlined. First primes, then simple arithmetic, then basic vocabulary, each burst richer than the one before.
Whisperbox
Found in the crypt of a Belgian family with no heirs, this mysterious object introduces a previously unknown form of divination technique, and perhaps something more.
The crypt belonged to a secluded family sect known as the Deferots. Among the local countryside youth, the urban myth tells that the place is exceptionally haunted on an already possessed cemetery. They often dare each other to enter during the night. So it happened that a group of teenagers descended and found the box among the coffins and allegedly saved it from enormous rats chewing on it. They took the box as evidence of their bravery and word got out, eventually into the ears of our investigators. We bargained for the box, which wasn't difficult as its new owners were quite fearful of it.
Found in the crypt of a Belgian family with no heirs, this mysterious object introduces a previously unknown form of divination technique, and perhaps something more.
The crypt belonged to a secluded family sect known as the Deferots. Among the local countryside youth, the urban myth tells that the place is exceptionally haunted on an already possessed cemetery. They often dare each other to enter during the night. So it happened that a group of teenagers descended and found the box among the coffins and allegedly saved it from enormous rats chewing on it. They took the box as evidence of their bravery and word got out, eventually into the ears of our investigators. We bargained for the box, which wasn't difficult as its new owners were quite fearful of it.
She was a repair technician, ...
Drucilla's Horrid Hobby
Drucilla Alexandra Fenworth-Covington was a disappointment, a source of great frustration to her parents and siblings alike, and a delicious monster. The family couldn't understand or relate to Drucilla, and lived in a constant state of trepidation regarding family gatherings and public functions. When dainty footwear and tailored outfits of linen were required, Drucilla might arrive in black shiny knee-high punk goth boots, torn fishnet stockings, and a dress perhaps best described as an industrial explosion of black lace, taffeta, and faux-patent leather. Where her twin sisters wore understated pearl necklaces, light lipstick and imperceptible blush, Drucilla was likely to wear a wide stainless-steel choker with a ring, black shiny lipstick, and a piecing in her nose. It was very unsettling at best, and nobody in her family knew what to do about her.
Drucilla Alexandra Fenworth-Covington was a disappointment, a source of great frustration to her parents and siblings alike, and a delicious monster. The family couldn't understand or relate to Drucilla, and lived in a constant state of trepidation regarding family gatherings and public functions. When dainty footwear and tailored outfits of linen were required, Drucilla might arrive in black shiny knee-high punk goth boots, torn fishnet stockings, and a dress perhaps best described as an industrial explosion of black lace, taffeta, and faux-patent leather. Where her twin sisters wore understated pearl necklaces, light lipstick and imperceptible blush, Drucilla was likely to wear a wide stainless-steel choker with a ring, black shiny lipstick, and a piecing in her nose. It was very unsettling at best, and nobody in her family knew what to do about her.
By entering the galactic scene by beating an Ikk'ii invasion, humans became known as fearsome warriors.
My 6 word horror story.
I'm sorry cancer ...
The adventure party all stared at the cute half-orc magical girl, with blue hair in twin tails.
"Well, aren't you just adorable?" Anika said.
"I'm sorry we got you transformed into a girl," said Kaylitha.
"Well, aren't you just adorable?" Anika said.
"I'm sorry we got you transformed into a girl," said Kaylitha.
The patron
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The alien came to the library again, shortly before closing time, and quickly found a book.
"May this entity borrow The Complete History of Knitting?"
They always return the book they borrow after five minutes, but the ritual of checking it out seems important to them.
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The alien came to the library again, shortly before closing time, and quickly found a book.
"May this entity borrow The Complete History of Knitting?"
They always return the book they borrow after five minutes, but the ritual of checking it out seems important to them.
The knight's lance was broken, his armour split, his blood pooling under him.
"You failed," the dragon sneered. "There'll be no tales teaching children dragons can be slain."
"You failed," the dragon sneered. "There'll be no tales teaching children dragons can be slain."
Folklore read live!
The Working Class hero of magic Pumphut returns!
He will best those that swindle him.
The Working Class hero of magic Pumphut returns!
He will best those that swindle him.