Occasional Sputterings

  (Published 28-Oct-2020 23:40:05) Moxie's day began like any other. Eyes firmly asleep as the light seeped in, Moxie poured out of bed and into the shower. Half a cup of day-old coffee sat on the back of her toilet; taking sips between shampoo and soap, she managed to finish off the cup at the same time as she finished offer her shower. Make-up, a crumpled bra and a lightly stained white shirt followed a fresh cigarette and her favorite jeans. * That's good enough * Moxie stumbled into the street, hailed an Uber, and arrived at her destination. The driver looked at her expectantly and she whispered in his ear. Shivering, the driver looked away - and Moxie stepped out of the car. Once Moxie reached the sidewalk the car drove way and Moxie went to her office mailbox. * Nothing from yesterday * Closing the mailbox, Moxie headed over to her computer. Clicking a few buttons, Moxie initiated a data-search for potential widows. * Nope, too sweet * * Nope, she wouldn't miss him *

(Published 27-Oct-2020 23:13:17) An attempt to write a horror story for faery - because they would presumably be afraid of an addictive plant. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I just want to taste it," said Li'lallen. I know we're not supposed to, but I just had a birthday and I've been so very, very curious. "But you must not," said Da'in. "The fae counsel specifically forbids it." Flying faster up, Li'lallen headed East. "I know where a batch is that just finished growing," said Li'lallen. "It's just over this hill." "Don't you know what will happen," asked Da'in, following close behind. "It is said to do many amazing things but to also be terribly addictive." said Li'lallen. I can't imagine just a little will do us any harm." "Us?" asked Da'in. "I never said I would join you!" Halti

(Published 25-Oct-2020 22:54:46)  Horror story for an immortal --------------------------------------------------------------- * Sweet release * Marcus stood on the ledge, heart in his throat, as the wind took turns slamming him against the wall and warring with his hands. * I just need to let go and I will be free * Marcus closed his eyes and remembered the smell of waffles, the scent of his mother's sweat after she came home from working all night, the smell of abandoned rooms uncared for. He remembered the brilliant autumn evenings, the crisp winter snow, the intense colors of a fresh dawn on a Spring day, the deep red of the blood on wood when his son slipped and hit his head on the dining room table. He remembered how it felt to miss his sister, his wife, his kids, everyone. He knew he would be missed - but he didn't want to feel empty any longer. * This will release them too * Feeling deep in his chest that this was the most compassionate path, Marcus closed his eyes, hel

(Published 24-Oct-2020 23:50:58)  Ansel sat down and took off his genitals. The stench was quite profound - but dissipated quickly. "It bothers me that heritage doesn't matter here," said Ansel. "Vampires are functionally equivalent to Immortals - whatever they are." Jackson nodded his head and poured Ansel a refill. "They say it helps with role-playing," said Jackson. "Because if this world imposed a metric as to what it meant to be a vampire, a lycan, a werecreature, an angel, a demon, or any of the other things - it would somehow take away from the experience." Ansel nodded. "Yes, I completely understand all that - but it also means that it doesn't mean anything to us. The value of the heritage only comes from the humans in the real world. We don't get the luxury of identity." "What do you mean," sad Jackson. "Well, you just saw me taking off some rather important physical bits just now, right?" asked

(Published 23-Oct-2020 21:21:26)  A horror story for a vampire - or perhaps a vampire-sympathizing human -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I hate this time of year," thought Edwin, as he mindlessly sat in the tree, draining all the blood from the human. Wiping his right arm over his mouth, Edwin threw the body several feet into the air where it landed with a wet thud in the open grave. Looking toward the pile, Edwin eyed the edge of the rectangular pit. "You can't trust who's in-family without almost overkilling the crop," said Edwin. "However, my newest creations should take care of the overflow." Calling into the night, Edwin beckoned to the darkness. "Come my sweet babies. Come to me!" At first one, then ten, then a dozen groups of pink pigs squealed with glee and lust, careening for Edwin. The first arrival approached Edwin quickly and began running around Edwin in circles. The air

(Published 22-Oct-2020 05:46:37) My wife and I were driving down a dark road during a full moon when we turned to the right to see a ridiculously creepy house. As we passed the house, the outline of a man with an axe stood by the door. "Step on it, baby," said my wife. That's when I remembered. I don't have a wife. 

(Published 21-Oct-2020 23:55:19)  "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," said Frank, as he flicked his cigarette. "Just hear me out," said Michael. "Well, at least let me buy a round," said Frank. A quick nod to the bartender afforded the two of them a refill. "Thanks," said Michael. "Okay, it's simple. Mirror vowing." "Okay," said Frank. "Can you go over it one more time?" "Sure," said Michael. "The idea is simple enough. We use mirror neuron feedback to learn what works and what doesn't - to reinforce both good and bad behaviors." "Um, okay," said Frank. "And the abstract idea of a wedding is that two people make a promise," said Michael. "Right ..." said Frank. Eye meandering the bar, Frank's attention returned to the other side of the table with a sip. "That's the idea. You take two people who don't have a marriage certificate

(Published 20-Oct-2020 19:55:24)  [generate] : [stream of consciousness] + [filter] "Secret zombie language" / "Teleportation orgasm" / "Petrified virus" / "Disposable body parts" / "Time siphon" | given the context, likely either zombie or disposable body parts [ideation] : [catchy intro] + [interesting take] + [sensory details] Start with an emotion -> where do zombies come from -> sight/smell/taste/body fluids [catchy intro] : [satisfying phonemes] + [identifiable scenario] + [engage mirror neurons] [interesting take] : [unusual normal] + [intuitive development] + [satisfying details] [sensory details] : [include sights] + [include sounds] + [include in-frame interplay] ... and scrap all that because stories, one started, have a life of their own. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Sinister medic "I'm scared daddy," said Jackson, as he grabbed his father's

(Published 19-Oct-2020 21:30:08)  On a good day, Andrew, the half-frog half-ogre stood 8 feet tall. Today was not a good day. "Stop squirming, Andrew," said the tailor. "I can't fix these trousers if you won't stop squirming." Andrew looked in the mirror. * I can't believe she said yes * Andrew shifted flippers - and growled. "If you refuse to stop moving," said the tailor, "I will keep jabbing you." Andrew willed himself to freeze. Or tried. * I mean seriously - you try standing still on flippers! * The tailor adjusted the pants and tried pinning the pleat - and missed, poking the needle into Andrew's thigh. Andrew accidentally kicked the tailor through the wall. "Send me the invoice," said Andrew. "I'll get married in the swamp." > excerpt, Frankenstein fables, typed in by phone

(Published 18-Oct-2020 22:33:19)  St'phan soared above the islands. He saw his first island - the busy throng still walking, jostling. He saw his second - a tiny portion of the fantastic ornithopter visible amidst the trees. And he saw his third - even from here the distinct coloring of each side was clearly visible. And he saw a black, opaque hole far below, under the common sea. Steeling himself, St'phan few down as fast as he could. Willing himself to fly against gravity, against pressure, against whatever had forced him to this wondrous place - St'phan flew. Faster. Faster. Faster. Until *POW* St'phan hit water - will alone allowed him to continue with a sustained velocity. Falling now, into the deep, away from the islands, toward the fountain. As he neared the hole, his velocity seemed to slow. Time seemed to stretch and St'phan clawed his way through the barely lit liquid. Push. Push. Push. And St'phan reached through the hole! His hands grabbed what felt

(Published 17-Oct-2020 23:04:32)  Taking leave of the ornithopter, St'phan traveled towards another island. From the air, it had an intense visual bifurcation. On one side, a dozen volcanoes within easy visual range seemed to slowly take turns erupting. Some would spew out blasts of heat, hazy air, and different colors of intensely heated rock. Rivers of lava actively flowed around the base of each volcano, never seeming to cool. The happy screeches of two dozen small, red and gold dragons soared in joy above the heat, dancing in mid-air ten feet above the flowing lava. The lava flowed freely and evenly everywhere except over the transition between its side and the other. On the other side, powerful ice floes crashed into one another, indifferent to the intense heat mere feet away. Several lackadaisical blue and silver dragons swam through the air, seeming to revel in the slow decay of the loud crunching sound of ice on ice. Blue and white trees littered the icescape, and as the la

(Published 16-Oct-2020 22:00:50)  Brushing dust off his shoulders, St'phan took one last look at the windows and the walkers and rose into the air. Footfalls were replaced with the chittering of birds. Chimney smoke was replaced with oddly shaped clouds. And St'phan found himself high above the floating island he had stood upon moments before. In mid-air, St'phan faced away from the brilliant blue sun - and saw several other floating islands. Envisioning a moment of relaxation, St'phan headed toward one that seemed completely covered in grass and trees. Landing with a gentle arc, St'phan stepped gingerly on the grass and listened for insects and other biting things - the soft breeze soothed him and he decided to look for a spot to camp for the night. As St'phan reached the top of a small hill, the other side revealed two long, black rectangles on the ground. On either side of the long black rectangles were lines of oddly iridescent moss. Reaching down to touch t

(Published 15-Oct-2020 17:19:17) From where he stood, St'phan could no longer see the half-dragon; the most jarring aspect had been the reflection. Part of his attention had been on a reflection in a window near where the half-dragon had stood. As the half-dragon was enveloped by the pale apparition, he saw the same scene unfurl in the reflection as well. And from the reflection in the glass, he was able to see behind the half-dragon - and into where the ghost had taken the half-dragon. As his eyes followed the glass windows, he looked at his own reflection. Staring back at him from the window closest to him were eyes of wonder and anger. A nose identical to his own, lips pursed in an identical but opposite manner, and a smirk that always made him feel small. Steeling himself to disregard the image, St'phan closed his eyes and began to draw his attention away from his reflection. He was startled when an enormous half-rhinoceros almost ran him over, and he stumbled away from the

(Published 14-Oct-2020 19:40:58)  The moment St'phan came into contact with the ground, he heard the sound. At first it held only the whisper of a tempo - nearly bland and lifeless to his ear. However, like a lazy, limp ear-worm, the sound travelled from hurried animal to hurried monster. Giving a subtle cadence to the foot falls of the varied peoples in front of St'phan, he realized that the quiet pounding in his ear was not caused by their feet - but from elsewhere. It was the odd, asynchronous rate at which the cadence seemed to drag the large half-dragon that drew St'phan's attention to the beat. A left, then a right - no a left, then another left ... the half-dragon looked exceptionally uncomfortable as he seemed to rebel against the sound by simply trying to walk. Or tried. On the fourth missed step, the half-dragon looked around with an expression of concern. Swiveling his head left and right, the half-dragon did not seem to notice the pale apparition that rose f

  (Published 13-Oct-2020 01:34:41) As St'phan continued moving, he realized he didn't feel like he was falling. He felt like he was flying. Forcing himself to think of the entrance to the fountain as "down", St'phan looked "up". Untethered, floating islands of grass, rock, and mountain were slowly revealed as light filtered into St'phan's view. In the distance, a floating desert island, teaming with small creatures poured water into the increasingly opaque sea below him. With a thought, St'phan was able to change the direction of his aerial motion - and he headed toward the closest floating desert. As he drew closer, he realized the sandy desert was not representative of the entire island - rather, the island was far larger than it has first appeared. Slowing with proximity, St'phan watched as hundreds of small ... beings hurried this way and that. To and fro, he saw beings that he recognized and quite a few for which he had no names. Orc

  (Published 12-Oct-2020 22:18:02) Far to the East, where dwells the Aeryn, the mock-air fae, lay a small fountain. Known only to a tiny few, the fountain was said to have fantastic, if not ridiculous powers. The stories that surrounded this fountain were so random as to suggest the tale-bearers had one thing in common - they had never met. St'phan of the dangling willow first chanced upon the fountain when he was completely drunk. In the twin moonlight, the fountain seemed to have different colors - and the inverted shadows of beings seem to dance behind the fountain. Every step he took to seek more details of those dancing, fritting creatures left him only with a desire to see more. Laughing and careening, St'phan playfully stalked what he could barely not see ... and tripped. Into the fountain he fell, and was surprised to find it far deeper than he supposed. Down he fell, slowly so slowly, into the translucent fluid until he could barely make out the moonlight. The last sig